Would someone tell me the pros and cons of these calibers? Thank you and Happy, Healthy New Year
9MM, 10MM or 40 SW
- Thread starter jerseyguy123
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GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
9MM the bad guy can fight back, 45 the bad guy is dead, 40 the bad guy is gravely hurt and unable to fight back and is crying louder than one can believe.
What Gon said, plus 9mm manageable recoil, .45 what you'd expect but not awful and .40 uncomfortable, at least for me. I do enjoy shooting my Walter in .40, but in small doses.
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9mm - A million options and ammo readily available
10mm - used by hunters mostly and defense against bears to the best of my knowledge. Concerns about over penetration in self defense settings. Ammo can be harder to find and cost more than 9 or 40.
40S&W - Not as many new guns being made in this caliber but still a decent self defense round. Ammo may be more expensive/less readily available than 9mm
10mm - used by hunters mostly and defense against bears to the best of my knowledge. Concerns about over penetration in self defense settings. Ammo can be harder to find and cost more than 9 or 40.
40S&W - Not as many new guns being made in this caliber but still a decent self defense round. Ammo may be more expensive/less readily available than 9mm
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Depends on intended use 9mm best for carry for size and round count. You hit a bad guy with just a couple and he will not be occupied with messing with you or your date
.40SW technically hits with more energy but not the friendliest round for plinking in a light gun
10mm is truly a great all around round for hip or chest carry. Fun to shoot in the right gun. The same bullet as .40 just longer brass so more energy potential
If you are looking at self defense pistols, just get a 9mm. It's the best of all worlds... Unless you live in New Jersey and can't have hollow point ammunition. Then you might consider a 40, but in reality it won't make much difference.
10mm is best relegated to the outdoorsman's hunting sidearm role. Lots of recoil and too much penetration with little additional terminal effect against 2 legged animals.
10mm is best relegated to the outdoorsman's hunting sidearm role. Lots of recoil and too much penetration with little additional terminal effect against 2 legged animals.
A 45 is already expanded. Nothing is happy with extra half inch holes.
Oddly op didn’t ask about .45ACP
You will get n+1 answers, where n is the number of people responding. It might be useful to know the history.
9mm, or 9mm luger more precisely, has been around since the turn of the century. During this time its spread to almost every military and police department around the world, and is by far the most common handgun cartridge in existence - so this means it has the most options for both firearms and ammunition. The argument has always been is that it isn't powerful enough, but with modern ammunition, all the military testing proves that false.
The .40 was commissioned by the FBI in the 80's after they found themselves ridiculously outgunned in a shootout in Miami. They were carrying 38 special IIRC. The idea was that the FBI wanted an auto pistol with the capacity of a 9mm with the power closer to a 45 ACP. After much testing they got the 40, and it was very popular for many years. However with 9mm ammo getting better, and police departments moving that way - its becoming to some degree obsolete. Still lots of people like it.
The 10mm originally came out of the same commissioning test the FBI requested in the 80's for the 40. It was deemed too powerful for many shooters, so the FBI rejected it. This has made it somewhat coveted however, and it has been getting quite the resurgence lately. The basic premise is you get the power of a 357 magnum in an auto pistol with more bullets.
And I will add, there are no Plus / minus to any of these. There different tools. Depends on what tool you want to use and what job your looking to accomplish.
9mm, or 9mm luger more precisely, has been around since the turn of the century. During this time its spread to almost every military and police department around the world, and is by far the most common handgun cartridge in existence - so this means it has the most options for both firearms and ammunition. The argument has always been is that it isn't powerful enough, but with modern ammunition, all the military testing proves that false.
The .40 was commissioned by the FBI in the 80's after they found themselves ridiculously outgunned in a shootout in Miami. They were carrying 38 special IIRC. The idea was that the FBI wanted an auto pistol with the capacity of a 9mm with the power closer to a 45 ACP. After much testing they got the 40, and it was very popular for many years. However with 9mm ammo getting better, and police departments moving that way - its becoming to some degree obsolete. Still lots of people like it.
The 10mm originally came out of the same commissioning test the FBI requested in the 80's for the 40. It was deemed too powerful for many shooters, so the FBI rejected it. This has made it somewhat coveted however, and it has been getting quite the resurgence lately. The basic premise is you get the power of a 357 magnum in an auto pistol with more bullets.
And I will add, there are no Plus / minus to any of these. There different tools. Depends on what tool you want to use and what job your looking to accomplish.
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
Concur with all your points, except when the mission is higher risk, critical, etc- the 9mm stay in the weapons cage and the .40 or .45 come out of the weapons cage.
JHZR2
Staff member
You can have hollow point ammunition in NJ, you just can’t carry with it, or be caught with it away from the excepted situations (on your properties, at the range, between any of these locations).
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
There is sop of the 9mm, and then alternate weapons when the mission requires. You can be guaranteed the fine Americans that went to Pakistan to get bin laden had selected handguns that were not 9mm for the mission.Well, like I said, n+1 opinions. I also said tools for the job. However I will note that the US military has standardized on 9X19, including the seals and Rangers. I hear they go on high risk / critical missions occasionally. So I have been told anyway
Those screwdriver head rounds are nasty nasty and legal. Do not shoot someone in a place where HP's aren't legal with a HP. You might survive but you will also probably do some really hard time. The screwdrivers are a really good workaround. It does me no good if I'm going to get used by big Larry and the hiney brigade for 10 years.
These
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This is a game of "what if" when it comes to caliber.
The "what if" game we are playing is when your slapping that trigger/panic shoot
Only you can make the choice:
9mm: compact ammunition/low weight bullet (low recoil) with adequate stopping power for targets that are not wearing a soft shell armor and considered to be point blank accurate at most 35 meter
10mm: not as small ammunition/considerably heavier weight bullet (more recoil) with adequate stopping power for targets that are not wearing soft shell armor/may break ribs and such if shot at someone with soft shell armor and considered to be point blank accurate at most 25 meter
40 sw: a compensation between 9mm recoil and 10mm stopping power by reducing the cartridge powder amount enabling decent stopping power from its higher mass than a 9mm and ability to be point blank accurate at most 30ish meter. you could probably break ribs if target is wearing soft shell armor
I like .45 but the choice is urs op
The "what if" game we are playing is when your slapping that trigger/panic shoot
Only you can make the choice:
9mm: compact ammunition/low weight bullet (low recoil) with adequate stopping power for targets that are not wearing a soft shell armor and considered to be point blank accurate at most 35 meter
10mm: not as small ammunition/considerably heavier weight bullet (more recoil) with adequate stopping power for targets that are not wearing soft shell armor/may break ribs and such if shot at someone with soft shell armor and considered to be point blank accurate at most 25 meter
40 sw: a compensation between 9mm recoil and 10mm stopping power by reducing the cartridge powder amount enabling decent stopping power from its higher mass than a 9mm and ability to be point blank accurate at most 30ish meter. you could probably break ribs if target is wearing soft shell armor
I like .45 but the choice is urs op
.40 was my choice
