Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Which One - Self Defense ? 9mm / 40 SW

I have a SW 6906 -- 115 JHP *** 1300 FPS and
A SW MP 40 ......W W 180 JHP *** factory (haven't chronod yet)

Both shoot very well and I like BOTH.
I have handled and shot both a plenty and I can hit with them.
*** Some complain about the recoil of the MP 40, 40 SW *** It doesn't bother me ANY !!

Purely Hypothetical ? In a real... life/death confrontation Which One would you choose?


The current political sh ituation we face is why I'm asking. I truly hope I never have to shoot a person....
but I AM willing if I have to.

Theoretically ?? I know why I'd choose what. Looking for other's opinions.


Jerry

Just one guy's opinion, and I'm sure many will disagree with me (some just on principle)...

Given how little difference there is in the two cartridges (not on paper, what they do when they hit tissue), I value the higher capacity of the 9mm over the slight increase in terminal performance of the .40.

In the simplest terms. No one shot with a 9mm who didn't go down, would have gone down with a .40... The chances of a situation where the minute ballistic advantage of the .40 is the deciding factor, is so statistically unlikely to ever happen that I just throw it out. Hell, I have a better chance of getting hit by lightning than finding myself in a gun fight...so, things beyond that start to get a bit statistically ridiculous.

Now that said, if you just LIKE your .40 better then I personally would choose the .40. Again, the chances you'll be in a gunfight are really slim so what's wrong with carrying something you just like, provided it's capable of doing the job?

Where I live, violent crime is exceptionally rare. So much so, I gave my CZ P07 to my son when he went off to university, and just went back to carrying my LW Commander in .45 ACP...because I just like it better than the more modern guns.

The M&P brings the advantage of cheaper/easier to find gunleather, magazines, parts, etc... Something to consider if those things are issues for you.

Given the two pistols you're considering, you could flip a coin and be rather well armed.

G G

Thanks for your input. I do like both and both feel natural to me.

UP TO NOW, I feel the same as you about the likelihood of a gunfight or shootout. BUT we have SEEN protests turn
into riots, looting, burning etc. I will NOT run. Period.

We, all of us, have been threatened recently by 'antifa', blm..... " We are coming to the country people"

I'm NOT scared but AM prepared with more than 2 pistols and Xtra mags.

Thank Again

Jerry

First off, I'd choose a 124 grain +P in 9mm and 155 to 165 in the 40 S&W. I'd carry top.quality ammo in the one that holds the most rds.

I carried a 1911 45 ACP with +P ammo and latter 45 Super ammo. But for the last year or 2 I'm carrying a Sig P365 with +P Golden Saber Bonded ammo in 15 rd magazines

10mm Kurz with Hornady XTP ammo. Unfortunately i am limited to 9x19. I shot some PMC 10x25 ball ammo out of G20 (same velocity as 10mm Kurz) at indoor range. The huge ball of flame was very rewarding. That is a man cartridge!

Which would I choose? Yes.

Do you want to shoot once or....

My gen 2 M&P40 has the best cartridge case head support of any pistol I've owned. So I load 155's to 1350fps. I prefer to err on the side of too much.

Choose "THE VAPORIZER" the 9MM Miraculous Farce. It is legendary. It is the all being, all doing, most glamorous and is the answer from plinking to the cure for hemorrhoids.
Get yourself one and Farce will be with you.

Once the shooting starts, there is no additional paperwork for additional rounds.

I’ve given up worrying about it. Sometimes I carry a 40, sometimes a 9. Sometimes a .45, sometimes a 10 mm. I carry guns I’m comfortable with and can shoot competently. As far as caliber, I just make sure I’m carrying what works in the gun I’m carrying.

Hypothetically, you can make a case for either one. Based on what you wrote, from a practical standpoint, it doesn't matter. Waste brain cells on other problems unless you are short on things to worry about.

WOW ! I just now got back to this. I laughed in pleasure at many of your responses. THANKS

I will respond to you but it'll take a little time between.

THANKS GUYS !

Jerry

Seriously, I would park the 6906 and go with the M&P. Not because it’s a 40 but the 6906 is almost collectors status.

Thanks Friend, Good to hear from you.

I just did a research of my records and have had the 6906 since 1999 -> 21+ yrs.
I have an ample supply of Rem 115 JHP bullets BUT am not opposed to trying the 124s.

I don't handload the 40 but have sufficient supply of the WW 180s. I've made plans with a friend to chrono those
Thursday of this week.

I'll check into the 155 or 165s BUT ammo 'seems' to be in short supply currently. Who knows what things will be
like Wednesday of this week.

As I said, I like both pistols and can shoot BOTH accurately, single & double tap with accuracy.

HOWEVER my 40 Shield is limited to mag capacity + 1 , the 6906 holds 16 fully loaded.
** There IS that **

Thanks JW, and I mean it.

Jerry

Yeah, I know this is out of order BUT viking GOT my attention on the "collector status".

REALLY ! in 99 I was torn between the 6906 / 10mm / 40 SW and the 40 was lowest on the ladder.
I LIKE the 6906 or I would NOT have kept it these years.
I WILL collect IT and Hold it Dear.

Thanks viking!

Jerry

I have both a Glock 22 40 S&W and a Glock 48 9mm. I have the 15 round mags for the 48 and since getting it I carry it almost exclusively. If I have to do any fill in work on an armed contract I tend to carry the 40 since that is what is issued. But the 48, to me, is much nicer to carry and the 9 doesn't have to apologize to anyone. It has made its bones. I'd rather have a gun, regardless of the chambering, and never need it than to need one and not have it.

Happy Guy

Both ride well in the shoulder unit.

Jerry

Now that makes a difference. In your OP, you said you had an M&P40. I think everyone assumed (I know) that you had the full size model. Now you say it's a Shield. In my opinion, that would tilt in favor of the 6906, due to much greater capacity.