{"id":110587,"date":"2019-07-10T18:59:04","date_gmt":"2019-07-10T18:59:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/07\/10\/9mm-versus-40-smith-wesson-which-caliber-is-better-for-self-defense\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T12:29:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T12:29:11","slug":"9mm-versus-40-smith-wesson-which-caliber-is-better-for-self-defense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/skillz\/2019\/07\/10\/9mm-versus-40-smith-wesson-which-caliber-is-better-for-self-defense\/","title":{"rendered":"9mm versus .40 Smith &#038; Wesson: Which caliber is better for self-defense?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Defensive caliber arguments have been going on since the second bullet caliber was invented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The arguments are often fruitless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most people have their favorite round, and that\u2019s that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But for those haven\u2019t gotten emotionally attached to one cartridge yet, let\u2019s talk about 9mm Parabellum and .40 Smith &amp; Wesson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s an often touted myth that the .40 S&amp;W was developed for the FBI because the 9mm failed in the infamous <a href=\"http:\/\/www.miamibeach411.com\/news\/index.php?\/news\/comments\/miami-shootout\/\">1986 Miami shootout<\/a>. However, the standard issue FBI pistol at the time was a .38 Special revolver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/FBI-memorial-to-Miami-shootout.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-101160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/FBI-memorial-to-Miami-shootout.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/FBI-memorial-to-Miami-shootout.jpg.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/FBI-memorial-to-Miami-shootout.jpg.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/FBI-memorial-to-Miami-shootout.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">FBI director James Comey unveils a three-panel memorial display that tells the story of the \u201c1986 FBI Miami Shootout.\u201d It was this gun battle that spawned the .40S&#038;W round and decades of debate over which round is best. (Photo FBI)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The G-Men used a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=QPXV_92WGas\">158 grain semi-wadcutter hollow point<\/a> round known as an \u201cFBI load.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There were 9mm rounds involved in that gunfight. And one supposedly stopped an inch short of the perpetrator\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But after the Miami shootout, the FBI determined that they should replace their revolvers with semi-automatic pistols. Semi-automatic pistols hold more rounds and are easier to reload.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And, since they were going to replace all the guns anyway, they figured they\u2019d check out some new rounds, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The FBI considered the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/9%C3%9719mm_Parabellum\">long-standing 9mm<\/a> in their search for a new standard issue sidearm. However, the FBI also tested hand loaded 10mm ammunition from the special agent in charge of the FBI Firearms Training Unit, John Hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5BC2X18HBZM\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After these tests, the FBI decided they wanted something like a 10mm round, with slightly slower muzzle velocities than standard ammunition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, they contracted Smith &amp; Wesson to create one. The .<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/.40_S%26W\">40 S&amp;W<\/a> was the result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The FBI ended up using the .40 S&amp;W for almost 30 years before <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/world\/national-security\/fbi-moves-back-to-the-9mm-round-which-it-once-shunned-as-ineffective\/2015\/10\/31\/d7d0b994-7e80-11e5-afce-2afd1d3eb896_story.html?noredirect=on&#038;utm_term=.8261052136d6\">adopting the 9mm in 2015<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both rounds have been used by militaries, other government agencies, and civilian defenders. So, it\u2019s tough to identify a clear winner here. Or is it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9mm vs .40 S&amp;W<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s a lot of focus on terminal ballistics and muzzle energy and whatnot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But, once upon a time, a firearms and defensive tactics instructor at an Ohio police department did a solid <a href=\"https:\/\/www.buckeyefirearms.org\/alternate-look-handgun-stopping-power\">analysis of real-world shootings<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>It took an average of 2.45 9mm rounds to achieve incapacitation.<\/li><li>It took an average of 2.36 .40 S&amp;W rounds to achieve incapacitation.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some touted this as a great, decisive victory for the .40 S&amp;W. But it wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since you can\u2019t shoot 2.45 or 2.36 bullets, the numbers have to be rounded up to the next whole bullet. Which means everybody (including the .45 shooters) averages 3 shots to achieve incapacitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In fact, study author Greg Ellifritz concluded that the difference in wounding capacity between the different handgun rounds was negligible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/FBI-marksmanship-training.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-61525\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/FBI-marksmanship-training.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/FBI-marksmanship-training.jpg.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/FBI-marksmanship-training.jpg.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/FBI-marksmanship-training.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Just a few years ago, the FBI released a study the affirmed the 9mm as the best round for its agents. (Photo by FBI)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And, before you start in on \u201cknockdown power,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=3k8VqkqUqoA\">knockdown power doesn\u2019t exist<\/a> in handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.physicsclassroom.com\/class\/newtlaws\/Lesson-4\/Newton-s-Third-Law\">Newton\u2019s Third Law<\/a> <i>does<\/i> exist. And, it means that if a gun fires a bullet with enough energy to knock a person down, the recoil will be strong enough to knock you down when you shoot it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Equal and opposite reactions and all that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use a rifle if you want good terminal performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(Just kidding)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are three key things to consider when picking the best self-defense caliber beyond terminal performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cost<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No matter where you go, the common wisdom is that <a href=\"https:\/\/shootingthebull.net\/blog\/does-caliber-even-matter\/\">shot placement is more important<\/a> than what caliber you shoot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, that\u2019s not to say that caliber doesn\u2019t matter <i>at all. <\/i>Very small rounds may not penetrate the breastplate or other bones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And, saying that caliber is irrelevant suggests that you could use a BB gun, so long as you hit them in the right place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Caliber <i>does<\/i> matter. But, the emphasis on shot placement is a reminder that, if you miss, you\u2019re effectively shooting a zero caliber bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, shot placement isn\u2019t king. But, firearm proficiency <i>is.