I own an XD40SC, Sig P226, and HK USP all in .40 and I love every one of them. I don't find any of them to be snappy or hard to shoot at all. I also own the 357SIG conversions for the USP and P226. This conversion is one of my favorite things about 40s, as I find the 357SIG round very enjoyable and extremely accurate.
Questions/Opinions on .40 cal
- Thread starter phantom45
- Start date
- Status
possum
Member
The Reasons I Love .40 S&W
1) It is what i was raised on, a sigma and sig p229 in .40cal, and when the people you admire do things a certain way or use a certain thing you tend to as well.
2) More knock down power than a 9mm and higher capcity than a .45 in the same frame size.
3)they normally fit my hand better, again back to frame size, most double stack .45's are too big for me.
4) with many .40 guns you can have 3 guns in one. .40 stock, barrel change and have .357 sig, and 9mm conversion barrel and you have all three, and with the xd line up this works out perfectly.
5)i have aquired some very nice reloads, from plinking to highly accurate loads.
6) it makes shopping for ammo easier one caliber, but this does work against me when i buy a store out of all thier .40 and they don't get any more in for a while.
7)i have tons of brass that i have shot over time and saved, no need to waste it, i will continue to reload and shoot it up.
8) and most importantly i am good with it and shoot it well.
NOTE:
there are pistols out there that i won't own in .40 ie. glocks, polymer framd kahrs etc, some of them can be brutal and just uncomfortable to shoot.
I like the .40S&W just a little can you tell by the pic?
yeah the bottom one is .357 the derringer but i have not got a pic with just my .40 pistols, i guess i should do that.
1) It is what i was raised on, a sigma and sig p229 in .40cal, and when the people you admire do things a certain way or use a certain thing you tend to as well.
2) More knock down power than a 9mm and higher capcity than a .45 in the same frame size.
3)they normally fit my hand better, again back to frame size, most double stack .45's are too big for me.
4) with many .40 guns you can have 3 guns in one. .40 stock, barrel change and have .357 sig, and 9mm conversion barrel and you have all three, and with the xd line up this works out perfectly.
5)i have aquired some very nice reloads, from plinking to highly accurate loads.
6) it makes shopping for ammo easier one caliber, but this does work against me when i buy a store out of all thier .40 and they don't get any more in for a while.
7)i have tons of brass that i have shot over time and saved, no need to waste it, i will continue to reload and shoot it up.
8) and most importantly i am good with it and shoot it well.
NOTE:
there are pistols out there that i won't own in .40 ie. glocks, polymer framd kahrs etc, some of them can be brutal and just uncomfortable to shoot.
I like the .40S&W just a little can you tell by the pic?
yeah the bottom one is .357 the derringer but i have not got a pic with just my .40 pistols, i guess i should do that.
I don't know. I always thought .40 felt like shooting +P+ all the time. I think massive recoil is fun, but as far as being accurate at the range with a lightweight .40, it's not happening. If I got a .40, it'd probably be a Hi Power.
I just have this feeling like .40 was a "best of both worlds" caliber when it started getting popular, but when compared to modern 9mm and 45 ammo, it seems more like a "worst of both worlds" caliber. You can get huge capacity in 9mm with modern +P JHP's being pretty close to .357 performance. And 45 just punches a whole lot bigger holes in things. 9mm and 45 both have all kinds of ammo choices if you want to get a lot of practice in with a lightweight gun, and they also both have really impressive high pressure loads, too. 9mm +P ammo is just under 500 ftlbs energy (I think Speer +P+ is over 500 ftlbs), .40 ammo is right around 500 ftlbs, and 45 +P is just under 600 ftlbs. The .40 just isn't special anymore. To the contrary, most .40s are based off 9mm designs, so it's about like forcing yourself to be limited to shooting nothing but hot 9mm.
It seems weird that 45 is more controllable than 40, but maybe that's just because 45s are just engineered to handle it the power and 40s are shoehorned into 9mm frames.
I just have this feeling like .40 was a "best of both worlds" caliber when it started getting popular, but when compared to modern 9mm and 45 ammo, it seems more like a "worst of both worlds" caliber. You can get huge capacity in 9mm with modern +P JHP's being pretty close to .357 performance. And 45 just punches a whole lot bigger holes in things. 9mm and 45 both have all kinds of ammo choices if you want to get a lot of practice in with a lightweight gun, and they also both have really impressive high pressure loads, too. 9mm +P ammo is just under 500 ftlbs energy (I think Speer +P+ is over 500 ftlbs), .40 ammo is right around 500 ftlbs, and 45 +P is just under 600 ftlbs. The .40 just isn't special anymore. To the contrary, most .40s are based off 9mm designs, so it's about like forcing yourself to be limited to shooting nothing but hot 9mm.
It seems weird that 45 is more controllable than 40, but maybe that's just because 45s are just engineered to handle it the power and 40s are shoehorned into 9mm frames.
03Shadowbob
Member
there are 2 types of gunfolks, IMO. Those who like to keep there weapons in one or two calibers and then people like me who like to have a little of all. I love my .40. It definitely took some getting used to since all I ever shot a lot of was 9 and 45 but now that I am proficient with the .40, it is my main carry firearm for all the reasons posted above.
