Considering An M&P Debating 9 V .40 (Not what you think)

Smoke

Smoke

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I am considering a full sized M&P and I'm debating 9MM V. .40 (not for the reason you might think)

This is the data I have to work with.

Right off the bat my LGS doesn't have a M&P .40 in stock which almost makes my decision for me for right now. of course I can wait for one to come in if I choose the .40


Assuming both were available right now my first consideration is I already own a 9mm Shield so if I buy the M&P 9 I only have to concern myself with the one caliber

Second magazines for both appear to be hard to come by and the standard 17 round magazine for the 9mm has to be altered for sale in Colorado. This makes me question the overall long term availability of the 9mm magazines.

Colorado's new law does not prohibit me from purchasing a standard magazine out of state and bringing it home it just prohibits me from transferring it once in the state. That said I don't want to drive 100 miles each way every time I want a magazine.

Two A there appears to be a significant price difference between the two magazines so whatever savings I might have in gas would be eaten up by the price difference.

Final point in favor of the .40 is that assuming the magazines are available at all I can buy the 15 round standard 40 magazine in state with no question about the legality of the transaction.

Help me decide
 
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I've got a 9C, 9pro FS and 40FS. I think your reasoning on one caliber makes sense BUT the reason I have both is when 9 dried up I found 40 :)

Regarding magazines, they're plentiful again. If you can legally bring in the 17 rounders, you're only talking one trip to buy as many as you need so that wouldn't be a factor for me.

If it were me, given what you've said, I'd get the 9 and start stocking the shelves for the "next time". If you don't already do so, start reloading. That makes even a stronger case for a single caliber!


Smoke said:
I am considering a full sized M&P and I'm debating 9MM V. .40 (not for the reason you might think)

This is the data I have to work with.

Right off the bat my LGS doesn't have a M&P .40 in stock which almost makes my decision for me for right now. of course I can wait for one to come in if I choose the .40


Assuming both were available right now my first consideration is I already own a 9mm Shield so if I buy the M&P 9 I only have to concern myself with the one caliber

Second magazines for both appear to be hard to come by and the standard 17 round magazine for the 9mm has to be altered for sale in Colorado. This makes me question the overall long term availability of the 9mm magazines.

Colorado's new law does not prohibit me from purchasing a standard magazine out of state and bringing it home it just prohibits me from transferring it once in the state. That said I don't want to drive 100 miles each way every time I want a magazine.

Two A there appears to be a significant price difference between the two magazines so whatever savings I might have in gas would be eaten up by the price difference.

Final point in favor of the .40 is that assuming the magazines are available at all I can buy the 15 round standard 40 magazine in state with no question about the legality of the transaction.

Help me decide
Click to expand...
 
I have both a 9 and 40 Shield. They're both good pistols, although the 40's a little snappy for the Shield frame. In a FS, either should be fine. Try shooting both before selecting either. Good luck with your choice.


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I'd get the 9mm

I have a Glock 22 and it's my least favorite gun to shoot. And no, I'm not a Glock hater. My 21 and 26 are great. I just don't care too much for the snappy 40SW.

That being said, the 22 is what lives in the nightstand.
 
I'd get the 40. Even if you don't like it later you can always buy a 9mm barrel and convert it but you can't go from 9mm to 40.

I'm not sure if you're wanting to purchase from your LGS to support them (which is awesome BTW) but if they can't get you what you want why not go online for the gun?

I'm in MD and we have similar mag laws (10 rd limit). The only advantage I have is VA and PA are close by but I feel your pain. With that said, I'd suggest what Smokin' dog said.

Once you buy them rebuilding them (replacing springs, followers) should be completely legal so it's pretty much a one time purchase, no?
 
smokindog said:
Regarding magazines, they're plentiful again. If you can legally bring in the 17 rounders, you're only talking one trip to buy as many as you need so that wouldn't be a factor for me.
Click to expand...
There are two problems with this logic. First, how many do you need? This is not always an easy answer. The average Joe can get by with two, but more is always nicer. Secondly, mags are not cheap. It's easy to say, "But as many...", but the wallet does not always support that.



Personally I like this thought better:
Jiman said:
I'd get the 40. Even if you don't like it later you can always buy a 9mm barrel and convert it but you can't go from 9mm to 40.
Click to expand...
I have a full size 40 and found a factory 9mm barrel for it. The factory barrel drops right in and works great. I got some 9mm mags and have put about 200 rounds through it in 9mm configuration. It may be a shade less accurate than a factory 9mm gun, but it does work with both just fine.

Thus, I support the 40S&W idea.
 
The 9 and the 40 mags are the same cost so the decision on how many based on $$ remains unchanged by the choice of caliber :) Is this going to be a parallel caliber war??? :cool: I own both so I can't be accused of being a caliber-ist.

Rastoff said:
There are two problems with this logic. First, how many do you need? This is not always an easy answer. The average Joe can get by with two, but more is always nicer. Secondly, mags are not cheap. It's easy to say, "But as many...", but the wallet does not always support that.



Personally I like this thought better:I have a full size 40 and found a factory 9mm barrel for it. The factory barrel drops right in and works great. I got some 9mm mags and have put about 200 rounds through it in 9mm configuration. It may be a shade less accurate than a factory 9mm gun, but it does work with both just fine.

Thus, I support the 40S&W idea.
Click to expand...
 
Jiman said:
I'm not sure if you're wanting to purchase from your LGS to support them (which is awesome BTW) but if they can't get you what you want why not go online for the gun?
Click to expand...

Because I like the people that run this gun shop (Family Firearms Sales Colorado Springs).

smokindog said:
I've got a 9C, 9pro FS and 40FS. I think your reasoning on one caliber makes sense BUT the reason I have both is when 9 dried up I found 40 :)
Click to expand...

That's definitely a consideration and is a big part of the reason I will be keeping my 4006

smokindog said:
Regarding magazines, they're plentiful again. If you can legally bring in the 17 rounders, you're only talking one trip to buy as many as you need so that wouldn't be a factor for me.
Click to expand...

In Colorado the magazines (especially the 9mm) are not plentiful. My LGS modifies the 17 rounders to a Colorado legal 15 rounds ( If 2 rounds is the difference between living and dying I picked the wrong gun in the first place), others simply don't sell them or sell them in pieces as "kits".
 
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For me, it's a no brainer. Go with the 9mm. First off, ammo is a bit cheaper. Secondly, too many police agencies are abandoning the .40 and going back to 9mm. The more powerful .40 is responsible for frames cracking as well as accuracy losses compared to the 9mm.

If I feel the need to get anything bigger than the 9mm, I'll simply skip the .40 and go with the .45 ACP.
 
To clarify caliber in and of itself isn't an issue here. All of my training dictates that if I fire at all I will be firing more than one round anyway and if 15 or 17 + 1 rounds aren't enough regardless of caliber I picked the wrong gun to begin with
 
own both, get the 9, for me much easier for accurate follow up shots..
 
9mm for me. i do think .40 is a good cal, just not for me. that said when 9mm was scarce, the LGS i work at had plenty of .40...
 
I agree with Smokindog; This last ammo shortage, I couldn't find 9mm at any price, but I could still find 40, 45, & even 357, all calibers I shoot. To me, diversifying is important. You know, don't put all your eggs in one basket!
 
I have a FS and Shield in 9mm. Though I do like the idea of multiple calibers, I carry only 9mm simply because I can fire quick accurate follow up shots.
 
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