Most of the time I carry a 38 special, but comparing autoloaders sometimes I carry a G17 and sometimes I carry a G27. I feel adequately comfortable with the G27, but the G17 gives me the warm fuzzies. This level of comfort is simply because I shoot the G17 better, and the full grip gives very fast presentation.
Having 2nd thoughts on swithching carry caliber
- Thread starter thefamcnaj
- Start date
- Status
Jonah71
Member
Lately I've been carrying the G26 more than the G23. I'm much more accurate with the 9mm and can keep it on target easier. Comfortable with either but I never worry about the effectiveness my G26 loaded with 9mm Hornadys. No such thing as a sissy gun. I knew someone who was killed with a single shot from a .25 cal. (although I admit I wouldn't reccomend one for carry.)
I have carry guns in 9mm and .40. Honestly, what I carry on any given day has more to do with which gun I feel like carrying than which caliber they shoot.
Either cartridge will do it's part if you do yours.
This argument is sooooo trite. "If .22lr is such a sissy round, why don't you volunteer to get shot with one?" No thanks. I don't really wanna get shot with a BB gun, but that doesn't make a Daisy Red Ryder a good self defense gun. Just because a round is not a consistent fight stopper, doesn't mean people line up to get shot with them.
And yes, I realize it's a rhetorical question. It's just one of my pet peeves.
Either cartridge will do it's part if you do yours.
This argument is sooooo trite. "If .22lr is such a sissy round, why don't you volunteer to get shot with one?" No thanks. I don't really wanna get shot with a BB gun, but that doesn't make a Daisy Red Ryder a good self defense gun. Just because a round is not a consistent fight stopper, doesn't mean people line up to get shot with them.
And yes, I realize it's a rhetorical question. It's just one of my pet peeves.
With modern, high-quality hollow points, the expanded diameter of 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP are pretty similar. I'm inclined to say the .45 is more powerful than the 9mm, but I wouldn't say you've undergunned carrying a 9mm as long as you use proper ammo. The advantage of larger calibers is they are effective even with FMJ ammo or when JHPs fail to expand, whereas 9mm is going to be relatively ineffective without bullet expansion.
I've never fired a .40 S&W but I think 9mm and .45 ACP are pretty much equal as defensive handguns. The .45 *may* be a little better on terminal ballistics but the 9mm allows you more rounds. With hot loads, e.g. Cor Bon +P, I feel the 9mm may equal or better the terminal ballistics of the average .45 bullet. So not a wrong choice either way.
FullEffect1911
Member
9mm, .40 or .45... just use a good quality hollow point and figure out what platform you shoot faster and most accurately.
As far as that whole volunteer to get shot thing, I pose this question. If you had to be shot would you choose it to be a 9mm or a .45?
I carry a 9mm as it meets all the things I ask for in a carry gun.
As far as that whole volunteer to get shot thing, I pose this question. If you had to be shot would you choose it to be a 9mm or a .45?
I carry a 9mm as it meets all the things I ask for in a carry gun.
Although i of course agree that in most cases JHP are better then FMJ rounds for HD;I highly doubt a full clip of 9mm FMJ is ineffective.
I said "relatively ineffective" as in you can't really rely on it and it's inferior to larger calibers in FMJ loadings. It's still potentially lethal, but I wouldn't want to carry 9mm FMJ unless the gun isn't reliable with JHPs or I couldn't carry a larger caliber for whatever reason. With quality JHPs, I would have no problem carrying a 9mm. In fact, I plan to use a PF9 for EDC once concealed carry gets legalized in Wisconsin.
