9mm not adequate...?

[Gracegarden]

I have read several times on this board that a 9mm only deserves a "band-aid."

Did I buy an inadequate weapon?

I have an XD-9 that I intend to carry (I've been practicing around the house until my plastic comes)
My husband has a 9mm Glock. Were we misinformed?

[WillieD]

A 9mm is fine but larger calibers are usually more sought after for defensive purposes. Just like the old saying, a 9mm may expand but a .45 will never shrink.

The most important thing is that you are able to handle the gun correctly and shoot accurately with it. I personally would have no problem carrying around a 9mm as my only gun, but since i have options I went with the .40.

[Excaliber]

I have read several times on this board that a 9mm only deserves a "band-aid."

Did I buy an inadequate weapon?

I have an XD-9 that I intend to carry (I've been practicing around the house until my plastic comes)
My husband has a 9mm Glock. Were we misinformed?

You did not buy an inadequate weapon.

Involuntary incapacitation of human antagonists comes from 3 mechanisms:

1) Major damage to a critical structural element that supports the body (read: the spine or the pelvis). Note: This may keep a person from charging you, but it doesn't necessarily put them out of the fight if they are armed with a gun.

2) Major damage to the central nervous system (read the brain stem or cervical spine).

3) Hypovolemic shock (shock caused by major blood loss that prevents the body from supplying enough oxygen to critical organs).

Bullet placement is always more important than caliber.

With good hollowpoint ammunition and good shot placement, your 9mm guns are capable of causing incapacitating wounds, but it may take a few more shots than larger calibers would need to stop a determined threat.

If you hit the brain, the cervical spine, or the pelvis, you'll see rapid incapacitation. The big difference is seen in soft tissue wounds that depend on blood loss to incapacitate an assailant.

Good 9mm hollowpoints that expand well deliver good wound results. 9mm rounds that don't expand because the hollowpoint became plugged with heavy clothing or other material it had to pass through make smaller wound channels than the larger calibers. This limits the rate of blood loss and allows an assailant to remain functional for a longer period of time. Larger caliber rounds placed in the same spot make somewhat bigger wound channels if they don't expand, and significantly bigger ones if they do, producing more rapid blood loss. Thus, all other things being equal, bigger calibers provide better wounding results than smaller calibers do, particularly in soft tissue.

You are not poorly armed with a 9mm as long as you use good hollowpoints in it. Eventually you may want to move up to a .40 or .45 for an extra edge, but that's entirely up to you and not mandatory by any means.

[Gracegarden]

Hmm, I don't feel any better...

[Oldgringo]

Y'all were not mislead with your choice of 9mm!!

The 9mm is the sidearm of NATO and the US Military. Choose a 124 gr. HP for carry and practice often with Win WB from Walmart. While there are larger calibers, the 9mm with proper shot placement will serve you well.

BTW, I have two 1911's and one Springfield XD .45 Service. What am I carrying this week on CHRISTMSAS (yes, I said it) holiday, my trusty Springfield XD 9 SC - you betcha!

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

[boomerang]

I have read several times on this board that a 9mm only deserves a "band-aid."

It's a joke.

It's like the people who shoot real rifles making jokes about AR-15s being poodle shooters.

"Never trust any caliber under .30"

[Excaliber]

Hmm, I don't feel any better...

No need to be down in the dumps with your choice. A 9mm you're proficient with is a far more reliable fight stopper than a .45 you're not proficient with, and the lighter recoil and cheaper ammunition of the 9mm make it a good starter gun.

My advice would be to practice and develop your skills to a high level with the gun you've got, and then rent and try some of the larger caliber pistols to see if you'd be comfortable moving up. You'll have no trouble recouping most of your investment in your current gun when the time comes.

The ones I'd put on a short list to look at are:

Springfield XD
Smith & Wesson M&P
Glock
Kahr

[Gracegarden]

Thank you, Excaliber I clearly understand your post and feel much better!
(My noncontented second posting came before your first reply)

You all are so helpful, I am lucky to have found you!

Happy Holidays!

[Ag87]

My better half carries her .380, she is more comfortable and more accurate with it than a larger caliber. I am glad she has something she can use with confidence rather than a 'big' gun that she might miss her target with.

[Bunkins]

No need for a hand cannon. A .22 can do the same thing with the right shot placement.

Probably the biggest reason I went with a large caliber handgun is because I also carry a sidearm while hunting, and for some stuff bigger is better ( think bear's and big cats )... If it wasn't for that reason I'd feel just as comfortable with a smaller caliber as I do a large caliber. I've thought about buying a 9mm though, .45 ammo gets expensive after a while, which means less range time. When I go I take a .22 revolver and my .45. I can plink for as long as I want with the .22, but I'm done with the .45 in about 20 mins

[flb_78]

Every time I read or hear someone say a 9mm isn't enough, I offer to shoot them center of mass for a proper evaluation.

No one has taken me up on that offer yet. My 9mm is loaded with 124gn +P Speer Gold Dots.

[bdickens]

After a fair amount of research, I'm quite confident in the 124gr +P Gold Dots I chose to stoke my Glock 19 with. Sure hope I never have to test them out for myself, but several law enforcement agencies (NYPD among them) have enough real-world results with them that I don't feel undergunned at all.

[Excaliber]

Thank you, Excaliber I clearly understand your post and feel much better!
(My noncontented second posting came before your first reply)

You all are so helpful, I am lucky to have found you!

Happy Holidays!

I'm glad I could be of assistance.

Merry Chrismas and Happy New Year to you as well.

[bryang]

Don't be discouraged by your choice of the 9mm. Bullet placement is always more important than caliber. You can have a cannon, but if you miss it does not do you much good. The key is practice, practice, practice and then more practice. Many people carry the 9mm and are totally confident in their choice.

Welcome to the forum, you can receive a lot of help here from a lot of good folks.

Merry Christmas
-geo

[GrillKing]

Every time I read or hear someone say a 9mm isn't enough, I offer to shoot them center of mass for a proper evaluation.

No one has taken me up on that offer yet. My 9mm is loaded with 124gn +P Speer Gold Dots.

Offer to shoot them in the leg and I bet you will still get no takers!!