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"Woods" carry caliber.. 9mm or 40sw?

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Poopers:
Im going to get a Sig 2022 in either .40 or 9mm for camping/hiking.


While I AM in Grizz country ( 30 mins from Glacier National Park ) I have no intentions of using a handgun against a bear.


Generally speaking the gun is more likely to be used against meth heads in the woods than it is animals.  I dont know which one has more range but whichever it is, I think that might be more ideal. I have been leaning towards the 40 for more power/mass but the 9 offers a few more rounds and better follow-up shots.


What do you boys think?

Scibaer:
well all i can tell you, is that i opted for the 44 mag.  it can be loaded down , has intimidation factor and will  work as good bear defense . if you have settled on the sig 2022, i would suggest the .40 . with practice , follow up shots will be just as quick as the 9mm and the .40 has more know down power , the PBR is most likely very close..

Empty Quiver:
Most ammo makers are designing bullets to expand and penetrate to a similar degree. That is, in the end, a 9mm will penetrate about the same as a .40 S&W. They will expand to roughly the same diameter too. IMO the difference will be barrier penetration mostly due to weight of projectile, and construction of the bullet you choose.
 
So, if possible shoot both rounds. If you cannot tell any difference in accuracy, go big. I shoot a SP-2340 the predecessor of the SP-2022 .40. I decided that if there was a bullet failure it would certainly never be smaller than it left the chamber nor lighter. Some like the extra rounds available, I'm pretty sure both camps are correct. For some reason .40 is always available around here, which could factor into your decision.
 
If you choose the .40 S&W you can go back and get an after market 9mm barrel. You can also choose to get the 357SIG barrel, which is very much like a +P+ 9mm in performance. Ammo cost may be a concern as well. If you have a loose budget I would get the SP-2022 in .357 SIG order a factory .40 tube from TopGun supply as well as a few extra mags. (both 357 and 40 share the same mag).
 
In the end I don't believe the target will notice much of any difference between all three choices I have described.

Tom W.:
Which can you shoot more comfortably?
I remember the time I shot my buddy's .40 Glock and it was very unpleasant...

Mikey:
I would carry a rifle if I knew was going into hostile territory.  My preference would be for a Kalashnikov in 7.62 as a better overall defense against lots of stuff; I would use the pistol for finishing shots.  If I was more likely to encounter a large bear than a meth zombie I would carry a large bore lever rifle; if it was more zombie than bear it would be the Kalashnikov.  I would use the pistol for finishing shots.  Either caliber is sufficient for your needs, get what you are comfortable with. 

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