Since the FBI switched to 9mm, the gun community as a whole has been dumping on the .40cal, many with great delight. The physics doesn't even seem to apply anymore. The big thing that I have learned is that shot placement is over hyped in real world statistics. If trained professionals from the FBI only hit their bad guy with 20% of rounds fired, then that also means the 20% are randomly placed on the body, including arms and legs. I am going to get an Uzi for home protection.

The .40 is certainly not dead. Three years ago it took up something like 65% of the U S police market. Now that J Edgar has moved back to the 9mm there will be some movement back to the 9, but the .40 will be not only alive but common for more than a little while yet.

How is a semi auto carbine different from a handgun in what you're describing?

Let me ask you this. Did the 9mm die when LE switched to 40?

Everyone loves to pick on the LE community about their shot placement when all you do is shoot at paper on a nice calm day when you feel like it.

The 40 is dead! All manufacturers are stopping production

It's not dead, I know first hand. :-)

40 cal is just as dead as 10mm...The FBI dumped it years ago and it is still kicking

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On the Oak Savannah

Tongue and cheek my man. The carbine holds more rounds, but I am not really getting an Uzi. I am not picking on LE and I agree you perfectly on target shooting. That was my whole point.

The herd seems to have moved to the 9, but fear not...something will happen in the next few years that will steer the herd in another direction.

Its not dead in my house I started to cc a 40sw back around 1994 and carry a 40sw today but also have a small pocket 9mm about 9 or 10 years ago and a 45 for carry .
I never cared one way or the other what the FBI choices of cartridges or firearms .

The .380 was dead...and buried, and look at what's happened lately.
BTW, the 9mm was going to be dead, as in Army/Marines contracts, or whoever lately, and yet PD and SO are going back to them in droves.
Don't sell anything yet, It'll be back. Kinda like Nehru collars and bell bottoms. Well, maybe not the collars.

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Fight socialism. Never stop.

Not in my humble opinion. I just asked my Glock 22 what it thought and it just said " Feed me, feed me".

Live as long as I do on my reloading bench

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Mike Wenzel
Oklahoma City

I sure hope the herd moves towards the nine. I'm already starting to see some great deals on my local gun stores shelves as people trade in their .40's. There are some good condition G27s that just might tempt me.

The .40 may be dead for the sheeple that follow trends and can't think for themselves. Personally, I could care less what the FBI uses.

The .40 is alive and well in my house, my Glock 27 loves it and my Beretta Cougar loves it and I'm not giving either those two up anytime soon!

Ha! you had me going with that title...

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But then, what do I know?

My Sig 2022 loves .40

Thewelshm

As long as there are hipsters that care more about being different, or people who enjoy being able to say they make do with less than optimal stuff, then 40cal will stick around.

ooooh, did I read that right? That was nasty! I've never been called a hipster. I kind of like it. Your opinion is welcome.

Last time I checked it still works very well.

More expensive to shoot than 9mm.
That's really the only negative thing that can be said about .40 S&W.

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WWSSD?
What would Skeeter do?

I never gave up on the 9mm but switch to .357 outside the big city,
Recently responded to a call with a Coast Guard rigid hull inflatable boat and their entire crew was carrying .40 caliber Sigs.

Oooookkkkkkkkk I guess that's why we all have..... Choice.

God bless America

Thewelshm

I don't know if it is dead, but personally I am not a big fan of it.
Several years ago in an ammo acquisition I received 2,000
rounds of .40 S&W ammo. I didn't have a .40 cal at the time
and it just sat around. I figured with all the ammo I might as
well get myself a 40. I shopped around, and purchased a Model 4006 in 2009.
I took it to the range and fired about 200 rounds through it.
I wasn't very impressed with the .40 cal round but I loved the gun.
I have several third gens in 10mm, 45ACP, and 9mm that I love
to shoot, but there was something about the .40 that just didn't
do it for me.
All this being said, last year I bought another Model 4006 at a
gun show for under $350.00 out the door just for the price.
No box or papers but it was in 95% plus condition.
So now I have two Model 4006s and 1,800 rounds of .40 S&W
just sitting around. I don't know if I will ever get around to
shooting them again. When I do go to the range,
I usually shoot my revolvers, either a Model 28, 625, or a 629.
I am not saying the round it dead, nor am I putting it down.
It just doesn't do anything for me.
JMHO.

Stu

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NRA Benefactor/Cert Instructor

The 4006 was also my 1st .40cal. and one of my first guns. It was a beauty. At the time I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with it. I was convinced it was the gun and sold it. I regretted it later because I came to know it wasn't the gun that was inaccurate, it was me. The thing I remember the most was that I loved shooting it. Isn't that what really matters? A few thousand rounds later with a Glock 27, a Ruger Sr40C, and a Shield M&P, I can't see a lot of difference in my accuracy shooting a 9mm.

