Is the 40 S&W dieing?

[fyimo]

I happen to be someone who likes the 40 S&W round so I'm not selling mine a Sig P226. I also like reloading for that round so I have plenty of components and I don't have to worry about an ammo shortage.
Sig P226 40 S&W

 

[cmort666]

Yep. No more .40's in plastic for me... not even in full-size anymore. That's been the house rule for over 2 years now.

That is not to say that the .40 is dead to me. Hardly!!! But I do stick to all-metal now. Last one I picked up, a "like new" Model 410, was back in April.

After my experiment with the steel rod and 22lb. spring in my Glock 22, I'm willing to give a Glock 23 a try, but ONLY with those modifications (or in a Gen 4 gun).

I suspect that a Steyr might not be bad in .40 S&W simply because of the grip angle and bore axis.

 

[Dvan34]

I have a Shield M&P .40SW. I began using lower grain weight bullets that seems to decrease the recoil considerably. I used to buy in Walmart and all you can find there are 180gr or 165gr. I began ordering online from Guns & Ammo where you can locate a wide range of loads. For SD I have switched to ARX Inceptor 107gr.. A faster, lighter polymer, non-lead bullet. I have also been wondering about installing a stainless steel recoil rod. I have read that others have installed them and reduced recoil. Anyone have any advice?

 

[kmanick]

Here in Mass , they're are plenty of people using them. I sold my FS M&P .40 range kit on a forum here in 2 days. The arguably busiest FFL in the area gets used ,40C's in all the time and they go back out the door in the $400 range really quickly. I know at least 5 people ar my local range that shoot .40 all the time. there may be a decline in "new sales" with .40's but I still see a good amount of them in use locally.
I couldn't bond with my .40 so I sold it and went .45 acp. (and 9mm of course)

 

[Arik]

I have all 3 calibers and I like all 3. I don't consider any of them a compromise because if you really look at it they are all compromises to each other

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[gen3guy]

I've never had a gun store offer me more than 60% of "Blue Book" trade in value for any gun, unless it was something especially collectable. I think he was just telling you that in order to make you feel good about taking $275 for a $450 gun. But hey, they have to make a living too. It's true that there are a lot of surplus .40s on the shelves in gun stores, but they wouldn't stock them if they didn't thin they could sell them. I don't think I've ever seen a M&P .40 for under $400.

 

[Mark IV]

...It's true that there are a lot of surplus .40s on the shelves in gun stores, but they wouldn't stock them if they didn't thin they could sell them.

This may be a valid point, but there's another way to look at it:
A- WHY are all these guns on the shelves, instead of in a new owner's hands? A lot of guns in a display case doesn't necessarilly translate into lots of them selling (thousands of Gunbroker ads with zero bids is a case in point).

B-It's quite possible these guns have been picked up at ridiculous bargain prices that were too good for the store owner to pass up, even if they sit for a year+.

Also, several posts have stated that they personally like the 40, which is all well and good, but everyone already knows the round has it's fans, but that is totally irrelevant because the question here is whether or not the round is seeing a steady and significant loss in popularity and market share, and the answer to that is 'yes'.

 

[berudd]

It may be less desirable in your area as these things sometimes are. Also, keep in mind you can get a new Shield in 6, 40 or 45 for $399, and maybe less if you shop around, so I'm not terribly surprised that's all he offered you. He's going to want to make something off the gun after he takes it for you and with the price of new ones he just can't afford to offer you more.

 

[Mister X]

Worldwide it has never been very prevalent and it is declining in popularity in the U.S. With the FBI going back to 9mm, I think we will to see PD's follow their lead en masse. Most of the leading defensive shooting instructors prefer and recommend 9mm(Glocks). The SEALs, Army Rangers and MARSOC among others have gone to 9mm Glocks and it wouldn't surprise me at all if the DOD selects 9mm Glocks. The immediate future of military/police/self-defense handguns will be dominated by 9mm and more specifically, 9mm Glocks.

 

[clarkz71]

LGS that I've delt with for years would only give my $325 (275+50 for the CT) saying that the 40 is dead
and they have a ton of them they can't get rid of. Is the 40 dead?

I had the same experience down here in Florida.

My LGS and others I have spoken to say the same,
.40 S&W guns don't move.

The fact that everyone is touting "when ammo is short",
there is always .40 available says something. No demand.

