.40 S&W Hate?

[old tanker]

I like the 10mm and the guns it comes in. With the advent of the FBI lite load, the .40 short & weak was the logical solution. You get .38-40 performance in a 9mm frame pistol with less smoke. The notion of a .40 cal bullet around 1000 fps has been touted as an ideal police load for at least a half century. That being said, I am an old tanker, so when there is serious business to be done, it's a 1911 that goes with me.

Carry what you have faith in and can shoot well. You like the .40 and others don't. They may not even share your opinion of red-headed women. Not much point in getting worked up over it.

 

[JJEH]

I like the .40S&W

 

[RussellD]

Just my opinion here...I dont think the .40 is as inherently accurate as either the 9mm or the .45.

I mumble ugly things about the .40 every time I reload and find a . 40 case mixed in with my 9mm or .45 brass.

 

[fdw]

I don't hate the 40 and have even considered one... but... I just can't get excited enough about it. I mean, I've got a 1911 that I love and shoot well... and

I've got an M&P 9 FS that I can keep on target with Corbon DPX 115 +p for 18 rounds very quickly... so

I just don't see a slot for the 40. And if what even half the people say about it being snappy is true, I especially can't find a slot for it. I mean if I'm going to spend the money for a 40, then it's going to be either another 9 or 45...

 

[hatt]

The short answer is two fold.
First, the 40 interferes with the age old 9mm vs 45acp debate, which shouldn't be a debate at all. 45 wins
the second half, 40 is a concession on a fine and worthy caliber, the 10mm auto. Here 40 takes on all the liabilities of a high pressure cartridge. Without providing any of the advantages of it's forefather, the 10mm.
look for the exploding 40 cal. Glocks and the term"glocked" brass.
Yeah, the Glock didn the same tricks in 10mm, but at least gave you 357 mag level performance for your trouble.
Today, I'd still opt for a 10mm over the 40.

10mm doesn't fit in the same guns as the .40 does. That's the advantage the.40 gives you and it's a huge one, or none at all if you're pet gun is a 1911. Similar arguments are made against the .357 SIG. "Well the .357 mag is much more versatile, powerful, whatever." The one thing the mag doesn't do is fit in a compact Glock. Which is kinda a big deal.

 

[walnutred]

My ccw pistol is a CW40 and I reload for it. I have to admit that most of the rounds I shoot through it are downloaded somewhat. An 180gn FP at 850 FPS +/-. When I bought the pistol I was looking for a 40 simply because I'd never fired or reloaded that caliber and the CW40 fit my hand better than any other concealable 40 S&W I handled.

What I like about the 40 is that for me it is easier to reload due to the size of the cases and bullets and it does not need velocity to expand. I usually carry factory ammo but occasionally carry my reloads. While a 40 caliber 180gn lead bullet traveling at 850fps does not SOUND impressive I feel comfortable carrying it as large bears do not live in my area.

 

[Me239]

For me, the slot .40 S&W found was being capable of firing cartridges rivaling the power of .45 ACP in a compact pistol, without losing much capacity. And I've looked at load data and .40 S&W and .45 ACP (and .45ACP +P) are almost parallel at 180 grains. Around 200 grains, the .45 ACP takes the advantage, giving ~80 fps more than the .40 S&W. So I'll give the .45 ACP kudos for taking the larger bullets without much decrease in performance; that said, the two also mirror each other around 155 grains again, granted .40 S&W is doing it at a much higher pressure.

That actually takes me to my only beef with .40 S&W... Hand loading has a "glass ceiling" as it follows 10mm power up to a point, then cuts off abruptly, due to pressure. Just kind of makes me want to get a Glock 20 sooner

EDIT: capable firing a cartridge in a compact handgun without having to buy .45 GAP.

 

[Brian41]

I wondered about all I'd heard about the cartridge so I got a Ruger carbine and matching handgun to give them a try. Shot both at paper targets mostly and got some good deals on bullets since I had no plan to buy dies and reload for the caliber.
I found both guns shot well and had fun with them and put them up now a couple years.
I shoot and carry other calibers but had fun with this caliber and will play with them again sometime. No dog in this fight but have no plans to be rid of mine either.

 

[Smitty357]

I think it's kind of funny myself. Because all the hate comes from the guys who have a 9mm and wish they would have bought a .40. I think they are just jealous that the .40 guys can barrel swap to a 9mm and have both calibers in 1 weapon.

 

[Fire75]

40 works for me. My first gun M&P 40 FS n now a shield. I have as much fun with them as i do with the ruger sr1911 that u have to reload every 7/8 rds.

 

[fdw]

I think it's kind of funny myself. Because all the hate comes from the guys who have a 9mm and wish they would have bought a .40. I think they are just jealous that the .40 guys can barrel swap to a 9mm and have both calibers in 1 weapon.

I think this post is kind of funny.

And yes I do own a 9.... and 45

 

[hittman77]

Hate? No.

Now, do I see a need for it? No.

Do I care what others shoot? No.

Wow, looks like lots of negativity in my answers. Guess I just wanna shoot and have fun; regardless of cartridge size.

 

[gen3guy]

A plurality of LE agencies use the .40 S&W so I'd defer any expert opinion to them. Subjective opinions to the contrary are just that. I have one of the first gen 2 Glock 22s made. I had an FFL in the early '90s and I ordered it the instant that the wholesaler told me it was available. I have never had lick of trouble with it. Out of the box accuracy, reliability, and durability are superb. I later purchased a Smith & Wesson 4013 and I love that pistol for pretty much the same reasons. I don't think the .40 S&W falls short of any purpose it was intended to fulfill. Personally, I think it was a great idea.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

For me is it because it is not a 10mm. Every time I see a 40 short and weak I think, dang it should have been a 10mm.

I really did not hate the 40 until the ammo companies started downloading the 10mm to not make the 40 look so wimpy. That is when I started to take a serious dislike to the 40.

 

[PatriotX]

Don't like the caliber ?

Don't buy the gun or ammo. Life is too short to whine about what someone else chooses to shoot.

 

[Smitty357]

I think this post is kind of funny.

And yes I do own a 9.... and 45

I just own a 9mm barrel. And of course I have an extensive 1911 collection. So u could say I own my share of .45. But the one caliber I don't own is 9mm.

I know women who wouldn't own one of those because they like em bigger LMAO.

 

[Waywatcher]

It's a newcomer on the scene, relatively speaking, so it is the natural target of derision.

Being 'a numbers guy,' I appreciate it for what it is. I think it is the perfect cartridge for compact handguns (but not subcompact). In a gun with a 4" barrel, .40 S&W offers things that comparable size .45s really can't.

For a full size, 5 inch or longer barrel, I prefer a .45.

However, in a 4" or less barrel, the .40 really does provide more reliability and velocity with a still respectable payload that offers bigger holes and better barrier penetration than a 9mm, with many more cartridges than a .45. (Also with much better reliability than compact 1911s.)

For subcompacts, a J frame is still hard to beat.

 

[rwsmith]

If they think....

If they think the .40 has 'too much pressure' they should try the 10mm that the .40 was derived from.

 

[Allen in MT]

I have the S&W M&P 40 CORE 5.25", and it is a joy to shoot, don't even notice any recoil, never had a problem with it. I roll my own and shoot a lot of steel plates. I've had Glocks, Sig's and a Kimber and I prefer the S&W, but then this is just my 2 cents and there is a lot of change out there.

 

[IAhunter]

No hate here. I carry one on duty daily, and own two others. For shooting, hunting, and off duty, I prefer my wheel guns. The 40 S&W is a great cartridge, with a great track record in LE use.