9 MM? In a semi auto it is my 38 Super 1911..
In a revolver My M66-1 357 Magnum....
In a revolver My M66-1 357 Magnum....
9mm: The Caliber For Everyone.
- Thread starter Echo40
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Half a lifetime ago, my favorite EDC was a PPK/S. I had a 60 no dash, but the PPK/S fit in my pocket without showing. Both gone during times of needing cash. Restarted my gun collection 5 years ago, and the first was a SCCY CPX-2. The hammer-fired DAO feels like any good revolver, and shoots where I point it. Then a 6906 from the Gun Library at Cabelas at a good price, before the "inflation" set in. It points and shoots well, too. 9mm was still cheap. My third came after the Covid crunch, a P365XL. There was the the one I needed - small, comfortable, high capacity, accurate. I have bulk 9mm from various online dealers for a good stock to use for target, and SD (if needed). I have three .357's, several .38's (mostly j's), two .45's and three .44's (one magnum), yet the 9mm's are the only ones carried, and will always be my go-to's. Yes .355-.357 caliber is the keeper, if I had to exclude all others.
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9mm has come into its own over the last decade. All the major ammo manufacturers have stepped up R&D and come out with some really great performing loads.
Gun manufacturers (started with SIG) have figured out how to maximize capacity in a really small package.
The Micro 9's are also super accurate, reliable, comfortable for all day EDC and reasonably priced. The 9mm is also easy on recoil and a pleasure to shoot all day, even out of a Micro 9.
Put all of this together and it now makes sense that this caliber/gun combo has become so popular! There are also a few pistols out here from Sig & CZ that have become go-to target models whereas before, 9mm was not really thought of as a competition caliber.
Gun manufacturers (started with SIG) have figured out how to maximize capacity in a really small package.
The Micro 9's are also super accurate, reliable, comfortable for all day EDC and reasonably priced. The 9mm is also easy on recoil and a pleasure to shoot all day, even out of a Micro 9.
Put all of this together and it now makes sense that this caliber/gun combo has become so popular! There are also a few pistols out here from Sig & CZ that have become go-to target models whereas before, 9mm was not really thought of as a competition caliber.
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SuperMan
Member
9mm is one of my favorites calibers....
In semi-auto pistols:
9mm Super
9x19
9x23
9mm SIG
and in bolt action rifles:
9x55.1mm Remington Magnum
9x51.2mm Winchester
But in a revolver, like SAFireman said...make mine a 4T1....
Bob
In semi-auto pistols:
9mm Super
9x19
9x23
9mm SIG
and in bolt action rifles:
9x55.1mm Remington Magnum
9x51.2mm Winchester
But in a revolver, like SAFireman said...make mine a 4T1....
Bob
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If you have the time, research. 9mm vs 40 SW one shot stops. The fbi "standard" is a place to start but it is not the magic answer. I believe that many Officers are as thrilled with the 9mm as they were with the 38 round nose and it's results. Even though I have nines. I carry a 40 SW with spare mags, and a P3AT 380 as a last chance at bad breath distance. Merry Christmas to all. Be Safe.
Bumpus13
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I'll see your puny caliber wars, and raise you a flamethrower.
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My favorite is the .38 Special. My least favorite is the 9mm Luger.
Telecaster
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Just a quick comment about the 9mm and competition. I really don't think that it is the 9x19 that has grown to be a competition round, I think that it is more that the shooter's idea of what constitutes competition has evolved.
I am of an age, that when I was growing up, competition meant bullseye matches and precision shooting. Today, competition is viewed as either ringing steel, making things move, and running and gunning, or any combination of the above.
The guns that dominated the bullseye precision matches (except maybe for the 1911) aren't up to the performance demands of the modern games, they definitely fall victim to the capacity demands of many courses of fire. While the handguns that fire the 9mm Luger have evolved into the speed shooting games, can you envision a 9mm Luger being a major threat on both the 25 and 50 yard lines in a precision pistol (2700) match? Or a Classic Model 52 in a speed shooting match?
Today we are seeing two different versions of competition-style pistols fed different varieties of ammo designed for different missions, and neither can really replace the other!
This is exemplified by just looking at the initial range commands: "Is the line ready?" versus "Is the shooter ready?"!
In essence, the 9mm has found a competition environment where it thrives, and is transferable for practical self-defense duty!
I am of an age, that when I was growing up, competition meant bullseye matches and precision shooting. Today, competition is viewed as either ringing steel, making things move, and running and gunning, or any combination of the above.
