Anyone else going back to the 9mm??

[helitack32f1]

I now only own guns that have a full grip. I cannot shoot anything less well in 9mm (as small as I go) or .45acp (as large as I go). Significant differences in proficiency and competence matter more to me than slight differences in carry comfort. I no longer own or carry a gun I cannot speed/action shoot well.

IMO too many sacrifice significant levels of competence for slight differences in comfort by carrying tiny guns. (Hardly no one runs these tiny guns in IDPA, and for good reason.) This is the "better to have a gun..." (i.e. any gun) crowd, and they stop after the "gun" part of that sentence.

The right belt and holster make larger guns carry best, whereas with tiny guns pretty much anything works. Me, I'm the "find a way to make the guns you shoot best work" crowd. And, I only select 9mm in higher capacity. So, currently, my rotation is a 14+1 (+1 spare) 9mm, or a 7+1 (+2 spares) or 10+1 (+1 spare) .45acp. I know I can hit what I aim at with these guns, because I do reliably, and that's instills confidence that trumps their size or weight.

I think what you are missing is the fact that most people are now realizing or buying into the belief that most real world scenarios for defense are at distances of 7 yards or less so there is no need for IDPA accuracy at farther distances. There are also a lot of people who are uncomfortable enough with a larger gun that they are more likely than not to leave it at home rather than deal with discomfort or the perceived effort necessary to conceal the larger weapon.

There are a lot of people who buy the smaller guns so they have something to throw into their pocket for quick trips or wandering around the house. These little big bore guns have a place. I bought an lcp for just those times. Then I sold it because I realized I never actually packed it around. I have had a hard time finding situations where I cannot comfortably pack my Glock 23 in a Crossbreed holster.
I cannot justify replacing the 13 rounds of .40 of the Glock with 6 rounds of .45 in the XDS, but I sure as heck can justify that 6 rounds of .45 over 6 rounds of .380, or nothing at all.

 

[coalman]

I think what you are missing is the fact that most people are now realizing or buying into the belief that most real world scenarios for defense are at distances of 7 yards or less so there is no need for IDPA accuracy at farther distances.

Not at all. Not one bit actually. I've done the research, read the reports and the internet lore.

Facts are you likely will never need your gun. Then, just showing it will almost always be enough. If showing it is not enough you will most likely miss far more than you hit. Then, it depends on what you hit. So, after "need", "show", "miss" and "what" you're left with the statistical improbability what you select will even matter.

Regardless, the only thing for sure is you'll know for sure after whether you had enough gun. Statistics and probability matter right up to the point they don't. And, in my experience group-think runs in cycles.

IMO people "buy into" those scenarios because they need validation for selecting something of limited size and/or caliber and/or capacity. IMO, they pick the tiny gun they want to be "the best" (e.g. smallest, lightest, etc.) then imagine the scenarios and find the data to support their choice. It goes something like, "Yeah my gun only carries 5 rounds but statistics show I won't need that many rounds anyway so I'm fine" or "Sure I can't shoot it as well but statistically SD encounters are <7 yards anyway so I'm fine" or "9mm is good enough for the SEALs so it's good enough for me" and so on. The smaller the gun, the caliber and/or capacity the lower your expectations should be IMO.

I owned a Glock 26 and Glock 27 (both barely "sub-compacts" IMO), as well as a .38 snubby and Kahr MK9, and have fired a Kahr PM9. For me, they perform poorly vs. larger full grip guns in action/speed shooting. Static targets, slow fire, no problem.

With these tiny guns IMO folks select and carry them expecting to never need a gun. While I agree having something is better than nothing I select the gun I won't regret having when I really need it and always find a way to make it work. Opinions vary.

 

[justice06rr]

Yep.

I had a couple of .40S&W pistols that I don't shoot as well as my other 9mm's, so I've always been looking for 9mm pistols now. Other than that, its also cheaper to feed them!

 

[USAF_Vet]

"Going back" implies that I ever left.

Love my 9's, and won't own anything else in the foreseeable future.

 

[Certaindeaf]

It's surprising the number of guys that carry one of those little NAA? .22 micro-revolvers as a "primary".

 

[Okiegunner]

Like most of us, I have 9s and I have some 40s. Really and trully, I prefer a 9mm, and I am a fairly big guy. Recoil is less and follow up shots are easier to place. For my personal taste, the .40 snaps just a little too much.

Many years ago, I could have purchased a NIB G-17, 2 mags, cleaning kit, and a hard shell case for a little under $300.00. Still kicking myself over passing on that one.

 

[flyskater]

I have handgun calibers in 9, 40, 357 sig, 7.62 Tokarev, 10mm and 45 acp. Since I reload and make my own bullets, it costs me about on average 3 cents/round regardless of caliber. I bought the 45 because of the 1911 making myself to like it, but I never found where the hype was and it just sits there. I carry a 9mm because it is very comfortable to wear. But I love my 10mm and 357 sig.

 

[BP Hunter]

Now that the cooler season is here, it will be easier for me to carry my G19 in OWB holster where I had to carry my G36 in an IWB holster during the warmer months.

