Real world difference between .40, .45, and 9MM

[dingleberrydorkbutt]

Need help for a possible home defense handgun purchase. I'm looking at a Hi-Point .40 and a S&W SW9VE 9MM.

I prefer the hi-Point for the adjustable sights and just want to get opinions on .40 caliber ammo availability and real-world capability vs. the S&W 9MM. The Hi-Point is new and the S&W is slightly used.

Also, I was trying to reload one, but I couldn't find the "R" button. What's up with that?

 

[highland145]

inb4hipointhaters

.40s good enough for the FBI, it's good enough for me. 9mm is cheaper to shoot. Shot placement is most important.

Next to the "E".

 

[dingleberrydorkbutt]

inb4hipointhaters

.40s good enough for the FBI, it's good enough for me. 9mm is cheaper to shoot. Shot placement is most important.

Next to the "E".

Thanks for the reply. I don't know enough about handguns to make an informed purchase and wanted to ask around.

And I'm glad you got my "reload" joke.

 

[Texashiker]

If you do not mind the recoil, go with the 40.

Personally I find the recoil of the 40 a little "harsh", so I stick with 9mm and 45.

My brother on the other hand, he is a deputy sheriff and he carries a 40.

 

[highland145]

Well, this is the place to get lots of opinions. Go to a local range that'll let you rent pistols. Maybe look for a safety class, too.

edit:Yep, my .40 glock 27 isn't fun to shoot. It's one of my conceal pistols.

 

[Merad]

With modern JHP's there isn't all that much difference between the three. I've even read that the ammo manufacturers load them intentionally to get similar results.

 

[x-alki]

If you do not mind the recoil, go with the 40.

Personally I find the recoil of the 40 a little "harsh", so I stick with 9mm and 45.

My brother on the other hand, he is a deputy sheriff and he carries a 40.

Some 40's are harsh, such as a compact. The bigger 40's arent too bad. My Ruger SR40 is pretty tame. The XD9sc has more kick than SR40.

OP, as highland said try to go to a range where you can rent different hand guns. Check into a beginers class. Any decent instructor should be able to help you find what you need.

 

[corwin]

Finding a range with those specific guns to rent might be pretty hard, well at least finding the HiPoint would probably be hard...guns aside the rounds themselves are all capable enough to do what's needed if you have to

 

[0roo0roo]

you are using frangible ammo right...

 

[jpeyton]

Real world difference between .40, .45, and 9MM

Dead, deader, deadest.

Not in that order.

 

[sourceninja]

Pick the gun you are most comfortable wearing and shooting. The caliber wars are all politics and little fact.

 

[Jeeebus]

Don't listen to these guys - listen to me.

I actually shot a home invader three times in the chest last year - all 9mm hollow points. Rather than kill him, he was temporarily stunned that I would shoot him with such a wimpy round. Then we both broke out into laughter, I agreed to buy him a new hoodie (unfortunately, the rounds did tear a few threads in his jacket), we played lightsaber fights with our penises, and both agreed to go our separate ways.

Moral of the story is that if you need to shoot someone, make sure you're using a Barrett .50 rifle - otherwise, you may as well be using a Nerf gun.

 

[Texashiker]

We played lightsaber fights with our penises, and both agreed to go our separate ways.

Pics or it never happened.

 

[JulesMaximus]

They will all kill someone effectively.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Is Hi-Point actually a brand you would want to go with for home defense? I've never shot one but most people make them sound like the Yugo of firearms.

 

[Texashiker]

Is Hi-Point actually a brand you would want to go with for home defense? I've never shot one but most people make them sound like the Yugo of firearms.

"If" you ever have to use a firearm for home defense, do you want to trust your life to the lowest bidder?

Sometimes you get what you pay for.

 

[RearAdmiral]

Have fun trying to shoot someone with a handgun jacked on adrenaline. Shotgun is the way to go! Unless you train regularly and such.

 

[Jeeebus]

Have fun trying to shoot someone with a handgun jacked on adrenaline. Shotgun is the way to go! Unless you train regularly and such.

My shotgun - with buckshot - has about a 3" pattern from 20 yards away. If I hit an intruder with it, he's pretty much fucked - but to assert that it's "easier" to hit someone with a shotgun than a handgun is fairly naive.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

"If" you ever have to use a firearm for home defense, do you want to trust your life to the lowest bidder?

Sometimes you get what you pay for.

Yeah, that's why I was asking. I've never heard anyone say anything good about Hi-Point but then again some enthusiasts hate anything low end so it's hard to separate cheap and good from just cheap.

 

[skyking]

My shotgun - with buckshot - has about a 3" pattern from 20 yards away. If I hit an intruder with it, he's pretty much fucked - but to assert that it's "easier" to hit someone with a shotgun than a handgun is fairly naive.

Stop making sense.

 

[QuantumPion]

In the real world there's not a whole lot of difference between 9, 40, and 45. However 9mm costs half as much, which means you can afford to practice twice as much. Shot placement >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ballistic performance.

As far as choice of gun goes, if you like hi-points then fine but you can easily find police trade-in glocks for ~$350 which might be better suited for you.

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

Vehicle Security Glazing
Inside view - Shot from the opposite side shown
3 shots 9 mm and 3 shots .357 magnum

Transparent Acrylic / Polycarbonate Composite Bullet Proof Window
Shown on Black colored backdrop
Inside view - Shot from the opposite side shown
No Complete Penetration of 9mm rounds

Aluminum Body Padlock
Shot with a .44 magnum 240 grain TCSP

1/2 inch Mild Steel Plate
Rear view - Shot from the opposite side shown
3 shots of .50 caliber M33 Ball

All Glass Security Glazing
Close up view of impacts 5 shots of 7.62 NATO M80 rounds

Hard Commercial Ballistic Steel Armor Plate
Shot from the side shown Complete Penetration of 7.62 x 51 NATO M61 AP round

The following video shows a comparison between a regular car window and a bullet proof car window

 

[ultimatebob]

Does the "Box Of Truth" web sites still exist? They had good examples on the stopping power of different rounds.

Oddly enough, the Mythbusters have covered this topic pretty frequently as well. Go watch some gun myth reruns on Netflix or something.

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

Does the "Box Of Truth" web sites still exist? They had good examples on the stopping power of different rounds.

Oddly enough, the Mythbusters have covered this topic pretty frequently as well. Go watch some gun myth reruns on Netflix or something.

Here you go
http://www.closefocusresearch.com

 

[schneiderguy]

you are using frangible ammo right...

Frangible ammo is a terrible option for defensive purposes.

OP there is no major differences between the three calibers (there's no such thing as "stoppin powah"). 9mm gives you less recoil and higher capacity.