Is the 9mm such a bad round?

[Gord]

Who cares, right? Tell ya what, take two in the chest and call me (if you can) in the morning.

That pretty much sums up what should be the standard response to caliber-war threads. From .22 to .25 to .380 to .38 to 9mm to .45 to .500S&W, any gun in any caliber can and will kill you with a COM hit.

As long as any given caliber has enough penetrative power to reach vitals, from there it's just a pissing match between "knockdown power," foot-pounds, bullet diameter and whatever else you want to base the 'mine's better than yours' argument on. As the saying goes, "gaping holes in vital organs kill people." Everything from .22 on up is capable of producing said holes.

Every time I see a 'my good buddy shot a guy with so and so caliber and it didn't stop him so I use a .45' post, I want to suggest a novel idea - shoot him again, genius.

Too many of us have fallen to the myth of the One True Caliber for One Shot Stops, and that's simply not reality - certainly not out of a handgun. That's why those fancy "repeating actions" were invented.

 

[Marshall]

Actually, if it shoots out of a gun, it's a good round. We're all gun lovers right?

 

[isp2605]

young man tried to commit suicide with a shotgun under his chin.

About 1.5 yrs ago a local kid killed his grandfather, stole the truck and led agencies on a 2 county pursuit. He stopped his truck and then rested his chin on a .270 trying to kill himself. It took off most of what's below the nose. He's still alive. The county paid his medical bills and the state is paying his lodging.
Seen several suicide attempts that didn't work. Also seen a few where the subjects shot themselves a couple of times in the head until they got it right. With suicides it's common to see hesitations where just at the last moment they move the gun as it goes off. Those wounds aren't fatal but range in damage from very serious to creasing their scalp.

 

[aspen1964]

the 9mm is a fine automatic round..but I just never have warmed up to it myself...

 

[Geronimo45]

The 9mm's had a bad rap ever since it replaced the .45 - a lot of .45 shooters have had it in for that round ever since.
With good SD ammunition, 9mm ought to be plenty of gun, and it's my opinion that everybody should get at least one, just for fun and cheap ammo.

 

[Rob1035]

As I've been shooting 1911s and G21s a lot lately, I'm starting to remember why I like 9mm... almost $23/100 for .45 WWB...ouch

AS for which performs better for self defense, I'm in the shot placement camp...

 

[carpettbaggerr]

Anyone who says two 9mm rds to the chest won't stop someone is a moron.(Not wearing a vest of course)

Well, not two, but Mike Platt took a 9mm Silvertip in the chest. Then he killed 2 and wounded 5 while bleeding to death.


Guess it counts as stopping, though

 

[Metapotent]

I think the 9mm has its role. It can definitely kill people, its cheap, and alot of guns are chambered for it, but in defense situations I would definitely prefer the .45

Whenever I go steel target shooting, the 9mm tends to make a 'ping' sound and causes the target to fall slowly after flapping around. When I shoot the same steel target with a .45 it makes a "BUUONG" and the target hits the ground immediately. That is a really satisfying feeling.

And besides, I just like the good ol' .45 and the colt 1911 for their history and all round "American-ness', it makes me feel warm to know I'm shooting the same gun (literally) that my grandpa used to off three seperate Krauts. That may be creepy to some of you but thats just how I am.

 

[Doug.38PR]

I think the 9mm has its role. It can definitely kill people, its cheap, and alot of guns are chambered for it, but in defense situations I would definitely prefer the .45

+1

Whenever I go steel target shooting, the 9mm tends to make a 'ping' sound and causes the target to fall slowly after flapping around. When I shoot the same steel target with a .45 it makes a "BUUONG" and the target hits the ground immediately. That is a really satisfying feeling.

Sure is!

And besides, I just like the good ol' .45 and the colt 1911 for their history and all round "American-ness', it makes me feel warm to know I'm shooting the same gun (literally) that my grandpa used to off three seperate Krauts. That may be creepy to some of you but thats just how I am.

+1 And that's why the 1911 is the one automatic that I REALLY like equally with revolvers. It has character and quality that most modern handguns just don't match.


But back on topic, I do like the 9mm Sig P226 as a good gun that shoots cheap ammo and to be familiar with modern handguns

 

[farscott]

Nothing wrong with 9x19. It is the least expensive centerfire autoloading round to shoot, is chambered in lots of different pistols, is easy to find, has little felt recoil, and is very accurate. I carry a .45 ACP 1911 variant, but I would not feel under gunned with a 9x19 1911. In fact, I have a 9x19 1911 set up for carry.

Heck, this weekend I put 450 rounds through an STI Targetmaster in 9x19. Very good range therapy.

 

[Metapotent]

In fact, I have a 9x19 1911 set up for carry.

Wuuuh???

That is blasphemy of the highest degree. A 1911 chambered in 9mm??? That makes no sense to me and I would discard such an abhorant piece of metal if I were you (slightly exaggerating).