9mm ammo is universally available, used by LEO's, military and commonly used outside the US but is not the hottest self defense round. 40 S&W ammo is only common with LEO's, could see less availability in a breakdown of law and order, but packs a bigger punch. I've chosen the S&W M&P compact semi-auto... but still not sure which caliber. Give me some thoughts, please. I'm sure this may have been discussed before... somewhere... but had to ask.
9mm or 40 S&W?
- Thread starter dfhawkins
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MotorCityGun
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You need to/should evaluate which pistol you will eventually select by using a slightly more analytical approach other than the potential (un)availability of ammo. Start with prioritization, such as:
- Which pistol/caliber (9mm or .40) do you shoot the best with?, i.e. consitency, groups, etc.
- What is your primary use for the pistol? Target, home defense, self defense, ccw, all of the above?
- Are you on a limited budget? Generally speaking, 9mm is less expensive than .40 S&W ammo.
- If you are on a limited budget, how often will you be going to the range and how many rounds will you expend per range visit?
Although, .40 S&W packs more "energy" than a 9 mm round, that will be of little-to-no consequence if you can't/don't hit what you're shooting at. Otherwise, they're just glorified noise makers.
- Which pistol/caliber (9mm or .40) do you shoot the best with?, i.e. consitency, groups, etc.
- What is your primary use for the pistol? Target, home defense, self defense, ccw, all of the above?
- Are you on a limited budget? Generally speaking, 9mm is less expensive than .40 S&W ammo.
- If you are on a limited budget, how often will you be going to the range and how many rounds will you expend per range visit?
Although, .40 S&W packs more "energy" than a 9 mm round, that will be of little-to-no consequence if you can't/don't hit what you're shooting at. Otherwise, they're just glorified noise makers.
Richbmw
Member
I chose the full-size m&p .40 for home defense and the compact 9mm m&p for carry. I get more rounds (12) in the compact version in 9mm and the recoil is more modest so subsequent shots remain on target more easily.
Snowbandit
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I have carried the 40 as a duty weapon for a number of years and find no advantage to it over the 9MM. There is no way I would waste my own money on a 40. The 9 is fine.
More depends on you than on the caliber itself.Have you shot 9mm and .40 pistols?
More importantly, have you rented/borrowed a compact lightweight .40 and shot it? Are you as accurate with it as with a 9mm?
How much training/experience do you have with pistol shooting?
A well-trained shooter can control a .40 and shoot it as well as a 9mm, so often will choose and recommend a .40. Great!
However, I get some students with no training, not really sure how to hold the gun, and they come to me with a lightweight .40 and a flinch THIS BIG. Sometimes they blame the gun for shooting "low and left" and want new sights or another gun.
The training should come before the choice of a carry gun.
More importantly, have you rented/borrowed a compact lightweight .40 and shot it? Are you as accurate with it as with a 9mm?
How much training/experience do you have with pistol shooting?
A well-trained shooter can control a .40 and shoot it as well as a 9mm, so often will choose and recommend a .40. Great!
However, I get some students with no training, not really sure how to hold the gun, and they come to me with a lightweight .40 and a flinch THIS BIG. Sometimes they blame the gun for shooting "low and left" and want new sights or another gun.
The training should come before the choice of a carry gun.
What he said.
However I know many skilled shooters who still prefer the 9mm over the .40S&W.
By default I would recommend 9mm. If you really want more power than that there are other caliber choices I would recommend.
By default I would recommend 9mm. If you really want more power than that there are other caliber choices I would recommend.
senecaap
Member
In the .40v9mm race, I would prefer the capacity of the 9mm (not to mention I shoot them better). If you can get the 124 RWS, you've got a real good load. Both the 9mm and .40n lose out to a 10mm or .45 though.
Everything stated so far makes sense... however, let me try to clarify and restate my question.
Last month most folks would not have expected the crisis in Egypt. Oil may become much more expensive impacting the US economy. World and natural events precipitate negative changes that create breakdowns in security, supplies and freedoms we take for granted. So this is really a question about weapons commonality and ammo/caliber availability when there might be a need for a common civil defense. In this light... 9mm or 40 s&w?
Last month most folks would not have expected the crisis in Egypt. Oil may become much more expensive impacting the US economy. World and natural events precipitate negative changes that create breakdowns in security, supplies and freedoms we take for granted. So this is really a question about weapons commonality and ammo/caliber availability when there might be a need for a common civil defense. In this light... 9mm or 40 s&w?
I think far to many choose a caliber thinking "when" they have to use it rather than "if" they have to use it. They imagine going through life with something bad happening every other trip to the store and therefore want the baddest rounds around.
Better or worse caliber is such a subjective opinion. If you can't put the bullets where you need to, caliber doesn't matter a whole lot. In general, you'll be able to afford to shoot the 9mm more often (affordability) and probably more accurately (more control).
Better or worse caliber is such a subjective opinion. If you can't put the bullets where you need to, caliber doesn't matter a whole lot. In general, you'll be able to afford to shoot the 9mm more often (affordability) and probably more accurately (more control).
Get Both! .40 for winter (cold more clothes) and 9MM for summer (warm less clothes). All your bases will be covered. That said I really like 9MM.
With the right ammo, 124 gr +p bonded like Gold Dot or Win PDX1,SXT, Ranger T, for carry you would be well armed IMHO.
With the right ammo, 124 gr +p bonded like Gold Dot or Win PDX1,SXT, Ranger T, for carry you would be well armed IMHO.
Miami_JBT
US Veteran
The .40 S&W is currently the most popular round on the market. Every time a company releases a new pistol the usual order of things go like this. .40 S&W is first, followed by 9mm, and then .45 ACP.
GLOCK did that with the RTF2 series and then with the Gen4 series. Smith & Wesson did the same with their M&P line. Springfield Armory did that with their XDm Line also.
I can walk into any Walmart, Bass Pro Shop, Gun Store, etc and find .40 S&W.
In the USA alone, .40 S&W is 60% of the LEO market, and because of that the civilian market is the same. Because the majority of the civilian market follows the LEO market. Just as the civilian market follows the Mil/Gov market for rifles.
.40 S&W is not some obscure cartridge. It's "THE" cartridge of the 21st Century, just as .38 S&W Special was for the majority of the 20th Century. When the majority of law enforcement adopts a caliber, so does the civilian market.
Based on this clarification, 9mm wins hands down.
As a reloader I can find 9mm components easily, so much abundant free range brass that the small difference in .40 "power" just isn't worth it for me.
If I need more power I'll be looking at something much bigger.
According to Winchester their #1 selling handgun cartridge is 9mm, then .40 (because of LEO's) then surprisingly .38 special, then .45ACP and 380ACP...in that order.
Maybe you have other data...all I could find was Win.
This is really easy.....
You buy the .40 and then buy the 9mm barrel for $65. Now you have one gun that shoots whatever ammo you can pick up from all the dead zombies you find while searching for a few gallons of fuel to run your generator for power to send out your daily radio broadcast asking 'Is anyone out there?'
And while you're at it, pick up a .357 barrel too. You don't even need new magazines!
But you must buy the .40 to convert. You can't put a .40 barrel on a 9mm, but you can put a 9mm barrel on a .40!
Knightrider03m
Member
9mm all day long.
MotorCityGun
Member
Thanks! This is useful information. Now... I must ask. Have you actually tried this? No feeding or barrel fit issues? I've not seen this information before and consider it important survival knowledge. May be useless... until necessary. What was it L. Pasteur said? "Chance favors the prepared mind."
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