Amen. Sidearms allow one to get to their rifle or shotgun.

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SV,14,17,21,28,29,39,66,586

This thread is simply an opinion.

Other members pointed out that it is more up to YOU than what round you choose. Heck, practice head/neck shots and then go get yourself a .22 or .380!

I no longer own any 40 caliber pistols.When the .40S&W was first introduced it was a legitimate answer to some problems,especially as a police duty round.
With the development of better performing bullets in all the calibers,it doesn't have that great of an edge anymore.
It is certainly better through hard barriers than the 9mm and this is probably the reason most Police departments went to it and still use it.
That along with the fact that:1-very few police officers are ballisticians and don't keep abreast of newer developements in ammo.2-Police administrators are easily advertised to.
There's a fairly large shift back to the 9mm with many urban police departments for a number of reasons,including some problematical guns with the .40 round.

The city PD here never left the 9mm.A sensible call IMO. NOTHING wrong with the .40 IMO,and I would not disparage the round at all.It works real well,and has done so here in multiple OIS's with some county officers.As a civilian,the 9mm is more affordable in bulk,there are great performing rounds available for it,and I don't ever anticipate having to shoot into a vehicle,and I shoot it better.
I'd say define your needs in a defensive pistol,pay your money and take your choice.

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Blessed be the Lord,my Rock

Well said Stu.

I caught that cactus-jack!!


My preference is perfect reliability in a gun I can shoot well.

Hey I carry a glock 22 .40 s&W all day long. I also know that several of our deputies have been in shoot outs with the .40S&W. The round is a good round. I personally prefer the .45 acp or a .357 magnum to carry as they are both proven man stoppers.

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M.J.Hanna

I have both a 9mm and a 40 S&W. For most of my shooting use, I prefer the 9mm because the ammo is 60% to cost of 40 S&W. However, I carry the 40 (Kahr CW 40) in my car console with Gold Dot ammo loaded in it.

.40 is my preference - more thump.

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VIVERE MILITARE EST

The 40 s&w round my buddys 40 cal i was shooting a couple of weeks ago was hurting my fingers we were shooting 180GR that little automatic had some buck to it it is a very small automatic i think you know what brand i mean. I know there is a wide range of bullets for the 9MM But the 9MM does not kick as hard as the 40 cal. If i was to buy a 40cal it would have to be bigger where it wouldn't recoil as much Didn't they make a s&w in a chiefs special in 40 cal autmatic?? Thanks Tom

Realistically, it's not about caliber so much as it is whether we carry a full size gun or a compact.

If I carry a full size gun why in the world would I "settle" for a forty?! I don't. I carry a 45 ACP.

If I carry a compact, it's a 9MM.

I know VERY few people that can shoot a compact 40 well and get good quality hits in a timely manner.

And factor in that most people only shoot at non moving paper targets just makes matters worse.

I'll be 51 next month. I'm still strong but not like I used to be. I can't shoot a compact 40 and get quick accurate follow up shots like I can a compact 9MM.

So I figure 2 or 3 quick well placed shots with a 9MM beats 1 hit with a 40 or 45 any day.

I had a 9mm I picked up in the 90s. It was taken in a break-in. When I went shopping for a replacement I was considering 9, 40 and 45. I went with 40 back when it was fairly easy to find and 9mm and 45 weren't. The gun I also liked the best came in 9 and 40, but the 40 could be converted to 9 (and 357). The 9 couldn't be converted to anything. I also liked the idea that I was upgrading in power. I think 40sw is pretty comparable to 45.
I have to admit the harsher recoil of the 40 (compared to 9 or 45) came as a bit of a surprise(purchased the gun without shooting it first), but its certainly nothing I can't handle.
I recently picked up a real cheap Hi-Point 9mm carbine. I really wish that was a 40 since I want to use it as a back-up deer rifle. I still will, but now I feel compelled to buy some overpriced +p+ stuff that is still weaker than standard pressure 40sw that I have sitting around.

Well my +P+ can do anything your 40 can do at $30 for a box of 50 rounds.

For me, I like the .40 S&W. The ammo may be slightly higher to buy, but the extra ballistics is worth it IMHO. My reason for choosing the .40 S&W over the 9MM is, besides the extra pop, I am carrying the same size pistol so why not carry the extra power.
Sorry, no Smith, but My Glock 22 has been 100% with any ammo I have run throught it and I'm sure the the M&P series Smith's are just as reliable.

