WHY 9mm?

My part time carry gun and truck gun is a Glock 19. It is reliable, light weight, reasonabley accurate and the recoil and muzzle flash are quite tolerable. The 9mm has been shown to have more than adaquate stopping power, with proper ammo and shot placement. I carry Speer 115gr GD +P+ in mine. I have competed for decades with a 45 acp, carried a 1911 in Viet Nam, and if I had to go into combat again with military hardball, I would want a 45. As a civilian I can shot miscreants with expanding bullets, so I carry a 9mm.
In revolvers, I carry 38 Special 158gr LSWCHP, +P. or Speer 135gr SB.
 
With decent ammo and good shot placement I see no reason why 9mm (or .38) wouldn't do the job. Relatively inexpensive practice ammo, light recoil, high capacity, and fast followup shots are all just bonuses. I do like .45ACP better on really cold days like today because I think it will perform better than the smaller rounds if the hollow point clogs up with heavy clothing and fails to expand. Either way, I plan to shoot until the threat is ended or I run out of ammo.
 
jimmyj said:
Hi:
What are your reasons for CCW a 9mm?
What type ammo do you use?
Do you feel comfortable with a 9mm or would you prefer a larger caliber?
Thanks,
Jimmy
Click to expand...

Sir, I don't presently carry a 9 mm, but I'm looking hard at getting one to replace my J-frame .38, probably one of the mini-Glocks. Taking your questions in order:

1. For my purposes, the 9's main selling point over a J-frame .38 is more rounds of similar power in a gun of similar size. Quicker reloads are nice, too.

2. Mrs. Ron H. has Speer 124-grain +P Gold Dots in her P226, and I'd probably carry the same. They were initially recommended by a buddy on the local police force (major metro area), who said they've had no complaints about the ammo when they've had to shoot somebody.

3. I'm OK with the 9, but really prefer a .45. If we're talking big holster guns, I'll take the .45 every time. But not every circumstance requires/permits a big holster gun, and sometimes a mini-auto is the better choice.

JMHO, FWIW.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.
 
Today's 9mm Para pistols and ammo.........these "Ain't your Daddy's 9mm's".......the days of guys carrying an old Hi-Power or P38 loaded with some anemic 124 gr. LRN or FMJ 9mm that struggles to break 1100 fps. are over. Guns are made better now, and so is ammo.

The defense rounds like 9x19 Golden Saber +P, Gold Dot, Hornady TAP, take the 9mm Para to levels it has never been before. You get more capacity, more stopping power, more control due to less recoil.......some of the "LE Only" 9mm +P+ rounds approach the energy of a light .357 Magnum. They aren't made for regular shooting, since they beat the guns up,but for duty and defensive carry they are fine in a strong, modern pistol like a Glock, M&P, etc.

These "Why is 9mm better?" and the infamous "9mm vs. .40 vs. .45" posts are one of my guilty pleasures, I've probably responded in 3,000 of these this year........it's like watching Jersey Shore, I know I shouldn't do it but I can't help myself=)
 
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I carry a .45 ACP full size 1911 with Winchester Ranger-T 230 gr JHP.
My Wife Carries a Compact 1911 3 in bbl, in 9mm. She shoots a full size in .45 all the time, and loves it, but was concerned
about .45 in a 3 in. She carries Win. Ranger-T 127 gr +P+ JHP.
 
I admit to being so narrow minded on the 9mm that I can look through a keyhole with both eyes at the same time.

Being old enough and having studied gunshots in work for many years, I learned a lot about the 9mm.

The 9mm was what the German pistols used during the war but even the Germans felt it ineffective and wanted what the US troops were using. NATO has asked repeatedly that all nations use the 9mm as it is their adopted caliber.

The 9mm was not popular in the US and very few guns using that caliber were being seriously used in law enforcement. This changed when gangbangers began using the cheaper high capacity guns that were primarily 9mm. Since they were not accurate, they wanted more rounds. Hence the officers on the street felt outgunned (they were not) but the powers to be across the nation traded accuracy for capacity. The number of rounds in the average fire fight increased as the change from larger calibers to the high capacity guns. Most of these LEA guns were made by Glock.

Later, there was a lot of studies made and a major change in calibers began toward the 10mm and the .40 as gun manufacturers began using those calibers as a better suited law enforcement firearm.

The price of 9mm has a lot to do with it's popularity today but the influence that began with street gangs is what set it off.

Recoil with a 9mm is certainly not as pronounced but it also does not offer the power as other calibers may. Yet recoil is a perceived feeling that is acquired and one can get used to another caliber and shoot just as fast and as accurately.

I own a few 9mm guns by various manufacturers and they are decent guns but I no longer have a desire to carry one (actually never did since I originally was assigned .357). I worked very few fatal shootings where the 9mm was used when compared to other calibers, including the .22LR.

For just plinking, I would say the 9mm has taken over the spot once held by the .22. There is nothing wrong with owning or shooting a 9mm but since shot placement is the main thing and if that is a true statement, then a marginal shot will be better with a larger caliber in a self defense situation.
 
I chose the weapon first, then the caliber. The G17 fits my hand very well, the SR9 even better.

Also, with a fairly seriously damaged left thumb, operating the slide of anything with a heavier spring is problematic. I'm quite accurate with my 9's, and I figure placement is king.

Cheaper to shoot doesn't hurt, but I also like .22 conversions for semi-auto's too.
 
I saw an insurgent killed with a 9mm Beretta M9......of course he had already been hit with several 5.56 rounds and the Navy Intelligence guy we were working with ran up like Jack Bauer and pumped the guy with 5 or 6 9mm's as the guy was slumping over a wall.......moral of the story.....it took several rounds of both 5.56 and 9mm to finish off a 120 lb. Arabic man.....

At any rate,as a civilian now I continue to use 5.56/.223 and 9mm as a range round and also keep guns chambered for both for HD and use 9mm's for CC.

The price of 9mm is a big factor, but I also shoot very well with 9mm and I am a pistol collector too, and many of my favorite pistols were only ever made chambered in 9mm, like original Hi-Powers, older CZ-75's, P-38's, French PA15, MAC50, Steyr 1912 conversions, etc.

I'm also a fan of .380........some people seem like they want to beat me over the head when I tell them I use a .380 for CC...=)
 
.380? CCW? Heck, a great many lay in various cemeteries all over Europe having been shot by police or military carrying .32 and .380. In high summer (Shorts and T shirt) I often carry just the .380 Bersa.

In the end, it's not the caliber so much as the shot, right? ;)

By the way, I CCW .45acp 99% of the time.
 
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I'm a big fan of more power = more injury = better chance I live.

That said when my BG380 gets here that's what I'll carry most of the time.

I'd love to carry a 1911 .45 but it really prints at the beach in a speedo. :eek:
 
oldman45 said:
For just plinking, I would say the 9mm has taken over the spot once held by the .22. There is nothing wrong with owning or shooting a 9mm but since shot placement is the main thing and if that is a true statement, then a marginal shot will be better with a larger caliber in a self defense situation.
Click to expand...

oldman45 are you saying that a marginal shot with a 9mm would be better than an accurate shot with a .22 or are you saying that a marginal shot with a .45 would be more effective than an accurate shot with a 9mm?
 
As others have said modern ammo has really increased the lethality of the 9mm. If all that was available was ball ammo I would lean heavily to a .45 for its sheer size. I own three 9mm's and they are great guns and have the utmost confidence in them, but I respect those that prefer other calibers.
 
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