.40 cal vs 9mm

[imjin138]

This thread saved me some trouble, I have several 9mms and no 40's I have a chance to buy a G23 really cheaply. Ammo arund here is 15 or 16 dollars for 9 and 19 to 21 dollars for 40 so not much of a price change.

The other gun is a G19 but i already have a 17, 26 and 34 and a few S&W nines and my lovely CZ's. I also have 45s and like them too, I almost bought a 357 sig but if I buy a 40 I can buy a Sig barrel.


I shoot the 9mm almost weeky, I expect I can practice with the 40 too.

 

[derrelw]

"Stopping power" is a myth. Entertainment has created unrealistic expectations.

Pick whichever you shoot the best and can afford to practice with the most. Shot placement is far more important than minor differences in diameter.

Very well said.

 

[NRA UR2]

357 Sig

You want the best of both worlds get a 357 SIG...gut wrenching power of a 45 with the stopping power of a 357....and capacity of a 40.

 

[WR Moore]

You want the best of both worlds get a 357 SIG....

Not to mention all the effects of a flash-bang with every shot. The shooter may not notice, everyone else certainly will.

 

[NDMarksman]

IMHO

From what I've seen recently, the 9mm has lost it's cost advantage over the 40 caliber. After a full year of being totally devoid of 9mm of any description, the one local Walmart that has been able to keep some handgun ammunition in stock just recently started getting in some 9mm. Fiocci FMJ, at 16.97 per box of 50. That aint cheap. Until the recent price hike, Federal FMJ in the 40 S&W was 13.97 per box of 50, now I think it's also 16.97 however it was out of stock and the saleperson didn't know the new price.

Currently, the most widely used caliber in Law Enforcement is the 40 caliber and sales volume is a huge determanent for price. At one time, the cheapest major caliber that could be found was the 38 spl. and it's because at that time it was the caliber carried in almost every Cops revolver. When the Police forces moved to the semi auto, it was initially into the 9mm for it's greater capacity and similarity in recoil to the 38 spl. So, for a great many years the most widely sold ammunition was the 9mm Parabellum and it became very inexpensive. Now, due to reported failures of the 9mm in terms of stopping power, police forces have taken up the 40 caliber. If NATO ever decide to take up the 40 caliber, it will rapidly become the least expensive ammo you can shoot, until then 9mm and 40 will be very similar in cost.

As for stopping power, the 9mm, 40 caliber, and 45 ACP are all moderate power handgun calibers. This means that none offer true 1 shot stopping power without optimum shot placement. IMO, one is better served by picking one caliber and learning how to master it. I also think that in large part the caliber debate has largely devolved into a mechanism largely used to generate new sales in both ammunition and handguns.

That said, I happen to favor the 40 caliber. For basically the same reason why I prefer a 22 ounce hammer over a 16 ounce hammer, I get a heavier hit with a bit less apparent effort. Due to the local shortage of 9mm in my area for the past year, I am really liking my choice even more.

scooter123 you just hit the sweet spot on this debate. I've been shooting & reloading for three decades and I prefer the 9mm for a CCW but that's me. My favorite caliber to carry on a back woods hunt is the .41 magnum with a 3 inch barrel. Your statement about choosing the caliber you like and "learning" to shoot it well is the whole enchilada in a nutshell. Practice, practice & more practice. Unless you're covered in body armor from head to toe my 9mm is going to take you out!

 

[Linejudgemick]

From what I've seen recently, the 9mm has lost it's cost advantage over the 40 caliber. After a full year of being totally devoid of 9mm of any description, the one local Walmart that has been able to keep some handgun ammunition in stock just recently started getting in some 9mm.

As for stopping power, the 9mm, 40 caliber, and 45 ACP are all moderate power handgun calibers. This means that none offer true 1 shot stopping power without optimum shot placement. IMO, one is better served by picking one caliber and learning how to master it.

I agree with this...

I have both 9mm and 40 S&W pistols. I used to really like the 9mm, just to use for the most inexpensive full-size pistol ammo. Of course I also like my 22lr for that too, however over the past few months both 22lr and 9mm were not to be found. Although that is slowly changing, in my area they are not as inexpensive as they once were and the difference in 9mm and 40 S&W has narrowed.

