Why should I buy a 9mm?

The 9mm has armed soldiers and warriors around the world for almost a hundred years. It's been praised, cussed, dissected, examined and pondered by just about every military organization in the world. And it's still here.

Is it perfect? No. It's just as imperfect as everything else coming out of a service pistol.

Is it better than the .45 or the .40? Well, near as I can tell, that's sort of like asking if a redhead is better than a brunette or a blonde. It all boils down to personal preference.

Would I recommend it to a newbie? Yes. As with any other thing in this wondrous world of ours, if you do your part, the 9mm will do its part.

LawDog

[This message has been edited by LawDog (edited June 06, 2000).]
 
I own 2 40S&Ws(Glock 23 and USP40C) and a 45ACP(USP45). I recently followed up these purchases with a USP9. The 9mm is frequently put down, but I think it is a great round for the following reasons: 1) the power(muzzle energy) to size ratio is great! You can buy high performance loads(Corbon, Triton etc) that exceed 400 ft lbs easily and the ammo is small and light. In fact a 125 gr FMJ can be stoked up safely to be in the light 357 Mag category if you're a reloader. You can carry more rounds of 9 than you could of 45s. 2) The recoil of 9mm is minimal especially in the USP9 which I bought. The USP has a recoil reduction system that works great! Reduced recoil results in faster follow up shots 3)It's just plain cheap to shoot. Whether you're buying factory or reloading. A thousand quality(Remington for example) 9mm bullets can cost you as little as $45.

As far as choice of what 9 to buy I went with the USP because of familiarity, reliability and durability. The chamber is fully supported and I know it can handle +P+ 9 loads safely. I used to have a Browning HP and loved it but most experts don't recommend shooting +Ps through it on a regular basis. With the USP I don't worry about a steady diet of hot 9s.

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1. Cheap ammo
2. Controllable by nearly every shooter
3. Generally an accurate round
4. Wide range of good weapons available for it
5. Effective to very effective with good to hot loads
6. Higher capacity than most any other caliber and original capacity mags are generally more plentiful and available than those for other calibers
7. Standard military round for surplus/"liberated" ammo is plentiful
 
I don't understand why people say 9mm is not worth reloading. I reload it myself for $3 a box of 50. $3 dollars. That is nearly half what you can find it for. This is how I do it:

1000 hardcast 9mm=$34 at gun show.
1000 WSP=$13 at gun show.
1lb AA#5=$10 military surplus, mail order.

1 case of 9mm=$57+your time.

Time it takes me to reload 1000 9mm rounds on my Dillian Square Deal B=5 hours(on a good day)

Time it takes me to shoot 1 case of 9mm=2-3 hours(on a VERY good day!)

Oh yeah, get the Beretta, I did, and it has eaten 10,000rds w/no problems. Weeell, the first 500 it jammed every 7th rd, but I think that was because I didn't keep the slide rails lubed good enough....


[This message has been edited by Deathwish (edited June 06, 2000).]
 
Just get the SIG P226. You will love it. You really don't need a reason to get a 9. You already have some great guns that can do anything that a 9 can do. If you want one, just get it! Deathwish's reloading facts are true, but cast lead bullets have never shot that well in a 9 for me. Forget them in the Glock or HK P7. They work great in 45, but that is another story. Try all of the calibers out. I have. Only one really interests me now. I won't bore you with the details. ;)

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Get your 1911s and AR15s while you still can!
 
Watch-six: I don't use lead, the stuff I use has a VERY thin copper jacket, just enough to get out of the barrel w/out leading it.(trust me, I've recovered them...)
 
That makes sense. Your "hardcast" terminology threw me off. My somewhat limited experience with reloading for a couple of dozen 9mms by SIG, Glock, HK, S&W, etc. have had poor results with lead bullets, and almost as bad with "plated" bullets in the accuracy department. Glad your light jacketed projectiles work for you. I still recommend the 226. :)

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Get your 1911s and AR15s while you still can!
 
Check the caliber of ammo stored at your local National Guard armory..........

Best pistol choice from your short list: Glock M17.

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"All my ammo is factory ammo"
 
LawDog is right.

Will Beararms: Let's do an experiment, stand right there in front of me. Now I'm going to pull out my Glock 19 and shoot you. it won't hurt. You're not going to flinch. because it's only a 9mm.

