.40 S&W ammo for those who think the .40 is too "snappy"
- Thread starter greenlion
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LiveLife
Member
I suggest to people to get 40 caliber Glocks / M&Ps and a 9mm conversion barrel along with 9mm magazines. This way, you can practice with lower recoiling/cheaper 9mm ammo while you work towards full-power 40S&W loads.FreedomFreak said:
Another benefit is after the range session, you simply swap out the conversion barrel with factory barrel and you are ready for SD/HD!
Again, nobody in this thread was saying that they could not handle .40S&W. However, I have seen in the past, several people who had just purchased .40's who were intimidated to the point of selling the gun. Tame ammo would go a long way toward mitigating their dislike of the caliber until they developed the skills to shoot it well. I don't think telling them to get a more expensive all steel gun, or making them shoot a .500S&W magnum before they fire their .40 cal would endear them to the shooting sports either.
180 grain Bear Creek Moly bullets over 2.8g Red Dot. 715 fps, cases land on the bill of your hat and recoil similar to a light .38 special. This works 100% in my FS M&P40 with the stock recoil spring. I like alternating between these and mags full of full-house loads. That way I can make sure I am not flinching when shooting either.
1KPerDay
Member
Wow... 2.8gr Red Dot? That is a pussycat. Does the slide lock back?
exavid
Member
I didn't think my Taurus 740 Slim or my Ruger SR40c were hard recoiling. The Slim had a bit more muzzle flip than my SR40c but not bad. On my Ruger I removed the pinky extension on the 10 round magazine and put on the flat floor plate. The recoil wasn't bad enough to need the extra grip length. Not to mention it make it easier to conceal. I will admit if I had to fire more than 100 rounds in a session I'd prefer to do it with my P345 because the .45 does feel very mild in recoil. But the .40 isn't bad at all. It might be a bit much for someone who's never fired a pistol before, but those kind of folks would find a .38 pretty tough to handle until they got used to it too.
Yes it does. Hapily, everything functioned perfectly. I've made and shot about 200 of these and the only annoyance is that the brass pops out only a couple of feet and can land on your head. That's why I wear a baseball cap while shooting these loads (as well as shooting glasses that won't allow brass to get trapped between it and my forehead). For the shear fun of it, the little annoyance is worth it. I even tried 2.5g, but it didn't feel any softer than 2.8, so I just keep it at 2.8.
Fishslayer
Member
Many would suggest that....
... no. Never mind.
I shot some more 2.5g Red Dot loads yesterday for the purpose of running them through the chrony and it was considerably cooler than the last time. I think about 2.8g is the limit because with the 2.5's the first shot didn't completely cycle. The next nine fired just fine, but the slide did not lock back on the 10th round. I could probably go lower with a lighter spring, but I don't like the idea of swapping parts back and forth while also swapping loads back and forth, too easy to make a mistake and batter the slide or frame.
Average MV of the 2.5g Red Dot was 662 fps on a 65F day, average for the 2.8g Red Dot was 712 fps on an 81F day.
Average MV of the 2.5g Red Dot was 662 fps on a 65F day, average for the 2.8g Red Dot was 712 fps on an 81F day.
The_Armed_Therapist
Member
Shot 50 rounds of .40 through my new Kahr CW40 this weekend. As far as I'm aware, it is about the 2nd smallest and 2nd lightest of all .40s made (Kahr PM40 being the only one smaller...). The recoil was very manageable and follow-up shots were fairly easy. Overall, it really wasn't much more difficult than my Glock model 22 .40 to shoot, control, manage, etc.
The main difference was that the checkering on the back of the grip was almost tattooed into my hand after those 50 rounds. On the other hand, I've shot 100-200 rounds through the Glock 22 at any given time and there has never been any discomfort at all. I wouldn't call it painful, but by 50 shots it was starting to get uncomfortable.
The main difference was that the checkering on the back of the grip was almost tattooed into my hand after those 50 rounds. On the other hand, I've shot 100-200 rounds through the Glock 22 at any given time and there has never been any discomfort at all. I wouldn't call it painful, but by 50 shots it was starting to get uncomfortable.
