Cult of the .40 cal S&W

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Flashpoint

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. Who carries the .40 S&W as they’re CCW and why? Also what make and model do you carry?


Here’s mine:
Steyr M40

I know the M40 part is redundant.

Because when I went looking for a CCW I could not find anything in the .45 that was in my price range. So I started looking at the .40 and the various platforms for the caliber. I liked what I found and the price range they where in. I had a P89, but it was really not what I wanted for carry. Everywhere I turned everyone seemed to be saying 9mm or bigger for personal protection so I went bigger and have been satisfied with the .40 cal, though I have never had any experience with the .45 ACP
 
Greeting's All-

I have carried the .40S&W only in expermential
stages; as my first love for a CCW caliber is the time-
tested .45ACP! Makes and models of .40 S&W
calibers that I have personally carried are limited to
SIG's (P229) and GLOCK's (23 and 27). Of the
three, the Glock 27 was the best performer; however
I have since returned to the .45 caliber SIG P220!:uhoh:

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
I like the .40

I have a variety of handguns in all calibers, and have slowly developed a preference for the .40 S&W for carry. I use 2 different ones, a Sig P229 and a Glock 23. My reasons for picking .40 are:

1. Very good stopping power and delivered energy to the target, roughly equivalent to the venerable .45 ACP, according to Marshall, the Border Patrol, and other knowledgeable parties.

2. There are lots of good handgun choices in .40, especially in compact guns with good magazine capacity. The Glock 27 with 10 rounds and the Glock 23 with 13 rounds are examples.

3. The practice ammo is reasonably priced, somewhere between the prices of 9mm and .45 ACP.

4. I find the .40 accuracy and recoil quite acceptable in the P229 and the G23, my two favorites.

I have previously carried (at various times) a .45, a 9mm, a .38 and a .380, but I think the .40 is the best all-around choice.
 
You know, maybe it's all the hype that the round has gotten, or maybe it's simply the fact that I'm more a revolver person than a semi-auto person, but the .40 has never really appealed to me.

The .357 Sig has greater appeal for me, for some reason.
 
I spent the day yesterday with my HK USP compact on my hip in an Old West belt slide rig. The weapon was loaded with 40 S&W Federal Hydroshoks in 135grain.

I carried the .40 yesterday because it was a day in which I worried that I might actually have to use a gun rather than just pack it. On those kinds of days, 10 rounds of .40 just feels better than 6 rounds of .380 (like my PPK) or 8 rounds of 9mm (like my P225). I was tempted to carry my Beretta Cougar 8045, but the polymer body of the HK weighs a little less.

Since you asked... those were the thoughts running through my head when I opened the safe.

As the day worked out, I'd have been okay with a rubber band and a paperwad.

But I didn't know that when it started...
 
I occasionally carry a H&K USP compact .40 (which by the way was my first gun!). I had heard some very good things about the .40S&W and tried a bunch out at the range. It handled really well and I felt completely comfortable with it. I have no doubts it could do it's job if necessary. The 10+1 capacity is also a nice comfort.

But this was all before I discovered the beauty of 1911s and .45s! :D Yet, when I need a lighter, smaller weapon, I'll go with my USP.
 
I've owned a few...Para P16, USPc 40, Glock 23, and a Beretta 96. Plus shot ALOT of rounds through them in an attempt to assimilate the round into the collection. No deal :( Sold or traded them all off & haven't missed them since.
 
Kind of with 10-ring here.

Had numerous .40's come and go---no big deal.

Only handgun calibers I consider "must haves" are: 9mm---
.357 mag---and .22LR-----everything else is just gravy.
 
I carry a .40 daily. Usually the "company" gun (G22), or a G27, or a P40(Kahr).

The reason is simple: free ammo.
 
My Winter gun, a USPc is in .40 S&W in either a Don Hume JIT, or a Bianci Slide.. Problem is a covering garment, difficult in the South. The Summer gun is a Paraordnance C6.45 LDA. I use a Galco IWB with it that allows shirt tucking.

Going from 10 to 6 rounds in the pistol is always a cause for thought for me. The 10 rounder is definitely prefered by me, but is difficult to conceal in the Summer.
 
I carried G23's for many years.

The only .40 I have left, though, is my Beretta 96D, which I use as my bed gun.
 
Well, I carry a steyr, but not in that anemic 40 cal round....:barf: :barf: :barf: :neener:

Ill stick with the uber powerful Steyr M9:D
 
I carry a 4013TSW , with either 165gr or 180gr Gold Dots. Operation has been flawless, and it's very accurate.

I'd carry a 9x19 or .45ACP and feel equally comfortable. I'm not caught up in the "stopping power" debate. With carefull selection of loading, I don't think the difference between the three amounts to much.
 
I found myself a Shorty Forty S&W Performance Cener Special a few mos. back. I love it and plan to carry it later when the weather permits. Gets pretty hot down here in Bama., so I am pretty much restricted to my NAA32.
 
i carry an H&K USP-C in .40S&W in an IWB. i picked the .40 for the same reason that a lot of people don't like it. its a compromise round. i don't like .45 because i like more velocity than most compacts can deliver in .45 and i like it better than 9mm because of the heavier bullets. in my opinion, its a great compromise between everything i look for in a cartridge. speed, weight, capacity, recoil, cost of ammo, choices of guns chambered for it etc....

