Login

→

.40 S&W or 9mm? +'s and -'s of each in your opinion. I'm looking at an HK USP Tactical.?

By Yahoo Answers
2008-03-01 07:29:15
Got a Kimber CDP in .45 ACP, I'll never sell it. Just looking for something a bit different. Thanks for the insightful answer.
Answered By: ntolerant
Well, you are looking at an excellent gun. Congrats for having good taste, now get 9mm out of your mind! Of course, the most important factor when considering a gun for protection, not enough stopping power. People can say all they want about 9's for self defense, but the problem is that they cannot be relied upon to effectively and immediately stop a life threatening situation without oodles of training. The 9mm was the reason the "double-tap" was conceived. On the bonus side a 9mm is cheap to shoot. They are great range guns. From steel, soda, to silhouette 9's are a blast, but I recommend .45 ACP or .40 S&W at the least for self defense. Good recommendation Doc. the .357 Sig sounds like a good fit for this man. Have a good ' un.
User: ntolerant
Well, you are looking at an excellent gun. Congrats for having good taste, now get 9mm out of your mind! Of course, the most important factor when considering a gun for protection, not enough stopping power. People can say all they want about 9's for self defense, but the problem is that they cannot be relied upon to effectively and immediately stop a life threatening situation without oodles of training. The 9mm was the reason the "double-tap" was conceived. On the bonus side a 9mm is cheap to shoot. They are great range guns. From steel, soda, to silhouette 9's are a blast, but I recommend .45 ACP or .40 S&W at the least for self defense. Good recommendation Doc. the .357 Sig sounds like a good fit for this man. Have a good ' un.
User: Alexander B
I have survived many years carrying a .32 ACP and i have never felt "undergunned" I never felt the need for anything bigger. In these days i carry a ruger P95 in 9mm. If you can shoot well you don't need all of that stopping power. The cost of ammo is a big + to the 9mm. If you have a .40 and practice every other weekend and have a 9 and practice every weekend which one do you think you'd be better with in a critical incident? Also the 1st answerer said that 9mm is the reason the double tap was invented. So you're telling me if you have a .40 that you would feel safe only putting one bullet into your attacker? No. In most critical incidents you shoot until he's down. You never only put 1 bullet into your target. I train to put at least 3 into an attacker. If you really want 9mm stopping power go get some JHP +P+ rounds. Federal makes good +P+ hydrashocks. I have nothing against .40 caliber but my vote goes to 9mm.
User: Tim
I have a few different rounds for an automatic. I have 380 9mm 40 cal and 45. I just bought the 40 cal and if i was going to choose between the 9 and 40 for carrying for protection it would be the 40 cal.
User: firearmjunky
I have a HK in .40. It is a wonderful weapons system and you cant go wrong with it. Also take a look at the Sig p226, i have one in a 9mm for plinking and it is probably the most accurate and easy to care for weapon i have outside of my "race" guns. 9s are cheap to shoot and a lot of fun but if you are going to use it for home defense spend the money on some black talon rounds or their equivalent. to be honest i would probably opt for the .40 if it were primarily for home defense.
User: Dr Basalmo
The 9mm caliber is worthless...no matter that street gang lovers worship "a 9"..its no good for persoanl defense unless its all you have...for a choice id go witht he 357 Sig
User: So. Cal Man
I personally don't own a .40 cal in any make for the simple reason that the price of ammo is only a buck short of .45 acp. All of mine are 9's and .45's. If the choice is between .40 or 9mm, I personally would choose the 9mm so that I would be able to shoot the cheaper ammo. If $ is not an issue, go for the .40....
User: akluis
40 S&W fires a bigger round, and it hits harder, but as the round is bigger, the capacity is normally a few rounds less. It also recoils more. The 9mm is less potent, but you have a greater capacity and less recoil. Basically the 40S&W splits the difference between 45 and 9mm As you already have a 45, I have no doubt you can handle the recoil of the 40. Still, variety is the spice of life. I recommend geting the 9mm, you already have one big bore man stopper, get something different. 9mm ammo is significantly cheaper than 40S&W, you have greater capacity, and who knows what this gun will end up doing. Maybe it will be the one you end up handing the wife or roomate when something goes bump in the night as you reach for your kimber 45. In that case, 9mm, a cartridge more people can handle all right, is a good thing. Or maybe it will be your 'range bait' gun. When you bring someone to the range with you it is good to have a few different types of guns. A low recoiling gun like the 9mm is good, and ammo is cheaper for the 9mm, so less cost for you to absorb, or less cost for the new guy to have to shell out to come along if you make him buy his own ammo. (I try and eat the ammo cost on the first outing with a new shooter)
User: bamavol
Size, Weight, Capacity, Cost, Diversity Generally I would take the larger caliber in a given weapon. Makes no sense (to me) to buy a 9mm 1911 if it holds the same number of rounds as a 45 in your case, you are looking at for H&K USP :15(9mm), 13(.40), & 12 (.45) but the .45 actually is a little bigger - does the 2 extra rounds in 9mm give you warm fuzzies? 9mm is more readily available at lower cost but that is gradually getting better for the .40 but I did buy a Taurus Millenium Pro in 9mm simply because of ammunition costs and availability H&K .45USPc is one I really believe in anyway
User: Steel Rain
With the sharp increase in ammuniton prices and the availablity problems beginning to occur with the .40 cal S&W ammo, I decided to go with the 9mm. With the modern expanding hollow points the 9mm is establishing a remarkable one shot stop ratio and noboby is foolish enough to believe that the 124 grain JHP 9mm + P doesn't work if you do your part.
User: Plastic Mark
I like the 9mm for it's versatility. You can load it with hotter +P and +P+ rounds that approach .357 magnum power for self/home defense, or you can shoot milder loads for target practice. They are cheaper to shoot than .40 s&w rounds, which means you can practise more too.
User: pathfinder
9mm has a little more velocity, but the .40 has more knockdown power.
User: randy c
.40 S&W, even though it's just an anemic .45 (LOL). it beats a 9mm hands down.
User: Dean C
.40 will be snappier, but you can always pick up a .357 sig barrel, a much better round in my opinion. In regards to .40 or 9mm, either one will do you justice. If you like the wow factor of the USP Tactical, go for it. But for practicality, I think the P2000 is a better choice. It uses the standard rail everyone else does, unlike the propietary rail the USP does, and it's truly ambidextrous. I do a bit of weakhand shooting and the P2000 is a godsend. If you really want something different, get a Kimber in 10mm. Blows the .45acp out of the water. The only problem is finding ammo/brass, but the bullets are the same diameter as the .40, if you reload. Hell, you can call it a .40 long if it makes you feel better, but most of us 10mm fans call the .40s&w a 10mm SHORT =)
User: Paul J
Personally I have the 9mm s.w.M&P it shoots just fine,accurate,plus consider this and this is a fact,the 9mm if used for self defense in the home is very capable of puting a bullett clear threw your attacker and go completly threw and strike a innocent by stander if using a hardball.just imagine what your 45 could do,would always use hollow points.

by Yahoo Answers