How can you say that? I know a lot of guys that are shooting competition now with .40 S&W. One guy last night in my skeet league was telling me about a competition he is shooting this weekend, and he's very good. I asked him what he was shooting, and he replied "My M&P in .40 S&W"

Most of my LEO friends now carry and shoot .40's, including in competitions. (Sig's mainly)

I shoot my 4014 almost as well as my 5906's at moving targets. I mainly figure that difference is due to the weight and compact size of the 4014, not the caliber.

The .40 is a nice round for sure, my P229 is a tack driver and one hell of a nice gun. I still prefer the .45 cal though as my go to gun for home defense and CCW. I only go with my Bersa .380 when gun size and dress don't allow for something a bit bigger.

Of the two choices offered, I'd go for the 9mm. Reason is the .40 kicks much more than a 9 and if I want less control per shot, I'll just step up to my 10mm. The venerable 1911 in .45 is an incredible stand-by, if not the major frontrunner for defense. My only problem with 9mm is some of the (WEAK!!!!) ammo manufactured. The worst by far has been 9mm UMC. That ammo is Krap with a capitol "K". It is very anemic. A 115 grainer at 1450fps is way more in the ball-park of good ammo for the 9mm. I have some Uzi 9mm JHP carbine ammo that is +P rated and not too bad. Winchesters 115 bulk in the 100 round pack seems to be OK also. I've owned 14 .40 S&W's (mostly for resale) and was not impressed by the four I shot on a regular basis. The only one that was incredibly accurate was a Lew Horton Tactical. It amazes me how .40 gets pumped-up as a round that is easily controllable over a .45acp. Seriously? Every .40 I have shot produced more recoil than any .45 I have shot. My favorite 9mm is a Beretta Brigadier 92fs stainless. JMO

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Go big or stay home

The 9mm, .40 and .45 are all so close we are splitting hairs.

Shoot what you like and shoot it well.

I prefer my 45acp over either one but having said that I tend to shoot my 9s a lot more, mainly due to the high cost of ammo. I just never cared for the 40 mainly because of the snap recoil, it just didn't feel right to me, guess I am just a wuss! My son loves his 40 and doesn't mind the snappy recoil, however, he shoots his 9mm far more and the 45acp also. So go figure. If ever in a bad situation....give me anything bigger than a rock or a stick!

Sprefix you make some valid points there except about the more recoil at the end. Much to general a statement I think, maybe if you are shooting a plastic gun it may be true, but that is not the case when comparing my P229 and Colt Commander, the kick is pretty much the same.

BTW that Beretta Brigadier is one SWEET gun!!

40 for me. I have never been a big fan of the 9mm, no real reason why either, just like bigger and fatter.

I know I'm sticking my neck out here but... I prefer the 9mm except when I'm carrying a 40 and a 40, except when I am holding a 9.

I love my 9mm's.

If you read and understand my post, I was refering to compacts. Which is what most people carry these days.

Now thats funny!!!

Not really interested in the 10mm Kurz. I have .45ACP & 9mm bottom feeders.

The .40 is a high pressure round & is known to be pretty unforgiving of reloading errors.

If I couldn't have a .45 I'd take a nine.

I love both calibers and currently have a couple of pistols in each!

You know, now that I reflect on it more, the Tactical was an easy shooting gun. Good catch as the rest of them were predominately plastic. My Sigs are forgiving and CRAZY accurate in 9mm. I don't recall shooting a Sig .40. My Sig P220 in ACP is a dream to shoot with a Harrts' recoil reducer. I'm not a big fan of miracle add-ons, but this thing changes the personality of the P220 significantly. It just gives a little push with very little muzzle-flip. Even with the earlier West German long trigger sweep, double-taps come together nicely. My Dan Wesson Commander bobtail (10mm) is rude and jumpy with 180's at 1400fps. I really like the size of the P229.

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Go big or stay home

In any X vs Y caliber choice, I'll always opt for the one that makes the bigger holes and creates the greatest amount of energy. In the case of the 9x19 vs the .40 S&W, this means the .40 is the winner for me.

That said, I wouldn't feel inadequately armed if I carried a 9x19 pistol with the right ammo.

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Steve
NJ State Trooper (rtd)

I prefer the 9mm but I also love the 45. I do not have a 40 anymore but it was a nice round. I think you should shoot what you like. I believe in shot placement no matter what you shoot.

Yes, I caught that part. The 4014 of mine I was referring to is a compact.

Maybe there is a bigger difference in polymer compacts in a .40, but in metal framed pistols, I really don't see a lot of difference in accuracy and able to control shots compared to a 9mm. For example, a 3013 vs. 4013 is pretty much a dead heat I believe in "shootability".

