Finally found a reason to own a 40 S&W

[Elkins45]

I had resisted owning a 40 S&W up until just a few months ago. My reasons were that I felt it was a compromise between guns/cartridges I already owned. If mag capacity was important then my Glock 19 holds more rounds. If bullet diameter was important then my Sig P220 is bigger. If raw kinetic energy mattered then my S&W 1006, or any of my 357 or 44 revolvers has more per round, and my Glock 20 has both raw kinetic energy AND 15 round capacity. Perhaps most of all I just didn't want to deal with sorting the 40 brass from the 9, 10 and 45 because they all look the same until they are all jammed together in the tumbler.

But my mind was changed by economics. Police agencies all over the country shoot 40 by the boxcar load, and even during the height of the panic you could buy once fired brass from any number of online vendors for cheap. And it's all over the ground when the masses shoot at public ranges. Brass is so plentiful that I don't even worry about searching very hard for it when it hits the ground. I already had bullet molds for 10mm, although I did have to buy dies because my 10mm dies were so old they weren't 10/40 combo. Loading 40S&W gives me a way to shoot my Glock 20 more without putting wear on my precious Starline 10mm brass. A $100 Lone Wolf conversion barrel lets me blaze away with hardly a care if I lose a few cases.

So thank you, 40 S&W, I'm sorry I slighted you all these years.

 

[Captaingyro]

I have been shooting .40 for years in a duty weapon. I think you'll be pleased. For years I saw no reason to shoot or reload any other handgun caliber. If I hadn't caught the 1911 bug the .40 S&W would still be my only semi-auto load.

I'm totally convinced that .40 is the caliber John Browning would have picked if he'd had the advantages of today's stronger metals and improved smokeless powders.

 

[ritepath]

My last trip to the public range I picked up 40 brass the whole time. And I don't reload 40...

 

[horsemen61]

Yep I had tried to resist 40 for a long time then when someone gave me over 700 pieces of brass for free and my dad asked me to reload for his now I enjoy it it is one of my farvorites

 

[CDW4ME]

Being a compromise between 9mm and 45 is the reason to own it.
I've had a 40 since 1992.

 

[Nom de Forum]

It is the largest diameter caliber that fits in a double column magazine that really fits my hand well. I suspect this is true for most people not at the extremes of human hand size. When I shoot my G20 it is at the margin of comfortable grip size.

I also have no problem getting brass for free.

One advantage I hope no THR member discovers is the possible help to your defense in court that you used the same caliber that most police agencies use.

Dropped the 45ACP in 1991 for .40S&W and never have had a second thought.

 

[JDR]

I don't reload but I have a lot of .40 S&W factory ammo and my Gen4 G-22, Sig P226, and HK USP are all good range guns, the G-22 is one of my carry guns. My local Wallys keeps those 100 rd. WWB value packs in stock so I can usually get ammo if I need it but I don't.

 

[orionengnr]

Bought my first .40 in '91/92, and a number of others thereafter.
Eventually sold them all. Finally realized that I have no reason to own a .40.

Yes, brass is cheap/free. So what?

I have tons of .45acp and 9mm brass, probably more than I will ever wear out.

I also own a 10mm, a .41Mag and a .45LC. Finding/buying brass is a ball buster for all three, but I have far more desire to keep and load for/carry/shoot each of those chamberings than .40S&W.

YMMV.

 

[Nom de Forum]

Bought my first .40 in '91/92, and a number of others thereafter.
Eventually sold them all. Finally realized that I have no reason to own a .40.

Yes, brass is cheap/free. So what?

I have tons of .45acp and 9mm brass, probably more than I will ever wear out.

I also own a 10mm, a .41Mag and a .45LC. Finding/buying brass is a ball buster for all three, but I have far more desire to keep and load for/carry/shoot each of those chamberings than .40S&W.

YMMV.

Good for you! I am sure we are all very happy you "have no reason to own a .40" and have a lifetime supply of the .45ACP and 9mm brass you need. I am sure you have the deepest sympathy from all of us for your unfortunate testicular pain due to the 10mm, .41mag, and .45LC brass situation. We are all very happy your desire and reality coincide in perfect harmony for keeping, loading, carrying, and shooting.

 

[LiveLife]

Being a compromise between 9mm and 45 is the reason to own it.

No, it's not a compromise but an improvement.

40S&W 165 gr JHP muzzle energy exceed that of typical 9mm and 45ACP muzzle energy.

And in California with 10 round limit, going from G26 to G27 with same external dimensions and 10 round capacity with Pearce +1 mag base that allowed more comfortable 3 finger grip was a no brainer for me.

I was planning to buy a SR45 but it was discontinued for California among many other pistols in 2014. I am slowly recovering from this great tragedy but could see myself consoled by shooting the heck out of a new Glock 20 with a ton of 40 brass I have using 10mm-40S&W conversion barrel.

When life throws you lemons, make lemonade.

 

[LiveLife]

Hmmmm, did some Googling and found that I may not even need the conversion barrel as you can simply load 40S&W rounds at 10mm lengths.

But more than likely, I will be getting the 10-40 conversion barrel.

 

[Elkins45]

Hmmmm, did some Googling and found that I may not even need the conversion barrel as you can simply load 40S&W rounds at 10mm lengths.

But more than likely, I will be getting the 10-40 conversion barrel.

I have been experimenting with this as well using a cast SWC with a sharp shoulder for the round to headspace on. Results have been encouraging, but I haven't done much but test relatively light loads for function. There's aways the worry that one of these "10 in 40" loads might find its way into chamber of someone's 40 gun, but I would be very surprised if their chamber is sloppy enough for one to fit. And that would mean someone was stealing my ammo.

