9mm or .40 for personal defense

In 2011, a DA only or Glock/XDm striker system pistol is far better than a DA revolver for duty or defense. It's faster to reload, holds more rounds and can conceal better than a revolver.
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For nearly every advantage that one platform has, the other has an equally significant one. Whether a revolver or semi-automatic is better depends solely on the individual and his or her unique situation and circumstances.
 
I don't know, some local woman shot her husband (Allegedly) with a Ruger 380 and he died. So is the argument what makes the biggest hole, what feels better to shot, or what makes the most noise?
 
I a curious about the slight change In color in this photo ^ also, where could I find a similar ballistic - gel photo with other / more calibers?
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There's one :D :

k167357_10mm-1.jpg
 
All above calibers work, and some people need to visit La. to see what people will actually eat.Like Gator burgers. I s*** thee not.
 
I have owned a Glock 17, a Glock 19, a Glock 23, Glock 36 and Glock 21. I shoot the Glock 21 the best. The second best Glock I shoot is the Glock 19. If I were to buy another handgun in a caliber other than .45acp, it would be a Glock 19.
 
some people need to visit La. to see what people will actually eat.Like Gator burgers.
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While I'm not from Louisiana, I've eaten alligator on several occasions and always found it to be quite tasty.
 
That smaller size also means a higher capacity in guns chambered for it.As has been said before, ccw is all about trade-offs, nothing else. Absolutely no reason to get bent out of shape. Not everyone can carry or feel comfortable with .40 or .45- that's why I carry a....
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Allow me to calmly point out that the mag. capacity for the 9mm is only slightly more than the more powerful .40 cal.

Let's not forget that the .40 cal. features a larger caliber built on, essentially, a 9mm frame for the express purpose of high mag. capacity.

My .40 P229's 12 rd. capacity is exactly one less than for my 9mm P228. Carry a nine if you wish, I often do--- but the extra mag. capacity alone, vs. the .40, doesn't justify it, IMO. :cool:
 
A .357 Sig is an absolutely devastating round. I carry a FNX-9MM with, I believe 127gr, Winchester Ranger +P+. A compact .45 would be nice with 185gr JHP. But, the 9MM has been proven effective for many years. It's really all about shot placement. Do it right the first time and you won't need a second time.

Now, an odd piece of advice that I was given. Use (or not) it as you see fit: First round is a ball like a 124gr NATO/+P and then your defense round. I'm not sure I agree, but I don't know that I disagree.

Thoughts?
 
Man up, ditch the plastic brick toys, and get yourself a .357 Magnum, or a 44 Magnum. Beats anything the 9MM or 40 cal can throw out of the end of the barrel.
 
Hey, I like the big boy revolvers as much as anyone. But when I can buy, and thus shoot, 100 rounds of .40 S&W (probably 150 of 9mm) for the same cost as 50 rounds for my .357 mag, my "plastic brick toy" is going to win
 
Y'all keep arguing about 9, 40, n 45...I got it covered, anybody knows the Desert Eagle .50AE is the BEST Caliber Ever! Best carry gun with a lazer site and a scope on it!

Seriously, I'm only considering trading out my .380 for the 9 because I can get less recoil and better control out of the 9 (being browning-recoil vs blowback)...

..but dayum if I don't love me that low-slung, classy pretty Blowback style...decisions decisions... :P
 
A ....... It's really all about shot placement. Do it right the first time and you won't need a second time.

Now, an odd piece of advice that I was given. Use (or not) it as you see fit: First round is a ball like a 124gr NATO/+P and then your defense round. I'm not sure I agree, but I don't know that I disagree.

Thoughts?
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Hey, thoughts I've got.

Just one example, the FBI Miami Shootout. Plenty of rounds fired by trained professional LE officers---that's why they called it the "Shoot Out", instead of the "FBI Textbook Felony Stop and Fast Demise of Maddix and Platt."

The issue of bullet placement gets discussed ad nauseum. Over and over and over again. What happens in real life shootings over and over and over again, is that things turn to crap, and oft mentioned bullet placement is less common on the street than on a gun forum. Not saying it isn't important, just that it's easier said than done.

No it is not ALL about shot placement.

Bullet selection in the caliber is also important, though secondary. The will to keep fighting is also important, and so is the use of tactics.

Been plenty of folks survive by getting behind something that stops bullets when their excellent range marksmanship is still back at the range during a real gunfight.

Lot of folks been saved because they DID remember what they'd practiced and prevailed by hitting the target under the most stressfull of conditions.

As for the hot hardball round in the chamber, NO. Years back, some, who carried .45's, adopted the practice of placing a hot UZI round (hardball) top of magazine with Speer JHP's below and in the chamber. Reasoning was that the first round from the magazine was most likely to jam with the Speer (flying ashtray) with it's big wide hollow cavity, so a harball round was substituted. At that time the Speer was the best for "stopping power" and the worst for feeding.

Don't know what tactical situation your old timer had in mind with the HB in the chamber backed up by far more efficient HP's.
 
I have a G23 and an Ruger SR9c.

I tend to take the SR9c out as carry more because my shot placement with the 9mm is better than my placement with the .40.

That being said, I'm sure it would really suck being shot with either of those calibers.
 
Not trying to start a caliber war...
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I love when people say this. I've seen it at least a dozen times and what it really means is:

"I know I'm going to start a caliber war but I don't care."

If you have to say, "not trying to", they you realize exactly what is going to happen when you do what you are planning to do. It's very disingenuous.
 
Giving that you are asking between the 9MM and 40 Smith? I would only consider the 40 as I carried a 9MM for a short time in desert Storm, threw it our and went back to a .45 as there were problems with the 9MM round. Without going into details, NEVER will I use a 9MM again!
 
Giving that you are asking between the 9MM and 40 Smith? I would only consider the 40 as I carried a 9MM for a short time in desert Storm, threw it our and went back to a .45 as there were problems with the 9MM round. Without going into details, NEVER will I use a 9MM again!
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It wasn't just a 9mm. It was a 9mm with time proven inefficient hardball ammo and your poor experience was predictable.

Law enforcement agencies and citizens, using the best the nine now has to offer, have been reporting good results for a long time. DPX, HST, Gold Dot and even the older Golden Saber work well.

On par with, but not equal to, the .40 or .45 using the same ammo--- which are my choices in caliber and ammo.

OK, I'll admitt to sometimes carrying the nine.:D

P239 (when I'm travelling light), or P228. DPX backed up by HST 124gr. Preference is P229 .40.:cool:

Lastley: Your feelings, based on personal experience, are understandable. :)
 
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Depends on what you're doing in the military. Some Marine units get a (heavily) modified 1911 as their sidearm. Navy units can swap out the M9 for a Sig 226 or another pistol that's approved by the unit CO. Usually it's a Special Forces unit of some sort, though it's not unheard of for regular units to get approval for a different sidearm as well.
 
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