9mm or 40 shield

[cracker57]

The other day, I just could not dress around my 40 compact so it has been decided that a shield is NEEDED. Now I shoot a 40 because in Wisconsin people do wear a lot of clothes in the winter and I feel more comfortable with the extra stop power. I also believe that anyone can shoot a 9 more accurately than a 40 due to recoil. I can easily conceal the compact in the winter but hot days make it a little difficult and the slimness of the shield would make it a lot easier. I shoot about 5000 rnds a yr out of my compact and I am all set up to reload the 40.
I have heard of more problems with the 40 shield and in the summer I feel a 9mm has plenty of stopping power.
my problem you see is I can not decided on the 9 or the 40, please give me your thoughts on such a dilemma 9 or 40?
Also please tell my why you would pick the one you recommend, thanks in advance.
Cracker

 

[Arkie45]

I have both the 9 and 40 shields and carry the 40 more than any of the handguns I own. I have about 2500 or so rounds through mine with zero issues, with at least 700 rounds being Freedom Munitions factory reloads. I trust mine completely, regardless of OMG kaboom threats.

 

[hokiefyd]

Also please tell my why you would pick the one you recommend, thanks in advance.

I would first ask if you have any other guns in either caliber. I like to standardize on a few calibers so I minimize the number of different ammo I need to keep. I like the 9mm round myself for a few reasons: it's less expensive to train with, you don't hear of any reliability issues with 9mm, and my wife and I both use our guns and she certainly shoots 9mm better. If I'm honest, I probably do as well, though the difference isn't as great to me as it is with her. She doesn't like shooting .40 at all.

My folks also use 9mm and dad has a S&W Pro Series 1911 in 9mm and an STI Edge 2011 in 9mm...fine, fine pistols. And our ammo is interchangeable, so we have no problems shooting each others' weapons.

 

[mustangman]

I can't really give an opinion on the 9 vs 40, only my opinion on my 40. I bought mine back in Jan. and I love it. I have since put about 425 flawless rounds through it, 165s, 180s FMJ, and HP. This is my first gun of this type, and see nothing wrong with the trigger, recoil, slide racking, or blowing up, that some talk about. Maybe ignorance is bliss. Probably not much help, but I don't think you can go wrong either way.

 

[CW291]

I have a 40 Sig and 2 Shields, a 9 and a 40.
My first Shield was the 9 and I liked it so much, I bought a 40. Then had TruGlo sights and the Apex Trigger kits put on both. They were both good weapons to begin with, and now they're GREAT. My 40 Sig has been assigned to the role of "Home Defense" and one of my Shields always go with me. Shooting the Shields, I don't notice the recoil difference very much at all. The 40 just makes a louder bang!

 

[JeffShrugged]

I faced this same decision yesterday when I bought my Shield. On the one hand, I like the increased capacity of the 9mm, but considering the difference is one round, I was tempted by the potency of the .40 cal.

For a lot of people this is a non issue, but for me the numerous catastrophic failures I have read about with the .40 was a factor in my decision to go with the 9mm. It's just one less thing to worry about. They are so rare I probably shouldn't worry at all, but it did sway my decision.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[andrewcdub]

I got the 40 shield because I couldn't find a 9 locally. Never shot the 40 s&w round before this gun and it's not bad to me at all. Just like shooting my full-size 45. I can see how the recent catastrophic failures can sway a decision. I was way twitchy on the first mag or 2 with mine but calmed down quick. If it's gping to happen, it will happen. I'll continue to shoot/carry mine until it fails me.

 

[CW291]

Sorry for the double post.

 

[davemercer]

How about carrying your 40 compact in the winter, when you need added power and can conceal larger gun easily. Buy Shield in 9mm for your summer carry.

Other point to consider is how quickly you can get out any gun under layers of winter clothing. So maybe you also need 357 snub revolver for winter pocket carry.

Yes, you really need two new guns. Life is good.

 

[STRONGNUFF]

As I own them in both calibers, you cant go wrong either way.

 

[fdw]

Checked out a shield in 9mm today and man it felt good with the extended mag.

The 40 is not even a consideration, 9 is plenty especially for that size gun.

Best!

