9mm or .40 for personal defense

I've heard that the 9mm won't protect me and I need to learn what the military and survivalist experts don't want me to know.
 
Winchester Handgun Ammunition Comparison Tool

The above link can be used to compare the Winchester Ranger T series of Law Enforcement handgun ammo.

It demonstrates the performance of .380-.45 ACP in ballistic gelatin. In addition to bare gelatin, the projectiles are also fired through 4-layers of denim, heavy cloth, wallboard, plywood, steel and auto glass.

With the exception of .380, there is only a slight difference between the performance of any of them.

Being Wrong is Important… and, admitting it is too! – (Or: Why Rob Pincus prefers the 9mm over the .40 for personal defense)

As Rob Pincus noted in point three of the above linked article. There is also...

3. Negligible Difference in Practical Wounding Potential.

Having talked to many EMTs and trauma doctors, and examined a significant amount of pictures/medical reports, there is a negligible difference between the wounding capacity of the 9mm and the .40 S&W.


TL;DR: The major service handgun rounds (9mm-.45ACP) show negligible differences in ballistic testing and real world wounding potential.
 
I've heard that the 9mm won't protect me and I need to learn what the military and survivalist experts don't want me to know.
Click to expand...

Too funny!
Glad to see someone has a sense of humor around here.

I like .40 (and 10mm) mostly because I find the Glock 29 fits my hand better than anything else and I shoot it better than my Glock 19. Plus when it comes to 4 legged critters, I'll take the heavier, wider bullet. I think my chances of having to shoot a dog or coyote are greater than the chances of shooting a human, may God forbid.
 
When I look at how different 9mm bullets perform in ordinance gelatin testing - if there is one that penetrates to 14.5" and expands to .65 caliber - and it's generally penetrating deeper and expanding larger than other brands then that's the ammunition that I purchase.

Alnong that same line of thought, the .40 S&W generally penetrates more and expands to larger caliber.

If I can get a round that, other things being mostly equal, will penetrate to 14.8" and expand to .67" (out performing the best 9mm ammo) why wouldn't I go with that?
 
103469d1316030180-dead-horse-test-dead_horse.gif

(10mm rocks!)
 
HAH!

Not the one I was thinking, that's actually much better:D

But to actually add to the conversation, IMO, I like my 9, I like my .45, each has its purpose and .40 costs too much
 
I personally prefer the 9mm for self defence. I use the Federal Hydra Shock Bullet.

Because I may consider shooting with one hand, the .40S&W caliber is just too much recoil kick for me.

And I can get off four 9mm rounds with better accuracy, than only two .40 rounds fired.

Just me.
 
Guess its like they say ya gotta hit what you aim at. If not it might as well be a paper weight that goes bang.
 
Well, this is a place to talk about guns and stuff, and I'd rather beat a dead horse than not talk about guns.

I just already have resigned myself to it from now until the next shot show when there will be new stuff to talk about.

There ought to be more Bobergs coming out and the KelTec KSG should be coming out soon, but other than that - there's nothing new.

So I talk about 9mm vs 40 or 9mm vs 45, and "best shot size for home defense SG" and lubrication, and what's better - Ranger T or Golden Sabre or Federal HST, and "If you could only have one handgun...", and how Taurus and Hi-Points aren't really crap.


sigh...
 
The .40 makes a slightly larger hole. Fine.

The 9mm is available in an order of magnitude as many pistols, and this is particularly true of the compact pistols that are nicer to carry.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top