Anyone else change their opinion of the 9mm lately?

[Dr_2_B]

I have cast more than my share of aspersions on the 9mm. Said to my dad, "Well, sure you could carry that 9mm or you could actually carry a 'gun.'" But over the past year, my opinion has changed because of what I'm hearing about better-performing bullet designs.

Anybody else have this experience? Or do you think I'm crazy?

 

[HorseSoldier]

I'm inclined to think that shot placement is more important than caliber with any handgun. I have a couple 45 cals and a 10mm Auto as well as my 9mm's, but I don't feel poorly armed with a 9mm for CCW.

 

[gtmerkley]

no I still think it sucks except 9mm largo

 

[IdahoLT1]

I think its a good middle road caliber. IMO, if a man doesnt stop after being hit numerous times in the chest/mid section with 9mm +P rounds, he likely wont stop to any other pistol chambered caliber. You sacrifice power but gain capacity, speed and accurate follow up shots. Alot of people argue that the ultimate man stopper is the 45ACP, but IMO, the 357mag is the gold standard to self defense. But just like anything in life, there are trade offs to almost every decision.

 

[Hunter0924]

I believe it will suffice as a defensive round but I prefer another caliber personally.

 

[Dksimon]

Recently put a Springfield XD-9 on layaway. I should have it paid off by my birthday.

Happy birthday to me!

 

[nwilliams]

I've always been a big fan of the 9mm myself.

 

[Deus Machina]

I believe in shot placement more than size.

I'm a small guy, and for now 9mm is the largest I trust myself to be able to double-tap with. A single .45 might be enough to stop a BG, but I really do think you need to have a second on the way while you're checking if he's actually stopped.

Besides, my soon-to-be carry piece holds 15 9mm 124-grain Gold Dots. If I can't drop someone with a third of those, it's a matter of distance and time, not caliber.

 

[loop]

The 9 is a weak sister. If you want a stopper you'll choose something else.

I have a lot of .45s. I trust my life to any of them. I also have a lot of .32s. They will cover my *** in a pinch.

I do not own any 9s because they offer no advantage over .45s. If mag capacity is your criteria you need to spend more money on ammo and more time at the range.

Permit me to turn this around. What advantage (aside from the tired tale of mag capacity) does the 9 offer over the .45? (Please don't bring up recoil or double taps because I can load a .45 with half the recoil of any OTC 9.)

Round-for-round, what about the 9mm is better than the .45?

 

[Disaster]

I think is is a good compromise...as is a pistol in general (vs. a shotgun or high powered rifle.)

I will say I have learned a lot over the last year about handgun cartridge performance in general. I am now better educated about the myth of stopping power and better ready to deliver neutralizing shots with any handgun than I would have been before.

The reality is most BG's will be able to deliver fatal shots against me even after sustaining fatal shots with a 9mm, a 40mm, a .44 or a .357. Shot placement, movement and cover while shooting are the key to survival...and a little luck.

 

[presspuller]

I look at it this way,,,a .22 rimfire would take the fight out of just about anybody, probably not a crack head but you put a vent hole in somebody chances are they are gonna lose interest in you real quick.
Now if I ever have to shoot somebody a .44 mag probably aint gonna be big enough for me at the time.
I think the 9mm will do the job without hesitation, its what I carry. I use to think I would never carry that small of a round but when you look at the size and weight advantage its worth it to me. A smaller gun that you will carry because its comfortable is better than a bigger gun that stays at home because its too big/heavy.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

9mm may be adequate, but isn't the best choice for me.

 

[GZOh]

If you can't do it with shot placement and Hornaday Taps (or Speer Gold 185s)... then get a 12 gauge with some 'serious' buck!!

 

[leadcounsel]

I agree that it's about shot placement, but also about minimum caliber. I think the .380 is the minimum reliable self-defense caliber, and the next step up is the 9mm.

I sometimes carry a 9mm and don't feel under-gunned. But I prefer a larger caliber, all things considered. The advantages of the 9mm are hard to argue though, because it's generally better shot placement and generally more rounds.

 

[Eric F]

I have had just about all pistol rounds at one time or another, but for now 9mm has been replaced by 38 super loaded with 9mm bullets.

 

[Tom Krein]

I have always believed it was a good performer with high performance ammo. The bad reputation that the 9mm got was with ball ammo. It simply over penetrates without damage.

The new +p ammo with good hollow point design is more than adequate for self defense. It is very similar to the .357 mag round and it has never been described as inadequate...

Add to that increased capacity and low recoil (better shot placement) and it really starts to shine.

