Is a 9mm potent WITHOUT hollowpoints?

Question

I live in a state that doesn't allow you to purchase hollow point ammo legally. I carry a 9mm Glock and I've been told repeatedly that a 9 is only effective enough for self defense IF you use JHP bullets, and that you shouldn't trust your life with 9mm ball point ammo. I'm thinking about making the switch to a .40 or a .357 sig, but I am much more accurate with the G19. Does a 9mm really need hollowpoints to have effective stopping power?
If you don't feel the 9mm is a decent weapon what do you recommend instead?

Answer 1

even a .22 is effective. don't believe the hype. i own a few .22's but my favorite is my keltec .380. my big fat glock30 (.45) stays at home all the time.

my .44 magnum stayed home so often i sold it.

oh and always stay away from .38 special revolvers because they make those fake arguments valid.

i couldn't help but notice that you are much more accurate with a G19. Just wait till you try the .357sig.

and the good part about the glocks are that .40 and .357sig are interchangeable.
just change the barrel. the rest work both ways. 2 guns for the price of one.

Answer 2

I've owned a Glock 17. I dont have it any longer because a 9mm round has so much velocity. Hollowpoint or not, if you were to fire a round in (for example) an apartment complex, it is quite possible for the round to penetrate your target, exit your target, and then pass through numerous walls before lodging itself into whoever or whatever. Too much liability for my taste, but thats just me.

I never thought I would want anything other than a Glock, until I got my H&K USP .40. I carry it both on and off duty, and am extremely satisfied with it.

I noticed you had a concern with recoil. The USP's recoil is minimal compared to other .40's (The Sig comes to mind), but the best thing about it is the fact that the .40 has lower velocity. Whereas it has been documented many, many times, where a suspect has been shot by a 9mm, and the bullet entered and exited, (ultimately causing damage, but not much stopping power), the .40 really packs a wallup, regardless of if you are using HP's or not.

My recommendation is to find a good range with rentals, shoot the H&K, shoot some others as well, and form your own opinion before buying.

Good luck, be safe.

Answer 3

There is a simple remmady to your problem and they are called "Glassier Safty Slugs". Sorry if I misspelled it but they are very real. It's a brass jacket with a teflon tip and either #9 or #12 buckshot behind the tip. They are meant for self defense in places like an appartment. They will penatrate one side of a sheetrock wall and blow up on the inside but not go through the other side so it can't accidently kill or hurt anyone in the next appartment but you can also immagine what happens when they enter the body. There is no fixing of the wound. You can buy these through Sprotsmans Guide on line if you have a credit card.

I use the as a normal load for my Colt .45 and the police say that it's the perfect ammo for self defense.


By the way, the 9mm round is too fast. It goes right through the body and out the other side and if it does that, it's not doing it's job. It took 4 police officers over 100 rounds fired to bring down one guy and they hit him many many times.

I used to work in law enforcement and I also reload my own ammo.

Answer 4

I am not police officer but when looking to by my gun I looked at what my city/county police officers carry. The city police carry .40 cal Sig 229's and the county, .40 Glocks. They switched from the 9mm to the .40 cal. You get more stopping power and it's not much more difficult to control. And so for my first gun purchase I bought a Sig 239 .40 S&W.

If I were you, I'd just keep my 9mm. It was effective in it's past, worthy enough to be used by Police Departments. It will kill you just like any other bullet. If this is your only hang up, keep the 9mm.

Now if you really are looking for an excuse to get a new gun, and have the money.... go for it. Obviously a bigger bullet will terminate the threat easier.

Answer 5

I wouldn't want to be shot by one, but time and again the 9mm and similar rounds have been found less than satisfactory. This harkens back to the US Army's experience in the Philippines, where the troops shed their 38 Long Colt revolvers in favor of the old 45 single actions whenever they could. That cartridge had a heavier bullet at lower velocity than the 9x19, but the point is there that a 45 is much more effective, if you can shoot it. It's also been why the military have been unhappy since 1985 when politics took precedence over military necessity and the troops had Berettas forced on them.

Answer 6

JHP (or variation thereof) is best. Military ball ammo is ok - but the intent of ball ammo (military) is to wound the enemy and take out the medics for his care as well.

9mm is fine - but it's more about shot placement than the size/velocity/type of round. A .22 round is good if you can place the round accurately. For a defensive weapon - which is what you should be using it for (as opposed to offensive) - it should be fine.

That being said - if you want to get a bigger handgun, go ahead. The ammo will be more expensive....

Calif Deputy

Answer 7

The 9mm is accurate enough and the glock has a big enough magazine to put quite a few bullets in to someone's chest so I wouldn't worry too much about, but if so then buy a .45... that'll drop someone in a heartbeat close to mid range, in my opinion.

Answer 8

A .22 in the hands of a professional is a dangerous gun and can easily kill someone. People who rely on pure bullet mass to stop an opponent are usually not relying on marksmanship. A marksman with a .22 can stop a person just as easily (maybe even easier) than a poor shot with a high calibre weapon (with or without illegal ammunition).

Answer 9

a 9mm is the same size (micrometers difference) as a .357, .38, .380, .40 or 10 mm.
The main difference is the bullet speed, this determines how much penetration you get.
If you like your Glock, stick to it.
Your next mugger/ burglar isn't going to stop and ask the caliber size when you point it at them.
If they do you need to make a scarier face at them! =))

Answer 10

1