.40 caliber

[shattered00]

I was told to start a thread asking about the performance of the .40 caliber and whether or not it is decent. I think the implication was that there is nowhere near a concensus. I do not wish to start a heated debate.

This question is applicable to me since I own a glock 22 (bought due to it being the first pistol I ever fired before I knew much about caliber size, etc.). I need to know whether I should hang onto this pistol, or trade it for a glock in another caliber. What do yall think?

 

[Arch]

If you like the pistol, hang onto it.

Glocks are so cheap, I wouldn't bother selling it. Just buy another one if you want some more calibers. May I suggest a G21 (.45 ACP)

 

[HighVelocity]

Get a 357Sig barrel and maybe a 9mm conversion barrel too. Then you'll have 1 gun that shoots 3 calibers.

 

[HSMITH]

I think 40 is plenty adequate, I bet my life on it being adequate as my primary HD/SD is a 40. I have a couple 9's, a couple 45's, 38's, 357's and so on but don't feel a bit under armed with a 40.

I chose a G22 long after I was aware of guns, calibers, and everything else I know about shooting. If I were you I would keep it. You can't do much if any better but you can do a lot worse.

 

[Gixerman1000]

There is nothing wrong with the G22, mine has been a very good pistol.

 

[Justang]

.40 is a good caliber. It's based of the 10mm. It's shorter and less powerfull than the 10mm. The 10mm was made for the FBI, but the agents didn't like the recoil so S&W made the .40. Some call the .40S&W the .40 short & weak, because of it's 10mm heritage.

The .40 is more powerfull than the 9mm, and has almost the same, and in some instances more, stopping power as the .45acp. I think it's a good all around round. It is a bit snappy, more so than the 9mm and .45.

I wouldn't get rid of your Glock 22.

some data from Corbon:

9MM+P.....125gr JHP......1250fps/434ftlbs
40S&W.....135gr JHP......1325fps/526ftlbs
45acp+P....165gr JHP......1250fps/573ftlbs

Those are defense loads. Take some typical loads.

Winchester FMJ Flat Nose:

9MM.........147gr FMJ Flat Nose......990fps/320ftlbs
40S&W.....165gr FMJ Flat Nose......1060fps/412ftlbs
45acp......185gr FMJ Flat Nose.......910fps/340ftlbs

Winchester FMJ Ball Ammo:

9MM.........115gr FMJ Ball......1190fps/362ftlbs
40S&W.....180gr FMJ Ball.......990fps/390ftlbs
45acp.......230gr FMJ Ball........835fps/356ftlbs

Check out the .357sig:
Corbon:
.357sig.....115gr JHP......1500fps/575ftlbs

Winchester FMJ Flat Nose:
.357sig.....125gr FMJ Flat Nose......1350fps/506ftlbs

 

[mete]

In actual use on the street there is no difference between the 357sig, 40S&W and 45acp.

 

[Ala Dan]

I guess the .40 S&W caliber is OK for those you prefer it over other calibers;
I just could never get use too it, and quickly returned to my favorite- the
.45 ACP~!

 

[Condition Brown]

Considering that 60% of all US law enforcement officers carry a Glock and more than 70% of all of Glock's sales are in .40SW, I'd say that it's a caliber that is believed in and is here to stay.

I carried a G22 for years and now I prefer the concealability of the G23. There are enough shootings out there to demonstrate the .40SW is a solid performer. But, of course, regardless of caliber, placement is key - a .40SW center of mass is much better than a .45ACP in the arm.

 

[Janitor]

I was told to start a thread asking about the performance of the .40 caliber and whether or not it is decent.

And if you were told to jump off a cliff, would you?

If you like the Glock, then you should keep it. If you can place your shots, I think you _will_ find that there's a concensus that .40 is going to be as adequate as whatever else you might shoot - unless of course it's a .45 or a .357 magnum.

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[Matthew748]

.40 S&W is a good caliber. I have a big old Beretta 96 in .40 S&W that I am happy with. I am in the market for another .40 caliber handgun, this time in 10 mm. There's not much of a selection out there.

 

[StrikeEagle]

I don't care much for the .40... OR for Glocks... but I'd say keep it.

It's your first gun, and I guarantee if you sell it, you'll miss it. Probably end up buying another to 'replace' it.

IMO, guns are to be bought but not sold anyway... barring very unfortunate circumstances of some kind.

Keep.

