How many here have shifted to 40sw?

[bronco_buster]

Bought a couple 40s during the ammo drought because 45 was unobtanium. The 40 ammo was abundant, priced better than 9mm, and always in stock. I like 40 more than 9mm, but I'm a huge 45 fan, and shoot that more than 90% of the time.

 

[Hangingrock]

If we start by using the Pennsylvania State Police as an example in 1969 the issued sidearm was the Colt Official Police 38-Spl, followed by Ruger Security Six 357-Mag, then the Berretta 96D 40-S&W, and now currently the Glock G37 45-GAP. One would have to ask those involved in the adoption process of the 45-GAP/Glock G37 why the change from the 40-S&W. Probably Glock made an economic offer that PSP couldn’t refuse.

What seems to be gathering substance at the moment is that the 9mm-Luger is technologically advanced to the point of being on par with the 40-S&W which could if true spell the demise in law enforcement usage. The citizen market to an extent copies what law enforcement is using in regards to sidearm type and cartridge type.

On the other hand you have shooting venues which have a power factor rating scale of major to minor. I question the correlation as opposed to actual recorded law enforcement shooting results plus the FBI protocols in regards to penetration and expansion. Do real world results give a definitive answer in regards to effectiveness? I subscribe to Shooting Illustrated a NRA publication. There are often articles concerning testing of penetration and expansion per various self-defense ammunition products from different manufactures.

If those test protocols’ are correct and actual usage collaborates actual shooting incidents then it would seem the differentiation between the 9mm-Luger, 40-S&W, and 45-ACP in application is somewhat equivalent.

 

[SDGlock23]

I'll always have the .40 around, it can do just about anything you could ask of a handgun. It's a great cartridge!

 

[TestPilot]

The .40 is the perfect mix in effective AND ammo capacity. Speed of the bullet, bullet weight, capacity, cost, and availability all influence my decision, but EFFECTIVENESS is the most important.

Here's a picture of my shooting an old steel water heater at 50 feet with 9mm and .40 caliber. The dents are the 9mm. The holes are the .40. Using similar factory ammo.

I've been through many shooting schools. When I was at Gryphon Group, we were issued the .40 because the 9 would not reliably penetrate windshields because it was too light, and the .45 was too slow to penetrate windshields consistently. Issues with the 9 and .45 penetrating AND remaining on target. The .40 was the ideal speed and weight to consistently punch through AND remain on target. That's me in the drivers seat in the picture. Training operation was shooting at targets through windshields and through side and rear windows.

While not scientific, it does make me want to carry the .40 over the 9mm. It demonstrates the deeper penetration through hard targets - breaking bones like ribs and femurs, penetrating car doors, wood desks, windshields, or wood studs that you may need to shoot through in self defense. Since most of us spend a lot of time driving, being able to shoot in self defense through a windshield or car doors etc. is important to me.

Once again, it is proven: You don't get somthing for nothing.

No matter how much jellos "9mm, 40S&W, 45ACP, they're all the same" crowd love to show, jello is never a total reflection of real life complexities.

They are not equal.

 

[Fiv3r]

The more time I spend around the .40, the more I like it. I know it will always be seen as a bit of a compromise and snappy cartridge. Hell, I used to think the same thing. 9mm for cheap shooting and light carry, .45 for HD and woods defense.

The more I mess around with the .40S&W, the more I rather like it. I get good penetration with ball ammo for woods defense, and there are enough good choices in SD ammo to keep it stoked for walking down the street. Don't get me wrong. I'm not going to stop carrying my little Glock 26 day to day nor will I be selling my .45s. I just find that after buying one out of near desperation, I keep coming back to the caliber even though I no longer have to.

 

[leadcounsel]

What seems to be gathering substance at the moment is that the 9mm-Luger is technologically advanced to the point of being on par with the 40-S&W

If you think about it, this statement makes no sense. Assuming that the 9x19 could be loaded "up" to being like the .40.... then it stands to reason that the .40 could be loaded "up" correspondingly to be that much better.

Stated otherwise, if the baseline of a 9mm is "D" and .40 is "E" and you bump 9mm up to "E" then you could also bump the .40 up to the next power, "F."

And you're back to a big difference in power.

 

[Hangingrock]

If you think about it, this statement makes no sense. Assuming that the 9x19 could be loaded "up" to being like the .40.... then it stands to reason that the .40 could be loaded "up" correspondingly to be that much better.

