Why are people shedding 9's?

[Protected One]

I have a friend who sold all his 9mm's and now carries .40 s&w.
Recently, I've noticed that others are doing the same, and I just read on the "WTS" area of others doing the same.

Now, I understand that .40cal ammo is more readily available than 9mm at the moment, but that too appears to be changing.
Ballistically, there is not that much difference between the two, so is there something I'm missing?

[Chillock]

I don't know if you are missing anything or not. Around here in eastern Washington, 40 cals are popular but the hard to find ammo and guns are the 9mm and 380. I still prefer a 9mm over the 40. Mostly because my had grips better around most 9's where it feels the grip of most 40's are to big in my hand. Not that there is a big difference, maybe it's just what I am use to all these years.

40's are still going through the phase like 9's did when no matter what it was the caliber to get. Yes there are ballistic reasons for the 40 but those would also apply to a 40 verse 10mm.

[TucsonMTB]

Although the S&W 642-1 revolver usually found in my pocket around the house is a hoot to shoot, my usual pocket carry for the last couple years has been a Kahr PM40.

I believe, there is lots to like about "fotay". For example, what I carry penetrates windshield glass readily and is slightly easier for me to shoot well than 38 Special (same diameter as 9mm which I do not own). At the same time, it make larger holes in paper targets and the JHP's never get any smaller if you need them to be effective in other media.

Some people find "fotay" too "snappy". For me, it is not hugely different than 9mm. When I first picked up this caliber, typical "fotay" self defense rounds were widely available at 35 cents a round, delivered. So, I bought a good stash of stuff that according to my informal tests and the plethora of tests on YouTube is as effective as the "good stuff" in 9mm selling for somewhat more per round.

Yeah, I am cheap and that's a big part of the reason for my choice of .40 S&W. Although I have not shopped for it, I suspect that finding a good 9mm SD round for 35 cents is rather difficult of late.

Hope this helps . . .

[Protected One]

Originally Posted by Chillock

I don't know if you are missing anything or not. Around here in eastern Washington, 40 cals are popular but the hard to find ammo and guns are the 9mm and 380. I still prefer a 9mm over the 40. Mostly because my had grips better around most 9's where it feels the grip of most 40's are to big in my hand. Not that there is a big difference, maybe it's just what I am use to all these years.

40's are still going through the phase like 9's did when no matter what it was the caliber to get. Yes there are ballistic reasons for the 40 but those would also apply to a 40 verse 10mm.

Wow. Washington is different than Michigan. .40cal ammo is readily available (JHP and FMJ), as is .45 acp, but 9mm and .380 is scarce...but improving. I found 300 round of 9mm at Walmart on Saturday - $14.77 per box.
My edc is a glock 23 but I also carry a Bodyguard 380 and have a Browning HP 9mm for fun. The Browning is the easiest to shoot, and would be my edc...if it weren't so heavy.

Tuscon...sounds like you carry Critical Duty?!

[thebeamanater107]

People choose their favorite number then come up with reasons to support it. "It's bigger or more powerful than 9mm, but it's still the same gun as 9mm" is why I chose the 40... But then I shot the same gun chambered in 9mm.

So I've got the ruger Sr40 and Sr9. At 25 yards with the 40, all my bullet holes were in the torso of the man size target. At 10 yards, all my bullets were in the face. Now, I wasn't going slow and squeezing each round off with careful aim. I also wouldn't call it rapid fire. I just shot 15 rounds and pulled the target in, reloaded, put the target back out, and shot 15 more. The gun worked fine, no problems, I can use this gun in self defense, all is good. I carried it and continued shooting it.

But what gun collection is complete without a 9mm? I found a used Sr9 for $350, and I couldn't find anything wrong with it, so I bought it.

At 25 yards, all my shots were in the face. The recoil was radically less than the 40. It was much more accurate. It operated more smoothly. It was fun. With my next magazine, I drew a heart on my target's chest at 25 yards.

-both "first time shootings" were performed with federal white box fmj's.

