Why can't I warm up to .40S&W

[dtalley]

For some reason I just can't bring myself to want a 40S&W. I don't have any reason why. I have a 9mm and I have a .45acp. I want other calibers but just can't get acustomed to the .40. I have friends that have them and love them. I have never shot one but I have brass that I have picked up from the range.

Does anyone else have this problem? Do I just need to get over it and get one? What's your excuse?

 

[dpote]

For me, the .40 S&W has a weird snappy harmonic to it that I just don't like.
Same deal with .44 Magnum.
Why must you settle for a .40 when you could get a 10mm?

Dave

 

[Scorpiusdeus]

I guess I don't understand what the issue is. You have some calibers that work for you. Why do you feel like you need to "warm up to" the .40S&W? I can;t warm up to the .45.... so I don't try.

I love my .40S&Ws but they aren't for everyone.

 

[Zundfolge]

For me, the .40 S&W has a weird snappy harmonic to it that I just don't like.
Same deal with .44 Magnum.

See, I'm just the opposite, I love the feel of both .40S&W and .44mag ... I guess its sort of a personal taste thing ... why do some people love peaches and yet I can't stand 'em?

Why must you settle for a .40 when you could get a 10mm?

If you don't like .40S&W and .44mag, methinks you're not going to like the 10mm

For some reason I just can't bring myself to want a 40S&W...I have never shot one ...

Well get out there and shoot one before you make up your mind.

After shooting it you're either going to go; "Damn! I gotta get me one of these!" or you're going to go; "Nope, no sir, I didn't like it."

But at least you'll know for sure.


If you end up not liking the .40 ... don't worry, there's a caliber out there for everyone.

 

[bakert]

I've shot a number of different brand pistols in .40 S&W belonging to others. It is a good round and although some of my best friends swear by it but I'm not a fan either. As a reloader I 've heard of far too many people having problems with it to suit me and the idea of swelled brass from unsupported chambers flat puts me off. Although a lot of people will disagree with me, I'm just not that convinced it's that much better than the best 9MM loadings either. My main love in auto pistols though is the venerable .45ACP and being a stubborn old fart, I'm sticking by it.

 

[10-Ring]

Nope, you're not alone. I've had several 40's in the past (G23, P16, USPc 40, Beretta 96) but just couldn't warm up to them. I really liked my 10 mm but that 40 wasn't just the 'smaller brother' but IMO the red-headed step child
I'm so happy w/ my 9's & 45's that I just don't have the need for it. Sure it would give me another reason to buy another pistol but that's still not doing anything for me I'd get a 357 sig first! ...or even replace my 10mm or another....you get the picture

 

[MD_Willington]

See, I'm just the opposite, I love the feel of both .40S&W and .44mag

+1 to that... Borrowed a Model 29 and a Glock 22... afterwards I shot my S&W 5906... felt short changed

 

[browningguy]

Well if you have brass you picked up you really need a pistol to shoot it in.

I don't think it really matters much though, I have 9mm's and .40's for competition and SD guns, both work fine. If you already have .45's then you are prepared by having a handgun the caliber of which starts with a "4", so you're set. If you're shooting IPSC then you probably want a .40 since you can make major with factory or reload ammo and it tends to be a little easier shooting than .45.

 

[motorheadjohn]

I had a college professor once tell me...if you can't make up your mind, flip a coin and register your first thought when you see the results. If you're disappointed when you see the coin, then that indicates what you really wanted the outcome to be. If you're happy with the outcome, then you also know what you really wanted to start with. If you're indifferent, then you really don't care, and if it involves spending money then you probably shouldn't.

As stated by the other poster above...go shoot several .40 guns, either friends' guns or range rentals. You will make up your mind without forking over the dough for a new pistol. Then flip that coin if you're really not sure.

FWIW, I bought a SiG P226R in .40 as my first handgun 5 months ago. I went .40 at the recommendation of 2 friends who are LEOs. I now have 3 pistols, that original P226R, a P226R stainless, and a P239SAS all in .40. I have kept buying .40 mainly because it makes ammo shopping and handling easier. I'm a big, heavy guy so the snap of the .40 doesn't bother me. But the ammo is NOT cheap.

If I had it all to do over and know what I do now, I might buy 9mm instead of .40 (and still pick up those .45s), because the 9mm is cheaper...nearly half the cost for range ammo compared to .40...and easier to shoot and still very capable for self defense.

In the past 5 months I have have also shot other guns that belong to friends and a couple range rentals, covering .357sig, .45acp, and 9mm. I have no doubt I am going to buy a 1911 just for the fun of it, and may pick up a SiG P220 in .45 as well. But with the .40 pistols that I already have, I have no further need or desire to get a .357sig or 9mm.

Getting a 9mm now would not increase defense purposes of my collection, and the cost of additional pistols or even the 9mm conversion barrels to go into my existing guns hardly justify the savings on ammo. It would take 2000 rounds of 9mm to justify the cost of one $200 BarSto conversion barrel.

Seems to me you are already committed to 9mm and .45 and perfectly happy with them. I doubt a .40 is going to make you any happier, but it's going to lighten your wallet a few hundred dollars easily. And it's not really going to improve your self defense picture any. Why bother???

