Is one better than another?
Calibers are like Mac vs PC everyone has an opinion. Some informed some not. Here is what I do know…defensive ammo is effective and the gun you have is better than the one you don’t have when its needed.
Modern Ammo
Modern defensive ammunition is very effective, in fact they are quite similar. Any major defensive caliber would be an excellent choice. Choice in caliber is driven much by law enforcement, specifically the FBI. Those may not be the same things you face with a home intruder, but may approximate it.
In the 1990s law enforcement flocked to the .40 S&W cartridge, it offered many things that were not available at the time, starting with the fact it was designed from the ground up to fire jacked hollow point point bullets with a flat tip, whereas 9x19mm and .45ACP were first designed to fire jacketed ammunition for military applications. That is generally called “ball ammo” the military designations. However, effective Jacked Hollow Point rounds exist for both.
The FBI Effect
The FBI really sets the lead for defensive ammo and where the FBI goes, people follow. There is rationale for this too. FBI has developed standardization for testing of Defensive Ammo to simulate situations that maybe similar to what Special Agents and officers may face on the street. The FBI has a protocol for testing bullets in a controlled manner and manufacturers strive to “beat” the test showing their ammo is superior.
Above .380 Auto, 9x19mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP
Over the past few years, much of law enforcement has moved back to the 9x19mm cartridge based on the FBI and their tests. In recent years, FBI has moved back to 9x19mm. In addition, it offers some advantages over other ammo for them.
- Effectiveness of cartridges has come up in testing
- Better bullets exist today than 30 years ago
- Officers and Agents can carry more rounds of Ammo and many shoot better in a lighter caliber
- 9×19 is cheaper overall to purchase and when you purchase a lot it becomes even cheaper
- More studies and testing have been done
In my area, some law enforcement has the choice, of 9x19mm .40S&W and .45 ACP. Others have department policies that require .40 and still others are 9×19.
Personal Experience
That said I personally use both 9×19 and .40 S&W for defensive purposes. I prefer the .40 S&W. For me I am more accurate and can have faster follow up shots with .40 than with 9mm. I shoot both just fine however. Fundamentals of shooting are really what apply. One school says if you can do any gun can do. There is something to be said for that.
If you have no other experience 9×19 might be the way to go for you. It has a light recoil, large capacity and is relatively in expensive ammunition.
—Castle