I carried a Glock 23 since the 90's. The 9mm is back and
I carry a M&P9 FS now.

 

[preventec47]

I think the most significant factor predicting the future of the .40
is whether mass purchases are continuing to take place by any kind
of group. I believe there are thousands of police departments and
state agencies etc that are buying individual replacements in the same
40 caliber that is their standard but I doubt there will ever again be a
mass conversion of caliber in any department or group from 9mm or 357sig
or 45 etc to 40. There can be no question scientifically that it is 10 or 15
percent more powerful or lethal etc with equivalent increase in recoil
but people are asking the question now after a decade or more of use
whether the extra is necessary or justifiable now in exchange for
the tradeoffs. One of the tradeoffs being pure popularity and wanting
to copy what others are doing. Most bureaucrats want to play it safe
and if they can save money. I for instance have 380s, 9s, 10mm and 45
and I feel like I have all the bases covered. If I were starting out and
someone gave me a 40 to use I would interpret it to be a split the
difference between the 9 and the 10 and be just fine with it. There is
simply nothing about it anymore ( since FBI switched ) that makes it
stand out as a choice.

 

[Lee's Landing Billy]

40 S&W just like other handgun calibers has no magical allure. As to your question, and this applies ONLY to my area, everybody wants to dance with the new girl in town. 40 cals here are at the bottom of area shooter want lists.This is good for most of my guys. We buy them and use them like the cheap buggers they are. Last week bought a G23 and a G27 and 1,000 rounds of Magtec HPs for $500. Good cheap work guns.

 

[patrickd]

The only reason it even existed was because today's wimpy FBI agents couldn't handle the 10mm it replaced.

 

[Farmer17]

One possibility for the .40's demise in Glocks is because that is the caliber that most of their guns had their famous "Kabooms". They didn't put enough research into redesigning their 9m/m for the more powerful .40 round when it was invented and that unsupported chamber didn't help anything either. Apparently they have the problem corrected now but having a gun blow up in your hand is not going to promote its popularity.

 

[gen3guy]

Worldwide it has never been very prevalent and it is declining in popularity in the U.S. With the FBI going back to 9mm, I think we will to see PD's follow their lead en masse. Most of the leading defensive shooting instructors prefer and recommend 9mm(Glocks). The SEALs, Army Rangers and MARSOC among others have gone to 9mm Glocks and it wouldn't surprise me at all if the DOD selects 9mm Glocks. The immediate future of military/police/self-defense handguns will be dominated by 9mm and more specifically, 9mm Glocks.

The 9mm is NATO standard. Any deviation on the part of the United States DOD would almost certainly favor the .45 ACP. That probably makes the .40 S&W a non-issue within that domain.

 

[W.E.G.]

Mine aint dead.

I got a box full of 'em.

 

[101Voodoo]

As others have mentioned, when no other pistol ammo was available, there always seemed to be some .40 on the shelf. That said a lot about its popularity.

I find that in a full sized pistol its not too bad, but in a 9mm sized compact its too loud and unpleasant to shoot due to recoil. My ex-LEO friend had a small Glock in .40 that he traded for just that reason.

Don't know anyone who has one anymore, let alone bought one in recent years.

 

[retiredbadge8091]

I doubt that the .40 S&W is going the way of the Dodo, however, like my 16 gauge side by side, if folks aren't trying to bum my ammo I'll be fine with that.

 

[K Frame Keith]

As far as I know the U. S. Coast Guard is the only military service presently using the .40 S&W (If you consider the USCG as being military).

Well DWalt, you went and pushed my button. Yes indeed, the United States Coast Guard is one of America's five military services. It has served in every American war since the days of the revenue cutters, including Iraq and Afganistan. Ask our son's wife and children why he is gone for months at a time. On his latest patrol his ship captured 60 million in cocaine, arrested multiple smugglers and engaged in several "shooting incidents". From what I've heard over the past 12 years this is a typical day at the office for the Coast Guard. Oh, and they do carry SIG .40's.

 

[AlHunt]

It's not going anywhere and it'll make holes in things, but it's an awful caliber. Jack of All Trades, Master of None. Middle of the road, going nowhere fast. For any task there is a better choice. Add to all that all those unsupported Glock chambers out there, screwing up the brass for reloading and 40 S&W becomes pretty pointless.

Not that I care what another person shoots and enjoys. Just how I see things.