9 or 40

[zahc]

My main social handgun is a M&P9c 9mm. I'm happy with it. It's reliable. It's a breeze to shoot and my wife's favorite handgun of mine to shoot. I'm accurate with it. It rusted, but I don't care.

I sometimes want something less brickish for hot-weather activities. I'm considering either a Shield/XDS. I bought a PF9 and it's fine but I'm pretty inaccurate with it and the recoil is so bad my wife won't touch it and I don't like shooting it either. So I just don't feel well-armed with it so I still carry my M&P9c.

When I bought the M&P I was in college and ammo cost was a factor in getting 9mm instead of .40. Now I have much less time to shoot to the point that ammo cost is not a factor. That, plus the fact that the guns hold less, says I should go .40 or even  .45 to compensate. But with the smaller gun, the recoil will be that much worse and it might be my PF9 all over again with inaccuracy and flinching. So I'm thinking about getting it in 9mm again but my Dad is like ".40 is a serious round and 9mm is a pea shooter, and with the shorter barrel, its gonna be even wimpier."

[BlueStarLizzard]

Basically, what I gather from those who actually know ballistic details, with the defensive rounds avalible, both will do the job just fine. It basically just comes down to which recoil you like (I'm a bozo, I actually prefer .40)

FWIW, my Dad used to be all about .40... In the 90's, when there actually was a difference. These days, he's largely gone back to either 9 or .45's.
Tell your Dad that you'd prefer higher capacity to 40 Short and Whimpy. Watch him get mad. 

[BobR]

Tell your Dad that you'd prefer higher capacity to 40 Short and Whimpy Slow and Weak.

FTFY


aka as 10mm lite   


bob

[lupinus]

Personally I rode the 40 train for awhile and am now in one of those ammo for a gun I don't have scenarios since I sold or traded off my 40 cal guns and all defensive handguns are 9mm.

So if I want a step up it'll be 45. IMO the advantage to 40 is negligible enough to not matter. Nothing wrong with it it just doesn't have much if any in my opinion.

That said I've also been in the market for something smaller to carry around than my normal glock 19, and just in time for consideration S&W has debuted a 45acp shield. So I'll be holding off a bit till they come to market and others can be Guinea pigs.


Sent from my iPhone. Freaking autocorrect.

[lee n. field]

My main social handgun is a M&P9c 9mm. I'm happy with it. It's reliable. It's a breeze to shoot and my wife's favorite handgun of mine to shoot. I'm accurate with it. It rusted, but I don't care.

I sometimes want something less brickish for hot-weather activities. I'm considering either a Shield/XDS. I bought a PF9 and it's fine but I'm pretty inaccurate with it and the recoil is so bad my wife won't touch it and I don't like shooting it either. So I just don't feel well-armed with it so I still carry my M&P9c.

When I bought the M&P I was in college and ammo cost was a factor in getting 9mm instead of .40. Now I have much less time to shoot to the point that ammo cost is not a factor. That, plus the fact that the guns hold less, says I should go .40 or even  .45 to compensate. But with the smaller gun, the recoil will be that much worse and it might be my PF9 all over again with inaccuracy and flinching. So I'm thinking about getting it in 9mm again but my Dad is like ".40 is a serious round and 9mm is a pea shooter, and with the shorter barrel, its gonna be even wimpier."
B

Pick one.

I shot an XDS40 a few weeks ago.  It wasn't too bad.  Current Internet herd mind consensus tends to favor a 9mm "hail of lead" strategy, and whine about how hard .40 is to shoot.  Your personal mileage may very well vary.  Folks will argue the differences endlessly.   Will having 15 rounds of 9 on tap make a difference, if 12 rounds of .40 wouldn't?  Whatever.  I'm tired of it.  And I shoot my .40s plenty fast.

Summertime lately, I've started carrying again my XD.40 Subcompact.  The summertime "vibrant social scene" is ramping up. Same hight and length, fatter and heavier  than my XDS.  And easier to shoot well.  9 round short magazine, 12 round regular.  Beats 7 and 9, in the XDS.

[roo_ster]

I own subcompacts in 9mm, .40S&W, and .45ACP.  Of the three, .40S&W is by far the nastiest to shoot out of a little pistol.  Were I to buy a new itty bitty pistol, I would look at 9mm or .380ACP.  A small frame revo in .38spl loaded with tgt wadcutters is also an option that won't recoil like a beast.

The KT PF9 is a very light & small package.  Anything in that neighborhood size or mass wise is going to kick.  My neighbor's was tolerable (for me) with 115-124 non+P, but got nasty with 147gr or +P.  I just don't think you will find something that size in 9mm or larger that your wife will tolerate.  The SIG P938 is in the neighborhood, weight-wise, but is a lot easier to shoot well.  Still kicks.  The SIG P238 is the .380ACP version.  Might even have to go .32ACP to get something tha small your wife will tolerate.  I had to (KT P32).

I know you are not looking for a brick, but the Glock 43 single stack 9mm might be a step in the right direction.  Glocks do have a noticeable (to me) effect that dampens felt recoil.  Same applies to the S&W Shield. 

Good luck, but the physics of the situation darned near dictate the results.

[Angel Eyes]

Get a .40 and a 9mm conversion barrel.  Best of both worlds.

[Fly320s]

A 9 vs .40 debate on APS?

AWESOME!!!!



 

[Angel Eyes]

A 9 vs .40 debate on APS?

