9mm vs. .40 S&W

[rbaker5150]

If you are recoil sensitive, you probably don't want the .40. I had a Glock 23, and I gave it to my father in law for his birthday. I now have an SR9c and LC9. I am in process of buying another gun, probably Springfield XD9. When I had my Glock, I discovered that .40 rounds are not always available. 9mm is cheaper, and still offers a high amount of energy at impact. A 9mm 124 grain will exert 325 ft/lb of energy from a 4" barrel; a .40 165 grain will exert 350 ft/lb of energy. Depending on the grain of the bullet, it can be more.

I got those numbers from BBTI - Ballistics by the Inch :: Home

[ares338]

I have both but I like shooting the .40 more. Why? I dunno...personal preference I guess.

[obgyn54]

I favor the 9mm mainly due to the cost and ability to practice more with this ammo. I figure I will shoot most accurately with what I shoot the most.

[Stan45]

If it is for self defense go with the one that makes the bigger hole.
I have always heard that bigger is better.

[robert graham]

wish you included the size.if its the 27 baby glock 40 forget about it.go with the 9mm.the other two available,shoot the 40,so you know which one shoots better forYou, A MUST IN terms of cost 9 gonna cost you 5$ less a box and widly available anywhere.reliabilty the same,unless u limp wrist the 40.stopping power ha,here goes;recent study ows that people shot once with any caliber live we are talking 80%,however people with multiple gunshots of any caliber have an 80%chance of terminating.so again it is a better bet to choose your weapon where you will have a better chance of hitting him multiple times which brings us back to the9mm.where you have a better chance of hitting him where you are aiming.if you want you can always get buffalo bore heavy flat nose bullets with high velocity so you have the best of both guns

[gunnerbob]

I choose the 9mm, for my own reasons... but it is far cheaper than .40, that is usually true.

[CharlesMorrison]

You can see the difference in this photo.

[Stan45]

Just get a .45 acp, you know you want one.

[cluznar]

Tell me, do people who are shot with a 9mm just stand and laugh at you?
.40 S&W round gives you an edge in stopping someone, but the new 9mm defense
ammo is pretty good and should not be taken lightly.

If you handle the recoil from a .40 well and can make good follow up shots then do it.
I carry either .380 or 9mm.

[SGB]

Tell me, do people who are shot with a 9mm just stand and laugh at you?
.40 S&W round gives you an edge in stopping someone, but the new 9mm defense
ammo is pretty good and should not be taken lightly.

If you handle the recoil from a .40 well and can make good follow up shots then do it.
I carry either .380 or 9mm.

Actually when using similar ammunition (that passes the FBI protocol) the .40 S&W and 9mm have near identical terminal ballistics.