9mm +p vs .40s&w

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wanderinghero

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I am very interested to hear what other people's opinions are regarding the performance between quality carry loads in 9mm +p and .40s&w.
 
I love both, but I have to concentrate a little more with .40 for good groups. I also can afford more 9mm.

I'd say the caliber is relative with a good jhp (when looking at 9mm and up). Practice and placement are more important.

That said, .40 has some impressive numbers.
 
Quality ammo in either will work just fine if you do your part. Both are pretty affordable as centerfire handgun rounds go, with the nod going to 9mm for being cheaper most of the time.

Between the 2, I prefer the 9mm for the slightly reduced recoil and quicker recovery, all other things being equal (gun platform).
 
9mm here - but then I'm just too damn set in my ways to quickly jump to a cartridge that doesn't fit into mags or cylinders that I already have.

Besides, I'm waiting to see if the .40 really catches on.:D
 
I have to say the 9mm. Yes the .40 has better performance but not on par with .45 either. People say its a middle ground but I think recoil is also a major fact in a gun in which follow up shots more than likely be needed. In which case I personally find the .40 too snappy I much rather have the slight raise of a 9mm or the push from a .45 over the .40. Currently I have threw myself for a loop in the 9mm vs .45 and have no idea what my answer is there so don't ask...
 
Regardless of preference, the 40 S&W has more power than the 9mm+p. But when you add the qualifier of quality carry loads, and the assumption about what you would choose to carry, I cannot deny that some light carry pistols in 40 S&W can have too much horsepower for weight. Since there's no free lunch when it comes to momentum and weight (and capacity, but that's another beating a dead horse thread), either you choose greater power at the expense of target recovery time and capacity or you choose shorter recovery time and capacity at the expense of power.
 
Ironically, there's another recent thread showing a heck of a lot of people carry regular ball ammo in their .45's. 230 grains trucking along at sub 800fps.

So I guess the other side of the coin is that enough is enough. If 230 gr ball will do it, I think 9mm +P JHP will get 'er done, too.
 
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I personally think there is no significant difference between 9mmP, 40S&W, and .45 ACP when it comes to incapacitating a human, given good expanding ammo.

Since I feel the way I do, I'll take the advantages I perceive the 9mmP to have: smaller cartridge, cheaper practice ammo, less recoil, and all my pistol cal weapons use it.

BSW
 
Besides, I'm waiting to see if the .40 really catches on.
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Yeah, I'm doing the same before I buy a computer and one of those internal combustion engines. You might be conservative.
 
The difference in power between 9mm and .40 in real life situations pobably isnt enough to mak a diffeence, so thats not really an advantage in my eyes. With 9mm you can carry more rounds and the recoil is more managable for me so those are the reasons I chose 9mm for my carry weapons.
 
So what do ya'll think of those pop ups that claim the 9 is not safe for personal defense? I've not bothered to check them out (santa is bringing me a new 9).
 
Flounda said:
So what do ya'll think of those pop ups that claim the 9 is not safe for personal defense? I've not bothered to check them out (santa is bringing me a new 9).
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I think that anyone who says that would still avoid standing at the business end of a 9mm at all costs. A 9mm with premium self defense loads is a very sufficient fight stopper.

ETA: And the only pop-ups that I have seen for that are to promote self defense training courses (hand to hand).
 
Between 9mm & .40 S&W? It's whatever caliber & pistol you & your skills can shoot fastest & most accurately. It's not the arrow, brother...it's the indian! Me? I have lots of in-house options & don't feel the least bit "mouse-gunned" with my G19 & Speer Gold Dot 124 gr. JHPs.
 
I carried 9mm for yrs, until 40 s&w came around and I had to which! The 40 s&w is a more powerful round,and as for knock down, it beats 9mm hands down! My 9's are my percise shooting, like a laser! Hey 3/4 of the known world carrys 9mm as a sidearm, so that should tell you something! I remember when there was a 41 action express round,and most big brands sold a gun or conversion kit.
 
is +P really even necessary? I carry good hollow points in a standard load. How much more than 12" of penetration do I really need?
My vote goes for 9mm over 40. I used to be on the 40 wagon but it's just too sharp feeling to get good follow up shots. It may have more punch and make a larger hole in the bad guy, but two rounds well placed with 9mm will do the job IMO.
 
I also can afford more 9mm.
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Yeah, but can you afford more +P 9mm vs .40? +P is usually more expensive. This is one reason I prefer 40SW for serious use. Every shot I take with my 40's is with the "good stuff," at least in terms of energy/recoil. I actually shoot a lot of quality JHP's through my 40's, regularly. I treat my 9mm more like my .22. I burn a whole lot of plinking ammo through it for fun. Buying/making good SD ammo for it seems wasteful, when it costs nearly as much (or sometimes more) than quality 40SW.
 
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