[palerider1775]

If the cost difference in ammo was nonexistent, which chambering of Tauru's PT700 Slim seriesl would you recommend I go with? Right now, I'm only considering the 9x19mm and the .40S&W.

The 709 holds one more round per magazine, and it would be slightly easier to go for follow up shots.

The 740.....well, it's a .40! :laughing :smack

For what it's worth, my currently EDC's (when I'm not in school) are 1911's chambered in .45 ACP.

(My defensive carry ammo will be Hornady Critical Defense.)

I've got until the end of the month to make up my mind, and I believe you guys could help me choose the compromise that fits me best. Feel free to ellaborate on your choice, and thanks in advance! :thumsup

 

[JimD]

Personally, I wouldn't get either, but...

Many folks on here know my feelings on .40cal vs 9 mm. Both are effective, but the .40 cal is a more effective SD round. If there was a big difference in capacity between the two, I could see an argument for 9mm (maybe). To me, one extra round is not worth trading the effectiveness. Why did you choose Hornady Critical Defense ammo?

Jim

 

[palerider1775]

Personally, I wouldn't get either, but...

Many folks on here know my feelings on .40cal vs 9 mm. Both are effective, but the .40 cal is a more effective SD round. If there was a big difference in capacity between the two, I could see an argument for 9mm (maybe). To me, one extra round is not worth trading the effectiveness. Why did you choose Hornady Critical Defense ammo?

Jim

Did a little research and thought it was impressive. Would you recommend something else? opcorn

 

[JimD]

If you go with a 9mm, I would recommend Winchester Ranger-T 124 grain +P. For a .40 cal, I usually use either Winchester Ranger-T 165 grain or Federal tactical 165 grain or Federal Hi-Shock 155 grain. Have seen mixed reviews on Hornady CD but have not delved deep into it. I am sure that plenty will chime in.

Jim

 

[bladenbullet]

the .40 round being snappy and the gun being small i would tend to favor the 9mm...but then i favor the 9 mm anyway...

 

[JimD]

the .40 round being snappy and the gun being small i would tend to favor the 9mm...but then i favor the 9 mm anyway...

I would agree with bladenbullet about the "snappiness" of many .40 cal pistols. One of the things that I like about my Glock 27 is that it is not as snappy as some of the others I tried and the recoil tends to be almost straight back. Make sure that you shoot both before deciding.

 

[XDMan]

My 2 EDCs are the XD40SC for when I carry on my belt IWB and the PT709 Slim when I pocket carry. I've never shot the 740 to compare, so I can't provide first hand experience on recoil and follow-up shots. My XD40SC is a pleasure to shoot...but it's an entirely different gun.

 

[palerider1775]

I would agree with bladenbullet about the "snappiness" of many .40 cal pistols. One of the things that I like about my Glock 27 is that it is not as snappy as some of the others I tried and the recoil tends to be almost straight back. Make sure that you shoot both before deciding.

I've heard about the .40's snappiness as well, which is really the only thing keeping me from choosing the PT740 outright. Shooting both before deciding though?.....that's gonna be tough to do.

 

[Paladin]

I would never choose a 9mm over a .40 for any reason (other than someone giving me a 9mm for free).

 

[palerider1775]

Would have thought there'd be more votes on the poll, with the amount of views the thread has gotten.:smack

 

[Hodawg]

Would have thought there'd be more votes on the poll, with the amount of views the thread has gotten.:smack

I voted. PT709 in 9mm. But I wouln't poopoo the 740 either. Generally speaking the .40 cal. is going to buck a little harder than a 9mm. But to me the difference in negligable. I own two PT709's, one for me when I don't feel like carrying my G19, and one for Mrs. Hodawg. She can shoot it like a pro, but I doubt that she could handle the added recoil of the .40 cal. I've put close to 2K rounds through both of our 709's without a burp from either one. I'm sure that Jimbo can attribute to their reliability. I have no doubt that the 740 does just as well, but the 709 has been out longer, has more owners, more rounds down range than the 740.

I know, I know, the whole .40 vs. .45 vs. 9mm thing. I don't want to go there. But if I had my choice of 8 rounds of 9mm over 7 rounds of .40, I'd take the 8 9mm's. Just like I'd take 8 rounds of .40 over 7 rounds of .45. That one extra round can really be a life saver. But that's just me.

I go to TaurusArmed forum quite regularly, and I don't see a lot of complaints about the PT740. I don't think that you'll have any serious quality issues with either one. Dimensionally speeking, the 740 is only slightly thicker than the 709, not even enough to notice. I fondled a 740 at my favorite LGS a few months ago, and quite frankly if I shut my eyes, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference in them.

