shutupdata113
Member
im in the market for a full size m&p....question is 9 or 45? opinions would be greatly appreciated...thanx
9 vs 45
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Both are great. It all depends on what your purpose is. Shooting just for fun? Everyday Carry? Home Defense? All Three? Are you a beginning shooter or an experienced marksman? There are a lot of factors that go in to choosing a firearm and a caliber for that matter. I have the Full Size .45 with thumb safety. It is great to go out to the range and shoot along with a perfect home defense handgun. As for an everyday carry, yes I could carry it, but I would rather carry the 9mm or .40 Shield or a M&P 9c. The .45c is sufficient for everyday carry.
The 9mm is going to be a great range gun, very sufficient for home defense and depending on if you would like a FS or a compact it can be fine for everyday carry as well. You would be able to carry more rounds per magazine with the 9mm. However, some individuals like the "knock down" power of the .45. Here is my opinion on that...a 9mm is going to knock someone down just as well as a .45 and is more controllable for the mediocre and beginning shooter.
Both are amazing firearms. Go to your LGS and hold the two models in various sizes, M&P Shield 9mm, M&P 9mm FS and compact, and the M&P .45 FS and compact. If you are able to get your hands on them both to shoot, I would suggest that. Ammo prices are cheaper for the 9mm if you're looking for a range gun. Weigh the options, but I can guarantee you will not be upset with either decision.
The 9mm is going to be a great range gun, very sufficient for home defense and depending on if you would like a FS or a compact it can be fine for everyday carry as well. You would be able to carry more rounds per magazine with the 9mm. However, some individuals like the "knock down" power of the .45. Here is my opinion on that...a 9mm is going to knock someone down just as well as a .45 and is more controllable for the mediocre and beginning shooter.
Both are amazing firearms. Go to your LGS and hold the two models in various sizes, M&P Shield 9mm, M&P 9mm FS and compact, and the M&P .45 FS and compact. If you are able to get your hands on them both to shoot, I would suggest that. Ammo prices are cheaper for the 9mm if you're looking for a range gun. Weigh the options, but I can guarantee you will not be upset with either decision.
longhornfan69
Member
It all depends on what you want to use it for, if it's for personal defense either is adequate, if it's for plinking and shooting paper 9mm ammo is much cheaper.
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DustyDawg48
Member
I'd opt for the full-size 9mm first. Ammo for practice is much cheaper and will mean more rounds down range. For self-defense, the 9 is a good choice since there are a wide variety of quality self-defense ammo offerings out there.
1sailor
Member
Based on my own experience I would say that opting for the M&P40 is a good compromise. With the addition of a 9mm barrel you now have the option of the larger .40 cal round or, for range practice, the 9mm. At self defense or combat ranges the two rounds print close enough that it is not an issue. You can shoot a lot more 9mm for the same money and for home defense you still have the choice of .40 cal. You now also have a gun capable of firing two of the most common handgun rounds with equal ease. Not knowing what the future may bring, having the interchange option could mean the difference between a loaded or an empty gun. I have fired many hundreds of rounds of 9mm in my M&P40 and when loaded in a 9mm magazine I have never had a problem with Blazer, WWB, or Federal. Not one problem. The Remington green and white box has given me about 1 failure to eject per hundred rounds. The others have been flawless. More than adequate for range practice.
The two guns are completely different. The frames are different, the grip, the feel, everything.
The .40 can be easily turned into a .357 or 9mm, the .45 cannot.
The 9mm will be less expensive to shoot often, but I wouldn't let that affect my decision if you are using it for self defense.
The .45 has a bullet that is .45" in diameter, the 9mm bullets are .36. Meaning the .45 is .09" bigger (almost a tenth of an inch). Many people (myself included) believe that bigger holes lead to better self defense rounds. A bowling ball going through a bad guy will do more damage than a needle going through. I have both but carry the 9mm more often.
I just carry the gun that the chicks dig.
The .40 can be easily turned into a .357 or 9mm, the .45 cannot.
The 9mm will be less expensive to shoot often, but I wouldn't let that affect my decision if you are using it for self defense.
The .45 has a bullet that is .45" in diameter, the 9mm bullets are .36. Meaning the .45 is .09" bigger (almost a tenth of an inch). Many people (myself included) believe that bigger holes lead to better self defense rounds. A bowling ball going through a bad guy will do more damage than a needle going through. I have both but carry the 9mm more often.
I just carry the gun that the chicks dig.
clcdawg
Member
The M&P 9 fit my hand better so that is what I went with and love it.
I have both. The 9mm fits me so much better than the 45. I have a medium sized hand and use the medium backstrap on the grip. Due to the larger mag in the 45, I need to use the small. The ergonomics of the guns feel quite different, and I much prefer shooting the 9, although both are excellent firearms. I am more accurate with the 9.
JaPes
Member
9mm v.s. 45 ACP can lead to contentious discourse on forums. IMO, with modern defensive ammo 9mm and 45 ACP the caliber pro/cons of both even out.
I highly suggest that if there is a range near you that rents firearms and has both the 9fs and 45fs, rent them & try them. If that's not possible, then pick the one that fits best your hand. Also see if you can try a 40fs. .40 S&W is a nice compromise between 9 & 45. It's slower than a 9 but faster than a .45. .40 projectile weight is heavier than a 9mm, but less than a .45 ACP.
I have smaller hands. The larger frame of the 45fs didn't fit my hand. The smaller frame of the 9fs with small backstrap fit perfect.
(If .357 SIG ammo wasn't so expensive and more challenging to locate, I'd have a M&P 357fs.)