StrikeEagle

 

[shattered00]

Thanks for the replies. When I say " I was told," it was because the person wanted me to get more info on the caliber instead of just basing my decision on what he said. I would jump off a cliff if I had a functional parachute by the way.

edit: I can't place my shots too well, but I think that is more from lack of practice than anything else. Hopefully a few more times at the range will improve my ability.

 

[LightningJoe]

and has almost the same, and in some instances more, stopping power as the .45acp.

How did you develop this hypothesis?

 

[Mad Chemist]

Stopping power is largely irrelevant for handgun cartridges within the 9mm-.45 range. With proper ammo they will all perform well. IMHO, stopping power means RIFLES and BIG BORE handguns suitable for bear hunting.
All handgun rounds are weak in comparison, but It's difficult to fit a .300 Win mag in your pocket. Therefor, compromises are made.

The most important factor should be how well you shoot the .40 rd. Some people have trouble with the snappy recoil, especially with small, lightweight guns. Others love the .40.
How well can you shoot it? Will it operate well for you in "shoot 'em to the ground" rapid-fire scenarios? No one should train for the fabled one shot stop with a handgun. Most handguns will not stop an attacker with one round, even the Holy Grail (1911) will fall short of this task. So, controlability under stress during rapid-fire should be the primary consideration for a SD handgun.

Maybe we could keep the numeric strings to a min. I think most people here would aggree with me when I state that terminal ballistics is a little more complicated than simple equation for kinetic energy would imply. KE=(mass)(the square of velocity) KE values can be very misleading. If you want to digest numbers, standard deviation is a lot more important for practical purposes. Ever notice how most ammo makers brag about muzzle energy but very few brag about their standard deviation. I wonder why.

 

[2k5Adam]

All handgun rounds are weak in comparison

Did you forget about this baby?

Back on topic, Id also stick with the 40sw. Im looking to get an HK USP compact in 40sw. It's the "middle ground" of the shells. It can pack a punch almost as strong as a .45, yet the clip can hold about the same number of rounds as a 9mm. So you've got stopping power AND some backup ammo if the first few don't make the target drop...

 

[Elmer]

.40 performs pretty much like a good 9mm. But kicks more, is harder on the gun, same weapon holds less ammo, and the ammo costs more.

But other than that, it's a great cartridge!

 

[Justang]

How did you develop this hypothesis?

Did you read the numbers? the .40 had more energy than the .45 at the muzzle. Except in personal defense loads like Corbon. Numbers don't lie.

 

[mwelch8404]

G23 in 40. Love .45s, but have short stubby fingers, so the 23 feels much better.

 

[P95Carry]

I think as .40 is really near exclusive for semi's - well let this go reside in autoloaders.

 

[Edmond]

I think the .40 is one fine cartridge that gives you a good combination of velocity and PSI.

If the snap of the .40 from that Glock bothers you, try it in a classic Sig series. At least for me, it eliminated quite a bit of that snap.

 

[shattered00]

My problem is seeing the target. I can't see where any of the bullet holes are in a target at 50 yards. I have 20/30 vision, but astigmatism(things can look wavy at a distance) plagues me. The recoil or snap isn't a bother. Who knows, maybe I just suck at shooting.

 

[cbsbyte]

Personaly, I don't like the caliber, it has no appeal to me as does a .45 or 9mm. That being said, my first handgun was a Glock 22, so this might be one reason I found the caliber too snappy for my taste. I sold that gun within two months do to the inacurracy(an experienced shooter also found the gun could not do better than 2" at 25yrds) and recoil. For self defense or police work it is a great round to stop crazed crazies.

 

[Mad Chemist]

Did you read the numbers? the .40 had more energy than the .45 at the muzzle. Except in personal defense loads like Corbon. Numbers don't lie.

Sociologists and economists use numbers to lie everyday. They call them statistics.
Muzzle energy is one out of many variables that compose terminal ballistics. It's not nearly as significant as shot placement.

 

[Janitor]

My problem is seeing the target. I can't see where any of the bullet holes are in a target at 50 yards. I have 20/30 vision, but astigmatism(things can look wavy at a distance) plagues me. The recoil or snap isn't a bother. Who knows, maybe I just suck at shooting.

If you're worried about how tight your groups are at 50 yards, then you're concerned more with one of the target shooting skills, like bullseye. Your Glock may well perform for some people out at those distances, and many (many) shooters practice a lot at 25 yards. But combat distances are more like something between 10 yards and 2 feet.

You need to know how you and your gun will perform at combat distances. That is unless you're working on bullseye or something. In that case, the Glock is probably the wrong piece.

I would jump off a cliff if I had a functional parachute by the way.

Glad you took it tongue in cheek, as it was meant.
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