I live in Massachusetts and can only carry 10 rounds in any new gun, whether it is a .32 or a .45. Right now I carry a .45.
Is there any advantage to carrying a 9 mm if I can only have 10 rounds? Just wondering.

no advantage whatsoever . . .

Well, that rather depends upon several issues. A well trained, practiced, dedicated shooter at a match where he knows he is about to shoot a clearly identified target and is using both hands can, at realistic close combat ranges, shoot identical scores with any of the self defense calibers in essentially the same time. However, this is a game, not real life.

Now, let's move into the real world. The 9mm is easier to shoot accurately and at speed with less sustainment practice. This is particularly true when using only one hand because the other holds a cell phone, your kid, your wife, a car/house door, another bad guy or other things you can't readily dump on the ground. Engrave it into your mind that shot placement is the single most important component of the ability to incapacitate an assailant.

Non-dedicated personnel, and many honest dedicated personnel, find that the .38/9mm provides them with optimum ability to accurately and quickly place rounds on a target under less than optimum conditions. These can include head colds and various other conditions that lower your physical/mental ability to perform at less than your absolute best. If we look back at the first paragraph, when was the last time you went to the range/a match with a fever and stuffed up head? I haven't done either when sick, but I have attended several matches after a night shift.

I'm not sure what the relative magazine capacities of your .45 and any 9mm may be. More is better. Running out of ammo before you run out of bad guys isn't likely, but possible-and REALLY bad- during any realistic self defense situation. Not necessarily of an excess of bad guys, but because of slow law enforcement response.

If you're confident of your abilities with the weapon/caliber of your choice, good for you. Just make sure you're looking at all the factors.

Smaller, lighter gun when fully loaded. Somewhat easier to conceal.

9mm ammo is cheaper and usually readily available just about anywhere. With less expensive ammo you are likely to practice more and be better prepared/capable in an emergency. As noted above, ease of carry, concealed or not, is also a plus.

Yup, +1.

And I added this additional sentence because of the "message too short" error message.

Usually bullets are pushed further past their expansion threshold by a 9mm.

No significant advantage one over another when loaded with their best bullets and in the hands of competent (read that as sometimes a "lucky"?) shooter. That said, were I limited to 10 regardless of caliber? I'd go 10 of a .45ACP. At that point cumulative grain weight would be in play, because the capacity advantage had been taken off the table.
10-124's=1240
10-230's=2300
Nothing exotic?

When you say "new gun" does that mean you can carry higher capacity in a not new gun? If so, then you might consider a used 9mm with capacity for 15 or so rounds. Otherwise I'd lean towards the .45 ACP. But then again, I usually carry 5 in .357 in a J, (plus 5 in a speed loader) so go figure.

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NRA Life Member

I switched from a .45 ACP to 9mm not because I thought the 9mm was a better cartridge, I switched because of the battering my hands, and particularly arthiritic wrists, took from firing the .45 in Commander and smaller size guns.
For years I carried either a Colt Combat Commander or Officers' size gun. As arthiritis has progressed with age, I found the 9mm to be more endurable, so I switched. I carry the same number of rounds, 8+1 in a compact 9mm (S&W 3913) as I did with the Commander, so the number of rounds is not the issue.
I'm satisfied the the 9mm round I carry, Speer 124 grain Gold Dot +P, will do the job if I do my part, i.e., bullet placement, so for me, the 9mm is the best choice of a controllable, effective cartridge for SD.

my all time favorite round has been 357 mag - went to 357 sig when it came around - now I use 9mm - these old disabled hands will not handle heavy recoil and the 9mm is perfect for me - use 38 in my 686 unless I hunt with 357 but do not fire many full loads

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Fair winds and following sea

If you are trying to get repeat shots off in a hurry why not carry a .22? No recoil so really fast repeat shots. Larry

I don't think the .22 is a viable alternative. Yes, it's killed many people, but I wouldn't intentionally carry it as a self defense round unless I had nothing else.

.22 lr., while a proven killer, is an abysmal stopper. One should never carry a .22 if something more powerful is doable.

If I were limited to ten rounds, I would use a .40 S&W if I were running an auto.

What I really prefer is a service size magnum revolver with full power JHP ammo and that's what I use whenever possible.

If you can find used magazines produced before a certian date, you can buy high capacity mags in MA. They are hard to find.

I'm from Mass,, a life time ago now though!!! Lived in Westboro.. How come you folks can't get rid of those stupid laws about 10lb triggers and 10 rd mags???? Does Mass still have the pistol permit for protection of life and property??? I can't believe what I hear about that place anymore!!!!

L.G.

The 9mm is a perfect round. I really don't understand all of the hate that the 9mm is getting, maybe its because of lack of knowledge. Like the posters above me stated, shot placement is always key. I read a story about a police officer being in a shot out with his duty glock .45 and shot a man 11 with the last and final round being shot in the guys head. I carry +p in 124 grain in both my Sigma and P11 and never feel underpowered.

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Don't look, reload and shoot!

I think Flop Shank may have hit on the best possible combination?
If the .40 S&W is still launched out of the same sized platform as the 9X19, and if your limited to 10 (+1)? That might be the most wise compromise of all. I was told by several folks that know a ton more about polymer auto's than I, that the .40 S&W is considered "waspish" in it's behavior out of compact guns. In my limited experience with the .40 in a polymer compact, I found it to behave about at the same level as a stainless/aluminum combo Officer's length 1911' in .45ACP. I've never been very impressed with any auto-loaders recoil though, so I'm the wrong judge as to that? What I can state, is that neither the .40 compact polymers, nor the Officer length 1911's suffer limp wristing willingly? That's one character flaw I've not experienced with an M&P 9c.
YMMV

plus one as a medic I will say PLACMENT is the key

'nother +1, can't put it much better.

