Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire FBI Going Back to 9mm Handguns

After ditching the 9mm almost 30 years ago, the FBI is now going back to that caliber, having selected a Speer 147 grain Gold Dot G3 (IIRC) load. They will shortly procure all new handguns and start issuing them in 2016.

the above from an article in "The Gunmag."

That's because they have no real men anymore.

As a full metal jacket round, it sucked the big one. Then developments in the 1980s seemed to be solving its shortcomings with rapidly expanding rounds, but those lacked needed penetration. At the same time, the subsonic 147 grain rounds became popular, which failed to expand, doing no better than FMJ. It was this combination of failures that motivated the search for a replacement. Unfortunately, right around the time agencies and departments were rushing to switch to something more potent, ammo manufacturers finally figured out how to make the 9mm perform to its potential via modern bullet design. Too late, as the agencies and departments already dumped their guns. Now they're finally coming around to the realization and switching back.

I used to think it took a 30-06 to kill deer well. Now, I think a 25-06 is overkill. Bullets, and understanding what they do, have come a LONG way.

Regardless of skill level, a shooter will always do better with a 9mm than with a .40 or a .45. Add increased capacity, and you're right in that Goldilocks "just right" zone. Hard to beat.

Careful with "always".

How will they do "better"?

I don't have anything against the 9mm. And I understand the bullet technology has improved as time goes on.

I just prefer a .45

My "WAR" strategy is to have the gun, rifle or pistol, that will give acceptable results with the worst choice of ammo available. Like ball ammo. One may not be able to depend on having the "best" available but the worst is usually in good supply.

Perhaps "typically" would be the better word here.

But if you take an advanced shooter and have him shoot drills with a G23, and then with a G19, you will find that advanced shooter's splits and overall times decrease and his accuracy will increase.

The same has been found for novice shooters.






Travis

But your and my needs have nothing to do with the context of the report.



Travis

Putting more bullets on target faster should be a priority...

...especially when you know you'll HAVE to shoot them numerous times...

This site is full of how important it is to hit where you are aiming and head out big game hunting with a 223. But all of a sudden a 9mm is insufficient and you need some high powered handgun to shoot some perp.

Come on! Get it right! Which is it?

The report also concluded "one shot stops" based on caliber of the pistol are a myth.

Whatever that's worth to you.



Travis

I'm pretty sure I've read that two 45 caliber holes in a trash can near the perp is more likely to stop them than a 9mm doubletap to the chest.

That cop in Chicago felt compelled to unload his 9mm 15 round magazine into that poor little black boy laying on the street, when one round of .45ACP would have done the job.

I have a 44 mag in my night stand. Can't hit chit with a handgun but figure the muzzle blast will scare the intruder enough to initiate a rapid retreat.....

I have a 44 mag that has the barrel plugged and over max loads. I figure I'll threaten the intruder to shoot me with it.

Haha...right? You'll have to clean the floor either way.

Yeah, been there and done that. With a .45 no less.

Couldn't stop a javalina boar from charging and mauling my dog with 6 hits out of 8 shots fired from my 1911.

Dog was severely injured.

Right after the boar got my dog, it fell over dead. Not soon enough, though.

You have to admit, the FBI is pretty stupid when they have such a knowledgeable resource as the Campfire and never come here to find out how it should be done...