Is the price of .40 ammo worth the extra $ over 9mm ammo. Opinions needed please!!!

[igousigloo]

22lr shot placement easier than most.

22lr recoil non existent.

22lr penetration sufficient.

22lr cheaper than all for practice.

[hogwiley]

Is the price of .40 ammo worth the cost? I dont know, how much is your life worth to you? I think the .40 is the better self defense round, so thats what I use in a self defense gun, even though 9mm is a little cheaper.

[ritepath]

How about buy a 40 and a 9mm conversion barrel?

That's my solution...heck you can even acquire a better than both 357sig barrel.

[Mercenary]

Bottom line, shot placement is soooo much more important than caliber.

^^^^^^^^I agree.

Shot placement is WAY more important. Rapid incapacitation known as the "One shot stop" is achieved by a direct hit to the Central Nervous System. Other than that its a myth. However, psychological factors could make someone "fall" after one shot, but a hangun bullet being physically being able to knock down an adult human being is fiction. With total destruction of the heart, a human can still have cognitive function for up to 15 seconds. The next time you're at the range, get out your watch and see how many rounds you can fire in 15 seconds. I guarantee you can empty you mag and some of you may even be able to reload.

Now, a more powerful round can give you two advantages:

1. Deeper penetration. If your bullet cannot penetrate deep enough, it cannot possibly hit a vital organ or the CNS.

2. Larger diameter. The larger the bullet is the more tissue it crushes as it passes through the body thus increasing your chances of hitting a vital organ or the CNS.

So what advantage does the 40 S&W offer over the 9mm?? Deeper penetration than standard 9mm loads and .5mm larger bullet diameter. Howevere, 9mm +P or +P+ loadings may even trump the 40 S&W in some cases on penetration.

What advantage does the 9mm offer over the 40 S&W? More capacity, cheaper ammo, and less recoil. Cheaper ammo translates to more practice and more practice leads to better shot placement.

[TunnelRat]

Cheaper ammo translates to more practice and more practice leads to better shot placement.

This assumes a set amount the shooter is willing to spend. I shoot 100 rounds every weekend, no exceptions. If my primary carry was 45, I'd shoot 100 rounds of 45. Right now it's 40, so I shoot 100 rounds of that.

[Twigs199]

YES! the Sigma, I LOVE MINE! I currently have the 40VE, great gun! I got the .40 because a little more powerful and I shoot a local gun club here and based on target hits .40 and .45's get 1 more point than .22 and 9mm. Nothing wrong with the 9, my boss shoots the 9 but I like the challenge a bit more plus I get graded on a curve when I shoot The ammo for me, I get a box of 100 federal's at wally world for $26.99, its about a 3 dollar difference between the 9 and .40 here. I love mine and if something came up and I had to grab a gun for protection I'd grab the .40, I will however be buying the 9VE VERY VERY soon. I like the .40 so much that I want its little brother. The .40 better yes but more expensive, not by to much and yes its a bit more of a bossier gun, 9's are fun and cheaper, there both fun and it really dose not matter what you get now because witch ever one you buy your going to get its brother sooner or later, trust me.

And you do get two mag's and a trigger lock that it comes with.

[barstoolguru]

get a glock and an extra barrel and you can shoot 9mm and 40 out of the same gun

[checkmyswag]

The only thing I'm going to fire a lot is 22LR or cheap 12 gauge birdshot.

I just can't/won't spend lots of money shooting up ammo.

Not saying I won't shoot a few boxes of 40 cal or 308 but not enough to where it's going to mess up my budget.

For those of ya'll who haven't shot 22's much or haven't since you were a kid, it's really a blast and doesn't cost and arm and a leg.

[chewie146]

No. Not in my opinion. The 9mm won't do anything less than the others in the big 3, provided you use good ammo. The next step are the real big boys like the .44 magnum and the .45 colt (hot loads).

[Eppie]

plouffedaddy
Thanks for that link that was good reading.

[Erikbal]

Twigs199 have you found any accessories for the sigma like a light or anything like that? At the gun shop today I saw a s&w HD40 and it came with a light mounted on it. Since the Sigma would be used for home defense as well I wouldn't mind having a nice LED light for it. Also thanks for the info on the mags. My BG came with a lock but only 1 mag.

