Handgun 9mm .357sig .40 .45
 

ive been thinking about getting a Automatic handgun to play around with for a long time now ...

H&K
SIG
Glock
Springfield GI

I really like Springfield...theyhave a factory30 minutes from my home.

i dont know what Size of holes that i want to put into stuff....
help....im leaning torward the.45 cartridge...

RE: Handgun 9mm .357sig .40 .45
 

If you want to shoot frequently, 9mm is clearly the way to go (unless you drop to a .22lr pistol) due to cost. If carrying it for defensive purposes is a consideration, all of those calibers are decent for personal defense when loaded with "modern" hollow point ammunition. It will ultimately come down to personal preference.

In terms of caliber, although they differ sightly in energy and maybe not so slightly in diameter, they all ultimately make similar sized holes give or take a little depending on ammunition choice, composition of the target and so forth. You hear caliber arguments all the time, but with modern ammunition choices, as far as your target is concerned, it's a moot point. Well placed shots mean a lot more in the caliber war than energy.

Make sure you take the time to send some rounds downrange with all the models you're considering, back to back if you can, to make sure you get a good feel of how they differ.

Personally I chose a Springfield "loaded" 1911 in .45ACP, and a SIG P226 stainless 9mm. I carry the 1911 because I'm more confident with it. I've owned that longer than the SIG, although if I put more rounds downrange with the SIG I could build up my confidence enough with that to be comfortable carrying it as well.

Edited to add the following:

If you do get a 1911 platform pistol, keep in mind that a few companies out there make a .22LR conversion kit for it, so you can practice with it very inexpensively instead of having to fling expensive .45acp downrange all the time. The only thing you can't practice for that way is recoil, but you're still practicing using the manual safety, get to use the same grip, and so forth. Just a thought.

RE: Handgun 9mm .357sig .40 .45
 

Cost is the only thing that makes me not want the .45
40$ for 50 rounds of .45 acp
15$ for 50 rounds of 9mm

obviously its cheaper if you buy 500 at a time or more...
but why is there such a difference in the price between the two sizes

i dont want to feel like im shooting a toy but i want to beable to shoot a hundred rounds a couple times a month without diggin too deep....

im trying to talk myself into the 9mm but i always wanted a .45 auto.

RE: Handgun 9mm .357sig .40 .45
 

I dont knwo where your getting ammo at but for practice rounds im getting 9mm for $10 and 45 ACP for $20. Yea its still a big differece in price. Ive herd alot of horror storys of the 9mm in Iraq so i dont carry mine very much nemore. I know they shoot FMJ ammo there but i dont understand how someone can get hitin the chest with 12 9mm FMJ rounds and keep going.So iwent out and got a Para Ordnance Warthog in 45 ACP and use my 9mm for practice. Also the 40 S&W is a great self defence round. Recoils like a 9mm and knock down power similar to a 45 ACP. I had one but it got stolen so that gonna be my next pistol.

RE: Handgun 9mm .357sig .40 .45
 

ive seen the price in .45 ammo very greatly depending on type. either way the .45 cost at least2x as much to shoot as the 9mm

RE: Handgun 9mm .357sig .40 .45
 

Alpha, years ago when I qualified for my CC permit I borrowed a friend's 40cal full-sizedGlock. It was one of the most comfortable semi autos I have ever shot. It was also extremely accurate at 5, 10 & 15 yards. In my opinion, this would be one of the better choices for a concealed carryand / or fun to shootsemi auto pistol.Although, I have always favored the revolver over the semi.

RE: Handgun 9mm .357sig .40 .45
 

45 ammo costs twice as much as 9mmbecause there is twice as much lead, more powder, more brass, andthey are twice as heavy given the same number of cartridges so transportation cost more.

Like was said above any of the ones listed will be more than effective against a criminal provided you use proper ammo intended for such purposes. Keep in mind that you need to be familar with what ever you handgun youchoose so if the cost of ammo will keep you from shooting it often thenI strongly suggest the 9mm just for the simple reason that you will practice more and be far moreproficient with it. Flinging a bunch of big and heavy lead down range doesn't do you a bit of good if you couldn't hit the barn walls if you were standing inside the barn.

RE: Handgun 9mm .357sig .40 .45
 

If this is going to be a plinker, go with the 9mm. It is a much lighter load, cheap ammo, and more importantly . . . far less hand fatigue after 100+ rounds into paper.