 

[throw1out]

My favorite round is 357 sig. But it is not cheap to shoot. I tried the 40 but never liked it. 357 sig is what I enjoy shooting the most and I am very accurate with it. 9mm is my second caliber of choice for accuracy and affordability.

 

[sfed]

Not leaving the 40 just adding to the collection with a couple of 9mm`s

I will never leave the 40, I just added the 9mm to the collection and reloading bench. I have 2 40 calibers and 2 9mm`s along with a 357 to keep the orders for bullets, powder, primers flowing. I like em all, they all go to the range when I go weekly and sometimes biweekly.

 

[ScratchnDent]

I can't go back to 9, because I've never been to 9. Sure, I've shot plenty of them, and find them very pleasant to shoot, but I've never owned one.. I'm a reloader who has been shooting .45acp and 38/357 since I learned to shoot. My main aversion to 9mm is the fact that 9mm cases get stuck inside my .45 cases when cleaning them, and I'm not about to get rid of all my 45 brass and components to adopt a new caliber. Same reason I have no interest in .40. 10 mm has been calling my name for a few years, though...no case mixing issues!

 

[charlie fox]

After leaving my department in 2000 and carrying a gun for myself again I purposely chose the 9mm. I had been carrying a .45 until the department mandated Glock 22s and I never really warmed up to the .40; I did however fall in love with the Glock platform. So I went and bought myself a Glock 19, three different holsters, several magazines and 1000 rounds of ammunition and haven't looked back.

 

[ApplePie]

I just FEEL better carrying my Glock 19 than I do carrying my Glock 30. I shoot both accurately, but for some reason, I have more confidence in the Glock 19. Perhaps it naturally points better; perhaps it's because I feel I can make quicker follow-up shots with it; perhaps it's because the thinner gun feels better in my hands. I think it's important to have confidence in your weapon of choice. If you don't, it will show, and that could be a problem.

 

[ForumSurfer]

Switched to all 9mm a few years back. It's time for me to complete my heresy and pick up a 9mm 1911. My next purchase after that will be a reloading setup so I can get back to 45 again.

On a side note, I recently spoke up against a whacko sales clerk...I never do, but this one was different. A middle aged lady who was obviously doing her homework was being misled. She mentioned having rented this and that and had settled on a ruger lc9 after having shot it and determining she could could cycle the slide and run the gun. The salesman had her talked our of it and into something in 40 (in which she could barely rack) because "one 40 equals the same power as a whole 'clip' of 9mm."




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[jjjitters]

I don't "leave" or "come back to" any caliber. I like whatever caliber is in the gun I'm shooting at the moment. Don't see any point in worrying if one caliber is better than another or if the target can feel the difference. I cast my own bullets and then reload the ammo so cost differences don't even enter my mind. I'll be happiest when I get several guns in every caliber.

 

[biohazurd]

I never left the 9x19. 9mm was my first centerfire handgun caliber and i have never been disappointed with the caliber. I currently owned 7 9mm, 9 .45acp and 0 .40 s&w(great ballistics but it never grew on me.) As far as autos go those rounds fit most of my needs. 9mm is cheap to shoot, mild recoil, and has great mag capacity, and with modern hollow points is very efficent at stopping threats.

 

[9mmforMe]

Going back? I never left!!

 

[muggia59]

My cz75 compact is a little heavy, but its accurate, reliable, perfect fit in the hand and shoots anything, ANYthing I put in it. I may have got lucky with my P938, but it is reliable and concealable. Hornady and Black Hills + p hp rounds have been flawless. I still have 357/38 and 45acp. I still like quantity + reliability for carry. However my xd45 with 13+1 fits the above criteria, and conceals just fine in colder weather.

 

[Warp]

Nothing like randomly bumping a 5 page, 6+ month old thread.

But yeah...never left.

 

[Kachok]

I recently went back to a 9mm as my carry gun. My XDm carries 19+1 without using an extended mag. But the 9mm is not the only caliber I carry or handload, I currently load 9mm, 40, 44 Mag and am about to start loading for 45 ACP.
I do like 9mms, they have a fast follow up, high capacity, and hit alot harder then people give them credit for especially with Longshot fueled handloads.

 

[DeadFlies]

Nope.

In fact, I just traded my 9mm and crossed the frontier into .45 ACP territory. Reloading those tiny cases was getting to be a pain. So I got some bigger ones.

 

[Pilot]

Hmmm. I reload for both 9MM, and .45 ACP and see no real difference in ease of reloading. I've also reloaded for .380 ACP, and never had an issue with that either.

 

[returningfire]

I never left the 9mm.

 

[bearfoot]

Though I still have my 9mm pistols, I'm not shooting them at all any more. I carry either a G27 (summer) or G32 (winter) and I'll be adding an XDs to my summer carry/BUG rotation.
Reason? Can't find enough 9mm to keep shooting it. I can find all the other calibers enough to keep practicing, and I have a little 9mm just in case I need to loan a pistol out, or introduce a new shooter.
When the ammo rush eases up, I'll start buying again for sport and recreation, but I shoot the other calibers just as well, so I don't plan to carry it again.
Not saying that there's anything wrong with it, and I reserve the right to go back at any time.

 

[WoodchuckAssassin]

Once I went .45, I never looked back.