old salt
New member
Get a Glock 27 for deep CCW. I also have a Glock 23 for IDPA shoots and it's also my home protection gun. Love both and love the 40S&W. If you can find it, I get my ammo at Wal-Mart. Blazer Brass $12.27 for a box of 50.
9mm VS .40 S&W
- Thread starter lukem
- Start date
Get a Glock 27 for deep CCW. I also have a Glock 23 for IDPA shoots and it's also my home protection gun. Love both and love the 40S&W. If you can find it, I get my ammo at Wal-Mart. Blazer Brass $12.27 for a box of 50.
Travelin-man
9mm vs. 40 well well, whats the difference, I can't hit anything with either one! LOL. Lukem your a knowlegable guy, thanks. I carry a Baretta 9mm and feel comfortable with it, My neighbor is a deputy with a 40, we go to the range and trade off, I'm just not used to the 40 I guess, as far as the velocity, Lukem is right, higher in the 9mm wich can work against you by going thru the bad guy instead of taking him/her off there feet, I belive thats why law enforcement changed for the most part to 40 cal. anyway lets all hope we never have to use them!
9mm vs. 40 well well, whats the difference, I can't hit anything with either one! LOL. Lukem your a knowlegable guy, thanks. I carry a Baretta 9mm and feel comfortable with it, My neighbor is a deputy with a 40, we go to the range and trade off, I'm just not used to the 40 I guess, as far as the velocity, Lukem is right, higher in the 9mm wich can work against you by going thru the bad guy instead of taking him/her off there feet, I belive thats why law enforcement changed for the most part to 40 cal. anyway lets all hope we never have to use them!
rugerfan.64
New member
REading this i recall the words of Ron White concerning the bank hold up in LA,,,,,,,,shoot em in the head poot! Shoot em in the head !
i have read that most shootings are in the 10 foot range? others may be able to confirm or refute.
if true, with danger often so close, then ease of firing, fit in hand and technique probably the most important elements....i would think compactness and control would be of greatest importance and having several 9mm under greater control i think woulld be preferable to less control with a little more punch.
if true, with danger often so close, then ease of firing, fit in hand and technique probably the most important elements....i would think compactness and control would be of greatest importance and having several 9mm under greater control i think woulld be preferable to less control with a little more punch.
Frankt897
New member
As long as you use the right ammo, not ball, .9mm will be effective (IMO), but I carry a 1911, or my USP .40. I always consider coming up against someone hopped up on something, and I want to transfer energy into them...230gr hollow points will put someone on their ass, dead or not. No one writes songs about getting shot 9 times with a .45.
Most people posting on here...people who do IDPA or 3-gun, people with trigger time, can give well placed shots under pressure (lets assume) but what about those who can't? They push and pull the gun as they fire and give 3 to the gut...now a .40 or .45 would be a better round to be putting down range. I want to put someone down, or have the best chance at it no matter where my rounds strike. IMO of course.
Most people posting on here...people who do IDPA or 3-gun, people with trigger time, can give well placed shots under pressure (lets assume) but what about those who can't? They push and pull the gun as they fire and give 3 to the gut...now a .40 or .45 would be a better round to be putting down range. I want to put someone down, or have the best chance at it no matter where my rounds strike. IMO of course.
come-and-take-it-FL
Member
PX4storm
Banned
Thats me , I tend to push my shots a little low and left at the 25 foot mark, at first I thought it was the pistol, then I let other people shoot it and they did better then me, hmmmm ? I even bought a Ruger 22 / 45 to practice with just to gain some time shooting, I am getting better ! Bottom line, I carry 98% of the time and hope I never have to use my Beretta PX4 .40S&W
I prefer the .40 over the 9mm because of the power factor.....
The IDPA power floor says that the ammo shot should have a power factorof nothing less than 125,000.
Using the metric system, Power Factor = Bullet Velocity in meters per second multiplied by Bullet Weight in grams, multiplied by a conversion factor of 50.6310 (1 meter per second = 3.28084 feet per second, 1 gram=15.4324 grains). For example, a 14.9 gram bullet at 219 meters per second yields a power factor of 165,214.
.40 S&W, 180gr @ 968 fps = Power factor of 174,240
9mm, 124gr @ 1181 fsp = Power factor of 146,444
(Now for you people that are into physics, this is representive of Momentem and not kenetic energy.)
I'll stick with my .40 S&W.... I like it because It has more power than a 9mm and holds more rounds than a .45 ACP..... Yeah, yeah, yeah...."One well placed shot...
blah blah blah I say Accuracy by Volume!
The IDPA power floor says that the ammo shot should have a power factorof nothing less than 125,000.
Using the metric system, Power Factor = Bullet Velocity in meters per second multiplied by Bullet Weight in grams, multiplied by a conversion factor of 50.6310 (1 meter per second = 3.28084 feet per second, 1 gram=15.4324 grains). For example, a 14.9 gram bullet at 219 meters per second yields a power factor of 165,214.
.40 S&W, 180gr @ 968 fps = Power factor of 174,240
9mm, 124gr @ 1181 fsp = Power factor of 146,444
(Now for you people that are into physics, this is representive of Momentem and not kenetic energy.)
I'll stick with my .40 S&W.... I like it because It has more power than a 9mm and holds more rounds than a .45 ACP..... Yeah, yeah, yeah...."One well placed shot...
blah blah blah I say Accuracy by Volume! Wow, after reading this I want to go and wake up the poor bastard I put down with a 9MM and ball ammo. He should'nt have died.
I carry a 9 all day every day. My M&P went to the factory for warrenty work and I had to carry my Walther .22. I never worried one bit. I dont care if you carry a 9, 40 or 45. UNTIL YOU INTERUPT THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, THEY WILL NOT JUST DROP TO THE GROUND! I tell the guys that rag on me for carrying a 9 that I learned to shoot so I can use a smaller bullet.
