What happened to 40 caliber?

[Palladan44]

So at the risk of sounding ignorant here, isn't the new G22 Gen 5 a bit beefier meaning more purpose built for .40 S&W and does not work in almost all G17/G22 holsters now?

I'm fairly certain the G17 and G22 have had identical external dimensions all along.

 

[The_Quartermaster]

I'm fairly certain the G17 and G22 have had identical external dimensions all along.

But I've been reading that the Gen 5 has a thicker slide and people were getting a bit perplexed about holster compatibility.

I don't like buying new holsters either and the Gen 5 G22 has been somewhat on my radar, so this has my attention to be aware of.

 

[DR505]

So at the risk of sounding ignorant here, isn't the new G22 Gen 5 a bit beefier meaning more purpose built for .40 S&W and does not work in almost all G17/G22 holsters now?

You can see the dimensions in this photo...note that Gen 5 is 2mm wider and 1 mm taller, so different than earlier versions.

 

[Dirtybob]

40 S&W ammo was available when other calibers were not during the ammo crisis of 2020/2021. That's a pretty good reason to have a 40 caliber pistol on hand.

That's pretty much how I ended up with a .40
Purchased my first handgun in 2020 with the caliber decided by what ammo was available.

 

[Mike J]

So at the risk of sounding ignorant here, isn't the new G22 Gen 5 a bit beefier meaning more purpose built for .40 S&W and does not work in almost all G17/G22 holsters now?

I have heard/read this but I have not seen or handled one. I believe the 4th Gen Glocks were designed to do better with .40. It appears they have taken it a step further with Gen 5.

 

[WrongHanded]

So at the risk of sounding ignorant here, isn't the new G22 Gen 5 a bit beefier meaning more purpose built for .40 S&W and does not work in almost all G17/G22 holsters now?

Yes. It is. And all the Gen 4s are stronger than the Gen 2s. Funny how people worry that the Gen 4s aren't strong enough for the .40S&W and .357 Sig, but have no concerns whatsoever about the longevity of the G43 and G48, which are considerably thinner and lighter (so we can assume weaker) than any version of G17/19/26.

Then people claim "Well the G43 and G48 were designed for the 9mm!"......and the Gen 4 G22 was designed for the .40S&W. The reason the Gen 5 is wider, likely has a lot to do with the single locking block pin. Why Glock chose to go back to a single pin design, I do not know.

 

[The_Quartermaster]

Yes. It is. And all the Gen 4s are stronger than the Gen 2s. Funny how people worry that the Gen 4s aren't strong enough for the .40S&W and .357 Sig, but have no concerns whatsoever about the longevity of the G43 and G48, which are considerably thinner and lighter (so we can assume weaker) than any version of G17/19/26.

Then people claim "Well the G43 and G48 were designed for the 9mm!"......and the Gen 4 G22 was designed for the .40S&W. The reason the Gen 5 is wider, likely has a lot to do with the single locking block pin. Why Glock chose to go back to a single pin design, I do not know.

I have no dog in this fight.

 

[WrongHanded]

I have no dog in this fight.

I'm not suggesting you do.

 

[Anchorite]

I have heard/read this but I have not seen or handled one. I believe the 4th Gen Glocks were designed to do better with .40. It appears they have taken it a step further with Gen 5.

I have often wondered what each generation “does better” than the previous. I mean, why the generation changes? I have a 22.3.
I like my stuff simple. I really wish I could find a stick shift F-150, but alas, have to live with a 10-speed. Why? (face palm)

 

[The_Quartermaster]

I have often wondered what each generation “does better” than the previous. I mean, why the generation changes? I have a 22.3.
I like my stuff simple. I really wish I could find a stick shift F-150, but alas, have to live with a 10-speed. Why? (face palm)

Because evolution is a thing. Can you map how and why we started with the AR-10 that has lead us all the way to the M4? Why was the Gen 3 a thing and not staying with Gen 2 or even the Gen 1?

If a Gen 1 through Gen 4 were to land in my lap for free, they'd be useless to me and sold or traded for a Gen 5. Better ergonomics by making it ambidextrous with the slide lock being on both sides and no finger grooves. The texture or lack of with the 3 makes the groove less and better textured grip factor of the 5 a sure win because now I can shoot it better.

 

[Mike J]

I have often wondered what each generation “does better” than the previous. I mean, why the generation changes? I have a 22.3.
I like my stuff simple. I really wish I could find a stick shift F-150, but alas, have to live with a 10-speed. Why? (face palm)

Companies have to find some way to separate people from their money or they will go out of business. It wasn't a stick but I had a 2000 F-150 that came of the fleet lot I liked a lot. Vinyl seats, rubber floor boards, roll up windows. The truck had 390,000 miles on the original engine & transmission when I let go of it. The body was getting a little rough though. I hope the '16 model I am driving now does as well as I've already passed halfway there on the mileage.

 

[Jackiesman]

Likely depends on where you live/shoot.

I shoot at various BLM shooting spots in two states and while I always pick up plenty of 9mm brass, sometimes I pick up more 40S&W brass than anything else. And of course, there's always plenty of .223/5.56 brass and some days, I pick up more .223/5.56 brass than anything else. .38 Spl/.357Mag/.380Auto/45ACP brass make up the rest of my pick up brass.

Interesting thing is I notice most of these brass are factory new/once fired with plenty of factory boxes present at the shooting areas. Can't imagine people shooting that much when ammunition was around $1 per round.


40S&W is certainly not dead based on the spent brass I pick up.

I hardly ever pick up .357 Sig brass so to me, for areas I shoot at, .357 Sig is near dead. Heck, I even see 10mm brass from time to time.

