CCW would 40sw be worth it or stick with 9mm?

[jayson_b24]

The XD platform is great. One of the best shooting pistols on the market. In my opinion, it is the most underrated pistol. It’s accurate, very balanced and very ergonomic.

As far as dual calibers. I have been seriously considering the 357sig/9mm combo.

Love my XD 4" 9mm.

 

[Negol]

The XD platform is great. One of the best shooting pistols on the market. In my opinion, it is the most underrated pistol. It’s accurate, very balanced and very ergonomic.

As far as dual calibers. I have been seriously considering the 357sig/9mm combo.

I think my favorite pistol is my 5" XD tactical running my bar-sto .357 sig barrel it's fantastic. I'm not sure they run 9mm/.357 sig though usually it's .40/.357 sig but i'm not 100% sure

 

[Crucifier41]

For most people 9mm will do it.

If you grew up shooting .4 and are not recoil sensitive nothing wrong with a g27, CZ P-06, etc.

I still have plenty of .4 shooters and see no issue using itn if you have trained on it. Oftentimes, one can get the ammo quite cheap nowadays as most people don't want it and try to get rid of the unused supply they got.

That being said, I think for your avg shooter a subcomp (micro) in 9mm, comp in 9mm, and a woods/outdoor gun (10mm vs 45) should cover most bases.

Bless up and be safe out there.

 

[Supreme_45]

I have a m&p40 on my ccw. I carry it.
Glock 19 on there also
40 I carry when outdoors in the trails. Big enough for a bear or cougar encounter

 

[Tere_Hanges]

40 I carry when outdoors in the trails. Big enough for a bear or cougar encounter

What species of bear? I don't think 40 or any handgun round is enough for brown bears. And black bears aren't much of a threat if you know what you are doing. Also, there are no brown bears in CA. So no need to worry about a species that doesn't exist if you are in CA. I disperse camp a lot in the High Sierra. I take a 9mm just in case of lions, but not at all worried about black bears. Lions are relatively thin-skinned. 9mm is plenty adequate. 9mm isn't a weak cartridge that some folks seem to imagine.

 

[Supreme_45]

What species of bear? I don't think 40 or any handgun round is enough for brown bears. And black bears aren't much of a threat if you know what you are doing. Also, there are no brown bears in CA. So no need to worry about a species that doesn't exist if you are in CA. I disperse camp a lot in the High Sierra. I take a 9mm just in case of lions, but not at all worried about black bears. Lions are relatively thin-skinned. 9mm is plenty adequate. 9mm isn't a weak cartridge that some folks seem to imagine.

Well. I’m sure 40 will do a better job of stopping them than 9. If you know the round you know .40sw is just a shorter version of 10mm

 

[Tere_Hanges]

Well. I’m sure 40 will do a better job of stopping them than 9.

Brown bears? Sure bud. Again, brown bears do not exist in CA.

 

[ZeroFoxGiven]

With modern 9mm hollow points I would choose 9mm every time.

 

[Supreme_45]

Brown bears? Sure bud. Again, brown bears do not exist in CA.

Well I guess the argument just really comes down to preference. I do both. 9 and 40.

 

[HarleyLowRiderST]

I think the shot placement on that one Brown Bear that snuck across the border, charging at you at full speed, would be way more important than which caliber you missed with.

 

[Supreme_45]

I think the shot placement on that one Brown Bear that snuck across the border, charging at you at full speed, would be way more important than which caliber you missed with.

Damn dude. So tough on me. Sheesh. You must hate .40 or something. Limp wrist?

 

[Tere_Hanges]

Well I guess the argument just really comes down to preference. I do both. 9 and 40.

Thank you (insert Beckham meme). That's all you had to say. Sorry, I've heard the "for bears" qualifier so many times when arguing one handgun round over another that it's hard for me not to question it. Black bears aren't a realistic threat requiring the use of a firearm, and brown bears don't exist in CA. If I ever had to take down a black bear, I wouldn't trust either 9 or 40 to do the job. But again, I'm not worried about black bears as they are easy to avoid conflict with.

