Which would you pick?

[Conklin]

9mm. Here's why:

1. 9, 45, and 40 all have the same effectiveness against bad guys. Shooters don't want to believe this, but MEs and ER docs can't tell the difference. Neither can people who get shot. "Stopping power" etc. is myth.

2. 9 carries more ammo than 45 and 40. In a poop-storm, more bullets are life-savers.

3. 9 recoils less, allowing faster more accurate shooting. Faster more accurate shooting means you live instead of die.

4. Ammo is much cheaper so you practice more.

Net result: If you choose .45 or .40, you get nothing in return for important things you give up.

So if you lived in a state that restricted magazine capacity to 10 rounds, you would still choose 9mm over .45 or .40?

 

[Ransom]

So if you lived in a state that restricted magazine capacity to 10 rounds, you would still choose 9mm over .45 or .40?

That removes only one of the four reasons, so I would still choose 9mm. Practice ammo is the biggest expense.

 

[rubiranch]

I have a M&P .45 with a 4.5" barrel and love it.

Fits perfect in my hand and its fun to shoot, really fun to shoot.

For one reason or another I have zero interest in 9mm or a .40.

I just traded off my Glock M36 .45 gen 4 that I believe is comparable to a S&W M&P Shield. I didn't care for the smaller M36 but I would take the Glock M36 over the Shield.

I've always been told that if you don't win a gun battle in the first 3 rounds you're not going to win. 11 rounds is good for me.

I am always surprised at what little recoil there is with the M&P .45.

 

[bluelund79]

For you .45 guys, what do you think about an M&P .45 with a ported Storm Lake barrel, 3 mags, and an RMR for $625? Or there's a standard FS for $450.


Of course for the .40 guys, I like these too, and can have a previously owned Compact with a Crimson Trace for $425.


And for you 9mm guys, I haven't forgotten you. I handled a Gen 1 with Talon grip, night sights, and 4 mags for $400.


So much good advice, so many choices, SO little money. But I did get a bonus from work, so something is going home this week.

I picked up a NIB Gen 1 full size M&P 45 with thumb safety for $320 shipped. I'd start my search there. The RMR used one you found sounds like a decent deal, depending on who did the milking and what type of RMR is on it. I'd keep looking, as long as you have a FFL close by, that you trust.

 

[Okie21]

9 mm is a no-brainer for me. Lowest cost per round, lowest recoil, and highest capacity per magazine. Lethality is far more dependent on shot placement than caliber.

What he said. But more importantly, this is personal preference. Shoot the caliber you like for your own reasons. I shoot 9mm cuz that's what I like. All my pistols are the same caliber.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[Rastoff]

For you .45 guys, what do you think about an M&P .45 with a ported Storm Lake barrel, 3 mags, and an RMR for $625?

Does this have an actual Trijicon RMR on it or some knock off? If it's an original Trijicon, this is like buying an RMR and getting the gun for free. I wouldn't hesitate a second to buy this. If you don't buy it, tell us where it is so we can.

 

[Westie1]

Only one problem with the OP's question. Only 2 S&W semis that are on roster here in Cal are the first gen Shields and the SD series. And if someone had a M&P for sale, it would be a PPT sale, and be at a premium price.

That said, if I could get one it would be in 45. Have an SD, so my 9mm is covered. And I'm a big fan of the 45-love big holes.

 

[Hammerless-12]

My preference would be the 45ACP, simply because I load thousands of 45ACP each year already. Im old school and lazy, don't like to change and set up my press as much as I used to.

 

[BlackTalonJHP]

I like 9mm but the M&P was designed for the 40S&W. You only lose 2 rounds of mag capacity vs 4 rounds on the 3rd gens.

 

[CB3]

For you .45 guys, what do you think about an M&P .45 with a ported Storm Lake barrel, 3 mags, and an RMR for $625? Or there's a standard FS for $450?

Best bang for the buck. The new sighting system, if properly done, is worth the expense.

Don't like it? Sell it likely for what you paid for it and find something else. Low risk here.

