which caliber for my new M&P

[19-3Ben]

OK so I have decided to get a new M&P and take advantage of S&W's rebate.
for various reasons, even though I would be naturally more inclined to buy the .40cal variant, it makes a lot more sense to me to buy the 9mm.

can anybody point me in the direction of real stats on either real life stopping power, or other relevant and objective testing done. I tried to look up marshal and sanow's test, but couldn't seem to find it.
I did look at brass fetcher. doesn't seem to be THAT much of a difference in terms of penetration and expansion.

I DON'T want this to turn into a caliber war. I'm not asking which one is better for all purposes, but merely if .40 cal is a significant enough step up in performance that it is worth the logistics issues that it would create for me to buy a .40cal weapon.

 

[Luis Leon]

I had the same sweet dilema, caliber wars and one-shot stops aside. I went with the 9mm because I like to shoot a lot and, for me 9mm ammo is more affordable. Seems like you have done some research already, only you can make the decision.

Good luck, either way you win.

regards,

Luis Leon

CZ75b, 75bd, 75P01, M&P all 9mms I never feel underarmed when I carry any of my nines, but thats just me.

 

[wally]

The .40S&W seems to be what the gun was designed for, with the 9mm and .45ACP coming later. I went with the .40 and have no regrets, but now that the rebate offer has been extended, I might pick up one in .45.

Get 9mm if you want cheap shooting, .45ACP if you don't mind a bit larger gun with fewer shots.

With handguns, where you place the rounds on the target is far more important than which caliber or bullet design you used.

If you shoot 9mm and .40S&W equally, get the .40, otherwise get the one you hit with the best. If you shoot the .45 better than the others its the one to get.

--wally.

 

[19-3Ben]

That's kinda what I figure. I've been on gun boards and doing this for a long time. I think more than anything else, I was posting because it helps me to think it out.
I'll probably go with the 9mm even though my natural inclination is to go with .40. It just makes a lot more sense.

 

[Kind of Blued]

Judging by the thread title, I came through the figurative URL door a la Kramer from Seinfeld...

THE ONE THAT IS STAMPED ON THE BARREL DUDE!

I see things are ok here though... Aside from the impending doom of a handgun caliber war.

I'd go with 9mm.

 

[Gary G23]

I own M&Ps in 9mm, 45acp, and 357sig. If I could only own one it would be a 9mm. Considering the relative low price of 9mm ammo you can get a lot of practice in. For defense just load it up with Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P or the Winchester Ranger 127gr +P+ and I wouldn't feel undergunned at all.

 

[easyg]

can anybody point me in the direction of real stats on either real life stopping power, or other relevant and objective testing done. I tried to look up marshal and sanow's test, but couldn't seem to find it.
I did look at brass fetcher. doesn't seem to be THAT much of a difference in terms of penetration and expansion.

I can't give you any undisputable stats that proves that the .40S&W is a better self-defense round than the 9mm, but here's something to consider....

All around the country plenty of law enforcement agencies have dropped the 9mm in favor of the .40S&W.
I suspect those agencies were not content with the performance of their 9mm's.

And one of the very reasons that calibers like the .40S&W and the .357sig and the 9mm+P+ have surged in popularity is due to the fact that alot of folks were not happy with the performance of the standard 9mm round.

And only the hottest 9mm+P and +P+ loads can rival the standard .40 and .357sig loads.

And the price difference in ammo is not really that big of a difference anyway.
I seriously doubt that most folks miss any range time simply because they can't afford the ammo.

Just my opinion....

Good luck,
Easy.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

I like the .45 M&P because of the availability of a thumb safety, but admittedly I'm an old 1911/BHP shooter. My thumb automatically sweeps down the left side of EVERY pistol I shoot...old habits.

 

[Luis Leon]

Checking prices for loaded ammo from a typical mail order catalog I came up with this non scientific sampling of prices.

All loading were 9mm 115 grain fmj vs .40, 165 grain fmj per 1000 rounds, unless otherwise noted.

Lowest price difference between both calibers:

Magtech $76

Remington & Winchester = $96

CCi Blazer Brass = $99

Black Hills remanufactured ammo, per 50 rounds = $4

Federal per 50 rounds = $5.71

The price is close in some instance, but it does add up depending on how much you shoot. When I really want to be piggy and shoot a lot I break out my .22s.

regards,

Luis Leon

 

[possum]

i would go 9mm, it is cheaper and makes for more bang for your buck, and allows you to train more. and get better with the handgun. also with the various awesome loads and offerings from the different ammo makers, they are plentty of 9mm rds that have plenty of stoppig power, and will take on anything that it needs too. they are many prove rds out there that have been used and worked in defensive encounters.