Your Thoughts on the 9mm for Defense?

T

Therapydude

New member
I've always used defensive semi-autos chambered in at least .40 S&W, but I've recently grown partial to the Glock. For the mid-size models, the Glock 19 seems to have won rave reviews over the years. Therefore, I'm seriously considering the purchase of a G19. Also, not wanting to start any Glock flames or anything, I've read of few, if any, KB!s with the 9mm Glocks (I'd like to fire reloads through my Glock without having to buy a new barrel). I guess my question comes down to this: Is the 9mm a potent enough round for me to bet my life on in a defensive situation (I hope the answer is yes, because I've already ordered a couple of pre-ban Glock mags for the G19)?
 
From what I've read, both here, elsewhere, and in various studies and publications, any of the popular self defense calibers would be good for self defense.

I prefer the 9mm not because I believe it to be better than any of the other calibers, but because of its ready availability.
 
Therapydude. I certainly hope that 9mm is enough for defense since my carry gun is either a G19 or when I feel the need to change around a SIG P226 in 9mm. I personally like the Speer Gold Dot in its 124 +P configuration. I've owned .45's, still have a couple of 40's and a .357 or two. Nine milimeter is perfectly adequate for me and I like the added capacity.
My Glock is a first generation gun, I've recently had two malfunctions with it finally, both due to the aftermarket range mags I was trying out. Otherwise it's been flawless. I've put Meps on it and a Hogue and that's it.
I shoot commercial reloads through it constantly. I don't think you'll have any problems as long as you're not shooting lead.
Hope this helps.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Therapydude:
I've always used defensive semi-autos chambered in at least .40 S&W, but I've recently grown partial to the Glock. For the mid-size models, the Glock 19 seems to have won rave reviews over the years. Therefore, I'm seriously considering the purchase of a G19. Also, not wanting to start any Glock flames or anything, I've read of few, if any, KB!s with the 9mm Glocks (I'd like to fire reloads through my Glock without having to buy a new barrel). [/quote]

I carried 9's for 10-12 years. For realistic self defense, any good reliable pistol will do.
Then, it's just preference...
I carry a Glock 19 if I wear a shirt draped out. Otherwise, it's an MK9, which does conceal a bit better.



[This message has been edited by Ezeckial (edited September 03, 2000).]
 
Modern 9mm loads like the 115 grain +p cor bon produce great stopping power potential. The 9's are only slightly less powerful than .40 or .45. You are very well protected with a 9mm. Don't give in to the big bore craze, shoot what is easiest for you to handle.
 
As others said carry what you feel most comfortable with and not whatever is in fashion. I like .40 more than 9mm, I especially like the wider option of loadings available for it. If you like the G19 consider the G23.

The notion of 9mm being more available doesn't hold water anymore. Unless you're traveling to Nepal, .40 ammo can be found all over.

Glocks kB as do other pistols. Lots of opinions have been formed about this, and most of them with little basis in fact. For some solid information check out http://communities.prodigy.net/sportsrec/gz-glock-kb.html
http://communities.prodigy.net/sportsrec/gz-glock-kb.html
http://greent.com/40Page/ammo/40/180gr.htm

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"Get yourself a Lorcin and lose that nickel plated sissy pistol."
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Is the 9mm a potent enough round for me to bet my life on in a defensive situation[/quote]

Yes!

In the last year or so I've reduced my defensive semi-auto pistol calibers to just 2- the 9mm and 45acp. I've played with most of the "newer" calibers... .357sig, .40sw, 10mm etc, and there is nothing wrong with them, but IMO the 9 and 45, when loaded with quality hp ammo will cover any defensive needs that I may face. If I did not truly believe this I'd be carrying something different.

The Glock 19 is an excellent choice. You will have no problems using jacketed reloads with the factory barrel. The only thing your new 19 will need (IMHO) is a set of tritum sights. Another option worth exploring is the excellent M3 tact light or a quality flashlight such as the Surefire 6Z.

Good Luck!
 
The two most important things are a reliable weapon and proficiency with that weapon. An elephant gun ain't much good if ya can't hit anything with it. While a 9mm isn't the heaviest hitter of the bunch, in the hands of someone who can place his shots, I wouldn't wanna be the one hit by one.(And neither would anyone else!) Just my 2 cents worth.

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***Torpedo***
It's a good life if you can survive it!
 
9mm is certainly potent enough for defensive use with decent loads. It`s more load sensitive than larger more powerful calibers but high performance ammo for 9mms can be found anywhere. Almost all 115gr. and 124gr.JHPs have a good track record and the +Ps are better yet. The top 9mm loads are practically equal to the best .40 and .45 loads by most yardsticks. The Glock19 is a very good choice as well. Although I`m not all that fond of Glocks in general I was quite taken with the G19 I took a few turns shooting last weekend. It was easy to shoot and darn close to as accurate as my CZ75, while being smaller and lighter. Go for it. :) Marcus
 
Originally posted by Therapydude:

Also, not wanting to start any Glock flames or anything, I've read of few, if any, KB!s with the 9mm Glocks (I'd like to fire reloads through my Glock without having to buy a new barrel).

