Thinking about moving from .40 to 9mm ...

[Peace]

So, I have a G23 and a BG380.  

 

For carry ammo, I use Remington Golden Saber or Winchester PDX1 (winter months).

 

I am toying with the idea of converting over to 9mm, but I am (probably for no good reason) holding onto the phantom thought that the .40 would give me some advantage in the proverbial "worst moments of my life".

 

We've all beat this into the ground before, but if I'm going to change over, what round am I going to carry?

 

Do I stay with .40?

[K191145]

So, I have a G23 and a BG380.  

 

For carry ammo, I use Remington Golden Saber or Winchester PDX1 (winter months).

 

I am toying with the idea of converting over to 9mm, but I am (probably for no good reason) holding onto the phantom thought that the .40 would give me some advantage in the proverbial "worst moments of my life".

 

We've all beat this into the ground before, but if I'm going to change over, what round am I going to carry?

 

[b]Do I stay with .40?[/b]

 

Definitely not. 

 

Go to .45  :)

 

No really, can't suggest weight but I have been carrying Hornaday Critical Defense +P, just my personal preference. Seen a few Youtube experts and many have different suggestions but you can't go wrong with Hornaday Critical Defense or Critical Duty in any caliber.

[CommsNBombs]

Yes! A converter. You have confessed your sins and must now exorcise the Demon of False Ballistics and Wimpy Round!

You can pour over wound channels, ballistics tests, chronographs...all sorts of stuff. End of the day when push comes to shove and someone needs to die all that matters is Shot Placement.

If you do (smartly) switch over to 9mm then Hornady Crit Defense 147gr +P will put shock and awe into someone quick. Thats the only SD ammo Ive played with a ton but honestly a few rounds of 115gr ball will so the trick.

9mm gives you comprable ballistics, increased ammunition capacity, slightly less weight, and you will probably attract all the single ladies at the range when they see you dont carry a 40

My solution is add 1 to 9mm, and shoot a real mans .40 caliber in either 10mm or 357SIG

But seriously melt that G23, pick up a 17 or 19 and load it with crit defense. Or if you want to be in your birthday suit get a G43 and do the same with ammo

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk Edited November 22, 2015 by CommsNBombs

[Peace]

FWIW - I've been training with and carrying 165gr .40 for years now.

[runco]

Don't worry about which way the wind blows, do like me, I keep them all in my stable:  9mm, 40, 45, 357Sig, 10mm.  I'm not a wheel man, or I would have 38SPL, 357Mag, 44, etc.  This way I am covered whatever side of the bed I wake upon. 

[CommsNBombs]

Keeping 40 has been known to cause brain damage, penile tumors and dysentary...just saying

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[Pete123]

I'm comfortable shooting a .40 as well as .45 ACP.

 

I moved to the 9mm for several reasons:

 

• Most of the 'experts' think the 9mm has sufficient stopping power with newer technology.  I use Gold Dot ammo, though have no doubt that there are plenty of good brands.
• 9mm guns hold more rounds usually.
• Smaller guns, like the Shield, that are more comfortable to carry, thus more likely that I will carry them, are better suited to the 9mm in my view.  The level of accuracy I expect of my self for defensive shooting is a circle of no more than 5 or 6 inches - on for the center of the chest and one for the head if needed.  I've found that it's more difficult to achieve that accuracy with my Shield and with my m&P 9.  My thinking is that would be exacerbated with one in .40.
• I'm able to get back on target more quickly w/ a 9mm - this is probably the best reason from the list.   I think I could probably shoot three well placed 9mm's in the same time I could be accurate with two .40s.  
• Practice ammo is much less expensive.

[Mike.357]

why convert to 9mm?

 

.40 is as good or better.  And you are already set up to shoot the stuff.

[hipower]

Sadly for me...I seem to like them all. The 9/40/45 that is. If you like the 40, and have guns for the cartridge, why change?

 

You've probably got a few rounds of 40 stashed as well. So you buy another gun with different caliber and need to buy more ammo.

 

If you just want to go to 9, just want to try one; if you can, get a 9mm pistol and shoot it for a while. Get a buddy or a member to go with you and shoot a 9 to see.

 

It might not be what you want...then again it might be.

 

But don't rush to change just for the sake of change.

 

I shoot a lot of 9 for range time, and my current personal favorites are a 9mm Shield and a PPQ M2 in 9. But I still have a couple of 40's.

 

Like you, I thought I'd just get out completely, but then shot a G24, the 6" 40, and found I really liked it. More as a range toy, but enough that I decided to keep it and the 40 ammo I already had. When it runs out, I might think again about dropping the 40. Not likely though.

 

And as Comms said, maybe you'd like going to 45. I said I would never own a 1911. boy did I screw that up. I've gotten fanatic about the frame and the 45.

 

Even looking into the PPQ 45 now.

 

But getting off track, like everything else in this world, it's what you want and like.

[Mike.357]

I had a .40 and sold it all,  then I missed it.  So I am back in the .40 game again.  

[glowdotGlock]

I converted all my pistols to 9mm a few years ago. Just my preference. My EDC is a Gen 3 19. I have 2 19's a 17 and a 34. I carry Federal HST 124 standard pressure. In my opinion there is no better performing round for a 19/17.