However, if this is going to be a multi-use gun . . .plinking, self-defense, conceal, everybody-in-the-house-should-know-how-to-use-it gun . . . then I'd lean towards the .40S&W from Springfield. The XD models are very nice! Becoming very popular with law inforcement. (Though you'll never overtake the Glock). The round is easily handled by small hands (spouse, daughter, etc) and still has plenty of knock-down if needed.
I got my wife one for mothers day last year, and I don't get to shoot it! She is a non-shooter and still wants to make sure and bring it on camping trips and agreed to attend a handgun class with me. So it has all the multi-use gun specs in IMO.

RE: Handgun 9mm .357sig .40 .45
 

Raw materials dont cost that much tho....once you have the machines and a Labor force the cost of raw material isnt much, what you say makes sence....i guess its only fair, that if it costs twice as much to make on their end it should cost close twice as much to buy on our end;).

.....i dont plan on using this gun for C.C thats a big
NOin Illinois and not worth the trouble...

But versatility is still important to me....


amount of practice isnt really an issue once im familliar with a Gun, shooting accurately is something ive always picked up quickly/Natural.
other guys seem to have to work alot more at it, and then there are others that never get it.

i dont know what it is but ive always been good at shooting.

when i do go shooting i like to make a day of it....ill check out some .40 cal
i havent shot one....are they reliable...thats one of my reasons for liking the .45

RE: Handgun 9mm .357sig .40 .45
 

I recently bought a .45 after kicking myself for selling my old one. I picked up some Federal American Eagle ammo for $14 a box mostly for the brass. But this stuff shoots as good as my handloads and hits the same POI.

RE: Handgun 9mm .357sig .40 .45
 

Bullet selection is critical in any carry gun, a boss I once worker for had a brother get shot during a drug deal 3 times with a .45. Twice in the arm and once in the stomach, drove himself to the hospital. It was ball ammo. With proper ammo the 9mm is a fine carry gun, but the ball ammo in any pistol caliber is not that great for defense use. That being said, I love my .45ACP and my .45 Colt. Just something about that big ole' chunk of lead flying at about 850fps. But I mostly carry a Glock 19 in 9mm due to the high capacity, loaded with corbon ammo.

RE: Handgun 9mm .357sig .40 .45
 

I have a Glock 17 (full-sized 9mm) and will probably pick up a G26 (subcompact 9mm) soon.

I take it to the range at least once a month and shoot through a box of 100 each time. I bring my Ruger Mark II to fill out the rest of my hour of range time.

I chose the 9mm because it is the cheapest "serious" semi-auto caliber to shoot. I have it handy for self-defense because I am the most practiced with it.

RE: Handgun 9mm .357sig .40 .45
 

Get the 1911 in .45, you'll never regret it. When I bought my first pistol in 9mm, I soon wished that I had bought a .45 instead. I had to wait several years to save up enough to get the .45 I really wanted.

.357 sig- skip it, its expensive and difficult to reload.

.40 S&W- only makes sense if you want to get more punch out of a smaller frame pistol: a pistol sized for a 9mm rather than one big enough to shoot a .45.

9mm- cheapest to shoot.

RE: Handgun 9mm .357sig .40 .45
 

Alpha, If you want to, I'll meet up with you at Shooting Sports Unlimited in Moline and you can shoot my 9mm and 357 sig XD.

RE: Handgun 9mm .357sig .40 .45
 

All good choices for pistols, and it really comes down to what is comfortable for you. Me personally, I know that sig, and golck are both good guns. the glock fits my hand, but isn't comfortable, so, I don't like them, the Sig guns I find to be a bit on the heavy side. Currently I carry an HK USP Compact, which I find to fit well, comfortable to carry, shoot....etc. The springfield pistols, at are nice as well. can't say I like them all, but the XD might be worth looking into as well. As much as I like my HK, I really thing that the XD is the best all round pistol for the money available. But that is just my opinion. My suggestion, go to a gunshop / range that has firearms that you can shoot / rent and find one you really like. It really doesn't matter what all of us in here think is best, it's what you think.
As far as the caliber argument. For anybody that says that the 9mm is a weak round. Go stand in front of me, with modern ammo and see how you do.


Good Luck to you

RE: Handgun 9mm .357sig .40 .45
 

Thanks for the Opinions Guys....

I'm still undecided about the whole thing, i havent even made up my mind to Buy, its just something that i think about once in a while...

i think that when i do i'll end up with a .45.

if i go to a Nine mil, i might as well go to a .380 or a .22...and get into the whole thing for 1/2 the price.

i want one, but i dont know that i can find the time to have fun with it....and thats what keeps me from going out and spending the $500-1000 that i probably would. i dont want to end up with an expensive paperweight....its hard enuff tomake time for the things i have already:(:(:(but, there is always room for one more toy:D


Longrifle thanks for the Offer, thats a Kick ass suggestion.