Hi Folks, first post

I've been rolling around for 2 weeks about going with the Shield 9 mm vs. the Shield .40 and my LGS as a .40 in stock so it's decision time.

I've never shot a .40 and hear all the warnings about the muzzle flip, slower follow up shots, less capacity (than 9mm) yet I have a 9mm and am still drawn to the all around versatility the .40 offers. It seems like a good compromise between velocity, penetration, capacity and cost when comparing the top 3 calibers.

So I want to give it a try but do have reservations (no ranges near me have rental pistols btw). Is it sound thinking for worst case scenario me hating the round and being able to buy a $100ish 9mm conversion barrel and a 9mm magazine and for $130 being able to change my mind?

Very few youtube .40 range videos up and I'm hoping for some first hand thoughts on the .40's snappiness and the potential conversion idea.

If you are ok paying $18 vs $10 for a box of Target ammo go for it.

I enjoy shooting so the 9mm makes more sense for me.

I can get 1/2 my pinkie on the flush magazine. It is a big deal shooting a 40 getting the pinkie on the grip. If you can get that pinkie finger on the grip and increase cost for ammo is a non issue go for it.

Russ

Those are great points Russ. I do enjoy shooting, I'm a new shooter and understand that there is no substitute for range time with your carry weapon (taking my CCW soon) so ammo cost will be a big factor. The pinkie talk makes me think the .40 round is as much of a handful as I've heard.

If you want the extra oompf of the .40, go for it...A little more expensive to practice with. Whatever you get, practice with it...A hit with a 9mm is better than a miss with a bazooka...just say'n...

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Rowabi

The .40 can be a handful depending on which weapon it is, however, I've never seen any micro or subcompact .40's that weren't an absolute handful.

You're a new shooter, 9mm is perfectly capable of filling self defense roles, and the savings in ammo cost will be substantial and will allow more range time and will be easier to master the fundamentals.

I'm not a beginner with handguns, and I have no shame in telling people that the 9mm is the perfect chambering for me and my needs. I did the .40 for a while, but didn't feel like the miniscule gain in balistics made up for the extra cost.

Good luck.

tjkober:

Click on link below

I carry Speer Gold Dot 124 grain +p jhp short barrel.

The ballistics on modern 9mm ammo like Gold Dot 124 grain +P is not your grandma's ammo. It will more than take care of business. One thread I read reported 13 inches deep and 3 inch wide gashes in ballistic gel. 3 inches wide is a fire hose and we know how much liguid can travel through a 3 inch hose. This is a family friendly sight so I am not going to say anymore but I think we can all get the picture Gold Dot is a get the job done round.

Russ

Speer Gold Dot 9mm 124 Grain +P Denim and Gel Test - YouTube

This information is exactly why I came here... my first reaction in hearing a .40 was available was to show the LGS the money .

The reality is, the ammo price difference would impact the amount of range time I could utilize and the "handful" of a round obviously isn't ideal for a beginner.

It sounds like the wise move is to be patient and wait for a 9mm all things considered.

I wreestled with which way to go too, but went with 9mm for the reasons others have stated. Prior to the Shield I was shooting 38/357 from a 6" Ruger GP-100, and had a lot of fun shooting powerful, blasty, and smoky 357 rounds. .40 cal costs about the same, more or less. 9mm costs quite a bit less and the savings in a year are substantial (I shoot 2x per week, normally).

I will likely carry either Speer Gold Dot 124 +P or Federal P9HST3 124 +P - and both are a lot of fun to shoot in the Shield.

Tommato

Gotta go with the majority on this one. While the .40 is attractive, I spend more time at the range because of the lost cost of the 9mm ammo. And the Speer Gold Dot 124 +P insures that range time won't be wasted if things go bad.

