any reason to have a 9 and a 40 ?

[45_auto]

But you can always load the .40 down so it'll have less recoil than the 9mm if you want to kick butt in Production.

So why doesn't anybody do that?

 

[Wishoot]

Because.

Because my .40 is a S&W Gen 3 and it's sooooooooo nice to shoot. I guess if the need to shoot through barriers ever comes up, it will be nice to have the 40 around too.

Because my 9mm's include a BHP and a couple of CZ's and they are also nice to shoot.

 

[Bobson]

I reload both have both guns, I have to carry and quail with a .40 so I was thinking why should I not just keep and stock up one of the calibers, can get nerve racking sometimes at the range with both ammo and platforms out with the family to easy to get ammo crossed up ! was thinking if not better off with getting a matching set so same ammo and mags. Seems like a better idea in an emergency just in case senerio to be able to have hand guns in house that can swap mags and ammo between me, wife, family.

To me, it doesn't make much sense to own handguns in multiple calibers. If you want to own one handgun each in .380 ACP, 9mm, .357 Mag, .40 S&W, .44 Mag, and .45 ACP, do it up. Many would call that a well-rounded collection.

On the other hand, if your goal is rounding out a set of firearms specifically for SD/HD, I think owning multiple caliber firearms of the same type is a poor way to go about it. Keep it simple. A G22, G23, and G27 (or G17, G19, and G26) would be a much better idea IMHO. In addition to the fact that you can focus on one type of ammo, you'll also learn to shoot your weapons with far greater accuracy and skill than the average owner, who buys anything "nice to shoot." In SD/HD, don't overlook the benefit of owning just one firearm and being exceptionally well-acquainted with it.

As far as collections go, if most gun collectors looked at collections in other areas, I think many would be in for a surprise. Every "gun collector" I know collects every/any gun he can get his hands on. Which is fine, if that's what you're interested in. In many other areas of collecting, where actual collection value is kept in mind, most people collect only in specific areas. You won't find many coin or stamp collectors who simply collect every stamp or coin they find. It wouldn't make sense. IMO, it doesn't in firearms either. I'd say a G22, G23, and G27 is a more balanced collection that one assorted firearm each, in a dozen different calibers, by a dozen different manufacturers.

 

[justice06rr]

IMO there's not much of a big difference between 9 and 40. If you can reload both then go ahead, but sticking to one caliber (9mm preferably) would be cheaper for you in the long run. If I reload in the future, it would be 9 and 45. 40 is a "snappy" round, esp for smaller pistols.

 

[JO JO]

thats what im thinking stick with one caliber and platform for hd/sd and know it well,
better to have two of same for wife and I same ammo,mags,and functions. I practice
standing,kneeling,strong side,reaction side,supported, unsuported ect ect.......
I know its functions/controls take down ect.... day or night eyes open or closed.
Now for fun guns kept in safe thats a different story !!!!

 

[Frankl03]

I reload for the calibers I own. I have a 40 (G27) I carry, I have a 9mm I have used for USPSA and a 1911, 45 I like to shoot at the range. Each has a purpose. I don't mind loading for all three calibers. The 9 and the 45 are full size.

I also load 223 for my AR15 and 308 for my 308 AR.

Handloading helps keep me shooting.

 

[JO JO]

I guess what has got me thinking about a uniform hd/sd home package for all in house is this report I read "true story" home invasion that went real bad, mom at home with kid dad at work guys breaks in mom was in bedroom cleaning bad guy in house making way to her she grabs gun from husbands night stand bad guy enters doorway she point gun pulls triger nothing happened bad guy takes gun from her shoots kid and mom and is loose on street with dads guns. Mom lives she said she did not rack the silde as dad didnt keep one in the hole, also in a panic did not know what to do fast enough when it went click.. her sd/hd gun is a 38 spl airlight. if they had the same platform and she knew how dads gun worked outcome would of been different.

 

[krupparms]

If you can afford it. Why not?

 

[GLOOB]

40 is more powerful. Out of the right gun, it's just as shootable. Out of a smaller gun, it can be more snappy. So there's a reason to shoot both calibers if you like having a bigger and/or faster bullet for certain situations.

If you think 9mm reaches the magical cutoff point where "location, location, location" is all that matters, then I guess there's no reason to have .45 ACP or 10mm, or SIG 357, either.

 

[David E]

So why doesn't anybody do that? (download .40)

But they do! But unless you're shooting USPSA Production Division, there's no reason you'd hear about it.

9mm is cheaper and you can tweak that caliber with handloading also.

The .40 advantage is versatility. In addition to downloading ammo for Production Division, you can load it to "major" and use it in Limited and Limited 10 divisions, whereas you aren't allowed to score major with a 9mm in those same divisions.

 

[PabloJ]

I reload both have both guns, I have to carry and quail with a .40 so I was
thinking why should I not just keep and stock up one of the calibers,
can get nerve racking sometimes at the range with both ammo and platforms out with the family to easy to get ammo crossed up ! was thinking if not better off with getting a matching set so same ammo and mags. Seems like
a better idea in an emergency just in case senerio to be able to have hand
guns in house that can swap mags and ammo between me, wife, family.
anyone think this way to.
Thanks all

That makes perfect sense just like carrying Glock 19 and Glock 26 as backup plus spare mags for 19 which can be used in subcompact model. When I hear someone carrying auto and small revolver for backup I tun away and laugh.

 

[Autolycus]

For me there is no reason to stock .40 S&W since I am fine with 9mm. Either round is fine but all of my guns are 9mm right now and I plan to get a .45 ACP soon. I don't feel .40 S&W is for me but it is a great round. If the agency I want to work for is still issuing it, then I will gladly carry it. I have no problems with it, I just started carrying 9mm when I was living on a smaller budget.

 

[David E]

When I hear someone carrying auto and small revolver for backup I tun away and laugh.

Why?

You should be glad he's carrying any gun, and ecstatic he's carrying a BUG

Since you find mixing a semi with a revolver hysterical, would you still laugh if his primary was a 9mm and his back-up a .380?

There's more to carrying a back-up than being able to feed it from the main gun.

BTW, what back-up gun are you carrying right now?

 

[wally]

Same gun in both calibers, cheap practice with the 9mm, carry the .40S&W. The 9mm pistol will quickly pay for itself with savings in practice ammo costs.

 

[420Stainless]

I bought a Bar-Sto 9mm conversion barrel for my SIG 229 .40S&W just to save money on ammo. I reload for everything else, but 9mm is cheap enough most of the time that its not much worth my labor to make 'em.

I only take one or the other to the range at a time - with the appropriate ammo. Hopefully that will go a long way towards avoiding a mixup.

 

[wally]

I only take one or the other to the range at a time - with the appropriate ammo. Hopefully that will go a long way towards avoiding a mixup.

Not really I've seen people come to the firing line with a box of 9mm and a shiny new Glock 22 and wonder why they can't group on the target, get a lot of "jams" and only realized what they did wrong when they started picking up the empties while moaning about never buying another box of that crappy CCI Blazer ammo -- look at all the split cases!