What's wrong with .40S&W?
- Thread starter Dak
- Start date
- Status
Many see it as a compromise between 9mm and .45. There are good points to this. If it's going to be a large gun you may as well have a .45. And if it's a small gun, the capacity is low.
But in the right size gun, like a Glock 23 or Kahr K40, it makes sense.
But in the right size gun, like a Glock 23 or Kahr K40, it makes sense.
surfinUSA
Member
The 40 is my favorite semi auto round. Fits in a 9mm sized gun and has 45 type power.
My personal favorites are the Sig 239 (my daily carry gun) and the Glock 27 (my out in the swamp don't give a damn if it gets wet or bounced around gun).
I also like the 9mm and the 45, but I don't believe either does everything as well as the 40.
My personal favorites are the Sig 239 (my daily carry gun) and the Glock 27 (my out in the swamp don't give a damn if it gets wet or bounced around gun).
I also like the 9mm and the 45, but I don't believe either does everything as well as the 40.
Third_Rail
Member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2004
- Messages
- 4,979
It makes my .45ACP brass that much harder to find!!!
There is nothing "wrong" with the .40 S&W. It fill's a niche between 9mm and .45. If you like it, fine.Remember, the stuff you read here is the same stuff you hear at the local gun shop or range. The world is full of gunshop commando's. If you can, try out a Glock 23 or a CZ-40. Then decide for yourself. Shoot well and often.
wally
Member
Boy are you gonna love .45 GAP!
--wally.
Parker Dean
Member
It's not 10mm
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
Third_Rail nailed it, as .45 ACP brass is harder to spot with the
naked eye.
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
naked eye.
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
Black Snowman
Member
It has it's nay-sayers but it's popularity shows how little really is wrong with the cartridge. It's the only round that I have more than 1 handgun for.
CZ 2075 RAMI
CZ 85 Compact
Glock 24P
I want to add a CZ 75 SA, a 75 Standard IPSC, and a S&W 610 to my list of guns that can shoot .40 S&W. Although only the SA is on my short list right now
CZ 2075 RAMI
CZ 85 Compact
Glock 24P
I want to add a CZ 75 SA, a 75 Standard IPSC, and a S&W 610 to my list of guns that can shoot .40 S&W. Although only the SA is on my short list right now
Actually I recently got a G23.Put about 80 rounds through it Sat.I really like it.Then I was on here browsing around and was curious as to why it seemed many people don't like the 40.
I think I would like to have a 10mm later down the road but I think it's mostly because of Miami Vice and the Bren Ten.
I think I would like to have a 10mm later down the road but I think it's mostly because of Miami Vice and the Bren Ten.
From the amount of LEO carrying pistols chambered for the 40 S&W there must not be a thing wrong with it! I did read one thing interesting about the 40 S&W; it's almost a match to the old 38/40 of Cowboy days gone by. Seems kinda strange that a round that was popular in the Earp days is still the choice of LEO's power wise now even though the guns it is being fired from have changed considerably.
surfinUSA
Member
Actually, the 40 S&W is exactly 10mm.
stans
Member
There is really nothing wrong with the 40 S&W caliber. Unfortunately, problems arise when reloaders try to turn it into a duplicate of the 10mm with over pressure loads. The other problem is that some guns that were designed as 9mm's were slightly modified (larger bore, chamber, and removing case head support in order to get acceptable feeding) in order to chamber the 40.
I will admit that finding 45 brass on the ground was easier before the 40 came along.
I will admit that finding 45 brass on the ground was easier before the 40 came along.
twoblink
Member
I like it because it's the one, commonly available round that gives you about .45ACP power into a near 9mm package.
I find the 9mm to be a superior ccw round, because of its size over the 45ACP. But I find the 45ACP to be superior for a hip round. A 40SW let's you use the same round in both your ccw as well as your hip gun... It is (wait for it.......) more logistical.
I find the 9mm to be a superior ccw round, because of its size over the 45ACP. But I find the 45ACP to be superior for a hip round. A 40SW let's you use the same round in both your ccw as well as your hip gun... It is (wait for it.......) more logistical.
Heraclitus
Member
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2004
- Messages
- 284
Nothing's wrong with the .40 S&W. It's a hell of a lot cheaper to reload than .45 ACP, and its highcaps hold more rounds -- meaning fewer reloads of the other kind. Which is why most open and limited division shooters at my range have a preference for it.
From a purely tactical/defensive standpoint: let most LEOs in the U.S. be the judge. Glock 22s and 23s comprise nearly 60% of the market for LE sideweapons.
From a purely tactical/defensive standpoint: let most LEOs in the U.S. be the judge. Glock 22s and 23s comprise nearly 60% of the market for LE sideweapons.
I bought my .40 cal CZ 75B before I bought my .45 ACP SW1911; If I had bought the SW1911 first, I probably would not want the .40. I plan to keep the CZ, because I like the gun so much. The .40 cal is an excellent round on its own merits, and it compares well to 9mm, although I like my Sig P228 better than the CZ. But if I had to choose between a service pistol in .40 S&W and .45 ACP, I would have to take the .45, since I do feel that it is a better caliber in most respects. Strictly "MHO", though.
cratz2
Member
I just think internet junkies tend to develop their opinions and then stick with them very ardently.
