I shoot mostly reloads with my cast bullets now. My 229 and original 4006 form 1989 love "em".
I thought the .40 caliber was dead?
- Thread starter otis24
- Start date
I have observed this with my own eyes. Can you explain why this might be?
With kind regard and many thanks!
BrianD
STORMINORMAN
Member
Is this a trick question...?
Cheers!
P.S. Note that there were "40s" (minus the ".") well before 1979: there were the .44/40, 44s & 45s in handguns and a plethora of rifle cartridges...
40 S&W dead?
In my book it never lived.
Don't like the cartridge. Don't like the guns.
In my book it never lived.
Don't like the cartridge. Don't like the guns.
Well, kind of? I realize that it was not clear when I posted that…
But the .40 S&W cartridge was released to public in 1990 I believe. And this was after Glock stole a few rounds and rushed their .40cal Glock 22 to market before S&W released the 4006.
…in 1990.
But the .40 S&W cartridge was released to public in 1990 I believe. And this was after Glock stole a few rounds and rushed their .40cal Glock 22 to market before S&W released the 4006.
…in 1990.
LVSteve
Member
The recoil is certainly unpleasant in a Glock 23. I tried my buddy's and didn't like it much. Apparently the S&W M&P is far better at taming the 40 snap.
Good cartridges with solid performance survive; also, don't discount the effect of having a generation of police who carried and trusted it (I did).
My wife has a Shield 2.0 in 40 and loves it. Ergonomics matter.
I would like to replace my Sig 228 (slide will rust breathing on it) with a SS 229/M11. In .40SW they are about $500, like new and $1200 (all in) new in 9mm. Not reading into it but......Joe
HOUSTON RICK
Member
2009 Ammo Shortage
I walked into the local big box sporting goods store and the only ammo that was available at that time was 40 cal. People were scared Obama was going to "do something". Totally unnecessary. It was a consumer driven toilet paper panic, but bullets. Plenty of 40 was stacked up in boxes on the floor. I had no weapon for it, so I left with nothing. I never forgot that.
I walked into the local big box sporting goods store and the only ammo that was available at that time was 40 cal. People were scared Obama was going to "do something". Totally unnecessary. It was a consumer driven toilet paper panic, but bullets. Plenty of 40 was stacked up in boxes on the floor. I had no weapon for it, so I left with nothing. I never forgot that.
I bought a Glock 23 with 5 mags in like new condition. I couldn't pass that up. After shooting it, I went after the police trade-ins. I bought two S&Ws and a G22. I kept one of the Smiths and gave the G22 to my son-in-law and the other S&W to my daughter's beau this past Christmas. Of course, I had to make sure they all worked. The G22 shoots a little nicer than the 23, perhaps because it's a little larger gun, and the Smiths shoot real well.
I think the 10mm.....
...has become something of a niche cartridge though it is far from 'dying'. The .40 is right behind the 9mm and .45 ACP in popularity. That puts it ahead of the .357 Sig, 10mm, .380 ACP, .38 Super, .32 ACP and .25 ACP (The most common semi-auto rounds).
...has become something of a niche cartridge though it is far from 'dying'. The .40 is right behind the 9mm and .45 ACP in popularity. That puts it ahead of the .357 Sig, 10mm, .380 ACP, .38 Super, .32 ACP and .25 ACP (The most common semi-auto rounds).
hkcavalier
US Veteran
Heavier bullet, lower velocity = almost always does better in shorter barrels. Ones that depend on velocity lose it fast in a short barrel.
Jakerin
Member
I bought my first 9mm in 1971, a M39-2. I really like the curved back strap. Carried a M59 as well. I bought my lil .40 S&W M&P Shield last year. What a handful! I also have a .44 and .45 so the recoil doesn't bother me. It has a very short 3" barrel and is striker fired. It's my usual CC weapon.
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Well Armed
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I'm speaking in general terms here, but let me get this straight.
- So 9mm out of a 14-oz or so semiauto is good!
- 38+p out of an 11-oz revolver is good!
- 357mag is good to go!
- 44 special and 44 magnums are good!
- 10mm is the bestest!
- 40s&w out of a revolver or semiauto of any size or weight is wayyyy too snappy, has an intolerable recoil impulse, and fast and accurate follow-up shots are almost impossible???
What's hilarious is all of the 10mm pistols coming to the market and how everyone is seemingly ranting and raving about it right now when 99% of ammo manufacturers are loading 10mm to 40s&w like specs, and the other 1% are loading 10mm to be much, much, much more powerful and "snappy" than standard 40s&w for hunting purposes.... Make it make logical sense!
It's all in people's heads. It's a placebo effect, marketing, and herd mentality. When people were told that 40s&w was in, everyone was fine with 40s&w. When everyone saw law enforcement carrying 40s&w, everyone wanted 40s&w. When they were told/indoctrinated into believing that 40s&w was too snappy and to dislike or even hate 40s&w, they convinced themselves that it was all true. Then they hypocritically had no bugs up their buttons when it came to other just as or more "snappy" calibers, shooting/carrying small light weight pistols that are just as snappy, or going to 40s&w disguised as 10mm. It's like it's become cliche and the cool thing to be critical of 40s&w as a canned response.