AWESOME!!!!



 

Yes, when I saw the thread title, my first thought was:

[French G.]

A 9 vs .40 debate on APS?

AWESOME!!!!
 

Proof that the community standards are slipping.  In true gun fora fashion I reply that the only correct choices are 10mm or .45.

[Tuco]

.40 S&W is a dying, soon to be obsolete, chambering.  
May as well go,with a .41 avenger.
And while I'm in troll mode,
10mm is best mm.

[brimic]

Not a fan of the .40, but that's just my opinion...I do like 9mms however. I also like .45s.
I either saw it here or on the book of face just recently that S&W is coming out with a .45 Shield- same capacity as the 9mm.

Oddly enough, I'm really tempted to go the other way- from a M&P shield to a M&P9C or Glock 19, and just use a J-frame for my summer speedo gun.

[wmenorr67]

40 of Ole E please

[AJ Dual]

40 of Ole E please

*ahem* That's "fotay"...

[Hawkmoon]

*ahem* That's "fotay"...

Only if it's in a Glock being used by an "undercover" DEA agent to teach gun safety to grammar school kids.

[grampster]

If you are like me, deadly accurate and speedy too, even in the sideways mode, the .22MM is the only weapon.

[BlueStarLizzard]

Pick one.

I shot an XDS40 a few weeks ago.  It wasn't too bad.  Current Internet herd mind consensus tends to favor a 9mm "hail of lead" strategy, and whine about how hard .40 is to shoot.  Your personal mileage may very well vary.  Folks will argue the differences endlessly.   Will having 15 rounds of 9 on tap make a difference, if 12 rounds of .40 wouldn't?  Whatever.  I'm tired of it.  And I shoot my .40s plenty fast.

Summertime lately, I've started carrying again my XD.40 Subcompact.  The summertime "vibrant social scene" is ramping up. Same hight and length, fatter and heavier  than my XDS.  And easier to shoot well.  9 round short magazine, 12 round regular.  Beats 7 and 9, in the XDS.

lee, just face it. We are the .40 weirdos. Let them have their 9mm and leave all the .40 S&W for us.

[MechAg94]

I just picked up an XD Mod 2 3.3 in 45 ACP.  I love it.  Very light recoil even with the compact magazines.  IWB holster on the way as it will be my new carry gun.

I just find it odd that you refer to an M&P 9c as a brick.  Might as well go with a good 380 if you really want something light and easy to handle.  I would NOT recommend the KT PF9.  I heard some of Rugers SR9 models have very good triggers.  I am not sure about some of the other compact 9 mm pistols.  The XDS or Shield are probably the only ones still affordable.  I just heard an FFL I know tell me his cost for an XDS is a little over $400.  


As for 40, I have migrated away from it.  I still have a few guns that shoot it, but I won't buy anything else in that caliber.  I just don't like the recoil.  I either use 9mm or 45 ACP now.  The recoil isn't real bad, I just prefer shooting 9mm or 45 at the range. 

[MechAg94]

If you are like me, deadly accurate and speedy too, even in the sideways mode, the .22MM is the only weapon.

If your goal is snake defense, I would agree.  The 22 mag shot shells are great.

[brimic]

I would NOT recommend the KT PF9.

I heard used ones really appreciate in value. 

[Perd Hapley]

I either saw it here or on the book of face just recently that S&W is coming out with a .45 Shield- same capacity as the 9mm.

If I remember correctly, the .45 has a lower capacity (though a higher capacity of awesome). I don't know what the 9mm version carries, but I recall distinctly that the .45 holds 6 in the flush magazine, and 7 in the longer version.


zahc, in my inexpert opinion, you may as well stick with the point-nine-millimeter. You and your wife are both used to it. Having the best (most effective, most accurate) self-defense cartridge is probably more crucial than adding an extra millimeter. This advice is worth the price.

Also:
http://www.handgunsmag.com/shot-show-2016/first-look-federal-hst-9mm-micro/

[brimic]

If I remember correctly, the .45 has a lower capacity (though a higher capacity of awesome). I don't know what the 9mm version carries, but I recall distinctly that the .45 holds 6 in the flush magazine, and 7 in the longer version.


zahc, in my inexpert opinion, you may as well stick with the point-nine-millimeter. You and your wife are both used to it. Having the best (most effective, most accurate) self-defense cartridge is probably more crucial than adding an extra millimeter. This advice is worth the price.

Also:
http://www.handgunsmag.com/shot-show-2016/first-look-federal-hst-9mm-micro/

You are right 7&8 rd for the M&P 9mm. Then again, I always carry mine with the flush mags, I also might be the last person on earth who carries a 1911 with 7-rd mags too..

[Jamisjockey]

Friends of mine picked up a S&W .40 after shooting my .45.  His wife hated it so much she made him sell it, they have since bought multiple versions of the 9mm and are quite content.
I'm not a fan of the .40 recoil.  Seems snappy compared to the 9mm and .45.  

[bedlamite]

I still shoot the 40 because it easily makes USPSA major and has a higher capacity than 45. If that wasn't in the picture, I'd probably switch to 9mm.

[zahc]

The 9c is a good gun and not too big but it's more the width-to-height ratio that makes it brickish than just the width. Maybe a better holster would help but why pass up the urge to buy a new gun? I actually would prefer if the Shield was just as long and tall as the 9c but just had the thinness.