The wife and I have a couple good ones.
20150901_102944_LLS by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr
They're not going anywhere.

I'm not a 9mm hater, either. This one will be mine in a few long months.
20150814_182656 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

I haven't had a 9mm of my own in about a decade or so.

Truth be told, 45 is my favorite, but they all have their place.

Please keep saying/posting its dead.
Prices will drop even more and be more available.
Isn't that weird how used 40s&w Glocks are usually priced lower than 9mm?
May have to look into a used Glock 22 or 23 again?

What is this .40 of which you speak? 😎

Not by a long shot, the 40 will be around for good long while yet.

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John

How many calibers have come and gone since the inception of the firearm? Hundreds? Thousands? Only time will tell if the .40S&W will last.

If I'm not mistaken, the Glock 22 is still the most prolific firearm in the police ranks in the US today. I think the .40 will last a while longer yet.

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Freedom isn't free.

Forty...Whats a Forty?? l have a Colt 1911 FORTY-FIVE.. What other auto is there??

My understanding is the reason that the FBI went back to the 9mm as some people were having a hard time qualing with the 40 which means they were not shooting them very well in the field. Hard gun for office staff to shoot well once a year. If I am wrong go ahead and set me straight if you want but I am still going to believe this is the reason. I like the way my 40 shoots it gives me that feeling I get when I my 357. Like I am sending worth while down range. Don

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USN Retired/VN VET
M&P X5

This sort of thread is the fodder of internet forums and usually entertaining if not always informative. So, naturally, I feel compelled to stick in my two cents worth.

Most of the reasons I've heard for law enforcement agencies switching from the .40 to the 9mm are bean counter reasons, not performance based evaluations. Now, I'm not a 9mm hater, but I do believe that ballistics mean something. But weather the bean counters force departments into switching from .40 to 9mm or not, the caliber is hardly likely to be "dead" any time in the foreseeable future. There will remain a civilian market (assuming Obama & Co. can be held in check). And I wouldn't be surprised if some agencies that are willing to properly train their officers, or special units within their department, continue using it for years to come.

Not too long ago the .38 Special was the go to round is most cop's holsters. Not any more. But the .38 Special is hardly dead. The .45 ACP was THE US Army handgun cartridge for many years until replaced by the 9mm, not because of superior performance, but because the NATO allies think 9mm is a cannon. But the .45 ACP is hardly dead.

Once they perfect the phase-plasma pistol in the 40 watt range all of the antique ammunition and guns that shoot it will be history anyway, so it's a moot point.

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Jim - M&P Pro 40L/Shield 40

When I retired our carry pistol was a 4506. They gave me mine, it had 50 rounds through it as we had just changed from the 645. Now my Sheriff's Office carries a Glock 40. I think because they have a lot more female deputies, which I am in favor of. The female deputies have smaller hands. When we had the 4506 the females were having problems shooting it. Female deputies are a great addition to law enforcement, and the ones I know do the job very well. As for the caliber, I think the jury is still out on that.

Not true. There was never an issue with agents qualifying with the .40, or anything else. The move is strictly monetary - the ammo guys say the 9mm will do anything the .40 will do, and do it cheaper.

The .40 won't be out of the FBI inventory for many years. Guys that have them will keep them for the forseeable future. New guys will get 9mms, but even that isn't happening yet.

All FBI agents, even "office staff", qualify four times a year on their primary handgun, at least once a year on approved POWs, and at least once a year on the 870, the M4, and (for a little while longer) the MP5/10mm if they want. That's everyone, from the SAC to the newest hump agent out of Quantico.

Speaking of Quantico, an agent will shoot well over 10,000 rounds in training. When I went through, we spent half a day on the range every other day, for 17 weeks. The academy is now 22 weeks long, so new guys shoot even more.

Back to the original question - the .40 will be around a long time.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

.

The Ed Rogers Videogame Foundation (Truly a worthy cause, I understand) gratefully accepts donations of firearms and ammunition. At the same time, that allows you more space to add weapons which you deem worthy. Lest we forget - There are nights Ed Rogers goes to sleep, knowing he doesn't have the latest in videogame technology. I don't know about you but that bothers me!

To me any handgun caliber of 38 Special (with a modern projectile design) or larger is more than adequate for close range personal defense. Some probably feel this should start with a .380 of modern design.

The big problem with these caliber discussions is that SOME folks talk their cue from what law enforcement uses. This is folly.