The 40 is all fine and good, but I prefer 9mm

the original point and click interface, by Smith and Wesson

[Chillock]

Originally Posted by Protected One

Wow. Washington is different than Michigan. .40cal ammo is readily available (JHP and FMJ), as is .45 acp, but 9mm and .380 is scarce...but improving. I found 300 round of 9mm at Walmart on Saturday - $14.77 per box.
My edc is a glock 23 but I also carry a Bodyguard 380 and have a Browning HP 9mm for fun.

Most LGS and Walmart are limiting all ammo to 3 boxes per customer. And I mean 3 boxes total; mixed cal or not. 9mm and 380's fly off the shelf. 40 cals are popular but ammo doesn't move as fast. Maybe because of cost and other two rounds are still very popular. I can get personal defense 9mm for around 28 cents a round. 40 cal of same result is about 37 cents.

[amazingflapjack]

I just finished reading "No easy day" and that's what team 6 went into Bin Laden's compound with; 9's. Even with all of the successful military and police history behind this round, and the stature of the many units, agency's, and gov's that have used it, the conjecture continues. It remains my choice as a defensive round. Recent ballistics testing posted here on the forum show it as a strong competitor in the area of popular pistol rounds. I am fond of the 45 ACP, and I own guns from 38 SPL to 44 mag, but in a defensive situation I haven't found a combination I like better than my model 59 and Marlin Camp 9 using the same hi-cal mags. Make mine a "9." The Germans got it right.

[Protected One]

Originally Posted by Chillock

Most LGS and Walmart are limiting all ammo to 3 boxes per customer. And I mean 3 boxes total; mixed cal or not.

I know, but the Walmart clerk even let me get a box of .380 Federal Hydra Shock, which I took because it's rare to find.

[SgtLumpy]

Originally Posted by TucsonMTB

... I believe, there is lots to like about "fotay". For example, what I carry penetrates windshield glass readily ...

Gangsta pronunciation aside, why would you feel the need to penetrate windshield glass?


Sgt Lumpy

[TucsonMTB]

Originally Posted by SgtLumpy

Gangsta pronunciation aside, why would you feel the need to penetrate windshield glass?


Sgt Lumpy

Well, that is embarrassing . . . I had no idea that was "gangsta" pronunciation. I often use that spelling to signal to other readers that I am not serious about any particular caliber. Clearly, that failed this time.

Personally, I hope to never have a need to penetrate a windshield, but shooting from the inside of a junk windshield was fun during one of our Back-Up Gun (BUG) matches at the local range last year. I thought it was kind of neat that it worked so well.

As a kid, I remember .22 rifle rounds just sliding off the windshields of junk cars at the local dump when we were shooting rats. Admittedly, that was more than 50 years ago . . .

[alwslate]

Didn't realize "people" were shedding nines. Maybe just some people
that you know. Seems like I read that some police departments are
shedding fortys and going back to nines as there is little to no
difference in effectiveness. I've got a dozen nines and I'm not
shedding any of mine. I don't own a single forty and don't plan to.
Some people like the forty and that's fine. The reality is that there's
little difference in effectiveness in the three popular auto pistol rounds
but practicality favors the nine. It has long been the best full size
auto pistol round and likely to remain so for many years.

[sdustin]

IMO the 9mm is just as good with modern bullets,if i wanted less rounds and more recoil give me a big bore revolver.

[BC38]

I wish more people around here were shedding 9's. I'm shopping for one! Unfortunately just about every one that comes up for sale lately seems to be either a former Soviet or Chinese military piece that won't reliably feed hollow points (RNFMJ only) OR one of the tupperware guns. I already have one that is half plastic, and want one that has a metal frame. Not many all metal 9's on the market around here lately.

[Arik]

It's all the same here. Some sell 40 for 9, others 9 for 45 or 45 for 40. There's always a mix of used guns at the lgs. Some don't like the ammo, others don't like the gun..

I own all 3.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[681ismyfavorite]

a lot of regular folks buy what their local cops carry. this can account for the "gotta have a 40" hysteria.

