.40 or 9mm?

[austin]

If I had to choose between the 9 and the 40, I'd go with the 40 in a 1911 style pistol. Make sure you carry a couple of extra magazines.

I carry a Kimber Ultra Carry .45 plus two more magazines just about everywhere in my pockets.

With the hi-cap .45 1911 style pistols on the market, magazine capacity is a moot point in calibers. 14+1 in .45 is a very potent argument.

[NguyenVanDon]

My CCW is a G19 9mm. I pick 9mm over .40 cal because of the capacity of ammo it holds, more control, and target ammo are cheap to shoot. The power of the .9mm in JHP 127gr. +P+ is strong enough to knock a BG down.

[Xander]

FWIW, I also have a P229 DA/SA in .40, and a .40 barrel for my .357SIG 229DAK, I love them both. They're great guns, and IMHO it's a great round.

-Xander

[LedJedi]

With the hi-cap .45 1911 style pistols on the market, magazine capacity is a moot point in calibers. 14+1 in .45 is a very potent argument.

I demand a recount. .45 is the way to go.

Though i don't like the 1911. Try a Taurus 92 :) purdy, functional and reliable.

[govnor]

With the hi-cap .45 1911 style pistols on the market, magazine capacity is a moot point in calibers. 14+1 in .45 is a very potent argument.

I demand a recount. .45 is the way to go.

Though i don't like the 1911. Try a Taurus 92 :) purdy, functional and reliable.

How many rounds does that Taurus hold? I like the XD for 13+1.

[lrb111]

Though i don't like the 1911. Try a Taurus 92 :) purdy, functional and reliable.

How many rounds does that Taurus hold? I like the XD for 13+1.

I'll chip in. the PT92 is 17+1. A fire hose.

[RPBrown]

I could not vote as all of mine are 45 except the P3AT.

However, You need to get what you feel comfortable with. As stated before, shot placement is the key. If you don't feel comfy with it, you most likely won't carry it. Rent a few and find what feels best to you.

The 9 is cheaper to practice with though.

[RubenZ]

The price, and availability, the .40 has no real advantage in a defense sense over the 9.

I'd go with the 9mm and or a .45. Theres no need for a in between :)

[LedJedi]

Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far

It seems to me that would put a .45 in your hands :) He didn't say "speak softly and carry a medium sized stick."

[govnor]

Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far

It seems to me that would put a .45 in your hands :) He didn't say "speak softly and carry a medium sized stick."

[govnor]

The price, and availability, the .40 has no real advantage in a defense sense over the 9.

I'd go with the 9mm and or a .45. Theres no need for a in between :)

I've been wondering what the defensive advantage is of a .40 over a 9mm. I notice that the .40 has a lot more punch to it than the nine when I shoot them side by side. Anyone know the advantages, disadvantages?

I'm starting to like the 9mm a lot more all the time. Cheaper ammo and I can shoot better with it. With the .40, I shoot about as well as with a .45 and can't tell a lot of difference in recoil. So you might have a valid point... 9 or .45...

[RubenZ]

What I mean was that a .40 does pack more punch yes. But if you put the right loads in a 9mm there really is no real advantage that the .40 has.


Ammo is very very cheap for 9mm at Wally World, you hold more rounds, rounds are lighter, gun is lighter, you can probably shoot it more accurately. It just hands more advantages over the .40

[Xander]

I've been wondering what the defensive advantage is of a .40 over a 9mm. I notice that the .40 has a lot more punch to it than the nine when I shoot them side by side. Anyone know the advantages, disadvantages?

Handgun ammunition stopping power is a topic that will be debated without resolution until the end of time. For the best practical analysis that I've seen, I'd suggest picking up a copy of Stopping Power: A Practical Analysis of the Latest Handgun Ammunition (http://www.amazon.com/Stopping-Power-Pr ... 58160128X/)

-Xander

[G26Rick]

I carry two different types of rigs...one for summer and one for winter... during the winter months I carry my Glock 26 9mm with Federal 115 gr JHP+ Hydra Shoks.....in The summer I carry my Kel-Tec P3AT in a Gun Guru back pocket holster with Federal 90 gr. Hydra Shok JHP's.... I think I prefer the 9mm over the 40 S&W actually ...proven round,good terminal ballistics with the right ammo....I've been trained since the beginning about shot placement,followups,and the like...Low recoil in both rounds.It's just what I am used to....

[kw5kw]

Hmmm... let's see...

I have an XD-9; an XD-45 and a Bursa CC Thunder .380.

Depends on how I'm dressing for the day on what I'm taking with me as I can shoot all three almost equally with the 9mm being the most accurate and the .45 and the .380 being almost equal.

I think the reason the .380 isn't more accurate than it is, is because of the VERY small sights on the Bursa Concealed Carry Thunder. With that in mind I still shoot half-dollar groups at 7~10 yards with the .380 and the .45 as compared to quarter sized groups with the 9mm.