"...the .40S&W is just the ideal round ..."
Wow, ... there are several really BIG "
if"s packed into that statement, like:
* only if you accept the compromise theory of packing low-end 10mm stopping power into
9mm-sized guns ... Many prefer sticking with the real deal: a 10mm/45-size platform in which even the power of an upper level 10mm load actually generates less felt recoil than the .40 does fired from a 9mm-frame gun ...
* only if you're willing to accept mediocre accuracy from most .40 pistols out of the box (happily, the Sig 229 seems to be an exception), which in my experience varies anywhere from XL pie-plate "groups" at "combat range" to minute-of-barn-door as distance from the target increases...
* only if you have a very good reason, once you've decided to move up from the enfeebling 9mm, for
not going straight to either a 10mm AUTO or .45acp ... (
personally, I've yet to hear one, but that's me ...).