[Donn]

Like the 10mm but to a little lesser extent, the 40 S&W is reaching mythic heights. "You carry a 9mm? You might as well carry a pocketful of stones. I don't leave the house without my 40!" That's the popular refrain from several of my contemporaries lately. I wonder what the next "be all, end all" round of the day will be?

[coltle6920]

Don't know about people dumping their 9mm's But I know the ammo isn't scarce.Numerous places online have cases available and I'm not talking one or two but 80+. I'm not a good shopper for prices but what I've seen average 40-45 cents per round. I don't buy from stores that limit you to two or three boxes. It isn't worth the gas or hassle.

[SgtLumpy]

Originally Posted by coltle6920

Don't know about people dumping their 9mm's But I know the ammo isn't scarce...

This ^^^ mirrors what I've seen. 9 and 40 are the two calibers that I've seen abundantly available throughout the tightest period of what some call the "ammo shortage".

It may be worth noting that my perception of "ammo shortage" is not based on the inability to buy one box at a time at Wally's.


Sgt Lumpy

[jack the toad]

I'm not seeing the 9's being shed around here.
IMO, there's not that much difference in the effectiveness between the 35, 40 or 45 in the standard loadings of 9x19, 40 S&W and 45 ACP.
It's more personal preference and I like them all.

[MattNH]

The last 2 guns I bought were first from a guy getting rid of all his 9mm and going .40 and the second was a .40 from a guy sticking with 9mm.

I guess it can go both ways...

[USAF385]

Funny. I'm building up my 9mm collection after years of totally avoiding it.

[Maze 686]

Originally Posted by SgtLumpy

Gangsta pronunciation aside, why would you feel the need to penetrate windshield glass?


Sgt Lumpy

Why wouldn't you want your ammo to penetrate a windshield?
I did not know carjackers had to be shot from outside your vehicle after they started their assault.

Any defensive training should include vehicles and shooting from them or at them since so much of our time is spent behind the wheel.

[ColbyBruce]

I bought two 9mm Shields for my daughter and daughter-in-law, but still own fourteen 9mm handguns. I do not care for .40, gave my last one, a BHP, to my son. I am considering a .40 Shield for hiking, as it would be both light weight and powerful.

[pjpjr]

Shed away fella's..........more nines for me to choose!
All kidding aside, for a personal defense round/weapon choice either 9mm or 40cal is more than the average "Joe" will ever need. Believe it or not my EDC is a S&W 642 loaded up with JHP and for me and my boring everyday encounters this combination is way more than perfect in my opinion!

[bdickers]

I do not see any shedding of any particular caliber over another here in Colorado. 9mm, .40 and .45 ammo is readily available. I've standardized on 9mm primarily due to variety of ammo available and it's simply easier to shoot accurately in both my Sig and Shield pistols. High pressure rounds like the .40 and 357 Sig can't help but generate more mechanical wear, and with today's cartridge technology the ballistic difference between 9mm and .40 has narrowed considerably.

[Harrison]

I have owned and shot both. I prefer the 9mm over the forty, for carry. If I want or need a big bore, I prefer the 1911 45acp over the forty. I own both 9mm and 45acps. I shed the 40s.

[S&W45Colt]

Nationally and online 9mm ammo is hard to get a hold of and has been for a while. I've spoken to several people who didn't store any ammo, bought guns and watched them sit for months without being able to shoot them.

I don't know if shredding is an accurate term, but I think the ammo issue has prompted some to move to the .40, who's ammo has been available pretty much the whole time.

[checkmyswag]

Major police depts and agencies are returning to the 9mm from 40.

As far as individuals i know none of my gun people who have dropped 9mm.

[SgtLumpy]

Originally Posted by Maze 686

Why wouldn't you want your ammo to penetrate a windshield?
I did not know carjackers had to be shot from outside your vehicle after they started their assault.

Any defensive training should include vehicles and shooting from them or at them since so much of our time is spent behind the wheel.

