[allamricn]

I've been doing lots of reading about the p2000sk and the 9mm round vs. the .40 round. It seems most of you are pretty comfortable with rounds such as the Ranger T, DPX, etc in 9mm as far as CCW/SD ammo. I haven't owned a 9 mm though have shot them plenty. My biggest concern is the recoil in a smaller pistol such as the SK vs. .40. In fact, I have had thoughts of having the 9mm p2000sk as my carry pistol and then stepping up to the HK45 as my HD pistol later down the road as I loved my Glock 21 but I thought it to be a bit thicker in the grip section than hopefully the HK45 is. I am not married to my current Glock 22 but would certainly keep it until I am able to procure the HK45.


Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Reoze]

I've been doing lots of reading about the p2000sk and the 9mm round vs. the .40 round. It seems most of you are pretty comfortable with rounds such as the Ranger T, DPX, etc in 9mm as far as CCW/SD ammo. I haven't owned a 9 mm though have shot them plenty. My biggest concern is the recoil in a smaller pistol such as the SK vs. .40. In fact, I have had thoughts of having the 9mm p2000sk as my carry pistol and then stepping up to the HK45 as my HD pistol later down the road as I loved my Glock 21 but I thought it to be a bit thicker in the grip section than hopefully the HK45 is. I am not married to my current Glock 22 but would certainly keep it until I am able to procure the HK45.


Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

The USP's do a very good job of controlling the recoil, I have not shot a P2000 but I'd assume they're very comparable. With practice I've learned to shoot my .40 just as well as anything else, So that'd by my choice to go with. To each his own though.

 

[AviatorDave]

A 9mm? You're not serious, are you? Everybody knows, 9mm rounds have been known to bounce right off of wet puppy dog noses, and pink fuzzy bunnies. Not really bounce off, the bullets just come to a dead stop and fall to the ground.

Just ask anyone who's been shot with a 9mm, they'll tell you it doesn't even hurt. There are plenty of them still alive, no one is ever killed with a 9mm. It's just too wimpy of a round to do any real damage.

Think about it - a .40 is ONE MILLIMETER bigger in diameter. I can't believe you'd even consider such a thing.

 

[Reoze]

To add a little more to the "stopping power" statment, I'll start by saying, bullets are bullets, and shot placment is everything.

Now that we're past that, The .40 can throw a heavier, wider round about as fast or faster than a 9mm. While 9mm may be "good enough" I will not argue that point at all. But the fact is, the .40 will have more knockdown power.

 

[ByteMeDammit]

The P2ksk's spring setup really smooths the .40's snap out nicely. If you want multiple hand guns in one caliber that all feel pretty similar in recoil go with 9mm. If you just want one .40 I know you'll like the P2ksk.

Before I bought mine the only .40 I had fired was my friend's Beretta Px4 Storm and the snap was rough. I'm sure I could have gotten used to that part if it were my pistol and I was shooting it regularly. The trigger snap, on the other hand, was unforgivable! Love their 92's but after shooting the Px4 I'd never buy another Beretta hand gun w/o having shot it first. Well other than a 92!

Just my .02 for the little it's worth!

Byte

 

[tkpro]

Hi y'all new here, but long time looker.
Back to the 9 vs 40, I've had to drawn the 9mm hydro-shock to protect my 3week old baby, wife, and myself in a robbery in one sat-night in california back in 94', Those two guys did't know what hit them. Both dead. Justify-homicide. Back to 9 v 40, Buy what ever you feel comfortable to control and shoot. Because those two didnot get up and complain Why I didnot shoot them with the 40 or 45acp.
Hope it help...

 

[Whiplash23]

I prefer 9mm and 45acp to the 40 S&W. I think good ammo with anything 9mm and up is going to be adaquate for defense. I carry Speer Gold Dot 147grn in my P228 and feel just fine with it. The 40 S&W is just too "snappy" for me. I can shoot it fine, but my follow up shots are slower compared to the 9mm and I feel that I'd be more accurate under stress with the 9mm.

However, if you are going to lay awake at night wondering if it is a powerful enough round, buy the 40 S&W. It must be a good defense round given its acceptance with the Law Enforcement community, but for me it is just plain harder to shoot well.

 

[HK45]

Just to add another flavor to your choice...

I'm considering a P2000sk in .357SIG. I'm confident this rd isn't going anywhere and I can always buy a factory sk .40 barrel for it if I wish.

 

[Reoze]

Personally this is what I had to do to get the .40 into "acceptable" follow up shot timings. I threw away the whole "Firm but not tight" grip, By tightly gripping it I can reduce the muzzle climb to about 2 inches and have it come back down on target. I am by no means an expert shot or an IDPA pro, but I feel alot more comfortable with it that way.

 

[gulfcoastr]

To add a little more to the "stopping power" statment, I'll start by saying, bullets are bullets, and shot placment is everything.