You may have a valid point concerning metal frames.

Shot placement will always trump caliber. 9mm has been around HOW LONG? I think its gonna be around a while longer lol...

We're not talking about anything remotely resembling excessive recoil when discussing either the 9x19 or the .40 S&W. Both are easily controllable for most people including my wife how is petite and older than your 51 years. The .40 S&W might take slightly more effort to become effective with, but it's not a difficult caliber to master and I don't for a second believe it beyond your own limitations especially since you shoot a .45 ACP. The fact is, the whole point of the .40 S&W's creation was to provide a police service cartridge more powerful than the 9x19 yet, unlike the 10mm, manageable to the average shooter. It fills this role well.

If you truly know "VERY few" who can shoot a compact .40 S&W well, I think you probably need to find a better circle of shooters to hang out with.

Here's my wife's pistol of choice. It's a Heckler & Koch P2000SK sub-compact .40 S&W.
She's lethally effective with it.

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Steve
NJ State Trooper (rtd)

The best round is the one you can shoot well consistently. The 9,40, 45 all do the job.

I have several good HK and S&W 40s, a couple of 45ACPs because I kept finding all this nice once fired brass at the range and decided the 3rd Gen S&Ws might be fun since they were showing up cheap (never really liked the 1911), and one 9 because it was a good one (3913) and at the time I bought it, it was cheap.

My opinion is that the 40 is a better round by itself than the summation of the other two.

It's cheaper to shoot than the anemic old 45ACP that needs viagra just to achieve decent penetration, whether you handload or buy factory, and more fun than the wuss little 9, with a snappy feel that says "yep, yep, that's right, I'm bigger, I got more stuff".
If I'm shooting a 9, I might as well be shooting a 38SP revolver; ditto a 45ACP viz-a-viz a 45 Colt.

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" I said, good DAY! "

It took a long, long time for me to warm up to the 40 cal. I have more 9mms (pistols and carbines) than I will admit to online, and several 45s (pistols and carbines). That said, I have a SIG 229 and SW 646 and really like them, as well as my issued M&P 40. If I'm buying the ammo, or reloading, I will shoot the 9mm. If the ammo is being handed out, I will shoot the 40 all day long.

I don't feel under gunned with the 9mm, but the more weight I can send your way in a fight, the better. Still, off duty, you will find a 9mm on my hip 70% of the time.

I hope to never be in a position that I'm forced to shoot a person, but if I am, I want it to end quickly (and I don't think you can put a price on that - cheap ammo is not my friend if the S H T F)

I have never used either for self defense. I shoot both at paper targets every chance I get and they are both a ton of fun. I am quicker and more accurate with my 9mm but I smile more when I shoot the 40. I carry either the .380, 9mm, or 40s&w everyday and feel protected with all three. I have never shot anybody so I don't know which round works best as a man stopper. Maybe when I mature I will take a liking to the 45 acp but I will probably try out a 10mm next, just to say I did.

I'm not very recoil sensitive, and enjoy it actually with the big bore guns. what I don't like about 40 is the torque. so of the two, I guess put me in the 9mm pref. I only carry 45 or 357 mag however. I take 9mm along with my SD guns to the range to shoot a lot of ammo. I wont shoot less than 3-500 rounds at a time for a range session.

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God Bless Our Troops.

NINE all the way. Don't care for forty. Never have. Only had a couple in my hands over the years. Smith, Kahr, and I think a CZ75.

I really enjoy reading these kinds of threads and have over the years. I "liked" two different posts because I agreed with both of them. I see a lot of "internet" complaints/opinions parrotted by some posters. I'll bet they have never even shot a .40 . I carry a .40 about 90% of the time. The rest is split between my 9mm and .45ACP. My own humble opinion is carry what is comfortable to shoot and practice, practice, practice.

Although right now, I don't have a .40 S&W or a .45 ACP, I did own numerous .45 Autos in the past so I have beaucoup brass, dies, bullets and related reloading components for the .45 ACP, so would not consider a .40 as my next large caliber handgun. Most likely it will be a S&W 3rd gen .45 ACP bought on the used market. I'm not averse to the 1911 either, but don't like carrying them (my Colt used to slip off-safe after carrying all day-very disconcerting).

I have nothing against the .40 S&W, just have so much invested in gear for the .45 that buying and feeding a .40 would not be cost effective for me.

Right now, I have two 9mm handguns. I truly love my ex-law enforcement Sig P-226 9mm and it's a keeper. Also just picked up a S&W 659 last week which cleaned up real good and functions just fine. Will be taking it to the range for testing next week.

