Do I need a .40?

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zerosoma

zerosoma

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Most of my pistols are 9mm and it's what I reload. Seems to be the best way to go. I always get an itch for a new pistol, and thought about .40 or .45. Issue is, more bullets to buy and I don't reload them (40 or 45). Could get expensive. Any benefit to having guns in multiple calibers? I've always been a 9mm guy myself.
 
If I were to own handguns, I'd have 3:

-One in .22LR such as a Ruger Mark III.

-One in 9mm, most likely a Sig. Does extremely well for severe abuse.

-One in .45, probably a full sized Glock, as I would still want the ability to have up to 13 shots!!!

I would not purchase a pistol in .45 with only 7 shots. I still like the idea of the massive stopping power of the .45 but high round capacity as well, and here the Glock delivers without it being a massive pistol.

Also, the Glock has minimal muzzle flip in .45, and I love the low sight picture. And striker fired sacrifices reliability when dirty or wet in exchange for a smaller firearm.

Check out abuse videos on Youtube to see the differences.

I like the Sig and the Glock, they are just for different environments. Glock is more Urban, and the Sig is more Navy Seal.

If I had to have only one gun for self defense, it would be the Glock in .45 if I was American with a legal CCW.

But the Sig is, by far, the better firearm.

I'd also get a great plastic with steel rail type theft proof holster that only fits the Glock, so someone can't take the gun off of you easily if it is holstered.

That with 3 extra 13 round mags of .45 "flying ashtray" ammo, and I'd feel really safe changing a flat in a mean area.
 
With the advancement in bullet design and power in 9MM I think you are safe to stay with one caliber. I reload also BUT ALWAYS USE FACTORY AMMO for serious purposes. It just removes a condition that can be used against me by a lawyer.

YMMV
Smoky
 
Modern ammuntion has greatly closed the gaps in performance between pistol calibers. NO pistol caliber has "massive stopping power" so don't even use those terms or get into that arguement. A good quality hollow point 9mm is plenty good enough for any self defense. If you have a longer barreled pistol, +P+ ammuntion helps the 9mm even more. Many police departments are catching on to this train of thought and going back to 9mm while alot of police departments never stopped carrying 9mms.

I say the "nine is fine" for self defense. If you need better stopping power, get a rifle or shotgun.
 
My Ruger Blackhawk has a wee bit o' stopping power.

But I prefer my ole .45 just because it has a big clip and is very familiar to me from decades of use.
 
Originally Posted By: AMC
Modern ammuntion has greatly closed the gaps in performance between pistol calibers. NO pistol caliber has "massive stopping power" so don't even use those terms or get into that arguement. A good quality hollow point 9mm is plenty good enough for any self defense. If you have a longer barreled pistol, +P+ ammuntion helps the 9mm even more. Many police departments are catching on to this train of thought and going back to 9mm while alot of police departments never stopped carrying 9mms.

I say the "nine is fine" for self defense. If you need better stopping power, get a rifle or shotgun.


No argument from me here as the 9mm with the CORRECT self defense round is very capable. Studies of shooting from around the country have statistical insignificant between 9mm, 40SW, and 45ACP. All are very close in killing percentages. The critical component of a kill was single shot opposed to two or more shots. Two or more shots had a substantially higher rate of death than a mere single shot.

I know of no police dept or mil outfit that is trained to shoot once....there is a reason!

If you are already reloading picking up dies and powder for 40 isn't a big deal or big expense. It's a great round if you can handle it. Pressures are up there so you need to show caution. Almost all of us around here (LE dept's NY) are 40. Not going to change anytime soon.
 
Originally Posted By: Falken
If I were to own handguns, I'd have 3:

-One in .22LR such as a Ruger Mark III.

-One in 9mm, most likely a Sig. Does extremely well for severe abuse.

-One in .45, probably a full sized Glock, as I would still want the ability to have up to 13 shots!!!

I would not purchase a pistol in .45 with only 7 shots. I still like the idea of the massive stopping power of the .45 but high round capacity as well, and here the Glock delivers without it being a massive pistol.

