Reeder Custom Guns - 9mm vs 40 S&W -Let's not discount the 40 S&W yet...

A few years back, all the magazine articles told us how superior the 40 S&W was to the 9mm Luger. More recently the stories have flip flopped. So, we decided on some unbiased at home tests.

Today, it was bullet proof plexiglass. We kept ammo as equal as possible. No silly games like FMJ vs Frangible, etc. Ammo was same brand, bullet style, equivalent weight 9mm 124 grn vs 40 155 grn, etc. Then away we went.

This particular test was with Hollow Point XTPs.

Shot at 7 yards and repeated several times with consistent results.

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100% of the time, the 40 S&W penetrated straight and true. The 9mm tried to deflect and stopped sideways.

The next view is the best picture I could get from the side. Again, the superior penetration of the 40 S&W (Left) was undisputable.

I can't speak for all ammo types. But we tried several and the results were consistent.

40 S&W on the left, 9mm on the right... [image]

Asking for a friend. Size always matters, eh? Would be neat to see your test with a 45.

I've been experimenting with several 9mm guns on several materials. The king by far and away are the Wide Flat Nose FMJs.

Results through wood 2x material has been revealing to say the least.

That's all I carry in my defense guns. I do like the HPs in my Ruger PC Carbine for small game.

the 40 S&W long in a 10mm? What is the bearng surface of the 180 grain bullets , .4”?

Similar projects. Will probably add a 40 S&W Barrel to my Glock 20.

Have a Glock 35 with a 6" Lone Wolf Barrel in it. With Longshot Powder it's not far behind the 10mm. That's saying a lot because I love the 10mm above all auto cartridges.

But, I'll eventually get to them all. Most things learned will laterally apply to my Reeder Trail Guns. Have those in 9mm, 40 S&W and 10mm too.

Try before you buy. Same magazine, same everything except cartridge.

In a defense situation, I'd rather have the extra measure given by the positive headspace on the case mouth.

Stock mags work pretty well with most 40s&w ammo in a 10mm barrel.
I was thinking (?me) 40 ammo was emergency or just screwing around.

Being able to use two kinds of ammo is a huge benefit.

But I use it in my .45 cal. G21! It is amazing that the extractor works perfectly from .45 to 9mm. It was NOT designed to do this and I have to change the recoil spring form 18# to 11# but using 10mm magazines it runs 9mm for cheap practice.

That's all I wanted it to do. A truly amazing firearm platform. I bought the G21 and shoot .460 Rowland, .45 ACP, 10mm, .40 S&W and 9mm through it. Not recommending it, just facts for bemusement.

About the debate... to get out of the heat over the weekend, I went to 2 or 3 Sportsman’s Warehouses from Show Low, AZ to Prescott and in hand gun ammo know which one was on the shelves? Mostly 40. Only one store had ANY 9mm and that was not much. So, I am thinking I would want a 40 over a 9mm just due to ammo availability in cases like this...

To bash the 9mm. I love it...

But, for the reason you state, we should own a variety. Including 22 LR, 380, 9mm, 38 Super, 40 S&W, 10mm and 45 ACP. Ditto on revolver cartridges. Never know what ammo we can come by.

Youtube video: 9mm 115 FMJ; 40S&W 180gr FMJ; 45ACP 230gr FMJ.

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In magazines and on the internet you can can find pros and cons on everything. It's all about the fads and who's paid to pimp out the cartridge of the day.

Clearly, everyone can buy what they want. Welcome to America!!!

But, nothing takes the place of getting off the couch and trying things for yourself.

Like Gary, the 10mm is my favorite. But, regardless of the media hype, the 40 S&W rocks.

I'll bet in a few years, it'll be the darling again to boost sells for all the sheep following the masses.

The 6.5mm cartridges have been around well over a hundred years. Never particularly popular in the U.S. Now, they're on the cover of every gun magazine out there. As soon as the market is saturated, we'll be "persuaded" something else is better.

The 10mm is one of my all time favorites but I would have to think twice about buying a 40 caliber.

Have the 9mm and the 40sw and the 357Sig. The 10 isn’t favored. And I like them all. But I have a Gary 10mm. And I don’t worry? Lots of Bears here! Pete.

one you shoot the best. If you shoot a 32 ACP best and can keep them in a 3" group at 25 feet then the 32 is the gun for you. I seldom advocate for the 10mm as a carry round for the average person. The recoil is fairly intense and not a cartridge one can get a second or third shot off quick if necessary. A 45 is a bit much for some folks and I feel the 10mm recoil is more than the 45. Personally I think the 9mm is the perfect personal defense round for the average person. The 9mm ammo has come so far in the last 6 or 8 years, if you had a 45 but were required to carry a 9mm you wouldn't give up any power or accuracy. Personally if my 45 PD should die I wouldn't feel underpowered going to my Browning Hi Power in 9mm.

I didn't think that way forever but over the past years after getting 55 Browning Hi Powers from the Israelis in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) I figure if it is good enough for the Israelis who are in the possibility of deep shit every day of their lives and they have to be able to depend upon their sidearm at all times, then it should be good enough for me.
Some Israelis in their everyday gear..
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Is the advance of the 9mm due mostly to bullet design and construction or new developments in powder, both or a combination? Can the same be true of others like .38 special, .380 and more?

most states just about every ammo manufacturer has been working to make the 9mm more lethal and they have done a really good job of it.

There hasn't been as much work on the 38 or 380 but a lot on the 45. The 40 seems to have been ignored as was the 38 Super.

They have defense figured out 24/7. Their youth have a 2-3 year required commitment to the military. After they are finished, they can choose to stay and train in a specialist field of their choice.

A platoon of recruits approached me at the Holocaust Museum. Great kids and very curious about the U.S. They saw how I "carried myself" and knew I was ex-military. Spent about 30 mins. talking about their "boot camp". Interesting differences with how we train. They carry their primary weapon on their person everywhere, usually an AR of some kind.

I wonder where the young lady in the bikini carries the magazine for her rifle. Note that it, like most in the photos, does not have a magazine in the rifle. Not many places to carry a magazine when you're wearing a bikini !!!!

I spent a number of months way back when in Israel working on some US government projects. You could always tell how tense things were in Jerusalem by whether the IDF members had magazines in their rifles or not.....

My choice in defense handguns for the 9mm give me the diversity to cover my needs. You choose the 40 S&W, enjoy it.

As I do 40 S&Ws. But, so far I've tested in wood, magazines and bullet proof plexiglass. The 40 wins hands down every time.

So, it's not a preference thing as I carry a Taurus G3 9mm. But, bias aside, there is still reality to deal with.

I test to learn the truth, not to prove my "favorite" is the best choice.

The 9mm was and is a great defense gun. Ammo has come a long ways too. Low recoil for those sensitive to it and more shots fit in a gun. Everything is a trade off.

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