I consider most semi auto centerfire cartridges (9x19, 40S&W, 10mm, 357 SIG, 45ACP, 45GAP) about similar in general 'direct to soft tissue' wounding abilities, assuming the best loads available. I grew up shooting 45ACP and, well-founded or not, I have the most faith in that cartridge - esp in the form of the Ranger T, Golden Sabers and Gold Dots. My gut instinct is to feel that the 40S&W with similar bullets will result in similar stopping (or at least 'slowing down') ability as the 45ACP.
I carry a 9mm CZ PCR and feel that I probably trading away a 2% to 3% stopping ability by carrying a 9 rather than a 45. But with repeat shots, I'd imagine the difference start to disappear and as soon as the PCR or P-01 is available in 40S&W or 45GAP, I will carry one. I just would rather have the right gun and the right platform than the right cartridge.
I consider most semi auto centerfire cartridges (9x19, 40S&W, 10mm, 357 SIG, 45ACP, 45GAP) about similar in general 'direct to soft tissue' wounding abilities, assuming the best loads available. I grew up shooting 45ACP and, well-founded or not, I have the most faith in that cartridge - esp in the form of the Ranger T, Golden Sabers and Gold Dots. My gut instinct is to feel that the 40S&W with similar bullets will result in similar stopping (or at least 'slowing down') ability as the 45ACP.
I carry a 9mm CZ PCR and feel that I probably trading away a 2% to 3% stopping ability by carrying a 9 rather than a 45. But with repeat shots, I'd imagine the difference start to disappear and as soon as the PCR or P-01 is available in 40S&W or 45GAP, I will carry one. I just would rather have the right gun and the right platform than the right cartridge.
I agree with MJRW.
I have a G27 and Beretta 96, and don't care to shoot them much because I do not like the way the .40 caliber cartridge recoils. It is too snappy and harsh.
And no, I'm not exactly "recoil sensitive" either, as I love shooting my 12 ga, .45's, and my .44 Desert Eagle.
As MJRW said, the .40 recoil just makes me unhappy and is not fun to shoot, out of either a full-size combat pistol or a compact one.
However, my G27 has been absolutely, 100% reliable, so I do carry it a lot.
In an SD situation, you are not going to notice recoil, so I'd like a reliable pistol.
Balistically it is decent.
Now that I've been mauled by the 1911 beast, I do not see anymore .40 pistols in my future.
I have a G27 and Beretta 96, and don't care to shoot them much because I do not like the way the .40 caliber cartridge recoils. It is too snappy and harsh.
And no, I'm not exactly "recoil sensitive" either, as I love shooting my 12 ga, .45's, and my .44 Desert Eagle.
As MJRW said, the .40 recoil just makes me unhappy and is not fun to shoot, out of either a full-size combat pistol or a compact one.
However, my G27 has been absolutely, 100% reliable, so I do carry it a lot.
In an SD situation, you are not going to notice recoil, so I'd like a reliable pistol.
Balistically it is decent.
Now that I've been mauled by the 1911 beast, I do not see anymore .40 pistols in my future.
I have a SIG 229 in 40S&W and it's my favorite pistol. The SIG 229 has a reinforced slide that was specifically designed for the hi-powered 40S&W and 357SIG cartridges. I never thought I would like the 40 S&W much after hearing all the talk, but I'll be darned if it isn't one of my favorite cartidges now, along with the 357 Mag and 9mm (and the .308 and 6.5x55 rifle calibers).
I do think the 40S&W has a distinct recoil behavior, with a little bit of muzzle flip compared to the smaller 9mm. It doesn't bother me because I think I have to adapt to the gun to shoot it well, rather than think that it must conform to me. With just a little bit of practice I was shooting very well with my 229.
I do think the 40S&W has a distinct recoil behavior, with a little bit of muzzle flip compared to the smaller 9mm. It doesn't bother me because I think I have to adapt to the gun to shoot it well, rather than think that it must conform to me. With just a little bit of practice I was shooting very well with my 229.
Spieler
Member
No massive amounts of CHEAP imported surplus military FMJ in .40 S&W.
Does that make me cheap? Oh well.
Does that make me cheap? Oh well.
aguyindallas
Member
I see nothing wrong with it. I carry it daily in my SigPro. It's definately a favorite for me.
Im with Parker Dean, its not a 10mm, but that aside I have nothing really bad to say about the .40, I carry one in the form of a Glock M22 and have found it to be a great all round personal carry load.
At home though, where space and comfort are not an issue I trust my life to either a .45 or a 10mm.
At home though, where space and comfort are not an issue I trust my life to either a .45 or a 10mm.
ny32182
Member
It has very close to, or equal the power of .45, with more capacity. I don't think 4 rounds (for me, in a few weeks anyway) is negligible. Plus I love everything about my P226/.40, so that is what gets carried.
- Status
