WHAT DO YOU PREFER 40CAL OR 9MM

forresth said:
I had a 9mm I picked up in the 90s. It was taken in a break-in. When I went shopping for a replacement I was considering 9, 40 and 45. I went with 40 back when it was fairly easy to find and 9mm and 45 weren't. The gun I also liked the best came in 9 and 40, but the 40 could be converted to 9 (and 357). The 9 couldn't be converted to anything. I also liked the idea that I was upgrading in power. I think 40sw is pretty comparable to 45.
I have to admit the harsher recoil of the 40 (compared to 9 or 45) came as a bit of a surprise(purchased the gun without shooting it first), but its certainly nothing I can't handle.
I recently picked up a real cheap Hi-Point 9mm carbine. I really wish that was a 40 since I want to use it as a back-up deer rifle. I still will, but now I feel compelled to buy some overpriced +p+ stuff that is still weaker than standard pressure 40sw that I have sitting around.
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Well my +P+ can do anything your 40 can do at $30 for a box of 50 rounds.:D
 
For me, I like the .40 S&W. The ammo may be slightly higher to buy, but the extra ballistics is worth it IMHO. My reason for choosing the .40 S&W over the 9MM is, besides the extra pop, I am carrying the same size pistol so why not carry the extra power.
Sorry, no Smith, but My Glock 22 has been 100% with any ammo I have run throught it and I'm sure the the M&P series Smith's are just as reliable.
 
Kanewpadle said:
Realistically, it's not about caliber so much as it is whether we carry a full size gun or a compact.

If I carry a full size gun why in the world would I "settle" for a forty?! I don't. I carry a 45 ACP.

If I carry a compact, it's a 9MM.

I know VERY few people that can shoot a compact 40 well and get good quality hits in a timely manner. (emphasis mine-VTHDH)

And factor in that most people only shoot at non moving paper targets just makes matters worse.

I'll be 51 next month. I'm still strong but not like I used to be. I can't shoot a compact 40 and get quick accurate follow up shots like I can a compact 9MM.

So I figure 2 or 3 quick well placed shots with a 9MM beats 1 hit with a 40 or 45 any day.
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How can you say that? I know a lot of guys that are shooting competition now with .40 S&W. One guy last night in my skeet league was telling me about a competition he is shooting this weekend, and he's very good. I asked him what he was shooting, and he replied "My M&P in .40 S&W"

Most of my LEO friends now carry and shoot .40's, including in competitions. (Sig's mainly)

I shoot my 4014 almost as well as my 5906's at moving targets. I mainly figure that difference is due to the weight and compact size of the 4014, not the caliber.
 
The .40 is a nice round for sure, my P229 is a tack driver and one hell of a nice gun. I still prefer the .45 cal though as my go to gun for home defense and CCW. I only go with my Bersa .380 when gun size and dress don't allow for something a bit bigger.
 
Of the two choices offered, I'd go for the 9mm. Reason is the .40 kicks much more than a 9 and if I want less control per shot, I'll just step up to my 10mm. The venerable 1911 in .45 is an incredible stand-by, if not the major frontrunner for defense. My only problem with 9mm is some of the (WEAK!!!!) ammo manufactured. The worst by far has been 9mm UMC. That ammo is Krap with a capitol "K". It is very anemic. A 115 grainer at 1450fps is way more in the ball-park of good ammo for the 9mm. I have some Uzi 9mm JHP carbine ammo that is +P rated and not too bad. Winchesters 115 bulk in the 100 round pack seems to be OK also. I've owned 14 .40 S&W's (mostly for resale) and was not impressed by the four I shot on a regular basis. The only one that was incredibly accurate was a Lew Horton Tactical. It amazes me how .40 gets pumped-up as a round that is easily controllable over a .45acp. Seriously? Every .40 I have shot produced more recoil than any .45 I have shot. My favorite 9mm is a Beretta Brigadier 92fs stainless. JMO
 
I prefer my 45acp over either one but having said that I tend to shoot my 9s a lot more, mainly due to the high cost of ammo. I just never cared for the 40 mainly because of the snap recoil, it just didn't feel right to me, guess I am just a wuss! My son loves his 40 and doesn't mind the snappy recoil, however, he shoots his 9mm far more and the 45acp also. So go figure. If ever in a bad situation....give me anything bigger than a rock or a stick!
 
