zombieslayer
New member
The best way for me to tell what cartridge is more powerful is to shoot all kinds of stuff with various loads. After lots of informal "ballistics testing" to me the .40 is the clear winner in terms of destructive power. Ymmv.
Does the 40 S&W have an advantage over 9mm for CCW?
- Thread starter Proud Poppa
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9mm
I had a 40 cal small frame that I couldn't hit a barn from the inside. I went back to a 9mm. I figured "If you can't hit it, you can't hurt it." Between the 2 choices in a larger frame I'd have to say the 40 has more "Stop". I carry the 9mm IWB in light clothing (Texas heat). Hydra Shocks should do the trick.
I had a 40 cal small frame that I couldn't hit a barn from the inside. I went back to a 9mm. I figured "If you can't hit it, you can't hurt it." Between the 2 choices in a larger frame I'd have to say the 40 has more "Stop". I carry the 9mm IWB in light clothing (Texas heat). Hydra Shocks should do the trick.
zombieslayer
New member
Ahh the PPS. What a fine handgun that is
.40
I believe it does have attributes that are good. I carry a Glock 23 .40 caliber stoked with Glock Model 22 magazines. This makes for a 16 round .40 in the same package as the Glock 19. This is a very accurate reliable package. I've found nothing better yet for concealed carry. I find other pistols I like very much. However, they are always heavier, lower capacity, mags unavailable or cost a fortune, and perhaps less reliable. I know that capacity is not every thing. And if you can't do whatever with the first seven, you probably in over your head anyway. That being said, I've grown fond of the capacity of this combo. Very hard for me to transition to something like a Sig P239 with 7 rounds and more weight. Just saying, and your mileage may vary.
I believe it does have attributes that are good. I carry a Glock 23 .40 caliber stoked with Glock Model 22 magazines. This makes for a 16 round .40 in the same package as the Glock 19. This is a very accurate reliable package. I've found nothing better yet for concealed carry. I find other pistols I like very much. However, they are always heavier, lower capacity, mags unavailable or cost a fortune, and perhaps less reliable. I know that capacity is not every thing. And if you can't do whatever with the first seven, you probably in over your head anyway. That being said, I've grown fond of the capacity of this combo. Very hard for me to transition to something like a Sig P239 with 7 rounds and more weight. Just saying, and your mileage may vary.
To the OP, whichever fits your style/hand/confidence level will be fine as long as you practice and hit what you need to hit. I carry a 9, but may move to the 40one day. Or even the 10 if I get a deal I can't pass up.
Personally, I think the only way we'll ever know 100% sure which is best is to interview 100 people that have been shot with both rounds and can personally attest to how well each performed in stopping him or her when he or she was shot. I'd put a lot of weight in their testimony when basing my decision on which I prefer.
Personally, I think the only way we'll ever know 100% sure which is best is to interview 100 people that have been shot with both rounds and can personally attest to how well each performed in stopping him or her when he or she was shot. I'd put a lot of weight in their testimony when basing my decision on which I prefer.
I have both the 9mm (4"bbl) and 40sw (3.9"bbl) and I trust the 40 more for SD. Shooting PDX1s (124+P & 165 - carry loads) in both I found the recoil of the 40 only slightly more than the 9mm and the 40 is only 40 fps slower but 80 lbs more of energy than the 9mm.
Nevertheless I trust the 9mm enough for SD.
Nevertheless I trust the 9mm enough for SD.
lee n. field
New member
Yes and no.
Somewhat increased power, offset by decreased round count and the whining some folks do about how the .40 has "snappy recoil".
Pick one. Run with it.
iMagUdspEllr
New member
I have been comparing calibers for a while now but I don't have a solid stance on the decision.
9mm slowly loses its advantage of increased magazine capacity as the gun gets smaller.
9mm always has the advantage of having less recoil than .40. Recoil is greater in smaller guns intended for concealed carry.
The main argument against 9mm, regardless of gun size/weight, is that it might not be "enough". I don't know. I don't have any decisive evidence that 9mm is or is not "enough" energy/velocity/whatever. But, it seems to work about the same as .40. I haven't seen anything that conclusively proves that 9mm is inferior to .40 in self defense. It always seems to matter where the bullet hits rather than the caliber.
It would be cool if someone could chime in and show a noteworthy effectiveness increase between the 9mm and the .40.
9mm slowly loses its advantage of increased magazine capacity as the gun gets smaller.
9mm always has the advantage of having less recoil than .40. Recoil is greater in smaller guns intended for concealed carry.
The main argument against 9mm, regardless of gun size/weight, is that it might not be "enough". I don't know. I don't have any decisive evidence that 9mm is or is not "enough" energy/velocity/whatever. But, it seems to work about the same as .40. I haven't seen anything that conclusively proves that 9mm is inferior to .40 in self defense. It always seems to matter where the bullet hits rather than the caliber.
It would be cool if someone could chime in and show a noteworthy effectiveness increase between the 9mm and the .40.
Crow Hunter
New member
Umm.....
It isn't quite Halloween yet.
The OP probably made a decision back last year....
Hopefully anyway....
9mm is better for shooting zombie threads.
It isn't quite Halloween yet.
The OP probably made a decision back last year....
Hopefully anyway....
9mm is better for shooting zombie threads.
Mike Irwin
Staff
Yep, no sense in resurrecting a thread this old just to reply to it as if it were posted yesterday.
Closed.
Closed.
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