I have been looking for a EDC gun and found the S&W PC Ported M&P Shield to my liking, what are some of the pro's and con's of these 2 calibers? I do not plan on reloading either, so I will be buying practice & SD ammo.
40 Cal vs. 9mm
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sandmansans
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Pros of the 9mm is cost, availability and bullet design...you see all sort of crazy stuff.
.40 cal is a stouter round but at the expense of higher cost primarily.
I'm sure others on here Can give you better insight.
.40 cal is a stouter round but at the expense of higher cost primarily.
I'm sure others on here Can give you better insight.
shotgun693
Member
.40 MIGHT have a bit better 'stopping power' but with good ammo they both work OK. .40 is a more intense round, more recoil, much louder. .40 is available throughout the US. 9mm is available everywhere. I knew 'contractors' going overseas to work. They all bought a 9mm for work because they could count on finding ammo.
Mainsail
Member
I read the "experts" with a grain of salt, but they will tell you that 9mm is the minimum self defense round. Well, I'm not crazy about carrying what seems to be acknowledged as the minimum when it comes to my life, so I stick to either .357Sig or .45acp.
But to your actual question, sandmansans pretty much sums it up.
But to your actual question, sandmansans pretty much sums it up.
Arik
Member
40 has higher ft-lbs of energy but it also has more wear on the gun (assume you shoot A LOT ) and cost a little more. Practice ammo is only a 2 or 3 dollars difference. Quality SD ammo will be equally good
The .40 is a stouter round, but it will be more harsh on the shooter and gun...something to consider in a small pistol like the Shield. The 9 is more plentiful and usually less expensive while still offering decent defense loads, probably the better option in a smaller limited capacity pistol.
Somewhat new area for me (carried a Para P-13 45for some time), but in doing a fair amount of reading, indications are that the 9MM and 40 are about equal in stopping power with good ammo (Hornady Critical Duty for one). With the S&W M&P 9 VS 40, I had better control with the 9MM. Learning to use the M&P trigger system (even with APEX) is a little challenging. Using the Umarex M&P series (BB and/or pellet) has helped me learn the more challenging trigger system and two hand hold.
Suggest you shoot both calibers to see how each fits you.
Suggest you shoot both calibers to see how each fits you.
Protected One
Member
Everything has been mentioned except what I believe to be the most important issue in your choice - the ported barrell. Yes, it looks cool, and will reduce the felt recoil in either the 9mm or 40S&W version. But for a EDC (self defense gun) I think it would be a mistake. The added flash from the ports is not something desirable in a gunfight.
THe Shield 9mm is the ideal edc in my opinion, and the recoil is easily managable in the standard (non PC) version. For competition shooting I think its a wonderful feature, but for an EDC? ...Not so much.
THe Shield 9mm is the ideal edc in my opinion, and the recoil is easily managable in the standard (non PC) version. For competition shooting I think its a wonderful feature, but for an EDC? ...Not so much.
66snub
Member
And let's not forget, the 9 holds more rounds...
Rick_A
Member
In a little gun 40 sucks. In a service sized gun it's a dream. The price difference in ammunition is meaningless to me.
Backlighting
Member
Agreed.
I've got a full size Glock .40 cal (model 22) that I won't part with. 15+1 rounds of decent stopping power in a gun that runs like a clock.
Any person who wants to worry if .40 is a better self defense round than 9mm will never feel right because they will go out every day knowing in the back of their mind that .45 is better.
.40 was already a dying caliber even before the FBI abandoned it.
If 9mm doesn't feel right, then just go with .45acp and be done with it.
.40 was already a dying caliber even before the FBI abandoned it.
If 9mm doesn't feel right, then just go with .45acp and be done with it.
amazingflapjack
US Veteran
The FBI just went back to the 9 MM.
Backlighting
Member
Right on the money. The smaller and lighter the (plastic) gun, the better off you are with 9mm. I say that as a person who prefers .40's in just about any decent-sized pistol. But when you get down to the size and weight of the Shield, give me the 9mm version any day.
DD357
Member
9mm, 40, 45; with good loads there isn't anything in it. There is no such thing as stopping power and energy number between the 3 of them don't mean anything either. 40 & 45 loads in the past have proven a bit better through barriers like auto glass but I'm reading there are 9mm loads now that have evened that up as well.
Arik
Member
Good call. I missed that. Ported barrel isn't for carry.
My suggestion would be to rent a gun in 40 and see. Most ranges will have some flavor of 40, Glock, Smith....something. if you can rent a polymer gun since that's what you're looking at. It will give you a better idea of what it feels like to shoot a 40 as opposed to renting a all metal gun.
You typically loose some rounds compared to a same size 9mm. About 2 or 3 depending on the design. Glock 17 holds 17+1 of 9mm or Glock 22 holds 15 +1 of 40s&w.
I own a G22 and a HK P2000 in 40. Both are accurate and a pleasure to shoot.