[gjohnsoniv]

The Remington defensive stuff, not the Golden Sabers, the other slightly cheaper stuff works really well out of my 19.  Probably some the most accurate I've found for it and just makes everything so much smoother shooting.

[Jonnin]

they are virtually identical in performance in every way that matters.   The 40 has slightly more "physics"  but is far less flexible for creative ammo.   9 is slightly cheaper and easier to find in good times, but its not enough to make a decision by that -- and 40 is easier to find after an ammo run, slightly.  

 

If invested, there is little reason to swap.   What is your motivation? 

[Patton]

I have more 9mm and 38 guns , but I am still an advocate of having a variety of calibers. The flat point of the 40s&w cartridge and the longer case make for a larger opening of the hollow point which is why I think you never hear of a bad performing 40 round. I actually get a little bit more velocity out of my 180 gr Speer and Federal self defense loads than my favorite 147 gr Ranger 9mm. All of these were acquired during my law enforcement days. Some of the 135 gr 40s were not fun but are equivalent to 125 gr 357 mag energy levels. I find the 180 gr loads very pleasant and comparable to 45acp recoil, but most people agree the 165 gr 40 and the 124gr 9mm to be the sweet spot. I have some 40 caliber guns that have so many rounds through them flawlessly I just can't justify giving them up especially considering their 9mm equivalents shoot nearly the same for me.

I have never thought that it was wise to have only one caliber in your arsenal. Now remember there was a time not to long ago you couldn't find 9mm ammunition on shelves. Our state has an enormous following of law enforcement with 40, 357, and 45acp over 9mm which should influence your platform to a degree. While 9mm has gained a little steam in the South with police departments, Georgia State Patrol has already experienced one alarming failure to incapacitate this year with an officer involved shooting and 9mm in Tift County. It was a suspect that took a round to the face and lived. In fact, he put up an intense struggle I was told. Edited November 22, 2015 by Patton

[Pain103]

I know a few guys that recently swapped to 9mm for their off duty guns just due to ammo prices. I don't see a problem with 9mm I just like using my G22 mags in my 23 or 27 and putting duty ammo in all three.

[Bassoneer]

I've tried most of the major calibers and have sold them all and settled on 9mm Glocks (19 and 43).  Still have some .38/.357's for revolvers, but sold the .40's and .45's for 9mm.  I finally realized that I could hold more ammo, hit the target better, and still be just as effective (if not more) using the 9mm rounds.  Nothing wrong with .40 or .45, but I prefer the 9mm.  B

[JReedEsq]

All ballistics talk aside, I don't stockpile massive amounts of ammo. I mainly shoot and carry 9mm. I plan on keeping a .40 around because it can almost always be found in stock. In a full size pistol, it is fun to shoot, but I greatly prefer 9mm in small pistols. I have considered dumping my .40 and having .45 as the back up caliber, but .40 is nice because I can use the same holsters and you can sometimes find crazy good deals on government contract overrun jhps.

[DaveTN]

We've all beat this into the ground before 
Do I stay with .40?

Why not? What have you seen or experienced firsthand that makes you want to switch? I switched to .40 many years ago based on things I observed and have never had a desire to switch back.
Surface Area/Mass/Velocity; nothing more, nothing less.

[TGO David]

Keeping 40 has been known to cause brain damage, penile tumors and dysentary...just saying

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I laughed.  :lol:

[DWARREN123]

Go with what makes you happy. Most are very close in performance and the main difference is price.

[Peace]

-for those asking, here are the reason I think about switching:

 

- so that my wife will be more comfortable with everything in the safe.

 

 -the G43-G19 pairing.

 

-I dry fire a lot (I know..., it's a problem),  and I am very wary of .40 cases and setback/OAL after being chambered, so.... I rotate, but even then it bugs me having to even be concerned with it.

 

 

I shoot .40 well, and I have no problem with follow-up shots.  It is probably a bit snappy for my wife.  She can shoot lights-out given time, but she does not enjoy the sharp recoil of the .40

[TGO David]

I went through this.  I settled on 9mm and .45ACP for the most part, but still have a few .40SW around for the sake of utility.  I typically carry 9mm in either a Glock 19 or HK VP9.

 

The reasons I chose 9mm are the same reasons most folks do:

• I don't believe in stopping power fairy tales
• I prefer to take 2 more rounds of capacity over 1 step up in caliber
• It is cheaper to practice with
• Recoil is less which means split times are faster for me
• It's generally lighter to carry and the firearms can be smaller

 

I'm not here to throw rocks at anyone who chooses to believe that .40SW is superior.  Mathematically it *should* be, however physiologically -- when the bullet strikes meat -- the degree of superiority is not all that great.

 

Choose what you like.  Get good at shooting it.  Shoot the hell out of it.  And always carry it.

[FTE]

Surface Area/Mass/Velocity; nothing more, nothing less.

Shot placement, CNS hits, blood loss. Nothing more or less.....

.02 of an inch won't make any real difference.


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[FTE]

Owned my last .40 in 2000...... Nothing but 9 and 45 now.


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[camp]

Keep the 23 get a drop in barrel to convert to 9mm and a couple of 9mm mags and be dual caliber. I have been running a drop in barrel in idpa with no feed issues