The 9mm vs. 40 Smith & Wesson (40 S&W) debate has been raging since the introduction of the 40 S&W in early 1990. The debate centers around which of the two pistol cartridges is superior for concealed carry.
Let’s take an objective look at the 40 S&W and see how it stacks up against the 9mm – the most popular centerfire handgun round in the world.
I hope you have a full pack of silhouette targets and several boxes of FMJ ammo. You’re going to need them as we take our shot at the 40 S&W vs. 9mm personal defense ammo debate!
40 S&W vs. 9mm: The Differences Between 40 and 9mm
Let’s start with the top three points of contention when it comes to the 40 S&W vs. 9mm discussion: stopping power, magazine capacity, and recoil.
9mm vs. 40: Stopping Power
Stopping power (aka knockdown power) is one of those ambiguous terms shooters like to throw around to justify their position on one cartridge or another. There is no column on the ballistics charts for stopping power. In truth, it is a combination of several factors including striking energy, wound cavity diameter, penetration depth, and shot placement.
Although stopping power cannot be quantified, it is essentially the rate at which the bad guy reaches a state of incapacitation. Once the threat is unwilling or unable to continue, you’ve survived the fight.
A 40 S&W to the foot is a lot less lethal than a 9mm to center mass. However, with all other things being equal, the 40 S&W is going to hit harder and cause a larger permanent wound cavity as it is loaded with a wider and (usually) heavier bullet compared to a 9mm.
The 9mm diehards are going to expound on the fact that advancements in JHP technology have brought the 9mm round to the same level as the 40 S&W in terms of terminal expansion. I’m not sure if I’m willing to go that far.
It cannot be denied that a 40 S&W will cause a larger permanent wound cavity and exhibit better terminal performance than a 9mm, but the average shooter typically has better shot placement with the 9mm. The 40 S&W only edges out the 9mm by a hair.
The biggest issue many detractors of the 40 S&W bring up is the amount of recoil the cartridge has, which will directly affect shot placement.
On that note, let’s discuss recoil!
9mm vs. 40: Recoil
The 40 S&W is difficult for many shooters to handle due to its snappy recoil. 9mm loads have about 25% less recoil than the 40 S&W. For an experienced shooter, that added recoil will not be too difficult to handle. However, for a new shooter or one with smaller hands, it can be incredibly difficult to handle the recoil of a 40 S&W.
No matter how you slice it, a shooter utilizing a 9mm round will experience less recoil. That means they can reasonably expect faster follow-up shots and generally improved accuracy compared to using a 40 S&W.
Continue reading 9mm vs. 40 S&W: Ending the Concealed Carry Debate on Ammo.com!
https://ammo.com/comparison/9mm-vs-40#9mm-vs-40-sw-magazine-capacity