Question regarding .40S&W

dwsmithjr · #1 08-14-2014, 07:24 PM

I would not even bring this up on other forums because there would be a resulting firestorm with a great deal of heat and very little light. However, here I feel it's safe and I'll get a reasonable and measure response.

At some point in the ten years I've been shooting and trawling gun forums, I picked up a less than positive view of .40S&W. It seemed like it got a lot of bad press. It was sort of a bastard cartridge, a solution looking for a problem and so on.

However, recently I was reading how it came about and I thought all the bad press was rather misplaced. So, let me hear, what you do think of .40S&W? I know it's not 10mm, but......

skosh69 · #2 08-14-2014, 07:45 PM

The only thing I can say about 40 S&W is that I've gotten really good at separating it from the 9mm brass

I then save it to sell for scrap or give it to my neighbor, he reloads for it.

Sorry, I got nothing useful for you sir.

NAMVET72 · #3 08-14-2014, 07:54 PM

I had a 40 S&W liked it a lot, had to sale when I got divorced,

milkmanjoe · #4 08-14-2014, 07:58 PM

I know Marines up near my place in SC love the Glock 22's in .40, but I got nothing, never fired a round.

sdmc530 · #5 08-14-2014, 08:19 PM

I will chime in. I had a .40, was not a huge fan but it shot well and I felt it was a good range gun. I just prefer the mentioned 10MM and the .45. NOW...its not a bad round, heck our agency carries Sigs in .40 and are pretty good guns for sigs purchased on a bid. I would not hesitate to own one but probably would never carry it for protection but fun to shoot.

I am not saying this to be a smart butt, my wife liked it a lot because it was easy to shoot and handle for her...was kind of a women's caliber in her mind.

DrHenley · #6 08-14-2014, 08:52 PM

Plus: Makes a bigger hole than a 9mm

Minus: Makes a smaller hole than a 45

I never really wanted to make a medium sized hole, so I guess I just never had any use for them. I don't particularly have anything against them. I've looked at them from time to time, but I never really heard one calling my name.

Riverpigusmc · #7 08-14-2014, 10:23 PM

Never worry about posting a question here. You may get teased for owning tupperware or some such, but we don't flame the brethren. Ever

edgehill · #8 08-14-2014, 10:30 PM

My Px4 that I carry as my EDC is 40 S&W. I find that I can get back on target better than my 9mm because the recoil pushes rather than snaps.

Gatorade · #9 08-14-2014, 10:56 PM

I love my M&P 40C it is my EDC. I like having the weight of 180gr and the velosity of 1010 fps. Higher capacity than .45 and harder hitting than 9mm.

It is a lot snappier than my .45 so I am not sure where the talk about it being weak came from. Yes it is weaker than the 10mm but that is a hot round. A quick comparison betweent he three is below

.40 S&W 180gr 1010fps
10mm. 180gr 1030fps
.45 Auto 230gr. 900fps.

Above taken from The Federal Ammo page.

So for me I felt like the lighter but much faster bullet was better, then throw in the extra capacity and it looked much better. Add to that 2 more rounds in the Compact M&P line and it was an easy choice.

The only other caliber I would like to get to know better is the .357Sig. 125gr at 1350fps.

Sheepdog · #10 08-14-2014, 11:16 PM

There is nothing wrong with a 40. A major step up from a 9mm. You will find that most of the negative comments come from people that are either stuck in their beliefs that they have the only legitimate choice or they have no experience with the caliber and are trying to sound intelligent. A similar thing happens when people promote the 9mm as being able to put more shots on target faster than other calibers and have never ben timed with any of the calibers.