.40 Vs 9mm rounds

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newgun80

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Ive been doing some reasearch and Im trying to get some info. My previous post was about a GLOCK and I received lot's of GREAT info. I was also advised by some people about purchasing the G22 which is the .40cal version.
My question is, what advantages does a .40cal round have in comparison to a9mm round since the firearm can only be used for target practice. Would a larger cal bullet inflict greater damage to the target thereby making it difficut to determine grouping or is that more of a "hard nose Vs Hollow point" question?

Anyway the REAL question is what are the advantages/disadvantages of using a .40cal Vs 9mm cal?

Thanks
 
for all intents and purposes in The Republic of Kanuckistan.......40 lets you spend more money on ammo, kicks a little more.........and....thats about it.......;)

But I do like .40 as much as 9mm...not sure why though, preference I guess.
 
newgun80 said:
Ive been doing some reasearch and Im trying to get some info. My previous post was about a GLOCK and I received lot's of GREAT info. I was also advised by some people about purchasing the G22 which is the .40cal version.
My question is, what advantages does a .40cal round have in comparison to a9mm round since the firearm can only be used for target practice. Would a larger cal bullet inflict greater damage to the target thereby making it difficut to determine grouping or is that more of a "hard nose Vs Hollow point" question?

Anyway the REAL question is what are the advantages/disadvantages of using a .40cal Vs 9mm cal?

Thanks
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No, .40 has no real "advantage" over 9mm when it comes to paper punching. But by the same logic, 9mm has no advantage over .22LR. However, many people enjoy owning and shooting guns in different calibers because they all give you a different feeling. I could imagine having all my guns in the same caliber. That's just boring.
 
as been already mentioned 9mm is cheaper to shoot and has a little less recoil...no real adavantage with .40....

No, .40 has no real "advantage" over 9mm when it comes to paper punching. But by the same logic, 9mm has no advantage over .22LR. However, many people enjoy owning and shooting guns in different calibers because they all give you a different feeling. I could imagine having all my guns in the same caliber. That's just boring.
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.40 is not that much different from 9mm, .22 is nothing like 9mm in terms of power and recoil... my 3 centerfire semis are all 9mm; and I'm not boring at all (I also have a .44mag for higher recoil needs ;)) . It's pretty convinient buying ammo/reloading one caliber and being able to shoot it in any gun. But I guess if .40/357sig/.45 were cheaper to shoot than 9mm I'd probably get one of each....my next gun will be either 10mm or .45acp though.
 
The only real advantage to 40 over 9 is the ability to shoot "major" for IPSC purposes. There are two divisons, major and minor. There's a formula for determining if your particular cartridge meets the power factor score to be classified as major. 9mm does not make major, 40 does.

That is the only real benefit. 40 ammo is more money than 9, its usually a bit tougher to find. On a side note with regards to 40cal Glocks. I adise you not purchase any Glock chambered in 40. I've seen far too many blow up. Just my experience. The calibre won't necessarily make better or worse holes in paper. Bullet style plays more of a role in this regard. Semi wadcutter, truncated cone, and wadcutter are going to leave some nice round holes. FMJ or HP will leave ragged holes that look more like a pencil was shoved through the paper than a bullet. Cardboard tears away nicely regardless of bullet style, and is in my opinion a better choice for targets.

TDC
 
I have 3 Glocks. one 9mm G17. one 40 S&W G22 and one 45 ACP G21SF. I shoot most is my G17 then G21SF. 9mm is more economical and 45 is more fun to shoot.
 
As everyone else has said, if money is any concern for you in terms of your shooting habits - get a 9mm. The .40S&W rounds are usually about 50% more (the cheapest you can get 9mm is around $100 for 500 rounds. The absolute cheapest .40S&W is more like $150 for 500, and that would be an unusually good deal). It doesn't make any difference the first few times you pick up some ammo, but by the 20th time you are buying ammo (additional $1,000 + tax, roughly), you will start wondering... "Why is it that I wanted a .40 again???".

At the local place I usually shop they have 500 round cases of Remington 115gr. 9mm "Metal Case" (Full Metal Jacket) for $114.99. The equivalent thing in .40S&W is 500 rounds of 165gr. Metal Case, which goes for (I think) $174.99 or somewhere around there. If you want heavier bullets (like 180gr.), hollowpoints, more pressure, or other fancy things, price goes up from there. You will quickly spend way more on ammo than your gun if you plan on doing any amount of serious shooting, 9mm or .40 or any other centrefire calibre.

