Why are people shedding 9's?

[Protected One]

I have a friend who sold all his 9mm's and now carries .40 s&w.
Recently, I've noticed that others are doing the same, and I just read on the "WTS" area of others doing the same.

Now, I understand that .40cal ammo is more readily available than 9mm at the moment, but that too appears to be changing.
Ballistically, there is not that much difference between the two, so is there something I'm missing?

 

[Chillock]

I don't know if you are missing anything or not. Around here in eastern Washington, 40 cals are popular but the hard to find ammo and guns are the 9mm and 380. I still prefer a 9mm over the 40. Mostly because my had grips better around most 9's where it feels the grip of most 40's are to big in my hand. Not that there is a big difference, maybe it's just what I am use to all these years.

40's are still going through the phase like 9's did when no matter what it was the caliber to get. Yes there are ballistic reasons for the 40 but those would also apply to a 40 verse 10mm.

 

[TucsonMTB]

Although the S&W 642-1 revolver usually found in my pocket around the house is a hoot to shoot, my usual pocket carry for the last couple years has been a Kahr PM40.

I believe, there is lots to like about "fotay". For example, what I carry penetrates windshield glass readily and is slightly easier for me to shoot well than 38 Special (same diameter as 9mm which I do not own). At the same time, it make larger holes in paper targets and the JHP's never get any smaller if you need them to be effective in other media.

Some people find "fotay" too "snappy". For me, it is not hugely different than 9mm. When I first picked up this caliber, typical "fotay" self defense rounds were widely available at 35 cents a round, delivered. So, I bought a good stash of stuff that according to my informal tests and the plethora of tests on YouTube is as effective as the "good stuff" in 9mm selling for somewhat more per round.

Yeah, I am cheap and that's a big part of the reason for my choice of .40 S&W. Although I have not shopped for it, I suspect that finding a good 9mm SD round for 35 cents is rather difficult of late.

Hope this helps . . .

 

[Protected One]

I don't know if you are missing anything or not. Around here in eastern Washington, 40 cals are popular but the hard to find ammo and guns are the 9mm and 380. I still prefer a 9mm over the 40. Mostly because my had grips better around most 9's where it feels the grip of most 40's are to big in my hand. Not that there is a big difference, maybe it's just what I am use to all these years.

40's are still going through the phase like 9's did when no matter what it was the caliber to get. Yes there are ballistic reasons for the 40 but those would also apply to a 40 verse 10mm.

Wow. Washington is different than Michigan. .40cal ammo is readily available (JHP and FMJ), as is .45 acp, but 9mm and .380 is scarce...but improving. I found 300 round of 9mm at Walmart on Saturday - $14.77 per box.
My edc is a glock 23 but I also carry a Bodyguard 380 and have a Browning HP 9mm for fun. The Browning is the easiest to shoot, and would be my edc...if it weren't so heavy.

Tuscon...sounds like you carry Critical Duty?!

 

[thebeamanater107]

People choose their favorite number then come up with reasons to support it. "It's bigger or more powerful than 9mm, but it's still the same gun as 9mm" is why I chose the 40... But then I shot the same gun chambered in 9mm.

So I've got the ruger Sr40 and Sr9. At 25 yards with the 40, all my bullet holes were in the torso of the man size target. At 10 yards, all my bullets were in the face. Now, I wasn't going slow and squeezing each round off with careful aim. I also wouldn't call it rapid fire. I just shot 15 rounds and pulled the target in, reloaded, put the target back out, and shot 15 more. The gun worked fine, no problems, I can use this gun in self defense, all is good. I carried it and continued shooting it.

But what gun collection is complete without a 9mm? I found a used Sr9 for $350, and I couldn't find anything wrong with it, so I bought it.

At 25 yards, all my shots were in the face. The recoil was radically less than the 40. It was much more accurate. It operated more smoothly. It was fun. With my next magazine, I drew a heart on my target's chest at 25 yards.

-both "first time shootings" were performed with federal white box fmj's.

The 40 is all fine and good, but I prefer 9mm

the original point and click interface, by Smith and Wesson

 

[Chillock]

Wow. Washington is different than Michigan. .40cal ammo is readily available (JHP and FMJ), as is .45 acp, but 9mm and .380 is scarce...but improving. I found 300 round of 9mm at Walmart on Saturday - $14.77 per box.
My edc is a glock 23 but I also carry a Bodyguard 380 and have a Browning HP 9mm for fun.

Most LGS and Walmart are limiting all ammo to 3 boxes per customer. And I mean 3 boxes total; mixed cal or not. 9mm and 380's fly off the shelf. 40 cals are popular but ammo doesn't move as fast. Maybe because of cost and other two rounds are still very popular. I can get personal defense 9mm for around 28 cents a round. 40 cal of same result is about 37 cents.

