I own pistols in all 3 calibers and do not carry one over the other. 9mm/.40/.45 - Put the bullet where it needs to go and they'll all work.
Loomis said:That 40 caliber that all the cops are so enamored with is only barely more powerful than your run of the mill 9mm+P ammo. And guess what? There's no such thing as 40 +P. So as far as I'm concerned, 40cal is just wasting space in your magazine.
My big issue with the 40 Smith is that I keep picking up the brass at the range, thinking it's 45 ACP.
I hate that!
I would guess that you have large hands. I don't. A double column auto in .45acp is pretty much useless to me. I can't comfortably hold it, so what's the point?Although many might argue, I believe most detractors (including myself) believe that it just doesn't do anything another cartridge could do better. It doesn't hold as many rounds as the 9mm, it's not as big as the .45, and it's not as powerful as the 10mm. So basically it serves no real purpose.
Some .40S&W guns need to be HEAVIER, not LARGER. I can't comfortably shoot an S&W 1006 sized gun, so what's the use? My Glock 22 is an ideal size for my hand, as would be a Glock 23. The 10mm Glock 20 BARELY fits my hand and isn't comfortable. The problem with my Glock 22 is that for MY tastes, it's a bit light for optimimum controllability. That could probably be countered by some sort of weight in the grip frame, behind the magazine compartment, held in place by the sort of removeable cap that people sell. Or perhaps a one piece combined cap/weight could be developed.Seems it(.40S&W) needs to be in a larger gun than a typical midsize 9MM, which,at that point, might as well be chambered for 10MM and "called done".
If you check prices on used beretta 92fs handguns, you will find that the 40caliber ones are cheaper than the 9mm.
ltlabner;
The price of used handguns being higher for 9mm than for 40 proves that 9mm is in greater demand. That's saying something since there are so many more 9mm guns available than 40s.
Apparently, no one wants 40 cal in the used market.
loomis said:BoilerUP; It's wasting space in your magazine because you can't fit as many 40s in a given mag length as you can 9mm and you aren't getting anything to speak of, in trade in terms of punch, for that sacrifice in mag capacity.
You arn't quoting very good numbers imo. A good "average" number(for top quality defense ammo) for 9mm is 340 ft-lb muzzle energy. For 40 cal, that would be 485 ft-lb. For 9mm+P, 435 ft-lbs for 90 grain slugs. If you go to corbon powRball, the number is higher yet.
435 vs 485 is not enough of a difference to make me go to 40 cal. I havn't even begun to talk about 9mm +P+, or +P++.
It doesn't hold as many rounds as the 9mm, it's not as big as the .45...