The reason why most law enforcement agencies have switched to the 9mm is:

(a) because the FBI led the charge for an intermediary round between the 9mm and the 45 which fostered SW to create the 40 round due to their agents outcome in a tough gunfight; and

(b) since the FBI did it and police agencies are commanded by testosterone, it was a "his gun is bigger than my gun" game.

Most law enforcement officers and agents don't shoot enough to effectively get off two or three rounds.

My DEA friends who kick down doors at crack houses on a weekly basis hit the range every few months. Many street cops only hit the range right before qualification time.

Due to their lack of training or desire for markmenship and tactics, the general police stats driving these one-stop shot stats may not apply in your case where you do train regularly and really know your gun and your surroundings.

Most good shooters should be able to get off (2) 9mm shots to only one 45 shot. And when it comes to stopping someone, that's what counts, placement and power. One without the other is no good.

Plus that 9mm subcompacts are smaller and lighter generally. And you know that if it's heavy, you may be inclined not to carry and that will be the day when you need it.

I'm not worried. Got my little KT P-32 in my pocket too as do a lot of cops. So why would they carry a puny .32 ACP? because their primary 40 or 9 gave out so .32 will have to do!

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The Seattle SharpShooter - TFL/GT/UGW/PCT/KTOG
 
Red Bull:Your thoughts and wisdom are appreciated. However,the fact that the .45ACP is on your hip tells me volumes.

JT and Lawdog: you are exactly right in your comments and the 9mm is an adequate round providing a solid level of protection.

Two people have suggested that I used a .45ACP versus the 9mm. One was a Green Beret in Vietnam and his name is Bo Gritz (here we go). The second is a Police Officer in Ft. Worth, Texas. Both have been in situations were the 9mm came up short. I agree that even the .45 will come up short since NO handgun caliber is fail-proof.

The bottom line is that even the .45ACP lacks stopping power for this one-shot stop business that I don't ascribe to. That having been said, I desire to have the largest chunk of lead I can possibly control aand for me that hunk is the .45ACP.

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"When guns are outlawed;I will be an outlaw."
 
As to the posts indicating that our National Guard Armory's are stocked with 9mm, do you realize how bad it would be if our Military turned it's might on the American Public? The chances of you getting into an armory would be better than me waking up in the morning with a 16 year-old hairline-------not likely. If we can watch a smart bomb on it's way to a building in Baghdad on TV, imagine what technology is there to detect movement and heat.

Pray that you are raptured before we get to something like this in our Nation-------God forbid.

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"When guns are outlawed;I will be an outlaw."
 
Will, the idea of using military calibers is valid even if the NG turns against us. Many weapons have been "lost" from NG armories and recovered in the hands of "liberation forces" around the world (i.e. IRA, PLO) due to sympathetic or mercenary NG armorers. We can expect the same. Further, in keeping with the real thinking behind the 2nd Amendment, we can recover the ammunition after it is brought out of the armory and into the field by NG troops.
 
Being a hardcore 45ACP fan carring one in Vietnam when I was a M-60 gunner and my home defense gun being a Series 70 Govt. model what's the choice.

I did buy a Smith 5904 a few years back bascially for my wife smaller hands and less recoil etc. etc.

Here's some food for thought. A couple years ago. I thought I had an entruder in my basement. So instead of doing the smart thing (stay put and call the police) I went and checked it out (fornately no one was there) I grabbed my Govt. model right. WRONG I picked up the 5904 and two extra mags.

I mentioned this to a friend who also is a hardcore 45 fan and he said he did the same one time and now he has a Hi-Power for his defensive gun.

As for me my 45 is locked in the safe. And the 9mm is loaded with Hydra-shock.

Turk
 
In addition to all the other points mentioned, one reason I chose a 9 as my defensive caliber has to do with protecting my hearing. I've read that a standard pressure 9mm is less likely to cause hearing damage if fired indoors sans protection, as compared to the .40 or .45 which CAN be damaging in the same scenario.
I don't want to be in a situation where I save my life at the cost of my hearing.
 
I`ve owned many 9mm's ( SIG 228, Browning Hi Power, two S&W 5906's, Berretta 92FS, Cobray M-11, A S&W model 39-2(first generation), A
S&W model 639 (second generation) and also a S&W CS-9.
ALL OF THEM GOOD GUNS!
I`ve traded most and sold some and my only 9mm now is a S&W 5906 with about 7 pre-ban 15 rd. mags... Someday, I will aquire yet even another 9mm as they are great guns!
Long live the 9mm!!!


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SHOOT,COMMUNICATE AND MOVE OUT !
 
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