Why does .40 S&W suck?

Status
Not open for further replies.
I was working up some great hand loads for a .401 Herters back in the middle 80's and a guy asked me what I was doing?

I told him, he then mentioned he was trying to sell his 357 Herters and would I take it and some money for the .401 and the cases etc.? I did.

So the .401 went down the road.

I was reading this one time and so it is in this conversation now.

http://www.gunblast.com/Fryxell_Herters401.htm

Like the fellow mentions, an on going love affair. He calls the revolver ugly, Hmmm I don't think so and neither did Ruger :uhoh:

Not exactly the same, but close.

HQ
 
why did'nt they make the 40 so it could have been fired in 41 mags with moon clips?
 
Because it was designed after the 10mm as a lite recoiling round instead of the 10mm being a out growth of it like the 38spl/357 mag. It is shorter and weaker than the 10mm but it is also a good caliber.
 
SLZY, "why did'nt they make the 40 so it could have been fired in 41 mags with moon clips?"

The question is; why didn't they base the 10mm (Father of the .40 S&W in case some don't know) on the existing .41 Magnum bullet? I've often wondered this myself, SLZY. Too easy I guess.
 
All things being a compromize...

I personally feel that the .40 represents a good one. I feel it has more to do with the actual bullet that's being fired out of it than caliber. To a point, of course. I chose a Speer gold dot for carry in my .40, and don't give it a further thought. I would feel good carrying a 9mm gold dot also.
I'm a fan of the .45, myself, but I carry a .40.
The Glock 23 being smaller than the Glock 21.
I would've been satisfied with a Glock 19 also. But I felt the .40 was a good compromise.
This is for a carry gun, of course. For a home defense handgun, the size of the handgun is a non issue. Then I'd choose a .45
It's not an issue if a caliber sucks or not, it's more about bullet choice.
Then you have to break the choice of caliber/gun to whether it's a concealed carry handgun or a home defense handgun.
For home defense it's either my Glock 23 or my newly acquired backpacking, canoeing, fishing gun. A Ruger Alaskan .454, loaded with .45 Colt +P Corbon DPX rounds, when it's at home.
This is my first post, but I got sucked into this thread. :)
So I haven't said hello yet.
So.....hello everybody.
 
This is my first post, but I got sucked into this thread.
So I haven't said hello yet.
So.....hello everybody.
************
That must have been the sound I heard when I clicked on to this thread and read your post (sucking sound) LOL...
Hello ;>)
 
I have carried my trusty Colt 357 Lawman for way to many years so when my son in law (LE) got a .40 service pistol I gave it a try. Now I have an S&W M&P with over 600 rounds through it. It is less weight that the .357 or .45, easier to carry and the round is dead on in accuracy and a lot of fun to shoot.
 
Well maybe the people who say ".40 S&W sucks" have not shot it out of a SIG P229,P226 or a P239.

I really like the round and i think it does not get a fair shake when it comes to the "45 ACP" gang.

But hey what do i know I "like" the .40
__________________
Click to expand...
+1..i like it also
 
because the 45 acp is all you need, some say the 40 short &week is as good as the 45 acp, i dont belive it! :D csa
 
G95, how far back did you have to dig to find this thread???? Searched it I guess?

I don't have a .40, but nothing against a .40. It'll do anything a .45 will do and in a more compact gun. I like the 9x19, myself, though. None of 'em are a 10mm or my favorite, a .357 Magnum, though. Or, just go all the way and get a .454 Casull, that is, if you don't want a .50. Step up to revolvers if you want power in a handgun. :neener:
 
I wouldn't say it sucks, but like many compromises, it may not meet the needs of all the users as intended.

I would definitely rather carry a 40 S&W (I've owned a Glock 22 for 10+ years) than a 9mm, but in my mind, it's not as effective as a 45 acp. More snap than a 45 and not nearly as controllable.

Guns and cartridges are like flavors of ice cream. Everybody has their favorite.
 
NOTHIN wrong with a 40 u might be able to get something better but the one i have experience with is easy to shoot compared to a 45 and still has a lil more energy than a 9
 
Personally, I think the .40 S&W is a very effective round. So to say it "sucks" its somewhat premature. However, it is an odd, expensive and "snappy" round which I personally do not care for. Frankly, I prefer .45 ACP above all others. The .357 Magnum (full house) would be my second choice; not because of the lack of power, but the lack of control. The .357 Sig might be another choice, but still, I prefer the more "traditional" loads. Regardless, the .40 S&W hardly umm..."sucks."

Of course, I truly prefer a nice 12 ga. load, but sometimes the shotgun is not a practical solution to a given problem.
 
Last edited:
.40 Short and Wimpy does NOT suck...it's almost a .45,in a 9mm sized package. I personally choose 9mm,or .45, but I wouldn't turn my nose up at a .40. Especially a nice BHP.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Zaydok Allen
  • Locked
  • Poll
S&W 1911's
2
Replies
29
Views
4K
NinjaFeint
N
Tag
  • Locked
.40 S&W and the HK USP.
Replies
12
Views
822
Bobarino
B
L
  • Locked
S&W 4006 vs. CZ 40 p
Replies
9
Views
2K
tango3065
T
Walkalong
  • Locked
Tell Me Why I Need A .40 Caliber 1911
Replies
8
Views
1K
Bergeron
B
M
  • Locked
Glock 36 or alternative
Replies
16
Views
2K
chauncey
C
Back
Top