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Don't need no stinkin' sigline

There sure are a lot of good comments here. Perpster hit on the first thing I saw, which was that if you want a "hi-cap" gun, just buy one, used. There are plenty of them out there. I'd worry more about which I shoot best, and then buy a "hi-cap" if I really wanted one. I'm not against them at all, but I never felt uncomfortable with a single-stack .45, two mags, and a Model 37 (with speedloaders).

If you're thinking about it, your answer probably won't be very bad.

Stick with the .45. As all these posters have said, 'Shot placement is the key', so you don't need more bullets, just to be a better shot with your .45 (it's very accurate and easy to shoot BTW (as long as you don't have arthritis or injuries)).

Can't remember who said it, but 'Get the biggest gun you can effectively handle and then get good with it.' You've got the gun, now go to work!

Greg .... I have both a .45 and a 9mm. The only advantage for 9mm would be a lighter and smaller size gun if you choose to carry the weapon.

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S&W 1911ES
S&W M&P 9c

I would have to throw a wrench in the equation here. I would carry my 1066 which just happens to hold 9 +1 rounds of 10mm. But then I again, I wouldn't argue with 10 rounds of any caliber. Shoot what you are good with and be happy, don't worry about what others think or say about it.

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J.D. Roy

Look at it this way. The .45 starts out bigger than the 9mm is fully expanded.

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Good Luck
Bob

Most 9mm JHPs will expand to a much larger diameter than .45".

The 9mm gun will, generally, be smaller and lighter making it easier to carry and conceal.

I'm not convinced there is any significant difference between .45 and 9mm when using quality ammo.

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Centennial Every Day

so ture if you dnt have half a dozen or so bg moveing at the same time - then I like more ammo please
Doc
and yes shot placement would be very hard on that one too

I'll add my voice to those who mention the lower cost to practice, the lighter carry weight, and the ample effectivity of a 9mm at putting shots on target.

I also realize that I'm aging and don't want a gun that my hands won't be able to cope with in a couple of years.
.

9mm has a HUGE advantage...

.. IF you're like me and perform better with 9mm than .45acp.

IMO the most important thing should be to carry which one you handle best. As others stated, the 9mm will be able to be smaller, lighter, and easier to conceal.

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- The Federalist #46 -

plus what said above
Doc

I choose single stack 9mm because it is:

-lighter
-smaller
-less recoil
-I can shoot it more accurately, at a higher rate of fire

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Hook686

A +1 for all of the posters that said bullet placement is the most important factor. I think after that, you need to shoot both calibers and determine which you shoot best with.

A compact 9mm is easy to conceal. Like others have stated, 9mm is cheaper to shoot. I have a Glock 26 that carry and I can double tap better with this weapon. With most 9mm it is easy to control recoil.

It's a bit complicated, but basically conservatives (gun rights advocates) have been driven out of the state by one bad law after another. Combined with 'predatory redistricting', Republicans/Conservatives have been nearly totally mariginalized/neutered.

Every time someone takes the 'you could just move' bait, the ability to counter the leftists is diminished.

With lots of defeats over time, the Republican party has become a largely impotent organization with lousy candidates. Good candidates don't come forward because they think the costs of trying to win here will be insurmountable.

With a lousy party structure, the redistricting, and the loss of voters (due to moves), trying to accomplish real change in leftist ground zero, has become nearly impossible.


This is all about to happen nationally if people don't wake up. Once illegals are integrated into the Democrat party, and the government takes over private industry, banking, and health care (in addition to education and law, which the already dominate), we will have one party (Socialist) rule.

MA has been a 'sandbox' for the lefty experiments.

.

IMHO IF you are going to carry a semiauto, the best choice, everything considered is a Light Weight 1911 Commander in 45 ACP.

No matter what state you are in...

If you are not fairly well trained, a S&W revolver in 357, 44 Special, or 45 ACP would be a good choice...

Used Glocks are somewhat common and hi caps manufactured before 9/13/94 are legal. I recently read on the Para web site that they have pre-ban mags available.

Bill

What advantage is there to a 9mm?

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"I live in Massachusetts...."

Lots of good reasons for the 9mm have been given already. But maybe the best advantage of owning a 9mm is because someday you might move to a civilized state where you can own all the standard capacity magazines you want.

Believe it, and it's getting worse. Still the same old ****** MA. We can't get rid of the old laws because it would require getting rid of the liberals, and that's against the new laws as well as the old laws. (6th Commandment, I think.) If you get my meaning.

pretty much just the higher capacity and weight, I don't like them because they have WAY to high penetration and many people who are shot with them don't know they are shot, and that can become a problem, I prefer +p 38's or bigger for BUG and .40 S&W or bigger for primary carry

1. Don't use ball ammo.
2. That tends to happen with any caliber when you don't aim the shot and/or properly stroke the trigger.

WRMoore is right. The best loads in 9mm are very .357 magnum-like.

I'm with USAF385 and madmedic1955 on this one.

Use what YOU shoot well not what is sexy to everyone else or what a "real man" would shoot. If you shoot a 9mm better than a .45 then there is a huge advantage in that.

Understand that no handgun caliber is going to be the end-all, be-all when it comes to gun fighting, but some solid hits with a 9mm are infinitely more helpful to your cause than a bunch of misses with a .45acp.