do YOU think 9mm is underpowerred ?

Is 9mm strong enough to use for defense.

  • I think 9mm is plenty strong for defense.

    Votes: 215 50.8%

  • I think 9mm is strong enough but only if Hollow Point.

    Votes: 122 28.8%

  • I think it takes more (.40 or .45) to be deadly

    Votes: 18 4.3%

  • If you're asking you're a mall ninja

    Votes: 68 16.1%
  • Total voters
    423
Whenever I consider this issue, two questions come to my mind.
1) Would you want to take a 9mm shot?
and
2) If you really have to shoot an oncoming attacker, aren't you going to just pump as many bullets into them as you can? You can argue mag capacity in a multiple attacker situation, but with one guy, are you really going to wait for him to go down after each round before firing another? I think it's more likely any of us would keep shooting until the attacker was falling down, no matter what caliber was in our gun. If I need three or four 9mm rounds as opposed to two or three .45s, so be it.
 
9mm is plenty and then some for self defense.

The three calibers I carry are .380, 9mm, and .45ACP.
I follow the First Rule of Gunfighting, and sometimes, the .380 LCP is what it takes to adhere to the Rule, and I carry it around 10% of the time.

On the other end, I can only carry my stainless Commander maybe 15% of the time.
That leaves the rest of the time that I carry the Rohrbaugh R9s in 9mm, and I never feel undergunned.
(Although a Smith 642 is in the mix once in a while as well, but .38Spec isn't the discussion here).
 
1) Would you want to take a 9mm shot?
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No, but I wouldn't want to take a 25 auto shot either. :)


The 9mm has a great balance of "stopping power" and shootability. Additionally, many modern 9mm semi autos hold a lot of rounds which is a big plus especially if faced with multiple adversaries.
 
.I voted the mall ninja option.
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Me too, just cause;)

Seriously though, most folks here already know I prefer a .45 1911...I just love the platform and caliber. I have owned, ( and still own a couple) 9mm. My sister now carries a 469 S&W that I carried for years, I never felt under gunned, and neither does she.

As others have already stated, round placement is key...any caliber projectile in your brain is going to pretty much ruin your day.
 
While I'm not a fan of a the 9mm (I think there are better options) I do think its a good SD round. Plus, any thread that refers to Mall Ninja is a bonus.
 
I voted it's plenty for SD. I sure hope so since HCSO Deputies carry 9's. :D Others have already summed it up. Shot placement. Center Mass quickly.... if that doesn't do the job, it should have slowed them down enough for your next shot to move up about a foot and a half.
 
We always have threads with lists... "you might be a mall ninja if..." or "things you see at the range..." or etc etc.
He simply asked if, since I didn't think much of that caliber, would I want to get shot be a 9mm?
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We need to make a list of silly little gun forumisms that get perpetuated and yet have such little value.

.25 is a lousy caliber for defense. While we are at it, I wouldn't want to bust down the door of a crack house armed with a ping pong paddle because it's REALLY not a proper tool for the job. HOWEVER, no, in fact, I don't really want to be a test subject for a belly shot with a .25. (or even a shot in the pinkie toe) And no, I don't particularly care to get wacked in the temple with a ping pong paddle, either.

I don't want to get my schlong caught in a fast moving zipper.
I don't want to fall in a pothole on a bad sidewalk.
I don't want to have a potted plant dropped on my head from a 3rd story window.
I don't want a pot of hot coffee thrown at me from across the counter at a Quickie Mart.

I really don't want any of these fates, yet I wouldn't use them as arguments for a proper defensive maneuver or tool. Really.

The next item on our list can be whether or not anyone really gives a damn how much ammo you DID or DID NOT FIND at your local idiot-filled Wal-Mart.

Please take this post in the spirit it's intended. ;)
 
I think it is plenty powerful enough at the distance I am likely to use it to defend myself. I like the .45 too, but carry a 9mm.

For me, in the size of gun I want to carry anything larger is just too hard to shoot accurately.

Also with the low price of ammo I get to practice more with my 9mm's which should help with shot placement if I ever need to use it.
 
I don't want to get my schlong caught in a fast moving zipper.
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BWAHAhahahahaah!!!!!:D:D:D

On a serious note: I posted this in another thread similar in theme and spirit as this thread. I feel it applies just as well here.

It is quite interesting to me how much "stuff" is pulled from ones backside in these forums. What's even more interesting is the "sheep" mentality of many (to many) of the members.
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In a word: nope.

I think the 9mm is a very useful round for the civilian interested in personal defense. The object usually is to make the perp stop and I think the 9mm is likely to do just that, in nearly all cases.

If I were in a military combat situation or law enforcement, I think I'd like a little more mustard, like a 357sig or 45acp.
 
My thoughts on caliber size?

That's easy to answer for me. If the caliber doesn't start with .4 then I won't use it for self defense. The 9mm (+P) is adequate and will do the job. I just believe that my .45 +P hollow points are the cat's meow and there is no denying its potential for eliminating the threat immediately, (provided you do your part).
 
Amateurs discuss caliber. Veterans discuss tactics. A good HP from a 4" barrel in 9mm is more powerful than any .357 Mag from a 2" barrel. They called it parabellum for good reason. I think altogether way too much time and thought is wasted in this discussion. I load 124 HP's to 1,200+ fps. Want some?
 
Yikes!

We always have threads with lists... "you might be a mall ninja if..." or "things you see at the range..." or etc etc.

Quote:
He simply asked if, since I didn't think much of that caliber, would I want to get shot be a 9mm?

We need to make a list of silly little gun forumisms that get perpetuated and yet have such little value.

.25 is a lousy caliber for defense. While we are at it, I wouldn't want to bust down the door of a crack house armed with a ping pong paddle because it's REALLY not a proper tool for the job. HOWEVER, no, in fact, I don't really want to be a test subject for a belly shot with a .25. (or even a shot in the pinkie toe) And no, I don't particularly care to get wacked in the temple with a ping pong paddle, either.

I don't want to get my schlong caught in a fast moving zipper.
I don't want to fall in a pothole on a bad sidewalk.
I don't want to have a potted plant dropped on my head from a 3rd story window.
I don't want a pot of hot coffee thrown at me from across the counter at a Quickie Mart.

I really don't want any of these fates, yet I wouldn't use them as arguments for a proper defensive maneuver or tool. Really.

The next item on our list can be whether or not anyone really gives a damn how much ammo you DID or DID NOT FIND at your local idiot-filled Wal-Mart.

Please take this post in the spirit it's intended.
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Gee Sevens, come on buddy. My post was said as tongue in cheek as yours! :D
I heard that "want to get shot by a 9mm?" over 40+ years ago. I never forgot it! :eek:
Rough crowd....:)
 
A police officer in my hometown said, caliber is not as important as accuracy. He also said 9mm and up is great to stop people, .40, 357 sig, etc. what are you going to take out also? Cars, people, apt. buildings??





"Name withheld to protect the idiot"
 
I was just on one of the ammo sites, and they had calibers small to large, with the picture of the wound channel in gel. Wish I could remember the site, will look for it and post. They all looked pretty much the same.
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Having chatted with a number of docs and nurses that are clients, they have been pretty unanimous.....if there is any difference in the wound channel of any of the major calibers, they sure can't see it.
 
Nope. Though I prefer .45 ACP to be my primary, I carry a G26 loaded with HydraShoks at certain times. Never have I felt to be ineffectually armed.
 
In my opinion,

I wouldn't want to get shot by it.

I love .45 as much as the next guy but in terms of self defense, I don't think I'd feel at all uncomfortable carrying a 9mm (and am actually looking for a HK P2000 :eek:)
 
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