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M&P 22LR., M&P9FS

I can't stand 40. a caliber solution looking for a problem. couple that with the snappy torqued recoil and price per round and I will never go back to 40. for me, its a useless caliber when compared to the calibers I prefer. 45 and 9 and 357 fill the carry bill just fine. I'm not all that recoil sensitive, but I have no like for a gun that feels like its trying to twist itself out of my hand. YMMV as many love the round. going down to a compact 40 will only add to the cons I pointed out IMO.

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God Bless Our Troops.

Wow thanks again Russ. My grandma uses 00 Buckshot btw I think I have been underestimating the new 9mm ammo from the sound of it.

I believe it is sound rationale.But no more sound than the reasons for staying with the 9mm as your SD caliber.

My suggestion is stay with the 9mm because of your familiarity,cost of ammo,and lack of experience with a .40.I personally think it would be very hard to make a decision on a SD gun in a caliber I had never shot.

I know you said there is no place close to you that rents guns but if you find yourself with some time and a few extra bucks in your pocket maybe take a daytrip to somewhere that does.Go and shoot a few different calibers and a few different guns one day just for recreation.It's a blast to get to shoot guns you don't normally have the oppurtunity to.Be careful though the trip could get expensive if you find 1 or 3 you really like.

Of course get some practice in on your everyday guns also.

+1 great advice, period. In my experience, new shooters almost never prefer a powerful round in a compact handgun. Invariably, they end up flinching and developing bad trigger habits. Much better to have a .22 and 9mm and develop very sound shooting abilities inexpensively before proceeding to 40, 45, 10mm, 357 Sig, etc.

I have been shooting a Ruger SP101 .357 for over 20 years. It is a two finger gun. I have a Taurus 740 slim and for all practical purposes it is the same dimensions as the Shield. I got my Shield in 9mm because I already had something that size in .40 S&W. It is quite manageable to shoot. It is humorous that those who put down the .40 also recommend +P or +P+ in 9mm. If I wanted my 9mm to behave like a .40 then I would get a .40. The only negative for the .40 is the cost of ammo but I spend only $4 more per box than 9mm. My lgs has 9mm for $10.99 and .40 for $14.99.

I'm a .40S&W guy. I got rid of my 9mms long ago. I just like the .40 a whole lot better... my own personal preference. I've stocked up on .40s.. both ammo and guns so anytime I'm in the market for a new semi auto, it's going to be a .40 (or .45, but that's neither here nor there).

I've never had an issue with the "snappiness" of the .40... I've always blamed the shooter for having weak wrists.

That being said, I would pick the 9mm if I were in your shoes. It sounds like that's what you really want, so I'd hold out to get what you really want. It would be the equivalent of me buying the 9mm when I really wanted the .40. I'd get it and be happy for a day... then I'd be mad at myself for getting something I didn't really want.. then I'd buy some ammo and shoot it for a while... then I'd see a .40 in the shop a month later and trade my 9mm in, losing a nice chunk of $$$.... I'd be thrilled with having the .40 and then annoyed when I realized I still had 200 rounds of 9mm laying around and no 9mm gun.........

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- The Federalist #46 -

.40 cal is the #1 LE caliber in the US. A good balance of stopping power and capacity. I love it in a full size m&p. I also love my 9mm shield. Both shoot great and get back on target quickly. I train with double taps.

But.... The little shield .40 could be a handful. But so is a 1000cc streetbike. Or a corvette in a snowstorm. Practice, practice, practice.

I cant find any .40 shields around me so if you hate yours i'll buy it.

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MP40 442 SHIELD9 SHIELD40 MP22

I received an email shortly after I posted this that the gun had been sold moments before I asked them to hold if for me.

Part of my motivation with the .40 I didn't hit on was the SHTF situation where ammo becomes like gold (and very scarce) and the talk of all the .40 purchased by the DHS. Maybe I watched too many movies where the survivors happened upon a stash of stockpiled ammo. I thought having a 9mm and .40 would cover most bases.

