40 S&W Love

[Hondo 60]

I'm wondering why there's so little love of 40 S&W here?
Off hand, I can't remember the last time I saw a 40 post.

My Christmas money this year went to another new handgun.
I know many of you are psychic, and can guess what caliber.

Its a Walther PPX - an UGLY gun, but it's a caliber I didn't have & it was in my price range.
CDNN Sports had 'em on sale for $269.

Probably gonna start with Universal & 180 gr Hornady XTPs and/or Berry's FP.
And I'll order a Lee mold TL401-175-SWC (looks more like a TC than a SWC)

I know, I know, - didn't happen without pix.
I'm no great photo-taker-guy. But I'll try to post tomorrow.

 

[glaizinman]

I'm wondering why there's so little love of 40 S&W here?
Off hand, I can't remember the last time I saw a 40 post.

My Christmas money this year went to another new handgun.
I know many of you are psychic, and can guess what caliber.

Its a Walther PPX - an UGLY gun, but it's a caliber I didn't have & it was in my price range.
CDNN Sports had 'em on sale for $269.

Probably gonna start with Universal & 180 gr Hornady XTPs and/or Berry's FP.
And I'll order a Lee mold TL401-175-SWC (looks more like a TC than a SWC)

I know, I know, - didn't happen without pix.
I'm no great photo-taker-guy. But I'll try to post tomorrow.

 

[glaizinman]

I really like the S&W 40 I have 2 hand guns in the 40 S&W M&P full size and a S&W VE. The VE had the trigger done it came out nice going to do the trigger on the M&P. I gave the VE to my son for graduation he always liked so on graduation night I said here you go

 

[greyling22]

It sure reloads better than the tapered 9mm. If it didn't use so much more lead than 9, and I was starting all over, I'd totally go 40 over 9. It has a more pleasant tone to me.

 

[kingmt]

Mostly because it was to new & I didn't trust it. I still see no advantage to it over a 9mm. However it's been refined since it has came out & I decided it's sound now.

The only thing that was a selling point to me was I got a deal on ammo the same week I decided to replace my carry gun. The ammo was cheap enough to pay for the gun. I did also buy a conversion barrel for it to make it a 9mm when I want tho.

My dies & mold are currently with USPS.

 

[Walkalong]

I fell out of love with it and don't have one any more. Actually, I tried to love it and failed. It still has avid fans though.

 

[the Black Spot]

I carry an xds sometimes. I am really a revolver guy, but wanted something in a common caliber bigger than a 9mm.
I actually like the xds surprisingly. I load a berry's 180 over 5 gr bullseye for practice and carry 180 GS's for SD

 

[badkarmamib]

I have an XD-S in .40. So does my wife. If I want to carry something bigger, I have an M&P full-size in .40. The only 9mm I have owned in 8 years was a Glock 17 that I didn't even keep for a year. I like the recoil impulse of a .40. The 9mm may be softer shooting, and have more magazine capacity, but it just doesn't "feel" right to me.

 

[Newtosavage]

Probably because they just work, and folks who have them (like me) don't feel the need to talk about them? Just a guess.

My .40 is nearly identical to the duty carry weapon I had for years. I enjoy shooting it but not any more than I enjoyed training with my duty weapon. So to me it's more of a tool than anything else.

 

[Kingcreek]

in 1994 I bought a Glock 23 in .40cal. I never saw the gun or the round as anything but utilitarian, certainly not sexy or special in any way. They work just fine, do what they are supposed to do. Kind of like a hammer.

 

[Rule3]

It was all the rage and all you read about was the 40 SW cause the FBI went with it

That love affair is now over so it's back to the 9mm.

Maybe if the FBI went with the 41 AE than a whole new option will open up!

A guy at the range had one the other other day, I just don't get it?

 

[kingmt]

Running the 9 barrel in my 40 I really can't tell any difference between it & the 9. They penetrate about the same with FMJ & recoil feels the same. My wrist brakes a little different for some reason. The biggest difference I've ran into is cost.

I may feel different once I try some defensive ammo.

 

[Kingcreek]

I probably put a thousand reloads through my G23, enough to convince me of its reliability, and then parked it in the bedside drawer were it remains fully loaded with factory SD rounds.

 

[rfwobbly]

Actually, I tried to love it and failed.

I won a pistol in 40 at a Christmas drawing. I loved the grip, it fits my hand really well. I went out and bought dies and a holster. It's a very nice carry gun. I like having it along and carry it a lot. But it's not a "fun" gun or a favorite.

 

[Dog Soldier]

Federal Law enforcement is not choosing the best cartridge and platform. These gun purchase are driven political pay offs and Washington lobbyist.
Sam Colt was a master at selling guns to the Fed. His art kept Colt in Washington for over a Century.

