[ScotchMan]

I would encourage you to do some research on calibers and possibly come to the same conclusion that I, most reputable authorities on the topic, and every instructor I've ever had did: that modern 9mm defense ammo is superior to any other choice. It is just as effective ballistically, with better capacity and is easier to control. All handguns are poor manstoppers, and your best plan is to get multiple hits on target ASAP. 9mm beats 40 S&W here.

Don't want to start a caliber war, but the question was "what your thoughts were on a 40 S&W CCW". So technically I am still on topic

 

[ScotchMan]

OK, I buy the 9mm in modern rounds is just as effective if not more accurate than the .40... however if given the choice, I'd opt not to be on the receiving end of a .40, lol. Who really cares anyway about sub MOA unless your punching paper anyway? I'll stick with the G23. No worries there... I do want to find a 9mm that my wife is comfortable with, lol...

No one is talking about accuracy. Capacity (the number of rounds in the gun) and controllability, for lack of a better term (your ability to rapidly fire the gun and stay on target) are the main advantages. Ammo cost might be a distant third.

.40 does have more recoil. Perceived recoil is another matter, but I think for MOST people, they will perceive more recoil from .40 loads. Sure you can shoot a .40 just as well as a 9mm, it is just more difficult and may require more training and practice. And nothing is going to make more rounds fit in the magazine, but that isn't a huge difference. What it comes down to is when the 9mm is effectively identical, why burden yourself with the disadvantages of .40, no matter how minor?

 

[ScotchMan]

:err:

 

[ScotchMan]

Yes, 9mm is effectively identical to .45.

And it isn't "in my mind." This isn't really "my" info. I am passing along what I have read and learned. It's based on all the statistics, knowledge, and science we have on the topic today. Dr. Mahler (sp?) gives a great lecture at GCL from time to time; he is a brain surgeon and firearms enthusiast, and he seems to think 9, 40, and 45 all have the same impact on the body and the same chances of stopping someone. All the statistical reports I read about real world gun fights tend to look the same regardless of how big or heavy the bullets were. When I hear the same thing from Massad Ayoob and all the other credible authorities in the industry, I tend to believe them. The only people who seem to say that .40 or .45 have more stopping power seem to be people who did their research 10-20 years ago when that was true, or just people who own guns in those calibers and want to feel good about said ownership.

And for the record, I'm not saying the recoil and capacity differences between 9mm and .40 are minor, I'm saying even if YOU think they are minor, why accept even minor challenges if you don't have to? Me, personally, I believe that .40 is significantly harder to shoot that 9mm, at least out of the guns I have fired it in. That's not to say its hard, but more that 9mm is very easy.