clcdawg
Member
Both are fine calibers it depends on what you shoot the best and personal preference. For me I have never found a 40 that I like to shoot so I go with 9mm and 45acp.
9mm or .40, that is the guestion
- Thread starter chance1959
- Start date
A link to a dated online article by Chuck Hawks talking up the virtue of the widely discredited Evan Marshall and Ed Sanow "studies". Really? The internet proves once again that some things never die.
Wee Hooker
Member
Realizing that the deed is likely already done, I'd point out you are making the (very common) mistake of buying from specs and removed advice. All of which goes away when you pull the trigger. The .40 may//may not work for you but I can tell you it's common for new shooters to buy a 40 and struggle with accuracy/control. Personally, I would never recommend a 40 for a first gun/semi. It's considerably harder to master than the 9mm for a novice. (Think recoil & blast like a 357 mag vs 38 spl). If you want to learn, enjoy, AND get better, the 9 is likely the better starting choice. Besides the cost of a barrel and mag to convert is not much less than a good used M&P pistol.
At minimum, you should try a 40 before buying one.
At minimum, you should try a 40 before buying one.
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Rangel
Member
You should try and shoot any gun/caliber before buying it whenever possible.
Most people who shoot a lot with a 40 or 45 and then move to a 9, find they're more accurate shooting 9mm. Being able to have a gun that you can change from a 40 to a 9, by switching barrels is great, espec. with 9mm ammo being less expensive. I do like 40 for C&C better than 9.
My gunsmith ('gun artiste' is a more apt word) is a guy who shoots incredibly well and could have just about any gun he wants. I live in an area with a lot of 'first strike' military and a lot of them say "He's the only guy I let touch my gun/s".
For years, he used a highly customized Glock 22 (40) in competitions, but recently switched to an M&P 9mm for daily carry and competition. THAT spoke volumes to me!
Most people who shoot a lot with a 40 or 45 and then move to a 9, find they're more accurate shooting 9mm. Being able to have a gun that you can change from a 40 to a 9, by switching barrels is great, espec. with 9mm ammo being less expensive. I do like 40 for C&C better than 9.
My gunsmith ('gun artiste' is a more apt word) is a guy who shoots incredibly well and could have just about any gun he wants. I live in an area with a lot of 'first strike' military and a lot of them say "He's the only guy I let touch my gun/s".
For years, he used a highly customized Glock 22 (40) in competitions, but recently switched to an M&P 9mm for daily carry and competition. THAT spoke volumes to me!
RICK SR
Member
I have used both and if you want better control and less recoil go with the 9mm. Also the price of ammo makes it much more attractive.
Yes, there is a price difference in ammo. How significant depends on how much you really are going to shoot. Prior to my M&P 40C I had a Glock 26 and a Glock 27 at the same time. Wanted to really experience the difference. The 9mm was a great and accurate gun. The 40 was just not in the same category. I eventually sold the 40 and then the 9. I went to the M&P due to fit for my small hands. The interchangeable backstraps were a blessing. I went with the 40C for my carry gun and have not regretted my decision.
I have a .357 and my .40 is NOTHING like my .357....
And a new barrel for converting a .40 to a 9mm is $65. Figure two mags for $50 and the total cost to convert is $115.
I don't have a problem shooting my .40 single handed, it is not a big kicking handgun. All you guys who think a .40 semi kicks hard, you need to spend some time with a 44 magnum, .357 and a .500 S&W.
A .40 is nothing. No it's not a .22, but why scare guys saying it kicks hard?
firebirdude
US Veteran
9mm. Ammo is much cheaper and that's a pretty good deal you found. The $2/box advantage posted in the first page is a little misleading. It's usually $5-6/box. See if you can offer $475 for the lot.
Most LEOs carry 40s for a reason.
I have a .357 and my .40 is NOTHING like my .357....
A .40 is nothing. No it's not a .22, but why scare guys saying it kicks hard?
Agreed, and this is even more true in the M&P 40 where it tames the little bit of twist-snap that other 40s exhibit versus, say, a 9mm. When I like to feel the "power" I pull out the Ruger Redhawk .44 with some bear loads...but I don't get much indoor range time with it before being asked to stop disrupting the other shooters.
Because that is the caliber that was picked for them.
scooter123
Member
While there is likely a lot of truth in that statement IMO the 40 S&W is actually a very good compromise. It offers energy levels similar to the 45ACP in a flatter shooting caliber that permits magazine capacities close to the 9mm without a grip large enough to present issue to people with "average" to "smaller" hands. Quite simply if there is any caliber that was specifically "Engineered" for Police use the 40 S&W is it.
If NATO ever takes up the 40 S&W as an alternate or replacement for the 9mm I expect that Police agencies in Europe will take up the 40 caliber like gangbusters. At that point the 9mm Parabellum will slowly fade into obscurity as the 38 spl. has today. BTW, I can remember when the 38 spl. was the cheapest centerfire you could shoot, today it's darned near double the cost of the 9mm. If Police worldwide adopt the 40 caliber there will come a time when it'll be cheaper to shoot than any other centerfire.
mattallamerican
Member
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2011
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id buy a glock
I'll buy capitalization and punctuation for $200 Alex....
