Lack of interest in 40 SW yet 10MM is getting popular??

[roundgunner]

I have read thru this thread and find a lot of opinions to agree with, on all sides. The gun world, self defense and life in general is a series of compromises. I have studied weapons of all sizes, carried 1911s as sidearms issued by Uncle Sam for years as a special weapons guard and landing / boarding party team. Master class revolver shooter in IDPA, have been instructed and given firearms instructions since the 70s. I give you a partial look at my background so you know where my opinions come from.

I'm a 40 S&W fan. I have them in all sizes and almost as many as I have 9mm. The 10mm I had was a 4" 610 used in IDPA ESR division for a few years. I foolishly traded it away to get a 625-3 becouse it reloaded a bit faster and I was trying to catch Jerry Miculek.

Comprising
I decided long ago to go with 40 (the great compromise cartridge) for my self / family defense for many of the reasons already given and a few that have not been yet.
Many say a 9mm is fine and I agree but it has also been pointed out a modern 9mm almost always expands nicely to be almost on the same level as a 40. Along those same thoughts a modern 40 almost always expands also but it never shrinks down to a 9.

The 10mm is a superior round to the 40 no doubt. I have built ammo up for my 40s that get somewhat close, and for my needs are more than powerful enough. I seldom get into big brown bear territory and when I do I carry a 3" 629.

I do camp in black bear territory often and have them living in my area. That is the reason I played around with high power 40 hard cast, camping with a full size 40 with glowing night sights, a light and laser is lighter and better than the 44 Magnum with laser only.
That load is 180gr TC over 9gr of BlueDot for 1150 fps in the full size M&P, 1087 in a compact.

For normal SD and my bed headboard the full-size with light and laser gets Speer Golddot 180 short barrel ammo that gets 995 fps.

I have socked away some home made ammo for Armageddon and wanted less expensive ammo so I could have more of it. This answer was 180gr JHP over 8.5 BlueDot for 1113 fps. Not 10mm levels but plenty for 2 legged vermin.

I also have a PCC in 40 that becomes my wife's oh sh!× gun for the house at night with a bright light and laser. It spits out the 180 BlueDots at 1360! Plenty respectable for the 40 short & weak.

All that said, if I had the same options / sizes with 40 & 10 when beginning my build up I would have most likely gone 10mm.

I used to consider this highly modified Para Ordinance P16 with expanded high cap mags (20) the king of SD handguns, times do change but I still love it.

 

[roundgunner]

I should have added than on a good day this M&P with an APEX trigger can reach out to 70 yards and hit. Overcast with the laser from a rest.

 

[AF FAL]

I'm a gun nerd, plain and simple. I don't have a favorite caliber, but love many for their individual merits.

That said, I love the .40. I think many overlook its value as a suppressor platform, as the majority of commercial 180gr loads are already subsonic. I also see the .40 as kind of occupying a sort of "Goldilocks" zone for those that want something that hits harder than a 9mm, the .40 has more capacity than a .45 but fits in a 9mm size package.

Personally, I like the cheap bullets. Years ago I discovered swaging, and bought a die set that turns range pick up 9mm cases into jacketed .40 bullets, I use them in .40 S&W, 10mm, and 40 Super.

 

[nksmfamjp]

Frankly, I'm fine with the 40 s&w for most uses. I find the 10mm a way to be less effective with a smidge more terminal performance.

 

[rpv-ak]

Some of use could care less about glock firearms in general ! The 9mm cartridge and the interest in the 380acp does make it easier for some of todays softer folks to be able to conceal carry or have a chance to become law enforcement .

I started CC'n a 40 in ether late '90 or early '91 with a Star M40 . Great small pistol but heavy pistol with only 6 rounds in the mag . When I sold it years later a I picked up a kahr tp40 that was my at work CC as I had a alloy frame commander as my primary carry since '76 . Today its a m&p 4.25 40 and occasionally a 2.0 5" PC ported version .

I'll carry a 9mm one day do to age and needed a dot optic but not yet . A 380 for me - Never .

The situation for years is the same for the S&W Model 57. Handloaders got around any inconveniences by load our own. I shot the 210 Keith hardcast for years—really the only bullet I shot over BlueDot or AA7/9.