In the end though, this will be my daily carry and I want to be confident and well practiced with it and the .40 sounds less than ideal for my current circumstances. I can see buying a full sized .40 down the road to satisfy my SHTF scenario.

You folks have an incredible amount of knowledge and I am very thankful for your time and feedback.

I am not a 40 fan for many reasons. I can tell you that it has no real performance advantages over GOOD 9mm ammo. If you have ONLY ball ammo, then it isn't enough. Use a 45 with ball. I carry 9mm Federal 147 HST or +P 147 HST. It out performs the 40 HST per the engineers at ATK.

Contrarily, why do most LEOs carry .40. Reviews report that the shield .40 recoil is very manageable. It all sounds like justification for your own decision, not real solid counsel.

I started with 9mm for my defensive carry caliber, and switched to .40 a few years ago. I really like the .40 and don't have trouble shooting it. I have a .40 Shield now, replacing a Glock 27 I have passed on to my son. Start off with 9mm. It is a good defensive round as many have already mentioned. You can always go to a .40 later on if you decide you want to. I may have got the 9mm instead if it had been available but I have no regrets with the .40. It is snappier, but manageable.

Another plus for .40, though, when the shelves were bare of most popular pistol calibers a few years ago, I found that .40 was the easiest to find, at least in my area.

Jeez...shoot whatever you want!

I hear ya, problem is I don't have reasonable access to shoot a .40 and am concerned if it is a wise choice in this size of firearm for me. I've never shot a .40 and just want to make a good decision for my future ccw companion. I love the thoughts of the experienced shooters in this thread.

As someone else stated here in the forum "The .40 is a 9mm on steroids".

After exclusively shooting 9mm for years. I finally purchased my first .40, a M&P 40C mostly for CCW, but I found the 40C to be an easy transition to be my main "go to gun" at night time with a Streamlight TLR-4 rail light attached. I have a few friend that don't shoot much and a 9mm is about as much as they can handle.

I still shoot 9mm's more just because of the ammo cost less. I'll shoot 200-300 9mm and about 150 .40 for about the same cost. I would really like to shoot my 40C more though. It's my only .40, so I' ll track down a 9mm barrel for it someday and be able to practice more with it.

I will say the 40C is a great shooter, comfortable, accurate, reliable and good looking .

Shooting a 180gr .40 does feel alot like a 9mm+P. Just my 2 cents.

I was looking for 9mm shield but happened to find a 40 so i bought it yes it is a bit snappy but its very manageable. It is my first 40 but i dont have any issues hitting the target even when rapid firing. Im now waiting to get my 9mm shield as my lgs doenst have it in yet.

Thanks for the feedback, I feel like this -->

Guess a guy/gal can't really go wrong all factors considered, the Shield is just that good obviously. Now finding either caliber is another matter.

Get on a waiting list or just check out your local GS's you might get lucky and find one that the had literally just put on the shelf like i did. Both are great guns and you cant go wrong with either.

I've always lived my life by the motto...
"If you want to do something, do it... if you don't like it then change it."

You won't 'know' until you find out for yourself.

Does anyone really think this bullet would have the same effect on real live tissue???? And a .45 hitting an arm causes the person to spin like a top...

You got a lgs with great ammo pricing. Locally 9mm is $12.99 and .40/.45 over $20 for a box. Wallmart has ammo cheaper, when it's in stock, $10.99/box, or the 250box for $60. I have not looked at the .40/.45 pricing at wallmart but everything not 9mm seemed at or over $20.

The first subcompact handgun I ever owned was a Springfield XCSC in .40 S&W. Yes, it was snappy, but I trained often and grew more and more comfortable with it.

I now have a Shield in .40. Going to take it to the range for the first time in a couple hours.

The recoil will depend on several factors. I used the 135 grain Federal Hydrashok Low Recoil Personal Defense rounds for my wife to shoot the XD40SC. You might want to try them in the Shield. While a hit with a 9 may be better than a miss with a ,40, I prefer a hit with a .40. That is just my personal preference, as I certainly do not want to enter into a caliber debate.

