Don't worry about what other people shoot better. Take a small gamble.... Go and buy a box of each caliber (cheap target ammo for now) and go to your local range. Meet some great people, ask a few questions, and I bet someone will let you try theirs. Then decide for yourself.
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40 vs. 9mm Ballistics
- Thread starter ldhhumble
- Start date
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Don't worry about what other people shoot better. Take a small gamble.... Go and buy a box of each caliber (cheap target ammo for now) and go to your local range. Meet some great people, ask a few questions, and I bet someone will let you try theirs. Then decide for yourself.
Hickman......Thanks for that link. Bringing up on this post proved to be very timely for me
Reps to you.
you're welcome, just passing on what many other here have passed on before
To add to the number of folks advising "try before you buy"...
I have found that the .40SW round's recoil is not too sharp or otherwise uncomfortable or uncontrollable for me. Given that the .40 gives me a bit more punch at nearly the same cost (perhaps a dollar or two more) as the 9mm round, I'm fine with the extra cost. My dad went with 9mm for his first carry weapon about the same time I went with the .40 for my first. He found the 9mm more controllable for him, and he preferred saving the extra buck per box.
The other aspect I considered was how many rounds I can carry. In general, the more firepower one has - both in caliber and round count - the better prepared one is. My brother gets 15 rounds in his Glock 19 (a 9mm weapon) while I get 12 in my compact XD (in .40SW). We have the same size firearm, but he has more rounds. Nevertheless, I decided that I was satisfied carrying "only" 12 rounds in .40 on a daily basis.
And like other people have pointed out, with a good hollow point round, you'll be able to defend yourself and your family with a 9mm round just as well as with a .40SW. The rest is really up to you: what you feel comfortable shooting, what you can shoot accurately, and what tradeoffs you want to make (everything in life is a tradeoff, this is no exception).
I have found that the .40SW round's recoil is not too sharp or otherwise uncomfortable or uncontrollable for me. Given that the .40 gives me a bit more punch at nearly the same cost (perhaps a dollar or two more) as the 9mm round, I'm fine with the extra cost. My dad went with 9mm for his first carry weapon about the same time I went with the .40 for my first. He found the 9mm more controllable for him, and he preferred saving the extra buck per box.
The other aspect I considered was how many rounds I can carry. In general, the more firepower one has - both in caliber and round count - the better prepared one is. My brother gets 15 rounds in his Glock 19 (a 9mm weapon) while I get 12 in my compact XD (in .40SW). We have the same size firearm, but he has more rounds. Nevertheless, I decided that I was satisfied carrying "only" 12 rounds in .40 on a daily basis.
And like other people have pointed out, with a good hollow point round, you'll be able to defend yourself and your family with a 9mm round just as well as with a .40SW. The rest is really up to you: what you feel comfortable shooting, what you can shoot accurately, and what tradeoffs you want to make (everything in life is a tradeoff, this is no exception).
Look man, don't get bent out of shape. There are some folks who have been around here for a while and the guy who said this has been beat to death was right but don't worry about it. It's a free country (at least for now) ask whatever the heck you want. I got caught up in the whole caliber debate for a time. You find in the end they all do the job when you hit the right spot.
yes, let's get the real pic in here:
I love the "black hole" in the .40 165gr
Thank you man. I hate the fake pic with the mushroom cloud.
Joe Williams
Shooter
- Jun 26, 2008
- 10,431
- 38
yes, let's get the real pic in here:
I love the "black hole" in the .40 165gr
Hey!!! Why'd you photoshop out the mushroom cloud?
just my 2 cents, i have 3 45's, and 2 9's. gotten rid of 4 40's. but 44 wheel guns are still my favorite....daryll
I agree with you. I think the recoil on the .40 is fine. I don't really find it much different than most .9's I have shot. I carry both 9 and 40 but I think my preference is the 40.
Crap, did not even realize I have the photoshoped one!
Shot placement and depth of penetration are your two (2) most important factors in a gun fight...which ever one works best for you will be sufficient! Ask any bad guy who's been shot/killed by a 9mm and he'll tell you that it worked! The S&W .40 has some decent 'pop' to it when you shoot it, but it's got a lot more pressure in it to drive the 1mm large bullet.
If you get a .40 in a Glock, you can get a 9mm conversion barrel, along with 9mm mags, and shoot 9mm out of the same frame, saving you hundreds of $ on a second gun. Keeps the cost down for plinking, training, and target shooting.
However, I've seen 9mm bullets bounce off of windshield's, first hand, (in a junk yard) whereas the .40 will plow right through them like they're not even there! You decide!!!
If you get a .40 in a Glock, you can get a 9mm conversion barrel, along with 9mm mags, and shoot 9mm out of the same frame, saving you hundreds of $ on a second gun. Keeps the cost down for plinking, training, and target shooting.
However, I've seen 9mm bullets bounce off of windshield's, first hand, (in a junk yard) whereas the .40 will plow right through them like they're not even there! You decide!!!
As has been pointed out in this thread, and attested to with pictures and reference links, the best modern loads in the common service calibers perform similarly. Indeed, they are designed this way.
The thing with 9mm is (and I'm not bashing the 9 here, I like it a lot) there are many crappy loads out there for it - possibly more so than for any of the other semi-auto service calibers.
So, give your load selection the attention it deserves. For plinking and punching paper it doesn't matter much what one uses. For defensive use, select the best modern loads and you'll be good to go.
The thing with 9mm is (and I'm not bashing the 9 here, I like it a lot) there are many crappy loads out there for it - possibly more so than for any of the other semi-auto service calibers.
So, give your load selection the attention it deserves. For plinking and punching paper it doesn't matter much what one uses. For defensive use, select the best modern loads and you'll be good to go.
I agree with this whole heartedly. Take your handgun to the range. Shoot a mag full of cheap range ammo. Let the gun cool down. Now shoot a mag full of decent defense ammo. Wanna guess which ones are more accurate, and just feel better in the hand during shooting?
I always recommend 9mm to newer shooters. It's a fine round that is plentiful and softer to shoot. The choice of amm types is endless also. Heavier 9mm guns make awesome first guns.
Carry what you want. Personally, I don't like the 40 round, but I love the 45, 9mm, and 357 sig.
Carry what you want. Personally, I don't like the 40 round, but I love the 45, 9mm, and 357 sig.
That would be nice, but unfortunately there's so much variability involved (what with shot placement variations, non-uniform human anatomy, etc.) it's virtually impossible to generate such numbers. Marshall and Sanow's percentage numbers are a statistical joke.
