nefprotector
Moderator
I would say .40cal. Because during ammo shortage Chaos in my area. I could still find the .40 cal
.40 S&W or 9mm...?
- Thread starter wilkup
- Start date
I would like to find some .45ACP that is cheaper than .40 in the same brand/type. That may have been true 20 years ago, but in more modern times 
the .45 is significantly more expensive than 9mm or .40. I shoot alll three and this cost relationship holds true in factory as well as reloading components.
Of course if you are comparing the cost of 8 rds of .45ACP to 14 rds of .40S&W then it may be true.
the .45 is significantly more expensive than 9mm or .40. I shoot alll three and this cost relationship holds true in factory as well as reloading components.Of course if you are comparing the cost of 8 rds of .45ACP to 14 rds of .40S&W then it may be true.
I can't help but feel that .40 is a bit trendy - sort of a compromise between 9mm and .45 ACP. I am a .45 fan but am leaning towards 9mm, ammo's cheaper and they are a hoot to shoot. The 9's have been carried very effectively by most European police and miltary, as well as several other countries for MANY years.
Sorry, I just can' help it...
Both the 9mm Parabellum and .45 ACP have been with us for over 100 years and both are still very popular. I'd be very surprised if there aren't more 9mm pistols in use by Police and Military forces world wide than any other single caliber. However IMO that does not diminish the effectiveness or suitability of any other caliber. I'm not sure why it is so important for some to impugn a particular caliber while praising another. Isn't it sufficient enough to just say "I like caliber A and this is why"? I've said this before and I'll say it again, I don't personally like the 9mm and don't own one. It has zero, zilch, nadda to do with the 9mm's ability to do its job. I do own both a 10mm and .45 ACP on 1911 frames. Obviously my choices seem to be more guided by platform as opposed to caliber.
As to the .40S&W, it's a fine cartridge and has been widely accepted by law enforcement. I don't think the 40 is trendy anymore than the M16 was 40 years ago. It does not depend solely on the general public for support so I can only assume it will be with us for a long time. A trend is something that will eventually diminish.
Both the 9mm Parabellum and .45 ACP have been with us for over 100 years and both are still very popular. I'd be very surprised if there aren't more 9mm pistols in use by Police and Military forces world wide than any other single caliber. However IMO that does not diminish the effectiveness or suitability of any other caliber. I'm not sure why it is so important for some to impugn a particular caliber while praising another. Isn't it sufficient enough to just say "I like caliber A and this is why"? I've said this before and I'll say it again, I don't personally like the 9mm and don't own one. It has zero, zilch, nadda to do with the 9mm's ability to do its job. I do own both a 10mm and .45 ACP on 1911 frames. Obviously my choices seem to be more guided by platform as opposed to caliber.
As to the .40S&W, it's a fine cartridge and has been widely accepted by law enforcement. I don't think the 40 is trendy anymore than the M16 was 40 years ago. It does not depend solely on the general public for support so I can only assume it will be with us for a long time. A trend is something that will eventually diminish.
lambertsteeth
New member
If you are accurate with your first shot or two, It doesn't matter whether it's a 9 or 40.
I really like the 9mm better. I find it to be a very good size effective cartridge. I have a glock 27 .40 that I actually converted to a 9 for practice but I like the gun in a 9mm better. I will be buying more 9mms and I dont think I will buy any more 40s.
Why?
-Faster
-Cheaper
-More Capacity
-Some guns are built around it
-Slightly more readily available
-Unless you are a sucky shot it has been getting the job done for a very long time
Why?
-Faster
-Cheaper
-More Capacity
-Some guns are built around it
-Slightly more readily available
-Unless you are a sucky shot it has been getting the job done for a very long time
Winterhawk56
New member
Why Buy and 9MM when you can have a .40 Smith. Much better round!
+1
this isn't the only reason why I choose .40 for my primary defense round, but it sure doesn't hurt. I have never been to a gun store (or anywhere else that sells ammo, for that matter) that was all out of .40S&W.
good to see a few people coming to defend the .40 against a sea of trash-talkers.
instead of staying with the mindset that .40 is just a "short and wimpy" version of 10mm, I like the mindset that it is a beefed-up, bad MF 9mm.
Ammo availability seems to be a regional or local thing. Plenty of places have had no 40SW available.
There are three ways to avoid the unavailable ammo situation:
1) be able to use multiple calibers
2) stock up ahead of time
3) reload (and keep a good supply of reloading components)
Ken
Interesting discussion. I'm a .45 guy but do own the others...all in 1911's.
From an accuracy standpoint, ease of reloading to a match standard, and basic gunsmithing to achieve match accuracy as well as top level reliability, in my opinion and that of many many others, the .45 is the hands down winner. If you're still on the fence..why not move up to the .45 ACP, and in a 1911 type of gun as well. No double action trigger to get used to...just carry 'er cocked and locked, as she was meant to be carried.
