glock 9mm or 40cal

[WildLifeGuy308]

Hey i was wondering about getting a glock and the only think i havnt decided on is the glock 9mm or 40 cal what do you guys think what are some pros and cons or each caliber? for 40 cal i would probly use fmj and 9mm i would probly use core bonded hollow points what do you think

thanks

 

[Milkmaster]

While I would get the 9MM because ammo is a lot cheaper, you may get a lot more different replies in the handdgun section.

 

[cardinalfan]

One of each. I carry the Glock 23 and my wife carries the Glock 19.

 

[AZ Five seveN]

Which do you shoot better? That's generally the way to go.

On the other hand, using FMJs for self defense makes little sense. Pick out a nice premium JHP from Speer, Federal, Winchester, etc.

 

[FourteenMiles]

I like the 9mm simply because it's cheaper which allows more practice. Another plus though is a more mild recoil and higher capacity, though those are just sort of a bonus. For me it's all about the price.

 

[AZ Five seveN]

I like the 9mm simply because it's cheaper which allows more practice. Another plus though is a more mild recoil and higher capacity, though those are just sort of a bonus. For me it's all about the price.

Sorry, but I have to post a Jeff Cooper quote any time someone talks about capacity as having any significant meaning...

"It has never been clear to me why increased magazine capacity in a defensive pistol is particularly choice. The bigger the magazine the bigger the gun, and the bigger the gun the harder it is to get hold of for people with small hands. And what, pray, does one need all those rounds for? How many lethal antagonists do you think you are going to be able to handle? Once when Bruce Nelson was asked by a suspect if the thirteen-round magazine in the P35 was not a big advantage, Bruce's answer was, "Well, yes, if you plan to miss a lot." The highest score I know of at this time achieved by one man against a group of armed adversaries was recorded in (of all places) the Ivory Coast! There, some years ago, a graduate student of mine laid out five goblins, with four dead and one totaled for the hospital. Of course there is the episode of Alvin York and his eight, but there is some dispute about that tale. (If you read it over very carefully you will see what I mean.) Be that as it may, I see no real need for a double column magazine. It is all the rage, of course, and like dual air bags, it is a popular current sales gimmick." - Jeff Cooper

 

[CZ57]

I wouldn't own a Glock in .40 S&W because of the chamber support issue but a 9mm or .45 would be just fine. Actually, I own an XDm .45 because there are other issues that the XDm addresses that Glocks don't.

 

[Lazyshooter]

I carry a Glock 9mm everyday. I have no doubt that it will do the job if needed. 9mm will have less recoil and will be cheaper to shoot, .40 will have a little more recoil. I think either would be good. I tend to shoot 9mm better than .40, but that's probably due to the fact that I shoot 9mm a lot more than .40.

 

[jawn]

If this is your first centerfire handgun, I vote 9mm.

You can't really go wrong either way, but the 9mm will save you money over the long haul.

 

[Glock Jock]

IMHO

I most often carry my G 26 when dressed for the office but also have a G 30 that I carry when in jeans. The G 26 is best for concealed carry, but I want to have more fire power when I can so I went .45 cal. I figure why stop at .40 cal.

There are some who argue if you get the G 27, you can get a barrel and also shoot 9mm for target but then have a bit more fire power when you carry. If I had thought about that before buying the G 26, I might have gone that way and saved some money just buying an extra barrel and mag instead of a whole other gun.

 

[dcmdon]

I'll answer your question with a question.

What sized gun do you intend to buy?

I ask this because the size of the gun will greatly affect how the increased recoil of the .40 affects you.

Don't get me wrong. A G27 is far from intimidating. But your recovery time may be significantly longer with that compared to a 26.

In contrast, a full sized 22 may recover nearly as fast as a 17. (Also full sized, but 9mm)

Around 2000 I was convinced I wanted a 27. I was going to pocket carry it, so I wouldn't be using he pinky grip mag extension. Fortunately I got the opportunity to fire the 27 and the 26 side by side, prior to buying anything. The difference was astounding. With the 26, I could put 2, 3, 4 shots into a human sized target at defensive ranges very rapidly and accurately. Double taps were a piece of cake.

With the 27, I was much much slower to get back on target. Double taps were unacceptably strung vertically.

I picked the 26 because it allowed me to put more lead down range more accurately.

Don
p.s. if you are going to carry one of those little glocks with the pinky extension, you might as well get the 19/23 or at the very least carry it with a 19/23 mag and a sleeve.

 

[X-Rap]

Ah yes I remember hanging on the Guru's every word as if they were cut in stone tablets but unless you have very small hands the G19 will do a very good job for you and despite what some might say misses happen plus there seems to be a higher Goblin population than ever and they have taken to traveling in bunches.
The lower recoil of the 9 is quite manageable compared to the 40 and with today's quality ammo performance far out paces that of 9mm a decade ago.
The Col was a great man and an icon, but times and opinions change.

 

[GuysModel94]

Buy a Glock 22 in 40S&W and then purchase a 9mm converion barrel (LoneWolf) along with a couple of mags. One gun, two calibers for an extra $150.-. Don't understand the chamber support comments, if it were a real problem, would think you would see it on CNBC!!

 

[WildLifeGuy308]

i want to buy the glock 22 or the glock 17 or 19 for 9mm it will be mostly for target practice and fun but aslo defencive if i need it

 

[dcmdon]

Ah yes I remember hanging on the Guru's every word as if they were cut in stone tablets but unless you have very small hands the G19 will do a very good job for you and despite what some might say misses happen plus there seems to be a higher Goblin population than ever and they have taken to traveling in bunches.
The lower recoil of the 9 is quite manageable compared to the 40 and with today's quality ammo performance far out paces that of 9mm a decade ago.
The Col was a great man and an icon, but times and opinions change.

