40 or 45 that is the quedtion I ask of thee....

[MadTalon]

Hello all, I've been carrying a G19 for a little bit and a really awesome deal popped up on a G30sf(almost exactly the same size as G19 imho) I actually just got home from bringing the G30 to her maiden range trip and the G30sf has the same if not less recoil then the G19 I put 200rnds of 230gr blazers(dirty) down range and all i could say to my wife all the way home was i love it i love it!! If you like Glocks and .45 acp then buy a G30/sf, do it right now. My wife handeled the G30sf just fine but the distance to the trigger was a bit much for her little hands. The only con I can say for me is that cheap dirty ammo I just blew through cost me $90.

[Spike]

Good reading.

I disagree with his statement that a small 38 Special is slower to get repeated shots than a 9 mm. I've ran many IDPA BUG matches that the J-frame shooters are just as fast (and accurate) as the 9 mm shooters.

Recommended reading for everyone.

I would agree with this. I kept up with my K-frame in a BUG match. 0 down.

[grousemaster]

The .40 offers greater capacity, an over-hyped recoil that is not bad (snappy in some sub-compacts) that is actually very controllable with any trigger time, and better penetration. It is the superior round IMO.

[Seismic Sam]

45 or 10mm. The ten is the progenitor to the forty, but it hasn't been castrated and still has a BIG set of balls on it...

[Jeff Bergquist]

Good reading.

I disagree with his statement that a small 38 Special is slower to get repeated shots than a 9 mm. I've ran many IDPA BUG matches that the J-frame shooters are just as fast (and accurate) as the 9 mm shooters.

Recommended reading for everyone.

Then perhaps any disparity in results could be because a revolver in .38 special might be the most common defensive handgun owned by people otherwise unfamiliar with handguns.

[westhope]

Good reading.

I disagree with his statement that a small 38 Special is slower to get repeated shots than a 9 mm. I've ran many IDPA BUG matches that the J-frame shooters are just as fast (and accurate) as the 9 mm shooters.

Recommended reading for everyone.

Then perhaps any disparity in results could be because a revolver in .38 special might be the most common defensive handgun owned by people otherwise unfamiliar with handguns.

I agree. He uses the longer times for repeated shots as grounds for his statement 38's are slower than 9's.

[rugersol]

.40 S&W: Not powerful enough to make up for the snap

[Seismic Sam]

Revolvers are unquestionably FASTER than automatics. This was proven by the legendary Ed McGivern, who until Jerry Miculek came along had the world record for speed and accuracy, and he used a revolver because he had to wait for the slide to close to shoot again. His record: 6 shots from a revolver in .6 seconds with all 6 shots hitting a playing card placed 10 feet away from him.

[Muddy41]

Thanks everyon for your input.. I will finally be at Bill's today to shoot several different guns to find out what works better for me!!!! Looking forward to shooting off 200 rds of 9mm 100 rounds of 40 and 100 rounds of 45!!!! Sweeeeeet.....

Thanks
Mike

[Ironsight87]

I personally prefer to carry a .40 over a 45. I'm not a big guy and have a hard time concealing a large frame pistol. You can fit .40s&w into a 9mm frame at the cost of 1 or 2 rounds in the mag.
Some pistols can easily be converted from 9mm to 40s&w with a kit. Do some research and maybe you wont NEED two separate guns.
40 recoil feels very different from 45. Narrow your search to a couple of each caliber, rent them and choose your favorite.

Hope you find my advice helpful in your choice

[Nat]

If you're considering a 9mm for carry, the PF9 has been getting some major love around the forums... and I've seen them new for under $250

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=28316
and
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=27787

Not that they're universally beloved - but not many of the haters have shown up to whine. Personally, I haven't carried anything but since getting mine.

[TommyMN]

The pf9 is a decent little pocket rocket. It is not a shooter thou. A few mags on mine and my hand killed. My hand size is just to big. It also pinched the piss out of my trigger finger. The pf9 has a purpose and a great price.

[grousemaster]

IF you look at ballistics, the .40 is the superior round when compared to the 9mm or .45. It trumps both in energy, although penetration is the most important factor aside from shot placement. Cost of ammo is something to consider to, you can get a 100 pack of Federal Champion .40 for $25.99 at Walmart, .45 brass is getting spendy.

I just don't see any advantage to carrying a .45 when you consider the compromises you have to make (capacity, size of pistol, ammo cost). The ONLY advantage I see for the .45 is the 1911 platform....which we all love.

[Ironsight87]

I just don't see any advantage to carrying a .45 when you consider the compromises you have to make (capacity, size of pistol, ammo cost). The ONLY advantage I see for the .45 is the 1911 platform....which we all love.

But boy is a .45 fun to shoot!

[shooter115]

Here’s my take on it. .40 or .45 for defensive purposes……… both are going to perform just fine if you are ever unfortunate enough to be forced into a gunfight. I personally choose .40 so I can carry a compact double stack hi-cap auto. My carry gun 95% of the time is a Springfield XDmC which carries 12 rounds, for me this is enough that I very rarely carry a spare mag.

For competition it’s going to be 9mm or .4o, unless you want to shoot in some type of heavy metal or single stack class. I shoot an XDm 5.25 in .40. Mostly cause to me, it makes sense to drill/practice/compete with the same platform and caliber that I am potentially relying on to save mine or my family’s life. I want that gun to be automatic! Another tribute to the .40 is it puts poppers down much faster and more reliably than a 9mm. Since most poppers are calibrated to fall with a center hit from a 9mm, if it starts to go out of calibration (it happens) or you make a low hit, the .40 is still going to put it down. Same goes for swingers or if you get a sticky target on a texas star. Plus if I ever decide to shoot USPSA it will make major. The other thing nice about the .40 is that I can go out to our range after regional SWAT training twice a year and pick up brass by the thousands.

Now, I have been considering getting a second 5.25 in 9mm to use at some 3-gun matches and for the wife to shoot pistol matches with. It’s undeniable that the 9mm has less recoil, higher capacity and is easier for the average person to shoot. The ultimate tradeoff is probably something in a .38 Supercomp, but then your weapon and ammo just got much more expensive and free range brass is non-existent. Maybe someday if my Powerball plan ever pans out

That said..... everyone still owes it to themselves to have a 1911 in good ol’ .45ACP in the fleet.