 

[SleazyRider]

I have quite a substantial stash of .40 ammo that I purchased for a song last year. Simpy put, the seller made me an offer that I couldn't refuse. Problem is … I don't own a .40 pistol. (Yes, I'm open to suggestions, but that is for another thread.) But you're right: the .40 is one of the very few calibers available at my local Walmart.

Now to get the gun!

 

[Nom de Forum]

I have quite a substantial stash of .40 ammo that I purchased for a song last year. Simpy put, the seller made me an offer that I couldn't refuse. Problem is … I don't own a .40 pistol. (Yes, I'm open to suggestions, but that is for another thread.) But you're right: the .40 is one of the very few calibers available at my local Walmart.

Now to get the gun!

I am selfishly suggesting you purchase the new SIG P320. Please get the "safety tab trigger" system and all three grip sizes. Please shoot 1000 rounds through it and then tell everyone on THR what you think. Thank you in advance.

Something that has not been mentioned yet is use of low performance bullets: FMJ and no/low expansion, and low penetration bullets. Since you may not always be able to get your favorite super slug, it is reassuring to know you can make bigger holes than a 9 and more holes than a .45 in a similar size platform.

 

[bannockburn]

I have been thinking about getting a .40 ever since I mistakenly bought a 100 round box of ammo for my stepson, only to find out his S&W M&P was a 9mm. I have had several .40s over the years but for one reason or another never kept them for very long.

I also noticed during the last ammo shortage .40 ammo could still be found on the gun shop shelves, while .380, 9mm., and .45ACP was nowhere to be found.

 

[Dframe]

I already own a couple of 40s. Can't think of any reason to buy a 40 S&W. But then who buys stuff ONLY when there's a "reason"?

 

[HammsBeer]

The only reason I would get a .40 right now is the stacks of ammo for it everywhere. Beyond that, I find the .40 unpleasant to shoot. To each there own.

 

[wally]

I bought into the .40S&W for sub-compacts because IMHO when the barrel length gets below 4" .45ACP loses enough velocity that I'm concerned there would not be adequate penetration.

The .40S&W 180gr having the same sectional density as the 230gr .45 and about 100-150 fps more velocity in the equivalent barrel length seemed the best solution to the potential penetration issue. Didn't hurt that the .40S&W sub-compacts were smaller and lighter too.

I got full sized .40S&W pistols later for the same reason others have mentioned -- tremendous amounts of brass free for the picking from local PD shooting at our club. Times have gotten tougher, not so much left behind these days.

But .40S&W has had about the best ammo availability during the current ammo craziness with only shotgun ammo being easier to find.

 

[wow6599]

Kind of the same reason I bought 40 S&W and 357 Sig barrels for my G20. I don't really feel the need to own a 40, but if I needed to have a firearm to launch it from I can.

 

[witchhunter]

BDS, you know you can buy one used and still register it in California, right?

 

[CNobbe]

I sort of refused to buy a .40 S&W as 9mm was easy to find until the panic, reloaded 9mm and really didn't want to change calibers.

I ended up buying a Hi Power at a gun show when no 9mm could be found anywhere. Think I put a box of JHP through it and waited and waited for 9mm supply to emerge, but didn't have the patience, so I ended up throwing that Hi Power on Gunbroker and selling it off.

Went looking for used guns at a local shop and found an HK USP in .40.. really intrigued me and the gun was just over $400 with tax and transfer...

Here was my first target with it:



The USP in .40 felt like I was shooting a 9mm. I ended up buying a used 2nd gen Glock 23 and a 23 Gen 4....neither was as soft shooting or accurate in my paws as the USP, so I ended up selling off the Glocks.

Wife eventually decided she wanted something to carry so I sold off the USP, really wish I still had it although it was huge. It was made in 1994 I believe, had a ton of rounds through it and was reliable as the tide.

Just bought a used H&K USP Compact in w/ their LEM trigger and cannot wait to try that. Of course, it's a .40

 

[saturno_v]

No, it's not a compromise but an improvement.

+1

I don't know for how long we have to keep repeating this nonsense...the 40 S&W is not a compromise between a 9 and a 45

It exceeds the energy level of a 45 ACP and it does penetrates barriers better.

You may not like it for a lot of reasons but a 40, again, is not a compromise in terms of power or capabilities.....

 

[stressed]

I'd rather have a .357 SIG in a small package then the .40. Reason I figure is I already have a .40 bullet that's more powerful in 10mm. JMO

 

[Quentin]

A few years ago I bought a G22 LE trade-in because I'd been wanting to buy a 40 S&W pistol and also a Glock. So this was two birds with one stone and at a great price. Well, I was impressed with the gun and the ammo so bought a new G23 then a used G27. I now fire more 40S&W than any other center fire round, especially since it's been easy to find when other calibers have been like hen's teeth.

Before, I mainly shot 45 ACP and 9mm but they've been pretty quiet around here for a while. I just don't see much down side to the 40, even recoil is manageable. And I don't think I've lost anything stepping down from 45 ACP defensive rounds. It's really the best of both worlds, not a compromise at all.

 

[LiveLife]

BDS, you know you can buy one used and still register it in California, right?

I had a SR45 in my hands at the LGS but I was buying two other guns at that time and by the time I got back, it was sold.

At this point, I have three 45 pistols I am very happy with (Sig 1911, M&P45, PT145) and 10mm Glock 20 has more immediate application as a woods/hunting sidearm than the SR45.

I will be keeping an eye open for SR45 as I like to use one for range gun to do load development as it produced some small shot groups on ransom rest tests.