The 40 is definitely very much alive. I carry a 40 daily, and four of my family too. We pick up all of our brass and anything else we find. My latest big haul brought home two Walmart bags of mixed brass - much of it was 40, 9 mm, and .556. As someone has said, people who don’t reload squally just leave it lay. And I toss the 357 sig brass cause I don’t know a single shooter for that caliber.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

If popularity is based on the brass I pick up at the range, 9mm is by far the champion. It used to be I picked up a fair amount of 40 S&W, now, it is onesies and twosies. I find more 380 Auto than 40 caliber.

So what is going on?

I miss the days when I picked up coffee cans worth of 38 Special. Its a blue moon when I find any of those.

The handgun world these days is all about microcarry CCW and slide-mounted red dot sights. That is according to the gun and ammunition manufacturers. They need new markets. The old market isn’t panic buying. It’s not buying much of anything really. It’s like Harleys: the posers are buying new hotness; the real scooter bums already have everything they need - air, gas and a road to ride on. How are you going to sell the latest Glide to a guy riding a shovel head?

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I have often wondered what each generation “does better” than the previous.

Sell guns.

 

[WrongHanded]

Sell guns.

Yup. Glock sold me a few Gen 3s....which I sold on. Then they sold me a bunch of gen 4s, which I've kept.

The Gen 4 actually is an improvement on the Gen 3. Especially for a lefty. Gen 5? Hmmm.. I kinda like the finger grooves now, and I kinda don't like the front cocking serrations.

 

[LiveLife]

The handgun world these days is all about microcarry CCW

I would say Glock 27 fits that role very well.

Here's my Glock 27 with 40-9 conversion barrel and mag base extension

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I would say Glock 27 fits that role very well.

Here's my Glock 27 with 40-9 conversion barrel and mag base extension

That’s nice but, realistically, how many people buying first guns have the knowledge or funds to build a custom Glock? Maybe after their third or fourth year of advanced training and shooting but that's really the market S&W and Ruger are after, the people who bought a CYP and are now looking for something with better quality, not the aftermarket Glock Goodie’s guys. Not everyone has your access to money. Take that into account when analyzing any trend. Markets are not driven by a small number of very wealthy buyers, they’re driven by large numbers of small first-time-purchase buyers.

 

[LiveLife]

realistically, how many people buying first guns have the knowledge or funds to build a custom Glock?

Actually, quite many millennials/Zoomers in their 20s and 30s (Who never shot before or owned any guns) I have trained defensive point shooting in recent years were quite well informed and well funded and bought custom Glocks/higher end pistols as their first purchase or modified/customized after purchase.

Keep in mind that while many Boomers/GenX grew up with John Wayne/Clint Eastwood as their hero with their revolvers, Millennials/Zoomers grew up with Neo/John Wick as their hero and his "guns". Can you say 9mm Major?

Yup, my Glock 22 will do fine with 9mm Major and 40-9mm conversion barrel with thicker chamber/barrel wall.

 

[Hartkopf]

The Gen 4 actually is an improvement on the Gen 3. Especially for a lefty. Gen 5? Hmmm.. I kinda like the finger grooves now, and I kinda don't like the front cocking serrations.

Gen 4 for me all the way. I’ve had two gen5s, sold one and will be getting rid of the other soon.

 

[WrongHanded]

Gen 4 for me all the way. I’ve had two gen5s, sold one and will be getting rid of the other soon.

Hopefully, by the time I need another .357/.40 Glock, they'll have a Gen 6 available that will keep the extra beef of the 5, with all the benefits of the 4. One can dream, right?

 

[someguy2800]

How are you going to sell the latest Glide to a guy riding a shovel head?

First you find him a pair of white pants that he really really likes. When he gets tired of getting oil on his pant legs he'll buy a new bike.

 

[UncleEd]

First sentence of Post #2 had the answer
to the .40.

Amazing this thread has lasted so long.

 

[The_Quartermaster]

First sentence of Post #2 had the answer
to the .40.

Amazing this thread has lasted so long.

Weird flex, very weird flex. Are you actively feeling threatened by .40?

 

[Mike J]

That’s nice but, realistically, how many people buying first guns have the knowledge or funds to build a custom Glock? Maybe after their third or fourth year of advanced training and shooting but that's really the market S&W and Ruger are after, the people who bought a CYP and are now looking for something with better quality, not the aftermarket Glock Goodie’s guys. Not everyone has your access to money. Take that into account when analyzing any trend. Markets are not driven by a small number of very wealthy buyers, they’re driven by large numbers of small first-time-purchase buyers.

I may be a bit off topic because I am referencing a 9mm gun. I don't know that they are first time buyers but I am a member of a PSA Dagger F-book group. The reason those guys love the daggers is they are inexpensive & relatively easy to modify. The only thing that is usually complained about is that PSA uses roll pins instead of using solid pins like Glock does. These people are adding RMR's, threaded barrels, compensators, suppressors, etc. They love that platform because it is inexpensive but most parts will interchange with Glock parts. If one watches & pays attention PSA is always offering sales. Recently they had a deal on an optic cut slide with an inexpensive optic included. I didn't buy one but it would be an inexpensive way to see if I would want to go that route. I could always put my original slide back on if I don't like it.

 

[Mike J]

First sentence of Post #2 had the answer
to the .40.

Amazing this thread has lasted so long.

I have enjoyed this thread. Probably partly because I like .40. Probably partly because I like seeing the other side of something discussed. The majority opinion is not always correct. I just don't have anywhere near the patience to debate it in the manner Wronghanded did.