IMO these conversations were of significant importance many years ago during the era of FMJ and very few HP options across the caliber spectrum. Conversely, the remarkable ballistic advances the ammo vendors have made in the past ten or so years has (again IMO) rendered very little performance "difference" between the 9, 40, 45 in terms of ultimate effectiveness. Verdict, get the model gun that suits you in whatever caliber and shoot the crap out of it thereby achieving that often underlooked variable of requite skill.
9mm vs. 40 caliber
- Thread starter Dunecigar
- Start date
MattShlock
New member
Model12Win
Moderator
With modern factory JHPs there really isn't a huge difference in 9mm vs. .40 S&W IMHO. I would rather wait it out and go all the way with .45 ACP. Be happy with your 9 for now, as they say: 9 is fine. I've learned that compromises are never as satisfying as just waiting for what you really want.
overkill0084
New member
Wait for the .45.
Nothing wrong with the .40 S&W, but it's not enough of a step up over the 9 mm to make you forget that you originally wanted the .45.
Nothing wrong with the .40 S&W, but it's not enough of a step up over the 9 mm to make you forget that you originally wanted the .45.
My 40sw load pushs a 155gr GD at 1300fps from a 4" tp40 kahr. Far from slow and weak. Hard for even a 357 sig to out perform . Or for 45+p loads to put more energy on target. Yea I have that too
Dunecigar A 9-23 would also be a good choice down there if ammo is readily available. What can you get in that cartridge.
Dunecigar A 9-23 would also be a good choice down there if ammo is readily available. What can you get in that cartridge.
I began handgun shooting [on my own] with a .40. It caused me to develop a horrible flinch that took years [of sporadic, like 4 trips a year] of trips to the range to work out, AFTER I gave up on it.
I bought a .45 and it felt better. I bought a 9mm and it also felt better.
Everyone's experiences are subjective. Your experiences will vary from mine.
My experiences make the .40 the LEAST comfortable to shoot of the 3 calibers you have listed.
The 9mm has a crisp 'snap' or 'pop' to it, with a sharp [but not too strong] recoil impulse that is easy to control.
The .45acp has a more booming 'bang' or 'push' to it, with a longer and smoother, but more powerful, recoil impulse that is also relatively easy to control.
I'd compare the 9mm to a high-revving engine making power, and a .45acp to a [gasoline powered] pickup making power [no, not a diesel: that's more of a .44mag thing]. They do it differently, and both will get you from a-to-b.
Now the .40S&W's recoil impulse is the best or worst of both worlds for me. It has a more aggressive 'snap' or 'pop' than the 9mm, with almost the same amount of push as the .45acp.
I find the .40 harder to get back onto target quickly than 9mm or .45acp for me.
After working with .22lr, 9mm, .357mag, .44mag and .45acp [honestly, I like ALL of these recoils better than .40] I FINALLY bought another .40 handgun.
Now I can control it reliably, and hit the target where I aim at. It only took me 10 years.
If you haven't fired all three, read posts like this, compare them to your own experience level, and compare all of the above to the availability of ammunition in those calibers where you live.
I will NOT recommend one over the other three without knowing you well. All will save your life if you learn to use them well. None will do the job if you don't learn to use them well. I know which of those three calibers I'd use for home defense. I know which caliber I'd let someone who didn't have much experience shoot. Where I am living 10 rounds is my max, so that helps me make decisions also.
But you have to decide what will fit YOUR needs best. Just be aware of the differences in how they feel in your hands.
I bought a .45 and it felt better. I bought a 9mm and it also felt better.
Everyone's experiences are subjective. Your experiences will vary from mine.
My experiences make the .40 the LEAST comfortable to shoot of the 3 calibers you have listed.
The 9mm has a crisp 'snap' or 'pop' to it, with a sharp [but not too strong] recoil impulse that is easy to control.
The .45acp has a more booming 'bang' or 'push' to it, with a longer and smoother, but more powerful, recoil impulse that is also relatively easy to control.
I'd compare the 9mm to a high-revving engine making power, and a .45acp to a [gasoline powered] pickup making power [no, not a diesel: that's more of a .44mag thing]. They do it differently, and both will get you from a-to-b.
Now the .40S&W's recoil impulse is the best or worst of both worlds for me. It has a more aggressive 'snap' or 'pop' than the 9mm, with almost the same amount of push as the .45acp.
I find the .40 harder to get back onto target quickly than 9mm or .45acp for me.
After working with .22lr, 9mm, .357mag, .44mag and .45acp [honestly, I like ALL of these recoils better than .40] I FINALLY bought another .40 handgun.
Now I can control it reliably, and hit the target where I aim at. It only took me 10 years.
If you haven't fired all three, read posts like this, compare them to your own experience level, and compare all of the above to the availability of ammunition in those calibers where you live.
I will NOT recommend one over the other three without knowing you well. All will save your life if you learn to use them well. None will do the job if you don't learn to use them well. I know which of those three calibers I'd use for home defense. I know which caliber I'd let someone who didn't have much experience shoot. Where I am living 10 rounds is my max, so that helps me make decisions also.
But you have to decide what will fit YOUR needs best. Just be aware of the differences in how they feel in your hands.
9mm is like a Japanese 4 cylinder, high revving to make power, yet still economical.
The .45acp is a naturally aspirated diesel. Slow and heavy, but still has decent torque. Efficient.
.44 mag is a turbo diesel. It's like a N/A diesel, but since it's got a big turbine on it, it's faster and torquier, even with a bit extra weight.
For self defense, I see little difference between .40, 9mm+p and .45. They all work exceptionally well at relatively close distances. However, if I were a cop and thought I might need to shoot longer distances, or through something, I might opt for the .40.....or better yet, 10mm.