Finally shot 40c next to my 9c

kablamo

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I've never been a big fan of 40, which likely could have been simply the one 40 I bought I couldn't shoot well. I was at the range yesterday and shot the best I have with my 9c. I love that gun! Guy next to me had a 40c he let me shoot. I shot it equally as accurately as the 9c and really could not tell the difference in recoil. Now I want a 40!
 
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i have both and you can definitely feel the power of the 40. Recoil is manageable especially with using the right backstrap.
 
I did the barrel swap in my Shield 40, so the recoil/flip can be compared with the same gun. The 9mm has less felt recoil and flip than the 40. Does that make the 40 bad, no. I carry the Shield as a 40, and practice with both the 40 and 9mm. With high power SD ammo the 40 has noticeable more felt recoil and a little more flip than with high power SD 9mm ammo, But not so much as to make it uncomfortable or hard to control. I would estimate the 40 flip causes no more than 1/4 second extra time to get back on target, than the 9mm. The 40 is a more powerful caliber and for the minimal amount of extra felt recoil and flip, it is well worth it to me. Now for strictly targets, I would use 9mm and the cost per round is also less.

Bob
 
I did the barrel swap in my Shield 40, so the recoil/flip can be compared with the same gun. The 9mm has less felt recoil and flip than the 40. Does that make the 40 bad, no. I carry the Shield as a 40, and practice with both the 40 and 9mm. With high power SD ammo the 40 has noticeable more felt recoil and a little more flip than with high power SD 9mm ammo, But not so much as to make it uncomfortable or hard to control. I would estimate the 40 flip causes no more than 1/4 second extra time to get back on target, than the 9mm. The 40 is a more powerful caliber and for the minimal amount of extra felt recoil and flip, it is well worth it to me. Now for strictly targets, I would use 9mm and the cost per round is also less.
Good review and conclusions. If you can't feel the difference between the .40 and the 9mm, then either you're shooting REALLY hot 9mm and low velocity .40, or you just can't feel. Practicing mostly with the 9mm, then enough with the .40 so as not to be surprised when shooting, and using .40 for SD makes a whole lot of sense. Just like practicing with .38 Special cowboy loads, with the occasional hot +P rounds in my Ruger LCR; cheaper to practice, more fun to shoot, power when you need it.
 
I used to not like 40 because of the muzzle flip and slower time to get back on target. Honestly don't know what loads the guy with the 40c was shooting. Quite possibly light reloads supplied from the range. Truly couldn't notice a difference. Although 9mm is cheaper to practice and train with and just bout the fiancé a 9'fs as a bedside gun. It's comforting keeping things consistent and stocking up on ammo!
 
9C and 40c are good!

I own several 9mm pistols. From a really nice Shooting, soft recoil 1911 in 9mm to a Snappy Taurus 2inch revolver in 9mm. A good design can usually compensate for the perceived recoil and control issues.

I have kept away from the .40 because, I thought it was a little more than what I can handle. Well, when I finally took the plunge and bought my 40c, I was way happy how I was able to shoot it.

I got a 9c barrel and a few 9mm mags a few months after purchasing it, for more practice and to save money on ammo. I have gotten much better with the 40c/9c hybrid, I don't feel much of a difference between the 2 calibers.my groups and follow up shots are almost identical.

This is my CCW daily carry in 40c. What a real gem the M&P compacts are!
 
I have an M&P9C and an SR40C. I can't really tell that there's that much difference in recoil between them. I can probably shoot the Ruger slightly better than the M&P, but I've had it longer and its trigger is awesome. However, for carry I like the M&P better; fewer safeties, the magazine release is easier to manipulate, 2 - 12 round magazines opposed to 1 - 9 round and 1 - 15 round. If I had it to do over - I'd have bought a 40C M&P and bought the 9mm components. Then I'd have had the best of both. I really do love both pistols and use the SR40C as my HD pistol in a discreet lock box in the bedroom and the M&P9C is in my carry rotation.
 
Excuse me gentlemen, this thread needs a picture. :D

40c.jpg
 
There's definitely something special about the M&P and the .40S&W caliber. I never enjoyed shooting the .40 from Glock, HK, Beretta, CZ....until Finally! Yes! M&P No looking back. :D
 
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