 

[gandog56]

[Why must you settle for a .40 when you could get a 10mm?

Or you could be like me and have BOTH!

 

[Walkalong]

Stout 155 Gr. loads in the .40 are kind of snappy in a light gun, 165 Gr. loads are a bit better, but the 180 Gr. loads are a pleasure to shoot in my XD SC.
Borrow or rent a .40 and then you'll just have to have one to shoot all that brass you have in.

 

[mpmarty]

I had a Glock 23 in 40 Short and Weak and hated it. My 10mm shoots better, farther, more accurately and is easier to reload plus it handles 200gr bullets that the 40 can't. My carry guns are still 45 acp a Taurus PT145 and a SA XD 45 4" that is a bit large for CCW but works in winter. To me the 40 was a compromise that featured the worst of all worlds. The 357 Sig makes me laugh as I still have a bar-sto barrel for my 1911 that shoots the 38/45 which is a 45 acp necked down to .355 a much better cartridge all around than the 357 Sig as it has greater powder capacity and does the same thing the sig does at lower pressures or beats its pants off at the higher pressures.

 

[ravencon]

I like 9mm and I like .45 ACP. But, I don't like .40 cal. Just personal preference-- YMMV.

 

[CountGlockula]

Don't go to the extreme.

The way I see it: 9mm and .45ACP are the extremes...
Extreme low and high recoils.

The .40S&W keeps it in the middle.

Besides, most cops use the .40 caliber...Hmm?

 

[MICHAEL T]

I tried 40 decided my 9mm and 45 work for me I don't want or need another 40.

 

[Cousin Mike]

I like everything, but I'm picky about the .40S&W. I like .40 caliber Glocks better than almost any other pistol out there, but I don't care for the .40 coming out of most other pistols. I like 9mm and it's snappy little kick. I like the push of a .45, especially in a SIG or a nice 1911. I like the .357SIG, and it's extra snappy (and loud as hell)...

...but the .40 can get to me. It's snappy and loud like the SIG round, but pushy like the .45 on top of it. In a lot of guns, the kick is a little rough for me. OTOH, some guns make it really easy to shoot. For me, it's all about what's launching it - but I agree you should try it before you make up your mind. What's not to like about trying a new gun?

 

[Redhat]

Give 'em a fair try. How else you gonna make an informed decision.

By the way, 45ACP is my favorite, but I really like my CZ75B .40 S&W!

 

[denfoote]

For me, I never saw the need and I have two platforms for it!!!

The cartridge was designed to keep female FBI agents happy because they could not handle the full 10mm!!

As I understand it, the 10mm, itself, was adapted as a panic/political measure because the FBI sent a bunch of agents after two dangerous bad guys without sufficient weapon support!! Of course, the Bureau could not be held responsible, so it fell to the 9mm Parabellum to take the blame!!
If those agents would have had rifles, then none of that would have happened!! The bad guys would have been shot dead, and everybody would have made it home for dinner!!
Instead, we got a bunch of dead agents, a needless waste!!

It's a niche cartridge that caught on!!

 

[Marshall]

Why can't I warm up to .40S&W

You've been reading too much. If it was the only cartridge available you would like it and you would be very good with it. Regardless of the reason the cartridge came into being, regardless of it's perceived need, or lack thereof, it's a good cartridge. The two guns I have that shoot them, I really like. Personally, I think it's a very good defensive round.

 

[SolaScriptura139]

I have never shot one but I have brass that I have picked up from the range.

If you have never shot one, how do you know if you'll like it or not? How can you say that you "can't warm up to .40S&W"?

Do I just need to get over it and get one? What's your excuse?

If I were you, I would shoot one before you even think of buying one. My excuse is that I've never shot one before, so I can't add to the quality of the round, and ammo is too expensive for me. I can barely afford 9mm WWB, so I could never move up, at least not until I graduate college.

 

[Glockfan.45]

For me its always been about the platform not the caliber. Theres no reason you should force yourself to accept a particular round if it doesnt interest you. I have been kicking around the idea of getting a .17HMR lately because "everybody else has one". I find it to be an intriguing round but I already have .22lr and .22WMR. I just dont see the .17 filling any gaps there. I think the main thing holding me back from getting one is I havent found a rifle in that chambering I like yet (still waiting for the Ruger 10/17 ). If you happen to come across a pistol you like but happens to be a .40S&W dont let that turn you off.

 

[BADUNAME4]

I haven't been able to get rid of the smile on my face from shooting my uncle's Glock 23 and that was a few years ago.

 

[ezypikns]

I've had an H&K USP .40 and a CZ-40P.

And I thoroughly enjoyed shooting both. I found that all the stories about excessive or 'snappy' recoil in .40 S&W pistols was highly exagerated. Everyone should try a .40 sometime, but nobody has to love it.

 

[Cousin Mike]

I found that all the stories about excessive or 'snappy' recoil in .40 S&W pistols was highly exagerated.

Try shooting it from a S&W Sigma...

Then when your trigger finger heals, come back and tell me how it was.

 

[.45&TKD]

just can't get acustomed to the .40.

Me either. Why go with a .40 when there's .45 acp?

Never shot .40, and don't want to inventory another cartridge for a job that45acp does better.