40 S&W hard to shoot?

[pblanc]

Quote:
Originally Posted by pblanc View Post
I don't know that I agree with the concept that .40 S&W shot from polymer-frame pistols is inevitably unpleasant.
It isn't, and I did not mean to say that it is. I believe, however, that the unpleasantness, or lack thereof, of this particular combination is HIGHLY dependent upon grip strength. For shooters with crushing grip strength, they can hold the frame pretty still all the way through recoil... and so the barrel doesn't flip and it doesn't look or feel "snappy." For shooters with less grip force and/or sub-optimal grip technique, the .40 on a polymer frame is going to rotate more in the hand than a polymer 9mm or a steel 1911 in .45acp.

Yes, that sounds right.

 

[ljnowell]

No need to get personal, it is not that important to get worked up over.



To make it simple, I found in actual shooting that accuracy is easier to achieve in 45 than it is in 40. Even if the platform is the same; like two similar 1911s - one in 45 and one in 40. This is for the benefit of those seeking experienced answers. Maybe your experience is different. Again YMMV

I'm not getting personal. I'm pointing out that the gun you posted is exactly the result of the evolution of the platform that was forced by competition.

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

The Ruger SR40-C is one of the softest shooting 40's that I've experienced, its just a well designed pistol with extra slide mass. I think it makes a difference.

More than a few gun magazine editors have said the same thing.

Even so, the recoil difference from the SR9-C to the SR40-C is noticeable.

 

[Zerodefect]

Shoot a J-frame for a while. Then when your hands have healed, .40 will feel like nothing.

A bit more snap than a 9mm, but about the same flip as 9mm. The muzzle flip is what bugs me, and Glocks aren't that bad, so I recommend the G23/22 heartily. Can't speak for other brands.

 

[Winkman822]

As others have mentioned, the .40 S&W is no harder to shoot than any other standard handgun caliber. It does, however, have a unique recoil impulse, especially when compared to a .45 ACP. It is a bit more snappy, and to me it takes a little more focus to get the gun back on target for quick follow up shots. It also takes a decent bit more shooting to get out of the tendency to slap or jerk the trigger in anticipation of the gun's recoil impulse (though this is true of any handgun). I will say, however, that there are some .40 S&W chambered handguns that are easier to shoot well than others. The HK USP and Sig P229 stand out in particular as they were designed around the .40 S&W round.

 

[sixgunner455]

My first .40 was a steel-frames compact single stack. I didn't particularly think it was bad on recoil, and it was more accurate than a S&W 4006 a friend of mine had. My second was a S&W Sigma I bought from a friend who needed cash to help pay for a move. I ended up liking that gun quite a bit more than I expected to. Well made, ergonomic, reliable, and cheap. Wasn't as accurate or easy to shoot fast as the CZ75 9mm I had at the time, but the trigger was very revolver-like and easy to manage, and the recoil was fine. Decided I didn't actually want to ge set up to load or stock the .40, so when someone asked me how to get a good deal buying a polymer framed .40 for her husband, I flipped it for a few bucks more than I had in it. He loves it.

Most accurate .40 I've shot is a close friend's 5" STI Trojan. It's actually one of the most accurate guns I've shot, and I would buy one. Still don't really want to get set up in the .40, though. He's 30 years older than I am, and I am in his will as a surrogate son. The only thing I am listed for is that gun. Hope I don't get it for another couple of decades.

I have a SIG SP2022 in 9mm. It is quite accurate. I can't imagine that a .40 would be terribly different, accuracy-wise. Put some time and rounds into the gun, and I think you'll find it gets more accurate the more you get used to it.

 

[stilllearning]

loghcal

I has to be because I posted this thread. My eyes were so happy checking out guns at the show I had to go to the range, wound up shooting that .40 more accurately than I ever had before (yes same ammo )

But I'm still looking to trade it. *sigh*

 

[mongoslow]

I think this one was from 15 yards shooting at around 1 round per second ,I can slow down and bring all that much closer together but I'm not unhappy with the results, I've shot it out to 50 yards on 12" plates and have probably a 65% hit ratio at that distance( some days I'm better some days worse)if I take the time and cover my fundamentals the .40 does its job.


the 1911 , 2 mags at speed, 230 gr. WWB also at 15 yards, A little tighter, but a far heaver and more expensive pistol with a much better trigger,,,the slop is me not the gun

 

[GLOOB]

Similar ballistics, but some of the 40s are a lot smaller than 45's. So yeah, it's pretty accurate to say that 45's are easier to shoot, in general.

I switched my G27 back to 40SW. After figuring out how to load accurate ammo for my (tight!) glock barrel, I shoot this gun more accurately in 40 than I ever did with the 9mm conversion. It just happens to be that the stock 40 barrel is better.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Hard to shoot? No. Harder to shoot well at speed? In some guns, yes. Harder to shoot well at speed than some lower pressure cartridges? Yes, in some guns.

I switched to 45 acp several years ago. I don't shoot the 45 any more accurately than the 40. That's about technique and the quality of ones trigger and a host of other variables inherent to the shooter and the gun used. But i found follow up shots are much quicker for me with a 45.

But I started my journey into semiautos with 40 S&W. I think that is a bad idea. Now that my tequnique is much much more refined, I'd maybe give it another go. But why at this point?

 

[Kennydale]

My main 40S&W is the Ruger SR40C (3.5 inch barrel length). It does take a bit of effort to keep follow up shots on target. i tried out a Glock G23. didn't fair that much better with shot placement even with the longer barrel length. I'll stick with my 9mm G17.

