Pros/Cons for 9MM and .40

[stodd]

Hello Everyone..

I'm looking at buying a new handgun and I'm looking at the Smith and Wesson M&P 9MM and M&P .40.

Any has Pros and/or Cons of each gun please post here. Was thinking about the 9MM because both myself and my wife will be shooting this new gun we buy. She is a small woman with small hands and I want to get a good gun that both of us can shoot.

Recoil 9MM vice .40?

Thanks..

 

[Quoheleth]

The reloading forum probably isn't the best place for this discussion...

That said, your best bet is to try to find someone or some place that has similar guns in these two calibers and try them.

And, if you are looking for one gun you can both enjoy, I would suggest checking out the Smith & Wesson M&P pistols or the Springfield XDm series - both have adjustable backstraps that let you fit the gun to your hand.

Most say the 9 has a softer recoil; the .40 a bit sharper. I've shot both and would agree, but the difference in a good gun isn't as great as some would have you believe. And, since you reload, you can control some of that with powder/bullet combinations.

Q

 

[rcmodel]

Although they both run similar pressure, the .40 has a most unpleasant muzzle blast compared to the 9mm on indoor ranges.

My two sons like shooting my 45's and 9mm's, but neither one of them cares much for the 40 Glock 23.

They don't find the recoil to be bothersome at all but the sharp muzzle blast is another matter.

Maybe it's the Glock 23 making the noise worse rather then the caliber?
I don't know.

rc

 

[Walkalong]

I would say 9MM as well. Less recoil and muzzle blast (Although you can control it some reloading). Much cheaper to shoot. I can load .45 as cheap as .40, and I prefer .45, so that is what I would go with if 9MM wasn't the choice. The .45 is much less finicky to load than .40.

 

[cougar1717]

OP - if you don't reload, I would suggest the 9mm. However, if you do reload, I would suggest the 40S&W because it would allow you to shoot full power loads, while being able to let your wife shoot light loads. Unless she really enjoys shooting, you'll probably only have to keep an inventory of 4-5 boxes of light loads around. Just my .02.

 

[stodd]

Thanks everyone..

 

[GW Staar]

A Phazer would be my choice. But since that's science fiction, and we don't have any available, then the biggest bullet you and your wife can shoot well. IMO the .45 ACP or even the .44 mag isn't enough. But if you have to defend yourself and do it with a handgun, bigger is better. Tissue damage is what is needed, and wide heavy mass bullets, that expand well, does the most damage.

I shoot .357/.38's, .40's, .45's, and when I have to, a .44 mag. I shoot friends .9mm's.

.9mm's ought to be loaded and reloaded with +P loads minimum, and you may need all 19 rounds in an Springfield XPm to stop a feel-no-pain, drugged out crazy. If I bought my own 9mm I'd buy that gun for that reason.

Pluses are capacity, and cheapest ammo, and low recoil if you buy an all steel gun. Minuses, if you can't keep it loaded with +P, then you better be good at head shots.

.357/.38: Revolvers are easiest for beginners to shoot and and probably the hardest to make make malfunction. They only have 5 or 6 shots, but that's better than a stove-piped pistol in the hands of a beginner. Practicing with .38 is a dream, loading .357's for bad guys and occasional practice, so you know what you're in for, is a good idea.

.40's are best for people who buy tiny light CCW's because they can't stand to carry a big 19ll or XD, but want more destructive power than a 9mm. They are less easy to reload safely for, than .45 or .9mm. They are dangerous to reload if you buy a Glock and you don't know exactly what you're doing. Chambering and unchambering a specific round over and over makes them "shorter" and even 1/10" shorter doubles pressure. They recoil and are louder than 9mm, OR .45 ACP.

I shot 3 Kahr's side by side, a 9mm., a .40, and a .45. (all three light plastic wonders) The 9mm and the .45 recoiled similarly...the .40 felt more like a magnum. I shot 50 rounds out of each.

My daughter recently took a course from the local police dept. on self-defense for women. They instructed them on Glock .40 S&W and Glock 9mm's. They scared the hell out of her, because either of those plastic fantastics recoil too hard for a small unexperienced, unprepared hand. My fault for not "pre-training" her and for expecting the police training to be good. She came by the house after the shooting session and she was still shaking....said she didn't think she wanted to shoot pistols ever again.