To some, the recoil of a .40 S&W is 'snappy'. I have shoot my Glock 22 many 1000's of rounds and I have never felt it was 'snappy'. I think the hype has many people convinced of the greater, uncontrollable recoil when they go from a 9MM to the .40 S&W. The felt recoil is more, but not what they expect when they shoot my Glock.
Snowdog
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I believe the first pistol I fired that was chambered in .40S&W was a Sig 228. I did indeed leave with the impression that a .40 S&W was a snappy round. The second was a G23 and compared to my G19, I also believed the recoil characteristics were snappier than the 9mm.
I then purchased a Steyr M40 when CDNN was selling them for an insanely low price. The recoil, using the same ammunition, was different entirely and not "snappy" at all.
The next .40 S&W I purchased (and my current choice for carry) was a Smith and Wesson M&P 40 compact and it too is not something I would consider snappy. I don't know if I got used to the recoil or if it really does have something to do with low bore axis as some folks like to say, but the .40S&W is not at all unpleasant to shoot IMO.
I then purchased a Steyr M40 when CDNN was selling them for an insanely low price. The recoil, using the same ammunition, was different entirely and not "snappy" at all.
The next .40 S&W I purchased (and my current choice for carry) was a Smith and Wesson M&P 40 compact and it too is not something I would consider snappy. I don't know if I got used to the recoil or if it really does have something to do with low bore axis as some folks like to say, but the .40S&W is not at all unpleasant to shoot IMO.
Shadow 7D
Member
.40 come is a HUGE variety of flavors
from 220gr. slow movers to 135 lightning streaks. I personally find the 155-165gr a nice middle ground. BUT I have a but load of 180grn ammo, and it's not what I use in 'recoil sensitive' guns like the KT P40.
from 220gr. slow movers to 135 lightning streaks. I personally find the 155-165gr a nice middle ground. BUT I have a but load of 180grn ammo, and it's not what I use in 'recoil sensitive' guns like the KT P40.
gathert
Member
I can reload 1000 .45 rounds for $100 bucks. No thanks Hornady, but nice try. Maybe some people can use it.
I shot some factory .40 ammo and I didn't think it was all that snappy. Learn a good grip and you won't have a problem.
I shot some factory .40 ammo and I didn't think it was all that snappy. Learn a good grip and you won't have a problem.
I think I stated two things clearly in the opening post;
1. If you reload, you would not be interested in these, as you can make them yourself.
2. These might be of interest to people who DO find the .40 S&W to be too snappy, especially if they are a NEW SHOOTER trying to learn good technique.
If you reload, or if you don't find the hottest factory .40 caliber loads to be objectionable, then I really don't see why you would bother responding to the thread by stating, basically, that you don't fit either of those categories. Posting that YOU don't find the .40 to be snappy does not change the fact that many people who are new to shooting do.
I like the .40 S&W round in ALL of its versions, and hate to see people abandon a perfectly good round simply because they haven't stumbled upon some of the lower recoiling .40 cal loads yet.
Some of you act like your manhood is being threatened any time someone mentions a .40S&W that is not loaded to thermonuclear pressures, are just running people away from one of the most versatile rounds out there. It is perfectly acceptable for people to use lower recoiling loads to learn with, and just to have fun with. Get over yourselves.
Those of us who reload know how much fun the .40 can be. Others deserve to too.
1. If you reload, you would not be interested in these, as you can make them yourself.
2. These might be of interest to people who DO find the .40 S&W to be too snappy, especially if they are a NEW SHOOTER trying to learn good technique.
If you reload, or if you don't find the hottest factory .40 caliber loads to be objectionable, then I really don't see why you would bother responding to the thread by stating, basically, that you don't fit either of those categories. Posting that YOU don't find the .40 to be snappy does not change the fact that many people who are new to shooting do.
I like the .40 S&W round in ALL of its versions, and hate to see people abandon a perfectly good round simply because they haven't stumbled upon some of the lower recoiling .40 cal loads yet.
Some of you act like your manhood is being threatened any time someone mentions a .40S&W that is not loaded to thermonuclear pressures, are just running people away from one of the most versatile rounds out there. It is perfectly acceptable for people to use lower recoiling loads to learn with, and just to have fun with. Get over yourselves.
Those of us who reload know how much fun the .40 can be. Others deserve to too.
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