Competition caliber

[miles71]

Ok, I have decided I want to get a new M&P. it's function in my collection will be in this order:
- range, competition ( if able to find them)
- home def.
- ccw

I don't see much difference in 40 and 9 and have been able to find 40 more easily lately. My question is what caliber you guys think would be better for this purchase. Is there any advantage to having 40 over 9 or vs versa?

Another wrinkle is my wife wants to start shooting and even trying competitions. Do we get one of each? Thanks
TD

 

[OKFC05]

It depends on what type of competition you want to do, since the rules vary with sanctioning body.

For example, the .40 is most popular in USPSA Limited but is the orphan in IDPA, where the 9mm leads by a wide margin.
There is no universal "best" caliber for all types of competition.

Being both an IDPA match director and a USPSA CRO, I could do an essay on this, but basically see what is available in your area that suits your interests.

 

[ACP230]

The .40 most likely will do better on steel plates, or bowling pins.
Assuming you can shoot it as quickly, and accurately, a the same gun in
9mm. I find some .40s louder than my .45s, and with more muzzle flip.

Brass for the 9mm is cheaper, if you reload. I would buy a 9mm.

 

[John M]

I think 9mm would be much better for IDPA and "Steel Challenge" style matches, if your intent was to be competitive with factory ammo.

On the other hand, if you reload, you could create powder puff .40 loads for IDPA and "Steel Challenge" on par with 9mm in terms of power factor. And you could run factory .40 ammo or appropriate reloads for games requiring Major (>165) power factor.

I think I read somewhere that converting an M&P from 9mm to .40 or vice versa is just a matter of swapping out the barrel and mags (not sure about the spring)...if that is the case, you could spend a little extra and have two guns in one.

BTW, there is no one gun that is "ideal" for all the uses you mention, the sights you might want for home defense (glow in the dark) are probably not ideal for competition (where most would favor a fiber optic fronts sight with black rear sight); the M&P Shield that might be super easy to carry is not really going to work very well for competition due to limited mag capacity and shorter sight radius...so get a bunch of guns!

John

 

[miles71]

I ended up getting the 40 m&p full size. In my area (md) not much opportunity to compete so I'm not sure how much time I can put into driving an hour or more to a range. Figured this one could do the competitions and be a good range or carry pistol. A compromise, but still seems like a very nice pistol. Figured if I ever get to compete more in the future I can get something else as well. Besides, I have found I personally shoot 40 cal better than 9 mm, is that weird? Hope so.

Just hunted down some extra mags for the new addition, hopefully I will be able to pick it up within a year due to the background check backup in Maryland.

TD