Is the 40 S&W a must have cartridge?

[lrrifleman]

Please believe me, I am NOT trying to resurrect a "which is better" thread, I am trying to spark an informed conversation in trying to decide whether a handgun capable of firing the 40 S&W should be in my future.

I realize that the 40S&W development was somewhat a parody of Goldilocks and the Three Bears: the 9mm was not enough, the 45 was too much, and the 40 was just right! I have the opportunity to get a Sig 229 at a decent price, and it is a metal frame, not polymer. Other than price and the fact that it is a Sig, it can easily be converted to 357 Sig.

Realistically, I don't need a 40, since I have both 9s and 45s which I can handle competently. If I need to make a 40 something hole, I have a 41 Magnum. If a need a flat shooting hotrod, I have 357 Magnums. All of my firearm purchases are mission driven, but I already have handguns in calibers capable of over-shadowing a 40 S&W or a 357 Sig.

While I would like a metal frame Sig, I don't need a 40 S&W or a 357 Sig. Could anyone help me shed some light on why I should purchase a 40 S&W?

Thanks in advance for your opinions!

 

[Bro. Dave]

I'm afraid I'm no help to you. One of the calibers I've never owned since, like you, I've had no issues with the 9mm and the .45acp.

The glut on the market of .40 caliber handguns right now tempts me just due to the number of them and the reasonable price. Sadly, I just can't think of a good enough reason to stock another caliber.

It sure is a buyer's market right now and I'm a long time fan of Sig products, but there are too many other pistols I like better than any forty I have ever seen.

 

[29aholic]

IMHO the 229 Sig is the finest combat handgun ever made

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

[Watchdog]

Is the 40 S&W a must have cartridge?

No.

 

[Rudi]

The .45 auto is by no means too much.

 

[delcrossv]

Is the 40 S&W a must have cartridge?

No, it's not.

 

[Tubbsy]

I'm not a fan, but i learned that by shooting a few.... to each his own.

 

[Goldstar225]

IMO, no the .40 isn't a must have, but I enjoy having mine, along with .45, 9mm, .38, .357.......

With police trade in M&P .40's available for just over $200.00 I would grab one. Think back to the regrets some have for not grabbing police trade in K frames in the 90's.

 

[SC_Mike]

I've owned six different .40 handguns, Glock Sig, HK, SW, Glock, Sig, and for whatever reason I'm no where near as accurate as a 9mm or .45.

As I understand it, in LE the pendulum is swinging away from .40 back to 9mm. I may be wrong. In any case I haven't owned a .40 in years...haven't missed it.

 

[Bladeswitcher]

I had never owned a .40 and really didn't see much need for one, but the $230 LE Trade-ins were too much of a temptation. I added a full-sized S&W M&P to my handgun battery just because . . . too cheap to pass up.

 

[Kanewpadle]

No it isn’t.

I’ve owned a few. Got rid of them. They offer nothing that my current stable of guns can do. And I like not having to buy or reload another caliber.

If the Sig interests you, find a CPO P226 in 9MM or P220 in 45 Auto.

 

[DWalt]

I have never had lust for any .40 S&W handgun, and doubt I ever will. However, I do have a .400 Cor-Bon barrel for my 1911 .45. But I don't have the urge to shoot it much.

 

[cpt-t]

My Son & I have several 40 S&W`s in handguns & carbines. And We shoot them, reload for them, and enjoy them alot.
ken

 

[mckenney99]

I realize I am the odd man out here, but I actually like the .40 S&W round. I was first issued a DAO Beretta 96, then a DAO Sig P226 in .40. As a result of my LE duties, I had to dispatch a ton of deer. Never needed to use a shotgun slug or more than 1 - .40 round, just got close enough to put the round where it needed to go and it worked every time. Very first ammo we were issued was typical first generation / low bid ammo that sucked really badly.
When Colt put out a 1911 in .40 I jumped on it and wound up having Novak's customize it to my liking and carried it as my off duty gun for almost 15 years. Bought a Star Firestar .40, Glock 27, Kahr K40 and a Novak custom .40 Browning Hi Power. After retiring also picked up a like new LEO trade in DAO P229 in 357 Sig but quickly dropped a .40 barrel in it and it shoots extremely well.
During the last great ammo shortage I ran a gun shop and like others we struggled to get 9mm, 45acp and most other high demand ammo, but we were generally able to get and keep a good supply of .40 S&W available and sold quite a bit of it.
If you don't mind stocking an additional caliber ammo or just interested in trying a different caliber, I have found the .40 to be a very satisfactory choice.
I also like 22's, 9's, 10mm, 41 Mag, 45acp and 45 Colt so I guess I'm not really picky.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I have had a lot of .40 S&W handguns; currently own a Sig P250, P239, SP2340. I gave my son three, a BHP, Sig SP2022, Walther PPS. Ours are loaded with Underwood 200 grain hard cast ammo. We carry them hiking and fishing in north Georgia.

The cartridge and guns chambered for it are dead in my area. There are deals everywhere. There is a good selection of ammo available; it can handle most any situation you may encounter. If you want to try one I would encourage you to do so.

In my area, Sig P250 and SP2340/2022 are unpopular and can be found in the $300.00 range.

 

[swsig]

I'd go for it. In fact I'm looking at a P229 in .40 cal for myself, which I'd convert to a .357 SIG. I already have two .357 SIG pistols, a P320, and an M&P 40c Storm Lake conversion (my EDC), and I love the round. With the P229 in .357 SIG, you'd have more capacity than most .45s, and you'd be firing a round with 50-100 ft/lb greater muzzle energy. And, as 29aholic stated, it's a great gun, so what's not to like?

 

[kraynky]

Being a reloader, I am a fan of the .40 S&W cartridge. Many claim it's the "short & weak" substitute for a 10mm, and it is, sotr'a. Believe me, it's not weak. It is a bit snappy when compared to the 9mm, but it also makes much bigger holes.

I mentioned reloading only because .40 caliber brass is almost free everywhere you look. And it uses the same size bullets as the 10mm. And I can use the same dies to load both.

A 14 + 1 round FNX sleeps beside me every night. And I really enjoy shooting it at the range as well. I tend to shoot mostly 45 acp when I do shoot, but the 40 is always there, as is some .357's and some 22's. I have several 9mm's and enjoy them too. In fact, I carry a 6906 90% of the time.

I think you're missing out if you pass on having at least one handgun in .40 S&W. No, you don't need one, anymore than you need a 9, 38, 357, or a 45. But I think you should at least try one. They're practically giving them away these days.

 

[Faulkner]

I’m a fan of the ,40 S&W. I got rid of all but one of my 9mm guns long ago.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Is the 40 S&W a must have cartridge?

Answer: Only if you have a gun chambered for it.

Seriously, a few years back I got a used Sig P226 in .40 S&W because it was available at a good price in all stainless, but looking back it would have been better to get a 9mm.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I have in all 3 calibers in metal and plastic........What's not to like about all of them.......IF I was ever in a real honest to God handgun fight I'd prefer the 40/45 in any pistol.