 

[gunny4053]

I love .45, and .40 isn't bad either. I have no problem with 9mm, but I was a little concerned with all the "accuracy problems" directed at the M&P 9's. If the accuracy is truly a non-issue, then a 9 would be cool too. Since I load 9mm for the wifes' Sig, I'd be padding my own nest as well, so to speak.

Rastoff, I'll take a peek at that .45 and see what brand the RMR is. That particular gun doesn't really fill an absolute need for me, but it would be kinda fun. Now the standard model, that would be nice because I like .45, it can be carried, and since the Glock 21 and Shield are both .45, it would fit right in.

On the other side of the coin, my Shield PC .40 could use a big brother, and the caliber does have a "4" in it.

 

[Racer X]

5" 10mm. A man can dream. Then a .40 barrel for it.

 

[Univibe]

So if you lived in a state that restricted magazine capacity to 10 rounds, you would still choose 9mm over .45 or .40?

Yes. Since the result on the target is the same, you still get the advantages of cheaper practice ammo, and less recoil.

 

[wnderr]

I spent the last 10 years getting rid of my .45s, .44s, 10mm, and several rifles. Decided to try to standardize in 9mm, .357/.38, 5.56/.223, .22, etc.

All my carry guns are now 9mm,mostly compacts.

I decided I can kill you just as dead with 9mm, and can carry a lot more of them in my pockets!

Just like Vietnam, more bullets and hand grenades, are a good thing!

 

[imcrazy]

What is the purpose of the new addition ?

Do you reload your own ammo or buy commercially loaded ?

Do you have any other M&P's now?

I have a 9mm 2.0 Compact 4", 9mm 4.25" F/S, 9mm Shield & 45 acp F/S 2.0... 45 is my favorite to shoot but, I usually carry the shield or compact...

 

[Manchu]

If it's an option I always tend to lean toward the .45, myself. Already own multiples of both 9mm and .45, so it helps to keep ammo more simple. I'd be open to a .40 if I *really* wanted a particular gun that was only available in that caliber. Other than that no need.

 

[gunny4053]

What is the purpose of the new addition ? Because I want one

Do you reload your own ammo or buy commercially loaded ? Yes and yes

Do you have any other M&P's now? Just the Shields

See the info in red

 

[hardluk1]

Gunny I been a 40sw guy since 1990 and not with 180gr loads . The gen 1 pistol does need some apex upgrades to the trigger group but only a aluminum trigger and striker block is really needed but beyond that hotter ammo should run a heavier recoil spring goes a long way with controlling hotter ammo . I preferred a 155gr 1300fps for years in several handguns . I can buy light 300fps corbon 135gr hp , 155gr , 165 up to 180 hp's for defense . You can also buy a 9mm conversion barrel and a couple mags although 40sw mags tend to work well too so you have the option of shooting 9mm but a 9mm has not other options . I have a 4.25 gen 1 M&P with thumb safety and a lighter apex trigger group My wifes has a 4.25 m&p CORE 9mm and a I shoot both and also have a hard time feeling the difference in recoil when underwood 124gr 9MM +P is used com paried to there 155gr 40 ammo .

For a 63 year old I can still place 15 rounds of 165gr 1200fps 40sw into a 3x2" group at 50 feet with a time average between shots of .784 while wearing trifocals .

For a 45acp I will carry a Colt LW commander 04840wc with 9 round mags plus 1 in the4 chamber and thin grips any day over a thicker striker fired poly pistol and my colt LW Commander is the same weight so why bothr with a 45acp M&P My back up mags for my colt are 10 round Wilson mags .

 

[rubiranch]

I spent the last 10 years getting rid of my .45s, .44s, 10mm, and several rifles. Decided to try to standardize in 9mm, .357/.38, 5.56/.223, .22, etc.

All my carry guns are now 9mm,mostly compacts.

I have one .38 special P+, the rest are .357s with the exception of one M&P .45.

I carry the .38.

 

[GT_80]

for me 9MM - cheapest to shoot, easy to control... I have 9mm and 45 acp, and I love both, but the 9mm is way cheaper...