Can't decide - 9c or 40c?

[AZ_M&P]

So one of my regular EDC's for the last 2 years was an M&P 9c. Loved that gun... it shot well, fit my lumpy body well, and (best of all) was a S&W!

Anyway, I got a buddy interested in shooting, and after a bunch of trips to the range he took a liking to my 9c. He's a good guy but he's young with a family and doesn't have the proverbial 2 nickels to rub together, so any gun purchases are out of the question for him for some time.

He had a birthday this month, so I decided to gift him the 9c. I also signed him up for a CCW class so he knows something about carrying responsibly.

Now my dilemma - do I replace it with another 9c or look at the 40? I have a full size 40 Pro Series that I absolutely love, but I get that mag capacity is less than the 9.

Thoughts? I think I'm leaning towards the 40 if for no other reason than it's something different...

[TOM BECKWITH]

Like you, I was between a 9C and a 40C. Have carried a Para P-13 45auto (13+1)because of capacity and I'm sort of a spray and pray type with great target pistols (shoot some Bullseye).
For me, a whole new learning process, especially trigger control. Tried both (Apex triggers) and the 9C was easier to control for me. Ammo is a little cheaper but not a major factor. 40 was less comfortable and slower recovery (but I'm 80 so another factor). Possibly if I shot more and was younger, the 40 would be a better choice, but the 9C fits me well.

[Arik]

Replace with what you know. ...9

[Bozz10mm]

I would stick with the 9mm. More capacity, less recoil, cheaper ammo.

[dmar]

My vote is the 9mm. I'm not a big fan of the .40, and definitely not in a compact. For me, the 9mm is more controllable/more comfortable to shoot, so I shoot it better. Plus, more capacity, cheaper ammo, and the 9mm carry ammo has plenty of power. For what it's worth, the 9 will have better resale if you ever go that route. YMMV.

But hey, you've already owned the 9c, so you should know if you liked it enough to get another one. And finally, good on you for helping your buddy out, that was a real nice thing to do...

[wingriderz]

I have the 40c really like it. I have a few non smiths in compact 9mm but really like the 40 mp 40 c . I know alot say its s lot more cost to shoot but not found that case here less than two dollars difference. at wally world for range ammo I tend to shoot the 40 better. than the 9mm too. Broke into the 40 cal the 1st time last year with buying the mp40c. It wont be my only 40 I will add more. The 40 c. just finished. the flawless min 250 round test before I carry . I am now carring it in rotation in a I W B .

[chud333]

I EDC the 40c. I like it and have never been a fan of 9mm.
But it's really what you are comfortable with not me.
I have a Glock 22 in .40 S&W so i am confident and capable
with .40 caliber autoloaders.
If you like the 9's and feel comfortable with them go that way.


Chuck

[AZ_M&P]

Thanks guys, you all make valid points. I'm not concerned about ammo cost since I reload both, I just can't decide. Maybe I'll see if I can find a 40c to shoot to see if I enjoy it as much as my beloved 9...

[guskody]

hello AZ,

i used to own a 40c and i enjoyed shooting it quite a bit.

i also purchased a separate M&P 9mm barrel and some M&P 9mm mags so i had the option of shooting both calibers.

it was a nice combination and might be worth looking in to.

i personally didn't notice much of a difference in recoil and handling between the two calibers.

good luck with your decision.

[scattershot]

First, let me say that I am in awe of your generosity. Then, let me say that you,should go with the .40, because you can get drop in conversion barrels for 9mm and .357 SIG.

Good shooting!

[Narrowback]

^^^ That's why I went with the 40c. You can go 40 to 9, but not 9 to 40, so it made more sense. After 600 rounds, I have not had any reason to buy the 9mm barrel, I really like the 40. And say what you will about the advances in 9mm, the 40 has had advances too and every test I've seen shows better expansion and overall performance. I will eventually buy the 9mm barrel just for curiosity's sake, maybe.

[fdw]

I have a 40 and 9 FS. I'd go for the 9 because of ammo cost.

Otherwise I see no difference between the two.

[PirateJim]

I vote go with the 40. Here's several reasons that come to mind.

