.40 cal questions

[TonyB]

Ok,I'm thinking about getting the xd 40...I know nothing about .40 cal....I've heard the stories of kabooms(I'll be using factory ammo)
So enlighten me about the 40.....
how does it compare to 38+p,or even 357 mag...(which are my carry loads)
I'll be using this gun for ccw and IDPA
also I've heard you can put a 9mm barrel in the XD40..is it that easy??thanks

 

[CZFreak]

I'm far from an expert but I will give you my take on the 40; I have 2, the xd40 and the cz40-P; Compared to my glock19, I much prefer to shoot the 40's; just more fun (but keep in mind I shoot only for enjoyment, no ccw, etc.); I am looking to get a 9 barrel for my xd; their just hard to find right now--at least at a price I want to pay--popularity I guess; xdgear has the best price I have found but I haven't done much looking--again, I really enjoy my 40's; I've read quite a bit about kb's, but almost in all cases it was from reloading to hotter than spec. as I understand it; as to how it compares to a 38, I had a S&W 10 but just didn't enjoy shooting it; too loud and just never got the hang of the revolver.

As I understand it, the 9mm barrel just drops into the xd40 and your set to go; no other adjustments needed in most cases.

Hope this helps; you won't be disappointed with the xd--or probably any other 40; fyi-my cz is my favorite!

 

[Black Snowman]

The 40 is pretty much the the "happy medium" for most between round size, recoil, gun size, and "stopping" ability. I own several .40s, a Glock target pistol, 2 CZs (a RAMI and an 85 Compact), and a S&W 646 revolver.

The 40 is a as potent a round as you can get in it's size. For CCW it's my round of choice because of the platforms it's available in. I feel the extra potency of the 40 is a fair trade off for the reduced capacity relative to the 9mm.

For the range, it doesn't really matter

For open carry in my home I use various guns from time to time to try them out. Capacity is pretty much a non-issue there because they just have to last me until I can get to the Mossberg Persuader loaded with 1 oz slugs.

KB! are pretty much a non-issue. It won't be signifigantly more likely happen, or dangerious should one occur, than any other handgun round.

 

[mete]

The 40 is 15 years old and in that time it has beeen widely accepted by LEOs.Street use shows it is equivalent to 357sig and 45acp.Other than poor handloading kabooms can be caused by chambering a round a number of times which will push the bullet back and rise pressures.I've used it for IPSC, carry and woodchucks and feral dogs and I'm very happy with the cartridge. Also there are many guns to choose from.

 

[Werewolf]

The .40 has been my choice for carry for a long time.

You can shoot a 165 gr bullet at >1000FPS for an energy level that is right up there with the .45ACP but in a smaller package.

OTOH the recoil is much snappier on a .40 than a .45 and is much heavier than that of a 9mm. The .40 recoil hits you all at once vice the recoil of a .45 which is more of a "push" as another said. The recoil of a .40 is really snappy in a Glock 22 (primarily because of the gun's weight).

Accuracy wise it all depends on the gun all else being equal. For example out of my CZ-75 the .40 is my second most accurate caliber with the .45ACP being the most accurate out of a 1911. OTOH my Sig P220 is way less accurate than the CZ but the Sig beats the Glock 22 hands down.

For me the .40 strikes a happy medium between velocity, bullet weight and accuracy.

 

[BusMaster007]

I chose the .40 in my Beretta 96 Centurion and 96; and recently acquired a Mini Cougar 8040F for my CCW .

Changing a .40 to a 9mm isn't something that's easily done, but has been provided for by Beretta in a model they had a while back.
It did require quite a few parts be changed over besides the bbl., so it isn't a common swap.

The .357 SIG/.40 swap is more common and available from a couple of mfg., but why bother?
The .40 is a great round designed from the start to be a bigger bullet/cartridge in a 9mm platform. The designs were beefed up in most guns to allow for the higher intensity .40 S&W cartridge.

The .40 is 'the compromise' but carries a lot of merit in its own right.
Good choice!
I like it.

Have fun with yours.

 

[realmswalker]

I have a baby eagle in .40 and I LOVE this gun, I love the .40 cal cartridge because its between the 9mm and .45.

 

[mrapathy2000]

40S&W is generally snappy though anything can be done with handloads.

kb issues is multiple problems.

1 round being chambered continiously which can compact the powder and cause a pressure spike. next thing is chamber support the XD has good chamber support guns with poor chamber support will get large buldges and eventually the case can fail if pressure spike is high enough.
bad ammo can also cause KB. most commercial offerings are loaded pretty safe in 40S&W. defense loads little warmer. Federal hydrashock 135gr is easiest shooting offering feals just like 9mm.

medium to slow burning powders if you handload.

you would be better off just buying a new XD 9 instead of screwing with a barrel.
last I knew only option was barsto for $200 is drop in for the XD40 version. xd9 barrel will not fit in a xd40.

$200 more and you got the whole other gun for fun at the range.

 

[CZFreak]

I have to disagree; the 9mm EFK barrel will drop into the xd40; go here and see for yourself:

http://www.pistol-gear.com/products.php?cat=8