Having said that, owning and shooting guns in different calibres is fun. If this is your first gun though, get a 9mm.

From your other post, if you are dead-set on a GLOCK, I would recommend the G19 with night sights and the 3.5 connector. That's what I would buy if I were to buy another GLOCK.
 
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Luckily where I'm at the RCMP shoot 9mm and the city cops shoot .40 S&W. Translates into lots of 'free' brass left laying around the range after they leave. So, if one reloaded it maybe 9mm might have the edge in terms of components costs, too. But the .40 is just plain fun to shoot. I also load .45ACP, too bad the ERT cops don't use it here... :p
 
Hey, you guys missed something. If your a first time shooter, your going to want to improve upon your skills and practice.

When I started with hanguns, I learned on a .45. Why? Because it makes a bigger hole in paper. It is EXTREMLY hard to see 9mm holes from 25 M away, unless your using splattering targets. .40 and .45 on the other hand, are much easier to see. This gives you "immediate feedback" as to where (if your even hitting the target) you are hitting it.

Nothing sucks more than filling a couple of mags, running them through and having to bring back your target every time to see where you are shooting.

With this being said, I recommend you buy a .500 SW. Now were talking.
 
more or less:

- 9mm - cheaper ammo, more rounds in a magazine (not in Canada); or for paper targets and training;
- .40 - defensive/offensive or metal targets' shooting. Was chosen by LE agencies due to still low ammo cost but extra stopping power while allowing reasonable number of rounds in a magazine;
- anything over .40 is a little overkill on your wallet; more recoil thus worse accuracy during rapid fire just to name a couple. Only worth if you really need it or really want it :D

Don't see holes in your targets? Did you hit it? :p
Seriously, bring either a binoculars or a scope to see your 100-meters-away target.
 
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Once you decide you really like the sport you will want a 9mm and a .45. The .40 is neither one nor t'other and not as readily stocked . not enough difference to justify having both a 9mm and .40. To complete the "Holy Trinity" of course you will also want to get a .357 so you can also shoot .38spl. which will satisfy any.40 cal wants. I began with .45 but I was able to afford $300/thousand. 9mm should run you $200/thousand most places.
Mike
 
Backwoods said:
for all intents and purposes in The Republic of Kanuckistan.......40 lets you spend more money on ammo, kicks a little more.........and....thats about it.......;)
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I could not agree more. Get 9mm, easier to shoot, spend le$$ or shoot
more for the same price.

That reminds me of a guy friend of mine and I met at the gunstore.
The guy was buying his first gun. The store owner answered politely
his silly questions about .44 and .50 S&W revolvers. I was buying
a SIG at the time, so the guy started bragging about his shooting
and how he loves .50 S&W and that he only shoots .50. We looked
at each other and the store owner smiled and said "heah, sure".

The guy watched too many movies.

Don't be fooled by Hollywood into buying too much of a gun.
 
Choose your primary intended use.

newgun80 said:
...about a GLOCK...My question is, what advantages does a .40cal round have in comparison to a 9mm round since the firearm can only be used for target practice. Would a larger cal bullet inflict greater damage to the target thereby making it difficut to determine grouping or is that more of a "hard nose Vs Hollow point" question? Anyway the REAL question is what are the advantages/disadvantages of using a .40cal Vs 9mm cal?
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The answer is in the question.

"...the firearm can only be used for target practice..."

Firearms are specialized tools.

Define the type of target practice. Choose your sport. Then, and only then, can you evaluate the relative advantages and disadvantages of the chambering and - just as pertinent - the relative advantages and disadvantages of a particular type of firearm.

If, for example, IHMSA is to be your game, Glock may not be your first choice.
 
TDC: your advice on Glocks in .40 is pretty original - did you come up with that yourself or did you read it on the internet? The G22 is one of the most common Police Pistols in N. America - I am sure the picked it based on the fact that they are cheap and they blow up all the time. <sigh>
In the 12 years of shooting I have personally witnessed 3 kbs with pistols (2 USPs and 1 Springfield 1911) Not once was the kb caused because it was a legendary Glock in .40 with an unsupported chamber. In fact 1 was a 9mm and the other two were in .45 ACP. All three had the same cause - dbl charged reloads. I know a pile of real ppl who shoot and not one person I know has heard of a Glock in 40 blowing up.
 
