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My department may be switching from a Glock 40 cal. to a Glock 9mm. As far as I know, most departments are switching to a larger round. Are there any pros to going to a 9mm?

They are probably doing it because ISP switched from .40 Beretta's to Glock 17's 9mm last year.....which I still don't understand.

ISP switching may have an influence on the decision. But like you said why would ISP even chose to go to 9mm.

RetiredCop says ...

lavamarine says ...

My department may be switching from a Glock 40 cal. to a Glock 9mm. As far as I know, most departments are switching to a larger round. Are there any pros to going to a 9mm?

My department was a mess when it came to firearms. We had to buy our own and we could use .38, 380, 9MM or 45 auto. I moved up to a larger round each time they allowed it. I finally settled on a Glock Model 30 compact 45 auto with 10 in the clip. Loved that little bugger!

We currently have the sub compact Glock 27, 40 cal. It's tiny but we are under cover %100 of the time and so I love this weapon. Perfect for our job.

In this day and age, where bad guys are becoming more heavily armed and armored, going to a smaller round is a mistake. You're already out-gunned out there, why put yourself in even more of a hole. Fight it if you can.

jlu492 says ...

In this day and age, where bad guys are becoming more heavily armed and armored, going to a smaller round is a mistake. You're already out-gunned out there, why put yourself in even more of a hole. Fight it if you can.

wow it amazes me that who ever does your departments firearms would even consider such a change.  like jlu492 stated...fight it if you can.  big mistake in my opinion.

First off ISP had a great round in a dog gun. The beretta  is big, lots of things that snag, a lousy trigger and not that accurate when shooting right next to a Glock or Sig. the 40 is a great round. They should look at a 229 Sig or 226 in 40. Or any glock in 40 is a good choice. I have no idea why they would go back to a 9 mm . Agencies here are dumping them in droves to go 40 or 45. the 9 mm just doesn't get it anymore.

This would be a bad decision.  The 9mm is too fast for stopping power.  I have used both 9mm and 40 and there would be no way I would go back to 9mm after using the 40.  Another thing they need to take into consideration, is what the other agencies in your area are carrying.  If you get into a shoot out and you run dry and another agency is there and they carrying 40s and you are carrying 9s, well lets just say you are up a certain creek without a paddle.

In the officer involved shootings at our Department, I have seen bad situations with 9mm. 

1. Gangbanger spins on officer giving chase, during foot pursuit, firing 2 shots (missing on both).  Officer drops to ground returns 2 rounds. 1 miss (unknown where round went) and 1 hit POS in back, piercing his liver and lodging.  Subject was able to run into next yard, toss his gun before dying. (20 ft between shooter and bad guy)

2. Two armed subjects have shootout with officers after failed robbery.  One subject hit in stomach and goes down (lives).  One subject continues to fire on officers while running through adjacent parking lot.  Subject struck a total of 11 times before going down about 500 ft. from where 1st hit. Subject dies at the hospital. No officers injured. (5 to 50 ft)

3. Officers enter stairway (going up) investigating man with knife call.  Subject pops out on landing and stabs 1st officer twice.  2nd officer draws on the suspect and fires one shot into chest knocking him down.  Injured officer is pulled away and subject is ordered to drop knife. Subject refuses and is shot again finishing him.  All officers, including stabbed officer, are back to full duty. (5 ft)

4. Officer rolls up on domestic where subject is grabbing spouse holding knife to her throat.  Officer draws down on subject and orders subject to drop knife  Spouse breaks free from subject and subject refuses to drop knife.  Subject swings knife at spouse again.  Officer fires a shot at subject hitting him in the chest, which stuns him.  Officer fires second shot which also hits subject.  Officer sees dirt behind subject popping up, thinking he is missing subject.  Officer fires 3rd shot finally bringing subject down. (15 ft)

All these shootings happened between a couple months and 5 years ago and done with Glock 17's using Speer Gold Dot hollow points.

After witnessing these shootings, you know why I'm not a fan of the 9mm.  Fight it if you can.

If it hasn't already been stated, I believe there is a higher capacity with the 9mm.

Some departments were bringing in the Glocks when they transitioned from the revolver way back. Too many got the idea that a heavier trigger pull, say 8 to 11 pounds, (don't remember) would make that move easier and then never got around to changing the trigger pull after their Officers got used to the pistols. A lighter trigger pull means better shooting, since the vast majority of marksmanship is in the trigger pull. A five pound pull on a Glock .40 is hard to beat. 15 round mags and one chambered, point a click technology, no down sides. Sweet weapon that has the power to drop the bad guy. 9mm can become more effective with the hydroshock hollow point round. They still aren't going to hand out the impact potential of the .40 round, but it is better than standard 9mil.

I am not a 9mm fan, but my department requires that I carry a Glock 17.  I carry a Glock 21 SF off duty and as a back up.  The only plus that the department has done is researching ballistics for the 9.  The Federal 115 gr. Hi-Shok has 10 pounds less kinetic energy at 25yards than a 185 gr. .40 Cal.  I personally do not like the 40 but that comes from a defective round that caused my Glock 22 to explode in my hands.  The Berretta 40's preceeded the Glock 17 with our dept. and had a history of mechanical failures such as bulged barrels.  If it was up to me we would go to .45