9mm

[TNP]

Do any of you LEO's carry 9mm while on duty? What about 1911's in .45 acp? I am fairly new to gun ownership and purchased a 9mm as opposed to .40 for home defense. Do you think this was a wise decision? Thanks for your services to our community and consideration.

[biochembruin]

You're fine with a 9mm and good hollow points. Just worry about hitting your target. As you're new to gun ownership, you may not be aware that the "9mm vs .45" debate has been raging for decades with no end in sight. Do a little research and decide for yourself. Suffice to say there are plenty of officers who carry both calibers, and the 45 is not so big that it will make up for poor shot placement.

[yzErnie]

You're fine with a 9mm and good hollow points. Just worry about hitting your target. As you're new to gun ownership, you may not be aware that the "9mm vs .45" debate has been raging for decades with no end in sight. Do a little research and decide for yourself. Suffice to say there are plenty of officers who carry both calibers, and the 45 is not so big that it will make up for poor shot placement.

^^^^^^^^^^ This ^^^^^^^^^^

[CalCop]

Depending on the ballistic study you read....the ones I have read indicate that .40 and .45 ballistic results were comparable, while 9mm did noticeably less damage.

Also, a couple of duty ballistic vests ago.....the label on my vest said it would stop up to 9mm and .38. So, by inference, it was suggesting it was not guaranteed to stop .40 and above. I found that significant in my later choices to buy mostly .40 cal weapons.

[BigDogatPlay]

^^^^^^^^^^ This ^^^^^^^^^^

+1

I carried 9mm, .40 and .45 at various times, and I own examples of all those calibers. Properly loaded and handled they all will get the job done. In my current capacity of no longer being in the business and gainfully employed in the private sector, the gun I trust with my life is a 9mm SiG P239 for what that's worth.

Get some practice, consider taking a basic course from a reputable instructor, find the defensive ammo that runs best in your gun and then practice every month or so to improve your skill set.

[CalCop]

the gun I trust with my life is a 9mm SiG P239 for what that's worth.

The Sig 239 is a high quality weapon, however, what turned me off about it was that it is the same size as other weapons that have twice the capacity.

[bcj128]

You will meet many gun "experts" from WW-Nam who will tell you that only a .45 is a worthy fighting gun. I don't know how many gun stores I've gone into where that machismo silliness still gets preached from behind the counter...

I've carried a gun for over 20 years. I started with a 9mm, and I still carry one off duty most times. On duty, I went from 9 to .40, to .45, back to 9, and settled on the .40 because its what our department carries. In the end, I have to say as strongly as possible that the caliber is far less relevant than your ability to hit your target. 9mm, .40, .45 all will work. (However, none of them will work if you miss...)\

One thing I learned: "Gun Expert" = Guy (or gal) whop talks 1911 / .45 ACP, shoots a 9mm (likely a Glock), and carries a J frame...

[dougtoni]

+1 bcj128!!! You put that so smoothly. That is exactly how i tell people who ask me for advise on guns. You are exactly correct in the whole follosify of it. Hopefully others will read it and learn something from it. Thanks for the read.

[BigDogatPlay]

The Sig 239 is a high quality weapon, however, what turned me off about it was that it is the same size as other weapons that have twice the capacity.

Don't disagree on point. A very valid observation. If I was still working I might consider a higher capacity for off duty. But for the size and weight with a 10 round mag on board and two 8 rounders on the belt I feel pretty much good to go.

[415dog!]

Shot placement is key

[Ron-Solo]

You are fine with 9mm. It is still carried by many law enforcement agencies, and it does the job just fine.

Being able to hit your target is critical, and with a 9mm you can afford to shoot more too.

[TNP]

Thank you for all of your input!! I feel so much better now about my recent choice to buy a glock 19 rather than a glock 23. I will continue to practice my shot placement and hopefully down the road I can move up to a higher caliber when I am comfortable.

[retired]

Dr. Gary Roberts is a recognized national ballistics expert with extensive testing for the military and le. He is also a moderator at

http://tacticalforums.com

In a test done some time ago (IIRC, 2005), he lists a number of excellent HP rounds from different manufacturers in various calibers, including the ones discussed so far. He also shows the penetration of various calibers in ballistic gelatin.

He recommends buying a case of 500 good, robust self defense rounds and shooting it in your weapon of choice. If the weapon performs fine, without any faults, then buy the ammo as your ammo of choice. He advises practice, practice and then practice again. Placement is the key, along with the right ammo.

A google search here will reveal the study I am referring to. I tried a search on TF, but couldn't find it anymore since it was from 2005.

[Notorious]

I started my LE career with a 40, then switched to 45 when I got on the bigger is better wagon, then went back to 9mm when I decided that having just a few more bullets and being able to place them all faster and more accurately was better than having fewer big bullets that recoiled more and made me shoot slower.

Modern 9mm defense ammo has very identical terminal ballistics compared to modern 40 or 45 ammo. Most are within the low to mid-90's percentile for one-shot stops when you look at the scientific studies conducted by various ballistics experts, from the jello freaks to the morgue monsters.

I have absolutely no problem carrying my 9mm with modern +P+ ammo from Winchester. That thing is a rocket!

[Jonathan Doe]

As a guyy works in forensic field, I see the vast majority of bullets recovered during autpopsies are 9mm FMJ, 38 SPL LRN, 22 LR LRN. Are they one shot stops/kills? I have no idea. But, I know the bullets do the job if hit in the right place.

I get tired really easily when people talk about stopping power and large bullet theory. I think the bullets killed majority of people are 38 SPL LRN, that were shot in the right place.

I carry 9mm on and off duty. I never think about anything else, because I see the results of the rounds I carry frequently.