Having some trouble choosing 40 S&W or 9mm or 45ACP
- Thread starter jurban
- Start date
My first was .40S&W, I wish I went with 9mm first. The recoil on a 9mm is much more manageable and far more comfortable to shoot. Although .45ACP is a pleasure to shoot, it hurts the pocket if you don't reload. Also note, 9mm is cheaper than .40S&W. Ultimately, your best bet here is to get a chance to fire all calibres in different pistols so you can see the difference between an all steel frame, aluminum frame, polymer frame, etc.
My recommendation start with a nice 9mm, the cheap ammo is great for those early plinking session and any qualification courses you may need to do before you upgrade to your big expensive competition pistol if you ever go that route.
9mm pistols worth a mention: Glock 17, Glock 19, CZ Shadow or any CZ 75 series, Springfield XD, S&W M&P9, Beretta 92, Sig 226, Sig 229, Walther P99, Baby Eagle, Steyr M9, any 1911 with a good track history chambered in 9mm, I mention good track history because 1911s are notorious for not being the best 9mm, you really need to do your research on extractors and springs.
Goodluck!
My recommendation start with a nice 9mm, the cheap ammo is great for those early plinking session and any qualification courses you may need to do before you upgrade to your big expensive competition pistol if you ever go that route.
9mm pistols worth a mention: Glock 17, Glock 19, CZ Shadow or any CZ 75 series, Springfield XD, S&W M&P9, Beretta 92, Sig 226, Sig 229, Walther P99, Baby Eagle, Steyr M9, any 1911 with a good track history chambered in 9mm, I mention good track history because 1911s are notorious for not being the best 9mm, you really need to do your research on extractors and springs.
Goodluck!
I think your best bet would be to get on the range and try all three. Depending on what pistol you're looking at, recoil and comfort of shooting will be different.
If the money is an issue, I would recommend the 9mm, but my personal choice is the .40 out of a Glock 22.
Recoil of the 40 from this pistol actually feels softer than my 9mm Sig 225. .45 is great if you reload or are rich, but since i dont and am not, I dont shoot it.
If the money is an issue, I would recommend the 9mm, but my personal choice is the .40 out of a Glock 22.
Recoil of the 40 from this pistol actually feels softer than my 9mm Sig 225. .45 is great if you reload or are rich, but since i dont and am not, I dont shoot it.
kharlingca
CGN Regular
- Location
- Montreal Region, QC
Quick Thoughts
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If you are worried about the cost go with the 9mm
If you want some kick and have some extra money go with the .40
If you want real power, good kick and not worried about the cost (money is no object) go with the .45
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If you are worried about the cost go with the 9mm
If you want some kick and have some extra money go with the .40
If you want real power, good kick and not worried about the cost (money is no object) go with the .45
The answer is yes. You should own all three.
If you only want one then go with "The Lord's Caliber" .45 ACP.
Keep in mind 9mm is the cheapest to buy but you'll never regret going big if you can afford it.
While I have .40 calibers and shoot it most often because of IPSC, if the chips were down, I'd grab my trusty single stack 1911 chambered in .45
If you only want one then go with "The Lord's Caliber" .45 ACP.
Keep in mind 9mm is the cheapest to buy but you'll never regret going big if you can afford it.
While I have .40 calibers and shoot it most often because of IPSC, if the chips were down, I'd grab my trusty single stack 1911 chambered in .45
I think you are starting at the wrong issue.
Because of hand size and shape issues, some pistols will feel real good in your hand and some will feel awkward. A double stack mag may not suit a smaller hand, etc.
I suggest you go to a pistol range and explain you are considering buying a handgun. Shooters will let you fondle their guns and probably invite you to shoot them. This will give you an idea about what feels good to you and how the recoil feels, too, in different calibers.
If you decide that the Sig, for example, is the gun you love, then you can ask "Of the available calibers, which is best for me?" By that time you had better have an idea of what you plan to do with it.
All my handgunning is plinking. I shoot 38 spl, 9mm, 40, 44 spl, 44 mag, 45LC and 45 acp alsmot weekly. I handload them all with cast bullets at moderate speeds. recaoil is not an issue. I download to avoid it in the 44 mag which is painful at full speed. While I shoot many different pistols, I prefer the revolvers because they don't scatter brass all over the place. A silly basis for choosing a gun....
Because of hand size and shape issues, some pistols will feel real good in your hand and some will feel awkward. A double stack mag may not suit a smaller hand, etc.
I suggest you go to a pistol range and explain you are considering buying a handgun. Shooters will let you fondle their guns and probably invite you to shoot them. This will give you an idea about what feels good to you and how the recoil feels, too, in different calibers.
If you decide that the Sig, for example, is the gun you love, then you can ask "Of the available calibers, which is best for me?" By that time you had better have an idea of what you plan to do with it.
All my handgunning is plinking. I shoot 38 spl, 9mm, 40, 44 spl, 44 mag, 45LC and 45 acp alsmot weekly. I handload them all with cast bullets at moderate speeds. recaoil is not an issue. I download to avoid it in the 44 mag which is painful at full speed. While I shoot many different pistols, I prefer the revolvers because they don't scatter brass all over the place. A silly basis for choosing a gun....
trubluscrew
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Try out all three and see what you like. I my first purchase was a .45ACP. really wish I started with a .40 S&W. I had shot a 9mm previously and jumped right over the .40
Here are my observations
9mm, likes to have a little muzzle flip for recoil, very mild and easy on the wallet
.40 S&W No muzzle flip, almost like a straight blow back as recoil. Not too bad on the wallet
.45ACP. Likes to "roll" for recoil. Imagine holding the steering wheel with your right hand at the 3 O'clock position and turning left to the 12 O'clock position (not quite that severe, but that motion). I find it similar to the .357 recoil. Pricey on the wallet unless you reload.