After some research on the 9mm and testing it myself, I went from 40 to the 9 mm
I tested the Corbon DPX (and other 9mm) which had 15 inches of penetration in wet newspaper in milfkjigs lined up, and opened up to almost 3/4 inch........... plenty fine for me and it equaled and exceeded some 40 cal offering
I will probably STILL shoot some 40, but carry a Kahr K9
I tested the Corbon DPX (and other 9mm) which had 15 inches of penetration in wet newspaper in milfkjigs lined up, and opened up to almost 3/4 inch........... plenty fine for me and it equaled and exceeded some 40 cal offering
I will probably STILL shoot some 40, but carry a Kahr K9
ATBackPackin
Member
Wow, I thought peer pressure was supposed to be over when you were out of school.
Seriously though, look at from this point. If you cannot get the job done with a G19, you're not going to get it done with a G23. A 9mm is more than ample to get the job accomplished. What caliber you use should be which ever one you shoot the best. If you shoot the 9mm better than that is what you should carry. If you can't get it done with 31 rounds, you should always have a spare magazine, of 9mm then you need more training and shouldn't worry about what caliber you are carrying. So in short, of course 9mm is enough if you do your part and I back that up by carrying it every day.
Seriously though, look at from this point. If you cannot get the job done with a G19, you're not going to get it done with a G23. A 9mm is more than ample to get the job accomplished. What caliber you use should be which ever one you shoot the best. If you shoot the 9mm better than that is what you should carry. If you can't get it done with 31 rounds, you should always have a spare magazine, of 9mm then you need more training and shouldn't worry about what caliber you are carrying. So in short, of course 9mm is enough if you do your part and I back that up by carrying it every day.
Being in Wisconsin, I don't carry (yet 
) but when I carry out of state on my FL or AZ permit, I will most likely carry my Sig P239 SAS DAK in .40 or .357 Sig. Why? Because the guy who sold me this one wouldn't sell me his 9mm SAS DAK...I like the size, I like the solid feel, and the weight helps with the recoil, and it's not really all that hard to carry in a proper holster. I love the 239, but if I could get the same gun in 9mm, I'd confidently carry it... I also have a Kahr CW45 that will probably see some holster time, depending on circumstances. I also have a Ruger LCP .380 that I feel comfortable with. You are fine with the 9mm...
) but when I carry out of state on my FL or AZ permit, I will most likely carry my Sig P239 SAS DAK in .40 or .357 Sig. Why? Because the guy who sold me this one wouldn't sell me his 9mm SAS DAK...I like the size, I like the solid feel, and the weight helps with the recoil, and it's not really all that hard to carry in a proper holster. I love the 239, but if I could get the same gun in 9mm, I'd confidently carry it... I also have a Kahr CW45 that will probably see some holster time, depending on circumstances. I also have a Ruger LCP .380 that I feel comfortable with. You are fine with the 9mm...boomstik45
Member
Hate to say it, but not all of us LEOs are knowledgeable gun guys, and even fewer have taken any time to study the two main sides of ballistic science and "street performance" data.
Even then, there are no clear black and white answers.
Your LEO friend has an opinion (along with an exit hole in his hindquarters), which makes him human. Carry what YOU are comfortable with. If you like your 9s, then roll with those. In a crisis situation, that which you are most practiced with is what you'll be best with.
The 9mm will do the job. And remember, anything deserving to be shot once, deserves to be shot twice.
The only thing worse than the internet ninjas are the LEOs who act like their badge gives them extra weapon knowledge. A man who is afraid to walk around without a cannon on his hip is a man who is afraid he'll miss his target....
Rock that 9. And know that if you do YOUR job, it will do it's job. Pick good ammo. That goes for any caliber.
My recommendations, but by no means "the law" by any stretch of the imagination, just stuff I've shot and like:
Speer Gold dot 124 grain, or 124 grain + p
Remington Golden Sabre 147 grain
Probably just about anything Corbon makes, though I don't much like the Pow'r Ball...
Winchester Ranger 124 grain
Even then, there are no clear black and white answers.
Your LEO friend has an opinion (along with an exit hole in his hindquarters), which makes him human. Carry what YOU are comfortable with. If you like your 9s, then roll with those. In a crisis situation, that which you are most practiced with is what you'll be best with.
