Would it be wise to switch from 40 to 9?

[chezuki]

I do have a Shield 40 and am planning on getting a M&P40c or 9c this week or next. I'm still deciding. I haven't shot much 9 which is why the 9c is really pleasing. 12 rounds of 9 in the same package as 10 rounds of 40 with less recoil and identical stopping power is really really pleasing to me. It might not transfer the same amount of energy as a 40 but it's shot placement that matters.

Whoa.... Let's not go throwing around crazy phrases like "stopping power"... After all, we are talking about handguns here.

 

[VERT]

I do have a Shield 40 and am planning on getting a M&P40c or 9c this week or next. I'm still deciding. I haven't shot much 9 which is why the 9c is really pleasing. 12 rounds of 9 in the same package as 10 rounds of 40 with less recoil and identical stopping power is really really pleasing to me. It might not transfer the same amount of energy as a 40 but it's shot placement that matters.

If I were to recommend a new gun it would be the 9mm. But since you already have a 40 it might make sense to buy another one. You can drop 9mm conversion barrels into the M&P40. For carry either caliber is fine. For range use the 9mm ammo costs less.

 

[jake blue]

I test fired both calibers and ended up buying a 9mm for my first handgun because I'm a wimp and it had less 'kick' or what I now know is called recoil. I just bought my third gun and it is my first all-metal gun because after getting proficient with my first two I realized they're both polymers and as my LGS agreed I need to learn how to shoot a 'real' gun! lol So it seems that a good idea would be to visit a gun range and either rent a 9mm or borrow one from a friend and test fire both. I am now pretty much 'married' to 9mm because that's what I started with and all my stuff is now geared for. I also go shooting with eldirector periodically and its a good opportunity for me to try out different sized guns and different calibers but I'm still best with my own guns. So then it seems that its all about what you get the most practice with.

 

[wtburnette]

I've been having this thought about switching from 40S&W to 9mm. The main thing that's attractive to me is the ammo is just cheaper to shoot and usually carrying capacity is greatly increased with a 9 by a couple round for the same size gun. a M&P9c holds 12 rounds opposed to the M&P40c which only holds 10. Two extra shots could be a life saver if they are needed. Everyone says that it's about shot placement and under stress if you do have to use your firearm to defend yourself wouldn't it be better to have more rounds? It's always good to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them correct? Same goes for a concealed firearm in general if you do carry. Not only that but with some of the more powerful loads with nine in the 130-150gr weights they aren't too much different than 40.

Feel free to correct me if i'm wrong on any of this but it was mainly just me rambling and asking a simple(or not so simple)question.


TLDR - Just what the title says, is switching from 40 to 9 a good/wise move?

Mods feel free to move this if it's not in the right section. I just felt it went here since it's more related to handguns than anything else. IMHO.

I have a 9mm Shield I'd be happy to let you shoot if you want to meet at the range sometime. I'm in SW Indy and could meet you in Carmel at Point Blank, or some other range not too far from me. Otherwise, I would recommend renting a couple 9mm handguns and trying them out. You might even rent both the .40 version of the M&P compact and the 9mm version and spend some time comparing them. Personally I'm not a fan of .40 in a subcompact, but compact size and up they are quite nice to shoot. I have an all metal (steel slide and aluminum frame) CZ 40P that is really fun to shoot. The heavier gun absorbs the recoil really well, but you can still feel the difference in power over a similar 9mm.

 

[AA&E]

[video=youtube_share;Gsxdk1V8i-M]http://youtu.be/Gsxdk1V8i-M[/video]

That guy itches like he is a junkie in need of a fix....

 

[88E30M50]

Good questions, I shoot my Glock-23 .40 the best, better than my Glocks in 9mm so that's what I go to, don't downsize unless your more accurate with the smaller caliber, but with advancements in 9mm ammo design, a 147 gr 9mm is about as good as a 165 gr .40 (IMHO).

Same here when shooting Glocks. I shoot my G23 much better than I shot my G19. Enough so that I sold my last G19 last week. I think I might be over controlling the gun with 9mm and am certainly rushing the shots when shooting 9mm. Also, don't base your ability with a 9mm on how you shoot target ammo. My belief is that to get the most out of a 9mm, you need to go to +P. As an example, look at Hornady's data on their Critical Duty ammo. 9mm +P and .40 are very close and 9mm may actually have the edge between the two. Lots of folks carry 9mm +P ammo based on a mistaken belief that it's far easier to shoot than .40 when realistically, a 9mm +p round is pretty close to .40 in snappieness. With .40, you do have the benefit of a heavier bullet which improves a bullets ability to work properly if it encounters bone.

Personally, I'm moving to .45 for carry. I've found that it's what I shoot best.

 

[Leo]

If you have a .40 and do not have a 9mm, get one
If you have a 9mm and do not have a .40, get one.
Of you have a 9mm AND a .40, but do not have a .45, get one.......

My opinion is, that having lots of options is better than few options. That is what I got out of diversity training working for fortune 100 Corporations.

You have my permission to buy a new firearm.

 

[cosermann]

Posting this pic here, just because it's been a while. . .

Any service caliber will do the job with a proper load and placement.

 

[LtScott14]

+Leo ! That is my full reasoning when gun shopping, spread it around! Currently have available: 38 Spec., 9mm, 45Acp. Can't seem to hold on to 380Acps, or 40 Cal. Carried an issued G22 for a few years, no remorse, it worked. Little more ummph than the 9mm, but clearly manageable. My 45Acp list includes a 1911, and a G21. Like both, although the capacity for the 1911 is 8 vs 13 on the Glock21.
Really been looking at Ruger 40's, have had others. Again no real issues, all did a job. Probably had a favorite Sig 229 in 40cal, and a 226. liked the 229 better. Miss that one.
Good luck.

