9mm vs .40, this hasn't been argued lately..

[FiremanMike]

9mm vs .40 caliber.

From what I'm finding, the 9mm is still more than adequate as a duty round, however it seems that hardly anyone (especially in my area) carries 9mm any longer.

Discuss.

[Monkeybomb]

Thats because they carry the 45 acp.................Couldn't resist.

[ArkansasFan24]

I went from a Glock .40 S&W to a Glock .45 ACP. I LOOOOOOOVE it.

[staticX]

It's shot placement. That's what counts. I'd rather hit a guy with a 9mm than miss with a .40! lol

Seriously, you have to incapacitate a person.

[Mitchell_in_CT]

I have a client who got a round of 10mm in the back of his head, midline to the right of center, exiting 1-1.5 inches above/behind his right ear, and took 3 more 9mm in that encounter and he is still alive and walking around.

(It was a pharmaceutical distribution rights dispute...)

I have another who took a round of 9mm from the side to the face (in and out) and 4 more rounds in his legs in that encounter (Supposedly a robbery, but nobody saw nothing...I'm sure you never encounter things like that...), and he's fine. Incarcerated...but fine.

The actual round doesn't matter.

Only disrupting vital structures matters. If you put a hole in a critical part of the brain, spine or heart, they die/stop.

Otherwise...they don't.

[lesnper]

With todays bullets its a ford or chevy deal.

[Blackdog F4i]

This topic has been done to death.

Carry the biggest caliber in the biggest gun you can. Make sure you can hit what you aim at. If you can lay your hands on a rifle, use that.

That is pretty much all there is to the caliber debate.

I carry a .45ACP on duty, a .45ACP off duty or a 9mm when the weather is hot and I am only in a t-shirt.

It more important that you HAVE A GUN and know how to use it than worrying about WHAT gun or WHAT caliber.

[phillyrube]

(It was a pharmaceutical distribution rights dispute...)
.

Oh, we have those but we call them armed civil disputes......

[pulicords]

Although shot placement is always important (with any caliber), using a 9mm instead of a .40 S&W or .45 can matter if the location where the bullet strikes demands more diameter and momentum to get the job done than a smaller caliber round is capable of providing. If shot placement was "everything", we'd all be carrying .22 LR pistols and this wouldn't even be an issue.

Sometimes due to the objects found between the shooter and "shootee", penetration is insufficient to reach the vital area(s) being targeted. Sheet metal, wood, stucco, glass, clothing, muscle and bone, all inhibit the ability of lighter weight bullets from getting to the desired destinations. Even when the general area targeted is struck, using a larger caliber round will enhance the injury and at least slightly increase the likelihood of a faster stop.

I've seen small framed teens properly trained to shoot large caliber pistols quickly and accurately. With a proper sized grip (no larger than found on similar 9mm pistols) and short trigger reach, any properly trained adult LEO should be able to shoot a .40+ caliber pistol as well as a 9mm. We don't carry 20, 28 or .410 bore shotguns as police service weapons, because using a 12 gauge shotgun isn't something beyond the scope of our abilities.

Virtually every hand held firearm provides only limited effectiveness. Why limit our ability to defend ourselves and others even more?

[FiremanMike]

Ok, I've heard some opinions, so here's why I ask.

I can shoot a .40, very well actually. I've always owned .40, and find the recoil quite manageable. My duty belt holds a total of 37 rounds of .40 winchester rangers and I'm quite comfortable that I have enough firepower.

My next purchase will be an M&P compact. I hated the glock 27 because it was just too snappy, but I'll fully admit I've never shot the M&P40 compact. In addition to recoil on the little guys, 9mm ammo is much cheaper, and a few extra rounds when I'm on my own might not be a bad thing.

I kinda figure the natural progression is that if I get the M&Pc, I will likely end up getting an M&P fullsize for duty carry, and it would be a waste of a huge bonus feature to have a 9mm compact backup and a .40 fullsize duty weapon.

[grumpyirishman]

The answer is....

9 mm bounce off windshields..

.40 cal penetrate windshields..

[FiremanMike]

Bonded ammo in either caliber will penetrate windshields.

[grumpyirishman]

Bonded ammo in either caliber will penetrate windshields.

DISAGREE...that's why we changed....

[FiremanMike]

This is an open discussion, I'd love to read some data on that?

[Monkeybomb]

We did a bunch of shooting through windshields. If your agency will allow it either get some junk cars and take out to the range and see what really happens with what you use. Then get some winshields and set them on barrels etc. try and shoot a target behind the glass. You may be very surprised by the outcome. I know I was.