3gunjunky Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 (edited) I'm just getting into 3 gun and noticed most folks are using 9mm pistols. I already have a 40, dies, brass, 5 mags, etc and only have the gun and 1 mag in 9mm. So what are the pro's & con's between a loaded down 40 v a 9mm for 3 gun? Edited February 20, 2015 by 3gunjunky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitrohuck Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 There is no major/minor power factor scoring in most 3 gun events, therefore a 9mm is preferable in the majority's eyes, That said, you can always just load .40 minor with your current setup, as you know. You'll have to weigh the cost/benefit factors for yourself, but you'll spend a good chunk of change getting all your 9mm equipment squared away when you already have all the goodies for .40 at your fingertips. I would just start out shooting .40 minor, have fun. Then if you really want to go the 9mm route down the road you can slowly acquire used items bit by bit and save some cash rather than rushing to buy everything at once brand new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael1778 Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 You'll lose a small amount of magazine capacity. As you get started that won't mean anything significant at all. You just look at your own costs & economics. If the down-loaded 40 makes more sense for you financially, you will be doing yourself a favor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Tischauser Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 3-4 rounds of capacity is it. 1 stage every 2-3 matches a 9mm saves you a reload. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoomy Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 (edited) Careful downloading .40 S&W. I used Montana Gold 155gr JHP and could not get the gun to cycle at 135,000 power factor. Could have put in a lighter recoil spring but decided to raise the power factor to 140,000. Funny thing is the recoil feels lighter than my wife's 9mm at 130,000 power factor. Edited February 20, 2015 by Zoomy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearcave Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Just run your 40 like you would in a pistol match, not worth down loading. Harder to miss with the larger bullet! If you really get into it you can get a 9mm latter if you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 I shoot minor 40 in USPSA production and in 3gun, because I just use the same gun. As Jesse said, rarely will this set you back in anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkvibe Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 I shoot .40 in 3-gun. I shoot .40 major in USPSA and didn't want to come up with another load, get a conversion barrel, etc... I just load down to minor for 3-gun ammo. I noticed that there are a few stages where I have to reload where the 9mm 2011 shooters don't. I don't think it sets me back since I can normally reload when I am moving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shakman Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 I put 4.1gr of HP38 underneath 180gr Montana Gold bullets for my Edge, and it's a perfect 3-gun round. I've only run into a couple stages during matches where I wish I had 2-3 more rounds in the magazine to stave off a reload, but those are the exceptions rather than the rule. Additionally, I've seen stages where people shooting 9mm at a less-than-calibrated popper won't be able to knock it over where a .40 will just about every time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Tischauser Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 I shoot .40 in 3-gun. I shoot .40 major in USPSA and didn't want to come up with another load, get a conversion barrel, etc... I just load down to minor for 3-gun ammo. I noticed that there are a few stages where I have to reload where the 9mm 2011 shooters don't. I don't think it sets me back since I can normally reload when I am moving. Exactly there is so much more movement in 3-gun then USPSA you can reload anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
co-exprs Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 (edited) I still run my 40 in Limited and Tac O. Just never felt like there was much to gain by spending the scratch for another 2011. I'll get one eventually, but I can track the sights as fast as I can pull the trigger. 40 gets the job done fine. Edited February 20, 2015 by co-exprs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZGunut Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 I have 2 9mm 2011, but have been running my 6" 40 lately. After a hard to spin pistol spinner I now carry major 200g just for hard set steel and minor 165g for the rest. I lose 2 rounds over my 9 but doesn't bother me at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corey Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 I shoot a .40 in 3gun. couple less rounds per mag but not that big of an issue for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaky Dave Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 I've been shooting my limited gun 40cal for years.Just bought a RIA 2011 in 9mm,building mags,do trigger job.Hoping to get 3 or 4 more rounds capacity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtm Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 40 means not having to look back to see if the steel fell! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathan Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 I just stepped up to a 2011 in .40 from the ol' SS .45, as most matches allow that in HM now, & I don't know what the hell I'd need with 2-3 more rounds in my mag. I have enough trouble keeping track of my count with what I got! :-D Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjb45 Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 I have a 1050. I have one load for .40 and loads hundreds at a sitting. Makes life so simple. 3G is complicated mess!!! Different guns, magazines, belts bags and ammo. Simple is better for an idiot like me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunther Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 40 means not having to look back to see if the steel fell! ^^^^^^^^^^^^ Exactly!^^^^^^^^^^^^^ I see a lot of guys having to shoot more than once to get some of that heavy steel to fall! (including me) I run my 9mm at 140PF now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neomet Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 I know I am the oddball but I prefer my .40 downloaded to about 140 or so with a 180. Stupid soft, steel falls, I use the same projectiles for both USPSA and 3G. I get 21 reloadable so an extra reload every once in a while doesn't carry more weight than what I perceive as the benefits. Call me crazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Miles Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Careful downloading .40 S&W. I used Montana Gold 155gr JHP and could not get the gun to cycle at 135,000 power factor. Could have put in a lighter recoil spring but decided to raise the power factor to 140,000. Funny thing is the recoil feels lighter than my wife's 9mm at 130,000 power factor. 135,000 power factor! That explains the seismic readings at the local college geology department. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoomy Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Careful downloading .40 S&W. I used Montana Gold 155gr JHP and could not get the gun to cycle at 135,000 power factor. Could have put in a lighter recoil spring but decided to raise the power factor to 140,000. Funny thing is the recoil feels lighter than my wife's 9mm at 130,000 power factor.135,000 power factor! That explains the seismic readings at the local college geology department. I should have reduced it to 135 PF. I just wrote it out the way the math works out (870 fps x 155 grains = 134,850 PF) and rounded up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3gunjunky Posted February 22, 2015 Author Share Posted February 22, 2015 Thanks for the insight and comments.....very helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHMSA15151 Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Lots of great advice here. I did the same only with 9mm to start. It's what I had and was set up to reload with. I don't shoot much USPSA, when I do I'm in "minor", but just starting out it's the idea of getting into the game and learning. I mostly Steel Challenge and 3 Gun now so it worked out just fine. There's one guy at our range that shoots 40 and he loves to shoot with all the 9mm guys because he can quickly pick his brass out of the pile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogtired Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 9mm offers a few advantages but shoot what you got. I love my limited gun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romans 13 4 Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 40 means not having to look back to see if the steel fell! ... and spinners spin easier... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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