Ammo prices and caliber relevance.

[cadmike]

The .40 is still relevant to me only because I can load for it and still have lots of components for it on hand. In todays market my Glock 22 and sw99 are near worthless, so why sell them?

If I were starting over today, I’d go with 9.

 

[otis24]

A M&P in 40 S&W can easily become a 357 SIG (just a barrel swap) & a 9mm with a conversion barrel and 9mm mags...

Makes even more ammo choices your personal perview!

Cheers!

Which M&P model is suitable for this conversion???

 

[glenwolde]

I hear ya. I'm starting to think this whole self-loading pistol thing is starting to catch on.

 

[Rat458]

I carried a 380 for years as my EDC.
Never felt 'under gunned' in any way.
The only reason I switched to 9 mm was what I called the "380 tax".
Hated paying more for a smaller version of the 9,and yes I understand the reason but it still bothered me.

 

[gwpercle]

I carry what I can shoot well with ...
If you can't shoot the gun accurately and with a fast follow up shot ...
Why carry it !
The cost of the ammo is the last thing you think about in a gunfight...
You want it to stop ... and Only Hits Count !
Choose your gun and ammo based on how well you can shoot with it ...
Not cost .
Gary

 

[robertrwalsh]

I hear you gwpercle. If however you want to get a meaningful amount of practice and training cost does become an issue, maybe a significant issue, for a significant number of people. If you shoot half a box once a year, not so much.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Which M&P model is suitable for this conversion???

Both the full sized and compact M&P 40s (1.0 most easily) can be utilized.

Cheers!

 

[Birdhunter6]

I am a big round guy. I am NOT recoil sensitive.

The timer proves that I can place accurate rounds on target faster with the 9 than with the .40 or the .45. Since we now have 9mm hollow points that function at standard velocity, why not?

I have an abiding love for old school shiny blue Smith revolvers. Is my woods walkin' carry gun a .357 or a .41, yes. Is my EDC a 5 shot .38, again yes. But the pistols I keep loaded for home defense, carry when forced out of my rural comfort zone and spend most of my range time with are 9s with double digit round count.

 

[otis24]

I carried a 380 for years as my EDC.
Never felt 'under gunned' in any way.
The only reason I switched to 9 mm was what I called the "380 tax".
Hated paying more for a smaller version of the 9,and yes I understand the reason but it still bothered me.

I’m partly of the mindset “If I’m going to pay big bore prices for .38/.357, why not get a big bore?”. On the other hand, if I’m going to pay $1.50 or more per round, does it matter if it’s .357. .44 or .45? Just buy .357! It just bothers me to pay big bore prices for what used to be one of the cheapest and most readily available rounds. I guess that’s a sign that I’m getting old!

Like Birdhunter6, my .357 revolver will be my woods/camp gun and my 9mm will be my concrete jungle firearm.

 

[Buzzzer]

More than half of the handguns sold are 9mm. It's popular because ammo is cheap, ammo is cheap because it's popular. One of those self-reinforcing trends. It will continue.

Totally agree with this. 9mm ammo is cheap, more firearms are made for this round than any other (with the widest variety). I would definitely recommend 9mm for the average paycheck to paycheck Joe, and have. Saying that I don't personally own one since I reload.

9mm will be the king of the hilltop for the foreseeable future...

 

[lrrifleman]

Focusing on the OP's original question:

"Here's my question: For the average guy on the street who lives paycheck to paycheck and who wants a handgun for self-protection and plinking, has the .40 S&W (and maybe the .45 ACP) become more relevant due to ammo prices? The price of .38/.357 is almost cost prohibitive, reaching "big bore" prices. So that would push me away from a revolver if I were so inclined and towards an auto. If I bought into the premise that you need something with a little more umphh than a 9mm, wouldn't the .40 S&W be a more logical choice based on availability, power, and price? From that perspective, it would seem to me that the .40 S&W becomes more relevant than ever before. Your thoughts?"

For the first time gun buyer (which very few of us are) I would recommend a polymer 380 or 9mm. As much as I enjoy my revolvers, a quality S&W would cost 2-3 polymer 9s, and the OP cites an owner living paycheck to paycheck. More so because of ammunition supply versus ammunition demand, 9mm has become the 38 Special wadcutter load. I have no argument with the 40 (I have 2), it's just that ammo costs could prevent the purchase of life essentials in order to practice.

Under normal situations (if such an animal still exists) I'd recommend the purchase of the selected pistol, a few boxes of SD ammo, several boxes of range ammo, then a reloader to make your practice ammo and replicate the SD ammo. However, that Dillon Square Deal B that I bought in '89 for $198 is now selling for between $700-1000!

I would still recommend that the first time owner get a polymer 380 or 9mm. My preferred target 9s are Sigs and S&W pistols, but I also shoot Glocks. Get the pistol, save the brass, and eventually reload. My advice for the paycheck to paycheck first time gun owner is to join the GSSF ($35), get the coupon, and look at either a: G42 (380 for $340), a G43 (9mm for $380) or any of the Gen5 9mms for $425 (non-MOS) and start your adventure. I know that entry Sig p365s can be had for about $500, as can some Shield Plus pistols. Either would be a sound start.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Among the adequate the best ammo for self defense is the one you will practice with the most. For me that’s 9mm.

