What's the real reason 9mm is so popular?

[erikdjs]

I don't reload. It's easier for me to find cheap 9mm ammo for target practice vs. .45acp. That means I can shoot more often and become more proficient.

If I reloaded, I'd definitely shoot .45. I prefer it's recoil and feel.

I wouldn't choose .40s&w ever. I can't hang with the snappiness and stay on target for my follow up shots.

[Gio]

9mm is a great round and is still pretty cheap to load and be able to shoot even more. As others have stated it is an easy round to teach people with.

[rojocorsa]

It'sa good all around pistol round that has been around for ever (since 1902, I think). The fact that it isn't as expensive makes it even more popular. My first pistol will be in 9mm.

[jdg30]

If I reloaded, I'd definitely shoot .45. I prefer it's recoil and feel.

That's what I'm talking about. 9mm is fun to shoot but I really like the characteristics of .45acp. When I go back to shooting 9mm after practicing with .45, the 9mm just doesn't seem to have the punch that I enjoy. Maybe I need to load some hotter 9mm's and that'll cure my 9mm blah's.

[wang949]

For me it's price and availability. Less $ = more practice. (Price is mitigated since you reload though) Other benefits that I like are lighter recoil/faster follow up shots and higher round capacity (If you ever get out of of Kali). This has been my experience with my friend's XD. If you get bored shooting 9mm, try some running/action shooting with a timed point system. It's way more fun than shooting paper at an indoor range. It's also way fun with a .357 and speed loaders.

[bussda]

Before the adoption of the Beretta as the US military service pistol, it was not much desired or liked. But if the military uses it, it must be good. But about all those special operations teams who use .45s and .22s... Hmmm.

[wang949]

Before the adoption of the Beretta as the US military service pistol, it was not much desired or liked. But if the military uses it, it must be good. But about all those special operations teams who use .45s and .22s... Hmmm.

But we must please are European friends in NATO.

[jdg30]

If you get bored shooting 9mm, try some running/action shooting with a timed point system. It's way more fun than shooting paper at an indoor range. It's also way fun with a .357 and speed loaders.

That's a good idea. I think I'm getting bored with shooting the same old paper targets without much change. 9mm is so easy to shoot and be accurate with that it gets boring shooting at the same paper targets.

Maybe that's what this thread is really about, how to make shooting 9mm more enjoyable again! The .357 would definitely be fun to compete with also since it takes some practice to reload well with speedloaders.

[wang949]

That's a good idea. I think I'm getting bored with shooting the same old paper targets without much change. 9mm is so easy to shoot and be accurate with that it gets boring shooting at the same paper targets.

Maybe that's what this thread is really about, how to make shooting 9mm more enjoyable again! The .357 would definitely be fun to compete with also since it takes some practice to reload well with speedloaders.

Definitely! Just grab some buddies and head out to some BLM land. Bring A LOT of ammo though. So much fun. It's also great exercise if you do long/fast enough running.

[Trapper]

Before the adoption of the Beretta as the US military service pistol, it was not much desired or liked. But if the military uses it, it must be good. But about all those special operations teams who use .45s and .22s... Hmmm.

Very true! In the late 80's when our military was shifting from the 1911 to the M9 there was a ton of resistance to adopting the 9mm. I was on active duty at that time and did see an improvement in scores at the range, but I'm not a big 9mm fan. The 9mm v/s .40 v/s .45 debate will go on forever.

[Hopalong]

I like 9mm for it's price, less noise, and less recoil.

I'm a better shot with it.

I can say this because I'm comfortable with the size of my penis.

[23 Blast]

Why is 9mm popular?

Available
Cheap
Low recoil
Availability, variety, and reasonable prices for handguns in this caliber.

9mm in handguns is like 4-cylinder engines in cars: affordable, easily available, economical, low maintenance, wide variety, etc.

I agree that paper punching with any caliber gets boring sometimes - I wish the range I went to allowed us some reactive targets like falling plates or something, but oh well.

[rogervzv]

I think it is because it is cheap and is considered by most as a real adequate self-defense round. Which is right. With advanced ballistics the way they are now the 9mm is in my opinion the standard self defense round. If its smaller than 9mm most feel its inadequate. If its bigger then people either feel they are good to go or that it is overkill.

At the price it is now if people had real performance questions about it, people simply wouldn't by it. And the line of adequately deadly defensive rounds would be drawn at .40 S&W.

I like 9mm for all of the above reasons and also because of the lesser recoil. When I shoot my 9mm Beretta 92fs, the recoil is very manageable and you are still putting a substantial round downrange. If it is enough firepower for the US Army it is good enough for me.

[resident-shooter]

I will tell u why in the order of importance....
1) Relatively affordable.
2) Easy to find, especially at the local Wally. Almost always readily available.
3) Ammo capacity.
4) Recoil does not strain my wrist.

Overwhelming majority of military and LE units use 9mm as primary pistol/smg round... That gives it 3 of the above advantages since its made in HEWJ numbers. Why did they leave 45? Because you can not get a one shot kill with either one... How often do you see .357 mag in the stores? How much does it cost? yea...

[ZombieTactics]

... But about all those special operations teams who use .45s and .22s... Hmmm.

Which ones specifically? Since you used the phrase "all those" I imagine there must be many. Can you document this idea from reliable sources?