I wouldn't throw either one of them out of bed for eating crackers.

Beers y'all,
Ken

 

[palerider1775]

I voted. PT709 in 9mm. But I wouln't poopoo the 740 either. Generally speaking the .40 cal. is going to buck a little harder than a 9mm. But to me the difference in negligable. I own two PT709's, one for me when I don't feel like carrying my G19, and one for Mrs. Hodawg. She can shoot it like a pro, but I doubt that she could handle the added recoil of the .40 cal. I've put close to 2K rounds through both of our 709's without a burp from either one. I'm sure that Jimbo can attribute to their reliability. I have no doubt that the 740 does just as well, but the 709 has been out longer, has more owners, more rounds down range than the 740.

I know, I know, the whole .40 vs. .45 vs. 9mm thing. I don't want to go there. But if I had my choice of 8 rounds of 9mm over 7 rounds of .40, I'd take the 8 9mm's. Just like I'd take 8 rounds of .40 over 7 rounds of .45. That one extra round can really be a life saver. But that's just me.

I go to TaurusArmed forum quite regularly, and I don't see a lot of complaints about the PT740. I don't think that you'll have any serious quality issues with either one. Dimensionally speeking, the 740 is only slightly thicker than the 709, not even enough to notice. I fondled a 740 at my favorite LGS a few months ago, and quite frankly if I shut my eyes, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference in them.

I wouldn't throw either one of them out of bed for eating crackers.

Beers y'all,
Ken

Thanks for that post. I've actually been lurking around on taurusarmed.net since posting this thread to see what the folk there had to say about the 740 (and about how it differentiates from the 709) and I'm actually leaning towards it a bit more than before. From what I've been seeing; Taurus worked out the issues from the first runs of the 709 by the time they got to the 740, the recoil is just as manageable as the 709's, and it got one of these.

 

[new to south fl]

9mm for sure.

 

[rocketsteve]

I own a 709 and I think it would serve you well, but if someone gave me the 740, I'd take it in a heartbeat.

 

[srt 10 jimbo]

I carry a 709 but I'm thinking about going with the 740

 

[timr]

For the ease of carry I would recommend the 709. If you decide to get a .40 I would say, save up a few more bones and spring for an XD40sc.

 

[palerider1775]

For the ease of carry I would recommend the 709. If you decide to get a .40 I would say, save up a few more bones and spring for an XD40sc.

Why?...

 

[Franklin]

I voted. PT709 in 9mm. But I wouln't poopoo the 740 either. Generally speaking the .40 cal. is going to buck a little harder than a 9mm. But to me the difference in negligable. I own two PT709's, one for me when I don't feel like carrying my G19, and one for Mrs. Hodawg. She can shoot it like a pro, but I doubt that she could handle the added recoil of the .40 cal. I've put close to 2K rounds through both of our 709's without a burp from either one. I'm sure that Jimbo can attribute to their reliability. I have no doubt that the 740 does just as well, but the 709 has been out longer, has more owners, more rounds down range than the 740.

I know, I know, the whole .40 vs. .45 vs. 9mm thing. I don't want to go there. But if I had my choice of 8 rounds of 9mm over 7 rounds of .40, I'd take the 8 9mm's. Just like I'd take 8 rounds of .40 over 7 rounds of .45. That one extra round can really be a life saver. But that's just me.

I go to TaurusArmed forum quite regularly, and I don't see a lot of complaints about the PT740. I don't think that you'll have any serious quality issues with either one. Dimensionally speeking, the 740 is only slightly thicker than the 709, not even enough to notice. I fondled a 740 at my favorite LGS a few months ago, and quite frankly if I shut my eyes, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference in them.

I wouldn't throw either one of them out of bed for eating crackers.

Beers y'all,
Ken

+1
What Hodawg said.
More ammo on board, faster second, third, fourth, fifth shots. Much cheaper to practice/train with.
9mm
Wish my CW40 was a 9mm for the above points.
Franklin

 

[Hodawg]

Well, now the pot gets even sweeter. In the new 2011 Taurus catalog just released, the 740 and 709 are now available in a "Gen 2", with both finally having extended magazines. With the extended mags, the 709 will carry 9+1, the 740 will carry 8+1!!!

Take a look.

Beers y'all,
Ken

 

[palerider1775]

Well, now the pot gets even sweeter. In the new 2011 Taurus catalog just released, the 740 and 709 are now available in a "Gen 2", with both finally having extended magazines. With the extended mags, the 709 will carry 9+1, the 740 will carry 8+1!!!

Take a look.

Beers y'all,
Ken

From what I've been reading, their release dates are "TBA" on the extended mags. They'll make a difference, just not yet...