I will be buying a 40 for one reason. I can get ammo from other cops if the SHTF. I also have an AK and an M-4. I will be able to re-supply from who ever I can find. Cops, Bangers or military. The .22 is mostly for small game and I have 2000 rounds for it.
Give me a 9 any day. Shot placement is king.
I carry a 9 all day every day. My M&P went to the factory for warrenty work and I had to carry my Walther .22. I never worried one bit. I dont care if you carry a 9, 40 or 45. UNTIL YOU INTERUPT THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, THEY WILL NOT JUST DROP TO THE GROUND! I tell the guys that rag on me for carrying a 9 that I learned to shoot so I can use a smaller bullet.
I will be buying a 40 for one reason. I can get ammo from other cops if the SHTF. I also have an AK and an M-4. I will be able to re-supply from who ever I can find. Cops, Bangers or military. The .22 is mostly for small game and I have 2000 rounds for it.
Give me a 9 any day. Shot placement is king.
6shootercarry
New member
I like the .357 and .45 they just hit hard.
Good point regarding carrying the ammo that the cops in your area carry for quick reload if one is down in a big gunfight. Ours carry .45 auto..:biggrin:
Good point regarding carrying the ammo that the cops in your area carry for quick reload if one is down in a big gunfight. Ours carry .45 auto..:biggrin:
?????? My +P+ 40 shoots 155gr Gold Dots 1300 Fps and hits with 581 ftlb. Very close to the 10mm! No 9mm can match this. I believe that the BGs should always get the best. This is a level that lets me to deer hunt with in my state so I have seen first hand that this is a real killer, many 1 shot DRTs. The 40 cal is a better performer in the 150 to 165 weights. There is a reason that the Secret Service switch to the 40 and lets not forget the FBI shoot out in Miami that caused them to skip the 9mm option and choose the 40cal. Here is what they had to say about it.
Aftermath
The subsequent FBI investigation placed partial blame for the agents' deaths on the lack of stopping power exhibited by their service handguns. They soon began the search for a more powerful caliber and cartridge. Noting the difficulties of reloading a revolver while under fire, they specified that agents should be armed with semiautomatic handguns. The Smith & Wesson 1076, chambered for the 10mm Auto round, was chosen as a direct result of the Miami shootout. The sharp recoil of the 10mm Auto later proved too much for most agents to control effectively, and a special reduced velocity loading of the 10mm Auto round was developed, commonly referred to as the "10mm Lite" or "10mm FBI".
Soon thereafter, Smith and Wesson realized the long case of the 10mm Auto was not necessary to produce the improved ballistics of the FBI load. Smith and Wesson developed a shorter cased cartridge based on the 10mm that would ultimately replace the 10mm as the primary FBI service cartridge, the .40 S&W. The .40 S&W became far more popular than its parent due to the ability to chamber the shorter cartridge in standard frame automatic pistols designed initially for the 9 mm Parabellum. Other than a .142" reduction in overall case length, resulting in less gunpowder capacity in the .40 S&W, the 10mm and .40 S&W are identical in projectile size, both using a 0.400" caliber bullet.
Aftermath
The subsequent FBI investigation placed partial blame for the agents' deaths on the lack of stopping power exhibited by their service handguns. They soon began the search for a more powerful caliber and cartridge. Noting the difficulties of reloading a revolver while under fire, they specified that agents should be armed with semiautomatic handguns. The Smith & Wesson 1076, chambered for the 10mm Auto round, was chosen as a direct result of the Miami shootout. The sharp recoil of the 10mm Auto later proved too much for most agents to control effectively, and a special reduced velocity loading of the 10mm Auto round was developed, commonly referred to as the "10mm Lite" or "10mm FBI".
Soon thereafter, Smith and Wesson realized the long case of the 10mm Auto was not necessary to produce the improved ballistics of the FBI load. Smith and Wesson developed a shorter cased cartridge based on the 10mm that would ultimately replace the 10mm as the primary FBI service cartridge, the .40 S&W. The .40 S&W became far more popular than its parent due to the ability to chamber the shorter cartridge in standard frame automatic pistols designed initially for the 9 mm Parabellum. Other than a .142" reduction in overall case length, resulting in less gunpowder capacity in the .40 S&W, the 10mm and .40 S&W are identical in projectile size, both using a 0.400" caliber bullet.
come-and-take-it-FL
Member
Thanks for sharing! I always love hearing/reading the story behind the development of weapons/rounds. Great reminder! Thanks again!
CapGun
Active member
I talked to a Sig rep the other day. He told me all I would have to do was change the barrel and a Sig .40 would now be able to shoot a .357. I think he was referring to the .357 sig. that would have more then 2000fps. I will look into this further. Anyone els out there know about this?
Ropadope
eHarmony Reject
What the FBI needed was proper training and more range time. Induced stress training and more range time. More stress induced training and more range time. Not one head shot placed in the entire gunfight.
Not a new caliber. I don't care what the SS chose or the FBI or any other agency. I don't have great admiration for their shooting abilities, did I mention proper tactical training with lot's of stress induced into the evolutions ?? Static targets ?? Never heard of one. They alway's move.
I didn't vote because it doesn't matter what caliber you hand me. It's a tool, just that, use it and use it well.
Not a new caliber. I don't care what the SS chose or the FBI or any other agency. I don't have great admiration for their shooting abilities, did I mention proper tactical training with lot's of stress induced into the evolutions ?? Static targets ?? Never heard of one. They alway's move.
I didn't vote because it doesn't matter what caliber you hand me. It's a tool, just that, use it and use it well.