I own and have fired 40s&w out of an M&P Shield, Sig P239, Beretta PX4 Compact, and a Kahr MK40 and K40. I've fired a plethora of different popular 9mm ammunition and handgun combinations that had more recoil and weren't enjoyable to shoot vs. my experience with shooting 40s&w out of my examples. I've also fired a Springfield XDS in 45 that was popular not too far back that was much worse than any 40s&w I've ever fired. Don't get me started on 357 mag and 44mag. I personally would love to see a blind folded range test where the 40s&w "recoil impulse and too snappy" critics who random platform and caliber combinations, and tell us which they think is 40s&w and which are not. I'd put money on them looking foolish when it's all said and done.
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23 is the one .40 I still have. The only other one was an early S&W, Sigma or something. Admittedly, my experience is limited. Being a recent convert and acolyte of 45acp, I have no reason to expand my .40 holdings. But it's still far from dead.
Far from dead, a really enjoyable gun in the 1911 platform. Does it bark, yes, called attitude lol.
June 1 KAHR Take 2.mp4 - Google Drive
June 1 KAHR Take 2.mp4 - Google Drive
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Echo40
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I'm speaking in general terms here, but let me get this straight.
- So 9mm out of a 14-oz or so semiauto is good!
- 38+p out of an 11-oz revolver is good!
- 357mag is good to go!
- 44 special and 44 magnums are good!
- 10mm is the bestest!
- 40s&w out of a revolver or semiauto of any size or weight is wayyyy too snappy, has an intolerable recoil impulse, and fast and accurate follow-up shots are almost impossible???
What's hilarious is all of the 10mm pistols coming to the market and how everyone is seemingly ranting and raving about it right now when 99% of ammo manufacturers are loading 10mm to 40s&w like specs, and the other 1% are loading 10mm to be much, much, much more powerful and "snappy" than standard 40s&w for hunting purposes.... Make it make logical sense!
It's all in people's heads. It's a placebo effect, marketing, and herd mentality. When people were told that 40s&w was in, everyone was fine with 40s&w. When everyone saw law enforcement carrying 40s&w, everyone wanted 40s&w. When they were told/indoctrinated into believing that 40s&w was too snappy and to dislike or even hate 40s&w, they convinced themselves that it was all true. Then they hypocritically had no bugs up their buttons when it came to other just as or more "snappy" calibers, shooting/carrying small light weight pistols that are just as snappy, or going to 40s&w disguised as 10mm. It's like it's become cliche and the cool thing to be critical of 40s&w as a canned response.
I own and have fired 40s&w out of an M&P Shield, Sig P239, Beretta PX4 Compact, and a Kahr MK40 and K40. I've fired a plethora of different popular 9mm ammunition and handgun combinations that had more recoil and weren't enjoyable to shoot vs. my experience with shooting 40s&w out of my examples. I've also fired a Springfield XDS in 45 that was popular not too far back that was much worse than any 40s&w I've ever fired. Don't get me started on 357 mag and 44mag. I personally would love to see a blind folded range test where the 40s&w "recoil impulse and too snappy" critics who random platform and caliber combinations, and tell us which they think is 40s&w and which are not. I'd put money on them looking foolish when it's all said and done.
I remember when I first shot .40 S&W I was rather nervous about it because I had heard so many people saying how snappy and unpleasant it was to shoot, so I braced myself expecting a sharp, abrupt, stinging snap to the web of my hand like shooting a lightweight .357 Magnum Snubby with hot loads.
After pulling the trigger and letting off the first shot I was almost disappointed by how little recoil it actually had. Seriously, my Walther PPK/S and Ruger LCP chambered in .380 ACP are more snappy than any pistol I've ever fired chambered in .40 S&W, including an M&P40 Shield.
It would be one thing if the majority of folks who assert that the .40 S&W is unpleasant to shoot were admittedly recoil sensitive and felt that anything with more recoil than 9mm is unpleasant, but like you said, most of the folks who say .40 S&W is too snappy shoot pistols with much more power and recoil.
Granted, I've only fired standard pressure 165gr-180gr .40 S&W loads, so perhaps these people are shooting some 135gr wannabe .357 SIG loads or some overpressure boutique loads by the likes of Buffalo Bore, Double Tap, or Underwood.
Well, I didn't say any of that, but since I evidently triggered you - I'm glad you "got it straight". Nice work. I don't like the recoil impulse of the .40 S&W. Meanwhile, All my handgun shooting is offhand (that means with only one hand, just so you "have it straight"), including full house 44 mag. I guess I'm not recoil averse.I'm speaking in general terms here, but let me get this straight.
- So 9mm out of a 14-oz or so semiauto is good!
- 38+p out of an 11-oz revolver is good!
- 357mag is good to go!
- 44 special and 44 magnums are good!
- 10mm is the bestest!
- 40s&w out of a revolver or semiauto of any size or weight is wayyyy too snappy, has an intolerable recoil impulse, and fast and accurate follow-up shots are almost impossible???
No, it's not.
Not remotely
Challenge accepted. My range, 2PM today.
We'll even use your guns and ammo.
