9mm self defense help ?

[Simi-Surfer]

I would shoot/try a few more options before jumping with and LC9, like an XD or Glock etc. - not to say that this is not a good gun, but since it's your first - try others before you buy. I would also shoot a 40 and 45 - then decide. My friend started with an LC9, then LC380 and now a Glock 9mm.

I have 9mm, 40 and a number of 45s. My ECD is an XD40SC, enjoy shooting my 45s and 9mm. I didn't like the LC9 or LC380, Glock does not fit well in my hand, so I mainly have XDs, 1911s and revolvers. So try some more out and then go with the one that you like the best and as other said, practice, then practice and then practice more.

For me, HD 870 progressive load 8-shot, 00 and slug and the ammo for my EDC is what the local police and sheriffs use, Speer Gold Dot LE or Winchester Ranger XT.

[cmace22]

Haha. Well I'm not going to explain any further for you but in you .2" post you obviously didn't figure in that a change in diameter only increases it's radius by 50%. So a whopping .1" if we use your example.

[riderr]

Haha. Well I'm not going to explain any further for you but in you .2" post you obviously didn't figure in that a change in diameter only increases it's radius by 50%. So a whopping .1" if we use your example.

Why don't you calculate the difference in circumference and area, since you are so math inclined tonight?

My point is that 0.65 is visibly less than 0.85

[cmace22]

Oh I didn't know we were going off the visibly less equals inferior equation. I'm sorry my 8th grade math skills have upset you. I was just pointing out that your get a bigger caliber in case you just miss a little you'll still be ok theory was a bit funny.

[bernieb90]

All the major service calibers perform similarly as far as penetration goes. Expanded diameter is obviously slightly larger with the .40, and .45 over the 9mm, but the difference is not earth shattering by any means. Keep in mind that handguns just poke holes so the bigger the hole the better in theory all other things being equal. However they rarely are, and people tend to practice more, and shoot better with a lighter recoiling handgun.





I would not hesitate using a 9mm with quality ammunition. With good shot placement any of these loads will perform as well as a service handgun can be expected to. With modern ammunition most failures are a result of human error (poor shot placement) rather than bullet failure.

If you want better terminal performance you need to move up to a shoulder fired weapon like a shotgun or rifle.

Barnes XPB 115 gr JHP (copper bullet)
Federal Tactical 124 gr JHP (LE9T1)
Federal HST 124 gr +P JHP (P9HST3)
Remington Golden Saber bonded 124 gr +P JHP (GSB9MMD)
Speer Gold Dot 124 gr +P JHP
Winchester Ranger-T 124 gr +P JHP (RA9124TP)
Winchester 124 gr +P bonded JHP (RA9BA)
Winchester Ranger-T 127 gr +P+ JHP (RA9TA)
Federal Tactical 135 gr +P JHP (LE9T5)
Federal HST 147 gr JHP (P9HST2)
Remington Golden Saber 147 gr JHP (GS9MMC)
Speer Gold Dot 147 gr JHP
Winchester Ranger-T 147 gr JHP (RA9T)
Winchester 147 gr bonded JHP (RA9B/Q4364)

[riderr]

speaking of 9mm vs .45... I am not saying 9mm is bad. It's good. Very good with the right ammo. I would grab it and use it in the situation. However, if I was given a second to choose, I'd grab .45

Here is some very interesting reading from quite a reputable source

http://www.brassfetcher.com/9mm%20vs%2045%20ACP.htm

[baginbucks]

I APOLOGIZE

first i wanna say i apologize for my first question, i should have said im looking at these guns ( lc9 lc380 ) for home defense and to also carry all time , not just home defense, i do plan to practice all the time as yesterday i fired about 100 rounds through the lc9 and i like it , so thank you everyone for your input it has been great, here in mich we have a gun forum and all them guys just were jerks and argued and couldnt give me any good advice, so far you guys have all been great,, so what do you all recommend for 9mm ammo thats for carry and home defense , what brand and grain have you found is good ,hornady,remington,federal,speer,winchester ?