Overall, the 9mm has become one of my favorite calibers (the .38 Special is another). 9mm is easy on recoil, even though I'm not recoil sensitive, and fun to shoot. And it's inexpensive compared to almost all other centerfire ammo. I have no problem staking my life on it because I shoot it well.

This is advice worth taking to heart. Practice IS the key.

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Steve
NJ State Trooper (rtd)

22,38,and 9mm,keeping to just these cal. make choosing guns and buying ammo easier,i like simplicity.That's not to say if a 631 32 cal. crossed my path i would'nt change my mind.

Here here, that's blasphemy.

And I totally agree on both accounts. A fat bullet traveling moderately fast does a number on deer, elk and pigs. I used to carry an old Para 16-40 in a drop leg holster, one of the supposed frame crackers, and it has saved me a time or three walking up on a "dead" hog. You don't know what a nasty situation is until you are staring down a 300+ lb pig with 3" cutters. *

* This doesn't apply to our men and women serving to protect our freedom, rights and well being on a day to day basis.

I refuse to allow myself to be baited into an emotionally charged and totally pointless caliber war, but, personally, I prefer the 9x19 cartridge in every respect to the .40, or .45. I carry my full-size 9mm pistols stuffed with Federal 9BPLE, and my sub-compact loaded with 9BP. For less expensive practice sessions, I use handloads.

I do have personal experience with all three. To me, the .40 is nothing more than a 9x19 on steroids. It obviously will get the job done, or most LE agencies would not have selected some version of this cartridge for their LEOs to carry. However, I have discovered the recoil is too snappy for me to obtain quick follow-up shots, especially when using only one hand.

The .45 ACP is obviously another effective cartridge, but it is too BFS to suit my personal taste. And a larger framed pistol is normally required to utilize this cartridge... I do think the .45 GAP has virtually unrecognized potential to be a popular cartridge if it were to be properly promoted. Although this doesn't mean I would rush right out and buy a pistol chambered for it.

9 vs 40 vs 45...it's all really just a matter of preference. Since 9 ammo is so much cheaper than the other two, that's what I shoot most of the time. I own guns in all 3 and enjoy each of them--variety is the spice of life.

I do think that there is a lot of validity to recoil being a moot point in larger framed guns. The perceived recoil from a 4006 is negligible comparing it to a 5906 in my experience. Couldn't really say for more compact models.

I'm a "polygunist"--there's room in my safe for all.

After I 1st posted on this thread and I remained to the point, but threw in some good sarcasim to make more of a point....I see this thread is still moving along So.....Go on You Tube and search 9mm vs .40 S&W Penetration tests.

The next day, I spoke to guys that shoot all 3 calibers, 9, 40 and 45 about recoil. There is little difference between 9 and 40 to start any arguement and those of you that think 9mm has that much less recoil, what it God's name are you comparing too?
Even my Die Hard 9mm loving Wife Finally admitted that there is No Difference in the recoil between the 2 Calibers and she has compared over 15 different handguns, Steel and Plastic!

Lastly, At our gun club we are involved in Pin shoots. The majority of members shooting pistol are using .45. Some of us use .40, but the .45 guys really have a edge.
Those that choose 9mm are never winners.

I don't hate 9mm, I just know that in many applications the .40 is a better round.

Now practice head/neck shots and go get yourself a .22 or .380.

I have heard a lot of complaining about ammo cost and unless I missed it no one has mentioned a .22 cal conversion kit. I have carried Browning Hp, controls are same as a Colt 1911 so no problem, also carry a Colt 1911 and a Glock 27 (safety on trigger so I can't flip it the wrong way). I have conversion kits for the Colts and Glock, so I am practicing on the same configuration as I carry . At the end of the day I convert them back and run a few mags of full power to make sure It is as designed and fully functional.
That said I am not above casting and loading my own ammo. Must be getting old and lazy.
As to 9mm center mass hit vs a maybe on a 40 or 45, carry what you shoot best. A near miss makes the bad guy nervous a center mass hit should make him stop all anti-social activity

The bad guy definitely won’t care what he gets hit with. As for me, since I already own a few 9mm’s and a few .45 acp’s, why buy another caliber?

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Inconsistently consistent

9mm. It worked for me in service, and it still works for me. Dale

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"Long live the S&W 3rd. Gen.!"

Its nice to have a choice of ones preference...if you like a 9...get a 9 if you prefer the 40 get a 40. What does it matter, the bad guy isnt going to like the end results anyway.