If I have a 9 and a 45, do I need a 40?

[lilro]

Since California is limited to 10 rounds I would go with the largest caliber that offers a flush 10-rd magazine. So yes I would get a .40. The difference in ballistics between 9 and 40 is small, but it is there.

In any other states however 9mm wins purely on round count.

[longez]

I no longer have any 9mm or 40 pistols; all are 357 Sig, 45 ACP or 10mm. Go big or go home.

[Unsilenced]

Objectively speaking, I think .40 S&W is a perfectly fine round. The drawbacks in terms of recoil, capacity and cost of ammo are all fairly insubstantial. Of course, the benefits are also slim. Handgun rounds are inherently limited, and all practical carry rounds are going to deal with those limitations in one way or another.


Subjectively speaking, I feel compelled to hate on .40 S&W because of its loudest proponents, namely guys who want to feel more macho than 9mm users without the cost or discomfort of something actually powerful.


For OP I'd recommend finding some .40's to shoot and see if you like them more than what you have. If you do, get a .40. If you don't, don't worry about it.

[k1dude]

Originally Posted by lilro

Since California is limited to 10 rounds I would go with the largest caliber that offers a flush 10-rd magazine. So yes I would get a .40. The difference in ballistics between 9 and 40 is small, but it is there.

In any other states however 9mm wins purely on round count.

That would be .45 ACP or 10mm, not .40 S&W.

[Prophet]

If, I had a Glock 23... it is not the most fun gun to shoot due to the recoil, plus a little small for my hand. The Glock 22 suites me better and I can recover from the recoil for faster follow-up shots. People are always talking crap about people that complain about the recoil. And I'm sure that those guys know a lot more about lifted trucks (with huge tires) than I do. Just not a huge fan of the 40 S&W. As a carry piece I would have trusted my family's life with it. Do you need more pistols that you can shoot at one time? Well, that is up to you. Do I need more than one pistol in 40 S&W? No.Would I buy another one? Yep. The alloy frame Sig and Beretta offerings is what I would be looking at. I say get one. Why? Because it's America land of free and home to the 40 S&W.

[Rcjackrabbit]

The .40 cal recoils more because it hits harder.

It is physics. For every action there is a reaction.

If you are a dude and can't handle the .40, you need to go to the gym more.

[Prophet]

Originally Posted by Rcjackrabbit

The .40 cal recoils more because it hits harder.

It is physics. For every action there is a reaction.

If you are a dude and can't handle the .40, you need to go to the gym more.

All right!! We have a physicist in our mist. I think you might have missed the part of Newton's third law that states ...there is an equal and opposite reaction. Please enlighten us more. Let's talk about chamber pressure, twist rate and trajectory in relation to the amount of increasing entropy.

I've heard of that gym place, got my tickets for the gun show there. Ha,ha,ha

[C.G.]

Originally Posted by Rcjackrabbit

If you are a dude and can't handle the .40, you need to go to the gym more.

It just follows then according to your argument that the personnel belonging to agencies that are dropping the .40SW in favor of 9mm are bunch of woosies that never go to the gym.

[digelectric]

10mm is vastly superior to 40 S&W. There is no debate. Skip 40.

[Spookytaco]

Seals are going to 9mm. Not a lot of women there. Lots of 40s on sale every where you look. The 40 is a dying round. Shoot +P 115 grain hollow points for self defense. Don't listen to macho bull****.

[Blade Gunner]

Originally Posted by Mongoose556

I would suggest 10mm, Glock 40MOS if you can find one.



Or if you want something simpler, a 357 magnum or 38 special revolver.



Definitely skip the 40.

Have the G40 MOS RMR only because it shares mags with a Kriss 10mm and I wanted a pistol with a milled in red dot. Easy to shoot with basic FMJ and the long barrel. Using Underwood’s and I’ll stick with the Smith 1006.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[crufflers]

Originally Posted by Kokopelli

I own a 9mm, 10 shot Ruger P95DC

Those old P95DC's are better with 18 rounds - 17+1 in flush fit MECGARS.

[crufflers]

Yeah, you could just get a G29, or G20 and shoot 10mm and .40 out of the barrel... but if you are always gonna shoot .40 you might as well get a smaller frame gun made for the caliber. I personally like a Glock in .40 and CZ's too. Not something I need though.

[Kokopelli]

Originally Posted by crufflers

Those old P95DC's are better with 18 rounds - 17+1 in flush fit MECGARS.

I bet they are. They just aren’t legal in Kalifornistan

[crufflers]

Originally Posted by Kokopelli

I bet they are. They just aren’t legal in Kalifornistan

Even back in the 90's OLD RUGER sold them with safe bottomed ten rounders. You could get quite a few brands of 15+ round mags that were not horrible... lots of 20 and 30 round "drop mags" too. I think 3 out of 4 I got from JG SALES worked perfectly. Where do I turn them in?

[Litespeeds]

Originally Posted by Spookytaco

Seals are going to 9mm. Not a lot of women there. Lots of 40s on sale every where you look. The 40 is a dying round. Shoot +P 115 grain hollow points for self defense. Don't listen to macho bull****.

But the Seals can have standard or high capacity magazines for their 9mm while us lucky folks in CA can only have neutered 10 round mags.

[flavor]

10mm!

[BrassCase]

OP, in your post you've mentioned that you want the 40 for home defense. Get past the 9 vs 40 vs 45 argument because it just becomes circular. Search on it and you'll get hours and hours of reading and still not be assured of the proper choice. That can only be determined by you.