The 9mm will do the job. And remember, anything deserving to be shot once, deserves to be shot twice.
The only thing worse than the internet ninjas are the LEOs who act like their badge gives them extra weapon knowledge. A man who is afraid to walk around without a cannon on his hip is a man who is afraid he'll miss his target....
Rock that 9. And know that if you do YOUR job, it will do it's job. Pick good ammo. That goes for any caliber.
My recommendations, but by no means "the law" by any stretch of the imagination, just stuff I've shot and like:
Speer Gold dot 124 grain, or 124 grain + p
Remington Golden Sabre 147 grain
Probably just about anything Corbon makes, though I don't much like the Pow'r Ball...
Winchester Ranger 124 grain
You feel undergunned because you are listening to your friends and not real world shooting stats. Loaded with premium jhp ammunition (especially of the +P variety) 9mm is right up there in stopping power with .40 and .45. 124 grain +P gold dots have worked great for the NYPD for many years now, several other agencies around the world are very satisfied with this caliber. Your friends, with all due respect, are confused by mythology. You are wise to carry what you shoot.
Shot placement is the real killer. Ask a hunter how important shot placement is.
REAPER4206969
Member
9x19 is more than sufficient.
JustinJ
Member
I became averse to the 9mm after watching a show about a lunatic who shot up his work place. One guy they interviewed, who made it out alive, received a ridiculous number of 9mm bullets, including center mass shots, but still managed to run out of the place. Now to be fair, i do not know if the assailant was using FMJ. Either way i prefer .40 and or .357 sig as my primary CC weapon but when clothing requires something smaller i carry a 9mm with +P ammo. I don't think anybody can seriously argue that on ballisitic properties alone a .40 does not have a higher probablity of stopping an attacker than a 9 mm. But, if you shoot 9mm significantly better than .40 out of essentially the same gun 9 mm might be the better choice.
Jed Carter
Member
I was carrying a CZ PCR 9mm, until I found a used SIG RCS 1911 in 45ACP. Both shoot great, the nod goes to the SIG, night sights and a shorter thinner grip. If SIG offered the RCS in a 9mm I would not hesitate to get one. I like the faster 9mm, lower recoil and quicker follow up shots than with a similar weight / size .45. Chances are it will take more than one shot to neutralize a threat anyway. I shoot USPSA matches using an STI 1911 in 9mm, so I shoot Single Stack minor power factor, usually score very well, just slow. I feel under gunned with a .380 or .25 but not with a 9mm. I would carry what you shoot best and can still conceal, your G19 would be my choice.
Steel Talon
Member
Here is some ammo/bullet info to wrap your bean around..
Lots of good info...
http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Self_Defense_Ammo_FAQ/index.htm
Light weight hi velocity water jug testing
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot38.htm
Lots of good info...
http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Self_Defense_Ammo_FAQ/index.htm
Light weight hi velocity water jug testing
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot38.htm
this is something i have been wrestling with myself. i carry a 1911 .45acp commander or a sig 228. i love the .45 and it is very accurate but i don't like the capacity of 8rds + ex. mag, or the cost. im not in love with the 9mm, but like the cost of ammo & capacity. so im thinking about getting a used sig 229 in .40, which seems to me to be the best compromise 165-180gr's, capacity, and cost of ammo. the only downside is one more caliber to stock. i was going to sell my p226r and just go with .45acp & 9mm, but then i keep thinking is 9mm enough. thats a good read steel talon, very informative.
Frozen North
Member
I have a close friend who is a deputy and I shoot with him a few times per year. Of course, he shoots a Glock 22.
The last time we shot together he was ripping me about my sissy 9mm (G26), and telling me I should "upgrade" to a G27 for real "stopping power". I told him that my G26 had more stopping power than his G22, he called me an idiot.
