First time at the range :)

[JaberCB7]

Whoa! alot of info to digest but i will start my research asap. Pandemic you make a good point, 9mm is very effective if using the right ammunition, i plan on using the remington umc rounds? Heard they stop inside the target preventing exit wounds and possibly hurting someone who may be standing behind my target. Also im a big boy and i carried a .45 (did not get to shoot it) while at the range and i felt comfortable with it but i think for carry on i want a polymer pistol.... any more advice or suggestions on picking my first pistol?

[19dabeast85]

9mm is perfectly fine for personal defense and concealed carry. Ask anybody who has been shot and they'll tell you they have no idea what the caliber was, all they know is it sucked and they don't want to get shot again......my point is all the talk about knock down power, penetration, etc isn't looking at things from a real-world perspective. It's more about where you hit your target, round count, consistency, and dependability. Most smaller guys can't accurately and quickly shoot a .45 because it's too much recoil. Smaller guys can put 3-4 9mm rounds into a target more accurately and quicker than 2 .45.

The biggest benefit of a .45 is you don't have to worry much about the round going through your target and causing collateral damage. The tradeoff is much fewer rounds and much more recoil thus a longer time to realign with the target.

If you are training properly you will never point your gun at something you don't wish to destroy, empty or loaded, and you will ALWAYS be aware of what's behind your target. Stepping to the side while shooting will move any pedestrians out of your line of fire drastically reducing the chance a 9mm round fully penetrates and hits an innocent person.

No matter what you buy train, train, train. Know your gun. You need to be able to accurately hit a target 15 yards away while quickly walking side to side, from a crouch, standing, sitting down, upside down on your back.....the list goes on. If you aren't training your aren't prepared. I HIGHLY recommend Tactical Response's "Fighting Pistol" class. Trust me when I say it will be well worth the time and money to take it.

I own a full size xdm .40 for home defense (gotta get a shotgun soon for REAL home defense). I plan to buy another xdm 9mm compact to concealed carry. The sweet thing about the xdm compact is my backup magazine will have an extended mag with grip....still great for concealing because one of the mags is short but the second mag is full size. I love my xdm, it is very accurate, slick, and fits me very well.

[JTEK24]

9mm is perfectly fine for personal defense and concealed carry. Ask anybody who has been shot and they'll tell you they have no idea what the caliber was, all they know is it sucked and they don't want to get shot again......my point is all the talk about knock down power, penetration, etc isn't looking at things from a real-world perspective. It's more about where you hit your target, round count, consistency, and dependability. Most smaller guys can't accurately and quickly shoot a .45 because it's too much recoil. Smaller guys can put 3-4 9mm rounds into a target more accurately and quicker than 2 .45.

The biggest benefit of a .45 is you don't have to worry much about the round going through your target and causing collateral damage. The tradeoff is much fewer rounds and much more recoil thus a longer time to realign with the target.

If you are training properly you will never point your gun at something you don't wish to destroy, empty or loaded, and you will ALWAYS be aware of what's behind your target. Stepping to the side while shooting will move any pedestrians out of your line of fire drastically reducing the chance a 9mm round fully penetrates and hits an innocent person.

No matter what you buy train, train, train. Know your gun. You need to be able to accurately hit a target 15 yards away while quickly walking side to side, from a crouch, standing, sitting down, upside down on your back.....the list goes on. If you aren't training your aren't prepared. I HIGHLY recommend Tactical Response's "Fighting Pistol" class. Trust me when I say it will be well worth the time and money to take it.

I own a full size xdm .40 for home defense (gotta get a shotgun soon for REAL home defense). I plan to buy another xdm 9mm compact to concealed carry. The sweet thing about the xdm compact is my backup magazine will have an extended mag with grip....still great for concealing because one of the mags is short but the second mag is full size. I love my xdm, it is very accurate, slick, and fits me very well.

What he said

[cbscandal]

9mm is perfectly fine for personal defense and concealed carry. Ask anybody who has been shot and they'll tell you they have no idea what the caliber was, all they know is it sucked and they don't want to get shot again......my point is all the talk about knock down power, penetration, etc isn't looking at things from a real-world perspective. It's more about where you hit your target, round count, consistency, and dependability. Most smaller guys can't accurately and quickly shoot a .45 because it's too much recoil. Smaller guys can put 3-4 9mm rounds into a target more accurately and quicker than 2 .45.

