If you plan on getting into a gunfight make sure you are willing to kill your adversary. Trying to play softball by just stopping them by blunt trauma will get you killed for sure. Learn to shoot well and learn how to put your opponent down. I'm sure if you are sucked into a situation where deadly force is needed that you will be shown no sympathy at all and the cretin will probably be much more practiced at killing you than the other way around. The Border Patrol used rounds meant to incapacitate until Brian Terry was shot in a gunfight so I believe you may want to rethink your objective. I like to carry a 9mm or 357 SIG and shoot for the head/throat area.

i say rgrundy makes a good point

A good .40 S&W has all the stopping power you should ever need....JJ

500 s&w

My fist.

Originally Posted by denner

500 s&w

Way to go for the big dawg!!! I think that might not be what he is looking for according to his post

Originally Posted by T-55A5

I知 looking at buying another handgun in February and was wondering how close is the 10mm & .40 to the .45 in stopping power. . .

If you want get some real numbers, go here.
Find - MidwayUSA

On the left is a "selection box" for handgun calibers. Select .40 S&W. (.40 S&W is "10mm lite"). Choose a common SD load. Say like a Hornady load.
Click on the load, and write down the Muzzle Velocity, and Muzzle Energy.
Then do the same for 10 mm and for .45 ACP with the "same SD load".

There's your answer if you want to believe Muzzle Energy is a large factor in "stopping power". I already know the answer, without looking. But, "the proof is left to the student".

As far as blasting body armor goes, I don't have a .500 S&W. Or a .460 S&W.
I guess my Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan .454 Casull 2 1/2" barrel snubby is a poor boy third of the "common big boys".
Any of these three will "probably" outdue the .45 ACP in the "blunt chest trauma hurt through your body armor" category. But, my SRH is a large pain to carry concealed.

Originally Posted by denner

500 s&w

Looking for something with less recoil than a cannon....my 1911 has more than enough recoil

Originally Posted by chessail77

A good .40 S&W has all the stopping power you should ever need....JJ

I have been looking at the 40 S&W M&P, but I do have to watch the price too

Shot placement is more important than the caliber you carry. If you are comfortable with a 9, carry one. If you can handle a .40, .45, or 10mm, carry that. Whatever you carry, you must be able to put the bullet where is needs to go. Practice, practice, practice !!

The .45 is a reliable man stopper. It gained most of its reputation by comparing .45 FMJ with .38 FMJ and 9mm FMJ. With full military jacket ammo the big .45 is the clear winner.

It's advantage is reduced when high performance hollow points are compared. But still, its track record is clear--it is a proven man stopper.

The 10mm was selected by the FBI as its best choice for a weapon. But too many agents had problems handling this high recoiling round. So they dropped back to .40 caliber.

The 10mm offers the greatest flexibility. Some of the loadings are not much more than the .40 and are easily controlled. And you have the option of going to the devastating full power loadings. Double tap offers (I believe) a 135 grain driven at 1500 to 1600 fps. This would make it something like a .357 on steroids. But you have to be careful selecting ammo for this gun. Some of them will have extreme amounts of penetration (the FBI likes that aspect).

Also consider the cost of ammo: The .45 and the .40 are going to be much cheaper to shoot than the 10mm.

+1 hud35500

I personally do not enjoy shooting the .40 cal.

I own several and I know you're talking about a conceal carry gun.

But I shoot my conceal carry gun a lot to stay proficient with it.

I carry 9mm Hydro-shock +p+ bullets and am confident of their killing power.

If you feel you gotta go big ... I'd carry a .45 cal.

But that's just me.

Originally Posted by T-55A5

I have been looking at the 40 S&W M&P, but I do have to watch the price too

I don't know about where you are. Here I bought my M&Ps cheaper than I could any Glock, XD. I believe the Ruger was alittle bit cheaper. And all of those were cheaper than the Beretta which all were a ton cheaper than the 1911's, Berettas, Sigs, and FN's. Bought a full sized a couple of weeks ago $469 including tax.

I like a 10mm. Of course I like a .40sw. A quick barrel change on the M&P and you can go straight to shooting a .357sig.

"blunt force trauma"? -- hit 'em with a baseball bat!

Pick a reasonable pistol, in a reasonable cartridge, practice, practice, practice. Then, stop these many attackers with a "mozambique", AKA "a failure drill" -- two to the torso and one to the head. That will usually work -- I've been told.

Over the years, an awful lot of "gunfighters" did a lot of damage with pistols that had a lot less power than a 9mm - esp. with some of the self defense ammo being made today.

Practice, practice, practice.

They all have good stopping power when shot placement is good. I like the 40 S&W and the 10mm, the 10mm when loaded to its potential is a whole nother level of power.

I've read some on stopping power of various calibers and if it's not a magnum it won't make much difference - 50% of perps stop with the first hit - who wants to be shot again? All calibers are ~25% fatal. The larger calibers do have some advantage when the perp just won't stop no matter what, but if that's the case I'm guessing he's gonna be pretty close so a few in the face should work wonders to stop him.

357 and 44 mag do the best of the pistol calibers.

But if you want to stop them for sure get a rifle. Rifles though are 85% fatal and one shot stops are the rule.

I've shot many a rabbit with my 22 rifle and had one shot stops. Ever so often a second shot is needed when I get close. My 22 pistol with the same ammo? Forget it. 5 hits are needed on average. Same place on the body and it's just not nearly as effective.

So many factors go into it besides caliber or power -bullet type, where you hit them, what clothing they were wearing, their determination/motivation and level of 'additives' (alcohol, drugs) in their system, physical condition, etc.

If you were faced with the situation would you shoot? How threatened would you have to be? Would you be calm and cool enough to aim accurately? I've not observed folks under such conditions but have seem then in emergency situations and too often the level headed logical person just loses it and fails to act or act properly. Personally I'd have to have no options left before I'd open fire then I'd shoot to kill - I'd empty the gun into the perp. But I also would think about the consequences of my actions - I don't want to ruin my life in a moment of paniced excitement.