No problem. Practice shooting through your windshield all you want. From either side.


Sgt Lumpy

[thebeamanater107]

Originally Posted by TucsonMTB

Well, that is embarrassing . . . I had no idea that was "gangsta" pronunciation. I often use that spelling to signal to other readers that I am not serious about any particular caliber. Clearly, that failed...

I agree with you. I chose my guns and bullets and I'll give my opinion, but I'm not arguing for or against anybody else's choice. I did wonder why your choice involved shooting through a windshield. I pictured a gangster assaulting the front of a car.

But BUG gun tactics have their place in any plan that involves a BUG gun

the original point and click interface, by Smith and Wesson

[thebeamanater107]

Originally Posted by Arik

It's all the same here. Some sell 40 for 9, others 9 for 45 or 45 for 40. There's always a mix of used guns at the lgs. Some don't like the ammo, others don't like the gun..

I own all 3.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Some are impulsive and want a new gun without waiting and saving, and the old gun has trade in value. Compare the gun store to a car dealership. The new ones are over here, used over there.

the original point and click interface, by Smith and Wesson

[thebeamanater107]

I'll take a 45, 40, 9mmm, or 380 over a hammer or a pipe any day for self defense.

Call it what you want, but any gun is better than no gun.

the original point and click interface, by Smith and Wesson

[kpow67]

Originally Posted by SgtLumpy

This ^^^ mirrors what I've seen. 9 and 40 are the two calibers that I've seen abundantly available throughout the tightest period of what some call the "ammo shortage".

It may be worth noting that my perception of "ammo shortage" is not based on the inability to buy one box at a time at Wally's.


Sgt Lumpy

Sgt Lumpy,
I am in the Valley as well. Where are you finding an abundance of 9mm? I shoot .40 and my husband shoots 9mm. I generally have no trouble finding .40, but haven't had much luck finding 9 locally.
Thanks!

[Kanewpadle]

I don't know of anyone that has dropped the nine. But I never cared to know anyway.

People change calibers for a variety of reasons. Ammo availability, caliber consolidation, and just plain old ignorance or inexperience who believe everything thing read on the internet.

Around here 9MM guns sell best.

[BLuRRnAWAY]

I generally do not like to shop at wally world for ammunition, but this morning I walked over to sporting goods and they had a good amount of ammo. No 22lr but I did get 3 boxes of 100 rounds for my shield 9mm for $23.00!!

I would like to get a .40 for fun, but I am completely content and very happy with my 9mm.

[TucsonMTB]

Originally Posted by kpow67

Sgt Lumpy,
I am in the Valley as well. Where are you finding an abundance of 9mm? I shoot .40 and my husband shoots 9mm. I generally have no trouble finding .40, but haven't had much luck finding 9 locally.
Thanks!

Hey there, Mrs. KPow67!

Please forgive me if I am "preaching to the choir".

But, we live in the Tucson area where your choices for local purchases of ammunition are even more limited than the Phoenix area. As a result, most of ours arrives via UPS of FedEx, usually in case lots to keep shipping costs reasonable.

As a result, on-line shopping has become an art form. One of the better sources of information about what is available across a variety of vendors is Ammoseek.com where you can easily search by caliber and type and see the results ordered by the cost per round.

At this moment, even in that wider listing, it appears that .40 S&W is more readily available in the "range fodder" price ranges. But, if you are hoping to help your husband find 9mm, there are some offerings in the same $0.40 or less range the reflects my pain point. Admittedly, there are fewer 9mm listings, but the bottom of the 9mm range appears to be a little lower than the .40 S&W range, in their listings.

Other than some Federal .38 special SJHP on GunBroker.com for our "new to us" revolvers, I haven't purchased much ammo in the last couple of years. Back when I was buying, my goal was .40 S&W JHP at $0.35 a round or less, delivered. At the time there was quite a selection of Winchester Ranger JHP ammo on-line from contract over runs and is was oftern easy to beat that price goal. Those were the days . . .