It has also been stated, and rightly so, again and again that you really need to hit the target first which has to deal with training. Through training you can better determine the gun for you, the one that feels best in your hand and that you feel confident with and shoot it well. 9-40-45, which one can you shoot and move the best with? Remember, you gotta hit the target!

And a warning: Be careful about your ammo selection no matter the caliber. Handgun bullets tend to have the ability to fly through your walls and into neighbors houses. You might be surprised to see a 40 as it travels through 15 sheets of sheetrock! For safe home defense I would suggest using frangible ammo no matter the caliber.

[Beendare]

Wow....so many "ditch the .40" comments

20 years ago everyone was all over 40's

That said....I ditched .40 for 9mm/.45 long ago to streamline ammo stock

[Foebia]

Have a full size 40 and enjoy it and the cheap ammo. Would like to get a MP Shield in 40 but have concerns on how snappy it may be in a small pistol

[RR.44]

I went with the 10mm and sold the .40 in short order, I’ve never looked back and never will.

[crufflers]

I kind of want to go see a consigned G22 that's $375 here, hahah... and I already have two of those. I think I just like guns.

[bmk20398]

I want to post new thread just for flaming
"If I have a 9 and a 40, do I need a 45?"

[Litespeeds]

Originally Posted by bmk20398

I want to post new thread just for flaming
"If I have a 9 and a 40, do I need a 45?"

If I have a 40 and 45, do I need a 9?

[C.G.]

I have a .357 Sig, I don't need anything else.:

[MarikinaMan]

The question is like finger nails on a chalk board.

If your requirement is to DRT an intruder, use a rifle.

[someoneeasy]

Originally Posted by Litespeeds

If I have a 40 and 45, do I need a 9?

WINNER!

[wsmc27]

Like many previous answers, my answer to OP would be, no.

That said, I really like my free (well, okay it was a trade that I am happy about) Glock 35. Excellent pistol, no issues, works great for USPSA Limited lol

It’s a keeper, just can’t see buying any other 40’s. A former LEO/firearm trainer acquaintance says he really likes his XD40, but I think he probably already a couple safes full of...stuff. Lol

More 1911’s please, 9 and 45.

[Spartan77]

You might not, but the 40sw is versatile with different calibers. It makes a hole as big or bigger than some 45 jhp ammo. At the same time it shoots as fast as the 9mm if you have been shooting for a while. It also carries better than a big 45 if you are able to carry.

In the end, you just might have to since you need another caliber

[Swampcrip]

no.

[nedro]

The better question is, "If you were smart enough to ditch the 9 for a 40, why on earth would it be a glock?"

[Blade Gunner]

Originally Posted by Spartan77

You might not, but the 40sw is versatile with different calibers. It makes a hole as big or bigger than some 45 jhp ammo. At the same time it shoots as fast as the 9mm if you have been shooting for a while. It also carries better than a big 45 if you are able to carry.

In the end, you just might have to since you need another caliber

The 40 is appealing in CA because we are rounds limited. A 9mm that can carry 15+rounds in a free state, becomes less appealing with 10 round mags. Most on roster 45’s are 8 rounds (unless you use an oversized mag). The sweet spot to also consider is a 10mm.

I have three 10mm. They are just expensive to feed and the typical JHP sold are underpowered. Fortunately I stocked up on some Underwood JHP and full power FMJ before the ban.


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[mdunbar]

You don't need any of them, I'ts what you want, if you want it get it.

[fmunk]

Originally Posted by Kokopelli

10mm is superior to the .40. For an indoors, home defense scenario, I prefer to use subsonic ammo. So, the .40 with 180 grain projectiles looks good to me. Heavier and bigger than the 9mm.

Though my Ruger 9mm fits me like a glove, is an extension of my body and I put bullets right where I want them, I question it's stopping power with the 147 JHP subsonic ammo that it shoots well. I have no doubts about my 45, except capacity.

Depends on the load. A good portion of commercial 10mm load is no more powerful than commercially available 40.

[bczrx]

Buy it if you want it.

I have all 3 of those calibers- and prefer 9mm or .45. I feel I'll be just as safe with either, as I can control the follow up shot better in those than in .40.

This is an opportunity to get another caliber.

[Carcassonne]

Originally Posted by jimmykan

If you want more power from your 9mm rounds, shoot them from a longer barrel.

Is that legal in California?


.

[crufflers]

Originally Posted by Carcassonne

Is that legal in California?


.

It is off-roster and full semi-auto.

[Kokopelli]

Was browsing in a gun store this morning and checked out three 40's. A S&W 7 shot M&P Shield had a nice size but had a hard to pull trigger and even harder slide release. Disappointing as it would make a nice pocket gun. Next, a S&W SD40 had a better trigger but felt cheap. The one that wowed me was a used HK full size 40. It was tagged ~$500.

[Cato]

A 9mm is plenty for home defense - even the high pressure rounds are too much.

A gunfight indoors? At 3am, when you are in your Fruit of the Looms and you wife is screaming that someone is in the house, the last thing you need is more recoil, noise, and flash to disorient you.


A well placed 9mm is just as effective as a well placed 40. In fact a well placed .22 is good enough.

[TripleThreat]

Originally Posted by Cato

A 9mm is plenty for home defense - even the high pressure rounds are too much.

A gunfight indoors? At 3am, when you are in your Combat Nike shorts and you wife is screaming that someone is in the house, the last thing you need is more recoil, noise, and flash to disorient you.


A well placed 9mm is just as effective as a well placed 40. In fact a well placed .22 is good enough.