My wife shoots my Glock 34 in steel matches. She's 5'1" with proportionately small hands.

 

[REAPER4206969]

Doesn't matter.

I CCW a 23.

 

[Jonah71]

I have the G 26 and G 23. The ammo price difference really aren't a serious issue imo. I like them both. But it is taking me some time to get accustomed to the .40 cal as far as recoil and bringing it back on target. The G 26 (with mag extension) is more comfortable, more accurate, and I'm just more confident carrying it. Some day I hope to get enough rounds through the .40 to use it as my carry. But in all honesty, if I had purchased the 9mm first, I may not have bought the .40. I am looking foward to picking up my .357 barrel for the G 23 though. Curiosity is one of my many weaknesses. And I will have the Mod 19 sometime this year.

 

[Ledgehammer]

Don't overlook the g36. You get .45acp and very manageable recoil in a super small package.

 

[Kyle1886]

I have the G22 and the G35 and enjoy them both. The .40 is a tad more costly to feed and some don't care for the little extra muzzle flip in the .40 but it hasn't bothered my old athritic hands. If possible rent each at a range and go from there.

Respectfully
Kyle

 

[JoeMal]

I would go with the 9mm...cheaper to shoot which means more range time.

 

[Harley Quinn]

Lot of trick stuff out there if you go the 22, can get several barrels for it and have multiple shooters 40cal, 9mm and 357 SIG...

 

[SIGLBER]

The 9mm Glocks are the original amd best Glocks. The G17 is the one that Chuck Taylor has shot over 300,000 rounds through. Somewhere between 250,000-300,000 I think he finally had to replace a spring. The ammo is cheaper. With modern JHP's the 9mm will do about anything that any of the other service rounds will do. With less recoil, less muzzle blast, and more rounds on board. Making it easier to score good, multiple hits with.
And well placed, multiple hits is what ends fights. Regardless of caliber. That and getting so distance and cover if you can. The only advantage I can see in going with the .40 is the ability to have a multiple caliber gun. I bought a perfect police trade in G22 from a friend only because it was too good of a deal to pass up. I bought a Storm Lake 9mm barrel for it and it dropped right in. Very accurate and reliable. If I wanted to I could also get .357 SIG barrel for it. Throw in a .22 kit and you've got a 4 caliber gun. Of course you can get a .22 kit for a 9mm also.
In the end though confidence in a weapon is very important. To those that really feel underarmed by the 9mm they are probably better served with something else. But in handguns the power of any of them is grossly overrated. For example a friend of mine is a nurse that visits in home patients. One she is treating right now was shot 7 times in the chest with a .40 and survived. Including a shot dead center in the sternum. She got involved in a domestic squabble.
The husband killed his wife with a head shot. Filled her chest full of holes. Which caused her to pass out. That probably saved her life because he assumed she was dead (who wouldn't). Then killed himself with a head shot. A big factor in all of these is that trauma care, EMT's, hospitals have gotten so good alot of folks are surviving that would not hav generations before. Another buddy at my range's grandfather tried to commit suicide with a .45.
He placed it on his sternum and pulled the trigger. The bullet was diverted by the sternum and exited out his left side. Hit the lung but missed the heart. He survived. Just saying caliber does not ave your life. proper use of the caliber does. So a gun you can afford to train with is important. One you shot well is very improtant. Choose which caliber you like. But whatever get good with it. Find a good JHP that works reliably through it. Get some training. Then forget about the caliber. Way too much emphasis is placed on caliber.

 

[group17]

I'll answer your question with a question.

What sized gun do you intend to buy?

I ask this because the size of the gun will greatly affect how the increased recoil of the .40 affects you.

Don't get me wrong. A G27 is far from intimidating. But your recovery time may be significantly longer with that compared to a 26.

In contrast, a full sized 22 may recover nearly as fast as a 17. (Also full sized, but 9mm)

Around 2000 I was convinced I wanted a 27. I was going to pocket carry it, so I wouldn't be using he pinky grip mag extension. Fortunately I got the opportunity to fire the 27 and the 26 side by side, prior to buying anything. The difference was astounding. With the 26, I could put 2, 3, 4 shots into a human sized target at defensive ranges very rapidly and accurately. Double taps were a piece of cake.

With the 27, I was much much slower to get back on target. Double taps were unacceptably strung vertically.

I picked the 26 because it allowed me to put more lead down range more accurately.

Don
p.s. if you are going to carry one of those little glocks with the pinky extension, you might as well get the 19/23 or at the very least carry it with a 19/23 mag and a sleeve.

As stated get the 40 then save for the $100 40/9 conversion barrel and 9mm mag.
2 guns in 1. Works fine in my 27.

You can't add the 40 barrel to a 9mm Glock.

 

[Ben86]

9mm is the most practical caliber in auto pistols IMO. If you don't feel comfortable with 9mm .40 offers a little bit more stopping power. Whether it's worth the decrease in capacity and increase in recoil and cost of ammo is up to you. You can't go wrong with either caliber.

for 40 cal i would probly use fmj and 9mm i would probly use core bonded hollow points what do you think

You mean to say for SD you would use fmj for .40 and jhps for 9mm? You know they make really good jhps for .40 also. Fmj sucks across the board for all calibers.

 

[Ledgehammer]

. He survived. Just saying caliber does not ave your life. proper use of the cali

I agree shot placement is the most important element in stopping a threat. I don't want to necessarily kill anybody when it comes to defending myfamily or my life. I want to stop the threat period. I'm sure even though granpa may have lived - he wasn't moving very much. my point is larger caliber hits are more physically traumatic. I don't think we should get hung up on whether someone lived or not. That shouldn't be your goal in self defense.