After the Miami shoot out, the FBI convened a panel to evaluate the action that occured and the caliber used. ANYTIME the govt. or one of it's agencies assembles a panel or committee concerning a confrontation that went bad, you can bet they will recommend a change, whether it is needed or not.
It's called politics, and it is a great waste of money and time. They do this to make the public think they are "doing something" about a percieved problem, whether a problem really exists or not. Before the investigation even began you could bet they would blame the caliber.

I own most caliber handguns excepting the 25acp and the newer "mega" calibers like the .454 or the .500 S&W, Linebaughs, etc.

If I do my job right I don't worry much about the caliber.

What the hell. I might as well tell my story.
Many years back when the .40 first came out, I fell for the hype. "45 power + 9mm capacity, yadda, yadda, yadda!"
So I bought a brand new 4006. I liked the gun.... at first. But soon learned that I couldn't shoot it near as well as my .45s or 9mms. For over two years I fought that gun. Tried many factory loads, handloaded just about every bullet and powder I could get my hands on and still it was nowhere near as accurate as my other guns. Finally gave up on it and decided to sell.
That's when I discovered you couldn't give the things away! Nobody and I do mean NOBODY wanted it. I finally found a dealer who traded me a Buckmark, some extra mags and a few odds and ends for it. I lost my butt on the deal, but was so relieved to be rid of the thing that I didn't care. BTW: I still have that Buckmark. Great gun!
Since then I've been to many gun shows on both sides of the table. Seen a lot of folks walking around with .40s they're looking to sell or trade. Seen and talked to many who were highly frustrated because nobody was interested. Maybe its just in my area, but it still seems that you will never get anywhere near your money back out of selling a used .40.
Oh, I'm aware that the .40 does have its fans. It'll probably be around for a very long time. But dead? Nah, just dead to me.

Mine's still alive and doing quite well thank you.

The 9mm is back in fashion? Just like neckties; keep 'em long enough and they come back in style. Admittedly, I have more 9mm pistols (two) than neckties. . . .

@pyro, thanks for posting this thread.

The many responses about the .40 being alive and well have helped offset some of the doubts I have recently had, after having purchased my new Shield 40 a few weeks ago.

For the record, the Shield 40 has performed very well in target practice, and I've had no problems whatsoever with it. I scored 241/250 in the Texas Concealed Handgun License class, and that included several 5-shot rapid-fire rounds.

So, contrary to some reports, I have not found any issues with the recoil, nor with rapid fire.

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Be safe. Live long & prosper.

gee I hope not, just bought another

The personality type who determines their next firearm acquisition(s) based on what the "now" caliber the feds and LE uses is the mall ninja preparing for a zombie apocalypse or a "Red Dawn" style invasion.

Don't let calibers stoke your insecurities.

Whatever the flavor -
Practice, practice, practice!

And don't let your insecurities dictate your caliber

But not out of ammo. As a confirmed range rat, dumpster diver, and brass-oholic, I'm down to my last 2K of loaded ammo, 7 gallons of once fired brass, and two Lee 6-cavity bullet molds. I guess my two 40's will keep on shooting.

After very difficult 12 Step Program intervention, I can now walk away from 9 MM and 40 S&W brass without picking it up. I have achieved that blissful state of 'Enough'.

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S&WHF 366

I never really understood the whole 9vs40/10mm/45acp. The FBI switching to 9mm, IMHO, was about saving money more than anything else. Buy what you want in a caliber you want and train. Training is more important than caliber.

I did a little thinking a ways back after studying the incidents in CA and FL that led the stinking 'caliber wars'. There's nothing wrong with 9mm, there's nothing wrong with .40, 10mm or .45. In some situations LE or a defender needs ready access to carbines and rifles. There just aren't enough crack shots with a pistol outside of close range in the open. I've decided that the ideal weapon for home defense next to a pistol is a carbine or bullpup design. Anybody in the boundaries of my yard is within reach with one of those and if they are out of my yard, they don't need to be shot at. Is the .40 dead? It's no more dead that any of the great calibers that have been used by LE officers and for HD. A lot of people that say the 10mm is best for them haven't shot one.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Every agency in this part of the country is switching back to 9mm due to the lower recoil. Officers can't qualify with the snappy .40 S&W. Not only the FBI, but most all federal agencies are switching. Once that economy of scale buying power goes back to 9 mm, it's only a matter of time. Not to mention that the old .40 S&W pistols are due for a trade in, and Glock and others are offering deep discounts . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

How can a caliber that has been sold in the amount of units the .40 has been be dead? If the .32H&R and the .38 Super are still creaking around with the limited numbers (comparatively) they were made in, the .40 will be around a while. When the gun/ammo manufacturers drop the price to move lots, some agencies/departments will switch over.

That said, if there is a caliber that needs to die, it's that compromise round.

I find myself wondering as sift through this thread if the mods would change my screen name to hipster40?