I talked her into one more try at the range the following Saturday, and started with .38's in my heavy Ruger Security Six, properly instructed in stance, hold, and expectations. She did fine...was smiling from ear to ear. Then I did the same with my heavy S.S. Kimber full size 1911. Same thing. She's all happy now and no longer frightened of those "mean" Glocks.

Which gun did she enjoy the most..........the Kimber .45. Why? A mild-mannered recoil and a powerful round to boot....and it points well for her......I've since repented, and I take me daughters shooting a lot now and I teach them how to stay out of trouble with those "most to learn about" pistols. Choose wisely.... and I'd suggest the price of ammo ought to be secondary where your lives are concerned.

 

[rfwobbly]

1) Personally, I'd tell go to an indoor gun range that rents pistols and simply try everything on the wall! Grip (feel) and control are going to be far more important than power. In other words, let the lady choose the one that feels comfy for her.

2) When a lady is involved you can't rule out revolvers. The ultimate simplicity of the design simply makes sense to a lady. There are no jams to clear, no guessing if the chamber "hot" or not. It's the original "point & click".

3) When "carry" is involved you can't rule out revolvers. Nothing beats the low weight and convenience of a modern revolver. They are very easy to hide and can be carried right in your front pocket.

4) If price is a consideration, then remember you can very nearly buy 2 revolvers for the price of 1 auto pistol.


PS. I do not own a revolver! Just highly jealous of my son's!

 

[W.E.G.]

9mm -- cheaper to shoot, and effective on target -- FTW

 

[Shawn Dodson]

If you choose 9mm then get a Glock.

If you choose .40 S&W then get the M&P.

 

[BushyGuy]

9mm has better capacity then the .40 and also better follow up shots. its also cheaper to plink with 9mm fmj then it is with .40 SW.

the .40 kicks more then the 9mmi rather own a .45 acp then a .40, now i both own 9mm and .45 acp.

 

[MichaelK]

When a lady is involved you can't rule out revolvers. The ultimate simplicity of the design simply makes sense to a lady. There are no jams to clear, no guessing if the chamber "hot" or not. It's the original "point & click".

You know, I have to lend some support to this idea too. Just took some friends shooting this last weekend and they brought along a young lady that never saw a gun before in her life. I started her off with a .22, then worked up to a 9mm Ruger and .38 specials in a Security Six. She very much liked my Security six and wouldn't put it down. After a little while I started calling her "revolver girl" because she fell in love with it. Wish I could describe the glow on her face.

 

[Walkalong]

If you choose 9mm then get a Glock.

If you choose .40 S&W then get the M&P.

If you choose either, get an XD.

Seriously, get the one that feels good to you and the misses.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

If you choose either, get an XD.

Nah. Ya gotta press the grip safety to unlock the slide. For a defensive pistol, which may have to be operated one-handed while wounded, that's a deal breaker.

 

[Walkalong]

Does that when you grab it, with one hand. It's worked for the 1911 for a loooong time.

 

[kutter]

Why not split the difference and have both worlds. Get a 357 Sig, you can download it to shoot like a 9mm or push full loads and be comparable to a .40.

Now before everyone tells me how expensive the ammo is, I admit, that is true. However, I would never tell someone to buy one if they did not reload, but if you do, they are a only slightly more to load than the 9mm, once you have the brass. Lymans 49 list the max load for a 9mm with a 115gr bullet as 8.5 grains of AA#7 and the 357 with the same AA#7 is 11.5 grains.

I know that there are many that think of it as a 'gimmick' cartridge, but something tells me that the proliferation of law enforcement agencies now using it do not think so, they switched to it for a reason.

 

[Mudinyeri]

9mm if you want your wife to enjoy shooting it. My wife doe not like my .40's at all. She really enjoys my Beretta 92FS.

I won't get into the Glock vs. XD vs. whatever battle other than to say that I frequently shoot my XD's with only my off hand and releasing the slide has never been an issue. In a SHTF scenario, I'll do it with my teeth if I have to but the grip safety won't be an issue.

 

[hydraulicman]

i like 9mm for range blasting. 357 sig is good as well .

