What to do, what to do... I finally decided on my next handgun purchase.
http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-75-b/

But now I just can't decide. Should I get it in a 9mm or a 40? I like to shoot and I do burn through ammo but I want to carry this as a backup when hog hunting as well as a future CCW, soon as the CHL on campus bill is passed. Which makes me lean toward the 40. How much more knockdown power does a 40 really have anyway? There's some who say they would never carry anything less than a 40 and some who say there's no need for anything bigger than a 9mm. Decisions, decisions...

http://ballisticsbytheinch.com/results.html

Compare them side by side and decide for yourself. There's no argument that the .40 S&W is more powerful than the 9mm. However, I have shot quite a few pigs with the 9mm and none of them laughed about it.

As far as the CZ goes, I would buy it in the 9mm. I've owned two, great handguns, very well made, very easy to shoot. You might find a full size 75B a tad large to carry comfortably though.

http://www.best9mm.com/

I agree with above. In a CZ I'd get the 9mm. I love mine.

The .40 is a different round and there are better guns for it...like the XD.

I'm a fairly big guy. 220 and 6'1 so I feel like I could conceal it on me if I had to. That being said, I would probably only carry it in my backpack if the CHL on campus law passed.

So what you guys are saying is the 9mm in the CZ 75b is better than the 40? Why is that?

The CZ75 was born and bred for the 9mm. It is almost the perfect 9mm. That is what I am saying.

The .40 is a better round, ballistics prove that.


I think honestly it would be a fantastic .40 cal platform. The CZ75B is an outstanding pistol.

That is such a fine weapon all around I think it would be really cool if they chambered it in 10mm lol

I started out liking .40; but now that I've started shooting .45 apc I like it more. If I had to reduce to one gun, it would be my glock 30 (.45 apc) no doubt. I had heard it over and over but had not believed, the .40 is snappy and the .45 pushes; feels true when I shoot both side by side now.

I have shot several CZ's and for the money I have to agree with KC they are such a fine shooting handgun that are easy to learn on.

Makes sense. I knew the CZ is a great gun but I don't get why it isn't mentioned more.

As been said, CZ 75B is a solid piece. Really like the thing. Plink around with WWB 9M, or for defense load up with Federal HST or pick from many others.

Here's something just pulled off google. Tons more of the same. I would say ouch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpO5kPuQYrA

They are discussed a lot on gun forums like thehighroad.org

--
Rob

Because it was manufactured behind the iron curtain and very few were imported during the era of large frame all steel 9mm's. It's sort of a niche gun that not a whole lot of people know about. A great design though, most find it very ergonomic.

I think its one of the most, if not the most, comfortable guns I have ever handled. Which is one of the reasons I wanted it.

Thanks for the link, Rob. That may have just sealed the deal. I'm gonna get the 9mm.

The .40 is a compromise round. It does well, but not really any better than 9mm or .45.

Seen guys shot with all three. Assuming correct shot placement, they all died. When shot placement was not correct, not too much happened, in fact, one guy didn't even know he was hit (.40 to the lower back) due to glass breaking and stuff flying around.

The CZ was designed as a 9mm, few of the 9mm-to-.40s really turned out well, which is why these days, they design it in .40, cure any issues, then shrink it to 9mm (the USP, P2000, M&P and others being excellent examples).

I personally carry a .45, because i've had it for 11-12 years and after 8,000+ rounds i'm comfortable with it, but I have several 9's that see use and I carry either loaded with proper JHPs without any problem.

Why decided between the two? I don't know if conversions exist for the CZ - not familiar with that gun.

But if you got a 9mm Glock or a 40 S&W Glock you can get the other caliber in a drop in barrel. Then by just swapping out barrells and magazines you can shoot both calibres reliably in the same gun.

This works for the Glock 26/27, Glock 19/23, and Glock 17/22.

Earl

IMO, you are already undergunned with most any pistol round. So, maximize the pistol round with whatever you can. In this case a 40 cal. 40 cal has about 30-40% more energy than a 9mm. 40 cal is more expensive to shoot. So, cost can be a factor.

If they don't go down with a 9mm, 40 won't do much better. Ammo is a lot more expensive for .40, so you'd probably practice with it less, which is a very bad thing. Magazine capacity is often also reduced when comparing 9mm to .40. Use the right defense ammo and you can't go wrong with the 9mm

Picking the current 9MM vs .40 is like picking fly poo out of pepper.

If memory serves me, someone feel free to correct me, the history goes back to the Miami FBI shoot out. FBI chose not to use the .45 because of the recoil and settled on the 9MM. The FBI was out gunned. Science was not what it is today regarding ammo and Ball ammo was pretty standard with some HP that surely didn't preform as today. They started looking at a variety of guns, 10mm was one, but in the end of the day settled on the .40cal.

Since then science has come a long way and there are pretty good defense ammo for the 9MM as demonstrated above. Being shot with both, you couldn't tell the difference.

Interesting story. google: FBI Miami 9mm

As stated, I'm free for any corrections.

I am sure the improvement in 9mm ammo since the Miami FBI shootout has advanced the 9mm in terms of effectiveness, but I'd argue that the same science has benefited most pistol ammo across the board as well. I'll carry a .40 before a 9mm, but if a .45 is in reach that's what I'll use in a time of need. Bigger is better.

id go 9, dont see the point in 40 anymore after looking at recent fbi ballistic test

Hard to argue with a 124 grn xtp or 147 grn xtp in 9mm

Leave the 115 round noses at home or at the range.

Not if you can't hit what you're aiming at. I've seen a few folks who have no business shooting a .45. But do just fine with a 9mm. It's all about staying in your comfort zone and having confidence in what you're shooting.

You're right. Bigger is better (but only if you can hit your target).

I like the story of the reporterette who is aghast at the size of the Texas Ranger's pistol and asks why he carries a .45, to which he responds "because they don't make a .46!"

9mm and 40 fit in the same size frame guns. So, if one offers it in 9mm, it's probably offered in 40, too, so why not go 40. I carry a G29 daily in 10mm Auto. It's the same exact bullet as the 40 s&w, just pushed faster. 40 is good, but 10mm is better.

The 9mm vs 40 debate will always be there. There are some bullets now on the market that are awesome. Hornady's new Critical Defense ammo with the polymer filler in the hollow point is very ingenious. This will help the lower powered rounds be more effective and allow the HP to open up. I highly recommend this ammo for defense.

Yeah that FTX bullet was designed to go through clothing.

Tests show that HP's hitting thick clothing would sometimes turn sideways and not work.

Hornady FTX fixed that.

I sometimes carry a CZ75 9mm with HydroShock Ammo - no complaints at all the pistol is bad to the bone and as I stated in another post, it should come with a pack of filterless cigarettes. It has plenty of time down range and and like Cal Naughten Jr...it likes to party.