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

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I'm no firearms expert but here are a few observations.Most equipment (gun) malfunctions occur when the original design is altered.A couple of examples are the 1911 and g-17.Shorten the barrel and magazine and the timing changes.The 1911 in 5" and g-17 worked quite well,then consumer demand caused the manufacters to make smaller packages and reliability problems began to show up.When law enforcement decided that 9mm wasn't enough companies like glock responded to their wish and the 10mm was cut down in length and power to fit into the smaller 9mm sized frames.Alot of PDs went with that compromise.After seeing so much concern regarding .40 cal glock kabooms and absence of kabooms in the original envelope/17 in 9mm I decided to go that route.As an aside I've had most flavors of glocks in sizes and calibers with lackluster results.(I've also had all sizes and brands of 1911s too,some good and some not so good)This all having been said by a non-expert I'll go with the 9mm g-17 over any .40 pistol.I'll also take a full-sized .45acp 1911 anytime.YMMV.tom.:cool:
 
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When push comes to shove, I'd rather have more bullets, as at the end of the day all handguns SUCK for stopping threats or killing people. We carry them only because they are a bit easier to conceal than a rifle or a shotgun on our person.
 
I'm respectfully asking a question (that I don't really expect to get an answer for... that later...), because I have a 9mm and a .40 in the same platform: S&W alloy-frame, in a 5904 9mm 17+1 and a M410 .40 11+1. I find them both to be comfortable, reliable, good-shooters for me... shooting at targets and jugs.

Has anyone yet posting (or wishing to newly contribute), actually been in a firefight with both of these calibers? And if so, any insights to share on take-down differences they experienced?

I realize folks that have been through something like this don't usually want to talk about it. So I understand if there's no response on this one.

Thanks,
Les
 
If you don't have the gun yet, I'd go with the 9mm. The .40s haven't lived up to their expectations. They may have a bit more stopping power than a 9mm, but I'd use a 115gr JHP +P.

The chances of a civilian having a sustained shoot-out with a bad guy is going to be very rare, anyway. Most likely it won't ever happen. If it does, I'd want more rounds, not less. In my opinion, the .40 is overrated and the 9mm underrated. Both, however, are entirely adequate for self defense and police work.

The 9mm will allow you to keep fewer rounds in the magazine to reduce magazine spring fatigue.
 
If you can conceal either today, the I would go with the 17. Not because of extra ammo, but because its a fullsize with a better grip, sight radius, and overall performance.

When you can't carry the big one, carry the little one. Or split the difference and get a G23.:cool:
 
The 9mm will allow you to keep fewer rounds in the magazine to reduce magazine spring fatigue.
Click to expand...

I don't follow that advice, because I don't think it's a valid concern, given quality mags, i.e. factory or Mec-Gar...

I could be wrong, but I don't think so. Rebuttal welcome.

Les
 
I don't worry all that much about extra capacity, my carry guns are a 7+1 .45 and a 8+1 9mm. I've got 9mm's, 40's and 45's that have higher capacity, but I carry whats comfortable and easy to conceal.

My thoughts are this:

What are the odds that you'll actually have to draw your weapon?
What are the odds when you draw it you'll actually have to shoot someone?
What are the odds if you actually have to shoot that you'll need more than 2-3 rounds to stop the threat?

Probably higher odds that you'll get struck by lightening twice in the same day than needing more than 8 rounds.
 
I go with the motto "More is better" also, "2 is 1 and 1 is none". We carry to protect ourselves and our loved ones. I have put hundreds of rounds through my guns and I keep them well maintained, but if a failure happens I want to be prepared. I carry a Taurus PT-908 (9mm) with two extra clips and at least one Kel-Tec P-3at (.380) either pocket or ankle carry, if not both, with up to 3 clips for it. If I cannot carry the Taurus due to clothing constrains, I carry both Kel-Tecs. That gives me 25 rounds 9mm and up to 31 rounds .380. If one magazine fails I have back ups, if one gun fails I have a backup. I know the odds are low that I might have to use any of my weapons and I know the odds are low that I might have to shoot one or more goblins. When that happens I might only need 3 rounds, but I want to be prepared just in case. I would rather be talking to my girlfriend when the cops show up with only 3 rounds fired and all that extra ammo in my pockets and with the backup gun still in the holster, than to be on the ground bleeding to death with my girlfriend lying dead beside me because I only had one gun with one clip and the magazine spring broke.
 
wrs840, the statistics are out there. Just look.

Gunfight results can vary greatly. A .22 stopped with one shot once, where a .45 took 3 magazines. Does that mean .22 is better than .45? Of course not.

You have to look at the trend over hundreds to thousands of examples. Nobody here is going to have been in hundreds of gunfights, so anecdotal evidence isn't going to tell you the overall picture.
 
Highway patrolman in nc years back got into a gunfight with a man armed with a .22 pistol. The officer shot him with his .45 (maybe 9mm) 6 times and the man lived officer was shot twice by the .22 pistol and died. Shot placement, shot placement, shot placement, and uhhh shot placement.
 
If you (the shooter) are equally deadly with both pistols... would it really matter?

Either you are proficent with your weapon or your not. Pick the one you shoot the best.

As for big magazine capacity... the likely hood of you defending yourself against an entire motorcycle gang is quite unlikely, but at any rate, one or two shot up bad guys should give you a sufficient enough diversion.
Will
 
Interesting thread.
--
After 6 years..
I'll soon be dropping from a 10 shot 9mm sub-compact with
13 rounds as backup.
tru2.jpg
To 8 shots of .40 or .357 SIG with 9 shots as backup in a spare mag.
----
I'm not one for loading magazines to full capacity, due to reliability problems in the past. So.. I will have interesting times ahead with
the RAMI .40 and .357 SIG barrel.
 
sm,

sm said:
I don't do .40 cal.

I do 9mm and 45ACP.
Click to expand...

My "handgun trainer" who is a friend from way back, and also a retired LEO and department handgun trainer, has told me that his department required that he carried a 9mm for years, a .40 for about five years, and then toward the end of his service, he was allowed to carry his current Favorite, a Glock .45. He said he never really liked the .40, "but really couldn't put his finger on why". Other LEOs have told me he's regarded as an incredibly good shooter, so I'm guessing he could just never get "really good" with it... but he wouldn't articulate so I don't know.

Can you elaborate on why .40 just isn't your cup-o-tea?

I'm just curious.

Thanks,
Les
 
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