WHAT DO YOU PREFER 40CAL OR 9MM

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LIGHTNING-FAST

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Probley bulletts are a bit cheap for 9mm than 40cal but overall 40cal would be a better defensive weapon than the 9mm. Some think 9mm is just as good a home defensive weapon as the 40cal. mostly likely lies with the type bulitts one is using. Tom
 
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As much as I want to find a reason to not carry a 9mm, I just can't find one. The only reason that I use is that I love carrying my 4506 too much. But to answer your question, I prefer the 9 over a 40. You've got more ammo capacity usually, the ammo is cheaper, the gun is tamer (though I don't have trouble with 40, either), and I find 9mm to be a more accurate round compared to the 40's I own (which could also be user error). Though 10mm seems to go right for the bulls eye every time as well.
 
I have no use for a 40 cal. There is nothing wrong with the round or it's performance but I have 9mm and I have 45acp, I just don't need a 40. A 9mm is just fine for home defense. I have a CZ-75 SP-01 with 18+1 mag capactiy and trituim night sights. I pity the fool who thinks I am under armed.
That being said a 40 caliber has better ballistics than the 9mm. It is a deadlier round. I just don't think the bad guy is going to know the difference.
 
The better caliber is the one you shoot the best. Either caliber will do the job, IF you do yours.

To follow up on OKFC...in a home defense scenario a long gun should be close at hand and your first choice. The pistol is to give you time to get to your long gun. Nod to Clint Smith.
 
I like them both, but I would choose the 9mm. Less recoil means faster second shots, and dollar for dollar you can shoot a box and a half or more 9mm for the cost of 1 box of the .40 . That means more fun for you, and you being more proficient a shooter.

Shot placement is far more important than the differences between a 9mm and a .40 S&W . The number of criminals put in their graves by the 9mm should clearly show that the cartridge is an excellent choice for home defense.
 
I like my 40. Stupid things like the sound over my buddies 9mm. Plus, the hole in the target is much bigger (don't know why) than the 9 while being closer to the bull. Go try'em and see what you like. In the end, its all good to be a 2 Amendment participant :)
 
In my country,...
We are restricted to FMJ for self defense.
Factory .40 ammo is considerably more expensive than 9x19 of the same brand.
You can find 9x19 cartridges in almost every gun shop around the country. Can't say the same for .40SW.
There are far more pistol models available in 9x19 than in the bigger cartridge. That includes S&W autos, by the way.
No question I choose the old 9 for my serious shooting needs (when the Mossberg 500 is out of reach ;) ).
 
Either 9mm or .45. Even though I carry a S&W M&P on duty about 12 hours a day..I dont care for the cartridge...in one old man's opinion the .40 is not as accurate as the nine or .45. YMMV
 
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In my opinion (worth what you paid for it), .40 cal is a solution in search of a problem. 9mm will do the job just fine.
 
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Like OKFC05 my shotgun is my first choice for home defense with my second being my M&P 40FS.
 
Benelli M2 with 000 buck... 4006... or a 4013TSW... I've been a big .40 cal fan for over 10 years. I've expanded my collection significantly over the past year and a half and still don't own a 9mm. Then again, a year ago l didn't own a.45 ACP 3rd gen and now have three. Maybe a 9mm is in my future this year...

Hog
 
If I want capacity (or for deep concealment) I go 9mm, if I want power I go .45acp. In my opinion the .40 is just a compromise round. It does not provide much more power than the 9mm or much more capacity than the .45acp. In my opinion the only thing it does provide is more muzzle flip and slower follow up shots.
 
WoodLark said:
In my opinion (worth what you paid for it), .40 cal is a solution in search of a problem. 9mm will do the job just fine.
Click to expand...

Couldn't have said it better. If you have a problem with the 9mm, go to the .45. Why mess around with a compromise caliber?
 
I like 40 S&W, I own several 40s, and it is my current HD round. With that said, I don't plan on buying anymore 40 pistols. A box of ammo used to be about $1.00-$1.50 a box more than 9mm, now its at least $4.00 more a box, that really cuts on down I the amount I shoot my 40s.
 
LIGHTNING-FAST said:
Probley bulletts are a bit cheap for 9mm than 40cal but overall 40cal would be a better defensive weapon than the 9mm. Some think 9mm is just as good a home defensive weapon as the 40cal. mostly likely lies with the type bulitts one is using. Tom
Click to expand...

I AGREE, USE THE CORRECT 9MM AMMO AND IT WILL DO A LOT OF DAMAGE
 
I completely get it that by some standards of judgment the .40 is an unnecessary round, but the market says there is a demand for it. Maybe the controlling factor in answering the question is the frame of reference, as the round is either a bigger-than-necessary alternative to the 9mm or a smaller-than-necessary alternative to the .45. I actually like the idea of the .40 and have one (a 4006). I will soon be taking possession of a match-grade 9mm (a 952). I suspect that at competition distances the 9mm will perform better for me, but in a social situation in my small house with compact rooms, I don't imagine target reacquisition would be much of a problem with either gun. I would use either one.

