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 ...