1. I'm not going to suggest that 9mm is inadequate for self defense purposes, but I can read ballistic tables and the 40 is a harder hitting caliber that makes a bigger hole without the benefit of expansion. Add to that the fact that the advances in bullet design that have made the 9mm much more effective are also available in 40.
2. You say you have a full size 40, so it's not like you are adding a new caliber that you need to keep stocked up on. Perhaps you are even in a position to do away with your stock of 9mm now the 9 Compact is gone?
3. I don't think the cheaper prices for ammo is a valid consideration when it comes to choosing a self defense gun. Certainly not a smaller carry gun. When I go to the range I almost always shoot my Shield some, but not a heck of a lot. Full size guns are more fun to shoot, and for the joy of punching holes in paper it's hard to beat a 22.
4. The Compact M&Ps, though smaller than full size, have a pretty chunky grip. You shoot a full size 40, so you know what the recoil is like. I wouldn't think you'd have a problem in that department.

To muddy the water a bit, why not consider a Shield? It seems that most people that own both find the Shield much more comfortable to carry day in and day out. Yes, you lose some capacity, but assuming you're not a LEO and don't have to intentionally go into real dodgy areas, a Shield (in my opinion) has sufficient capacity to deal with the vast majority of self defense scenarios.

[caleb4387]

I envy you. I can't decide if I want. Full size or compact much less what caliber

[KSDeputy]

When I retired, my Sheriff's Office carried the model 4506 .45acp. Now they carry Glock .40 s&w. They have a much larger number of female deputies, which I consider an asset. The females did had problems shooting the 4506. Some agencies carry 9mm, some .40 s&w. I have never liked 9mm due to over penetration, but I do like 9mm short (.380). I carry a .45 acp pistol. Were it me, I would choose the .40 s&w.

[AZ_M&P]

Originally Posted by caleb4387

I envy you. I can't decide if I want. Full size or compact much less what caliber

LOL too funny. My first gun was the 9c, my second was a Shield in 9 mm. Since then I've added a bunch of others but for me, something I could conceal easily for EDC was of primary importance. I picked up a few full size guns down the line, and I like my full size 40 enough that I usually carry that (concealed) when I'm not working and the occasional print isn't critical.

I think it all depends on what you want to do with the gun... EDC, I'd definitely start with a compact or the Shield (love them both). If it home defense, range use, or anything else perhaps full size is the way to go.

Either way you'll love the gun!

[Ballistic147]

I have the Shield in 9mm and the 40c. Recoil is nearly identical between the two as well as accuracy. Since your already set up with 40 dies might as well go that way. I've also found 40 ammo is not that much more than 9mm if you buy in bulk.

[DD357]

I'd normally say the 9C, the only way I'd consider going with the 40C is if you are already set up for the 40 and not the 9. The reality is the 9 and 40 with a good load will do the same things.

[Vbgjr]

Don't overlook the 45c best choice I made. I carry Either the Shield or a 45c. I too looked at the 9c and 40c had the Shield and 1911's so I went for the 45c.

[CGhelofxr]

I need friends like you, that being said;
You let go of a 9mm and currently have a full size 40.

Get the 40c buy a 9mm barrel and magazines and you are right where you want to be with both.

[kmanick]

Originally Posted by guskody

hello AZ,

i used to own a 40c and i enjoyed shooting it quite a bit.

i also purchased a separate M&P 9mm barrel and some M&P 9mm mags so i had the option of shooting both calibers.

it was a nice combination and might be worth looking in to.

i personally didn't notice much of a difference in recoil and handling between the two calibers.

good luck with your decision.

^ this , get the 40C and the separate 9mm barrel and mags
and you have both in one firearm.

[Mahalo_.32]

I picked up the M&P .40 just before Christmas plus I ordered the .357sig barrel and the 9mm barrel next I have to get 2 9mm mags. So having 3 calibers 1 gun is convenient. My GLOCK is the same way.

[Ole Joe Clark]

"Which one do I buy, 9 mm or 40c?"

Easy, one of each.

Have a blessed day.

[Rav]

I was in the same position as you until yesterday when I ordered one of these. By the reviews everything is as described in the ad.

Unissued S&W M&P40 Compact 3 mags NS Detroit PD Marked $399.00 SHIPS FREE

[mickeyblueyes]

I have owned a boat load of small pocket pistols, I just received a Shield .40 But its the Performance center and ported. I have yet to shoot it ,I am not worried as being the former owner of a Glock 27 , I can say that out of every gun, I have owned and own now the Shield is the best fitting in my hand and the flattest to hide. I ordered a High Noon Small of back holster and hope I put it on and never need .

[McE]

More rounds, faster followup shots, cheaper ammo, equally effective, choice seems obvious to me.