I don't have much experience with .40 S&W

 

[stodd]

Just looked at the Springfield XD 9MM and it looks pretty good too. Now I dont know what i like lol. Springfield XD or Smith and Wesson M&P.

Anyone have both those kinds or have had them and can give me info on either one?

 

[BeerSleeper]

I was in the same boat a few months ago, except with S&W Sigmas. Internet comparisons of the two calibers always devolve into an internet pissing match between fanboys of either caliber, until threads on whatever forum your reading end up locked. I decided to get one of each and form my own opinion. (9mm and 40S&W).

The 9 is so much more pleasant to shoot. Shooting both calibers, in the same model gun, both shooting WWB, my conclusion was, the .40 is 100% more report, 100% more recoil, for about an additional 5% ballistic performance. The .40 is just harsh. The 9 also shoots a tighter group. About 2" instead of 3" when shooting at about 30 feet.

If you want to make a bigger bang, shoot the .40. If you want to put lead on target, get the 9. Also consider that .40 ammo is about 30%-40% more expensive. If you're practice ammo is according to a budget, cheaper ammo means more practice per budget dollar, and the best gun is useless without a good shooter.

 

[mlaustin]

Stodd - I own an XD9 and an M&P9, neither is "better" or "worse", they're just different. The M&P is nice in that it comes with the adjustable backstraps and had the ambi slide release, but the XD is (imho) the easiest gun to shoot well I've ever handled. As was mentioned before, the only real solution is to find a range that rents guns, shell out a few bucks, and have both of you shoot everything they have.

Caveat - If you have any intention of shooting IDPA to win, get an M&P, since XD's are classified as ESP rather than SSP and the scoring criteria is tougher.

To give you an idea: When my mom started shooting a few years ago she assumed based on movies/tv/internet that she would want to shoot a revolver or a small gun like a glock 19, and that she'd never want to shoot something more powerful than 9mm. The two guns she owns today? Glock 21sf and Glock 34. Both are *huge* guns and one is the "big, scary 45!". She's 5'5" and weighs 120lbs and shoots the 45acp as well or better than I do in competition (I'm 6'1" and 220lbs). The 21 sees probably 3 times as much lead downrange as the 34 as well. Any modern gun from a reputable manufacturer is going to be good, it's just personal - whether any one gun is better is like asking what car is better, or what style of clothes are better, or which wife is better. It depends completely on you.

A lot of women or men with smaller hands complain that they don't like the "snap" of 9mm but prefer the "push" of 45acp. I find 40s&w to be the worst of the 3, since it costs as much to reload as the 45, is higher pressure and therefore scares me somewhat to reload, and has an atrocious muzzle blast. Everyone is going to have their own opinion on this, of course, and your milage may (almost certainly will, actually) vary.

 

[LiveLife]

If you can't decide between 9 and 40, you can always get Glock 22/23/27 and shoot both 40 S&W and 9mm using Lone Wolf conversion barrel.

Best of both worlds - practice with cheaper, less recoiling 9mm at the range with your wife and load 40S&W for SD/HD. My wife used to like shooting the 9mm better, but now enjoys shooting the 40 S&W now.

Also, you can load 180 gr 40S&W with moderate charge to equal recoil of heavy 9mm loads - My favorite light 40S&W load is 180 gr bullet with 3.8 gr of W231/HP38 seated to 1.125" OAL - very light recoil and very accurate great for training shooters transitioning from 9mm or introduction to 40 S&W.

 

[Grey Morel]

I find that steel or alloy frame guns have much more pleasant recoil than polymer guns.

My .40 Beretta 8040 is a creampuff.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

Ya gotta press the grip safety to unlock the slide.

Does that when you grab it, with one hand. It's worked for the 1911 for a loooong time.

The grip safety on a 1911 must be pressed to FIRE the pistol. Whereas the grip safety on an XD must be pressed to RACK the slide.

 

[BeerSleeper]

If you can't decide between 9 and 40, you can always get Glock 22/23/27 and shoot both 40 S&W and 9mm using Lone Wolf conversion barrel.

Are you sure about that? I've heard of changing between .40 and .357 sig with just a barrel swap, and .357sig and .40 have the same size head, and feed in the same magazine. 9 has a smaller diameter head, I would think you'd need to also change magazines, and the slide, no?