TDC said:
The only real advantage to 40 over 9 is the ability to shoot "major" for IPSC purposes. There are two divisons, major and minor. There's a formula for determining if your particular cartridge meets the power factor score to be classified as major. 9mm does not make major, 40 does.
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People who only think they know IPSC Rules shouldn't spout off ....

There are FIVE divisions in IPSC: Open, Modified, Standard, Production and Revolver Standard. Each division has Power Factor (major/minor) criteria.

9mm CAN be made to make major in Open Division. (I know several IPSC Open shooters that shoot 9mm major)

The minimum calibre for Major in Modified and Standard Divisions is .40" ( or 10mm)(recent exception being .357 SiG)
 
I have both and if you reload there isn't much difference in cost, if you buy bullets in bulk you are looking at about $20.00/1000 more for 40 cal plated bullets or $1.00 per box of 50 reloads. Though I have a few 9mm's I would rather shoot my 40 S&W or 45 ACP, the 9mm's seem almost like shooting a 22 to me, kind of boring.
 
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Glock4ever said:
TDC: your advice on Glocks in .40 is pretty original - did you come up with that yourself or did you read it on the internet? The G22 is one of the most common Police Pistols in N. America - I am sure the picked it based on the fact that they are cheap and they blow up all the time. <sigh>
In the 12 years of shooting I have personally witnessed 3 kbs with pistols (2 USPs and 1 Springfield 1911) Not once was the kb caused because it was a legendary Glock in .40 with an unsupported chamber. In fact 1 was a 9mm and the other two were in .45 ACP. All three had the same cause - dbl charged reloads. I know a pile of real ppl who shoot and not one person I know has heard of a Glock in 40 blowing up.
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I'm sorry, I presume the 4 Glock 22's I witnessed blowing up and the fact that Calgary police has had several of their own guns fail is a myth? It doesn't take a genius to figure out that if you put a 40 cal cartridge in a 9mm frame without any changes you're bound to have issues. The 40 cal Glocks run fine, they just fail much sooner and its usually terminal. Frame rails are the usual culprit and end up being sheared off.

I have heard all the crap about Glocks blowing up. The only calibre I have seen fail is the 40. Unsupported chambers are not exclusive to Glocks, nearly all pistols have unsupported chambers. The Glock chambers are slightly less supported. This can cause issues if you reload as your brass can become weak or swell where there was a lack of support from the last firing. Then again, firing reloads voids your factory warranty and shouldn't be done in the first place. You take your risks... 24,000 rounds and counting and my Glock 17 has yet to fail in any fashion.

TDC
 
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Dragoon said:
People who only think they know IPSC Rules shouldn't spout off ....

There are FIVE divisions in IPSC: Open, Modified, Standard, Production and Revolver Standard. Each division has Power Factor (major/minor) criteria.

9mm CAN be made to make major in Open Division. (I know several IPSC Open shooters that shoot 9mm major)

The minimum calibre for Major in Modified and Standard Divisions is .40" ( or 10mm)(recent exception being .357 SiG)
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I apologize for the generalized comment. However, for a practical sport, I don't see much in the way of practical rules?? Minimum calibre for Major in the modified or standard divisions is 40. yet they permit the .357 sig. That isn't 40 calibre?? Why is 40 cal the min. for only two divisions and not the rest? Why does IPSC not require its shooters to use cover, or require holsters that cover the trigger guard??

TDC
 
Glock4ever

Do a search on You Tube there is a video of a Glock 40 KaBoom. Portland Police dropped the .40 Glock and went to the 9MM after several Glock Kabooms. I believe to be fair they all were with comerciall reloads.

I reload .40 using brass from the CO's out here. You can see the six oclock bulge on all their cases. That said guys have used and shot Glock 40's with nary a problem including shooting lead so go figure.

My Tanfoglio with the .40cal loves lead boolits. The 40 top has polygonial (sp) rifling.

newgun80

Unless you reload and download the .40 you will in IDPA be up against 9MM guns with much lower recoil in the two pistol divisions you would find yourself in. CDP is .45acp land. As mentioned I do reload and the .40 cal running at 130 PF is a hoot to shoot. Thanks Dragoon for the great minor load.

For a new shooter interested in either IPSC or IDPA or both I would recomend a CZ 75B as a good duel purpose gun. Gun fits nicely in Production Division in IPSC and is competitive in both SSP and ESP in IDPA. Gun is relatively inexpensive, has good resale value and is built like a tank. Same can be said for the Tanfoglio line as well. You will love the grip on the CZ/Tanfoglio.

The glocks are great as well but go with the 9MM.

Take Care

Bob
 
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