Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 9mm vs. .40s&w

I watched the whole video.
I think the fact that he used 115 gr. and 135 gr. 9mm loads was a bit unrealistic.
Who loads 115 gr. anything as a self defense load? Any LE types? I doubt it.
124 gr. +P or 147 gr. would have been much more realistic as to what most of us carry in the 9mm, and would have fared better in the comparison.

Jimmy,
In the Lucky Gunner tests of .380 self defense rounds, 12 of the 21 penetrated 12" or more. The advances in bullet technology didn't stop at the 9mm.

This is the only 380 load we buy or carry. It's surprisingly accurate from the little Rugers and I expect it will penetrate enough.

My little Ruger LCP .380 always rides in my offhand or left front pocket as my BUG. Mine's loaded with the Buffalo Bore Hardcast 100 gr FP bullet at 1150 FPS and 20" of penetration.
The Buffalo Bore load makes the LCP a formidable little back up gun, and also for when you need a tiny little pocket pistol for the ultimate in concealment when your only wearing jogging shorts.

As far as the age old 9mm vs 40 S&W debate, I'll agree that the 9mm is easer to shoot for most people, and is faster for follow up shots due to less recoil. That being said, I'll stick to my Glock 32 in .357 sig caliber. It's the same size as a GLOCK 19 with two less rounds capacity.

And even though they aren't my first choice for concealed carry, I do carry a Glock 43 9mm occasionally, or my Springfield XDS in .45 acp every once in a while. It mostly depends on where I'm headed that day. If I'm headed to Houston, San Antonio, Austin, or the DFW area, I'm carrying my Glock 32 with 3 extra Glock 31 mags which hold 15 rounds each.

But if I'm headed to the Ranch for a couple of days, I'm probably packing one of my numerous 1911's in 45 acp, or a RUGER Blackhawk in .45 Colt on my person. And in my truck, there's always a Glock 21 in 45 acp with 10 extra mags, plus a extra 10mm barrel for it with 5 extra mags for it in the mag pouch. Takes me all of of 15 seconds to swap out barrels and mags. Not to mention theres also scoped M-4 AR-15 in .556 with at least 10 extra mags ready to go in there too

this guy found Precision one ammo! I wonder sometimes about these tests, Sarge probably has most fool proof solution in the flat point FMJ's, but the hard cast idea sounds good as well.

380 ammo test discusion

I wonder what Remington is using in the UMC line. I have two boxes of 95gr. Round nose FMJ's, but on the back of the box they only show Jacketed hollow points, Jacketed Soft points with a flat nose and a hollow point metal case. All they say is that they use "Popular Bullet styles". I have shot one box and they seem to be fine, but I'm curious about their penetration.

Federal 9BPLE

I googled that and read several different accounts of the battle, all very impressive. All had the same ending; dead bear with multiple holes dripping gear lube from the engine compartment. And with a single stack at that. Appears Phil, though respectful of them, ain't skeered of bears and don't miss much. That combined with a flat nosed HARD bullet seems to work miracles.

quote " That combined with a flat nosed HARD bullet seems to work miracles. "



thats why I prefer the 40 for all around use........the common cheap ammo for the 40 is of flat nose congfigruration , the equivalent 9mm ammo is 90% round nose , pretty much useless except for fun time blasting

The Rohrbaugh R9 Stealth 9mm is not far off. It’s barely larger than the Kel-Tec P-3AT. It first earned my interest a few years ago when the American Rifleman reviewed 25 .380 compact pistols, including the .380 Rohrbaugh version (the same size as its 9mm R9 version). It was the only compact .380 pistol that the AR testers could get 4” groups with at 25yds. The 9mm version is no different.

Attached are some pics comparing the size of the Kel-Tec P-3AT (.380); Rohrbaugh R9 Stealth (9mm); Kahr PM40 (.40 S&W); and the G27 .40 S&W). Judge for yourself.







The Rohrbaug is the only 9mm of which I know, that I can fit in my pocket easily I my front pocket in a slip-in holster.

P.S. I prefer the 40 S&W to the 9mm, but they don’t make a 40 S&W nearly as small as the Rohrbaugh, and it is barely bigger than any .380.

The SIG P938 9mm is pretty small.