9mm started the whole double-column mag thing, and the guns that initially made 9mm popular are relatively enormous and/or heavy - Hi Power and Beretta 92. Eventually it ended up being very popular in lightweight and very small polymer guns, including some intended for pocket carry.
40SW busted onto the scene amidst a trend for smaller guns. It was introduced first on the Glock platform, which is one of the lighter (and it wasn't even optimized for the gun with so much as a spring change). It quickly became chambered in several CCW style guns, as well. It's an exaggeration, but imagine if 357 magnum was introduced on a J frame, only, but with no option to shoot 38 wadcutters for practice. Or in a 9mm/45ACP analog, it's like having only +P ammo available from the factory. There's no step down for the non-reloader. Most people don't shoot piles of +P ammo at the range, but that's essentially what regular 40SW is. 40SW doesn't have a lower pressure standard that's safe for older guns. But in 9mm/45ACP, that lower power ammo is considered the standard, even by people who own modern guns fully capable of shooting a 100% +P diet.
40SW is very tame out of the right platform, even including some very light polymer guns with less grip angle than the Glock. But to this day, people think 45 is a gentle hug, and 40SW is a harsh snap with too much muzzle lift. (Personally, I think these guys spend too much time shooting 700fps plinking bullets out of 3 lb 1911's with crazy long 5" barrels - but of course, this is considered a standard, because that's how 45ACP was introduced to the shooting world). I've even heard people complain that shooting 40SW out of a 10mm handgun is snappy compared to 10mm. "Snappy" is a stigma that will stay with the round, forever, because it was snappy in the platform it was introduced on.
40SW busted onto the scene amidst a trend for smaller guns. It was introduced first on the Glock platform, which is one of the lighter (and it wasn't even optimized for the gun with so much as a spring change). It quickly became chambered in several CCW style guns, as well. It's an exaggeration, but imagine if 357 magnum was introduced on a J frame, only, but with no option to shoot 38 wadcutters for practice. Or in a 9mm/45ACP analog, it's like having only +P ammo available from the factory. There's no step down for the non-reloader. Most people don't shoot piles of +P ammo at the range, but that's essentially what regular 40SW is. 40SW doesn't have a lower pressure standard that's safe for older guns. But in 9mm/45ACP, that lower power ammo is considered the standard, even by people who own modern guns fully capable of shooting a 100% +P diet.
40SW is very tame out of the right platform, even including some very light polymer guns with less grip angle than the Glock. But to this day, people think 45 is a gentle hug, and 40SW is a harsh snap with too much muzzle lift. (Personally, I think these guys spend too much time shooting 700fps plinking bullets out of 3 lb 1911's with crazy long 5" barrels - but of course, this is considered a standard, because that's how 45ACP was introduced to the shooting world). I've even heard people complain that shooting 40SW out of a 10mm handgun is snappy compared to 10mm. "Snappy" is a stigma that will stay with the round, forever, because it was snappy in the platform it was introduced on.
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