Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?
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Notes -
The thing that makes me curious is to why such calibers as 45 acp weren't more popular, specifically due to use by the military. Hell, it's not as if 45 or 9mm are new calibers, even by that point, so why the utilization of 38 specials and other arcane cartridges?
Unless there was the 'cool' factor due to use by the police. Then again, why didn't the 'cool' factor make civilians pick up the military-favoured caliber, nevermind all the veterans prevalent post ww1 and ww2?
All of this reminds me that I've had the urge to track down books/articles on firearm catridge development and the social context surrounding it for the longest time. Years, by this point. I should probably get on that...
I wasn't alive in the 1970s, but I think .45 ACP wasn't more popular because there weren't really smaller handguns made for it. You can carry a .38 revolver in a coat pocket in a way that you can't a 1911.
Additionally, the .38 was specifically in widespread use by police and military, so the 'cool' factor associated with the military/police was absolutely there, and if I am not mistaken plenty of law enforcement agencies were still packing .38s in the 1970s.
Also a 1911 has always been kind of an expensive gun -- if you just need to wave it in somebody's face so they won't make a fuss and hand over their wallet, a little .25 works just fine. (and fits in your pocket)
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