Everyone can hate me all they want, but avoid getting .40, it's like a middle-ground ***** round that is good for nothing. Get 9mm if you're going to be hobby shooting, it's a lot cheaper than .40, a lot less snappy and much more available.

If you need something that will stop someone, get a .45 and skip .40 all together. .40 has more snap recoil than .45 as well as way more muzzle rise with repeated shots. I don't really know why anyone buys .40, I sold everything I had that was .40 caliber because I'd never shoot it because I'd either go for 9mm for target or .45 for home defense.

40 can eat a dick.

 

Also, just because one person comes on here posting pictures of how accurate their Glock or 1911 are... Don't use these as an area of example, the guns are all really accurate and in those short distances it really comes down to the shooter and how comfortable he/she is with that particular gun.

I'm far more accurate with my Glock 21 than I am with my 1911 (or anyones 1911), I also have HUGE hands and the Glock 21 fits my hands better and thusly making me a better shot. Take that into consideration, get what fits you best and not what everyone is telling you to get.

If it were up to me I'd tell you to ignore everything in this thread and get a Glock 21, but that's not logical since everyone is different and what fits me well doesn't necessarily mean it's going to fit you. Go to the range and rent some pistols, try them all and come to your own conclusion.

Good luck to you

 

Agreed, if this is your first and only firearm, I'd suggest getting a new one to avoid any possible functionality problems that may arise down the line.

Used guns are awesome, you just gotta trust the seller.

 

Yup. That's what I said before, and that's what I did - 9mm for general shooting and home defense and the .45 is always there in a situation where I need it. .40 is fine if you NEED the extra penetrating power but most don't. 9mm JHP will still stop someone in nearly all cases.

I am FAR more accurate with my 1911 than my 9mm though, but the 9mm is lighter and easier to manage quickly.

 

Once I start reloading, 10mm will be my go-to choice for home defense

 

I will be devil's advocate here and answer. How about capacity, weight and cost?

In general, 40S&W handguns will have larger capacity magazines. Whether is it +7 rounds (vs 1911) or +2/3 (vs G21); I prefer to have as many higher power rounds as possible especially considering that stopping power advantage of the 45ACP is negligible. Weight is an obvious byproduct of a larger cartridge; I will be able to carry less of it for the same weight and space. And lastly, cost. In my area 40S&W costs up to ~$0.20/round less than 45ACP. That adds up.

As far as snap recoil and muzzle rise, I think that varies depending on the gun and ammo utilized (from my limited shooting comparisons). I don’t find these to be an issue with my PX4 Storm using 180 grain rounds. Also modern day home defense ammunition bridges the gap between 9mm, 40S&W and 45ACP effectiveness even more. At the end of the day, ability to quickly and effectively put round on target with in a stressful situation will always matter more than the caliber used.

At the end of the day, to each his own. I won’t **** on a round or firearm just because I find it doesn’t suit me. Just my $0.02.

 

With what is going on with ammo right now I'd stay the hell away from anything chambered .223.

 

We are still talking 10rd limit. I have 10rd mags for my 1911, and presumably you don't need as many .45s because you pretty much only need to hit once. Most 1911s are also generally all steel (only a few polys out there), so they soak up the kick better, but I will still be more likely to reach for the 9mm first for exactly the reason mentioned - I will put more rounds on a close target quicker because "shootability" is still higher. I love my 1911 though.

 

Nice, which 1911 is that? I am holding out on getting my 1911; there are other things I want to get beforehand. For my applications, it would be more of a mantle/collector’s piece than something I would regularly use. I also want to get mine done by Jardine’s Customs, so need to save up

Indeed, Commifornia does suck in that regard but I was making a general standard capacity comparison and speaking from a SHTF mentality where no one will care about capacity limits (plus I have residencies outside of California so my case is a slightly different as well). and agreed that construction of the gun made a big difference as well as barrel/slide length; compact 40S&W and 45ACP are more advanced user guns IMHO

 

+ 1 on hating .40cal - it's a high pressure, very snappy round. Tends to jerk the muzzle upwards. The .40 was a compromise developed in the early 1980's when the FBI started spec'ing the 10mm as their standard round. They quickly discovered that the 10mm lead to two things
1) the field agents were pussies and started complaining about recoil
2) the gun manufacturer's were having to develop new chassis to control the round. It was too burly for the conventional 9mm chassis.

The .40 cal is basically a 10mm with less power/casing behind it.
That said, it's a well proven well tested round.
I just don't like em.

45ACP is a big, slow low-pressure round while the recoil force is higher than a .40, its a slow, steady backwards push instead of a jerk. SUPER controllable very consistent. On the downside, they are heavy (230 grain) and goddamn expensive these days. With less than a 4" barrel the 45ACP does not really develop enough muzzle velocity to be a dependable defensive round.
I own a lot of guns. My quick deployment home defense gun is a Springfield XD-Tactical with a 5" barrel in 45ACP.

9mm - a lot of people hate on the 9mm round because it's little. Honestly, with modern hollow points, I have zero hesitation on using it for self defense. Same goes for Louie Awerbuck, and Massad Ayoob, probably the two most important living defensive handgun instructors.
I shoot 9mm more than anything else, my CCW gun is 9mm.

Shot Placement & ammo capacity > than single round stopping power.

 

That's a Para Ordinance SSP. Ramped match barrel and competition trigger come default. My buddy just got his FFL upgraded to Manufacturer status, meaning he can now produce firearms under his own label. He was a nationally ranked competitive 1911 shooter and does custom work and he doing a custom trigger and some other tweaks to make this one nicer right now. I don't shoot this one as much with the way ammo is right now, but damn fun gun and it is far more accurate than I am

Jardine is a great choice.

The gun I intend to use for CCW is going to be 9MM, if they ever release it to the market Pondering now whether or not to go with something else until they do come out.

 

Interesting. My buddy just picked up a Glock in .40 caliber. I've only seen it.

If I were to choose a handgun at this point, I think I'd go with either the Glock 17 or Glock 19, but we'll see. Maybe when things die down a little also... I hear ammo is pretty limited at the moment.

 

Handgun ammo isn't as bad as rifle ammo, most places just set a daily limit and only have one or two brands. I visted a few shops this weekend...for a box of 50 FMJ rounds 9mm was b/w $18-$22, 40S&W was b/w $21-$25 and 45ACP $25-$35. Only one place had 5.56, 7.62 and .223 in 20 round boxes, but was charding appropriate market prices, ~$0.80 - 1.00/round. I don't recall anyone having 22LR. This is all in the North East Bay on the way to Tahoe areas...

I though you couldn't CCW in California (or just limited to county by county basis)?

 

Sounds about right. Places are either out or limiting quantities. 22LR is out at most places, which is why I bought a case.

We are one of the few "may issue" states, unlike the vast majority of the rest of the country, which means it is legal but has to be approved. Getting one approved on the other hand can be practically impossible. I happen to have a home in a county where it is less of an issue. If you have a job that would justify it being allowed you can get one as well.

 

<- remembers when 9mm was $0.18/round and 45ACP was $0.24/round