If I had a 9mm already, I might not see the point in upgrading to a .40; and I think that for home defense (particularly in small-lot California), a .45 or 10mm might be overkill. (I'm not completely consistent in this, as one of my HD resources is a 1917 Army loaded up with a moon clip of standard 230 gr ball ammo.) If you like bigger holes and an energy edge, go with the .40; if you appreciate less expensive ammo and think that a little excess capacity makes no real difference, then the 9mm should be your choice. It has had nearly a century of use, and it's not like experience has demonstrated that it is an inadequate round.
 
9mm is nicer in compact pistols if I had a choice I would go with 40sw when available
40sw can send 180gr slugs 1150fps though its quite deafening most 180gr loads are 950fps

ultimately go with what you can shoot well in pistol size of choice.

I have seen 45acp fail where 40sw and even 9mm excelled.

real good launching platform for 40sw is Steyr M40A1 built for 40sw, has 1911 like trigger and low bore axis and fits into most hands well minimizing recoil. M&P is another good platform for 40sw both have similar makeup.

dont listen to those trying to tell ya 40sw is a compromise round
40sw can launch 180gr slugs 1150fps out of 4" barrel though its quite deafening
smaller bullets even faster it wont match 10mm then again you dont get the overkill 10mm can be
 
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9mm holds an advantage in terms of economics.Given that shooting proficiency is a function of practice , and that practice is a function of how much ammo the shooter can afford to sling downrange, the lower the price of ammunition=lower price to practice= greater realized shooting ability. A person who spends $500 on a gun and $500 on ammo will outperform the one who spends $1000 on pure hardware every time.
 
Many years ago, when i was fairly new with shooting I started out with a 9mm Browning long before the .40 was a glimmer in anyone's eyes. So over time I accumulated a ton of 9mm stuff, brass, loading equipment, data and guns, lots of guns.

I dinked around with the .40 slightly a few years ago, had a HK usp compact in .40. It was okay, did a little loading with it. In the end decided I wanted to try to simplify my life and reload fewer calibers so I dumped the .40 and tried to concentrate on my main calibers, .38/357, .45acp, .45 Colt, .44mag/spcl and 9mm. Anything else, like .380 I just buy factory loaded ammo for.\
Now if I were a fairly new shooter in todays world the choice would be a little harder. I still think I would go 9mm for the cheaper ammo and all but you could make a good case for the .40. The supposed lack of 9mm stopping power is not a factor to me.
 
9mm by far. More ammo, lighter recoil, faster followup shots, and can be used in more platforms.
 
I own an M&P .40 S&W. I like it over a 9MM because it's the gun I own. I bought it used at a decent deal, and it's a blast to shoot.
I'll probably never own a 9MM or a .45 ACP. I don't rule it out completely, but I doubt it. I'm a revolver man, and I wasn't even going to buy a semi at all. A salesman put an M&P in my hand, and I just liked it. I wasn't going to buy one at all, until the dirty #%*@$ had the used one, then I just couldn't help myself. I didn't really care about the caliber too much, it just happened to be a .40.
That being said, I'm not a fan of 1911's at all. If somebody gave me a new one, I'd leave it in the box and sell it new. I've fired several, and they just aren't my cup of tea.
So, I ended up with a .40 S&W due to circumstance more than anything. I like the higher mag capacity than the .45, and I like the louder noise than the 9MM. Mostly, the .40 is a toy. The only "real" thing I may do would be to use it to put down a wounded deer. I have a shotgun for HD, so that's out.
I think it's a happy medium for a lot of people, as far as cost and power compared to .45's & 9MM's.
My true passion is my 586. That's my "real" gun.
 
Kanewpadle said:
Where did you SEE this? Do tell.
Click to expand...

ipsc,ipda matches to start. bowling matches, public ranges and hunting.
constant inability to knock down steel plates and bowling pins.
9mm 115gr 1150 factory ammo knocked the same plates down consistently vs 45acp 230gr factory ammo.

couple instances of 45acp's ricocheting and flying back overhead making a nice buzzing sound.
 
I like and own both. The Glock 27 in .40 makes a formidable pocket gun, but I have a 9mm Glock 17 in a bed holster. I like the capacity. Yes, I'm an S&W man, but only for revolvers and mainly the older ones.
 
MrApathy said:
...constant inability to knock down steel plates and bowling pins.
9mm 115gr 1150 factory ammo knocked the same plates down consistently vs 45acp 230gr factory ammo.

couple instances of 45acp's ricocheting and flying back overhead making a nice buzzing sound.
Click to expand...

+1 here. In fact, the ole lady got hit in the arm with a 40S&W ricochet off of a bowling pin, off of the soffit overhead, off her arm, landing in the little opening of the car door arm rest where the handle is located. :eek:
 
StatesRightist said:
The better caliber is the one you shoot the best. Either caliber will do the job, IF you do yours.

To follow up on OKFC...in a home defense scenario a long gun should be close at hand and your first choice. The pistol is to give you time to get to your long gun. Nod to Clint Smith.
Click to expand...

This!

I used to have a SiG P229 in .40S&W. I was 'ok' with it, but went back to what I know and can shoot effectively, which is 9mm, .38spcl and .45ACP.

So I guess my answer is I prefer 9mm over .40S&W and the 870 is within reach for HD!

YMMV.
 
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