. . . and a gun designed around that cartridge, the M&P.
In light of modern JHPs like the Gold Dot, Winchester Ranger, I do not buy into the bigger is better argument. From what I have read, shot placement and penetration are the primary factors in handgun stops.
I have shot 9mm Luger for years, and one thing I noticed is that regular 9mm ball behaves a lot differently than the typical +P or +P+ carry JHPs such as the ones I mentioned earlier. Much more recoil with the carry ammunition, as well as a different point of impact at a given range, since the +P and +P+ loaded slugs were probably moving 100+ fps faster than the regular pressure slugs.
My interest in the change to .40 S&W is to maintain recoil and ballistic consistency between what I practice with and what I carry, using factory ammunition. (I acknowledge that if I shoot enough, reloading will become a very attractive hobby, as I see a $4 differential between a box of 9mm ball and a box of .40 S&W ball.) .40 S&W sounds like it has brisk recoil, but is not overwhelming, is relatively easy to find, and not ridiculously expensive. Other calibers like .357 SIG, 10mm AUTO, .45 ACP or .45 GAP may have an advantage in a given metric, but .40 S&W seems to me to be a good overall, proven choice, as it does to many other shooters and agencies as evidenced by ammunition and firearm sales.
Here's the crux of my question, and I have adjusted the font so it is not missed: do regular, factory-loaded FMJ .40 S&W rounds of a given weight typically have similar recoil and external ballistics as carry JHP of identical weight? This may sound like a ridiculous question, but I have only shot .40 S&W once before, from a buddy's Kel-Tec, in the 90's, so I have no prior experience to draw from.
In other words, if I buy 180gr .40 S&W WWB at WallyWorld, is it reasonable to expect it to behave similarly to its 180gr .40 S&W Ranger T cousin, as opposed to the Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde difference between 115 gr 9mm WWB and 127gr 9mm +P+ Ranger T?
I hope this will yield some useful commentary and discussion.
Thanks
In light of modern JHPs like the Gold Dot, Winchester Ranger, I do not buy into the bigger is better argument. From what I have read, shot placement and penetration are the primary factors in handgun stops.
I have shot 9mm Luger for years, and one thing I noticed is that regular 9mm ball behaves a lot differently than the typical +P or +P+ carry JHPs such as the ones I mentioned earlier. Much more recoil with the carry ammunition, as well as a different point of impact at a given range, since the +P and +P+ loaded slugs were probably moving 100+ fps faster than the regular pressure slugs.
My interest in the change to .40 S&W is to maintain recoil and ballistic consistency between what I practice with and what I carry, using factory ammunition. (I acknowledge that if I shoot enough, reloading will become a very attractive hobby, as I see a $4 differential between a box of 9mm ball and a box of .40 S&W ball.) .40 S&W sounds like it has brisk recoil, but is not overwhelming, is relatively easy to find, and not ridiculously expensive. Other calibers like .357 SIG, 10mm AUTO, .45 ACP or .45 GAP may have an advantage in a given metric, but .40 S&W seems to me to be a good overall, proven choice, as it does to many other shooters and agencies as evidenced by ammunition and firearm sales.
Here's the crux of my question, and I have adjusted the font so it is not missed: do regular, factory-loaded FMJ .40 S&W rounds of a given weight typically have similar recoil and external ballistics as carry JHP of identical weight? This may sound like a ridiculous question, but I have only shot .40 S&W once before, from a buddy's Kel-Tec, in the 90's, so I have no prior experience to draw from.
In other words, if I buy 180gr .40 S&W WWB at WallyWorld, is it reasonable to expect it to behave similarly to its 180gr .40 S&W Ranger T cousin, as opposed to the Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde difference between 115 gr 9mm WWB and 127gr 9mm +P+ Ranger T?
I hope this will yield some useful commentary and discussion.
Thanks