If your not starting immediately into action shooting sports, what about a .22? It's more or less the same muscle control, cheap to feed and you can develop good skills before moving into a larger caliber.
Here are my observations
9mm, likes to have a little muzzle flip for recoil, very mild and easy on the wallet
.40 S&W No muzzle flip, almost like a straight blow back as recoil. Not too bad on the wallet
.45ACP. Likes to "roll" for recoil. Imagine holding the steering wheel with your right hand at the 3 O'clock position and turning left to the 12 O'clock position (not quite that severe, but that motion). I find it similar to the .357 recoil. Pricey on the wallet unless you reload.
If your not starting immediately into action shooting sports, what about a .22? It's more or less the same muscle control, cheap to feed and you can develop good skills before moving into a larger caliber.
My 2 cents....
All are fine ctgs [even that little pussy 9mm round]
Go 9mm if you don't want to get into reloading as it will be the most economic of the three to shoot factory ammo.
If you want to get into reloading then it's whatever one suits you best as components for all three are readily available.
Where I'm at, the cops are shooting both 9mm & .40 S&W in their duty guns. Being a reloader, that gives a good economic source for once fired factory brass in both ctgs. I am also set up to load .45ACP and have a good supply of brass for that too.
Find the pistol that fits your hand best then go from there with the ctg.
All are fine ctgs [even that little pussy 9mm round]
Go 9mm if you don't want to get into reloading as it will be the most economic of the three to shoot factory ammo.
If you want to get into reloading then it's whatever one suits you best as components for all three are readily available.
Where I'm at, the cops are shooting both 9mm & .40 S&W in their duty guns. Being a reloader, that gives a good economic source for once fired factory brass in both ctgs. I am also set up to load .45ACP and have a good supply of brass for that too.
Find the pistol that fits your hand best then go from there with the ctg.
I am also in the same situation. I currently have my name on a Glock 21 SF (.45 ACP) at the local gun store. However, I am debating if It will be too expensive to shoot as often as I want to shoot. He has both Glock 22 (.40 S&W) and Glock 17 (9 mm) as well and I don't know if I should just buy the Glock 17. Is it worth paying more for .45 ACP just so that you don't get called a "pussy" for shooting 9 mm? Help!!!
Every caliber is different.
I own all of them and I like .40S&W, maybe because I shoot it most.
.45 ACP is a classic, but it takes time to master this caliber.
9mm is cheapest to shoot and not bad.
Whatever you gonna choose you should be happy.
Buy it in reliable gun.
I own all of them and I like .40S&W, maybe because I shoot it most.
.45 ACP is a classic, but it takes time to master this caliber.
9mm is cheapest to shoot and not bad.
Whatever you gonna choose you should be happy.
Buy it in reliable gun.
- Location
- Kawartha Lakes
9 mm.........way easier on the pocket book.
The Glock 21 has a very large grip, I have long fingers and the Glock 21 just fits me, beware its size. Otherwise, I don't shoot it a lot because I can't afford to feed it a lot of ammo so I bought a conversion kit for it which is actually kind of sad. I have the Glock 22 and don't like it in .40S&W at all. Comments about the recoil of the .40 being less than the 9mm are bull. The .40 flips and kicks more than anything I've ever shot. In fact if the Glock 22 wasnt my issued firearm I wouldn't keep it for personal practice because I never plink with it. The Sig 229 in .40 isn't so bad because you have more weight to absorb that recoil but the Glock 22 and model 23 just aren't pleasant to shoot at all. I'm far more accurate with faster follow-up shots in 9mm.
I have all three as well, instead of the 40 I should have bought a 10, but I was thinking about the dollars, oh well Kimber in 45 , Springfield in 40,and hk in 9, but then there's always the SW model 500, if ya like recoil and don't mind spending money, I can shoot the 350 gr one handed but I haven't tried a 500 gr ,yet...don't imagine you would want to do that all day, but with a pair of golf gloves the smith is quite managable, because I sure haven't found a decent pair of shooting gloves yet, and other than 40 to 60 bucks a pair and a one season(maybe)life span the golf glove are great.
I sure hope the arn't any English teachers around here for my one sentence posts.LOL
I sure hope the arn't any English teachers around here for my one sentence posts.LOL
for a person starting out, if you are on a budget, forget .45acp, if money is easy, then consider it. 9mm is always a safe bet and the cheapest after .22 (which you should also consider buying) If your range is used by police, then .40cal casings should be easy to find.
Well, I think I am going to go with the Glock 17 (9 mm). This is my reasoning...
1. Ammo prices
2. Ammo availability
3. Overall ammo/weapon weight
4. Manageable recoil/quicker follow-up shots
5. Size of weapon grip/comfortable to hold
6. New expansion ammo for increased stopping power in a SHTF scenario
7. Glock is most reliable in the caliber it was originally designed for (9 mm)
8. My wife won't be scared to shoot it
Am I forgetting anything? Is this acceptable logic or am I crazy?
1. Ammo prices
2. Ammo availability
3. Overall ammo/weapon weight
4. Manageable recoil/quicker follow-up shots
5. Size of weapon grip/comfortable to hold
6. New expansion ammo for increased stopping power in a SHTF scenario
7. Glock is most reliable in the caliber it was originally designed for (9 mm)
8. My wife won't be scared to shoot it
Am I forgetting anything? Is this acceptable logic or am I crazy?
