Is the .40S&W the best round out there for self defense?

[agtman]

"Not aware of any compact or sub-compact 10mm's ..."


Well, there's the Glock 29, which is the same size as the .45acp G-30. It's light-weight polymer makes it extremely portable, and it's got 10+1 capacity. It's also very accurate based on the posts from owners here and over on GT's 10Ring. You might want to do a Search. Assuming the Glock's grip profile on the 29/30 models works for you, it's the ideal "compact" powerhouse.

I know what you mean about the S&W 1006, especially in a mostly-hot-weather state. In a state with some hot periods but where mostly milder-to-cold weather can be expected, the larger all-steel guns become less of a chore to conceal. But they do get heavy if carried all day everyday, unless you've chosen carefully for the right belt & holster combo, or have a very well-fitted shoulder holster.

 

[Erik]

Another "all three and the 10 will serve you well, but the .45acp will serve you best when they don't expand" comment.

 

[Jeff]

Brad Cook,

Those are interesting ideas and I guess a fair amount of the energy would be spent in deforming the projectile.

However, there appears to be something you are missing. The existence of a deformed projectile or other marred or damaged impact object would be evidence of the target taking an extreme hit with said impact object or projectile.

If I get into a fight with an assailant wielding a 2x4 and he smacks me in the arm with it, regardless if I'm bare-armed or am wearing three shirts and two jackets I'm still going to absorb a tremendous amount of energy. If the force of the blow is great enough to break the 2x4 in half, then my arm has absorbed a tremendous amount of energy-- as long as my arm is motionless, and not part of the kinetic equation. This would be the scenario of a bad guy getting hit with a slug.

Are you trying to tell me that if a BG is wearing a bullet-proof vest, and is hit with a 230 grain ball .45 at a close, combat distance, he will not go down? I find that hard to believe.

Some may believe that foot lbs of energy is foot lbs of energy, so it doesn't matter if the projectile is a .45 ball or a .223 at a greater distance, as long as the energies are the same. Well, you already proved why this isn't the case-- why mere foot lbs alone can't decide the knockdown power. It's because a smaller, faster bullet is going to deform more, and more of that energy is going to be expended into that deformation, rather than a larger, slower-moving projectile.

Thus, your hammer is going to move the metal target more. But the metal target is suffering greater damage with the bullet plinking it.

 

[Rob96]

Some very good ranges to use up here FUD, and no dangerous gator's to worry about.

 

[Tom B]

G29. Compact Glock 10mm!

 

[Shmackey]

If the .40's good, the 10mm's better.

 

[Shooter973]

40 S&W ?

The 40 S&W is the answer to a question that didn't need to be asked. It is a comprimise cartridge, if you want Hi- caps you go with the 9mm if you want knock-down you go with 45acp. Its just not for me. I'll stick with the orignal answer, 45acp is best. I cant' think of one time I'd pick a 9mm or a 40 over a 45 for self defense.

 

[TheMariner]

People like to call the .40S&W a comprimise round, and indeed, it is... But since when has compirmising been a necessariy bad thing?

I've shot the .45ACP and the 9mm. I would carry .45 right now but I know, as a matter of simple fact, that I can't handle a .45 single-handedly in my preferred .45 cartridge, the 230gr FMJ. My hands just are right for trying to handle that, especially under the duress of combat.

So I settled with the .40S&W. I like having a full mag. I like knowing the I'm holding the biggest rounds I can physically handle with my dominant hand. And, after some practice, I know that at 7 yards, I can utterly and completely decimate any target without lookign at the sights or using a cheater (HUD, laser, focused flash light, etc). Though I still am working on perfecting my single handed techniques, with two hands, I'm just as good as with the .45 or the 9mm and I have ten big rounds to utilize to the utmost of my ability under the current ban... I don't care for high cap 9mm weapons since I feel having more bullets doesn't necessarily mean better... There is a point where I say enough. 20+1 is plenty. Any more and I might as well bring an SMG.

I say the .40S&W is what your looking for if you want the biggest bullet with the most rounds under the law without worrying about having a really heavily weapon or buying expensive mags for hi-cap 9mm's.

Shoot what you can shoot and forget the rest. Its bullcrap anyway.

 

[WonderNine]

Are you trying to tell me that if a BG is wearing a bullet-proof vest, and is hit with a 230 grain ball .45 at a close, combat distance, he will not go down? I find that hard to believe.

I was just kind of jokingly talking about "a badguy getting blown through the wall" with the energy from a 30/30 the other day when Al Thompson said, "If the recoil won't throw you through a wall, the bullet sure won't throw a target either."

Makes perfect sense to me.

 

[DigMe]

Are you trying to tell me that if a BG is wearing a bullet-proof vest, and is hit with a 230 grain ball .45 at a close, combat distance, he will not go down? I find that hard to believe.

That is indeed what I'm telling you. The Hollywood shootout is a great example of this although I'm sure the cops weren't shooting ball. Those guys were taking many, many hits at close range with little to no effect. You say some good things in your post but I still feel there is some misconception about knock down power. Honestly I don't pretend to be some know-it-all and I could definitely be wrong about some of this but when you're hit by that projectile that has all that force you should theoretically fly back through the air to some extent and we all know that doesn't happen. Somehow, some way much of that force gets dissipated. I can't answer how or why (Aside from the fact that much of it goes into deformation and heat - oh yeah I didn't really talk about heat but heat is created when a round hits and that also dissipates energy) but I've seen it happen and I've heard many stories about people shot with a variety of calibers of guns including .45 who did not fall down and continued running, standing etc...

brad cook

 

[Caseless]

I'll just echo the opinion many others have: the best round for self defense is the one you use to practice at the range every week.

 

[Dr.Rob]

So wait, you are saying .45 acp UNDERPENETRATES?

I'm lost, won't a clogged 230 gr hollowpoint at 850fps go through like 18+ inches of denim wrapped gelatin?That's enough to get through the boiler room of the Michelin man.

All clogged HPs start acting very much like FMJ, even if they are clogged with goose down, gortex, or tinsel.

Bigger is better, faster is better, heavier is better. Throw the biggest, fastest, heaviest rock you can throw accurately.

 

[popbang]

The amount of energy transferred to the target is much closer to the momentum value than the kinetic energy value.

 

[RepublicanMan]

Sounds like the wonderful burg of Fogelsville or Trexlertown to me.
Welcome to the neighborhood.