.40 S&W "Too much recoil" embellished statement..

[riderr]

My department recently switched over from the 40cal to the 9mm. Our collective range scores have improved dramatically and I've not met a single person who desires to go back to the 40cal. The only gripe some have is that they preferred the Sig platform over the Glock, but that has nothing to do with the caliber. My scores with both were about the same, but the Glock just feels better to me in the hand, and perceived recoil is less.

Next switch is to .25ACP, then .22 I bet the score will jump up to the sky.

[BigPimping]

I have no issue with my G22. My only complaint is ammo is a bit more cash. However when the next panic arrives.......and it will, 40 cal will be much easier to acquire than 9mm. I love all my Glocks. They are all wonderful.

[timbo399]

Felt recoil is subjective to the user?
Who would have thought?

Yes felt recoil certainly varies from person to person, based on technique, etc I would have to say. For me, I had a Glock 17 only took a few times to the range many years back, not bashing Glock at all, just wasn't for me- natural POA didn't work for me and I couldn't hit a darn thing with it.

I felt basically no recoil at the time, it's a 9mm so recoil wasn't noticeable.

But I did find it interesting how when I sold the Glock 17 and bought a new Beretta 92 it felt like I was shooting a .22, less recoil than the Glock, to me.

I just naturally shot the Beretta much better so kept it.

But it's funny how internet myths get started. I don't own any .40's, not because have anything against them, just because I decided to consolidate all my handgun calibers to 9mm and .45 to keep simpler.

But always read on the internet how the .40 is a "snappier" round. I guess part of it is what gun you're shooting it out of. I've never even shot a .40 so I wouldn't know. Last thing I need is to add another caliber as I am well stocked on ammo for 9mm and .45.

But knowing me someday I'll probably grab a .40, hey, it's an excuse to buy something new and always looking for an excuse!

[Socalman]

Someone once described the difference between .40 & 45 like the difference in TNT & C4. That TNT goes BOOOM and the C4 goes "Krak." Both do the damage. I have never heard a C4 explosion so I don't know firsthand.

[Ronin2]

I guess 30+ years of firearms training isn't enough in my case.

Well, the real question is how many of those training blocks were with the handgun versus the rifle? Shooting one well does not necessarily equate with shooting the other well. Also, 30 years of service in the Army does NOT equate with 30 years of non stop weapons training unless you are in a designated MOS for that... either as a trainer yourself or as an operator.

And for gods sake, to maintain any credibility, please dont claim 30 years of LEO weapons training

[Tere_Hanges]

I have larger sized muscular hands and find the .40 to be way "hotter" than the 9mm. About the same felt recoil as a .45 for me.

I have a G23, my first handgun and go to SHTF gun. That being said I much prefer the 9mm for plinking. I dont notice any difference between the recoil on my 23 and the 22 or even my Tangoglio Stock 3 in .40. They all feel the same to me, hot and snappy.

I've had people say my 23 twerked their wrist and causes a little discomfort, i wouldnt call it painful. It will on occassion twerk mine too, but I have never had a malfunction. I do have slender wirery wrists. Im sure if you have short thick meathooks its probably not as bad.

[liamettocs]

Deleted.

[IVC]

Full size G22 vs. compact size G19?

To me it looks like just an observation that 40 is not some magic recoil beast. Much like 45 won't make a person fly few feet back.

[Mossy Man]

45 shoots softer than 40

[9kracing]

I think it's the gun more than the caliber.

My 226 tacops is WAY softer than my USP compact. And it's also softer than my Dad's 9mm shield. I personally don't find a very big difference in similarly sized guns.

[ZirconJohn]

.

Next switch is to .25ACP, then .22 I bet the score will jump up to the sky.

Yaaa that ^^^ and change your name to Caitlyn

[mjheinz]

Last week at the range, I shot 100 rnds through my G22. Im not an expert shooter but im not that bad either. This icluded a lot of double and tripple taps. All rnds were in the black at 10 yards.

Then I dropped in my new conversion barrel and went through 50 rnds of 124 grain. I had much tighter groups and it felt like I was shooting my SR22.

In my humble opinion, the 40 is way snappier than the 9 using the same pistol.

So, that being said, the G22 with the 40 barrel will still be my bedside pistol. I do not buy into the 9mm ballistics = 40 ballistics BS...again, just my humble opinion.

[mjheinz]

The targets I was using have a black 5" center mass circle.

[JTROKS]

Did you have full power factory 40 S&W rounds? I really don't understand how your mom their felt the 40 S&W is softer. The Gen 3 40 and 9mm Glock pistols share the same recoil spring system. Both caliber have similar working pressures, but the 40 S&W usually has a heavier bullet thus increasing recoil impulse. Unless your 40 loads have 135 grn bullets and the 9mm rounds were 147 grain.

[stormvet]

My department recently switched over from the 40cal to the 9mm. Our collective range scores have improved dramatically and I've not met a single person who desires to go back to the 40cal. The only gripe some have is that they preferred the Sig platform over the Glock, but that has nothing to do with the caliber. My scores with both were about the same, but the Glock just feels better to me in the hand, and perceived recoil is less.

Did your Dept. go from .40 Sigs to Glock 9mm. If so saying the improved scores are only because of the round is highly debatable.
My old Dept. SWAT teams went from H&K 9mm to Glock 35's and the scores went up also. We credited the platform not the ammo.
I agree a novice will most of the time benefit from 9mm over .40 or .45, but beyond that it's really a wash and more of a shooting games/competition benefit then anything else and of course the cheaper ammo, the real driving force in the civilian market.