Line45's five alternatives to 9mm, from .30 Super Carry to .22 TCM

Ted at Line45 carried and stocked 9mm for years, but he says more shooters, himself included, now reach for something else. He walks through five calibers and the job each one does better, while granting that 9mm earned its spot on price, performance, and availability.

Key points

• .30 Super Carry: A 100-grain HST at about 1,250 fps lands near 9mm, he says, with 13+1 capacity in a frame that used to top out at 10+1. Defensive loads run around $35 a box.
• 5.7x28mm: A 40-grain bullet at about 2,300 fps from a 5-inch barrel. He zeroed at 25 yards and says he was still on target at 75. Defensive loads run $38 to $50.
• 10mm: A 200-grain Underwood XTP at 1,250 fps makes nearly 700 ft-lb. He calls it a bear-country round, at $30 to $45 for a 20-round box.
• .357 SIG: A 125-grain Speer Gold Dot at about 1,400 fps, picked for hard targets like auto glass and car doors.
• .22 TCM: A 40-grain bullet at roughly 2,000 fps from Rock Island's 1911, which ships with a 9mm barrel for swapping. Armscor is the main ammo maker, at $25 to $35 for 50.

Quick take

Despite the war framing in the title, this is really a carry and range discussion, not a stockpile plan. Ted admits several of these rounds cost more and offer fewer options, so treat them as specialized tools rather than a 9mm replacement.

Watch the full video: Line45