What is wrong with the 40 S&W?

[bigggbbruce]

The answer is in plain sight...

The parent case is a 10mm.. I started using 10mm in the mid 80's because of the ballistics.

It was decided to fit the 10mm to a medium frame gun. The case was then "s" hortened and ballistics "w" eaker..40 s&w..40 short and weak.

Says it all..

 

[Erich]

Not true. They make all kinds of (silly, ignorant, cash-grab) ammunition products that often have sintered metal projectiles, ultra-light weight and extremely high velocity type rounds. Glaser Safety Slugs were some of the earliest of these, more recent silly rounds marketed as "DRT" rounds.

All of these are poor, over priced alternatives to a quality bonded JHP, but they do exist.

You misunderstand me, sir: I was answering walnutred's question about what I had seen in my work.

 

[Echo40]

Let's please not drift the thread but I am not sure I understand your question: nothing more exotic than a variety of hollow points.

He probably means stuff like 9x18 Makarov, .38 Super, 9x21 IMI, .357 SIG, 9x23 Winchester, and 9x25 Dilon.

 

[scooter123]

My only fault with the 40 is that it is so darned hard to find a 1911 in this caliber. Other than that I find the 40 to be the perfect compromise between the 9mm Para and 45 ACP. For me the 9mm shines when you want something convenient to slip in a pocket and the 45 ACP shines when you need something that will stop a large dog or other predator quickly. For anything in between, that is where the 40 shines.

 

[bigggbbruce]

For me the 9mm shines when you want something convenient to slip in a pocket and the 45 ACP shines when you need something that will stop a large dog or other predator quickly. For anything in between, that is where the 40 shines.

We all like choices... but how do you determine which caliber you will need when walking out the door..

My 45 whines if I try to leave it home..

 

[walnutred]

Let's please not drift the thread but I am not sure I understand your question: nothing more exotic than a variety of hollow points.

Sorry for the thread drift Erich. The point has been made a couple times that with modern ammo (presumably hollow points) the 9x19 is as effective as larger calibers. I was asking if you have seen much use of 9x19 hollow points in the field or are most shootings still involving ball ammo. I would expect that gang bangers are sticking to ball ammo or whatever happens to be with the pistol when they steal it in the first place.

My preference in semi auto pistols is ball ammo as I feel reasonably confident they will preform as designed.

 

[amazingflapjack]

Good in a pistol caliber carbine-and OK in a 610 revolver as well.

 

[10mm_Shooter]

I vote for 10mm of course 40 is nothing but a 10mm Special

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

I love my Gunsite BHP in .40 cal and carry it almost everyday.

Granted, the recoil impulse is a bit more than the .45ACP and a lot more than the Wonder-9, which is why the Feds got away from it. Those who warm chairs carry the 9mm; those who might actually have to use their sidearm carry the .357SIG, unless something has changed.

The round is easy to load, as easy as the .45ACP and easier than the diminutive 9mm, so I am happy w/ the .40cal.

 

[Bobafett]

I love my Gunsite BHP in .40 cal and carry it almost everyday.

Granted, the recoil impulse is a bit more than the .45ACP and a lot more than the Wonder-9, which is why the Feds got away from it. Those who warm chairs carry the 9mm; those who might actually have to use their sidearm carry the .357SIG, unless something has changed.

The round is easy to load, as easy as the .45ACP and easier than the diminutive 9mm, so I am happy w/ the .40cal.

I'll have you know sir, I warm my chair while carrying a 45

 

[gunny100]

40 smith and wesson

I like the 40... easier to see the holes...lol

if your looking 40smith and wesson i think if you buy a case
thay might give you free shiping
go to
Target Sports USA - Free Shipping On Bulk Ammo & All Firearms

 

[Echo40]

Hopefully one of these days when I have the money one of the supposedly many dirt cheap .40cal pistols will show up at my LGS because so far it really hasn't happened.

I guess it's just a regional thing, but where I live .40s still go for the same amount as a 9mm and nobody has been selling .40s for a song anywhere either, which is a real shame to as I'm looking for a cheap new Winter carry gun. I'd love a .40, but unless I should happen upon a cheap used .40 then I'll be getting a Ruger EC9.

