Has Smith & Wesson abandoned the .40 S&W cartridge?

[rosewood]

This is an interesting thread, which I initially missed earlier this year. A few statistics, such as gun shop sales and LE agency current issue/approved handguns, are not the end-all determiner of a handgun cartridge's "demise" or obsolescence. A cartridge can maintain popularity in the civilian world, even without high-volume gun store sales of new guns in that chambering. Some LE agencies have moved away from using .40 S&W, where others have retained its use to this day.

As for the .40 S&W cartridge itself, I have never purchased or desired a handgun in the chambering. I am not an active LE agency official. I do have some formal LE training from my earlier years in the fire service, with most of it being on firearms, investigation, and driving. I do not carry a sidearm for any of my fire investigation duties. So for me, handguns are for home/personal protection and sporting purposes. The .40 S&W doesn't fit in to those categories for my needs. I enjoy firearms, but I don't care to purchase and collect multiple versions of the same gun. I have 25 guns (14 long guns), but only three are centerfire semi-auto pistols: A S&W 908 9mm, an Auto Ordnance M1911A1 .45 ACP, and a Seecamp LWS32. I did have a Colt Officers ACP (3.5" bbl, six-shot .45 Auto) decades ago, but it was not pleasant to shoot much. I do have four centerfire revolvers and two blackpowder revolvers, though. I also handload virtually all of my metallic cartridge ammo, except rimfire and .32 ACP.

I am not the person that cares to be or needs to be a .40 S&W owner, and that's where I leave it.

That 908 is a dang near perfect SD handgun.

 

[Trooper224]

I used nearly all of the common service calibers during my LE career. The only conclusion I made was, the only important factor was me. They'd all do their jobs if I did mine.

The .40 is indeed dying in government circles. Not dead yet, but on life support. But, other rounds have been cast aside by Uncle Sugar yet they're still around: .38 Special, .357 Magnum........

It's heyday may be over, but I don't think it's going anywhere.