i have a glock 35, a springfiled XD40, and a TNW Aero which is a pistol caliber carbine - all are .40 s&w...from all of the training information and videos i have read since purchasing those, .40 is not necessarily the best choice..the recoil from a .40 is higher because the pressure from the load is very high in comparison to the weight of the projectile (which is why you won't find +P rounds)..this slows down your ability to make accurate follow up shots, and it also wears the gun's parts out a bit faster
if you are getting it for 'stopping power' - that argument between 9mm, .40, and .45acp is basically a bunch of crap..the amount of force on impact is nearly the amount of force that you feel in recoil (physics), so it isn't going to 'knock someone off of their feet' if you get a .45 over .40 or 9mm (like some like to suggest)...for defense, incapacitation will come from either a direct blow to the nervous system, spine or brain, or from bleeding out..when it comes to bleeding out, the size of the hole left in someone from 9mm, .40, and .45acp is nearly the same - only a fraction of an inch difference, which means little in the short term (the variances occur in the rounds themselves - tumbling, hollow point, frangible rounds etc)..so choosing a caliber based on the intent to incapacitate someone comes down to you and your shot placement and number of connected rounds, not the caliber
furthermore, when picking between those 3 main calibers, you can look at the capacity of rounds in the gun...a handgun will hold the most rounds of 9mm, less of .40, and even less for the .45..9mm and .45 have proportional powder loads for the weight of projectile, so the recoil is reduce for both, with 9mm arguably being the best for follow up shots
so, in summation..
9mm:
cheapest ($0.20-$0.30/rd depending on type and location)
least recoil (better follow up shots)
highest standard round capacity
slightly smaller entrance hole
.40 s&w:
middle of the road price ($0.28-$.40 /rd)
most recoil (bad for follow up shots)
middle of the road capacity
middle of the road entrance hole
.45 acp:
most expensive ($0.30-$0.45/rd)
moderate recoil
low standard round capacity
largest entrance hole
From what I own and have been around, I prefer the feel to the Springfield XD series handguns. I also like the all metal CZ handguns - they weigh substantially more, but that reduced felt recoil (haven't had the opportunity to shoot a 1911 yet though). I would say the M&P is somewhat between the Glock and XD.
I have been stocking up on 9mm as I plan to purchase a 9mm handgun and a caliber conversion kit for my pistol caliber carbine. I eventually want to have guns in 9mm, .40s&w, and .45acp so picking between them doesn't matter. But, for a first handgun, I would probably recommend the 9mm - cheaper to shoot, more rounds per magazine, better follow up shots, and can put holes in stuff just as well as the others.
This post was edited by bnrhodes2 on Jul 30 2014 09:59pm