Practice with 9mm, but carry 40sw???

[Madcap_Magician]

Since the only two people I know who've fired a handgun in a self defense situation both report not even hearing the gun go off, I don't think in the heat of the moment more recoil or "snappiness" will be noticed!

You won't notice increased recoil or muzzle flip... but it will still affect your shooting.

 

[thefamcnaj]

I use to do the same thing. I practiced with a g19/g26 and carried a g23/g27.
I did it like a lot of other people as a cost saving measure. I would only pull out the .40's once a month. I noticed I had gotten pretty good with: off hand shooting, follow up shots, etc. with the 9mm's.
When I would bring out the .40's I noticed not staying in practice with the .40's had cost me reliable accurate follow up shots.
For this reason I just switched over to carrying only 9mm. I don't feel like I'm losing much because my shot placement is better. Also with todays ammo choices, the 9mm is a very viable round. I use the winchester pdx1 124gr +p load or the speer gold dot 147gr load.

 

[GLOOB]

Originally Posted by XxBulletBendeRXx
...if those of you who posted that you should practice with what you carry...How many folks do you see show up to range, and shoot holes in paper with of 15 boxes of Speer +P Gold Dot...

None. I don't use Gold Dots. I do shoot the same JHPs I keep loaded at home all the time through my 40s. About 100 each shooting session being typical. That number is going to go up soon, because I decided to stop buying the slightly cheaper plated FMJ in this caliber, altogether. Of course, I reload.

But like others have said, it's not the bullet. It's the platform and recoil that matter when you practice.

 

[sedona]

I usually shoot the G19 or G17 at the range and carry the G23.I feel comfortable with all of them.

 

[exavid]

I like to practice with whatever I'm currently carrying. Two guns of the same make, model, and caliber don't feel exactly the same or shoot exactly the same. If I'm going to be willing to trust my life to what I'm carrying I want to be currently very familiar with it.

 

[chrcmurr]

My philosophy is also to practice with what you carry. I practice with and carry my M&P9c with 115 grain FMJ and carry 115 grain JHP, both in standard pressure. You really need to know exactly how fast you can fire follow-up shots and I feel that switching back and forth between calibers is counter-intuitive. Also, the more you fire the same gun, the more buttery-smooth it becomes. Just my opinion.

Cheers!

 

[wally]

Originally Posted by Wally
Since the only two people I know who've fired a handgun in a self defense situation both report not even hearing the gun go off, I don't think in the heat of the moment more recoil or "snappiness" will be noticed!

You won't notice increased recoil or muzzle flip... but it will still affect your shooting.

I'd bet not nearly so much as having some one shooting at you will! The first shot is the most important one!

 

[Sauer Grapes]

I shoot a lot of 9mm and carry the same gun in .40. I also shoot a lot of .45, recoil isn't an issue.
If I ever need to draw in SD, I doubt the first thing coming to mind will be, "oh geez this thing is going to have a lot of recoil".