[Georgia Yankee]

One important consideration is that the 9mm slide will not accept conversion barrels, but you can get barrels to convert the 40 to either 357 SIG (a real barn burner) or 9mm (also requires a 9mm magazine.)
Since the 40 is more versatile in that respect, that was my choice. I have a 9mm barrel, just in case ammo becomes a problem, but I have not shot it.
I like my 40c quite a bit. Yes, it does kick with defense loads, but if I ever need it, I will be glad to have the added power. It hits reactive targets noticeably harder than a 9mm.

[pyro]

I remember all to well a few years ago when 9mm ammo couldn't be found anywhere, but 40cal could be had. This scenario could repeat itself again in the future. With the increase in 9mm popularity, you may someday see the 9mm shelf bare while the 40cal shelf has a few boxes. If you can afford at least 2 guns I would recommend owning both a 9mm and a 40cal. If you can only have 1, I would recommend a 40cal with a 9mm conversion barrel.

[AZ_M&P]

Originally Posted by Rav

I was in the same position as you until yesterday when I ordered one of these. By the reviews everything is as described in the ad.

Unissued S&W M&P40 Compact 3 mags NS Detroit PD Marked $399.00 SHIPS FREE

Excellent idea, ordered one today!

[tlm511]

Hope you enjoy it. I owned a M&P40 and sold it after shooting the M&P9. I was way more accurate with it. I don't care for 40 anymore and got rid of all of mine. I strictly shoot 9mm and 45cal.

[buckyjames1]

I'd go with whichever you like better but:

1. Stick with same caliber either 9 or 40

2. Go with pistols that will accept same mags
- I went with Glock 17 and Glock 26 so all auto pistols are 9mm and
universal mags. Also easier to keep ammo storage at bay, just have to
manage different bullet types not necessarily caliber.

*I'd go 9mm though, entirely too much snap in a .40 compact and otherwise. Both shooting buds
dumped their .40 set ups and went straight 9mm.

[kozmic]

Every time I look at a .40 cal I end up with either a 9mm or a .45acp. Maybe I don't understand the need for .40! In your case I'd opt for the 9c for the reasons stated above.....or just bounce up to the 45c and buy a new some new dies.

[Savannahshooter]

I purchased the M&P 40c and added a StormLake 9mm barrel plus
9mm 12 and 17 rounds mag's. Best of both worlds.

[pyro]

Originally Posted by Savannahshooter

I purchased the M&P 40c and added a StormLake 9mm barrel plus
9mm 12 and 17 rounds mag's. Best of both worlds.

Hey, why not? Personally I am not a "one size fits all" kind of guy. Life is too short to always worry about what I need. I shot 40cal for a couple of years with my wrist wrapped up from an injury. Shooting the 40cal made my wrist stronger not weaker. Snappy is good. The ability to shoot 2 calibers or more works for me. Enjoy the versatility of having both.

[ghouston13]

My .02 cents. I prefer the .40 for various reasons. It's a mental thing as I know that 9mm is great for self defense and there really isn't an appreciable difference between the two. The main reasons I bought the FS and C in .40 are these.

I shoot USPSA at a local range and used to shoot a G35 set up for limited division. I will probably be doing the same for my full sized M&P. I will more than likely buy another full size police trade in and build that as my Limited gun. So, shooting .40 means I am shooting major power factor.

Second, it seems to me that in the past, every time there was panic buying, especially ammo, .40 was easier to find. In my area .22, 9mm and even .45 was hit or miss but for some reason .40 was always available.

I have both 9mm and .40 pistols and shoot both well. No real difference to me.

The cost difference is very minimal, especially when reloading.

[Dtoshield]

Buy a 40C and buy a conversion barrel. Almost two guns for the price of one.

[pesty3782]

Just shot my 9C and what a soft shooting gun. Very accurate with no issues at all. The trigger wasn't bad, not a 1911, but not gritty either. Very pleased with the gun. Since my wife says the FS9 is hers now I have mine...or at least until she shoots this one and says it is hers

Tony P

[motorcyclejoe]

James Yeager discusses the 40c. Love this video.

YouTube

[GulfTango]

I was not a fan of the .40. Very snappy compared to 9mm and 45. But maybe try one out at your local range and see if you like it.

[RockBottom]

Originally Posted by motorcyclejoe

James Yeager discusses the 40c. Love this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gsxdk1V8i-M

He loses all credibility in the first twenty seconds, first with the p*nis comment, and then saying he doesn't like high pressure rounds. .40 and 9mm para have the exact same pressure.