As far as the .45 being more lethal, I am not so sure about that. I know, I know more energy, bigger hole, yadda yadda yadda.
As far as the .45 being more lethal, I am not so sure about that. I know, I know more energy, bigger hole, yadda yadda yadda.
Well i believe my and some of my friends are going to go shoot some today, hope to get a little more experience with that XD .40 and try out some of the grip recommendations to see if that helps out. I'll let you guys know.
glockman19
Member
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2007
- Messages
- 3,700
I don't like the .40. But I think it shoots best in an HK. I think certain guns were meant for certain rounds. Glock in 9mm but Sig & HK in .40. 1911 for .45.
for the .40 I think the HK USP and the SigArms P229 are the best.
for the .40 I think the HK USP and the SigArms P229 are the best.
Last edited:
I agree that shot placement in critical. I am not trying to dispute or ridicule any reply, but I have firsthand knowledge of individuals that have been shot with .40 rounds multiple times in the torso area and have lived, especially when shot in the lower torso and gut. With a .45, I doubt they would have been as fortunate. I guess what I am trying to say is that even good shot placement with a 9mm or even a .40 for that matter will never be able to compete with the good shot placement of a .45ACP.
As far as magazine capacity, it is impossible to fit as many .45ACP as .40SW or 9mm in the same model pistol. However, I am convinced that the lesser number of rounds of .45ACP will match or, most likely, exceed the effectiveness of the same model pistol holding more rounds in .40SW or 9mm.
For competition shooting, get whatever caliber pistol you can shoot most accurately and comfortably with. For combat, the .45ACP is a time-tested, effective, and proven workhorse.
possum
Member
i agree, some guns are better with different calibers than others.
Here is an update after shooting today. I tried out some of the gripping techniques recommended and that seemed to help me shoot the .40 XD significantly better. I don't think I was gripping high enough before but can't say for sure, my friend also just got new hogue rubber grips on his XD this morning so that might have been a factor also. But the overall experience was much better than my previous attempts. Still had a bit of a snap to it, but I was controlling it alot better and it wasn't nearly as annoying to me. I wouldn't completely rule out the .40 cal for a future weapon for me. I think overall I still prefer 9mm or .45, but i was pleased to have a positive experience with a .40 today. I like shooting just about anything haha. I appreciate all the advice it paid off.
possum
Member
phantom45,
did you try the letham/enos grip by chance the thumbs foward method? that is great for controlling muzzle flip.
did you try the letham/enos grip by chance the thumbs foward method? that is great for controlling muzzle flip.
And I am sure that you will find those that have been shot with the .45 multiple times and lived to tell about it. The .40 JHP produces about the same penetration and would size as the .45 JHP.
Of course I just sold my USP .40 to I can get a USP Tactical 45 that I can silence, but in my case I don't have to worry about gun size. My carry pistol OTOH is a .40 S&W.
Lonestar49
Member
Quote: Here is an update after shooting today. I tried out some of the gripping techniques recommended and that seemed to help me shoot the .40 XD significantly better. I don't think I was gripping high enough before but can't say for sure, my friend also just got new hogue rubber grips on his XD this morning so that might have been a factor also. But the overall experience was much better than my previous attempts. Still had a bit of a snap to it, but I was controlling it a lot better and it wasn't nearly as annoying to me. I wouldn't completely rule out the .40 cal for a future weapon for me. I think overall I still prefer 9mm or .45, but i was pleased to have a positive experience with a .40 today. I like shooting just about anything haha. I appreciate all the advice it paid off.
----------------------------
...
Agreed on on the higher grip, and use of Hogue, fingered, rubber grip sleeves, as that, and the extra, long backstrap that came with my Px4 40cal did the trick. Along with bullet testing, to the tune of 1350 rounds thus far, 400 of that with the 180gr FMJ bullets, and the rest with 165gr FMJ bullets, and without a doubt, for me, the 165gr bullets are what get me back on target fast and accurate, and just the opposite with the heavier round, 180gr.
It's all personal touch and feel, and accuracy IMO, about getting back on target asap and with the 165gr bullet, it all works with the right natural high grip using the slightly bigger backstrap with the Hogue grip.
You'll find it, and it will feel like the gun melted into your hand/s as if you were born with it.
LS
----------------------------
...
Agreed on on the higher grip, and use of Hogue, fingered, rubber grip sleeves, as that, and the extra, long backstrap that came with my Px4 40cal did the trick. Along with bullet testing, to the tune of 1350 rounds thus far, 400 of that with the 180gr FMJ bullets, and the rest with 165gr FMJ bullets, and without a doubt, for me, the 165gr bullets are what get me back on target fast and accurate, and just the opposite with the heavier round, 180gr.
It's all personal touch and feel, and accuracy IMO, about getting back on target asap and with the 165gr bullet, it all works with the right natural high grip using the slightly bigger backstrap with the Hogue grip.
You'll find it, and it will feel like the gun melted into your hand/s as if you were born with it.
LS
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
.40 S&W Caliber Weaponary
Just isn't for me~!
Just isn't for me~!
- Status