 

[Nevada Ed]

One thig good about Revolver ammo, is..............

that at my old age, I don't have to bend over to pick up the brass, for the reloads.

Pistol ammo is ok if you can find a good "Bulk" price, on ammo.

 

[DWalt]

Back in my youth, 9mm ammunition was not widely sold in gun stores. It was good only for shooting in all those WWII Luger and P38 bringback pistols.

 

[rwsmith]

Back in my youth, 9mm ammunition was not widely sold in gun stores. It was good only for shooting in all those WWII Luger and P38 bringback pistols.

SOME things change for the better.

And I'm set to reload anything I shoot, so in case anything gets scarce....

 

[venomballistics]

I just turned 60 this month. Man, where did the time go??? It has only been in the past ten years or less that I have accepted "plastic" guns as viable defense options. I didn't know anything about them and didn't want to! Ignorance is bliss. I was firmly in the revolver camp and even aluminum framed revolvers were iffy as far as I was concerned. The .38/.357 was the go to caliber for me. It was sufficient for any of my perceived needs, was cheap and was readily available.

In the last ten years I've owned several polymer pistols (although I still prefer metal) with the majority being 9mm. I currently own a Ruger LCP Max for pocket carry, a Sig P365 for pocket/IWB carry (my primary firearm), a recently acquired Ruger Security Six and a 1976 vintage Browning Hi Power.

Now, I know that there have been many advances in bullet designs and as far as I am concerned, the 9mm is plenty adequate for self-defense from two legged predators. But I know that there are many who believe that the 36 caliber (9mm, .38 Special, and .357) are at the lower end of what is acceptable for self-defense. Personally, I often opted for a .357 knowing that I could shoot .38, .38 +P or .357. I'm not trying to start a caliber war or debate the effacy of any particular caliber for self-defense.

Here's my question: For the average guy on the street who lives paycheck to paycheck and who wants a handgun for self-protection and plinking, has the .40 S&W (and maybe the .45 ACP) become more relevant due to ammo prices? The price of .38/.357 is almost cost prohibitive, reaching "big bore" prices. So that would push me away from a revolver if I were so inclined and towards an auto. If I bought into the premise that you need something with a little more umphh than a 9mm, wouldn't the .40 S&W be a more logical choice based on availability, power, and price? From that perspective, it would seem to me that the .40 S&W becomes more relevant than ever before. Your thoughts?

This goes round and round like a florescent plaid painted room after a 3 day tequila binge.
In gelatin testing, 9 vs 40 vs 45 results in 9 = 40 = 45 after honest review.
It might be better to group cartridges in a more general sense and discuss the trades between these general classes rather than specific cartridges.

 

[pharmer]

All carry guns are a compromise. 9mm works for a great many folks, me included. Military and police worldwide seem to agree, for over a hundred years. Joe

 

[URIT]

When the city, county, state, or federal government agencies are buying the ammo the military and police personnel have no vote.

 

[Doriangray6]

Shooting a 45-70 rifle got me into reloading 40+ years ago because even back then factory made rounds were about $1.00 a piece and they sure haven't gotten cheaper.
Now I reload for everything I shoot except 22lr and though, due to the rising cost of components, I don't save as much money as I use to what I consider to be the main benefits of reloading remain, I can tailor my rounds to whatever type of shooting I intend them for and I don't worry about ammo shortages.
This also allows me to shoot my two favorite handgun calibers, 45acp & .357 magnum, as often as I like without worrying about cost.

 

[Smoke]

This discussion has already gone in so many different directions.

To directly answer the OP's question, No I have not changed my caliber in relation to current events.

I've been carrying 9 mm exclusively since 2013. The Only Exception was when I was working for G4S and they issued me an M&P40.

Second thing, and I say this all the time but it's true. I worked as a security guard in Colorado Springs for 15 years. The reason that's relevant is because people who wouldn't dare trifle with a cop didn't think twice about going after me. I've had a couple of incidences while I was working that people got triggered just because they saw me in my security guard uniform.

I can't say this absolutely but I'm quite certain that had I been wearing normal street clothes they wouldn't have taken a second look at me but when they saw that uniform and they realized it wasn't a CSPD uniform they went nuts.

So I think I had more than my share of encounters and nobody got hurt, nobody (with the exception of one Coyote) got sprayed and nobody (with the exception of one cow) even came close to being shot.

But my experience has been that people that had no fear of my gun at all back down immediately when I took my pepper spray off my belt.

So if I changed anything it was adding pepper spray to my off the clock carry. I will walk out my door without a gun before I walk out my door without pepper spray.

Last thing and this is just me but if you know that 9 mm tends to vanish during an ammo panic instead of switching calibers to something that's not popular why not stock up on 9 mm or whatever your preferred caliber is now?

no matter what it is it's never going to be cheaper than it is right now and it doesn't go bad.