Good morning everyone,

So, how does the recoil compare between a SW40VE sigma and a M&P 40c?

---Background---
I'm currently pocket carrying a S&W 908, but after seeing this (graphic) post, I'm thinking of looking for something in a bit higher caliber.

In the story I linked to, a CCW holder was shot three times, one in the chest and two in the hands with FMJ .38 rounds and was still able to shoot his attacker and is expected to make a full recovery. I'm glad he made it, but if .38 in the hands isn't enough to stop someone from being able to shoot, I'm not sure I trust 9mm much.

Currently the S&W 908 and SW40VE are the only centerfire handguns I've ever shot. I find the 908 is easy to shoot (though a little hard with gloves in 20 degree weather), but the SW40VE starts hurting my hands after the first 10-20 shots, and generally I'll call it a day before firing 50 rounds of .40. I'm a little concerned about picking up anything else bigger the 9mm.

Well once again, Bullet placement, Bullet placement and Bullet placement. The three most critical factors of handgun defense. The 40S&W in any compact gun is a pretty snappy round. I've shot both the 40 and the 9 in the M&P compacts, I kept the 9 because I shot it better and bad hit is just the same with both.

I would think that a full size Sigma 40 would feel slightly less recoil then a compact M&P 40. If they were comparable size frames, I doubt you could feel a difference in recoil.

I'd imagine the M&Pc would have more felt recoil if for no other reason there's less to hang on to. My full size M&P40 has less than my Sigma but I think it's just due to the fact that it fills my hand more. If you use the extended mag on the M&Pc and can get a full grip on it I'd bet it would feel similar to the Sigma. I used to have a Glock 27 that I had a heck of a time holding on to, but I few strips of abrasive tape made a world of difference...after doing that I shot it better than my G23.

Well... with that shooting, you have to take into consideration the type of ammo used by the bad guy.

A FMJ bullet does not transfer as much ballistic energy/hydrostatic shock to tissue as a JHP bullet does, and it's luckly for the victim that was shot, that is the intended result of an FMJ bullet.

Historically, the FMJ bullet came about as a means of making warfare more "humane" through the tenants of the Hague and Geneva Convention. It is designed to penetrate and is a piss poor bullet design for self defense close range effectiveness.

I for one, would have absolutely no worry/hesitation about carrying a 9mm loaded with one of the "self defense" or LE ammo with a "high performance" hollow point bullet.

And as previously said, bullet placement ranks high on the list.

All too often people mistakenly think that a person is supposed to go down after being hit by a single shot, the way it's portrayed on TV, and it doesn't work that way in real situations. And when there is an account of some bad gun not doing exactly that when shot, the immediate thought is "'not enough gun", need something bigger.

I'm a firm believer in the axiom "bigger is not necessarily better" when it comes to a choice of an SD weapon... shot placement and an effective type of ammo, rather than caliber size is what's more important.. in my opinion.

It also gets back to the old argument (high speed light weight vs slow and heavy). Terminal effects aside I think when shooting any common caliber and looking at the power factor (weight of bullet multiplied by velocity) a self defense round should be in the 150,000 + range. If you agree, and go that route I also feel the recoil of a slow heavy bullet is more of a push compared to a snap of a light fast one to get the same power factor. Try some heavy bullets.

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Shoot fast & live long
Warren

If you think that your 9mm isn't going to fair well then a .40 wouldn't do much better. You should bump up to a .45 if your worried about a 9mm.

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Don't look, reload and shoot!

If the .40 hurts your paws after 40-50, I'd say you need better grips, perhaps a heavier gun or perhaps more practice? Because if the .40 in a full size pistol gets uncomfortable, I think you may find a lighter more compact model that much more unpleasant? A gun that becomes too painful, too quickly, never gets practiced with enough. Especially when it's the one your most likely to have to rely on? And if I'm gathering the story correctly, the RNFMJ's may be the only reason the victim is alive?
The saying goes, "carry the biggest thing you can shoot effectively". But whether your shooting it effectively, is a judgement call only you can make.

a well placed .22 LR can be fatal, and a poorly aimed .50 BMG can just take off the end of a finger. Its not the round.

I used to carry a 1911 45acp.. big heavy gun... My SW40Ve, i dont feel the recoil is all that bad. i have been to the range and shot probably 150-200 rounds and didnt feel any discomfort. Spotteddog might have hit the nail on the head. I do have a slip-on grip ala Pachmayr, could also be related to the weight/velocity of the bullet. I shoot 180 grn fmj for practice and when i carry, 180 hollow-point.

I have a FS M&P 45 and and a M&P 9 compact. Both guns shoot softer than expected /compared to their steel safe mates. Sorry, no Sigma to compare it too. My buddy does have a sigma 40 compact and i can tell you I don't enjoy shooting it at all.

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Dave