 

[amazingflapjack]

#9 #9 #9

I just finished reading "No easy day" and that's what team 6 went into Bin Laden's compound with; 9's. Even with all of the successful military and police history behind this round, and the stature of the many units, agency's, and gov's that have used it, the conjecture continues. It remains my choice as a defensive round. Recent ballistics testing posted here on the forum show it as a strong competitor in the area of popular pistol rounds. I am fond of the 45 ACP, and I own guns from 38 SPL to 44 mag, but in a defensive situation I haven't found a combination I like better than my model 59 and Marlin Camp 9 using the same hi-cal mags. Make mine a "9." The Germans got it right.

 

[Protected One]

Most LGS and Walmart are limiting all ammo to 3 boxes per customer. And I mean 3 boxes total; mixed cal or not.

I know, but the Walmart clerk even let me get a box of .380 Federal Hydra Shock, which I took because it's rare to find.

 

[SgtLumpy]

... I believe, there is lots to like about "fotay". For example, what I carry penetrates windshield glass readily ...

Gangsta pronunciation aside, why would you feel the need to penetrate windshield glass?


Sgt Lumpy

 

[TucsonMTB]

Gangsta pronunciation aside, why would you feel the need to penetrate windshield glass?


Sgt Lumpy

Well, that is embarrassing . . . I had no idea that was "gangsta" pronunciation. I often use that spelling to signal to other readers that I am not serious about any particular caliber. Clearly, that failed this time.

Personally, I hope to never have a need to penetrate a windshield, but shooting from the inside of a junk windshield was fun during one of our Back-Up Gun (BUG) matches at the local range last year. I thought it was kind of neat that it worked so well.

As a kid, I remember .22 rifle rounds just sliding off the windshields of junk cars at the local dump when we were shooting rats. Admittedly, that was more than 50 years ago . . .

 

[alwslate]

Didn't realize "people" were shedding nines. Maybe just some people
that you know. Seems like I read that some police departments are
shedding fortys and going back to nines as there is little to no
difference in effectiveness. I've got a dozen nines and I'm not
shedding any of mine. I don't own a single forty and don't plan to.
Some people like the forty and that's fine. The reality is that there's
little difference in effectiveness in the three popular auto pistol rounds
but practicality favors the nine. It has long been the best full size
auto pistol round and likely to remain so for many years.

 

[sdustin]

IMO the 9mm is just as good with modern bullets,if i wanted less rounds and more recoil give me a big bore revolver.

 

[BC38]

I wish more people around here were shedding 9's. I'm shopping for one! Unfortunately just about every one that comes up for sale lately seems to be either a former Soviet or Chinese military piece that won't reliably feed hollow points (RNFMJ only) OR one of the tupperware guns. I already have one that is half plastic, and want one that has a metal frame. Not many all metal 9's on the market around here lately.

 

[Arik]

It's all the same here. Some sell 40 for 9, others 9 for 45 or 45 for 40. There's always a mix of used guns at the lgs. Some don't like the ammo, others don't like the gun..

I own all 3.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[681ismyfavorite]

a lot of regular folks buy what their local cops carry. this can account for the "gotta have a 40" hysteria.

 

[Donn]

Like the 10mm but to a little lesser extent, the 40 S&W is reaching mythic heights. "You carry a 9mm? You might as well carry a pocketful of stones. I don't leave the house without my 40!" That's the popular refrain from several of my contemporaries lately. I wonder what the next "be all, end all" round of the day will be?

 

[coltle6920]

Don't know about people dumping their 9mm's But I know the ammo isn't scarce.Numerous places online have cases available and I'm not talking one or two but 80+. I'm not a good shopper for prices but what I've seen average 40-45 cents per round. I don't buy from stores that limit you to two or three boxes. It isn't worth the gas or hassle.

 

[SgtLumpy]

Don't know about people dumping their 9mm's But I know the ammo isn't scarce...

This ^^^ mirrors what I've seen. 9 and 40 are the two calibers that I've seen abundantly available throughout the tightest period of what some call the "ammo shortage".

It may be worth noting that my perception of "ammo shortage" is not based on the inability to buy one box at a time at Wally's.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[jack the toad]

I'm not seeing the 9's being shed around here.
IMO, there's not that much difference in the effectiveness between the 35, 40 or 45 in the standard loadings of 9x19, 40 S&W and 45 ACP.
It's more personal preference and I like them all.

 

[MattNH]

The last 2 guns I bought were first from a guy getting rid of all his 9mm and going .40 and the second was a .40 from a guy sticking with 9mm.

I guess it can go both ways...