[Will Beararms]

Baring any Russian or former Soviet Bloc ammunition, there is not a drastic difference in the price of domestically produced .40 and 9mm in both FMJ and JHP configurations. In fact in some instances, I am seeing both JHP and FMJ prices the same. I saw some JHP Remington ammo that was actually $1.00 per box cheaper than the 9mm at Cheaper Than Dirt. Still if you go to Wal Mart, 9mm is always cheaper than .40. Yep 9mm is cheaper and when you talk bulk but for me, I can live with the price of .40 right now. It is not a wonder caliber but it is a nice compromise in many respects.

[Sparks1957]

Is the price of .40 ammo worth the cost? I dont know, how much is your life worth to you?

I've yet to meet anyone who will volunteer to be shot with a 9mm because it's a wimpy cartridge

[Twigs199]

Erikball heck yea! At Gander MT here you can actually buy the sigma with a light or lazer, the ones with lazers sell like hot cakes. It has a rail to put something on it. I personally do not have anything, I'd like to throw a lazer on it for looks for the home just have not got around to it. I do however carry a LED small flash light (left handed shooter) in my right hand due to the fact that if it were attached to the rail you really do not want your barrel pointed at the light shine all the time. If a cop came up and you shined your light at him with it attached then you'd be shot yourself, just a little something to keep in mind plus its easier to scan the scene with flashlight in the other hand than to whip your gun all around. But for the price your saving buying a sigma instead of a glock you can guy some cool stuff for it.

Also I was thinking of your post today at work and compared it to engine sizes.

4cyc / lacks power but cheap and easy = .22 cheap easy fun to plunk around

6cyc / bit more on gas $, faster powerful = 9mm cheap, fast nice punch off the green light

8cyc / good for power, hauling, nice torqe when you need it, more $ at the pump = .40 nice punch, reliable when needed, good overall

12cyc / good for power, pure power $$$ gas pump = .45 nice BANG, great power!

[C0untZer0]

Wow Evan Marshall...

In 1987 or 1988 - I can't remember which, he had the Federal Nyclad at 81% One-Shot-Stops.

It makes me happy that it went up to 84%

Data is from 1997, I wonder if he's gone to a statistics class since then...

[Stevie-Ray]

I already have a 9mm and some .45s, so IMO I have the best of both worlds.

I'm in agreement with this. Never found a use for .40s. However, if .40 should tumble to new lows of 5-8 bucks per 50, I will have found a new cartridge to play with.

[dave9969]

For what its worth, and your mileage may vary in New York but

as mentioned above me here
you are paying too much for your bullets.

Wal Mart is the yard stick I use to judge prices.
I can get russian tulamo for 9.50 for 50
I can get Federal Brass jacketed 10.50 for 50(re loadable to)

SO when making my bulk ammo purchases, I keep this price for comparison.

Now, as for 9mm vs 40 mm
if you get good home defense ammo, and I mean something similar to Speer Lawman Hollow points 115 grain(my choice for home loads) You should find little difference in how the bad guy goes down if you hit center of mass vs a 40.

No caliber is going to make up for failure to practice and be confident with your weapon of choice.
No gun is dangerous, until YOU PICK IT UP.
Guns do not kill people, they help me kill intruders, and the occasional wild hog.

I had to make the 40 vs 9 choice a year ago, and dollar for dollar day to day, you can not beat the price of 9mm gear.
If you want a great spot to purchase once shot reloads in BULK, I can recommend North Georgia Reloading and Accessories.
I purchase bulk 500 round boxes of 9mm from these guys at great prices. Never had an issue out of any of their stuff in any size. I also buy 5.56 from them, same deal reload or new great price. They have a truck that runs the gun show circuit and they do mail order/website(under construction)

So having said all that, pick your poison.
40's are really nice guns, would I own one? Nope, too many issues for parts and supplies down the road for my liking.
9mm x 19 is the MOST COMMON AMMO ON EARTH, plentiful supply, fair pricing, easy to find. these were the factors that made my decision for me.

[checkmyswag]

9mm is great

40 is great

45 is great

pick what you like, it's all good! Advantages/disadvantages to each.

[lashlaroe]

All this discussion is great, but don't forget...