Tom

 

[Walkalong]

I have always believed there were better choices.

That said, I have carried a .22 mag and a .32 many times.

Is the 9MM adequate? Sure. Are the better choices? Heck yea.

 

[Grey_Mana]

Recently put a Springfield XD-9 on layaway. I should have it paid off by my birthday.

Please don't use layaway; it is a major scam. You can put the same money under your mattress with less risk of missing a payment. The product will always be available, or one just like it.

 

[NG VI]

I didn't really ever think it was that inadequate, but I always felt it was a bit lacking. Now it is fast becoming my favorite pistol cartridge, replacing my .40s just because my favorite platform (CZ) is best in the original 9x19, plus I think I shoot my 9mms better than my .40s. That said I LOVE my Glock 27, it is an excellent shooter despite all eveidence to the contrary, and recoil isn't really as bad as I expect from it. Plus it is a little .400 inch powerhouse as far as a subcompact goes, I love .40 but I am just shooting my 9x19 much more.

 

[Papaster]

I have recently started carrying a 9mm, and even a .38 when deep concealment is necessary, but my primary carry is still .45 ACP. I'm not totally sold on 9mm being equal to my .45, but neither are rifles or shotguns. I'm not planning on getting into combat with any handgun. They're just my in-a-pinch self defense.
Additionally, the 9mm is a pleasure to shoot at the range. It costs less, and I can shoot it longer without the pounding my short-barreled .45 gives me. It's become a much more palatable round in recent history to me.

 

[mr.72]

If mag capacity is your criteria you need to spend more money on ammo and more time at the range.

Permit me to turn this around. What advantage (aside from the tired tale of mag capacity)

That's a legitimate advantage. I don't see how it is possible for less mag capacity to be preferable. It's a tradeoff between perceived "stopping power" and magazine capacity. At least magazine capacity is readily measurable and quantifiable. Reports of differing "stopping power" are loaded with caveats.

This has been discussed to death. Suffice to say capacity is a legitimate benefit in a number of scenarios. I kind of doubt anyone is going to have to use their gun to defend themselves and then later say "boy, I sure wish I had run out of ammo before I was finished shooting".

 

[fletcher]

Permit me to turn this around. What advantage (aside from the tired tale of mag capacity) does the 9 offer over the .45? (Please don't bring up recoil or double taps because I can load a .45 with half the recoil of any OTC 9.)

What load would that be for .45? Do you lose the advantage of a heavy bullet by making that load? How's the energy? Power factor? Reduced recoil with retail ammunition (not everyone loads their own, ya know) is a completely valid reason. You can't really argue advantages/disadvantages against personal preferences - the whole apples and oranges thing.

Ammunition that's half price and allows for more range time (which is why I chose it) is another good reason. Capacity is also an advantage, or at least a trade, as has been mentioned.

Round-for-round, what about the 9mm is better than the .45?

If an individual could equally afford each, and shoot each equally well, .45 would be better because of the larger round advantage. However, that's a very idealistic comparison. 9mm platforms are typically very different from .45 platforms, the recoil of each is different (I won't even say one is more or less, but they're very different feeling), ammunition selection and costs are different, etc. The ultimate criteria is "Can the user quickly put that round where he/she wants it to go?" There may be a dozen reasons why the shooter could shoot 9mm better than .45, or vice-versa, so round for round, if the shooter is willing to trust both, it comes down to preference.

If the shooter is competent, it's more than adequate. Just because there's better than the 9mm out there doesn't mean 9mm is bad.

 

[Dr_2_B]

What advantage (aside from the tired tale of mag capacity) does the 9 offer over the .45?

Loop, the only answer I have for your question is that I can carry today my Kel-Tec PF9 in my pants pocket when I can't fit one of my .45's.

 

[Phil DeGraves]

Maybe we ought to inform all those people during WW1 and 2 that were stopped by the 9mm that they didn't need to believe they were stopped since the 9mm is so inadequate.

It's how you use it, folks, not what you use.

 

[mpmarty]

A pistol is a compromise. Adding a second compromise on top of the initial one such as a .35 caliber projectile instead of a .45 caliber one just doesn't make sense to me. I carry a .45 ccw that holds eleven rounds and is as small as most 9s. Yes, shot placement is vital to stopping an assailant, that's why I shoot over a hundred rounds a week with my ccw pistol, and finish up with full power defense loads at each practice. If I could, I'd pack a 12ga but that's not possible so I "compromise" and carry a .45

Why do you suppose SWAT teams all over the country are going back to the .45? Unlike the military they are not limited to fmj ammo, the nine should be as good, right? Obviously, wrong.