Why Rob Pincus prefers 9mm over .40 cal for self defense

Why Rob Pincus prefers 9mm over .40 cal for self defense.

Even for those who live in gun control/magazine capacity limited states like Cal. where all you have are 10 +1, Pincus advises you get the 9mm. (Be sure to read all of the comments to see what he says about the limited capacity issue.)

Great article.

www.downrange.tv/blog/being-wrong-i...refers-the-9mm-over-the-40-for-defense/11563/

 

Good for him

I'll keep my .40

 

And I'll keep my .223

 

We teach combat focus shooting in our defensive classes at the shooting center i work at. I don't agree with rob on alot of things. Mainly his stance on 1911's. I prefer to carry either a 1911 in 45acp or my glock 23

 

My wife carries an sp101loaded with .38 in her purse.

 

nice.

.......

 

I took a defensive pistol course about 4 years ago. We were doing room clearing drills in a faux house set up. at the end of the scenario, they had placed a metal popler target. The students could stand above and watch as we went through one at a time and finally ended with the popler. I was the only one shooting a 1911, or 45 of any kind. Everyone carrying a 9 took three shots to knock over the poplar. Everyone with a 40 took two. When I knocked it over with just one shot, the instructor stopped the class and said that's the reason he also carries a 1911 in 45.
while I agree with rob that the 9mm had less recoil, therefore easier follow up shots for beginner or intermediate shooters, more advanced shooters have no problem with larger calibers. Especially on an all steel framed 1911 in 45 vs a polymer framed 9mm(glock, XDM, M&P etc)

 

I like .45 cal pistols. They seem to have less recoil than your average .40 cal. I am more accurate with my .45 on follow-up shots than I am with my .40 . I have fired 9mm's and while they are easy to be accurate with and they hold more rounds ( than an equally dimensioned .40 or.45) I trust my .40 and my .45 for carry HD. After conducting/reviewing ballistic tests with many types of these three calibers of handgun ammo.. i just dont trust 9mm as much as the the other two calibers.

 

the recoil difference between the 45 and 40 are strange. a 45 has more recoil, but the 40 is more snappy. I've tried to articulate this better to students, but they never understand until they actually shoot both for themselves.

 

I don't question anything you've said. But, are you able to get off second and subsequent shots as quickly with the larger caliber guns which have stiffer recoil as you do with a lower recoiling 9mm?

 

To tell you the truth I really don't notice a difference until I am out to the 15 yard line. Under 15 yards I suspect there may be some miniscule difference in discharging 5 shots in a row but i cant really feel a difference in time and not much difference in accuracy. From the 15 yard line and beyond I do notice easier and faster sight re-acquisition for follow-up shots and subsequent multiple shot accuracy.

 

this is one of my gripes with pincus. he tries to force everyone into a box. he (*)(*)(*)(*)s on 1911's, or any single action handgun, in favor of striker fired pistols(specifically a glock 19 or M&P9). Not everyone is built the same or is comfortable shooting specific handguns. His combat focus course is remarkable when it comest o the psychology and biology of the human body reacting to high stress situations in a defensive shooting situation, I just don't like his teaching style when it comes to choice of firearms.

 

So, you are more accurate and faster when rapid firing beyond 15 yards than you are at less than 15 yards.

Interesting. Very interesting!

 

You got it backwards.. but if it helps you to think you just "got" me... ok

 

Not my intent AT ALL!

I'm just trying to make good conversation, that's all.

Sorry if I misconstrued your post.

 

45 ACP is actually a fairly low pressure round by modern standards, firing a heavy bullet at a relatively low velocity so the perceived recoil is usually not too bad. 40 S&W (and 9mm for that matter) are loaded to substantially higher pressure levels and velocities.

 

One of the arguments for having a 9mm polymer frame is the comfort level. 1911's can be heavy, and not as comfortable to carry everyday. You can't defend yourself if your everyday carry firearm is at home. I think a compact polymer is more likely (for most people) to be carried consistenly.

 

I prefer my M&P45 full size, but you cannot exaclt CCW that (at least with my attire). I have an M&P9SC, I had a M&P40SC but it was too expensive to shoot.

I very much prefer the 9mm for the CCW gun.

 

NP. I am not more accurate with rapid fire at any range, but the effects of rapid controlled fire do not really manifest for me until I hit the 15 yard line ( more like 10 or 12 yards but my range only has markers from the 3,7,15, 25 and 50 yards). In my personal experience the 9mm doesn't really start to show its better accuracy with follow-up shots until that point. The groups may be a bit tighter with a 9mm at 7 to 15 yards.. but not near enough to make up for loss of kinetic energy and hydrostatic shock damage that a quality 180g .40 cal or 230g .45 JHP bring to the table.

I am also comparing a single action Kimber ultra-carry to action trigger 9mm Glocks, XDM's and H&K's so its not all that accurate of a comparison.. but its all I have access too.

 

This. I am rolling around the idea to buy a S&W shield for summer carry and also for suit/dress-up carry because it is smaller and more concealable than a 1911. If I had one 1911 though, it would be a Sig RCS or maybe a Dan Wesson CCO. Until I have more money than Bill Gates though, I will be carrying a G19.

Oh yeah, 9mm is cheaper than 45, even if you reload. If you can buy more ammo, you will shoot more often which means you will be able to put rounds where they need to go when you need them. I am a big advocate of training over having a super nice gun and shooting once a year.

 

All good points, but as the purchasing and inventory control manager for a 5 star shooting center, I can tell you that 9mm ammo is harder to find than bigfoot right now, and manufacturers aren't going to be able to meet demand for atleast 12 months.

food for thought.

 

Answer: Dillion. Well, I can't find components right now so I am still up (*)(*)(*)(*) creek. Oh well.

 

I think the Pincus guy is dead-on correct that a high capacity 9mm handgun is the best option for most people who would need to defend themselves.

I support the "Firepower Superiority" doctrine. I can lay down a stream of lead much better with a heavy, high capacity 9mm like my Beretta 92.