Sprefix said:
Of the two choices offered, I'd go for the 9mm. Reason is the .40 kicks much more than a 9 and if I want less control per shot, I'll just step up to my 10mm. The venerable 1911 in .45 is an incredible stand-by, if not the major frontrunner for defense. My only problem with 9mm is some of the (WEAK!!!!) ammo manufactured. The worst by far has been 9mm UMC. That ammo is Krap with a capitol "K". It is very anemic. A 115 grainer at 1450fps is way more in the ball-park of good ammo for the 9mm. I have some Uzi 9mm JHP carbine ammo that is +P rated and not too bad. Winchesters 115 bulk in the 100 round pack seems to be OK also. I've owned 14 .40 S&W's (mostly for resale) and was not impressed by the four I shot on a regular basis. The only one that was incredibly accurate was a Lew Horton Tactical. It amazes me how .40 gets pumped-up as a round that is easily controllable over a .45acp. Seriously? Every .40 I have shot produced more recoil than any .45 I have shot. My favorite 9mm is a Beretta Brigadier 92fs stainless. JMO
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Sprefix you make some valid points there except about the more recoil at the end. Much to general a statement I think, maybe if you are shooting a plastic gun it may be true, but that is not the case when comparing my P229 and Colt Commander, the kick is pretty much the same.

BTW that Beretta Brigadier is one SWEET gun!!
 
I know I'm sticking my neck out here but... I prefer the 9mm except when I'm carrying a 40 and a 40, except when I am holding a 9.
 
VTHokiesDuckHunter said:
How can you say that? I know a lot of guys that are shooting competition now with .40 S&W. One guy last night in my skeet league was telling me about a competition he is shooting this weekend, and he's very good. I asked him what he was shooting, and he replied "My M&P in .40 S&W"

Most of my LEO friends now carry and shoot .40's, including in competitions. (Sig's mainly)

I shoot my 4014 almost as well as my 5906's at moving targets. I mainly figure that difference is due to the weight and compact size of the 4014, not the caliber.
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If you read and understand my post, I was refering to compacts. Which is what most people carry these days.
 
Not really interested in the 10mm Kurz. I have .45ACP & 9mm bottom feeders.

The .40 is a high pressure round & is known to be pretty unforgiving of reloading errors.

If I couldn't have a .45 I'd take a nine.
 
You're right, ScubaSig

ScubaSig said:
Sprefix you make some valid points there except about the more recoil at the end. Much to general a statement I think, maybe if you are shooting a plastic gun it may be true, but that is not the case when comparing my P229 and Colt Commander, the kick is pretty much the same.

BTW that Beretta Brigadier is one SWEET gun!!
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You know, now that I reflect on it more, the Tactical was an easy shooting gun. Good catch as the rest of them were predominately plastic. My Sigs are forgiving and CRAZY accurate in 9mm. I don't recall shooting a Sig .40. My Sig P220 in ACP is a dream to shoot with a Harrts' recoil reducer. I'm not a big fan of miracle add-ons, but this thing changes the personality of the P220 significantly. It just gives a little push with very little muzzle-flip. Even with the earlier West German long trigger sweep, double-taps come together nicely. My Dan Wesson Commander bobtail (10mm) is rude and jumpy with 180's at 1400fps. I really like the size of the P229.
 
In any X vs Y caliber choice, I'll always opt for the one that makes the bigger holes and creates the greatest amount of energy. In the case of the 9x19 vs the .40 S&W, this means the .40 is the winner for me.

That said, I wouldn't feel inadequately armed if I carried a 9x19 pistol with the right ammo.
 
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I prefer the 9mm but I also love the 45. I do not have a 40 anymore but it was a nice round. I think you should shoot what you like. I believe in shot placement no matter what you shoot.
 
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Kanewpadle said:
If you read and understand my post, I was refering to compacts. Which is what most people carry these days.
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Yes, I caught that part. The 4014 of mine I was referring to is a compact.

Maybe there is a bigger difference in polymer compacts in a .40, but in metal framed pistols, I really don't see a lot of difference in accuracy and able to control shots compared to a 9mm. For example, a 3013 vs. 4013 is pretty much a dead heat I believe in "shootability".
 
VTHokiesDuckHunter said:
Yes, I caught that part. The 4014 of mine I was referring to is a compact.

Maybe there is a bigger difference in polymer compacts in a .40, but in metal framed pistols, I really don't see a lot of difference in accuracy and able to control shots compared to a 9mm. For example, a 3013 vs. 4013 is pretty much a dead heat I believe in "shootability".
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You may have a valid point concerning metal frames.
 
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