Also, the Glock has minimal muzzle flip in .45, and I love the low sight picture. And striker fired sacrifices reliability when dirty or wet in exchange for a smaller firearm.

Check out abuse videos on Youtube to see the differences.

I like the Sig and the Glock, they are just for different environments. Glock is more Urban, and the Sig is more Navy Seal.

If I had to have only one gun for self defense, it would be the Glock in .45 if I was American with a legal CCW.

But the Sig is, by far, the better firearm.

I'd also get a great plastic with steel rail type theft proof holster that only fits the Glock, so someone can't take the gun off of you easily if it is holstered.

That with 3 extra 13 round mags of .45 "flying ashtray" ammo, and I'd feel really safe changing a flat in a mean area.


Tooo many YouTube videos!!!!
 
I read up on newer 9mm loadings based on other member's postings, and I scratch the hi capacity Glock .45 from my list.

The hot 9mm loadings are insane now. The velocity difference between the 9mm and .45 are so large that the smaller caliber and added magazine capacity is a better alternative.

I'd only have a Sig in 9mm and a Mark III.
 
Need?

No, not really, a good 9mm pistol with good ammo will accomplish what you want...

That said, I have several 9mm pistols (S&W 5906, Beretta 92, Glock 17 and a couple Glock 19s), 2 .40 pistols (H&K USP Compact LE, Glock 23), a 10mm (Glock 20) and I am shopping for a .45 1911...each caliber has its pros/cons...and each weapon type has its pros/cons.

Should you get a .40? Depends on what you want your next pistol to do. The 10mm, for example, gives you .41 magnum ballistics in an automatic that (in the case of the Glock) carries 15 rounds. Full size gun, but great for the field (hunting, finishing shot) or where concealment is not needed but power/performance is desireable (the extra bullet weight and velocity over the .40 is substantial). For carry, either the Glock 19 or the 23, or the H&K...they're all reaasonably sized...I would trade the 3 rounds of 9mm capacity for the greater weight of the .40 round...

...and I want a 1911 just because...

Cheers,
 
Last edited:
The reason the 40 S&W was developed was because of the inherent weakness of the then current 9mm ammunition...25 years ago. Since then, JHP bullet technology has come very far and the problems with hollow point 9mm ammo have now been remedied.

Honestly a 9mm is all you need. You get an effective, inexpensive, and plentiful cartridge that gives you maximum ammo capacity.
 
If I were going to have a handgun for just home, the "night stand" gun, I'd have a .357 magnum revolver. For other purposes, I feel that the .40 is the "sweet spot" of velocity, projectile mass,and concealability. For that reason, I have a Ruger SR40C. With a 9 round mag (and one in the tube), I am not surrendering much in capacity. It is fractionally larger than a 9mm, and it's SMALL fractions, and the .40 hits harder. It probably doesn't require any more practice to control the muzzle flip than any other pistol. I feel that magazine capacity is very overrated. In your home, distances are so short that nobody but Jerry Miculek will get off more than 3 rounds. In the street, why would you stand there and get into a fire fight? The whole purpose of the gun for a civillian is to be the last resort; to either shoot the BG, or to allow you to escape. If 10 won't do it, no amount will.
 
Reason I'm asking is I have been looking at the sig sp2022 and the smith sd series and they come in both 9 and 40. I can see if I get a 9, I'll already have ammo and can reload but then I'll have a diff caliber if I go with 40 and will have it available if shtf or 9 ain't available...
 
Mag capacity may not be needed in every situation, but some situations it may be the difference between life and death. My gun that is in the night stand is a Beretta Cougar in 9mm. There is a 5 round difference between the 9mm and 40S&W version. If I am cornered in my house by multiple intruders, in the dark, with all the physiological changes you endure in fight or flight, I want to know I have the extra rounds...god forbid I need it.
 
Passing thought....too much ammo and too many tools fall into the same category "ain't no such thing"

Smoky
 
To my way of thinking, if you are going to get a different caliber, get one significantly different in size and common.

So, I'd say, get the 45ACP (or larger if you like revolvers)

We can discuss the pros and cons of each forever. However, 45 is very common, and there are very wide variety of options. That makes it a good choice.
 
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