When it comes to home self defense, your handgun is just the weapon you use while you are getting out, or to, your shotgun.

There is still no better home defense weapon than your 12 ga shotgun loaded with something...anything...say #4 shot.

So pick the handgun and caliber that you like the most (sure pick what you like most vs. what everyone else likes) and practice with it enough that you know what your results will be without looking at anything else but your target. Remember, it might be dark if...or when...anything ever happens that requires you to take action.

You cannot go wrong with either choice. In my opinion, of course.

[trex1310]

I was demonstrating the difference in "real" numbers. No one "thinks" in grains. They think in pounds.

Nobody and I mean nobody thinks about bullet weights in pounds.

Here's some more "real" numbers In regards to the 147gr 9mm vs the
180gr .40 S&W.

- The .40 S&W bullet has a 13% larger diameter bullet.
- The .40 S&W bullet is 22% heavier.

What does this prove? Nothing. Caliber debates are meaningless. It
gives us something to do on these forums.

[iamdb]

I think about it like, 0.04" smaller and 2 grams lighter with a lot less recoil

[TheRaskalKing]

I recently had to make the same decision, though it was XDM not S&W, and settled on the .40. My reasoning for doing so? I bought the gun in the name of self/home defense. For me personally the .40 is a better round. I like the snap and extra power, and shoot just as straight with the .40 as I do with the 9.

Yes, the .40 is a few dollars more, and that's a problem I'm currently trying to remedy, but I feel more confident with a bigger round. And for me, that extra confidence goes a long way. A bad guy will entirely likely be just as dead after being hit with several rounds of 9 as with .40, especially when, as many have mentioned, you consider the great self defense rounds there are out there. But for me, that extra power helps me feel a little more secure. The 9 is cheaper, and still a great option, but for me, I like the .40. I looked into the .45, but the grip on the XDM .45 didn't fit as well as the .40 or the 9.

In case you didn't pick up on this, what I'm getting at is find what works for YOU. Because YOU have to (get to) shoot it, and it will be defending YOU and those you love from those who want to hurt you. So find what makes you confident and helps you sleep at night. I did exactly what you're doing: spending time researching, talking up the guys at the LGS, asking the TFL braintrust, and above all SHOOTING.

Find what works for you, shoot often, and shoot well.

[dajowi]

"I'll splurge and buy six of the S&W 500 magnums" The Smith is a 5 shooter. What do you do with the 6th?

[Darren Roberts]

I have been a paramedic for 21 years and have worked in areas that had high rates of shootings. The one that sticks out in my mind the most is a guy was shot 11 times with a 9mm. 1 shot to the neck just lateral of vital blood vessells. 3 rounds chest one to the sternum two to the left axillary line. Two rounds to the left abdomen and the rest to the extremities. He was walking around trying to refuse care. He eventually lost enough blood to loose consciousness, but that was over 45 minutes after being shot. And 45 minutes is a long time if someone keeps coming.
I have seen several people with 1 or 2 similar placed rounds as the first 4from a 40 and the survival rate was very low.
I trust what I have seen. Say what you want about stopping power and knock down power, I carry a 40 at work, and is my first line weapon at home.

That being said for fun and the low likelyhood of actually having to fire your weapon in a self defense or home defense situation, the 9mm is the more cost effective decision.

[357sigss]

To the OP there is a huge anti .40 bias on internet forums. There is a giant bandwagon that everyone and thier brother is jumping on. I guess it makes them feel special. If you want a .40 buy one. If anyone talks down to you because of the caliber of your gun, they are the one with the problem. I have dealt with this so forgive me if I'm a little abrasive with my opinions in this post.

If you shoot 9mm better then go with it. It's a great round and many people are better with it.

I could ask the question...Is the price of .45 ammo worth the extra $ over 40? At least with .40 vs. 9mm you are getting a little larger caliber and more power. With 45acp vs. .40 you are getting a little larger caliber and that is all. Don't let biased people fool you into thinking .45 is some kind of power upgrade. Look the ballistics up yourself. They are about equal, as well as the 357 sig. Those three can be loaded to match eachother in muzzle energy with various pressures and bullet weights. They are one good step above 9mm and one good step below 10mm.

I'll get flamed for saying something positive about the .40sw, but someone has to.