What's everyone buying....40 or 9mm?

10442 Views 51 Replies 25 Participants Last post by buckeye49, Sep 20, 2006

Jettubby

Discussion Starter · Sep 7, 2006

Just got my .40 today and almost wishing I'd got the 9mm. Ammo is cheaper in the 9 and it is a formidable round with the right ammo. Two reasons I got the .40 was in reading and talking with those that have shot quite a bit with the M&P .40. They said that it was that it's the lowest recoil .40 that they've ever shot. I typically don't like the snap roll of the .40. I usually shoot a 9 or .45. Another reason I went with the .40 is that a firearms guru friend said that usually the best calibers are the ones that are originally or first made for a particular model of firearm. I haven't even shot the thing yet and thinking of trading it in for the 9. Thoughts?

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Jhp147

· #2 · Sep 7, 2006

Ammo is cheaper in the 9 and it is a formidable round with the right ammo.

I wanted to try out the M-P platform and use it as a teaching gun, so I bought based on the same logic.

Jester

· #3 · Sep 7, 2006

This decision is up to you. I love my 40, but in my case I reload only for the 40, so that makes it easier.

knut_the_viking

· #4 · Sep 7, 2006

I am going to use it for IDPA matches, so 9mm was my choice.

Ammo cost is a major consideration also.

I have no intention (or interest) in carry, or self defense, so to me, it came down to "enough to punch holes in paper". 9mm does what I need.

Just my $0.05.

Inflation, y'know

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ToolMaker

· #5 · Sep 7, 2006

I wanted mine for home defense and possibly carry; so I bought the .40. If I wanted it for a range gun or competition I would get the 9mm.

Jettubby

Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 7, 2006

I want to shoot it a lot and possibly for carry. Guess I'll have to get both

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Citadel99

· #7 · Sep 7, 2006

I went with the 40. It'll be my winter/heavier clothes carry gun.

Mark

targetsup

· #8 · Sep 7, 2006

I got a .40.

zzrguy

· #9 · Sep 7, 2006

I went with the 9mm b/c the ammo was cheaper and to see if I like it, I might get a .40 later as a carry gun.

win

· #10 · Sep 7, 2006

I will buy the 9mm now and probably a 45 later. To get good with it you need to shoot it. 9mm is cheap and has lower recoil. I would not be afraid to carry a 9mm.

Landric

· #11 · Sep 8, 2006

I couldn't decide. I ended up with the .40. I already had handguns in both chamberings, so that wasn't a factor. What it came down to for me, the dealer had the .40 with the no IL, night sights, and no mag safety and the 9mm with no IL, night sights, and mag safety. So, since he had the mag-safetyless .40 in stock, I got that one. I planned to get one in .40 and one in 9mm anyway, so it wasn't that big of a choice anyway I suppose.

rowe_s

· #12 · Sep 8, 2006

Just curious.... Why do some people prefer not to have the mag safety?

raz-0

· #13 · Sep 8, 2006

If you shoot competiton, you will operate under a cold range rule in general. This means gun unloaded and no mag in holster not to be removed unless at a safe table or firing line.

In order to achieve this, at the end of a course of fire you will be asked to unload and show clear. With a magazine disocnnect, this is a huge pain in the ass to do, and can make it less safe.

Also, the flip side of the self-defense argument is that while a magazine disconnect can allow you to drop the mag and disable the gun, the bad guy you would be wrestling for this to occur can do the same.

Captain Ray

· #14 · Sep 8, 2006

.40 vs. 9mm?

Now.. this is not going to be a very popular opinion.. and I really don't mean to offend.. but as a practical matter.. thinking only in terms of defense..

If the shiiiit ever really hits the fan.. say the Chinese invade, or Al Queida launches a major offensive.. there are going to be a lot of dead cops. Think about it.. If you were going to invade a country, the first thing you would do, is kill all the law enforcement officers.. take there guns out of service, then move on to the population....

Dead Cops=Lots of .40 cal. ammo!

If you have a .40, there will be ammo if and when the SHTF!!

It's a pragmatic thing..

Raymond

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ben2112

· #15 · Sep 8, 2006

Actually that is the same thinking about why I am wanting to get a 5.56mm rifle instead of a 308 like my buddies M1A...

But I got a 40 because I like the 40cal round and the 9MM wasn't out yet and.. Well.. I couldn't wait..

I am going to get the M&P 45 when it comes out... Just because I want a 45ACP..

As for ammo prices.. I picked up 1000rds of 40cal ammo (Remington UMC 180gr FMJ) for $189 plus shipping.. It is off sale now but wished I would have bought 2000rds..

Ben

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ToolMaker

· #16 · Sep 8, 2006

rowe_s said:
Just curious.... Why do some people prefer not to have the mag safety?

Because from some of the posts I have read on gun forums many people lump it into the “Lawyer Gun” category and feel that it is being forced on them. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

As Raz-0 pointed out; some competition shooters don’t want it. But I am an ex-cop and I want it. I don’t really care if it is on competition or range guns or not; but I want it on carry guns.

I know two Police Officers that are alive today because of magazine disconnects. I have never heard of a person being killed because the bad guy pushed their mag release and then killed them; but it surely is possible.

I have absolutely no reason to have an internal lock. But I would guess there are people out there that feel good about being able to secure an unloaded weapon.

Just like the “Caliber Wars”..... everything in life is application driven; it just depends on your application.

I think it is great that Smith & Wesson gives us these choices. You can buy your M&P with or without whatever safeties you want.

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raz-0

· #17 · Sep 8, 2006

Just like the “Caliber Wars”..... everything in life is application driven; it just depends on your application.

I think it is great that Smith & Wesson gives us these choices. You can buy your M&P with or without whatever safeties you want.

A big +1 on that. Choice is good.

Dead Cops=Lots of .40 cal. ammo!

So in your giant chinese invasion theory, there aren't dead soldiers with piles of 9mm around?

Captain Ray

· #18 · Sep 8, 2006

Dead Cops=Lots of .40 cal. ammo!

Click to expand...

So in your giant chinese invasion theory, there aren't dead soldiers with piles of 9mm around?

No.. at least not right away. The military does not rely on handguns nearly as heavily as the police. Think about it.. If cops started carrying M-16's or AR's we would all be a little worried... If the SHTF .223 rounds will be plentiful eventually.. but in the near term, .40 should be pretty easy to find.

(P.S... I don't really like theorizing about whom will be killed first.. It just seems to make sense that the BG's will go for the cops, since they are the most capable, and best armed (generally speaking).

Raymond

Jettubby

Discussion Starter · #19 · Sep 8, 2006

I've read where some people are saying that the M&P 40 kicks equal to or less than the 9 millie. I find that hard to believe but anyone here with any first hand knowlege of this?

ToolMaker

· #20 · Sep 9, 2006

2

Jettubby said:
I've read where some people are saying that the M&P 40 kicks equal to or less than the 9 millie. I find that hard to believe but anyone here with any first hand knowlege of this?

I can tell you that an M&P 40 has more recoil than a Glock 9mm or a Sigma 9mm.

It has far less recoil than a .45ACP SW1911.

But I can’t tell you for sure that it has more “kick” than the M&P 9mm. (But I would be willing to bet money at Vegas on it.

)

I see hilarious stuff posted all the time.

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