You can read the Glock warranty. Glock voids its warranty when you shoot reloads. Once voided, it's voided forever. Glock barrels are throated and the feed ramp cut such that the brass stretches and gets little support at the web. When Glock brass is resized it becomes brittle from the stretching. That, no chamber support, and using a high pressure round like the 9mm is asking for a "Glock kB!" -- Todd Lewis Green's sight posts considerable info on this issue:
http://www.f-r-i.com/glock/FAQ/FAQ-kb.htm




[This message has been edited by JayDrummond (edited September 04, 2000).]
 
JD,

From the site you linked "Speir has no confirmed cases of Glock kB!s in the 9 x 19mm (Models 17, 17L, 18, 19 and 26) or the .380 ACP/9 X 17mm (Models 25 and 28)." What 9mm Glock kBs? Glocks are no more suceptible to kBs than other pistols. BTW, nearly all manufacturers void the warranty if you use reloads. It's a matter of CYA. If you should have a kB with your Glock, with reloads, they replace the pistol at cost, somewhere around $250 shipped. If only factory ammo was used they'll replace the pistol for free.

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"Get yourself a Lorcin and lose that nickel plated sissy pistol."
 
Check Glock Talk for instances on the 9mm Glocks KB'ing. As for 9mm being inadequate for protection of ones self and loved ones, it is inadequate. So if you like yourself and family you will send me your G19 and extra mags, I'm willing to make this sacrifice for you. All kidding aside, yes it is a good round for protection, I use a 9mm and a .45acp, feel well protected by both.
 
My thoughts: Better than some, worse than others. If it's all I have at the moment, it's the best thing in the world. YMMV.
Chant with me- placeeeeeeement,placeeeeeement,placeeeeeeement, placeeeeement.
 
I have carried one 9mm or another since the early eighties. It is the only caliber that I ever considered carrying. With modern ammunition, it is more than enough gun for self defense. I have never had the misfortune of having to take a life, and I hope, and pray that I never do, but if it comes down to it, I firmly believe that the 9mm parabellum will do the trick!!!

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Yeah, I got a permit to carry,it's called the friggin Constitution.---Ted Nugent

"Glock 26: 17 rounds of concealed carry DEATH comming your way from out of nowhere!!! THAT'S FIREPOWER, BABY!!!"
 
So far, my favorites caliber is the .45 and 9mm calibers in 1911 models. Right now, my 9mm is on my right side (on top of my table) while I am typing hereon. But I favor more the .45 for my carry weapon. Regarding in shooting easily both are good to shoot but again I shoot more on my .45 for I feel better to it. I always said that it is not to a kind of caliber which is esier to shoot, it depends on the shooter.
 
I trust the 9mm, and I second the votes for 124 gr. Speer Gold Dots. Their bonded core helps them penetrate a bit better than some 9mms. It goes without saying that shot placement is Job One, but given a good hit a 115 - 125 gr 9mm JHP will expand and penetrate enough to get the job done.

What I really love about the 9mm is 15 round magazines. Multi-badguy home invasions seem to be a trend, I like having enough rounds to allow each badguy two or three all to himself.
 
i think the answer is that if you choose the proper ammo the 9mm is just fine. there are loads for the 9mm out there i would not carry. in .40 auto any load will do the job. in .45 auto almost any load will work from a full size gun. with 9mm you should take some of the advice already listed here as to specific loads.
also the 9mm/.40 auto rounds do not suffer from shorter barrels like .45's do.


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Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what is for lunch.
Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the outcome of the vote.
Let he that hath no sword sell his garment and buy one. Luke 22-36
They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night. Song of Solomon 3-8
The man that can keep his head and aims carefully when the situation has gone bad and lead is flying usually wins the fight.
 
Get something bigger. I have three 9mm Glocks, mostly because I didn't know better when I bought the first one, and the rest just followed. 9mm is good, but a bigger hole is better. If I was to rebuild the collection, I'd use .45s.

The whole point of having a handgun is stopping power. .45 and .357Sig are just plain better at that than the 9mm. While using extra-powerful +P+ rounds can push the stopping power to decent levels for the 9mm, that means pushing the rounds to levels that the round & gun were not really designed for. Better to use something that inherently has a higher chance of stopping an assailant.
 
my home defense handgun is a Glock 19 loaded with Speer 124gr+P Gold-Dots. i feel the 9mm is a great round to use for defense and i trust the stopping power of it. the G19 is my favorite glock; it fits my hand really well and i shoot it better than any other handgun i own. also since the G19 (and all other 9mm and .357sig glocks) has a fully supported chamber the chances of having a KB are very little. as long as you don't reload a case more times that it should be or load a double charge in a case you shouldn't have a problem. you shouldn't use lead bullets in any glocks either.
 
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