S&W M&P .40 or 9mm?

**PennsyPlinker** · February 21st, 2008, 08:25 PM

Greetings all

Mrs. Plinker has just authorized me to uhhh, pull the trigger, as they say, on a new compact M&P. I am not what you would call an indecisive sort, but I find myself vacillating between the .40 and the 9mm. On the one hand, I have developed a love for larger calibers. On the other, 9mm is a lot more economical to shoot.

I already have a 9mm CZ, and I am about to reacquire a .40 Sig which I sold to a future relative and who is selling it back to me as I type this. So I already have both calibers.

I am interested in real life experience - i.e. people who actually own one or the other, and who have actually shot them. So if you fit that description, I would love to hear from you.

Thanks.

**Mity2** · February 21st, 2008, 09:06 PM

I have M&P in 9mm. And have shot M&P in 40.

Since I never liked 40S&W, i was never keen on my beloved M&P chambered in 40.
But one that I've shot was very accurate firearm. It woked just as slick as my 9mm.
My 9mm is accurate, dependable, very easy to manage(as in turm og get back on to tartget for followup shot), and I certainly do trust my life on it.

Only thing i did not like about M&P40 was that since they are almost identical in weight(24oz for 9mm Vs. 24.25oz for 40S&W), felt recoil was much sharper, and to me, who is used to soft recoil of M&P9mm, although was manageble, it was rather annoying.
In comparason, M&P45 is almost 30oz.

Thing I do like about M&P40 is that you can replace barrel with .357sig. So you can have 2 calibers.

Another thing i never cared about(not M&P, but 40S&W in general) is that ammo is NOT cheap. its almost $10 more for same number of ammo.

I've always believed that if I want the economical defence weapon, go with 9mm. If I want real man stopping weapon, stick with 45acp and .357magnum.
So 40 just never had any appeal to me...

Just my 2 cents

thats from todays shooting

EDIT - I just realise that your looking feedback on compact model. Above statement only applys to full size.

**Mtbkski** · February 22nd, 2008, 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by Mity2

I've always believed that if I want the economical defence weapon, go with 9mm. If I want real man stopping weapon, stick with 45acp and .357magnum.
So 40 just never had any appeal to me...

If you plan on buying lots of ammo, and shooting a lot, so you can actually hit what you want too. (And for relaxation and enjoyment.) Then 9mm is a no brainer. And I think it will do it's job if called upon for selfdefense if you do your part and hit the target. And that statement takes us back around to buying lots of ammo, and shooting a lot, so you can actually hit what you want too. (This is the song that never ends..........

I hate that song)

**Mity2** · February 22nd, 2008, 03:32 PM

Here is something I found that'll help you with your dicision...

**PennsyPlinker** · February 22nd, 2008, 06:41 PM

Okay, I am home from the gun shop. I put money down on the 9mm version. Along with the posts I got to thinking, I already have about 800-900 rounds of 9mm stashed, and probably less than 100 of .40 S&W. Plus, I may get Mrs. Plinker to shoot it more. And if I feel the need to shoot big, I can always wear my Colt - or the DE.

**Rogue River** · February 26th, 2008, 10:17 PM

There must be a reason why Law Enforcement is moving away from the 9 mm in droves and going with the .40

**synergy** · February 21st, 2008, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by PennsyPlinker

Greetings all

Mrs. Plinker has just authorized me to uhhh, pull the trigger, as they say, on a new compact M&P. I am not what you would call an indecisive sort, but I find myself vacillating between the .40 and the 9mm. On the one hand, I have developed a love for larger calibers. On the other, 9mm is a lot more economical to shoot
Thanks.

Why get a compact if you're not going to carry it? If you're going to carry it...what caliber you choose is up to you. There are plenty of caliber war threads out there, and ballistic test data out on most popular rounds in both .40 and 9mm.

To me, the 9mm is the no-brainer.

**PennsyPlinker** · February 21st, 2008, 10:27 PM

Mity2, thanks for the info, and very nice target!

Synergy, I am not asking which caliber is better, I am asking what is the real life experience of people who own one of these particular guns. Since you have responded to my post, do you have one? Have you shot one? What was your experience with it?

I own both 9mm and .40 S&W pistols already. I also own pistols in .22 LR, .380 ACP, and .45 ACP. Oh yeah, I have a new pistol in .357 mag.

This does not count my revolvers in .22 LR, .38 Special, .357 mag, .44 mag, and .45 Long Colt. So the question is not, which is the better caliber. I know a lot about the various calibers available to me. The question is, what is the experience of people who have actually owned and shot one of these guns in either of these calibers.

Oh yeah, I am buying this specifically to carry - concealed. If I want to open carry, which I do from time to time, I have plenty of really big guns from which to choose.

**synergy** · February 21st, 2008, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by PennsyPlinker

Mity2, thanks for the info, and very nice target!

Synergy, I am not asking which caliber is better, I am asking what is the real life experience of people who own one of these particular guns. Since you have responded to my post, do you have one? Have you shot one? What was your experience with it?

I own both 9mm and .40 S&W pistols already. I also own pistols in .22 LR, .380 ACP, and .45 ACP. Oh yeah, I have a new pistol in .357 mag.

This does not count my revolvers in .22 LR, .38 Special, .357 mag, .44 mag, and .45 Long Colt. So the question is not, which is the better caliber. I know a lot about the various calibers available to me. The question is, what is the experience of people who have actually owned and shot one of these guns in either of these calibers.

Oh yeah, I am buying this specifically to carry - concealed. If I want to open carry, which I do from time to time, I have plenty of really big guns from which to choose.

I owned a full size 9mm. I STRONGLY prefer 9mm to .40...especially in compact guns.

I've shot a few hundred rounds through each...I prefer the 9mm. Follow up shots take longer with the .40, capacity is lower, recoil is more noticeable, ammo costs more which means I'll practice less with it....it just doesn't excite me.

If I had to choose between 2 more chances to hit the CNS before a reload, or slower splits between shots and 5/100th's of an inch more frontal area on a bullet...I'll make the same choice Rule10b has made.

.40S&W just doesn't give me enough of the "warm fuzzies" for me to get passed all that comes with it.

Like I've said before...most all service pistol calibers suck equally well. Thus, I've chosen 9mm for the reasons I've given above.

**autorim** · February 21st, 2008, 10:29 PM

I have the M&P standard model with night sights in 9mm - love it. Also, I am not a fan of the .40. This handgun with a Streamlight on the rail is my night stand gun.

This is one fine handgun. I no longer have the Glocks - even got rid of my last 1911. I traded it for a M41. A friend of mine owns a local gun shop and the M&P is the hottest seller in handguns - can't keep them in stock.