XDm 40 vs 9. 9mm is better?

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Captain Kyle

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Ok so I decided to do some math to figure out overall firepower of the 2 guns. If you unload the magazines of both guns into your assailant.

9mm*20rnds = 7.1 inches worth of holes in the bad guy
40cal*17rnds = 6.8 inches worth of holes in the bad guy

I for one am not expecting a 1 shot drop. Imho I think the 9mm will get the 20 rounds out faster as well. The diference is equivalant to a 30 caliber bullet
 
First of all, you're dealing in 3 dimensions, not two. It's not 7.1" or 6.8" -- it's cubic inches you are dealing with.

Second, you won't get to shoot all 20, 17 or 14 from the various XDs. If you're still shooting after 5, at one assailant, you've got bigger worries.

6 shots was the norm for cops, for almost 150 years, and only the advent of criminal gangs: multiple, well-armed assailants, changed that. If you need more than 6, you haven't practiced hitting anything.

It actually is possible to empty the magazine at close range and score ZERO hits. There's a security video on youtube showing a robber and a clerk each emptying their semiautos across a convenience store counter. The robber ran away when he ran out of ammo. NEITHER ONE got a scratch.
 
Trouble today is that they have 20 rounds and in thier mine they think I have more than enought, and miss with 19 rounds. In the old days when they had 6 rounds in thier mine they were thinking " make every shot count" and it took only one or two rounds.
 
Another "which is better" question?

Yawn.

It isn't about how big a hole you make which stops attacks, it's where you put the hole that ends an assault.

The average number of shots fired in a self-defense shooting is three (3) shots. This doesn't even mean that all three bullets will hit BTW... so you would be better off worrying about how to place those three bullets to save your life, not doing weird math.
 
I think the best way to think about a hi-cap magazine is to figure that you have the 3 rounds you need, x 5 or x 6.

The purpose of having 14-20 rounds is only that you don't need to worry so much about reloading, not so you can empty the magazine, shoot a few innocent bystanders, etc.

BTW I got an XD45. I can see no particular reason to mess around with the light bullets of the 9mm or the sharp recoil of a .40, and 14 rounds plus two extra 13-round magazines is more than enough, when you're shooting a 230-grain expanding bullet.
 
I think with modern ammo the 9 is more than capable of self defense. Its also a lot cheaper to shoot a lot for practice. Just so you know my 45 is my favorite of all.
 
Go with the 9mm.
9MM in use since 1902
.40S&W in use since 1990. (Not enough proof for me to change to it.)
Hmmm. if the 9 is so worthless I wonder why its lasted so long?:cool:
 
If you unload the magazines of both guns into your assailant
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I've yet to hear of an assailant, or meet one, that would sit there and allow a person to dump a 20 round magazine into his/her person.

It's not about quantity, rather quality. Meaning, of the two mentioned in your OP, with which caliber are you a better shot?
 
Have you shot either? You might want to do that (and shoot some other guns, revolvers and autos) before you plunk down your hard earned money. For example, a lot of people love 40s, but I don't really care for the type of recoil it produces (9mm snap AND 45 push). I actually handle/control the recoil of 357 or 44 Mag better. In the end, I just prefer 9mm and 45 in autos.

I owned an XD9 for a while, and it was an excellent gun. I just couldn't shoot it worth a darn, I personally do best with 1911s and revolvers ... so again, take 'em for a "test drive" first if possible.

Cost of ammo isn't a big difference, though 9mm is generally a tad cheaper. However, in my area at least, 40 is MUCH easier to find right now than any other centerfire round. All the Wal-Marts in my region usually have 40 in stock, followed by 44 Magnum. I've not seen 9mm since December.:banghead:

I for one am not expecting a 1 shot drop. Imho I think the 9mm will get the 20 rounds out faster as well.
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You are on the right path with not expecting a one shot stop. And though anything is possible, as others have said, if you find yourself in a position where you actually need 20 rounds, it is either because you aren't hitting what you are aiming at or your are horridly outnumbered. Obviously, both situation suck, and your best hope for survival will hinge on you, not the platform you are carrying.

As another poster said, you've got to put the bullet where it counts. And it has to penetrate to a sufficient depth to hit something important to the badguy's functioning. Most high quality JHP 9mm or 40 loads will do that. So will 45 ACP, 357 Sig, 357 Mag, 38 Special, 44 Spl, 10mm ...

Don't worry about the round count, just choose the one you shoot better. If it is a wash, check availability in your area and pick the one that will be easiest to feed. I actually saw a guy at a range that rented a pair of Glocks (a 19 and a 23 IIRC) and he shot approximately 6" groups at 7 yds with the 9 and groups that measured in feet with the 40 :D :p . He picked the 40 because the bullet was bigger :scrutiny: . In his case, size would make a difference if we were talking 9mm vs 120mm smoothbore :D .

Good luck, and enjoy the hunt!
 
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I prefer to make the biggest hole I can. I would go .40 I have the XDM .40 and will be selling it if/when they make the XDM 45.


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