No pistol is a magic ray gun that will vaporize a target by simply grazing it when fired. Handguns are a compromise in size and compactness from the firepower of an adequate long-gun. Hopefully none of us will ever have to use either our long-guns or hand-guns for anything other the range, or hunting. In the meantime I'm sure we'll each have opinions of which caliber serves us best for the purpose we use them for.

 

[alwslate]

The 9mm could rightfully be called the perfect auto pistol cartridge.
It is basically the world standard pistol and sub machine gun round.
Don't hold your breath waiting for the slightly larger dia. high pressure
.40 cal. to kick the 9mm to the curb outside the US.

 

[jeeps]

THE 40 SW IS A ******* CASTRATED 10MM. Not as good as a 45acp and no better than a 9mm. Its like the old 16ga shotshell, not as good as a 12ga and no better than a 20ga. Have no use for the 40SW .

 

[fdw]

Sorry to be slightly off topic but thought this video comparing the 9 vs 45 using corbon dpx was interesting. Watch all way to the end (after the chart). "Terminal performance is functionally identical"

Will repost link.

Think this will work.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CGWvJOXP9k&sns=em


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[brucev]

what are the main difference with these 2 calibers

regarding price firepower etc

The main difference... .40 S&W offers a little more bullet weight and size. All things equal, the 9mm will offer more rounds and a higher velocity with standard weight bullets. Either round is extremely effective for HD/SD use. In the same frames... for instance the Glock 17/22 or the equivalent S&W M&P frames, most people will consider that the .40 S&W has a snappier recoil. From what I've read, the 9mm offers better penetration than the .40 S&W and either will do better than the .45 ACP. Then again, someone will drop a slightly heavier recoil spring into the same pistol and the .40 S&W will be about like the 9mm... just with a larger heavier bullet. For a very well trained shooter, there will be very little if any difference in the rate of fire that can be produced with either round. Shooters who do not get to fire hundreds of rounds each week will likely find that the 9mm allows them to sustain a higher accurate rate of fire.

 

[hangnoose]

"RUBBER BULLETS"

Then I suppose this guy wouldn't mind catching a few of them. I have both and like both. both will get the job done fine if you do your part. in a smaller/lighter gun for cc I'd opt for the 9mm. the 40 to me has a fast/snappy feeling recoil, worse than the 45's slow shove. for the fastest controlled 2nd shot it's hard to beat the 9mm or 38 special imo.

 

[Kanewpadle]

In theory a bigger bullet is better. But in the end, they are handgun rounds and all of them have been known to succeed and fail. One isn't better than the other.

In guns the same size and weight, I can put 4 or 5 effective hits on target with a 9MM faster than most people can with a larger caliber.

And I don't buy this "Has to start with a 4" BS. It only shows the lack of understanding of how handgun calibers perform.

I tried the 40. Had several of them. I wasn't impressed. But it is purely a personal decision. Whatever you choose, make it work for you and move on.

 

[Boge]

...And I don't buy this "Has to start with a 4" BS...

WHAT??!! You mean those ol' drunk duffers BS'ng in the VFW in the past were spinning yarns? LOL!!


As someone mentioned, Hollywood has convinced many that the .45 ACP is a "death ray" and also that anyone shot gives up the ghost on the spot. The sadder part is that some of those people serve on juries.

 

[CoMF]

Heh... Return of the Necrothread.

I was happy with the 9mm before, and if I ever own another autoloading pistol (which is unlikely), I will happily put my trust in the 9mm again. Easy cartridge to shoot, not terribly expensive, all the capacity one could ask for, and you have your choice of very well-regarded loadings like the Speer Gold Dot 124 gr. +P or Winchester Ranger-T 147 gr., both of which were my favorites.

 

[uechikid]

This picture shows the expansion cavity and penetration for 9, 357 sig, 40 & 45 JHP. Pretty good illustration that all these calibers will work great for self defense. If you consider some of the new SD ammo out now like Hornady's critical defense, it comes down to what caliber your most comfortable shooting.