I challenged him to a little contest. 12 rounds in the mag, 1 in the chamber, rapid fire, first to have their slide lock back gets a point, smallest group gets a point.
We shot, I got 2 points by a wide margin. We switched guns, he got 2 points by a large margin. Remember we are comparing a subcompact to a full frame now!!
The 9mm is a proven round world wide. IMO, for self defense, it is a no brainer. Law enforcement has different needs than your average guy. The extra mass and durability of a .40 bullet benefits them, but there are trade offs. Why accept the trade offs if the major benefits of a heavier round don't benefit YOU that much?
The last time we shot together he was ripping me about my sissy 9mm (G26), and telling me I should "upgrade" to a G27 for real "stopping power". I told him that my G26 had more stopping power than his G22, he called me an idiot.
I challenged him to a little contest. 12 rounds in the mag, 1 in the chamber, rapid fire, first to have their slide lock back gets a point, smallest group gets a point.
We shot, I got 2 points by a wide margin. We switched guns, he got 2 points by a large margin. Remember we are comparing a subcompact to a full frame now!!
The 9mm is a proven round world wide. IMO, for self defense, it is a no brainer. Law enforcement has different needs than your average guy. The extra mass and durability of a .40 bullet benefits them, but there are trade offs. Why accept the trade offs if the major benefits of a heavier round don't benefit YOU that much?
Very well put. It offers a bit better barrier penetration because of it's larger mass, so more of the bullet makes it through. But the chances of a non-LEO needing, and being legally justified, to shoot through an intermediate barrier are so slim it does not justify getting .40 over 9mm. 9mm is my favorite caliber, but I admit that .40 may have a little bit more stopping power. But I feel it's so slim of a margin it doesn't justify .40 when I can shoot 9mm much faster and more accurately.
In my 18+ years as a LEO I have carried them all from 38 spl to 45"s. I like them all. I am currently switching back to 9mm. With the advancement of todays ammunition I do not feel under powered or outgunned. Haven't had any volunteers to take 2 to the chest and 2 to the head from the weak sissy 9mm.... I beleive shot placement is more important than caliber. my .02
Sapper771
Member
This is only my opinion. I beleive that one should select a platform and caliber that they shoot the best. Training and practice will help you over come any doubts you have.
As far as caliber is concerned, #1: shot placement. #2: penetration. #3: expansion.
I was in the same boat as you. I went from carrying a 45acp to 9mm. I do not feel under gunned in any way. I chose a proven platform that I felt confident with. I chose a high quality carry ammunition that is both reliable and accurate in my pistol. I train regularly and compete as much as possible. All is well.
Good luck
As far as caliber is concerned, #1: shot placement. #2: penetration. #3: expansion.
I was in the same boat as you. I went from carrying a 45acp to 9mm. I do not feel under gunned in any way. I chose a proven platform that I felt confident with. I chose a high quality carry ammunition that is both reliable and accurate in my pistol. I train regularly and compete as much as possible. All is well.
Good luck
45_auto
Member
Actually, as far as caliber is concerned, it goes:
#1: shot placement, #2: shot placement, #3: shot placement
Performance of full power defensive handgun ammunition in the 3 major calibers (9mm, 40, 45) is so close that unless the bullet is still there a forensic examination can't tell what caliber caused the wound.
If you're really worried that some BS article rated the 40 at 92.46768765% one shot stops and the 9mm at only 89.6759843%, then shoot them twice with your 9! That way you'll have a 179.3519686% chance of stopping someone!
#1: shot placement, #2: shot placement, #3: shot placement
Performance of full power defensive handgun ammunition in the 3 major calibers (9mm, 40, 45) is so close that unless the bullet is still there a forensic examination can't tell what caliber caused the wound.
If you're really worried that some BS article rated the 40 at 92.46768765% one shot stops and the 9mm at only 89.6759843%, then shoot them twice with your 9! That way you'll have a 179.3519686% chance of stopping someone!
- Status