Bobby
 
Flashpoint & all;

I carry an H&K USPc in .40 in a Milt Sparks Exec's companion IWB.
Have not been made to my knowledge. I'm also satisfied with the .40 & have been carrying it for years.

After all, how many people do you know that wouldn't mind getting hit with a ball peen hammer? Almost any firearm is a step up.

900F
 
I dont have my carry permit yet but as soon as i do it will be my SW99 in .40. I cant believe no one has mentioned the 99 series fo guns. Walther P99 would be an excelent choice I think, or a sw99 if you dont mind having that mark on the side :confused: .... But i like the ergonomics of the gun. it shoots very well with 0 malfunctions with now over 1000 rounds though it. It conceles fairly easily on my large frame. and with its few controls, and the design of the slide release is hard to snag on clothing. and its as narrow as a 1911 or such. Only bad thing is it has that long issue like the 1911's. grip a bit long and so is barrel. so it is definatly a loose shirt gun with some jeans....which is what i am wearing most days now.

now to get my permit
 
I have a Glock 27 & SIG 239-40, I have been shooting more 40 than 9mm or 357. It seems to be working for me, not that I will ever sell any guns I own in other calibers, that would just be Un-American!
 
I think Bobarino hit it on the head. Everyhting is a compromise one way or the other. For me the .40 does it best. Large holes with good velocity and very good accuracy out of my sig 229. Also slightly smaller bullet than .45 allows for grips that fit my hands, but still have high magazine capacity. Another advantage is better relative velocity out of short barrels than .45
I find 180gr loads give up too much velocity for that compromise to be valid. If you want subsonic, .45 is a better choice. I use 165gr Remington Golden Sabers for their higher velocity (155gr and 135gr are higher) and good penetration w/ very reliable expansion.
One thing- Many guns in .40 are polymer. While I have no problem w/ the polymer concept, I find the .40 too snappy for me to shoot acurately in those guns. I like my sig 229.HTH
 
Usual carry is a Glock23. I'm in Lower Alabama and have no problems carrying it year round in either a Don Humes NH715 or a Don Humes PCCH. Just got the nylon 715 about a 6 weeks ago. It rides low, inside the trousers, concealing well. The nylon protects the gun from sweat. It may well become a year round carry holster although the PCCH is hard to beat in cooler weather.
 
Is it okay to chime in if instead of CCW I carry it concealed for plainclothes & off duty?

I guess you could say I joined the "cult" a bit late ... Didn't feel the need to immediately rush into a new caliber "fad" at the time of its introduction.

I waited about 10 years before I decided the .40 S&W might merit consideration, as I wanted to see how it performed in the real world for a while. My 9mm, .38 +P, .357 Magnum, .44 SPL/Magnum and .45 ACP were doing fine for me.

Okay ... it's proven itself a decent addition to the personal defensive caliber field ... and it allows me to shoot a slightly heavier bullet than I can in my 9mm pistols, and apparently with slightly improved ballistic performance.

Well, I've got an issued SW99 .40 S&W that I carry for plainclothes, although I'd also carry it if I were to return to uniform duty, and have a duty holster for it on my gunbelt in the locker. I also have a personally owned SW99 .40 ... since I was so impressed with the T&E we did on the first SW99 pistols. I also own a 4013TSW, which is a great compact 9+1 .40 pistol. After many thousands of rounds (I'm glad someone else already mentioned the "free" ammunition consideration;)) I've decided it's a decent round for my use ...

I often find myself carrying my 9mm pistols, though, but that's merely because I'm issued one of those, too ... and I've fired "many, many" thousands of rounds (too embarrassing a number to admit to ... what if someone decided to bill me for them???) through the issued 9mm pistols over the last 13-15 years.

While I have pistols in 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP, I'm not as concerned about caliber as I am about reliability, accuracy, controllability, comfort-while-carrying and ergonomics of the pistol. While the larger caliber, heavier bullet loads do offer some advantage ... when all is said and done we're still talking about low-powered handgun cartridges, and it's more a shooter-related, accuracy & proper placement issue than a specific caliber thing ... to me. (I still favor 230gr JHP .45 ACP, though.:))

Since I've been awaiting the release of an Scandium alloyed, aluminum frame since I first heard S&W was developing and testing them, I'm interested in the 4040PD ... especially if they release a version with a stainless slide sometime. Such a pistol might replace my favorite 3913, CS9, CS45, 4513TSW & 4013TSW as a personal off duty pistol.

I favor either the 165gr or 180gr loads, by the way ... Winchester, Remington or Speer.

I don't have any problem with folks that like the lighter & faster 135/140/155gr loads, though ... it's just that the accumulating reports and ballistics testing to date seems to indicate the potential for a bit less penetration with these lighter bullets than with the slightly heavier 165/180gr loads, as well as increased perceived recoil & muzzle blast in the case of some manufacturer's ammunition. Unless you work for an agency that restricts the ammunition to something specific, it's pretty much up to the individual to research the growing data and make the determination for themselves ...
 
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