I'm not a fan boy of a particular cartridge. That said I'm only reporting what I've read in firearms journals and talking with law enforcement sources. If you are madly in love with the 40-S&W so be it that's your choice.

 

[BlindJustice]

I haven't shifted to .40 S&W I shoot a
CZ 75B 14+1 9x19
1911 8+1 .45 ACP
Also S&W 625 .45 ACP/.45 Auto Rim for heavy loads

Some of the .40 S&W chambered platforms do attract, but
so far not. I would like to pick up a S&W 610 10m AUto/.40 S&W
w/Full Moon clips just cuz.

The S&W M&P40C 10+1 3.5" bbl. oes appeal as
an EDC but reality is I'm shoppingfor a Commander sized
1911 in .45 ACP for another carry option and
already have the holsters and spare magazines.

My shooting buddy did get a Glock 20 / 20mm AUto
and he's working up some handloads in 180-200 gr. XTPs
then I mention my .45 ACP 200 gr. lSWC @ 1,000 FPS

Sorry just bored no WSU Football game til next thrusday
what's with a game onHlloween?>

R-

 

[MCgunner]

If I buy a .40, it'll be that Taurus 405 revolver in .40. I like the idea of a .40 snub, sorta, not that much, but sorta. My 9s and my .45 ain't broke, won't replace 'em. I'd wanted a .40 when I was in my old gun club, lots of brass laying around at the range for the taking since local LEOs used the range. BUT, I no longer belong to the gun club, have moved and have my own back yard range, now, so taking advantage of free brass is no longer an issue.

If I want firepower, I have total confidence that a well placed shot with a 9mm +P is as good as a .40 or .45. I like my .45 because the gun is so good, great DA/SA trigger, very accurate and shoots where i look. The .45 is what I usually carry when I belt carry. I do have a pocket 9 that don't get carried as much now as it has iin the past.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

That said I'm only reporting what I've read in firearms journals and talking with law enforcement sources.

With all due respect, neither of those are reliable sources of firearms knowledge IMO.

1. What do you mean by firearms journals? If you mean mainstream publications, they're all shills for the products they're pimping at the time. I've never read a bad review in a gun mag. Hell, I saw a G&A article singing the praises of the Remington 710. That ought to tell you everything you need to know about that.

2. Law enforcement officers or even members of the military aren't automatically gun people with vast knowledge of firearms. Most police officers and soldiers I know aren't. I'm not dissing on them, they deserve our respect 100% but just because one's job requires that they carry a gun doesn't make them a gun expert. Some are far from it.

 

[Hangingrock]

Arkansas Paul With all due respect, neither of those are reliable sources of firearms knowledge IMO.

Firearms journals that could be a valid criticism but I have correspondence from several authors of articles that they provided information to validate their articles. The law enforcement people I've talked with and corresponded with were knowledgeable and had accumulated data pertaining to the subject. I've always liked to communicate with people that have been there done that with all due respect.

 

[mgmorden]

I owned 7 9mm's before I bought a .40 (which I now own 2). I have to say that it did nothing but solidify my like of the 9mm. Less recoil, more rounds in the mag, less cost to practice.

Don't get me wrong I like owning a .40 just because I like variety, but to me it's not as practical.

 

[el Godfather]

Which would be better in distance

I travel a lot and some times in a very hostile neck of woods. I have always wondered if .40 would hold better energy and momentum or velocity at not so close distances than 9 or 45?

 

[wow6599]

I travel a lot and some times in a very hostile neck of woods. I have always wondered if .40 would hold better energy and momentum or velocity at not so close distances than 9 or 45?

Say......50 yards or so?

Where do you travel so much that has such hostile critters roaming freely? Brown bear? Cougars? Velociraptors?

 

[g_one]

I started at 9, moved to 45. Now I'm considering switching to 40. 45 got me used to low capacity, but also made me want something just a little smaller/faster. I don't consider one to be more effective than the other, but I will say this: to this day, the most fun I ever had at the range was with a Gen 4 G23. It felt like that gun and that cartridge were just made for each other.

 

[NEAL39]

I went from 9MM to 40S&W when my neighbor bought a .40 mold. (He has the world's largest collection of wheel weights and is very generous. NEAL39