Is it enough: .40 S&W for self-defense?

[Echo40]

Well folks, it's that time again! Welcome one and all to my ongoing weekly poll regarding semiautomatic pistol cartridges. The results of Last week's poll were even more of a landslide than the one before, leading many to question why I should even bother continuing the series when both .380 ACP and 9mm Luger are widely acknowledged as being enough for self-defense.
Well, to be honest, I can't help but wonder if 9mm Luger got so many positive votes because it's such a popular cartridge nowadays. After all, 9mm Luger is practically the most popular semiautomatic pistol cartridge all over the world right now. Military, Law Enforcement, and Civilians alike have acknowledged 9mm Luger as the most well-rounded cartridge on the market, with many arguing that there's no valid reason to choose anything more for self-defense, at least as far as everyday carry in an urban/sub-urban environment is concerned.
So with that in mind, let's move onto the .40 S&W, the cartridge that 9mm Luger replaced as the standard issue FBI duty cartridge a few years ago, resulting in a dramatic dip in its popularity, and let's see if .40 S&W gets as many positive votes as 9mm Luger did last week, in spite of the new poll opinions I have added.

Please note that this isn't a question of whether or not you personally carry the cartridge, but rather if you feel that it is effective enough in the role of self-defense to merit being carried in general.

Please exercise restraint and refrain from arguing with other posters in this thread. This thread isn't intended as a debate for or against the cartridge, everyone has their own opinion and some folks have a bad habit of presuming that their own is better informed than those of others. In this thread, all opinions are welcome and we do not arrogantly presume the aptitude of other posters.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Yes it enough. Where’s the poll?

 

[Alk8944]

I understood the .380 question, and almost the 9mm, but asking if .40 S&W is adequate is just plain silly!

 

[Goldstar225]

Yes. Yes. Yes.

(Gotta meet the ten minimum)

 

[Echo40]

Yes it enough. Where’s the poll?

Up now. Unfortunately, the forum doesn't allow you to post the poll simultaneously with the thread. You have to post the thread first, then it prompts you to create the poll afterwards.

 

[Erich]

When do we do .460 Rowland?

 

[Echo40]

When do we do .460 Rowland?

Right after .45 Super, of course.

 

[Smoke]

When do we do .460 Rowland?

I'm waiting for HE 155mm



There needs to be a poll option for "No. It's a Short Weak girly man caliber."

 

[alwslate]

Not really. But it would probably serve as a backup to your primary gun
chambered for the great 9mm

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I'm pretty sure that the FBI testing protocol indicated long ago that at a very high pressure and in an awkward (for some) pistol, many .40 S&W cartridges were just as effective as .45ACP. Of course, the real question is what the .45ACP is good for; absolutely nothing?

 

[triaxle]

Yes the 40 will do it , I think a 180 or 165 HST would take the fight out of a big 250 pd gang banger .,

 

[GeoJelly]

Inspector - I'm so sorry that you are having a boring week! The .40SW is great for self-defense and I have noticed that the prices are starting to creep back up for .40's. I'm keeping what few I have - and especially like that it's so easy to just add a .357 SIG barrel for a conversion.

 

[old tanker]

Yes the 40 will do it , I think a 180 or 165 HST would take the fight out of a big 250 pd gang banger .,

Half a dozen torso hits from a .40 weren't enough to stop a determined assailant. The round that entered the top of his did. In fact, one witness watching the cop shoot several times with no apparent effect thought they all missed.

https://www.justice.gov/sites/defau...doj_report_on_shooting_of_michael_brown_1.pdf see page 28

"...However, Brown charged at Wilson again, and again Wilson fired about three or four rounds until Brown finally collapsed on the ground. Witness 102 was in disbelief that Wilson seemingly kept missing because Brown kept advancing forward. Witness 102 described Brown as a “threat,” moving at a “full charge.” Witness 102 stated that Wilson only fired shots when Brown was coming toward Wilson. It appeared to Witness 102 that Wilson’s life was in jeopardy..."

 

[yeti]

IF 9mm is enough, then 40 certainly is!

 

[wellthought1]

It's all about shot placement; therefore, 9mm is plenty powerful enough for self defense. I use Federal 124 grain HST. It's very effective if placed right! The .40 is barely inherently any better.

 

[dr. mordo]

What I recently realized about .40 is lightweight bullets can reach .357 velocities at slightly greater bullet weights (135gr @ 1400fps).

I certainly think that makes it a marked improvement over 9mm, and makes me much more enthusistic about .40 S&W.

 

[Wise_A]

We've reached the point where this is un-content, only good for fights.

Lemme get this party started.

What I recently realized about .40 is lightweight bullets can reach .357 velocities at slightly greater bullet weights (135gr @ 1400fps).

I certainly think that makes it a marked improvement over 9mm, and makes me much more enthusistic about .40 S&W.

What is sectional density, and how does it work

--or--

Light For Caliber Bullets Suck

 

[dr. mordo]

What is sectional density, and how does it work

--or--

Light For Caliber Bullets Suck

And here's Dirty Harry's next poll topic.

 

[Echo40]

Nope, folks can criticize me all they like and make false accusations that I'm either deliberately looking to start a caliber debate or otherwise that the subject in and of itself somehow promotes arguments, but so far these polls have remained quite civil, so I'm not going to post any such polls which are blatantly argumentative in nature.

My next poll will most likely be on .357 SIG if not .38 Super.

I would politely ask posters who don't care for these polls to kindly refrain from posting in future polls.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Two questions for those that voted "No":

1: what makes the .40 excessive for defense?

2: what are the drawbacks as an SD gun?