Would you carry 17+1 of +p 9mm or 9+1 of .40?

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tihash

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I own both a Glock 17 (9mm, full-size pistol) and Glock 27 (.40 cal. sub-compact pistol). The G17 is loaded with 17+1 rounds of 9mm 124 gr +P Golden Saber JHP. The G27 is loaded with 9+1 rounds of .40 165gr Golden Saber JHP.

Most of the time I carry the G27 due to its smaller size.

However, if I am wearing clothes that will conceal either the G17 or G27 equally well, would it be better to carry the G17 with its 8 additonal rounds in a smaller caliber? Or just stick with the G27?

Assume I don't want to carry an extra mag and don't want to put a mag extension on the G27.

Thanks for your opinion!
 
Assume I don't want to carry an extra mag
Click to expand...

Can we also assume you're screwed if your mag goes south or jams when you need it?

Carry whichever you feel comfortable with and get the extra mag
 
I'd use the .40 over the 9mm.

Now, if we were talking about 147 grain +P, it'd be a completely different story. Not much of a .40 fan, but I don't have much confidence in any 9mm round below 147 grain.

I use Gold Dot hollow points myself.
 
I would carry the 40. If you need more than 2 rounds, you better have back up.

Personally, I carry 5 rounds of 357 magnum......
 
I don't like magazine extensions either. I'd likely take the 40 unless you shoot the 9 more accurately.
 
Practise with both and which ever one you shoot most accurate, especially the followup shots and that would be the mst prefered carry piece. remember that 2 or three properly placed shots are far more important than having more knockdown energy. The increased recoil and smaller frame will always be harder to make putting the #2 & #3 followup shots on target.
I would carry the 9mm because of the reasons stated above.
If you can not hit the target with a larger caliber it does you no good.
 
I believe the round count versus caliber argument is a faulty concept from the get go.

Handgun calibers are poor stoppers regardless of caliber. It may take less rounds of .40 than 9mm to stop a given threat. It likely will not. Given that, round count always wins.

This is a situation where less is definitely NOT more, more is more.

Each of us makes our own decisions, but I always opt for as many rounds as I can get on board. I usually carry a Glock 26 with a 12 round magazine and a Glock 17 magazine in a pouch or pocket. I also often carry a Glock 19 with a 15 round magazine and a spare Glock 17 magazine.

When hunting I carry a Glock 29 with a 10 round magazine and a spare Glock 20 magazine.

Just my nickel's worth, others will see it differently.
 
However, if I am wearing clothes that will conceal either the G17 or G27 equally well, would it be better to carry the G17 with its 8 additonal rounds in a smaller caliber? Or just stick with the G27?
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I think that 9+1 rounds of .40 is plenty adequate for any realistic civilian self-defense situation.
Heck, I feel comfortable carrying just a 5-shot revolver.

But if you still have your doubts, then you could always trade or sell the G27 (or the G17) and get a G22.
15+1 rounds of .40 practically borders on overkill. :D
 
In a Glock platform, I'd even take 11 rounds of 9mm over 10 rounds of .40, the Glock is just at it's best in 9mm.
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Just curious, but why do you think this is true? :confused:


I've shot 1000's of rounds through my G22....no problems whatsoever, and plenty accurate too.
 
Always carry a spare magazine...or one extra cylinder-full of ammo. Don't be a corpse with a hole in your hand (see Farnam's reference, above).

In a carbine course I attended, we were taught to shoot off the trigger reset in four tempos: 1, 2, 3 and 4 per second. Four per second is very difficult to do without adrenaline (Paul Gomez's words).

8+1 rounds goes really, really fast...in about two seconds! Eighteen rounds doubles your gun's endurance.

Considering that handgun terminal ballistics are bad to begin with*, you may wish to assume that the first shot won't stop the attack...and/or that your hits won't be in the cardiac triangle or occular window. Add on top of all that the tendency for goblins to attack in groups and capacity becomes an issue. The bad guys won't stop their attacks while you're reloading. So, if you have to do a 1.5 second reload and they're shooting at you with 3-4 rounds per second...that's quite a few bullets flying in your direction without a response.

All that doesn't mean it will happen to you. Maybe your fight will land on the other end of the spectrum and you fire one shot with instant capacitation. However, since handgun terminal ballistics are so bad, most gun schools teach variations on burst fire -- from 2 to 6 shots per goblin. Therefore, an 8+1 capacity gun is good for approximately 2 goblins, while the 18 round gun is good for 3-4 goblins (assuming no misses).


* I'm operating under the assumption that the statistical differences in ammunition terminal ballistic performance between very modern self-defense rounds in 9mm, 40 S&W, 45 ACP, 357 Magnum and 357 SIG are minimal. Ammo quality is critical.
 
If the G17 becomes too bulky and uncomfortable to carry you'll probably stop carrying 24/7/365, so in that case I'd recommend the G27 because its going to be easier to carry.

Just go ahead and decide to carry a spare mag ... I toss a spare mag into my front left pants pocket (all my pants have been modified, splitting that front pocket with either safety pins or a stitch thus creating a little mag pocket within the pocket).


But if you're comfortable carrying the G17, it can't hurt to have more rounds. In the whole 9x19 vs .40S&W, the extra volume of fire is going to negate the greater power of the .40.

That said, statistically most self defense shootings are only 3-5 rounds.
 
I can shoot the 9mm much faster & more accurately than I can a 40 of similar make & model and 17 rounds of 9mm would go a long way towards ending a SD conflict.
So, I'd go w/ the G17
 
Sounds like you are well-armed with both choices, just make sure to pack that extra magazine. I confess to feeling adequately armed with my S&W model 60 .38 special revolver (5 shots) around my property. When I carry my CZ75 P01 there is always an extra magazine on my belt. If you ever, god forbid, had to use your gun in a defensive situation it would probably be comforting to know you could top off again, while waiting for the police to arrive.

best regards,

Luis Leon
 
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I have few 40 cal's and not a big fan its kind of like 10mm, I would carry a 9mm it has enough power and gives you more rounds. I been in few pistol gun fights over sea's and to be honest with you its usually 5 rounds max and then run for it :)
 
I carry a G26 with only 10 rounds of +p Gold Dots. I have a G17 mag for back-up so there a plenty of rounds if it came to that. Just get a G22 mag and carry the G27 (if you trust a Glock in 40, but that's a whole different subject).
 
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