I highly suggest that if there is a range near you that rents firearms and has both the 9fs and 45fs, rent them & try them. If that's not possible, then pick the one that fits best your hand. Also see if you can try a 40fs. .40 S&W is a nice compromise between 9 & 45. It's slower than a 9 but faster than a .45. .40 projectile weight is heavier than a 9mm, but less than a .45 ACP.
I have smaller hands. The larger frame of the 45fs didn't fit my hand. The smaller frame of the 9fs with small backstrap fit perfect.
(If .357 SIG ammo wasn't so expensive and more challenging to locate, I'd have a M&P 357fs.)
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Gran Torino
US Veteran
The two guns are completely different. The frames are different, the grip, the feel, everything.
The .40 can be easily turned into a .357 or 9mm, the .45 cannot.
The 9mm will be less expensive to shoot often, but I wouldn't let that affect my decision if you are using it for self defense.
The .45 has a bullet that is .45" in diameter, the 9mm bullets are .36. Meaning the .45 is .09" bigger (almost a tenth of an inch). Many people (myself included) believe that bigger holes lead to better self defense rounds. A bowling ball going through a bad guy will do more damage than a needle going through. I have both but carry the 9mm more often.
I just carry the gun that the chicks dig.
I have both the 9MM and .45 and like you I love the 9MM for shooting steel/paper. Tons of fun and relatively cheap to shoot. The .45 I use for everyday carry....I to believe bigger is better.
jaykellogg
Absent Comrade
IMO there is very little difference in the stopping power of a 9.. vs. .45. That assumes you use good self defense ammo. If you use FMJ, the advantage is with the .45. However the 9mm holds 17 rounds plus one in the chamber. I would (and did myself) buy a 9mm. BTW, I own several .45s and I like the way they shoot. My daily carry weapon is a 9mm.
I am not looking for an argument, but there is a huge difference between a 9mm and .45 in stopping power. Like the difference between a .243 and 7mm mag rifle. 9mm is great though, thats what I carry. I have the shield, but if I had to take a bullet, I would take the 9mm over a .45 anyday, regardless of load. You will not live from a .45 anywhere in the vitals, 9 you could.
I call BS. The difference between the two calibers is extremely small, and for my proof I offer the in-depth study conducted by the FBI on this very subject: http://www.firearmstactical.com/pdf/fbi-hwfe.pdf
Read this report and KNOW the truth.
.45 if money isn't an issue. 9mm otherwise. I'd go shooting everyday if I could but I can't afford to. If I go and burn through 100 rounds it costs me $25 for the 9mm or it would cost $37 or so for the .45. I know there is cheaper ammo out there but I usually go to walmart and buy the federal, winchester white or remington and those are the prices around here.
More practice means better skills and that is what you need to defend yourself in life threatening situation. I don't buy the argument that you can't put a price on your safety so buy the bigger gun. You can put a price on ammo and if that price is too high, you won't practice as much.
And when you do practice, make sure you're practicing a variety of skills. Not just slow fire. El presidente is a good starting drill. There are a variety of drills out there. There are also free apps for smartphones that I highly recommend getting, you don't need a $120 shot timer. Then you can tell how fast your getting drawing and shooting 2 shots, how fast you're able to reload, etc... They usually work pretty good at picking up a dry fire click so you can practice at home without ammo. Last, remember to learn and practice the 3 types of malfunctions. This area people often neglect and if you're life came down to it, you don't want to look at your gun in wonder at how to fix your gun that tried to load 2 shells at once.
Hope this helps.
More practice means better skills and that is what you need to defend yourself in life threatening situation. I don't buy the argument that you can't put a price on your safety so buy the bigger gun. You can put a price on ammo and if that price is too high, you won't practice as much.
And when you do practice, make sure you're practicing a variety of skills. Not just slow fire. El presidente is a good starting drill. There are a variety of drills out there. There are also free apps for smartphones that I highly recommend getting, you don't need a $120 shot timer. Then you can tell how fast your getting drawing and shooting 2 shots, how fast you're able to reload, etc... They usually work pretty good at picking up a dry fire click so you can practice at home without ammo. Last, remember to learn and practice the 3 types of malfunctions. This area people often neglect and if you're life came down to it, you don't want to look at your gun in wonder at how to fix your gun that tried to load 2 shells at once.
Hope this helps.
No kidding?
It's like asking Ford v Chevy or Pepsi v Coke. Bigger bullet better? More rounds in the gun better? And the circle of life continues.
Try and shoot one before you purchase. The true winner will reveal itself that way better than asking a bunch of people that all have their different reasons.
The two guns are completely different. The frames are different, the grip, the feel, everything.
The .40 can be easily turned into a .357 or 9mm, the .45 cannot.
The 9mm will be less expensive to shoot often, but I wouldn't let that affect my decision if you are using it for self defense.
The .45 has a bullet that is .45" in diameter, the 9mm bullets are .36. Meaning the .45 is .09" bigger (almost a tenth of an inch). Many people (myself included) believe that bigger holes lead to better self defense rounds. A bowling ball going through a bad guy will do more damage than a needle going through. I have both but carry the 9mm more often.
I just carry the gun that the chicks dig.
You call bs, but a few posts above mine you basically said the same thing. The 9mm is a very good gun for carry, like I said, I carry a 9. I think it makes sense to carry a 9. But, it is not the same or even nearly the same as a .45.
Yep, I called BS on the statement that "there is a huge difference between a 9mm and .45 in stopping power"
The difference is about a tenth of an inch. They both will go through a person. They both are too slow to cause shock damage. The difference is 1/10th of an inch. Read the FBI report.
Technically we should consider the extra rounds you can carry with a 9mm. I'd rather be shot at with fewer .45 rounds than lots and lots of 9mm rounds.
I have them all, and I'd rather carry the extra rounds in the 9. If the shells are that dang close in wounding damage, I'll take the extra rounds.
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