 

[OutdoorDad]

To the original question.

Yes. Yes you should switch to 9mm.

 

[BugI02]

If the 'prepper' part of INDprepper is important to you, you might wish to have firearms that chamber common NATO ammunition. 9mm is definitely on that list.

 

[88E30M50]

If the 'prepper' part of INDprepper is important to you, you might wish to have firearms that chamber common NATO ammunition. 9mm is definitely on that list.

What's the reasoning behind this? It's not like you're going to be able to go down to the local NATO armory and request an allocation. Is the thinking that there will be ammo to scavenge off of bodies if NATO invades? I think being a NATO round would make it less appealing instead of more appealing. I'm not trying to be argumentative about this, but have heard this over the years and never quite understood the reasoning behind it.

 

[HamsterStyle]

What's the reasoning behind this? It's not like you're going to be able to go down to the local NATO armory and request an allocation. Is the thinking that there will be ammo to scavenge off of bodies if NATO invades? I think being a NATO round would make it less appealing instead of more appealing. I'm not trying to be argumentative about this, but have heard this over the years and never quite understood the reasoning behind it.

I think that more or less it applies to the fact there is surplus ammo available which normally equates to cheaper ammo in bigger quantities. That is at least how I have always interpreted it.

 

[Opie]

With current hollowpoint ammuntion there is no significant difference in bullet wounds between the two rounds. 9mm is cheaper, easier to find, faster on follow up shots, and has a higher capacity in the same frame size.

Easy decision for me, get the 9mm!

 

[88E30M50]

I think that more or less it applies to the fact there is surplus ammo available which normally equates to cheaper ammo in bigger quantities. That is at least how I have always interpreted it.

I guess that makes sense. I don't recall seeing much NATO 9mm around, but it stands to reason that it's probably the most produced ammo around.

 

[88E30M50]

With current hollowpoint ammuntion there is no significant difference in bullet wounds between the two rounds. 9mm is cheaper, easier to find, faster on follow up shots, and has a higher capacity in the same frame size.

Easy decision for me, get the 9mm!

Just be careful not to assess your ability to shoot 9mm based on target ammo if you carry the +P ammo needed to get close to .40 performance. 9mm +P and .40 are not very different in feel and .40 might even have the edge due to being a lower pressure round than 9mm +P.

 

[calcot7]

I've been having this thought about switching from 40S&W to 9mm. The main thing that's attractive to me is the ammo is just cheaper to shoot and usually carrying capacity is greatly increased with a 9 by a couple round for the same size gun. a M&P9c holds 12 rounds opposed to the M&P40c which only holds 10. Two extra shots could be a life saver if they are needed. Everyone says that it's about shot placement and under stress if you do have to use your firearm to defend yourself wouldn't it be better to have more rounds? It's always good to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them correct? Same goes for a concealed firearm in general if you do carry. Not only that but with some of the more powerful loads with nine in the 130-150gr weights they aren't too much different than 40.

Feel free to correct me if i'm wrong on any of this but it was mainly just me rambling and asking a simple(or not so simple)question.


TLDR - Just what the title says, is switching from 40 to 9 a good/wise move?

Mods feel free to move this if it's not in the right section. I just felt it went here since it's more related to handguns than anything else. IMHO.

Wiser than it would be to switch from 9mm to .40 S&W.

 

[BugI02]

What's the reasoning behind this? It's not like you're going to be able to go down to the local NATO armory and request an allocation. Is the thinking that there will be ammo to scavenge off of bodies if NATO invades? I think being a NATO round would make it less appealing instead of more appealing. I'm not trying to be argumentative about this, but have heard this over the years and never quite understood the reasoning behind it.

Sorry. Was out and just got back to the computer. I'm not really a prepper but know some pretty serious folks and the logic, as I understand it, is that in SHTF times there is likely to be more ammunition being made that is dual market military/civilian; that if a manufacturer is forced to concentrate their production on fewer product lines that those will likely be 9mm, 5.56 and 7.62 (x45 and x51, respectively).

 

[Leo]

With current hollowpoint ammuntion there is no significant difference in bullet wounds between the two rounds. 9mm is cheaper, easier to find, faster on follow up shots, and has a higher capacity in the same frame size.

Easy decision for me, get the 9mm!

I can definately see that as a valid argument, and face to face, I do not intend to underestimate the pain from any of them.

I rode the funeral escort for a city officer that used issued rounds that looked good in jello, but they could not penetrate the windshield on the perp's car. The perp only got one bullet off before his firearm jammed. The officer nearly emptied his service weapon and could not make a stopping hit on the bad guy. When you have to shoot through windshields, doors and walls, heavy, solid bullets are a definate edge.

My preference would go to any bullet from the muzzle of an M-14

 

[88E30M50]

Sorry. Was out and just got back to the computer. I'm not really a prepper but know some pretty serious folks and the logic, as I understand it, is that in SHTF times there is likely to be more ammunition being made that is dual market military/civilian; that if a manufacturer is forced to concentrate their production on fewer product lines that those will likely be 9mm, 5.56 and 7.62 (x45 and x51, respectively).

Makes sense, but it seems that .40 would benefit from the same logic. Being a common law enforcement caliber, production would be maintained. The argument works for 38 Special and other calipers that are not in official use.