Guns in the USA

[one...two...tree 2,762]

(here's a comparison I found)

Is there a lot of difference between the 9mm and the .40S&W? If so, how much of a difference?

If you're talking about premium bullet design and both expand to their potential, there isn't a lot of difference. However, if both don't expand, there is a significant difference.

They are both medium powered, medium bore‑size handgun cartridges. Which one is better depends on what the evaluation criteria are.

"Price" is irrelevant when talking about caliber selection; relevant if comparing different gun manufacturers

"Stopping Power" is the ability of a bullet to cause a target to stop advancing and to bleed out as fast as possible? Again, if a 9mm Hydra-Shok 124 grain +P+ and a .40 Remington Golden Sabre 165 grain each achieve maximum expansion, you probably won't notice much of a difference. However, if a 9mm and a .40's hp get clogged, it is indisputable that the .40 will produce a larger permanent wound channel resulting in quicker a bleed out/incapacitation. Same goes for a .45 over a .40S&W.

"Accuracy" can be equal with each round. For the recoil sensitive, the 9mm would probably produce better accuracy. For competition shooters, 9mm seems to allow faster split times.

"Shootability" relates to the ease of handling the recoil. Of course, the 9mm's recoil in noticeably less than the .40S&W. However, there are many shooters who find the .40 S&W quite manageable.

"Reloading Potential"

In general, for target factory ammo: 9mm is going to cost about $2/box of 50 less than .40 for a brand like PMC or Blazer.

"Availability"

The 9mm is more commonplace in the U.S. and throughout the world. There are many areas in the U.S. where .40S&W are hard to come by and too expensive for many shooters as compared to the 9mm.

....

I want to take into account all factors but for me, accuracy would be really important.

[Ban Hammer 13,442]

steven, go visit your brother. shoot a 9mm, a .40 and a .45

see which one you like. that's the best solution.

eta: be very careful with +p ammo........

Edited November 13, 2007 by charlesandnessa

[Ban Hammer 13,442]

avoid at all costs a 10mm btw.

a few more sites on comparison btw.

http://www.waltherpistols.com/Article.aspx?AKey=9mmvs40

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=255691

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-2595.html

more at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.40_S&W

The .40 S&W cartridge has become a huge success in the United States because, while possessing nearly identical accuracy[5], drift and drop, it adds 50% more energy over the 9 mm Parabellum with a more manageable recoil than the 10 mm Auto cartridge. In the rest of the world it has become a popular combat pistol shooting sports cartridge.[citation needed]

.40 S&W Load TablesThe energy of the .40 S&W exceeds all standard-pressure and +P 9 mm Para loadings and many standard-pressure .45 ACP rounds, generating between 450 and 600 foot-pounds of energy, depending on bullet weight, with mid to high 500's typical. Both the .40 S&W and the 9 mm Parabellum operate at a 35,000 psi SAAMI maximum, compared to a 21,000 psi maximum for .45 ACP[6]. Some small ammunition manufacturers offer .40 S&W ammunition consistently developing energy well above 500 ft·lbf in all their .40 S&W ammo as off-the-shelf items.[7]. While SAAMI has not established a +P standard for the .40 S&W, there are companies marketing ammunition claimed to be +P, but they do not provide pressure data to support +P labeling.

The .40 S&W is considered by some[citation needed] the best cartridge for law enforcement use available today, combining superior stopping power when using expanding ammunition and manageable recoil in a package that remains compact, even when using a double-stack magazine. The .40 S&W has an overwhelming share of the U.S. law enforcement market as a result.[citation needed]

Despite the .40 S&W's great popularity amongst American law enforcement and the private sector[citation needed], it has yet to be adopted by a significant number of military forces worldwide. The mainstay for military use in the western world largely remains the preserve of the 9 mm Parabellum, or for a few special forces, .45 ACP in their respective adopted handguns. The United States Coast Guard, however, has adopted the Sig Sauer P229R DAK in .40 S&W as their standard sidearm.

pay particular attention to the bottom of it regarding glocks....more on that below:

http://www.thegunzone.com/glock/glock-kb-faq.html

also, this goes with what was posted previously:

After WWII, the common weight of the 9 mm was changed to 8.0 g (124 gr) to increase the accuracy of the ammunition. Many police departments that use 9 mm rounds in their handguns switched to this weight after the investigation of the FBI shootout in Miami in 1986, because the lighter 7.4 g (114 gr) loading used by the officers was found to be less effective than a heavier load like the 8.0g. Bullets weighing up to 9.5 g (147gr) are available.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9_mm_Luger

personally, i lean towards the .40 cal for cch. as you live in an apartment the 9mm may well be a better choice for you due to the probability of wall penetration.

for travelling i carry my .44 mag though

[Kevin and 10]

If every law abiding citizen or LPR should be allowed to carry regardless of what some politically appointed police chief or sheriff says. People would behave because who knows who's carrying.