Guest Clay008 Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 I am in the market for a handgun but I have not decided what caliber to buy. I am thinking about a 9mm or .40. I will be using the pistol for target shooting. I may use it for concealed carry occasionally. Any suggestions or comments? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm Most any pistol model that chambers for one chambers for the other.........so gun selection is not a big deal. The .40 S&W is a better defense round........just more horsepower. The 9mm is a better target gun........lots & lots of available cheap ammo. The 9mm will also get 'er done as a defense round. It just would not be my pick as a dedicated defense-only gun. Of course, neither would the .40 S&W. But between the two that you mentioned (and for what your intended use is) I would get a 9mm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Clay008 Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm Yeah, it does not have the stopping power that I would think a .40 or .45 would have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mathews4 Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm get the .500 S&W...great for target shootin if you dont like your wrist...lol....but really id go with the 9mm for target. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm Go with the 9mm. Ive shot a lot of both. Honestly I dont think the .40 makes a good target round. I had a Smith Sigma and it was a wrist breaker. Honestly it would be a great defense round but youll be shooting paper a lot more so keep that in consideration. Police carried 9mm rounds for years. Granted they dont have the umph the larger round has but thats very nice at the range. Also, ammo is TONS cheaper for the 9mm. I sold my .40S&W and replaced it with a Walther P22 (a real target gun). My next handgun will be a Ruger in 9mm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Clay008 Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm [ QUOTE ] get the .500 S&W...great for target shootin if you dont like your wrist...lol....but really id go with the 9mm for target. [/ QUOTE ] Yeah I was thinking about that .500 caliber. I mean whats not to like it shoots cheap ammo and gives my arm a workout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Clay008 Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm [ QUOTE ] I sold my .40S&W and replaced it with a Walther P22 (a real target gun). [/ QUOTE ] It would make more sense to get a .22 caliber for target shooting but, I don't think it would be the same as shooting a larger caliber. I like the loud boom vs the snapping sound a .22 makes. Plus I can use the larger caliber for concealed carry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZooBear Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm I like the 45 ACP better than the 9 & 40. I think its a better target gun and a better manstopper. IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Clay008 Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm I was looking at a .45 too but, I don't want to spend the bucks right now on a 1911. They do shoot nice though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm As an owner of a 9mm, I would get the .40 caliber. I have reloaded 1000's and 1000's of rounds for my 9mm, its a great gun for target shooting and tons of fun. But I would rather get the 40 for self defence. A compact 40 will probably be the next handgun I purchase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm [ QUOTE ] As an owner of a 9mm, I would get the .40 caliber. I have reloaded 1000's and 1000's of rounds for my 9mm, its a great gun for target shooting and tons of fun. But I would rather get the 40 for self defence. A compact 40 will probably be the next handgun I purchase. [/ QUOTE ] If It were for self defense only I would agree with that 100%. If you're using it for target I would definitely go with the small cal... That is the determining factor. However, the 9mm will kill just as dead. Get a good round to carry when its concealed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarvDog Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm [ QUOTE ] As an owner of a 9mm, I would get the .40 caliber. I have reloaded 1000's and 1000's of rounds for my 9mm, its a great gun for target shooting and tons of fun. But I would rather get the 40 for self defence. A compact 40 will probably be the next handgun I purchase. [/ QUOTE ] I went through this recently and this is exactly why I went with the 40. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] As an owner of a 9mm, I would get the .40 caliber. I have reloaded 1000's and 1000's of rounds for my 9mm, its a great gun for target shooting and tons of fun. But I would rather get the 40 for self defence. A compact 40 will probably be the next handgun I purchase. [/ QUOTE ] If It were for self defense only I would agree with that 100%. If you're using it for target I would definitely go with the small cal... That is the determining factor. However, the 9mm will kill just as dead. Get a good round to carry when its concealed. [/ QUOTE ] Yes it will! But like all the police departments in my county, they all abanded the 9mm once the 40 came out. But still, a good round like the Federal HydroShock will still do the job. Personally I want more punch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Clay008 Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm Well I decided to go with the 9mm since most of the time I will be using it for target shooting. Thanks for all of the suggestions! I picked up a Steyr M9-A1 today at the gun show. I am going to try and post some pics later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarvDog Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm Congrats on the new pistol. Can't wait to go shootin' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WNY_Whitetailer Posted October 22, 2006 Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm [ QUOTE ] I was looking at a .45 too but, I don't want to spend the bucks right now on a 1911. They do shoot nice though. [/ QUOTE ] Congrats on purchasing that 9mm....But, your response above puzzled me...You don't need to purchase a 1911 to shoot 45ACP...Springfield manufactures their XD line of pistols in a 45ACP. Glock manufactures a 45ACP pistol as well...I'm sure there are others but I can't think of them right now...You can shoot 45ACP and not have to spend $700 on a 1911... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Clay008 Posted October 22, 2006 Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm Your right and I did look at the XD that double stacks the .45 and some of the Glocks. I just felt that the 9mm would be cheaper to shoot and that if I was going to get a .45 caliber anything I would want to get a 1911. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Xen Posted October 23, 2006 Report Share Posted October 23, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm you'll love the steyr - i haven't shot the new a-1 series, just the older versions. the little handall universal slide on grips from hogue are very nice on those as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Clay008 Posted October 24, 2006 Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm Yeah I think it is going to be alot of fun. I will have to check out those Hogue grips as well. Any suggestions on a holster? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarvDog Posted October 24, 2006 Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm [ QUOTE ] Yeah I think it is going to be alot of fun. I will have to check out those Hogue grips as well. Any suggestions on a holster? [/ QUOTE ] For concealed carry, I think it's hard to beat the CrossBreed Supertuck IWB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Clay008 Posted October 24, 2006 Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm Do you have that one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarvDog Posted October 24, 2006 Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm [ QUOTE ] Do you have that one? [/ QUOTE ] Yes sir! That's pretty much my daily concealed carry holster for my XD Subcompact. When I open carry, I use the little polymer holster that came with it. Another popular choice is The Answer but it's a bit more expensive. Maybe I should have asked a couple of questions first. Are you looking for a holster for concealed or open carry? If concealed, do you have a preference on inside or outside the waistband? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Clay008 Posted October 24, 2006 Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm Concealed IWB, I think the two options you sent me a link to look like a good way to go. I will have to check yours out next weekend when I am in town. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gabuckbuster03 Posted October 24, 2006 Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm go with the 40 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarvDog Posted October 24, 2006 Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 Re: .40 vs 9mm [ QUOTE ] Concealed IWB, I think the two options you sent me a link to look like a good way to go. I will have to check yours out next weekend when I am in town. [/ QUOTE ] NP! Another option I looked at was the Pager Pal. It just didn't work well for me probably due to the extra weight I carry around my mid-section! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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