The guns that dominated the bullseye precision matches (except maybe for the 1911) aren't up to the performance demands of the modern games, they definitely fall victim to the capacity demands of many courses of fire. While the handguns that fire the 9mm Luger have evolved into the speed shooting games, can you envision a 9mm Luger being a major threat on both the 25 and 50 yard lines in a precision pistol (2700) match? Or a Classic Model 52 in a speed shooting match?
Today we are seeing two different versions of competition-style pistols fed different varieties of ammo designed for different missions, and neither can really replace the other!
This is exemplified by just looking at the initial range commands: "Is the line ready?" versus "Is the shooter ready?"!
In essence, the 9mm has found a competition environment where it thrives, and is transferable for practical self-defense duty!
The 9mm is anemic at best. The only thing it ever had going for it, was the doublestack magazine concept of the '80's, trying to overcome it's stopping ability shortfall. Trying to lump it in together, with proven, able cartridges doesn't help it in the least. So while it maybe good for you, or other novice's, don't say "everyone".
Pig Hunter
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My 9mm is for when all my ammo for the stuff that starts with .4 is gone 
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Clever move Forte. I alternate between a 9mm Parabellum Shield and a 9 mm S&W Special 642 for EDC and also have a couple 9mm S&W Magnum revolvers and a Remington in 9mm Kurz. My favorite, though, is my 9mm Super Witness, while my go to big game rifle is a 9mm Whelen. Way back in the safe is a little nickel plated 9mm S&W break top.
OP
Echo40
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Besides, JAMES BOND carried one, to great effect. 'Nuf said
Bond's PPK was a .32 ACP too, which just goes to show you what an incredible pistol it is.
Yes, because the pistol is so compact, it hurts less as the Kodiak jams it up your keister when you shoot the bear.
Or, when in the bear's stomach, you are just a few inches away from shooting the heart point blank.
Your opinion. Your assumption. 9mm is not everyone's favorite caliber. It's kinda weenie compared to the 10/40/45. Any technology applied to the 9 to make it better can make the 10/40/45 even better. History tells us the 45acp established it's reputation with hard ball ammo. I've been casting/loading/shooting a Browning P35 since 1972 so I've got the 9mm jump on a lot of you.
Truth is most people can't or won't learn to handle a bigger weapon. And another truth is I sometimes carry a 9mm Shield when bigger stuff would be harder to conceal.
Truth is most people can't or won't learn to handle a bigger weapon. And another truth is I sometimes carry a 9mm Shield when bigger stuff would be harder to conceal.
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sigp220.45
US Veteran
This bear thought it was a bear gun.
The Story of the Alaska Man Who Killed a Charging Brown Bear with a 9mm Pistol
The Story of the Alaska Man Who Killed a Charging Brown Bear with a 9mm Pistol
Darkenfast
Member
Here's some little bits of data from this month's American Rifleman. This is just one example of many, but it is pretty typical. Note that none of these is labelled as +P.
Gun #1 is a 9mm Springfield Armory SA-35, with a 4.7" barrel.
Black Hills 124 gr. JHP - 1,163 fps, 372 fpe.
Federal AE 147 gr. FMJ - 1,035 fps, 350 fpe.
Hornady AG 115 gr. XTP - 1,140 fps, 332 fpe.
Gun #2 is a Tisas reproduction of a 1911 A1, with a 5" barrel.
Federal SD 205 gr. SJHP - 860 fps, 337 fpe.
Hornady AG 185 gr. XTP - 996 fps, 407 fpe.
Wincester USA 230 gr. FMJ - 742 fps, 281 fpe.
With the exception of the Hornady 185 gr. load, which is light-for-caliber, there is not a whole lot of difference.
Historical note: H. P. White Company tested some 9mm Parabellum loads after WW2. The pistol was a P-38 with a 4 7/8" barrel. Here's just two standard German pistol (not submachinegun) loads:
German Govt. 1918 123 gr. - 1207 fps, 398 fpe.
German Govt. 1941 (Pist.) 124 gr. - 1242 fps, 425 fpe.
The current U.S. military load, as tested by American Rifleman in an M17 pistol with a 4.7" barrel (this is NATO-level, probably between standard and +P levels):
M1152 115 gr. Flat-nosed FMJ - 1326 fps, 449 fpe.
I have yet to see any scientific data that shows a significant difference between the effectiveness of .45 ACP and 9mm Parabellum ammunition in the real world. I HAVE seen a lot of myths and claims based on wishful or sloppy thinking. The "anemic" nature of the 9mm is one of them and the lack of stopping power vs. the .45 is another.
I've always been struck by how the 9mm Luger is considered a weenie cartridge here in America, yet the rest of the world doesn't have any complaints about its stopping power. Maybe we tend to rumble with tougher bad guys than the Brits and Australians do?
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