Try .40 S&W or stick with .45 ACP

[tbeb]

I presently reload for my Springfield .45 using 230 gr. lead bullets. I've never reloaded 40 S&W. I did a search and found that lead bullets can be used for .40 S&W. I am going to buy a double action only pistol. I'm trying to decide if I should get .45 ACP or if I should try a 40 S&W.

I hate muzzle rise/flip and I know .40 S&W is kind of snappy. The only .40 I ever fired was a ported, long slide, Glock. That had very little muzzle rise/flip. My Springfield .45 has a bushing compensator, a heavy recoil spring, and a guide rode with a built-in "shock absorber". 230 gr. bullets feel like 185-200 gr. Is there a stock, double action only, .40 S&W pistol that gives minimum muzzle rise/flip? (I'm thinking Smith & Wesson 4046 since used ones can be found and it's all steel.)

 

[Walkalong]

I hate muzzle rise/flip...if I should get .45 ACP or if I should try a 40 S&W.

Go with the .45. The .40 is just as expensive to shoot or reload for, but is a bit snappy compared to the .45. If you want something much cheaper to shoot, go with a 9MM.

 

[tbeb]

Thanks, Walkalong. I have 9mm CZ 75DAO and it's a great pistol in my opinion.

 

[Walkalong]

Borrow someones .40 and try some 180 Gr loads. They are nowhere near as snappy as the hot 155 & 165 Gr loadings. I shoot reloads using Berrys 180 TrFP's at around 900 to 950 FPS in my XD SC. Relatively pleasent to shoot, even in a light gun. Downright tame in the Witness Elite Match I just traded off. Great shooting gun, I just couldn't get excited about it, and wanted more stuff..

 

[Roadkill]

Stick with the .45. I gave my son in law my only .40. It was an Italian made Beretta 96 for a wedding present and it was really was a nice gun. Flawless in operation with at least a couple of thousand of my hand loads. He is going into LE and will be using a .40, plus it was the only gun in .40 I had. I now have three .45s and half a dozen 9mms, the .40 is a solid hard hitting reliable round but I'm staying with the 9mms and .45s.

 

[MMCSRET]

I bought a 40 back in the early 90's when they first came out, good gun and cartridge but I decided I would stick with my 1911's and 45ACP. More comfortable to shoot and easier to load as the cases don't take such a beating from high pressure. As a side note; local police agencies are going away from 40 to 45.

 

[bp78]

If you already have a .45acp, stick with it.

I did this math a few months ago, even with the disparity in brass prices, it doesn't add up so long as you get a fair reuse rate. I went with another .45acp after doing the math, it'd take a long time to pay off the dies, toolhead, power measure etc..

Bullet prices were from Precision & Angus/Zero.
The costs were much closer than I expected hence I'm still looking at another .45 since I have the dies & mags for it.
http://handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp

Math @ brass 6x reuse.
$35/k .40sw | $55/k .45acp

.40sw
4.5 Titegroup
170RNF Moly 112.80/K
180JHP Zero 146.00/K

.45acp
4.1 Clays
200SWC Moly $127.30/K
185JHP Zero $149.70/K

 

[evan price]

I load both with lead cast bullet, 230RN for .45acp and 180 TC for .40sw, cost to load each is pretty much the exact same for me- $87/thousand, but the .40 is rougher on the brass and it feels snappier to me.

I like the big push of a .45 more than the bark of a .40- otherwise, this is entirely your decision. If you don't like the recoil of a .40 you probably won't be happy with one.

I reload 9mm for $66/thousand- it's the cheapest I reload- and like the feel of the gun. I can shoot 9mm all day long.

 

[strat81]

Stick with .45 ACP. Love/hate for the .40 aside, you only have to worry about 1 type of primer, 1 type of brass, 1 caliber of bullet, 1 set of dies, etc etc.

 

[Floppy_D]

I can tell less difference between 45 and 40 than I can between 9mm and 40 or 9mm and 45.

For simplicity, I'd stick to one or the other.

 

[jfh]

I'll join in the chorus, too, and say to stick with .45ACP.

I've reloaded .40 S&W a fair amount--but none recently. When I did it twelve or so years ago, it was not enjoyable--touchy, I thought, particularly when compared to .45ACP and 10mm.

So, if you want to consider an alternative cartridge to .45ACP, then I'd look at 10mm. There are a couple of real good pistols out there, including the EAA Elite Match, which at about $500.00, is a steal.

Jim H.