Let's talk 9mm hand guns

[Sigarms]

I'm just REALLY glad I didn't have to take one for the team!

 

[Sigarms]

I don't see how anybody can hide 45 automatic.

It's actually pretty easy with the right 45...

 

[Zerk]

A good holster and belt help. But it is still weight.

I notice with a heavy gun, where it is on my side makes a difference. It needs to ride on the hip.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Bi-Mart (local discount store) had 25 rounds of Hornady 9mm 124 gr. XTP +P on sale for $14.97. Not a bad price, considering that Hornady's suggested retail is $22. I picked up a couple of boxes.

Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Ammunition :: Handgun :: Choose by Caliber :: 9mm Luger+P :: 9mm +P Luger 124 gr XTP® American Gunner®

I'm not a big fan of 9mm, but in any handgun I prefer a heavier bullet. Any time I'm packing my .357 in the field it's loaded with 158 gr. JHP. Even my little airweight carry gun is loaded with 129 gr. +p, which bumps it almost to 9mm performance.

In rifles I prefer a moderate bullet weight. For .30 cal. that maxes at about 165 gr. I figure if you need a bigger bullet, shoot a bigger caliber. A .338 Win Mag is a better big game rifle, and shoots a 210 gr. Nosler Partition or 225 gr. Speer very well.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Maybe first is awareness.

One day I was getting gas at a cardlock station and spotted a guy approaching from about 25 yards away. As soon as he saw me lock on him he spun on his heel and walked quickly away. That night he killed a WWII fighter ace not far from that card lock station. I recognized him from his mug shot.

Marion Eugene Carl - Wikipedia

Predators are always looking for unsuspecting prey. They don't want to confront someone who is ready for them.

 

[Code54]

We are discussing guns.


Situational awareness is regardless. But you feel smart throwing it in I bet.

He was making a good point that even if you have a gun awareness is extremely important and shouldn't be overlooked. It is actually a very good point in a gun discussion!

 

[Larry Caldwell]

And ammo too. Without ammunition, a gun is just a piece of pipe with a handle. The 9mm round most common in the USA is also known as the 9mm Luger (after Georg Luger, the inventor), the 9mm NATO, or the 9x19 Parabellum. The 9mm is a pretty nice low recoil round, more powerful than a .38 special, which is an older 9mm round. Both of them are actually 35 caliber. the 9mm is .355 and the .38 special is .357 in diameter. There is a good article comparing the two rounds here:

9mm vs 38 Special | Ballistics 11

Some people think a 9mm is too light a round for a critical defense situation. That's the same argument that led to the development of the .357 magnum round from the .38 special. On the plus side, 9mm ammo is relatively inexpensive and you have to run thousands of rounds, with an instructor, to gain any decent pistol proficiency. If you want to step up to 40 caliber (10mm) you better have pretty deep pockets. That's why some people say the best 9mm is a .22 pistol in approximately the same form factor as your 9mm. Many instructors will urge you to start with a .22. The nonexistent recoil lets you develop good shooting habits, while not developing a flinch reflex. You should consider it. Ammunition will cost many times what you pay for a pistol. You are going to buy a $500 handgun and run $5,000 worth of ammo through it. Lower cost 9mm reloads are easy to find at gun shows, but nothing is as cheap as practicing with a .22.

As far as the effectiveness of the 9mm round, it may not be a one shot stopper, but you can sure give them something else to think about.

 

[dragoneggs]

And ammo too. Without ammunition, a gun is just a piece of pipe with a handle. The 9mm round most common in the USA is also known as the 9mm Luger (after Georg Luger, the inventor), the 9mm NATO, or the 9x19 Parabellum. The 9mm is a pretty nice low recoil round, more powerful than a .38 special, which is an older 9mm round. Both of them are actually 35 caliber. the 9mm is .355 and the .38 special is .357 in diameter. There is a good article comparing the two rounds here:

9mm vs 38 Special | Ballistics 11

Some people think a 9mm is too light a round for a critical defense situation. That's the same argument that led to the development of the .357 magnum round from the .38 special. On the plus side, 9mm ammo is relatively inexpensive and you have to run thousands of rounds, with an instructor, to gain any decent pistol proficiency. If you want to step up to 40 caliber (10mm) you better have pretty deep pockets. That's why some people say the best 9mm is a .22 pistol in approximately the same form factor as your 9mm. Many instructors will urge you to start with a .22. The nonexistent recoil lets you develop good shooting habits, while not developing a flinch reflex. You should consider it. Ammunition will cost many times what you pay for a pistol. You are going to buy a $500 handgun and run $5,000 worth of ammo through it. Lower cost 9mm reloads are easy to find at gun shows, but nothing is as cheap as practicing with a .22.

As far as the effectiveness of the 9mm round, it may not be a one shot stopper, but you can sure give them something else to think about.

Nice post Larry. The firearm is just a part of the equation.

 

[Zerk]

He was making a good point that even if you have a gun awareness is extremely important and shouldn't be overlooked. It is actually a very good point in a gun discussion!

I just figure that goes for if you have a gun or not.

Bi-Mart (local discount store) had 25 rounds of Hornady 9mm 124 gr. XTP +P on sale for $14.97. Not a bad price, considering that Hornady's suggested retail is $22. I picked up a couple of boxes.


I'm not a big fan of 9mm, but in any handgun I prefer a heavier bullet. Any time I'm packing my .357 in the field it's loaded with 158 gr. JHP. Even my little airweight carry gun is loaded with 129 gr. +p, which bumps it almost to 9mm performance.
l.

The old debate about weight. But 125 HPs have been considered the man killer. I use them in the bedroom and 158 LSWC in the woods.


One reason I don't carry my 9mm besides not believing in them for personal protection, is I want to put a 2-300 rounds of self defense ammo. On sale like that I could. I have thought about just buying the dies, it might be cheaper.

But I never bothered, cause no big desire to carry. I carry it with round point for wolves when snowshoeing with dog.

 

[Zerk]

Bi-Mart (local discount store) had 25 rounds of Hornady 9mm 124 gr. XTP +P on sale for $14.97. Not a bad price, considering that Hornady's suggested retail is $22. I picked up a couple of boxes.

Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Ammunition :: Handgun :: Choose by Caliber :: 9mm Luger+P :: 9mm +P Luger 124 gr XTP® American Gunner®

I'm not a big fan of 9mm, but in any handgun I prefer a heavier bullet. Any time I'm packing my .357 in the field it's loaded with 158 gr. JHP. Even my little airweight carry gun is loaded with 129 gr. +p, which bumps it almost to 9mm performance.

In rifles I prefer a moderate bullet weight. For .30 cal. that maxes at about 165 gr. I figure if you need a bigger bullet, shoot a bigger caliber. A .338 Win Mag is a better big game rifle, and shoots a 210 gr. Nosler Partition or 225 gr. Speer very well.

That is not their critical defense load, which is on sale, but more. Sportsmanguide too.