 

[Drail]

I think a large difference between the guns being discussed here has more to do with the differences between a steel frame AND slide vs. a light polymer frame and steel slide than it does caliber. Granted the .45 ACP gives more of a "push" and a .40 gives a sharper faster impulse but a top heavy polymer gun is going to require more control from the user than a steel 1911. I remember very well the first time I was handed a Glock to shoot and I really didn't like the way it recoiled compared to a full sized 1911. That is not to say a skilled shooter with a Glock cannot keep up with a skilled shooter with a 1911 - but the Glock shooter is going to be working harder to do it.

 

[Deanimator]

I think a large difference between the guns being discussed here has more to do with the differences between a steel frame AND slide vs. a light polymer frame and steel slide than it does caliber.

That's definitely the case. I find a 3.5" steel M1911 MUCH more controllable than a Glock 22.

If I ever buy another .40s&w gun, it'll almost certainly be a CZ75 single-action.

No more polymer .40s for me.

 

[Devonai]

I've fired the .40 in everything from a Kel-Tec P-40 to a S&W 4006. The former was not a pleasant experience, the latter was a breeze. I didn't spend much time wondering why.

That being said, I've found some evidence that design can play a factor other than just weight. In my perception the H&K USP was far easier to shoot all morning than the Glock 22 (i.e., 200 rounds in one session). As far as accuracy, I had an odd kismet with the Glock 27 where it seemed I just could not miss. Just one of those weird situations where I was in tune with the pistol.

The bottom line is that there are so many factors left up to perception that other than firing from a Ransom Rest, the greatest test of accuracy for the .40 is going to be up to the individual shooter.

 

[Deanimator]

WITH BULLSEYE LOADS, I've found the 2nd Gen Glock 22 to be more than accurate enough for NRA Conventional Pistol at fifty feet.

It's with full power practice and self-defense loads that it loses its controllability.

Of course my .38 Special M1911 is even MORE controllable...

 

[wnycollector]

OP, I own your SP2022's older brother the 2340. It shoots as well as any of my other four West German made SIG pistols in 9mm and 45. As others have stated the recoil impulse of the .40 is unique, thus requiring somewhat more practice to become proficient. Also, I have found that my pistol shoots 165gr ammo more accurately than other weights.

 

[joem1945]

I shoot a CZ 75 in .40 cal. I did replace the grips with a set of Hogue that helped my accuracy. Large frame size but shoots as well as several of my .45's.

 

[topazguy]

My first 2 semi-autos were both in .40 s&w. The first is a Beretta Cougar 8040 full size and the second is an XD Sub Compact. Of course the Beretta is a little more stable in my hand but I don't think the recoil or muzzle jump on either one prevents accurate shooting - for me!! I think it's what you get used to and given that I am an old cow milker and have Fred Flintstone style hands maybe it's just that my grip is right for the platform. I have since bought a 9mm that I enjoy a lot.

 

[cougar1717]

this particular combination is HIGHLY dependent upon grip strength

Shoot a J-frame for a while. Then when your hands have healed, .40 will feel like nothing.

These are my two favorite nuggets of truth so far. Sometimes the "40 has snappy recoil" thread gets to me a little. Maybe it's because I wonder what kinds of handguns a person who holds that view has shot. I suppose, if all you know is 9/40/45, sure the 40S&W will have more recoil in similar poly-framed handguns than the 9mm. The problem is that most want to compare the "snappy," poly-framed 40 to a steel framed 1911, which I find an unfair power to weight comparison. On that thought, I don't think I have ever heard the recoil and accuracy opinion of someone who has shot both a G27 and a G30 back to back.

Additionally, most who hold the "snappy 40" opinion probably have never shot a J-Frame or a steel framed revolver with hunting loads in 357 mag or 44 mag, which are even more dependent on grip strength and trigger control. Any of those are much harder to shoot consistently compared to poly-framed 40S&W with 155's. IDK, sometimes I think the snappy 40 problem is just a blown out of proportion internet opinion. Maybe a person who can't shoot it well doesn't want to take the responsibility to improve their own shooting and learn to fire a higher recoiling firearm. I suppose it is easier to blame the firearm or the caliber in that regard. I guess at the end of it, what gets me is how minute this issue is compared to shooting a handgun with significantly more recoil.

 

[bluestarlizzard]

No, it's not. Different guns, different recoil.

Those who have issues?

As I said before,

fix your grip and stop whining.

 

[Kennydale]

At 65 I am at that age where I'd rather carry and shoot 9mm. However my .40S&W semi isn't going anywhere.

 

[Kennydale]

Jan 2015 my last outing with my Ruger SR40C (Slow Fire at 10 yards)

 

[tercel89]

I've used the .40S&W cartridge at work since 1995 and yes they are kinda snappy. But what helped me was this , and remember I use a Glock 22. I learned to reset the trigger instead of letting the trigger go all the way forward after a shot AND I let each shot be a suprise. Just keep aiming at the target and gently squeeze and let the gun suprise you. That way you dont flinch and anticipate the recoil and all that nasty stuff. After you do this for a while , you will learn fast and then POOF it is all second nature ! Good luck and God bless !

 

[JR47]

I shoot a Ruger SR40c regularly. It is no more unpleasant to shoot than a lot of 9mm hand-guns. It's also quite accurate. My neighbor chose a Shield in .40 S&W as his CCW weapon. He, similarly, has no issues shooting, and hitting, with it.

For the average person, all it takes is practice.

I would also suggest that the person talking about the evolution of the sport, and it's firearms, is truly the one who needs some help. Insulting people who don't adhere to a flawed dogma is, IIRC, against the forum rules.

 

[J_McLeod]

The first 40 I shot was a SW410 and it was so snappy I never even considered buying one until I got into handloading. Once I did, I figured I could load to get what I want. Now my XD40 is my favorite pistol. 180s with HS6 or Longshot did away with the snappy recoil problems, and it just shoots like a stout 9mm, or maybe a little more.