9mm vs. .40S&W
Is there a lot of difference between the 9mm and the .40S&W? If so, how much
of a difference?
If you're talking about premium bullet design and both expand to their
potential, there isn't a lot of difference. However, if both don't expand, there
is a significant difference.
They are both medium powered, medium bore‑size handgun cartridges. Which one
is better depends on what the evaluation criteria are.
"Price" is irrelevant when talking about caliber selection; relevant if
comparing different gun manufacturers
"Stopping Power" is the ability of a bullet to cause a target to stop
advancing and to bleed out as fast as possible? Again, if a 9mm Hydra-Shok 124
grain +P+ and a .40 Remington Golden Sabre 165 grain each achieve maximum
expansion, you probably won't notice much of a difference. However, if a 9mm and
a .40's hp get clogged, it is indisputable that the .40 will produce a larger
permanent wound channel resulting in quicker a bleed out/incapacitation. Same
goes for a .45 over a .40S&W.
"Accuracy" can be equal with each round. For the recoil sensitive, the 9mm
would probably produce better accuracy. For competition shooters, 9mm seems to
allow faster split times.
"Shootability" relates to the ease of handling the recoil. Of course, the
9mm's recoil in noticeably less than the .40S&W. However, there are many
shooters who find the .40 S&W quite manageable.
"Reloading Potential"
In general, for target factory ammo: 9mm is going to cost about $2/box of 50
less than .40 for a brand like PMC or Blazer.
"Availability"
The 9mm is more commonplace in the U.S. and throughout the world. There are
many areas in the U.S. where .40S&W are hard to come by and too expensive for
many shooters as compared to the 9mm.
Try both calibers, including the .45, in as many different platforms as you
can. There is no substitute for firsthand experience in determining which round
you will feel more comfortable with and have the most confidence.
I find the 9mm is consistently more controllable for me out of a Glock 26,
PT99,
PT92C, Glock 17, and SIG P228. No variations. This is for all major factory
loads in FMJ, JHP -- fast follow‑up shots, and I can keep a 2‑3 inch group from
7‑15 yards in semi‑auto fast fire and point‑shooting.
In the .40S&W, I am dead accurate with the P229, but my results vary with the
G23 and 27. I have practiced a solid grip without limping the wrist, tried
different ammo, magazine extenders, and such. The P229 with Hogue grip results
in a 1‑2 inch group at 7 yards; always. With the 23, I get about 2‑5 inch
groups. Hopefully the data from list members can validate concerns, but I know
that if I have to shoot for self‑defense, my placement would have little doubt
if I were to use Glocks in 9mm, and SIG in 40SW. Experiment for yourself.
I have recently gone through the same comparison process. The logic that I
found most persuasive was this:
The TOP PERFORMING rounds in 45, 40, and 9 provide an equivalent level of
stopping power. The differences are insignificant compared to the human
variable.
If this is true, then why should anyone carry the lower capacity, hard
recoiling 40 or 45?
1) In the 45, almost any modern hollow point is a good choice. In the 40,
many of the modern hollow points are good choices. In the 9, a couple of the
modern hollow points meet the performance of the 45 and 40.
2) The larger calibers are generally thought to have more generous
performance envelopes (e.g.. the 45 tends to maintain consistent performance
through adverse conditions (too low or too high velocity, bulky clothing, cover,
etc.)longer than the 40 and 9 do.) Clearly this is a more difficult thing get a
handle on but it seems correct intuitively.
So basically it comes down to the gun. If you find your M27 controllable and
the ammo costs are not killing you there does not seem to be any reason to step
down to the 9. If you are looking for a smaller carry package, you will probably
end up with a 9.
I decided I liked the performance of the Speer Gold Dots. John Koppel at
Proload uses these bullets in most of his premium products. He recommends the
155 gr. Gold Dot for my M27 and the 124gr +p Gold Dot for my Kahr MK‑9.
Why is the current flavor for the last months for FBI special agents and DEA
the Glock .40's? Could it be because the different groups have different
operational needs? I give more credit to the different units getting what they
need for their particular mission. If I was on FBI SRT, my concerns might weigh
more heavily toward the most accurate gun, with the best trigger, because head
shots will be a more likely possibility. Also, I'd want the .45 because it
simply punches through obstacles and is guaranteed to make a larger
permanent-wound channel if the hp clogs. FBI special agents need an all-purpose
handgun at a sensible price; thus, the Glock .40. SOCOM, FBI SRT, and Phoenix
SWAT for that matter, have different mission needs and so get to customize their
arsenal to their unique mission requirements.