Glock... Pashaw.... What do you know about Glock besides they bought their way into service in every market they are in by giving away guns and deep discounts.
Matt, you have to wrap your hands around an M&P .40 and let the lead fly.....
The .40 caliber is as powerful (in some weights much MORE powerful) as the .45 because it can run higher pressures in the chamber. The .40 holds more rounds which is a good thing if you ask me. Now all the guys that have 10 shots only will chime in how aiming is important and you don't want to have all those extra shots, but I can tell you in the Army we carry hundreds of rounds of ammo, each one is as important as the next.... I'd rather have 10 extra rounds I'm carrying around than be just one round short....
Is a 9mm big enough? Yeah probably. I wouldn't want to get shot with one! But I'd rather be shot at with a 9mm than a .40! I'd rather hide behind a car windshield or a car door if you're shooting at me with a 9mm. I'd rather be shot in the arm while turned to the side with a 9mm than a .40!
And can you handle a .40? Maybe not. Maybe all the recoil you can handle is 9mm. That's fine, then use the 9mm and hope for the best. Obviously everyone agrees a .308 is better, a 30.06 is better, a .270 is better, and why? Because they are so much more powerful. But when it comes to handguns, then the guys that own the 9mms swear the difference in power doesn't matter anymore. I can't figure it out, maybe you can make sense of it. If power matters, then grab the most power you can handle and go with it. For me, the most powerful handgun I own is the .357 mag, but I'll take my .40 just for all that firepower!
All very true.
EPWrangler
Member
I own various guns of all the calibers mentioned. After putting 50 rounds in one big hole timed and untimed at various distances with an M&P9 FS I was a convert. I now carry the M&P9 FS or compact they are loaded with Hornady self defense ammo. I put up my Kimber 45. I am now considering which of my pistols to sell as no longer needed. Smith and Wesson sold me.
Rangel
Member
I agree. For defense purposes with the right ammo--like Hornaday or Corbon, the 9mm is very effective. It's not the sort of ammo I'd go out and shoot a couple hundred rounds with for practice--it is expensive. I'll buy Walmart ammo instead for practice. But even if you're comparing almost any ammo & caliber, you're gonna pay more for for 40 or 45 than the 9 ammo.
People still say: "don't buy the 9mm--it'll zip right thru a crack head and he'll keep coming at you. Heck, with a 380 loaded with critical defense ammo, I don't think THAT would happen.
I still do like the 40, especially because it's versatile, being able to switch between 40 and 9mm barrels, and even with standard or C.D. ammo, I think it packs more punch than the 9mm.
But I wouldn't sell the 9mm short, especially if I caught a great deal on one, due to the advances in ammo. In addition, for most people it's a bit easier to shoot acurately than is the 40 or 45 and of course, the 9 holds more ammo in it's magazine.
Rangel
Member
Re:
>>And can you handle a .40? Maybe not. Maybe all the recoil you can handle is 9mm. That's fine, then use the 9mm and hope for the best. Obviously everyone agrees a .308 is better, a 30.06 is better, a .270 is better, and why? Because they are so much more powerful. But when it comes to handguns, then the guys that own the 9mms swear the difference in power doesn't matter anymore. I can't figure it out, maybe you can make sense of it. If power matters, then grab the most power you can handle and go with it. For me, the most powerful handgun I own is the .357 mag, but I'll take my .40 just for all that firepower!
Like <<
Quite true, that's why on my crew cab Ford F350, with the custom sunroof above the rear seats, I have a Barrett 50 caliber specially mounted up front, so that when one of those dorks is talking on their cell phone, while doing 40 MPH in a 65 MPH zone, doing their hair and steering with their knees, I can wake them up!
Yea--right!--only in my dreams...
>>And can you handle a .40? Maybe not. Maybe all the recoil you can handle is 9mm. That's fine, then use the 9mm and hope for the best. Obviously everyone agrees a .308 is better, a 30.06 is better, a .270 is better, and why? Because they are so much more powerful. But when it comes to handguns, then the guys that own the 9mms swear the difference in power doesn't matter anymore. I can't figure it out, maybe you can make sense of it. If power matters, then grab the most power you can handle and go with it. For me, the most powerful handgun I own is the .357 mag, but I'll take my .40 just for all that firepower!
Like <<
Quite true, that's why on my crew cab Ford F350, with the custom sunroof above the rear seats, I have a Barrett 50 caliber specially mounted up front, so that when one of those dorks is talking on their cell phone, while doing 40 MPH in a 65 MPH zone, doing their hair and steering with their knees, I can wake them up!
Yea--right!--only in my dreams...
I put a train horn on my Cummins just for that reason.
Not one of those wanna be horns either... A Nathan Airchime with a Graham White valve!
