ToolMaker said:
[quote name='buckeye49']I am grateful for any good suggestions any of you out there can offer.
Ahhhh… more caliber wars.
Based on what I have seen and been involved in my opinions are…
If your goal is to stop an armed bad guy from being able to fire his weapon at you; you need a caliber capable of doing that. If you are one of the “shot placement” guys that can do this with the incredible adrenalin rush you will be going through; then caliber doesn’t matter, place a round between his eyes and go to lunch. I discovered (when an armed felon was bringing his gun up to fire at me) that I didn’t have time to get a sight picture and that I was not steady enough to place a round in his head. So I try to find a round that will cause enough shock when it hits body mass that it will make him either unable or unwilling to fire his weapon. (Stop the threat)
I know of two rounds that do a pretty good job of that; the .357 mag and the .45ACP. I don’t know how good the .40 is at that because I have never seen anyone shot with it. I have seen people shot with a 9mm and stay standing on their feet returning fire after they were hit several times; they died later at the hospital if that makes anyone feel any better.
9mm is cheap is shoot. If you shoot a lot and want a good gun to punch holes in paper; 9mm would be the way to go.
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a round that was cheap to shoot and was a good defensive round?
Every type of ammunition has an application.
The “caliber wars” have been around a long time and won’t be going away any time soon. (Unless someone finds a way to make the good stuff cheap). You can find all kinds of “data” and plenty of people to support whatever round you decide on. But if you are ever in an armed confrontation none of those people and none of that data will help you survive. It is up to you to have a weapon and ammunition that you can bet your life on; because that is what you will be doing.
Unless you can’t handle the .40 or want to wait on the .45; pick the .40 for a carry weapon.
DISCLAIMER: These are just my suggestions and I offer no proof whatsoever to their accuracy.
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I reload 40S&W, 9mm and 45 acp.
I shoot all 3 at the range. I have my full size M&P 40, which I have progressed to the point that I shoot it as well as or better than my CZ75B SA 9mm, which means alot to me, but probably not to anyone else. The more I shoot the M&P 40 (full size) the more I am comfortable with it, and the faster and more accurate I am getting.
When I buy the compact M&P it will be for concealed carry, personal defense primarily (although in order to get comfy with it I naturally will take it to the range alot, especially until I am familiar with its feel, etc.)
Sounds like I should go with the 40 caliber Compact. I already have a CZ75B SA in 9mm, an XD 4" in 9mm, a Browning Hi-Power in 9mm and a Beretta CX4 storm carbine in 9mm. Of course I still have my S&W 1911 5" in 45 ACP, but it is a bit much for concealed carry. I think that if the SHTF, and I need a larger cartrige pistol, I will take my full size M&P 40, holstered outside and readily accessible, and tuck the new (40?) Compact in IWB. But, who knows, I will think abut the 9 or 40 Compact decision everyday until I see them on the dealer's shelves!
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