Pistol People - 9mm or .40 caliber?

**asianator365** · 08-05-08, 09:51 PM

Does anyone have an M21? I would like to know how those shoot.

**SapiensErus** · 08-06-08, 12:01 AM

Oddly, although I am a hippy, I collect guns.

I also have a M1 Garand and it is my pride.  Most of my collection is antique and I would not fire them.  Several came across the Oregon trail with my ancestors and they are worth a pretty penny.

In any case,  I back up McStrange and Toker.  I have been shooting since I was a kid, and that Sig is sweet, 9mm is just fine if you get the good ammo and learn how to shoot correctly.

And a note to Mill, I collect but I dont carry.  One time I was assaulted by a gang of rich teenagers who were trying to impress each other. I knocked a couple out and the others ran off eventually.  But they did manage to crack a couple of my ribs.  Did not need a gun though, my Soy power got two and they ratted their friends out.  I have reflected on that and wished I had a gun at the time.  But then I consider that with my bare hands (and a big chain I used to carry hooked to my wallet when I was a youngin') I took them out and they ended up busted; that was a damn good fight and if I had a gun, I might have had a shit storm to endure had I shot any of them.

EDIT: Grammar/Spelling

**33knight33** · 08-06-08, 12:37 AM

Originally Posted by asianator365

Does anyone have an M21? I would like to know how those shoot.

no, but i was at the range once when someone was shooting an m14. pretty much the same thing. i showed interest and he let me shoulder it. they are nice looking/feeling guns but i havent actually shot them.

i must say to Millwall and anyone else interested that something on the top of your priorities when it comes to shooting should be getting a membership or finding a nice public range that is within driving distance and has a nice infrastructure (the one i go to has a pistol range, rifle range, bow range, and a shotgun trap/skeet range, with a lake as well) but above all should you should be able to feel Safe and Comfortable every time you go. what i mean by that is any time someone is down range to check/setup targets there is ABSOLUTELY NO touching/handling/loading of any firearm regardless of safety position, loaded or not.

i would recommend asking about this at your local gun/sporting goods store. (and i dont mean dick's)

**PowerCock** · 08-06-08, 01:08 AM

Thanks Consultant for starting this thread!!! I turn 21 in 8 days and am looking to make my first handgun purchase as soon as I have enough. I've also been debating what caliber to get. I think I've pretty much decided on a springfield xd pistol and probably in 9mm. It's my first handgun so I'm not trying to break the bank, just trying to get a decent handgun that I can get comfortable with shooting since I'm not terribly familiar with them. The main reason for choosing 9mm is the price honestly and I'll feel comfortable carrying any size caliber as long as I can shoot it well.

**thr3kvya** · 08-06-08, 01:37 AM

The reason for more .40 being used by Federal, Government, and MIlitary agencies is due to a number of things. The 45 is to big for many women in these agencies. The 9mm in combat is not going to drop an insurgent where you want them. They wanted something that could hit harder and not kick as bad. They chose the .40 round. Now that they chose the round they made it mandatory for almost all agencies to use this round.

It is alot easier in a gun fight if everyone is using the same round. Makes it easier to throw a clip to another guy.

As mentioned earlier I am a tride and true fan of the XD 40, but the M & P is my new baby. Never had any faults with either of these amazing weapons. I love the extra weight on the front end of the XD though.

**Consultant** · 08-06-08, 07:39 AM

Originally Posted by thr3kvya

The reason for more .40 being used by Federal, Government, and MIlitary agencies is due to a number of things. The 45 is to big for many women in these agencies. The 9mm in combat is not going to drop an insurgent where you want them. They wanted something that could hit harder and not kick as bad. They chose the .40 round. Now that they chose the round they made it mandatory for almost all agencies to use this round.

It is alot easier in a gun fight if everyone is using the same round. Makes it easier to throw a clip to another guy.

As mentioned earlier I am a tride and true fan of the XD 40, but the M & P is my new baby. Never had any faults with either of these amazing weapons. I love the extra weight on the front end of the XD though.

Yeah, I've read really good things about the XD line - a local store is selling them new for $439 and my pal at Sig can get me a Certified Pre Owned for $500 (about half price of retail).

I don't have the cash for either IMMEDIATELY, but in the near future...

I need to shoot both.

My friend just got a glock 40 to save some cash...

**Nuckle** · 08-06-08, 07:49 AM

I did not have time to read all the replies so I will just give my opinion on the original question.

With todays premium ammo the 9mm is fine. It delivers slightly less energy to its target but more than enough to take someone down with proper shot placement. The other huge advantage to the 9mm is the price of ammo. You can shoot a 9mm for around $9.50 per 50 rds and a .40 is more like $14.50. The most important thing to owning a pistol is practice. Practice shooting it enough so that in the event there is a need for it you go on auto pilot.

THe P226 is a fine weapon that will last you more than a lifetime. The only other two weapons I would suggest besides the P226 would be the P229 or the P230. If you are buying the gun to shoot and defend your home then the P226 is perfect. If you are going to cary it on your person every day then I would go with the P230 and no larger than the P229. I own all 3 and like all 3 of them for different reasons.

Nuck

**Consultant** · 08-06-08, 07:52 AM

Now that Nuckle has posted - I'm not sure I meant the 226...

There is a mid-frame sized one, is that the 229?

The small one, that the Secret Service carrys concealed is too small for my hand - my pinky and the bottom of my hand falls off the grip and is very uncomfortable.

The mid-frame semi-auto is the one I am looking at.

**Nuckle** · 08-06-08, 08:04 AM

That is the P229 sir and it is an awesome weapon. Mid sized frame and will hold 12 in the clip. The recoil is nice and the gun is very accurate. I meant P239 in my previous post. I do not own a P230. The P239 is slightly smaller and if you have large hands may be a little too small but it is larger than the P230.

I have posted this picture on the forum before but it does give you perspective on size.

[img width=700 height=466]http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg315/Nuck_album/SigFamily.jpg[/img]

Moving clockwise from the Sig556 rifle you have a P226 X-5, P239 with crimson trace grips in 9mm, P220 in 45APC, P229 in .357sig with crimson trace grips and a sig mosquito in .22LR.

The .357sig is the best round for the P229 for shear stopping power but cost a fortune to shoot. If you buy the P229 in .357sig you can also buy a .40 barrel and a barsto 9mm conversion barrel and shoot all 3 rounds.

I have a stand alone pic of my P239 and X-5. Sorry about the watch in the P239 pic. It was shot for one of those "post your pistol and watch threads on a gun forum".

[img width=700 height=466]http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg315/Nuck_album/SigP239.jpg[/img]

[img width=700 height=466]http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg315/Nuck_album/X-Five.jpg[/img]

Nuck

**Consultant** · 08-06-08, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by Nuckle

I have a stand alone pic of my P239 and X-5. Sorry about the watch in the P239 pic. It was shot for one of those "post your pistol and watch threads on a gun forum".

Nuck

If I had a dollar for every "Post your pistol and watch" threads I've seen...man, I'd have at least 1 dollar.

(I've never heard of such a thread, lol)

Nice weapons.

My buddy who works for Sig has one of pretty much everything they make, including the new 556 pistol - seen that yet?

He said we could go shoot em all some time, I need to take him up on that.