If you're satisfied with 3+" at 25 yds from representative examples of the 9mm and .40 S&W gang, then the accuracy potential of the .45 may not appeal to you. I'm willing to concede that all three can be made to function at 99.99% reliability; but...........with the .45, it's a rare major US city that doesn't have a local "expert" 1911 .45 gunsmith that can wring every last bit of accuracy and reliability out of it. That's not true with any other caliber to my knowledge.
Handloading is another source of difference. The .45 is easy, the prescription for success easy to find...and you can do it with any brass..mixed or sorted...clean or dirty...range scrap...it's just easy to load sub 2" ammunition for the .45...and in virtually any bullet weight from 185 gr to 240 gr's. That's not true of the 9mm or .40 S&W. I've loaded 9mm ammunition since 1968 and have yet to find a consistent sub 2" load, and that's been with 3 accurized 1911 guns. If you can find one, and a gunsmith that can make that happen I'd love to hear about it. My 9's and the .40 have been to a variety of custom gunsmiths without achieving that magic sub 2" gping ability. By way of comparison, even I can probably tune the average .45 to get that standard and for less than $150 in parts outlay, it's just not that much of a challenge any more.
Same with the .40 S&W, tho my experience with this one is with a single Colt 1911A1. Never did find the magic silver bullet and believe me, I tried a bunch of combinations.
So...we're I, you...I'd give the .45 some consideration. If you balk at the magazine capacity, take another look in that sewer pipe sized muzzle, and see if you're not intimidated....100 yrs of bad guys have been! Here's some pics of my beauties. The 4 slide number is a Combat Commander with aux slides in .22 LR, 9mm, and .38 Super. The satin nickle one is the .45 ACP.
The two toned job is a factory made 1911A1 in .40 S&W; the Gold Cup Elite. The rosewood gripped 1911 Series 70 is a factory original 9mm, but with updated trigger, Wilson bushing and a cpl of hours expert gunsmithing on the slide and rails. That last sentence applies to the other two as well.
Best of luck in your quest, but remember the old bromide, "beware the gent with only one gun, generally he knows how to use it." Rodfac
Regards, my opinions alone. Rodfac
From an accuracy standpoint, ease of reloading to a match standard, and basic gunsmithing to achieve match accuracy as well as top level reliability, in my opinion and that of many many others, the .45 is the hands down winner. If you're still on the fence..why not move up to the .45 ACP, and in a 1911 type of gun as well. No double action trigger to get used to...just carry 'er cocked and locked, as she was meant to be carried.
If you're satisfied with 3+" at 25 yds from representative examples of the 9mm and .40 S&W gang, then the accuracy potential of the .45 may not appeal to you. I'm willing to concede that all three can be made to function at 99.99% reliability; but...........with the .45, it's a rare major US city that doesn't have a local "expert" 1911 .45 gunsmith that can wring every last bit of accuracy and reliability out of it. That's not true with any other caliber to my knowledge.
Handloading is another source of difference. The .45 is easy, the prescription for success easy to find...and you can do it with any brass..mixed or sorted...clean or dirty...range scrap...it's just easy to load sub 2" ammunition for the .45...and in virtually any bullet weight from 185 gr to 240 gr's. That's not true of the 9mm or .40 S&W. I've loaded 9mm ammunition since 1968 and have yet to find a consistent sub 2" load, and that's been with 3 accurized 1911 guns. If you can find one, and a gunsmith that can make that happen I'd love to hear about it. My 9's and the .40 have been to a variety of custom gunsmiths without achieving that magic sub 2" gping ability. By way of comparison, even I can probably tune the average .45 to get that standard and for less than $150 in parts outlay, it's just not that much of a challenge any more.
Same with the .40 S&W, tho my experience with this one is with a single Colt 1911A1. Never did find the magic silver bullet and believe me, I tried a bunch of combinations.
So...we're I, you...I'd give the .45 some consideration. If you balk at the magazine capacity, take another look in that sewer pipe sized muzzle, and see if you're not intimidated....100 yrs of bad guys have been! Here's some pics of my beauties. The 4 slide number is a Combat Commander with aux slides in .22 LR, 9mm, and .38 Super. The satin nickle one is the .45 ACP.
The two toned job is a factory made 1911A1 in .40 S&W; the Gold Cup Elite. The rosewood gripped 1911 Series 70 is a factory original 9mm, but with updated trigger, Wilson bushing and a cpl of hours expert gunsmithing on the slide and rails. That last sentence applies to the other two as well.
Best of luck in your quest, but remember the old bromide, "beware the gent with only one gun, generally he knows how to use it." Rodfac
Regards, my opinions alone. Rodfac