40 cal or new 9mm advice

[eflatminor]

New to this site seeking advice. Over the last year or so, I've been shooting at a local range two/three times per week, mostly with a Barretta 9mm or S&W 38. I'm starting to get pretty good! Enough that I'd like to look into competitions and my question here, a pistol designed specifically for competition shooting. Seems like a lot of law enforcement guys are going with 40cal weapons, but I could stay with either the 9 or 40. My question is, what weapons would you recommend I check out? A guy at the range recommended an HK USP expert 40 S&W. Not sure what the S&W stands for??? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Duckster]

My two cents

I used an Browning High Power in 9mm for antiterrorist training and personal protection for years, but got rid of it because I did not like the round. It shot great for me and was a dream to shoot and very accurate, but I wanted a round that did more damage. In between I had a M1911 .45 Caliber ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) and never could get it to shoot well (Accuracy issues). This past year I traded in the 1911 for FN .40 S&W (Smith & Wesson) Caliber High Power. It shoots as well as the 9mm version did except I like the round better. If your going to shoot competitions, I might suggest a very nice .22 Caliber Pistol. They are very accurate, cheaper and a whole lot cheaper to shoot. Go what is best with you. "If it works for you, it can't be wrong". Good luck and keep shooting
For other posters, I spelt everything out so he knew what I was saying.

 

[don95sml]

I believe your first step would be to find out what type of competition matches are available in your area. I personally compete in IDPA (defensive pistol) matches, but there are several others. If you can tell us what type of matches are available, and which you would be interested in, you will get all kinds of recommendations regarding equipment.

 

[McCall911]

I got on the .40 Smith & Wesson bandwagon some years back, but only recently began to change my mind back in favor (still) of the 9mm and/or the .45 ACP. The reason: After doing lots of research, the differences in terminal performance between the three cartridges seemed, to my eyes, to be very small. So if you shoot a 9mm Beretta well, that's great. There are plenty of capable self-defense rounds for this caliber. But if you think a .40 is going to give you more confidence because of the miniscule amount of increased bullet weight and diameter, then go for it.

 

[ZeSpectre]

I personally like the .40 S&W round.

I am also of the personal opinion that it is a slightly harder round to master.

When compared, the 9mm has a relatively gentle recoil and the .45 ACP has a more drawn out "push" but the .40 S&W seems, to me, to have one hell of a lot more sudden "snap" when you fire it.

I've got years of firing .357 magnum loads so I really don't mind and something about .40 S&W just fell right in line with me. On the other hand my friend could never really "warm up" to that round though he does fine with .45, 9mm, and a bunch of others.

 

[FieroCDSP]

Right on Ze!!!

The 40 is certainly a ways from the 9mm. After firing 1500+ through mine, I've found I still flinch at times, but I've gotten used to the way it feels, and am improving. I'm still a little shakey, but after I fired two mags from my 40, I switched and fired a mag of 9mm from an M&P, and had a nice grouping. The 9mm kinda felt like a toy in comparison. Maybe I'll get a 9mm someday, for fun. But for now, I'm a 40 S&W kinda guy.

 

[MrDig]

Not certain about the choice between 9 mm and 40 S&W. need to do more research. Question to Duckster, Why didn't you just rebarrel the existing HP?
Would it have presented too few rounds in the mags ?
Am I mistaken I thought the barrels for the HP's were prety much drop in.

 

[browningguy]

You cannot rebarrel a 9mm BHP to .40, barrel lockup is different so thank God it won't fit. FN/Browning spent a lot of time and money coming up with a .40 that works, so let's not mess with it.

I shoot BHP's in .40 for my carry guns, and a Witness Elite Match in .40 is my new match pistol. If I was shooting IDPA only I would go with a 9mm though, much less recoil, cheaper to shoot, and no one cares about major and minor power factors.
BHP Practical in .40 S&W (mines old but Gander has them on Sale now for $599)


EAA Witness Elite Match ( mine was $399, but I understand the price is up to $429 now):


Of course I love my BHP's and still rescue them when I find them for sale (I'm up to 5 now), but I am more and more impressed with the Witness Match.

 

[MrDig]

My mistake, I thought it was too good to be true, but was told by an "Expert" that it could be done.
Must have been an ExSpert (Ex=Has Been, Spert=Drip under pressure).

 

[10-Ring]

If we're talking IDPA, any stock pistol is enough to get started & have fun using. I've used my Beretta, a Glock, a couple HK's and my BHP. I've had alot of fun, learned alot & met some really good people.
I think the point isn't really what you shoot, but to go shoot & enjoy yourself
Oh, welcome to THR

 

[C-grunt]

Id say that if you already shoot the Beretta well, use it. They are pretty accurate weapons and using it for competition will only make you better with it.

 

[Stachie]

both are good

I like the .40 S&W as a defense round; however, 9mm is great for the range.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

eflatminor,
Welcome to THR.

If you are looking for a competition pistol then you should be looking at either a .45 or a .38 Super. In 2006 many of the competition shooters used a .38 Super and did very well. As a matter of fact, Doug Koenig used one this year. Since he has won 13 straight years I think he is the one to copy. S&W has a 1911 chambered in .38 Super you might want to take a look at.