9, 357, 40 or 45? which one help plz

[Meety Peety]

im looking for something to be a do it all for range and self defense. thanks

Personally, one of my favorite setups for this purpose is my Sig chambered in .40 with a 9mm conversion barrel. For HD purposes, 10 rounds (+1 if you chamber) of JHP with the option of DA/SA. For the range, the 9mm conversion saves money which allows for practice, practice, practice which is very important, especially with a HD gun. Same mags hold 12 rounds of 9mm, which is 100% legal as they are not modified in any way. Function and reliability has been 100% perfect with my setup with at least 900 rounds of 9mm, no issues there. Felt recoil has been almost identical for me, slightly more noticeable with .40 loads, this will depend on the gun you choose. If you are only planning on buying one pistol to serve both purposes this is a pretty solid option. Even though I own several pistols, I still use this setup as a primary HD gun, with my 1911s being a close second.

[THE NEW GUY]

9mm is cheap and easy to find. You can play all day long at the range, and refill your mags with Speer Gold Dots for HD.

A good pump 12 guage is good too pending your home situation.

Had I thought about it more, I would have got a 9mm/12 gauge combo opposed to the Sig 220 I have.

The cost of 45 ammo is pretty brutal. But its worth every peso when I sleep in comfort at night.

[Scottie15]

I'm pretty sure if you hit someone in the chest with a 10mm, .357, .45 or .357sig hp round its going to do more damage than a jacketed 9mm. (single shot)

Why would you even compare it to a jacketed 9mm? Plated and jacketed bullets are for play/practice. The new Winchester SXT ammo is devastating in 9mm. We have chrono'd it out of a Glock 26 at 1100+ fps.

Get a gun that fits you and that you can afford ammo to practice. Then hit the range, dry fire, maybe take some lessons to help you learn more about marksmanship, clearing malfunctions, etc. If you are comfortable with a 45, and can afford to practice with it, go for it!

[sniper4usmc]

buy Glock 22/23 and buy 9mm conversion barrel

[Anchors]

I hate this topic.

Go to the range and rent them all.
Buy whatever you like best (I say buy them all).

[DannyZRC]

I'm pretty sure if you hit someone in the chest with a 10mm, .357, .45 or .357sig hp round its going to do more damage than a jacketed 9mm. (single shot)

all of the cartridges you listed will penetrate to sufficient depth in a human target to reach vital organs.

if the permanent wound cavity crosses a vital structure, the person will be relatively quickly disabled, if it does not they will not.

the only difference is the size of the wound cavity, which can possibly convert a near miss with a smaller wound channel into a hit with a larger one.

the first shot is very important, but it's even more important with cartridges like 357 SIG, 357 magnum, 10mm, because you will be extremely disoriented if you shoot those without earpro. doubly disoriented from a revolver. triply disoriented if you have the misfortune of shooting one inside without earpro. sextuply disoriented if it's a 357 magnum revolver indoors.

[Andy Taylor]

A hit with a 9mm is better than a miss with a .45.

It sounds like you are a beginning shooter.
9mm is cheaper than any other centerfire round. You can practice the same amount for less $$$ than the others or even better practice more for the same $$$.

[Anchors]

You are loading your .40 mags with 9mm? I thought the top of the mag would be too wide. Please tell more...! I have a G32 .357 sig with both 9mm and .40 conversion barrels. I have several pre-ban .40 hi cap mags. If what you are saying is correct with 9mm capable of being loaded and reliably cycled through a .40 mag it would be quite cool to have 15 round 9mm mags when I shoot the 9mm conversion barrel.

Before anyone chimes in on this and we go off topic:

It isn't the best idea from a functional stand-point.
But even a police officer on here agreed that it wasn't illegal.
Loading a magazine with the wrong ammo isn't illegal. The fact that it might actually feed isn't your fault.
I can fit tons of .223 in my 7.62x39 magazine, that doesn't make it illegal (it also doesn't feed/work).
You aren't manufacturing, importing, or selling a magazine by doing that. You aren't changing anything.

Legal.

[Speedpower]

Do what I did, buy one or two or even 3 for each caliber on variety of hand guns

[paul0660]

You are figuring out which caliber before you figure out which gun. That is bassackwards.

[Excelsior]

+1. as a FIRST handgun for HD I would definitely get a .45 caliber. Like he said a 9mms best feature is retarded in this state due to the regular cap magazine ban. Now if you have regular cap mags for a 9mm.... thats a completely different story. Good shot placement and the fact that a 9mm has less recoil than a .45 is a good reason to get one. (quicker fallow up shots)

Yet with the right ammo, a 9MM is in no way at a disadvantage to the 45ACP as far as a personal defense firearm. In fact it still has the advantages of being easier to control with far less expensive ammo -- the larger mags are only one advantage of the 9MM.

[Excelsior]

I'm happy with 9mm +P, but as long as California has a ban on normal capacity magazines, the main reason to get 9mm is pretty much gone, assuming you can get .45 ACP in your favorite flavor.

Not really. The far cheaper ammo (which equates to far more practice) and less recoil still give the 9MM an advantage.

[akjunkie]

Personally, one of my favorite setups for this purpose is my Sig chambered in .40 with a 9mm conversion barrel. For HD purposes, 10 rounds (+1 if you chamber) of JHP with the option of DA/SA. For the range, the 9mm conversion saves money which allows for practice, practice, practice which is very important, especially with a HD gun. Same mags hold 12 rounds of 9mm, which is 100% legal as they are not modified in any way. Function and reliability has been 100% perfect with my setup with at least 900 rounds of 9mm, no issues there. Felt recoil has been almost identical for me, slightly more noticeable with .40 loads, this will depend on the gun you choose. If you are only planning on buying one pistol to serve both purposes this is a pretty solid option. Even though I own several pistols, I still use this setup as a primary HD gun, with my 1911s being a close second.

+1, very good set up.

To the OP.

If U plan on only buying ONE gun, and $$ isnt a major issue for U (ammo wise) get a 1911 in 45acp.
It's a nice heavy platform, 45 travels @ about 850 FPS. FMJ or Hollowpoints, you'll still put someone down.
The 45 actually has LESS recoil than a 9mm.

[RedFord150]

357 is a revolver. 9, 40, and 45 are semi-autos. Unless you are talking .357 Sig.
Rent a revolver and a good semi-auto at the same time. Make this decision first.
After you pick the platform, you than pick a caliber.
I think .357 revolvers are the perfect starter HG. You practice with light .38 loads and than move up as you become more proficient. You can load the .357 with .38 + P for HD and have a very reliable weapon.
If you choose semi-auto, I recommend you start with 9mm and move up to .45. I think .40 has a 'Snappy' recoil and is a lousy choice for a novice. After a lot of years, my favorite semi-auto caliber is .45.
I think .40 is the preferred choice for LE because of capacity. I do not think capacity should be the 'decision maker' for recreation and HD.
Good luck.

[motogunner356]

i have military experience shooting 556 and 762. ive only handled m9's briefly to clean up ammo after pilots are done. and ive also briefly shot a 1911. i liked the harder punch of the 45 but ill take the best advice and try them all out at the range first. the pistol would be for range shooting, and pd