 

[Joed49]

I own autos in 9mm, .40 S&W and .45acp. Of the 3 I prefer the .40 and .45 more then 9mm.

Won't be getting rid of the .40 or .45 as my feelings are they are harder hitting cartridges than a 9mm.

 

[shouldazagged]

I've only owned two .40's, a 411 I couldn't shoot very well, and a Glock G22 that was the last automatic I parted with when I decided to go back to revolvers only.

I liked the gun and the caliber. I just like a revolver in .38 Special +P better.

 

[Hoosierville IRN]

Ah yes...caliber wars: how very entertaining!

Nothing wrong with .40cal. But I was shooting both 9mm and .40 this weekend, and to me there really is a difference. I've tried to like .40, and I guess it's okay. I would certainly feel well armed with it, in that it would meet any threat I would likely encounter. But for some reason, I don't shoot it nearly as well as my 9mm. It's not the recoil; I grew up on .357Magnum and then .44Magnum. And I'm not worried about that tiny fraction of a second difference it makes in split times. For some reason, I'm just not as accurate with it. Go figure...

(But I'm not getting rid of the .40. I think everyone ought to own at least one just for ammo shortage contingencies....

 

[Gene L]

*
The Glocks in .40 have had well known functionality problems, and when there was a short period of getting them to work well a couple of years ago, it messed up the 9mm variants. I know of several agencies that have had trouble with the .40s, going back well over a decade (it was heavily discussed on the old 10-8 forums and has been the subject of quite a bit of knowledge based hate on LF). A friend's agency had an awful time with them and had to recall and replace them pretty soon after purchase and before issuing them was complete. It is a clear discipline issue for incompetence for command to allow them.

I don't care about the .40, and there are good arguments for buying one just in case I need to use that ammo. If I did, it would almost certainly be an M&P 2.0. FWIW, I was at a class with an FBI instructor a few years ago, and he had regular malfs with his issue pistol. He had also found that smaller shooters actually did better with the Glocks in .45 - they were easier to shoot well.

As a firearms training officer for a Sheriff's Office we were issued Glocks .40, which I mentioned above. We had almost no mechanical problems (I can't remember a single one) with the .40.

The reason we adopted it as I may have said before is the FBI used it and had a lot of paperwork which we would have to rely on in a shooting case. Since then 1996, a lot has changed. The FBI went to the 9mm and took a lot of range paperwork with it.

It's a fine round, but not significantly better than a 9, which has less recoil. I have several 9mms, no .40, and I think its popularity has diminished a lot. You can probably find police trade-ins for great prices and they make a fine SD gun. Ammo isn't as cheap as with a 9, and we in the SO had to buy on government contract prices.

 

[Walkingwolf]

As long as it goes bang, and makes a hole, I don't really care what caliber it is.

 

[biku324]

The competition in my mind is between the 45 ACP and the 40. I prefer the 40 because of better penetration and it's available in my preferred semi-auto, the Browning High Power (with magazine safety removed). I get 3 extra rounds as well. I'll never carry a 9 by choice, although I have by regulation.

I've seen no price drop on 40 here.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Nothing wrong with the 40. Just don’t see the need to buy yet another caliber. So I resist the urge when I see one reasonably priced.

 

[jtcarm]

Makes major in IPSC & USPSA with more rounds in the mag and guns are dirt cheap.

I bought an unissued KSP G35 4th gen for $440, plus 5 mags for $50.

During the last ammo famine, .40s stayed on shelves while everything else disappeared.

Swapped last year for a Ruger MC 10mm. I’m still getting used to it. It’s smooth, but the long DA pull is weird to

The ammo is cheaper than .38 spl. I need to start reloading it as I’ve accumulated over 3,000 pieces of brass. My son loves shooting the G35 and I’m almost to the point of telling him to stop picking it up.

Finally, I just flat freaking refuse to give in to the Boche 9!

Speaking of, who’s got a decent, cheap to shoot recipe for the .40?