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s why the cost of your ammunition matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">9mm costs about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/handgun\/9mm-ammo\">14 cents a round<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">.40 S&amp;W costs about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/handgun\/40-s-w-ammo\">19 cents a round<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s only a 5 cent difference. But, it adds up. Over the course of 1000 rounds, you could pay about $80 more for your ammunition if you\u2019re shooting .40.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regardless of your budget, you\u2019ll get more training reps for your money, and therefore become more proficient with your gun, if you shoot 9mm \u2014 helping with that whole shot placement thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Recoil<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bsharp.org\/physics\/recoil\">Recoil<\/a> is a big sticking point with .40 S&amp;W handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since the .40 S&amp;W is essentially just a short 10mm round, it features <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=CcVI8cbvEWw\">higher breach pressure<\/a> than both 9mm and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/.45_ACP\">.45 ACP<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s a heavier round. So, .40 S&amp;W has more felt recoil, no matter what.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, high pressure rounds tend to produce a snappier recoil impulse, which can be uncomfortable for some shooters. It can also be more challenging to shoot with one hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Can you improve your shooting skills enough to manage the recoil and shoot .40 S&amp;W really well? Absolutely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But, if you spent an equal amount of training resources working on shooting the same handgun, chambered in 9mm, you\u2019d probably be faster and more precise with the 9mm in the end. There\u2019s just less recoil energy to absorb and control in a 9mm round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Additionally, many manufacturers use the same frame on their 9mm and .40 S&amp;W pistols. This causes longevity issues, because the 9mm frame isn\u2019t built to withstand the recoil force of a .40 caliber round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, many .40 S&amp;W pistols don\u2019t last as long as their 9mm counterparts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Magazine Capacity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No matter what you\u2019re doing, having more rounds in the magazine is better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the context of self-defense, reloading could be impossible. So, it\u2019s best to reduce the chances that you\u2019re going to need to reload.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">9mm always has higher magazine capacity than .40 S&amp;W, provided you\u2019re comparing two guns of the same size. So, in almost any context, a 9mm handgun enables you to perform better than .40 S&amp;W.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Who Wins?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, before everyone rushes to defend their .40 caliber darling: there\u2019s really no need to get defensive. The .40 S&amp;W is a perfectly viable self-defense round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have a .40 pistol that you\u2019ve trained extensively with, switching calibers isn\u2019t an urgent need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It takes training time and money to change your gun. So, if you\u2019re already geared up for shooting .40 S&amp;W, it may be most efficient and economical to stick with it, depending on how much you shoot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But, if you shoot a lot and want to shoot better for less money, or if you\u2019re considering using a handgun for personal or home defense, pick up a 9mm handgun and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.minutemanreview.com\/best-9mm-pistol-handgun-money\/\">get shooting<\/a>. You\u2019ll save time and money, without compromising defensive performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>GearScout contributor Jay Chambers is a pro free speech business owner based in Austin, Texas. Having lived through several natural disasters and more than a few man-made ones (hello 2008), he believes that resilience and self-sufficiency are essential in this increasingly unpredictable world. That\u2019s why he started a business! Jay writes over at <\/i><a href=\"http:\/\/www.minutemanreview.com\/\" target=_blank><i>Minute Man Review<\/i><\/a><i>.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you shoot a lot and want to shoot better for less money, or if you\u2019re considering using a handgun for personal or home defense, pick up a 9mm handgun and get shooting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":101156,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":227,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[90,16,227],"tags":[],"coauthors":[6437],"class_list":["post-110587","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gearscout","category-off-duty","category-skillz"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"HGPUUBAFPRCDRFXCVZP25ZI4K4","arc_canonical_url":"\/off-duty\/gearscout\/skillz\/2019\/07\/10\/9mm-versus-40-smith-wesson-which-caliber-is-better-for-self-defense\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>9mm versus .40 Smith &amp; Wesson: Which caliber is better for self-defense? - Military Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you shoot a lot and want to shoot better for less money, or if you\u2019re considering using a handgun for personal or home defense, pick up a 9mm handgun and get shooting.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"9mm versus .40 Smith &amp; Wesson: Which caliber is better for self-defense?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you shoot a lot and want to shoot better for less money, or if you\u2019re considering using a handgun for personal or home defense, pick up a 9mm handgun and get shooting.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/skillz\/2019\/07\/10\/9mm-versus-40-smith-wesson-which-caliber-is-better-for-self-defense\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Military Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-07-10T18:59:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T12:29:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jay Chambers\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jay Chambers\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n\t    \"@graph\": [\n\t     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