What's up with the .40?

[riderr]

It's a great round. Powerful and highly effective.

[Kowan]

I think the USPSA lowered the major power factor from 175 to 165 because of the .40.

[Click Boom]

So you have no problem getting hit by one then right? Yeah, that's what I thought.

Lol I was joking.

[AreWeFree]

Popularity has decreased for the time being, partly because 9mm is cheap and plentiful.

Wait until the next ammo shortage and you'll see .40 rise again as it was one of the few easy to find calibers.

[Milsurp Collector]

I was browsing gun magazines the other day and one of them (I don't remember which) has an article covering the topic of the decline of the 40S&W. The author said the main reason was law enforcement agencies were having more trouble having their officers qualify annually shooting 40S&W vs better results shooting 9mm.

[1CavScout]

Carried a .40 as a duty gun for years, and still carry a G27 as one of my CCW guns. My old duty gun now serves as a HD gun.

[RR.44]

I shoot .40s, 9s, and .45s, I like them all, .40 is a very powerful round, there is no doubt about that.

[Drok512]

well the FBI will probably switch to pellet guns or airsoft soon too.....

All these calibers that we are talking about are lethal... nuff said... I own guns in lots of different calibers... and the bottom line is that bigger is almost always more fun to shoot....

.40 is a great round I still think its very popular..

[Jet Setter]

I personally prefer .40 as well. Most of the CHP I know use it also.

[deckhandmike]

I just got the glock 20 10mm so .40s&w is my new cheaper and easier to find friend.

[Josh3239]

9mm fans tout developments in ammo effectiveness that supposedly means the .40 as answer to problems stopping with a 9 no longer exists.

Of course, those developments mean the .40 is that much more effective.

I recently said this to a friend and that was his response. It is certainly true that the improvements in loading components have improved common cartridges but clearly the 9mm has been the biggest benefactor of those improvements. The 45 Auto and 40 S&W have never needed help in factors that the 9mm has needed. For instance, reaching the FBI minimum penetration standard and HP expansion standards hasn't been as easy for the 9mm as it has with other cartridges. In the 21st century, the 9mm can easy meet those standards and can do it without a large increase in pressure or recoil. Despite both cartridges receiving those benefits, the performance gap hasn't widened or stayed the same, instead it is closer making many people feel (myself included) that there is no performance gap.

Hopefully, I didn't derail the topic. My first handgun was a Glock 23, the decision was mostly made because I felt it fit my hand well. It was a horrible experience and I haven't gone back to 40S&W since. No reason to, I can shoot 9mm much more effectively. I am a huge believer that if you shoot a 40 well, you'll shoot a 9mm better if not just as well and if you shoot 40 poorly, you'll shoot a 9mm better if not just as poorly.

[someoneeasy]

I like it. It's fun to shoot and I think i like it even more because of all the hate it receives. I don't understand all the hate either. The recoil isn't bad and it doesn't cost that much more either.

a 1911 chambered in 40s&w is definitely fun to shoot.

[Norcalkid]

I liked having a 40 when ammo was hard to get. It seemed a little easier to get and it gave me another option that may be on the shelf.

I like 9mm better because it’s cheaper. I went with 9mm with the shield thinking it’s a little more manageable in the small frame. As for stopping power and such, they both seem to punch a hole in a piece of paper if I can hit the thing.

If I had to pick one it would be 9mm. Cheaper ammo means more shooting.

[Stumpy6653]

40 s&w is like getting shot with a paintball. So they're no longer popular.

Really? A paintball? Wow.

[liamettocs]

So you have no problem getting hit by one then right? Yeah, that's what I thought.

I was unclear. I meant the paintball comment was typical of a 10mm fanboy.