40S&W and 9MM Carry Ammo Recomendations

[repins]

Back in the day, we carried M-16's. They were not yet issuing CAR-15's, and it was long after M-14's were no longer issued as a primary weapon. Guys in the Weapons Section, (60mm mortars and M-67 90mm recoiless rifle) had to carry that heavy stuff, and so did not always have an M16. Sometimes just a Colt .45. What a piece of garbage they were. Incredibly inaccurate, jammed alot when wet or dirty.

Todays .45 are vastly superior in every way.

[BonoVox]

I have made the ammo choice rounds. I have settled on 45's "GAP & ACP". We can argue all day about this and that, but one thing I know is a fact. 45 makes bigger holes. Big=better in my mind.

That added to the fact the 45 has more of a push recoil=mild and I find it very easy to put second, third, etc shots on line.

Only place you got me on is capacity. From my little bit of experience from carrying, reading and talking to experts on the subject. The extreme vast majority of CCW's put into action were at very close range and over in a few shots/seconds.

In my mind when I imagine a probable encounter for a CCW holder it is sorta like the old west gun fights at high noon. But at very close range, the winner is who can draw fastest "but don't forget bad guy has already drawn", shoot accurate and do the most damage with limited shots to nuetralize the other person. Or I even imagine it like an old fashion sword fight. In that scenario give me my 45 anyday.

I know a lot of people imagine it to be like, a police shootout from behind cover with multiple bad guys. Guys "I do know a lot of you know better" but guys, if you get yourself into that situation you have not only most likely screwed up many times to that point, but should really think about moving your booty out of there on foot!!

So I guess to wrap it up. Put us 3 to 5 feet apart facing each other. I will take my 45 and feel pretty good about my choice, regardless of what you are carrying "handgun of course". If you hold a 9MM will you feel the same way?

Just food for thought. YMMV and this is an opinion of the author and does not express the opinions of the Admins, Sponsors, Founding Members, Senior Members, Members, Junior Members, Lurkers, Junior Lurkers, People Thinking of Lurking, or my Friends or Family!

[X-ffdo]

I have not heard about "REMFs" in a long time!.
Señor Gato! Do you remember what kind of 9mm. ammunition was used on that bear?

[X-ffdo]

OK....I'm back....
This was posted before at some point. I shot 9mm. (Cheaper, a sudden turn of events put me in the lower income bracket) and I witnessed the fact that some of them failed to take down iron targets during action pistol competitions. I have observed this to be true several times since, at least with WWB rounds. I said to myself, this is dismal, and no way to defend yourself! I too view a weapon as a means, or tool to defend yourself/myself, so I tend to use whatever works regardless of any romance.
Romance was knocked out of my life by the "University of the Streets", ergo pragmatism. I do not recall having seen anyone shot with 9mm, I do recall some by 30-0-6 and .45ACP. Both of them are destructive, even .45ACP Ball ammo.

[nevjohn]

Originally Posted by BonoVox

I love the Ranger SXT in both 9mm and 40S&W. I also think the heavier grain "147" 9mm is not a problem in a Beretta 92 either. But it does seem the 124 grain 9mm are popular in +p for a lot of Sub Compacts.

+1

[cksh8me]

All the time spent reading and writing our beliefs about ammo and calibers.

This is the same thread that has been going on for many many years.

In the end, buy any premium ammo you like for your gun, the caliber means less than being comfortable with the firearm you shoot the best, and you would have been better served practicing with your firearm than reading this.

Good luck

[El Gato]

Having shot some "critters" with the 147 grain 9mm out of a Beretta I am completely underwhelmed. I am also aware of malfunction problems with some platforms. But, if it works for ya....

I carry the SXT in 40 in my issued glock and don't feel undergunned..

[El Gato]

ADDENDUM:

The longer the conversation, the more the new shooters will be exposed to old ideas and perhaps upon occasion they will have a new perspective. I for one look forward to a very long conversation.

[repins]

Ahhhhhh, REMFS. The Vietnam era expression for a soldier who is not likely to ever see combat or "feel the heat". Stands for "rear eschelon mo-fo's". Today's Iraq war era equivalent is FOBBIT.

As to the ammo question; who WOULD win in a fight between Superman or the Hulk?? How can you even answer a question like that. Any good JHP ammo, properly placed, will ruin a BG's day. Bigger is better, sure, but K5 is K5, and that's what counts.

I still have lotsa HydraShok and Winchester Silvertip. Why spend more $$ on new ammo? At 8--10', I'm thinking that stuff will work just fine.

[repins]

Hmmm.....147 grain sub-sonic 9mm JHP ammo. Some experts love it, others just trash it. My guess is, that at close range, and properly placed, it'd ruin somebody's day.

For my .40 cal, I like Golden Saber and HydraShok, either 155 grain or 165 grain. Probably 6 to 10 year old ammo, but it's been well maintained (dry & cool), and again, would likely ruin someone's day. Is Federal HST better? How 'bout Winchester SXT? Probbly so, but how much better could it be? Worth the cost of buying a bunch of it, when I have a sizeable cache of that "old stuff" still locked up in the toybox?

My pistols are 10 years old, why not my ammo?