[baginbucks]

9mm +P - 124 gr JHP - Remington Golden Saber
9mm - 124 gr JHP - XTP - Hornady
9mm - 115 gr JHP - Critical Defense - Hornady
9mm - 115 gr JHP - Federal Personal Defense
9mm - 124 gr JHP - Speer Gold Dot LE
9mm - 124 gr HST JHP - Federal Premium
these are what i was looking at, i hear good things on the speer gold dot and i think someone mentioned them above

[fullrearview]

The Ruger's are great guns... Both of them. If I had to chose JUST between the two, I would go with the 9mm... That being said, there are better options out there FOR ME which may also mean that you have better options too.

[fullrearview]

I really like the Federal HST. Really good stuff and performs well.

[ap3572001]

I carried/carry 9mm a lot . On and off duty.

With top of the line JHP's (HST, Ranger in 147 ( or lighter in +p or +P+) , STD cap magaines (15/17 rds) , REALIABLE extended magazines that can hold 20-33 rounds and in a quality serice style pistol ( Beretta , Sig, Glock etc) 9mm is about as good as it gets.

You can fire A LOT of rounds W/O a need to reload.
There is VERY little recoil ( so You can stay on target).
Ammo is available all over the world. ( I was once on a detail in a place where You CAN'T find anything but a 9mm)
Some of the REALLY small carry pistols are more reliable in 9mm than in .40 or .45 .
If You want something with a lot of penetration , go find some REAL NATO ball and You got it .

There is nothing wrong with 9mm.

[Nrai2020]

I have a LC9 and it is a perfect weapon for home defense. As has been said by others, lost of range time and good 9mm 124gr FMJ or HP will work, Good luck

LC9 the perfect weapon for HD??? I know there are a lot of opinions on weapons, calibers, long gun vs shortgun...etc but I doubt anyone would agree a lc9 is a good HD gun... maybe a decent CCW gun, but definitely not a good HD gun..

[baginbucks]

LC9 the perfect weapon for HD??? I know there are a lot of opinions on weapons, calibers, long gun vs shortgun...etc but I doubt anyone would agree a lc9 is a good HD gun... maybe a decent CCW gun, but definitely not a good HD gun..

i posted above ^^^ i asked wrong question, mainly for ccw but also home defense thats why the lc9, now just looking for good rounds to fire from it

[brettkeating]

I claim you really can't say whether a particular gun is a great choice for home defense without context. Rather, you need to consider any gun within the complete context of all the guns you may use to defend your home. An LC9 can be an outstanding choice as a home CCW weapon, because it can give you the opportunity have something on your person and to get at something like a 12 gauge or rifle if you have time.

You'd want to consider tradeoffs between different calibers more carefully if you are going to only have one gun and one gun only. You'll probably have to make compromises one way or the other if you plan to carry outside the home.

But as others have said, what probably matters most is that a) you have a gun and b) you can shoot it.

[SloChicken]

So, this is how I see it.
1. Is 9mm appropriate for HD - Yes with the proper ammo selection
2. Is 9mm the best handgun round for HD - No
3. Is the handgun the best HD solution - No
4. Will you be itching for a bigger caliber - Yes

There is so much more to the equation than this.

For instance. My preferred HD/SD sidearm is my M9 as I can get back on target much faster than my other HD/SD sidearm which is a S&W M&P 45.
Factors include the lighter weight of the S&W vs the Beretta which makes felt recoil much greater in the S&W - this is compounded by the greater caliber of the .45 that the S&W is chambered in.
Further, in my instance I have standard cap mags for my M9 and this bolsters my decision as I can carry more rounds prior to reload.

Now I have a 1911 that has great recoil characteristics similar to my Beretta, but it only holds 7+1 so we are back to the capacity argument.

Neither round is great at barrier (or even heavy clothing) penetration. The 9mm suffers due to its low inertia secondary to its lack of weight vs the .45.
But the .45 is VERY slow and has a large frontal area, which again decreases penetration.

All said, they will both work equitably if used properly.

Heck, I have a 32acp that is better than nothing, and a bad guy wouldn't like gettin' plinked by that round one bit I would bet.

For instance, why don't you look up the Reagan and Brady assassination attempt. That was a 22 short.