 

[1KPerDay]

I like reloading the cartridge (in fact the first round I ever reloaded was a .40), and I keep a G23 loaded with quality JHPs as a home defense pistol. I like shooting it out of my Taurus PT101, but not really out of the Glock. Ergos are terrible, it beats up my trigger finger and I get glock knuckle, although I shoot it well and have done well in IDPA competitions with it. I just don't really enjoy shooting it. I'm kinda hoping I can find a good deal on a USP 40 or maybe a SIG P226 in 40, or Beretta 96 (or P30 if we're dreaming). My first 2 pistol purchases were .40s as it was right in the thick of the .40 craze when I started getting into guns. I have far more 9mms though, and they really are pussycats

 

[JO JO]

I have a G23 Gen 4 fantastic weapon and 40 is easy to load for I to never understood the hate !!

 

[Rule3]

Run the 40 SW in a CZ or Sig and it's a whole different ballgame than in a Glock. I had the Glock and hated it (no not bashing Glocks) it was just no fun to shoot. Now my Sig or CZ is just fine. Heck my Glock 10mm is nicer than the 40 SW.(true it is a bigger frame)

 

[jr_watkins]

Great cartridge, I carry 40S&W daily. I have loaded 10's of thousands of 'em on my 'Dillon Square Deal B'. Quite a few options on bullet weights (135, 155, 165, 180) and lots of different brands and styles of bullets for reloading. Like everything that spikes in popularity, there is a trail off as the next thing gets all the talk. Doesn't detract from the effectiveness of the 40.

 

[Varminterror]

I like the 40 S&W, almost as much as I like the .357 Sig. Were it not for lacking availability and brass life, the .357sig and .40s&w might even take over top spot for my affection over .45acp. I do favor the 40 over the 9mm - to which I admit a frustrated disdain, although I more often have carried a 9.

My most recent 40 acquisition is a Sig P224; blocky and heavy, but incredibly well mannered despite his compact size (relatively compact). Others in my accumulation are Glock and Kahr, and my wife has an SA EMP. Lots of impact, but with more rounds than a 45acp.

My shameful lust for the .357sig revolves around its flattened trajectory and substantial killing power in game.

 

[cfullgraf]

The only gun I've ever sold was a 40 S&W.

But to be fair, it wasn't the cartridge but the gun was a piece of junk and orphaned by the domestic importer.

The cartridge shoots fine, it reloads fine, I just haven't found a gun that is fun to shoot 40 S&W with. The two 40 S&W pistols that I have tend to spray cases all over the place making policing them a chore. I'd rather shoot something that ejects cases in a pile near my feet.

 

[papaairbear]

I carry a.40, and there are other calibers I enjoy shooting more, but I still enjoy shooting it. My son and I compared his 9mm Glock and my G27 back to back one day and the additional recoil of the .40 is unmistakable. But he and I both still liked it.

 

[vaalpens]

The only gun I've ever sold was a 40 S&W.

But to be fair, it wasn't the cartridge but the gun was a piece of junk and orphaned by the domestic importer.

The cartridge shoots fine, it reloads fine, I just haven't found a gun that is fun to shoot 40 S&W with. The two 40 S&W pistols that I have tend to spray cases all over the place making policing them a chore. I'd rather shoot something that ejects cases in a pile near my feet.

The SIG P229 was designed for the 40S&W, so give it a try. The 40 is not going to eject the cases in a pile near your feet, but it should be in a pile about 3-6 feet from you.

I enjoy reloading and shooting the 40S&W. I think it is one of the easier (handling wise) cartridges to reload, and it was the first cartridge I reloaded. It is definitely more fun to shoot than the 9mm, but I have to admit my 357sig is a bit more fun to shoot.

 

[rsrocket1]

I put about 10,000 rounds a year through my M&P40 over the past 5 years and it's still going strong and looks nearly new (I only use it as a range gun). Recently I've been shooting it with a 9mm barrel when doing A/B testing between 9 and 40. I can down-load 40 to feel like 9, but of course you can't do it the other way. I don't think it's "either 40 or 9", I like both and also shoot a Shield 9 and Beretta 92FS along with the M&P40. They slightly but clearly feel different but are both calibers are fun to shoot.

 

[DC Plumber]

I bought a 40 SHIELD last spring. It's a decent sized handgun for summer carry and plinking. I can reload for it just as cheap as 9mm almost, so why not send 180g lead bullets downrange vs something lighter in a 9mm. My favorite caliber for handgun plinking is 45acp in my 1911 and my 25-2, but 40 is an easy to load and shoot alternative to 22 rim fire.