I have very large hands and although my pinky stands little chance of grasping the grip with the standard mag, I expect a Pearce grip extension to hit the market soon. I don't think the pinky makes a difference for controlled shots with a 2 handed grip. Now one handed that's another story, but honestly 9mm, if using full +P loads isn't much better.

I plan on shooting a wide variety of ammo today. I'll post a report in a different thread tonight or tomorrow evening.

I don’t own a 40. But, the cost of ammo around here is $13 for 9mm and $15 for 40.

During the ammo shortage, the 40 was still available everywhere. The 9mm was out of stock around here, but I can’t remember one place that did not have the 40.

This is one reason I am considering getting a 40 in the future. The 40 is always the easiest ammo to find around here.

I was also considering the 45, but that is more expensive ($18) and very difficult to find if there is a shortage.

Don't let the recoil of the 40 spook you it is manageable, when you fire the weapon take a proper stance and with the assistance of someone who can help you fire the weapon and make adjustments as necessary. There is not handgun on the market that can not be shot one handed, but using both is a good idea when first getting used to the weapon you choose.

You might be interested in my post about the M&P 40C being a great first gun Why I feel the M&P40C is best first gun! for many reasons, and yes I have a Shield 40!

M&P Shield 40, M&P.357Compact

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59,M&P9,40,40C,357,(2)45,G26

Yep, the .40 was always available here as well during the dark days of the ammunition shortage. I have both 9mm and .40 Shields. I can tell you that the .40 is a handfull with 165gr or 155gr HSTs, but still easily manageable for a seasoned shooter. The 9 has a touch less recoil with 124gr +P Gold Dots and quite a bit less with non +Ps. If I was a new or a recoil-sensitive shooter I would go with the 9 without question. The difference in results with the newer quality 9mm rounds (GD, HST, Ranger) is insignificant according to the experts vs. the tradeoff in recoil. JMO.

"Being Wrong is Important... and, Admitting It is too!
Or: Why Rob Pincus now prefers the 9mm over .40 S&W for Personal Defense. "

Why Rob Pincus prefers the 9mm over the .40 for personal defense)

Thanks!

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Mark
G19, XD-9 SC, PPH .380

The best reason to get the Shield in .40 S&W is it's not available in .45 ACP - yet. I don't have a micro in .40, but I do shoot 230 +P in my Kahr PM45 - which approaches the low end of .357 Mag energy. The recoil is not that stiff, and the muzzle flip is something you learn to deal with. These small pistols are not intended for the target range. They're for self defense, and shoot targets only with that end in mind.

If you're not sure bigger is better, try knocking over a bowling pin or a 35# steel silhouette. A .40 will work 2 times out of 3, and a .45 nearly every time. You might get lucky with a 9.

TJ you might have more reasonable access to a .40 than you think. Take an hour drive down here to Cumberland County and visit the GS and range that's on Yadkin Road (no names so I don't sound like I'm shilling for 'em) in Fayetteville. Fine indoor range and many choices in rental pistols from .32 to .45, including several in .40.

There's also a GS in Aberdeen near Pinehurst that has been able to get a bunch of Shields so far, including .40s. You'll need to get on a list, but you should be able to get what you want before too long.

Both shops are well worth the drive.

As for 40 v. 9mm, I bought a 40 Shield as my ccw primarily because they're not made in 45 (yet), which I'm accustomed to shooting. Yeah, both ammos can be pricey, but I found good pricing on target ball at Super Wal-Marts in the $18/box for 50 rounds range. It's more than for 9mm for sure, but to tell you the truth, I like shooting the higher calibers and don't mind the added cost. Like my ccw instructor told me, in supersonic (9mm and 40) v. subsonic (45), the difference is like prizefighters -- some are lightning fast and hit hard, and others are like George Foreman, a tad slower but knocks the living you-know-what out of the opponent.

Have fun.