40, 9MM or 380

which & why

  • 40 cal

    Votes: 102 37.1%

  • 9mm

    Votes: 160 58.2%

  • 380

    Votes: 13 4.7%
  • Total voters
    275
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For a range gun, I would go with the 9mm for the less expensive ammo.
For a target gun, I would go with the 9mm for the accurate loads and low recoil. For a self defense gun, I would go with the 9mm for the higher capacity and preformance of the best 9mm JHPs. For every every thing I can think of, the 9mm stands out as the better choice between the three caliber you asked about. 9mm is one of those rare win-win situations. It is low cost, accurate, powerful and you get more rounds in a gun chambered in 9mm than you do in .40. I have never seen anything that says in real world gunfights, the .40S&W is better than the best 9mms. It would stand to reason that the .40 would be better but it sure doesn't seem to be so much better that anyone can tell.

I love my 9mms because I can control them and shoot them as often as I like. I also love .45s because I find them very controlable as well. the .40S&W can be a nasty little round to try and control if firing rapid fire with one hand. This is my benchmark in how I can control a handgun designed for self defense. I figuire that this is the way it will most likely be shot so if I can't handle it, I don't need to own that gun. The Beretta 92fs is right at my limit of being able to control it one handed rapid fire. If it were any bigger, I think I would start to lose control. The Kahr K-9 is a fistful of gun and I feel like I would never lose control of it since it fits so wel in my mitt.
 
.40 - great compromise of the 9's extra capacity & the .45's bigger caliber benefits. (though I like the .45 best). No advantage to the .380 - better off with a 9mm then if you need a traditionally ".380 sized" smaller compact piece.
 
quote: "The cost of ammo is not a reason to chose one gun over another."

yes it is.... i belive the 9mm is winning this poll is because secondarily if not primarily for that reason. i think my vote just became obvious.
Click to expand...
Eh, some of us prefer 9mm because its one less caliber to buy... I shoot .45 auto at least five times as much as I do 9mm, if cost of ammo was a concern I'd have two .45s and seven 9mms...
 
I have no use for the 380. I would go with the 9mm. It can do everything the 40 can at less cost with less recoil and more ammo and less chance of KB.
Pat
 
I have a XD 9mm and it is one of my most accurate pistols. Plus, like these other guys, I like more rounds incase anything bad happens.
 
Tried a RAMI 40

Had a 459 S&W 9mm (14+1). I didn't like ergonomics nor lack of accuracy of the 459.

Move to the RAMI because the ergonomics and accuracy for me was just fine. It had several fail to feed at ramp bottom so I traded it and some cash for a rifle.

Found a Makarov for accuracy and ergonomics both a joy for me. Power between .380 and 9mm.

Tainted by the feed issues of bottom feeders, ccw (unless its two or three) goes to J frames.
 
Yep. I'm a big 9mm fan because the ammo is half the cost of anything else. If I wanted a .380 sized gun, I'd get a 9x18 Makarov for the same reason. I can order 9x18 for a lot less than .380.
 
My wife has a Sig 230 that she loves to shoot. Matter of fact, we're going to the range tomorrow for a little time together on her day off. That being said, I'd personally go with a .40 as I have an uncontrollable itch for a tupperware .40. I've got a 9mm that is fun to shoot, but I prefer a heavier projectile. I'd rather shoot a buffalo with a 45/70 with a 405 gr bullet rather than a 243 with a 80 gr bullet even though the 243 puts out for energy in ft/lbs at all distances.
 
380

easier to conceal and carry..easier to shoot well..not over penetrative...and if they are good enough for JAMES BOND, then they sould be good enough for ANYBODY! :D
 
.380ACP - subsonic handloads, semi-wadcutters (what they used to call Keithpoints?)

The range and conditions it was originally likely to be used in required that it...
A - Not make a lot of noise.
B - Not punch through the target.
C - Do a lot of messy and effective damage at short range while complying with B.

Over time, familiarity with the weapon has kept me carrying it, and at medium-short pistol range (which you'd wind up at, or less, in a city confrontation) it'll make a mess of the target without punching through and hitting some old lady.

The weapon also happens to be astoundingly accurate with match-grade bullets, and surprisingly accurate even with the semi's in it... but a good bit of that is familiarity with the weapon itself, likely.

-K
 
380

I'm not so down on 380 as most seem to be. some of the folks who report such things give it a 60-70% one-shot stop rating..not bad..shoot 'em twice and they are 120-140% stopped I guess! The 380's as a class tend to be neat, light, slim..very nice to bring to hand easily...shoot fairly mildly and allow good gun handling..and allow speed. A man fumbling to get his larger 40 into play could be well and truly shot for his 140% by a 380 before he got his chunko'gun in the game...AND for urban environs a weapon that is overly penetrative is not good...crowds of people..the background all placed at greater risk...the 380 has a place for sure and is probably much more apt to be with you than the hog leg or 2-3 pound cube-shaped handgun. Sure, shot for shot a 9 is superior..a 40 is superior to that and a 357 beats 'em all...
but what works is what you have and can put into action with speed and skill...and a 380 certainly allows that. Having said this, I hasten to add I also own a 40 I do love..but it is certainly not so easy to pack or so easy to hand as my 380.
 
easier to conceal and carry..easier to shoot well..not over penetrative...and if they are good enough for JAMES BOND, then they sould be good enough for ANYBODY!
Click to expand...

Actually, if you're referring to the PPK.... Bond carried a .32.
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm not so down on 380 as most seem to be. some of the folks who report such things give it a 60-70% one-shot stop rating..not bad..shoot 'em twice and they are 120-140% stopped I guess! The 380's as a class tend to be neat, light, slim..very nice to bring to hand easily...shoot fairly mildly and allow good gun handling..and allow speed. A man fumbling to get his larger 40 into play could be well and truly shot for his 140% by a 380 before he got his chunko'gun in the game...AND for urban environs a weapon that is overly penetrative is not good...crowds of people..the background all placed at greater risk...the 380 has a place for sure and is probably much more apt to be with you than the hog leg or 2-3 pound cube-shaped handgun. Sure, shot for shot a 9 is superior..a 40 is superior to that and a 357 beats 'em all...
but what works is what you have and can put into action with speed and skill...and a 380 certainly allows that. Having said this, I hasten to add I also own a 40 I do love..but it is certainly not so easy to pack or so easy to hand as my 380.
END QUOTE

You place way too much faith is OSS figures.
Pat
 
Oh great get a gap with half the ammo and half the concealability. (still has a 21 slide on it) The gap gives a marginal performance increase on the 9mm and 40 sw not as much as a lot would believe.
Pat
 
I voted .40 because you already have a 9mm. 9mm and .40 are much better than .380 ACP in my opinion. If push came to shove I'd even choose a .38 special over a .380 ACP. I've never owned a .40. I do own a 9mm and a .45 ACP. For self defense I'd grab either. I do like the 17-round capacity of my 9mm though.
 
You could conceal a sawed off shotgun if your determined I suppose that does not make it a good choice. Yes I am a Gap hater. No they are not available everywhere. And not it does not do what the 45 acp can. The Gap is loaded to +p pressures to get standard acp velocity. Lets compare apples to apples. The +p acp out runs the gap by 150 fps.
Pat
 
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