 

[STCM(SW)]

When, not if, I get one it will be a 9mm mainly for the better half.
And I haven't owned a 9mm in over 20 years now that I shot much.(Browning HP)

 

[Lycan]

Both are nice, both get the job done. Shoot one assailant with 9mm and another with .40 cal and ask them which one is the more effective round and you won't get an answer...they will both be dead.

9mm is generally a cheaper ammo and easier to come by.

 

[dullh]

9mm. Cheaper practice and carry ammo. .40 is NOT night-and-day more effective than 9mm; alot of police departments are jumping off the .40 bandwagon and going back to 9mm because the only real difference between the two is - .40 ammo costs more.

 

[Com 45acp]

Police departments are going back to the 9mm because of capacity, recoil for females and the technology and performance of new ammo. Not because of cost.

 

[toc1]

You already shoot a .40
You already reload for the .40

I would vote you get the .40.

You won't notice the difference in recoil. IMO
Your cost to shoot it will be less than
buying 9mm and you don't have to buy dies.

Full disclosure I own the Shield in the .40
and I reload 9 and 40.

Get what you feel YOU want. I don't think
you can go wrong.

Jusy MHO.

 

[robkarrob]

What about the easy drop in conversion of a 9mm barrel into a 40. This works for all M&P 40 handguns, Full Size, Compact, and Shields. However you can't drop a 40 barrel into a 9mm gun. Buy the 40 and you have a two caliber gun, for the cost of a 9mm barrel, for about $75. The only issue is trying to find the 9mm barrel, as S&W does not sell many barrels to the distributors, and does not presently sell the barrels to the public.

Bob

 

[cracker57]

Thanks for the feed back, I will go with the 40.

 

[RevolverDen]

Thanks for the feed back, I will go with the 40.

The subject comes up at a time that I too am considering a Shield to compliment my recently acquired M&P40C . Since my ammo cabinet is chock full of 9mm, .40S&W (and .45 ACP for my 1911's) and as I was replacing my Ruger SR40C due to some hiccups I was experiencing with it I decided to go with the M&P40C (the no safeties version - SKU# 109303). I also have a Glock Blue Line Model 23 (.40S&W) that I will spend some time comparing the M&P40C with at the range. I can already say the M&P40C feels better. But I digress as I am getting off your original subject.

Anyhow, I parted ways with my LC9 since I just didn't gel with it and just could not adapt to it's cumbersome slide interaction with an empty mag. So naturally I thought I would replace the LC9 with another 9mm offering. But I am swayed to get the Shield in .40S&W instread of the 9mm as I have grown fond of the .40S&W and would only gain one round in capacity with the 9mm shield.

So a .40S&W Shield for me as well...

 

[shawn mccarver]

I would not buy a Shield in .40 S&W. There have been too many issues with mag drops, and other issues that I am not convinced are fully resolved. They may be, but perception is everything in a defensive firearm.

If 9mm penetration concerns you, go to a bonded hollow point which will add penetration over a non-bonded equivalent load. For example, go to Winchester's LE website and look for "LE Print Catalog" on the left side menu.

http://www.winchester.com/Products/le/Pages/le-print-catalog.aspx

Winchester's newest generation RA9B was just adopted by the FBI, and their load has a government number, Q4392, I believe.

In bare gelatin, RA9B penetrated 14.7 inches, while the bonded 180 grain .40 caliber load, RA40B, penetrated only 13.2 inches. The 165 grain .40 caliber load, RA40BA penetrated 13.8 inches. Even the .45 ACP bonded load, RA45B, a 230 grain load, only penetrated 12.1 inches.

The old days of assuming that the 9mm would not get through barriers as well as .40 and .45 ACP are over. Results are similar for the other FBI barriers of heavy cloth, wall board, plywood, steel and auto glass. The 9mm penetrates deeper. See the chart at pages 18 and 19 of Winchester's LE catalog. Go to their LE website, and look for download print catalog and you can see the chart and pictures of recovered bullets.

The lesson here is that ammo technology isn't what it once was. General principles with respect to current ammo are that bonded loads penetrate more than non-bonded loads, and 9mm will penetrate deeper than .40 and .45. All loads seem to expand very well. Bonded loads have better weight retention than non-bonded loads.

All of this adds up to some interesting conclusions if you think about it in detail.