Now that we're past that, The .40 can throw a heavier, wider round about as fast or faster than a 9mm. While 9mm may be "good enough" I will not argue that point at all. But the fact is, the .40 will have more knockdown power.

To reply to the original poster, no you are not crazy. I prefer the 9mm to the .40 because, in my observation, 9mm parabellum-chambered pistols are more reliable than .40 S&W-chambered pistols. I'll sacrifice a bit of power for greater reliability any time. With modern ammunition, the 9mm is a perfectly satisfactory defensive round. I normally carry a .45 ACP, but will take a 9mm over the.40.
As to the above: shot placement is vital, but is not "everything";else we would all be fine carrying a .22 short. The bullet must hit a vital spot and hit with authority. There is no such thing as "knockdown power," as bullets do not knock people or animals down. People do succumb to the shock of the impact and the disabling damage that results.

 

[jeepers]

solution to everyone's difference

buy both calibers and sell off the one you "don't feel the need to have or dislike" - you'll end up like me and collecting the whole set. i couldn't settle on which calibers i liked for the tacticals- so i bought all tacticals in different calibers. - if you can only afford 1, it's always easier downsizing calibers, instead of buying a 9mm and wondering if you ever could have handled a 40. IMO

 

[JLStorm]

There will always be a caliber bigger and faster than yours. I am a 45 guy, I like it better than 40 or 9mm, but its not as fast or heavy as the 50AE. Go with what you like. I happen to trust 45 over anything else given the choice, but in the P2000sk I carry 40 because 45 wasnt an available option. Given the option I'll be packing a 45. The recoil in the P2000sk in .40 is very manageable btw. People seem to have trouble drawing a distinction between the 9mm and a 22 or a bb gun. Keep in mind when comparing 9mm, 40, 45, etc the differences are often very small fractions of inches and ounces. I am comfortable with the 45, and I will go to it every time...but that wont help someone who cant hit the broad side of a barn with a 45...I would shoot the heaviest fastest round that you are comfortable with.

 

[allamricn]

Well, I guess it turned a little more into 9mm vs. 40 than I had hoped, I know that both are closer to one another than both camps would like to actually state, but... I was hoping to get at a more controllable subcompact pistol in a more "manageable" round (less perceived recoil) than a slightly "snappier" round. I actually like the 40 sw, but in such a smaller frame, I didn't know if more preferred the 9mm vs. the .40.

And I was serious about the .45HK... that certainly has me thinking about getting it for my HD pistol... I really liked the .45 in the G21, but just too large in terms of grip thickness.

 

[Tecumseh]

I prefer the .40 myself and love my P2000sk in .40 S&W.

9mm is not a bad choice either. Its just personal preference.

 

[bzdog]

The other good part about 9mm is you can carry the 15rd P30 mags as spares. With modern ammunition like the Doubletab 124gr +P, I don't see anything wrong with 9mm.

-john

 

[JLStorm]

Well, I guess it turned a little more into 9mm vs. 40 than I had hoped, I know that both are closer to one another than both camps would like to actually state, but... I was hoping to get at a more controllable subcompact pistol in a more "manageable" round (less perceived recoil) than a slightly "snappier" round. I actually like the 40 sw, but in such a smaller frame, I didn't know if more preferred the 9mm vs. the .40.

And I was serious about the .45HK... that certainly has me thinking about getting it for my HD pistol... I really liked the .45 in the G21, but just too large in terms of grip thickness.

You are never going to get a good answer in threads like this, not only are you drawing on others' personal preference, but you are also almost asking them to read your mind and decide what you should like best. No matter how you ask the question, you are the only one that can answer it. You either have to pick 9mm or 40, nothing any of us say is going to change how each of these calibers feel for you. All I can tell you is that if either of them sucked, there wouldnt be as many opinions that fall on both sides of these caliber discussions. :350:

 

[dcondiff]

I prefer the .40 myself and love my P2000sk in .40 S&W.

9mm is not a bad choice either. Its just personal preference.

Ditto.

 

[Mark71]

The bottom line is that shot placement is key. Use what you shoot the best and what you are most comfortable with. I am a huge 9mm fan and feel more then confident with the round especially with the current defensive ammo available.

 

[loupav]

If I had a CCW I would carry a 9mm. Some good hollow points and good shot placement is all you need.

 

[jeepers]

You are never going to get a good answer in threads like this, not only are you drawing on others' personal preference, but you are also almost asking them to read your mind and decide what you should like best. No matter how you ask the question, you are the only one that can answer it. You either have to pick 9mm or 40, nothing any of us say is going to change how each of these calibers feel for you. All I can tell you is that if either of them sucked, there wouldnt be as many opinions that fall on both sides of these caliber discussions. :350:

fully agree, its almost asking the forum if your underwear your wearing is a good fit..... nobody can tell you but you. you'll have find out your preferences by trial and error. good luck. if in doubt, go with the american motto "bigger is always better"