For ten years as a street cop I carried a department issued HK USP .40 cal. While carrying the issued HK I cast, loaded, and shot thousands and thousands of rounds of ammo for it. It was an extremely effective and reliable platform. On two occasions I saw firsthand how effective the round can be on the human body. With a good hollow point load the .40 caliber is a superbly effective and deadly cartridge. I also witnessed it shot repeatedly through a car windshield and deflect straight down into the dash never making it to the man it was intended for. Side windows were no problem though.

I personally view the .40 caliber as a solution to a problem that never existed. As soon as the department switched to Sig P220 .45s I stopped loading .40 caliber and sold off my personal .40 cal handgun. The .40 caliber is a good killing round, but I prefer other calibers instead. If my department went back to the .40 caliber tomorrow I wouldn't be crying over it. Until then my .40 cal dies and molds will remain 10mm dies and molds.