HD: 11 rds of .40 SW or 16 rounds of 9mm?

[ZeroCool]

Ok, well I guess this can be considered a "which caliber is better" thread... but I want everyones opinion.

Quick rundown; my next gun will probably be an HD pistol. I have a pistol now, but am looking for something new. Here's the situation:

-Same pistol, different caliber.
-Your choice, 15+1 rounds of 9mm or 10+1 rounds of .40SW.


If you were to pick one, which would you pick? Please feel free to go into as much detail as you want, but please leave it limited to the question at hand (no "just get a .45acp" please ) If it helps, I dont currently own any .40's.

As always, any and all replies appreciated.

 

[tnieto2004]

16 of 9mm

 

[Black Majik]

Pick the caliber you're most comfortable shooting. With such a small difference in capactiy, and such similar ballistics it's all about shot placement.

 

[1KPerDay]

Why not get 14-16 of .40? Sigma, Glock, Para-Ord, Taurus, Browning Pro, H&K, etc.

 

[MS .45]

I am on a 9mm kick for HD at the moment. I have a CZ p-01 and a Glock 26 that rotate nightstand duty. I completly trust both to do their part in a home defense situation.

 

[fattsgalore]

Dose HD stand for home defense? (people use abbreviations and i normally don't get them, sorry, my fault not yours) if it is, you don't need 16 rounds of 9mm or anything.
Unless you plan on having a heated shoot out in your house.
I'd suggest the 40 in hope's you'd put an assailant down and he or she stays down.(women robber's get shot too, I'm very PC)

In truth if it's a house gun it's better being a .45. not cause of all the hype or this and that but .45 has less penetration then either of those two rounds. So if you live in confined suburbia hell or an apartment complex fear of over penetration would be less of an issue.
Good luck regardless.

PS My house gun; carry piece and teddy bear is a Glock23 in .40cal if that makes you feel better. It dose to me

 

[razorburn]

If for HD and concealability isn't an issue, why not a bigger gun with higher capacity and/or firepower?

 

[Duckster]

Shot placement over rules quantity

I believe that if you hit the target the first time at the right place one round is enough. I went with the FN HP Practical .40 S&W, because it places rounds exactly where I want them. My point is go what works for you and perfect your markmanship
Everything else will take care of itself.

 

[lee n. field]

Faced that choice recently and went with .40. Partly though it was because I had ~500 rounds of it on hand after I'd gotten rid of my only .40.

That said, I doubt it matters that much. Pick something and buy it.

 

[03Shadowbob]

Both if possible
If I had to choose any gun for HD it wouldn't be a handgun, I can promise that, however with your two choices I would take my 11 rounds of .40 over my 17 rounds of 9mm.

 

[Alan Fud]

This reminds me of the type of threads I use to post years ago ... 5906 vs 4006 ... 92 vs 96 ... etc.

I ultimately decided on the .40 caliber.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Why are there so many of these threads????

IMO, buying a gun solely because it has this many rounds of this over this many round of that is insane!!! If you are using this gun for SD or just shooting it for fun the criteria shouldn't be the number of rounds but how well you shoot the gun and how comfortable you are shooting the gun. You can have 16 rounds of anything but if you can't hit what you are shooting at, no number of rounds will help you!! There are times where the caliber makes a difference like if you are using the gun as a BUG while hunting but that is totally different than this.

Sorry if you think I'm getting on your case but really, these threads are totally insane. Choosing a pistol for the reason you are asking is not a bright thing to do.

CARRY WHAT YOU CAN SHOOT WELL, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS!! IMHO of course.

 

[tnieto2004]

THE MORE BULLETS THE BETTER!!!

 

[_N4Z_]

For HD I like 6 .357 magnums in one of my revolvers...... which is good medicine until I can get to the buck and slugs.... found in the shotgun.

 

[SweetWilliam]

The sound of the 870 being stoked with a #4 buckshot should be all the HD I need. I don't see the point of a handgun as primary choice for Home Defense.

 

[eerw]

.500 Smith

and you won't need a flashlight either!!!

 

[Stachie]

.40 S&W

 

[gudel]

why not have both, 15+1 for each caliber, and one for each hand? (unless you're a pirate)

 

[Snarlingiron]

The sound of the 870 being stoked with a #4 buckshot should be all the HD I need.

So...you are going to rely on a sound for hd??? Just get a tape recorder, and save a lot of money. I'll take the 16 rounds of 9mm, thanks.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

Taurus 24/7, 15+1 in 40 S&W. I'd personally take the 40 cal, I'm a good shot with it, I will hit the target.

 

[possum]

well since you didn't tell us what model you are getting of what maker, i don't know if this will aply, but for some models you could get a +2 mag extension since it is for home defense and not gonna be a carry gun.

i look at it like this, if i am gonna have a home defense gun, and deciding on capacity for me is down to this formula i don't know why this is just the way i have always looked at it.

x= 4rds of 9mm to every three rds of 40.

so for example. so with 16 total rds of 9mm and 12rds of .40 i would go .40.

if i had a total of 16rds 9mm and 11 or less of .40 then i would stick with the 9mm.

but either way you go you need to get some good range time and practice with which ever weapon you choose, and outfit it with some good quality jhp's.

just curious what handgun are you plainning on buying?

 

[10-Ring]

HD, I'm fine w/ any of my handguns from 5 shot wheelgun to 8 shot 1911 to 15 round wundernine...it's all good!

 

[ZeroCool]

Hey guys, thanks for all of the replys. For those wondering, I already have a Mossberg 500 and a Kimber .45ACP for HD. The reason I want to change out pistols is because, lord forbid, I ever did have to use it, I dont want to be out of a $1000 dollar pistol that I could not afford to replace. While this may sound stupid to some, I am looking to find a reliable, less expensive HD pistol.

While I had the Taurus 24/7 in mind, the gun that I am really looking hard into is the Stoeger Cougar. I dig the manual safety and SA/DA for an HD gun. Plus, I have heard nothing but good and at $350, its a gun that I could afford to replace. Plus, its always fun to get a new toy . Believe me, the Kimber will not be replaced until the Cougar proves itself.

I know to practice and that shot placement counts, but considering that caliber/capacity would be the deciding factor on an otherwise identical gun I thought I would ask everyones opinion.

Of course, being in Maryland and such, I would even have to see if we can get the new Cougars here.... :banghead:

Please, keep the opinions coming... I'm very interested to hear what people have to say.

 

[Don Lu]

The sound of the 870 being stoked with a #4 buckshot should be all the HD I need.

I think that is over-rated any one who is high on meth/crack or has enough balls to break into your home is probably armed and probably insnt gonna be spooked by the noise, better be ready to shoot.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

ZeroCool,
Since you already have a Mossberg 500 why buy another gun? The Mossberg is only a $200 shotgun and nothing special to worry about losing. I would suggest using your shotgun loaded with #4 or 00 buckshot for HD. If you're worried about having "only" 5 shots remember, every time you pull the trigger with #4 buck you shoot 27 shots from a 2.75" shell. When you fire a 2.75" 00 buckshot shell you fire NINE 33 cal. rounds at once. There are also extenders available to increase your shotguns compactly to 10 rounds. (Not that I think you would ever need more than 5 rounds of buckshot for HD at one time)