Ignore that mean looking expanded bullet. This stuff makes really neat round holes in paper targets at the range, especially compared to the torn puncture marks made by more rounded ball ammo. In my limited experience, the on-line price has always been hard to match locally even with the FMJ ammo.

Here's wishing you best of luck with your searches!

[SgtLumpy]

Originally Posted by kpow67

Sgt Lumpy,
I am in the Valley as well. Where are you finding an abundance of 9mm?...

I'm not a good source of "local" ammo information, as I don't buy it one box at a time. But I did see tons of 9mm at Cabela's in Glendale a week ago when I was there looking for something else.

I see some right now at UNAMMO locally, four styles of 115 gr. (plus tracers)

Gunbot will reveal a lot of choices.


Sgt Lumpy

[DesertFox]

Originally Posted by amazingflapjack

...but in a defensive situation I haven't found a combination I like better than my model 59 and Marlin Camp 9 using the same hi-cal mags....

Agreed. One of my all-time favorite setups.

I never ditched the 9. Even a 10mm-aholic like myself has occasion for the 9.

[Lost Lake]

If anybody wants to shed their pre-rail 3913TSW, please let me know!

.

[Badkarma 1]

Never really noticed any "shedding" goin on around here. Have noticed a lack of certain 9mm pistols though.
I own just about one if ever caliber out there, multiples in 9mm and .38 Special. Pays your money and takes your choice they all work about the same and in the end its just a bullet.
I did just dump a Glock 17, and am on the lookout for a Beretta 92 or another 3rd Gen Smith. And another German SIG would be swell too!
Dale

[kpow67]

Thanks, Tucson. I'm getting really adept at online ammo shopping these days. In fact, all of the 9mm I've purchased in the past few months has been online.

[kpow67]

Originally Posted by SgtLumpy

I'm not a good source of "local" ammo information, as I don't buy it one box at a time. But I did see tons of 9mm at Cabela's in Glendale a week ago when I was there looking for something else.

I see some right now at UNAMMO locally, four styles of 115 gr. (plus tracers)

Gunbot will reveal a lot of choices.


Sgt Lumpy

Thanks, Sgt Lumpy.
I'm guessing it is a timing thing - and my timing has been poor - as multiple trips to Cabelas in the past couple of months have yielded zilch (well, I get my .40 when I'm there, anyway).

Not familiar with Gunbot. Have to check that out.

[Ogandydancer]

I just gifted my Son one of my nines but, I still have 4 and do carry them. I also have two 40's and a 380. My local Wally Worlds are still bare on 9 and 40 and 45 and 380 most of the time when I go looking.

[Silvergoose]

My only question is, How dead do yo want them? Be it a 9, 40, 45 or the almost forgotten 38 spl. any one can make a BG leak. Remember, shot placement.

By the way any gun needing a new home can come to my house, except a RG66.

Good Luck

[CatSnipah]

Some people feel the need to "be different" or feel like they are trendy.

I don't own a 40, likely never will. Just not a fan. Does that make it bad? Nope. If you like it, good! If not, that's ok, too.

Wonderful that we have so many options and choices!

[Protected One]

The friend I mentioned who has shedded all his 9's is a county sheriff. I didn't ask him why he did it, but I think I will now.
He just had Kahr make him a custom .40 which is about the size of an LC9.

[Yiogo]

9 mm still around here in NH. I carry a 38 here and a 9 mm in FL.
Our soldiers carry a 9 mm. That says something to me.
Yiogo

[Genetically Swiss]

I love my 9mm's. If I want a .40, I'll get a 10mm.

GS

[Bill_inBouse]

Ask the Marine Corps why.

[TucsonMTB]

Originally Posted by Bill_inBouse

Ask the Marine Corps why.

Hey, Mr. Bill!

Are you referring to their 2012 choice of Colt 1911's for "special operations troops"?

Marines Pick Colt for New Pistol | Military.com

Admittedly, 1911's are my favorite semi-automatic pistol. But, mine a bit large for pocket carry.

Hence the choice of .40 S&W rather than 9mm.