The biggest benefit of a .45 is you don't have to worry much about the round going through your target and causing collateral damage. The tradeoff is much fewer rounds and much more recoil thus a longer time to realign with the target.

If you are training properly you will never point your gun at something you don't wish to destroy, empty or loaded, and you will ALWAYS be aware of what's behind your target. Stepping to the side while shooting will move any pedestrians out of your line of fire drastically reducing the chance a 9mm round fully penetrates and hits an innocent person.

No matter what you buy train, train, train. Know your gun. You need to be able to accurately hit a target 15 yards away while quickly walking side to side, from a crouch, standing, sitting down, upside down on your back.....the list goes on. If you aren't training your aren't prepared. I HIGHLY recommend Tactical Response's "Fighting Pistol" class. Trust me when I say it will be well worth the time and money to take it.

I own a full size xdm .40 for home defense (gotta get a shotgun soon for REAL home defense). I plan to buy another xdm 9mm compact to concealed carry. The sweet thing about the xdm compact is my backup magazine will have an extended mag with grip....still great for concealing because one of the mags is short but the second mag is full size. I love my xdm, it is very accurate, slick, and fits me very well.

I'm not saying that 9mm is inferior or inadequate, I'm just simply giving my reasons why I would rather own a .40, and those are my own opinions.

But I agree, the only thing I need to stress is that you need to get used to your gun. You need to be comfortable with it.

[19dabeast85]

I'm not saying that 9mm is inferior or inadequate, I'm just simply giving my reasons why I would rather own a .40, and those are my own opinions.

But I agree, the only thing I need to stress is that you need to get used to your gun. You need to be comfortable with it.

I wasn't attacking you or anything, just so you know. Yeah I think .40 is a good choice for concealed carry too. If you're comfortable with it then that's what you should use. I think .45 is overboard and doesn't give you enough rounds. I chose 9mm because it is adequate, especially with the right defense ammo, and gives me more rounds and more rapid fire. Plus, if needed, my wife can shoot 9mm. She tried the .40 and it's a little too much for her.

[cbscandal]

I wasn't attacking you or anything, just so you know. Yeah I think .40 is a good choice for concealed carry too. If you're comfortable with it then that's what you should use. I think .45 is overboard and doesn't give you enough rounds. I chose 9mm because it is adequate, especially with the right defense ammo, and gives me more rounds and more rapid fire. Plus, if needed, my wife can shoot 9mm. She tried the .40 and it's a little too much for her.

I know you weren't attacking me, I was just making myself clear. And you're right, family is also a big factor in this debate. What if your kid needs to use it?

[Pandemic]

I wasn't attacking you or anything, just so you know. Yeah I think .40 is a good choice for concealed carry too. If you're comfortable with it then that's what you should use. I think .45 is overboard and doesn't give you enough rounds. I chose 9mm because it is adequate, especially with the right defense ammo, and gives me more rounds and more rapid fire. Plus, if needed, my wife can shoot 9mm. She tried the .40 and it's a little too much for her.

.45 is not overboard by any means.

[19dabeast85]

.45 is not overboard by any means.

What I meant is it's unneeded in most circumstances and has too much trade-off for most shooters (high recoil, low capacity). Yes, it'll freakin knock your target on his back, but is that REALLY necessary? I shot a compact .45 Glock and found it pretty dang difficult to control.

[Pandemic]

A light weight polymer pistol will have more muzzle flip than a metal framed 1911. It's less to do with the round and more to do with the pistol.

[phatdoughnut]

I carry my Ar pistol, 30+1, cant beat that.

[cbscandal]

A heavier gun usually means less recoil.
It's physics.

[JaberCB7]

I had a few guns in mind

SW99/P99 (same compnay) two tone olive green

XDM

and im obsessed with the 1911, think S&W or Taurus makes a 1911 in 9mm caliber. Now im looking to test these out but the local range doesnt have any, i know there is a big one with in and outdoor and has all of the guns im interested but its about 2 hours away