Sure, 40 is bigger and more powerful than 9. That's just ballistics. But that doesn't mean 9 is a weak round, inadequate for self-defense. If shot placement is what really matters, then 9 might actually be superior to 40, since it's just going to be naturally easier to place follow-up shots accurately, since the round has less felt recoil.

 

[Supreme_45]

Thank you (insert Beckham meme). That's all you had to say. Sorry, I've heard the "for bears" qualifier so many times when arguing one handgun round over another that I can't let it go anymore. Black bears aren't a realistic threat requiring the use of a firearm, and brown bears don't exist in CA.

There’s actually black and brown bears up north bud. If you get outside you will see them. Either

 

[Supreme_45]

There’s actually black and brown bears up north bud. If you get outside you will see them. Either Way. I rather have it than not.
Shoot more 40 and 9 and you’ll get use to it.

 

[Tere_Hanges]

There’s actually black and brown bears up north bud. If you get outside you will see them. Either Way. I rather have it than not.
Shoot more 40 and 9 and you’ll get use to it.

There are no brown bears in CA. Not sure what you mean by "up north". Alaska, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Wyoming? Sure, there are brown bears in those states. Again, I wouldn't rely on a handgun in 9 or 40 for brown bear, and black bears are not a realistic threat requiring a firearm for self-defense. BTW you never answered my question about what species of bear you carry 40 to defend against. Is it brown or black bears? There is a big difference.

My first handgun was a Glock 23, and that was the only gun I owned for over a decade before I started shooting 9. So I probably shoot 40 better than you do, and I still take a 9 when I go into the mountains where there are black bears because I'm not worried about black bears. I've seen them with cubs many times and never had a problem. It's very easy to avoid an issue with a black bear. I don't have an issue with shooting 40; I have several nice shooting 40s. There's just no reason to take a 40 over a 9 if the threats you are concerned about are humans, rattlesnakes, varmints, and lions. In other words, 9 is perfectly adequate, and I can't really think of any realistic situation where a 40 would be "better" than 9. Especially when shot placement is what matters. Is 40 ballistically superior to 9? Sure. Does it matter? Nope.

 

[HarleyLowRiderST]

Damn dude. So tough on me. Sheesh. You must hate .40 or something. Limp wrist?

HAHA not at all . . . Whatever works for each of us. I don't get out in the woods much at all, so all my "Bears" would be City Bears. Lol

 

[weaverftw]

Confirming there are no brown bears in CA. Some black bears are brown colored but they’re a different beast altogether. Agree that you don’t care about caliber for a black bear; they’re skittish and even if you get a crazy one the noise will scare them away even if it’s a .22 (bear spray is probably better than ANY caliber for bears btw).

I would be very surprised if you could get a shot off on a lion that is interested in you as a meal, but if you surprise one somehow and it gets defensive I would be happy with 9mm.

This might be only minimally better, but I also have solid copper HPs for carrying in the woods for better penetration

 

[mblat1968]

While IMHO .40 has always been a solution in search of a problem since we are limited to 10 rounds then yes it worth it IF and that is HUGE IF you can train and shoot it as well or better than 9.

If not then not.
And if you are not limited to 10 rounds then not for sure

 

[lone_wollf]

I love the Shield platform (in 9mm). The .40 is a hand full. Shoot one and you’ll find out. If you want to add another gun to a CCW for an option, why not look at a SW 442/642 ? Great for pocket carry or if so inclined AIWB. And before someone comes in saying that it’s only a .38 Spl and a five shooter, remember there are millions and millions of folks in CA going about their activities of daily life everyday without needing to shoot someone.

And a 642 isn’t snappy? I carry a shield 40 and a 856 but I did carry a 637 for a few years

 

[Supreme_45]

Here is how I Role.
M&P .40sw in my CCW
And back up 9mm complete slide for the range.