Why is 40 considered an "in-between" round?

[Lonestargrizzly]

I see alot of people consider the 40 to be an in-between round when considering getting a 9, 40, or a 45.
I don't think that is the correct way to think about it really. I think that the 40 is a much different round than either the 9 or the 45, and it can't really be compared to either, except that they are in fact bullets and shiny.
What do you think?

[TKM]

I suppose you can pretend that medium doesn't come between large and small.

Good luck trying to explain that to the kid at Starbucks.

[Lonestargrizzly]

I suppose you can pretend that medium doesn't come between large and small.

Good luck trying to explain that to the kid at Starbucks.

I guess I'm trying to say that the 40 doesn't feel like it's in the middle when you shoot it.

[TKM]

Try a 10mm, it'll put the .40 right back where it belongs.

[JTROKS]

Try a 10mm, it'll put the .40 right back where it belongs.

Try a real 10mm that is and not some FBI load 10mm.

[Logicwalker]

You're right the 40 is a different animal than 9 or 45. I believe people just make the assumption that 9mm is small and 45 is huge, in their minds a 40 seems like a happy medium on that spectrum. Realistically, and not talking ballistic gelatin simulation all hand-gun rounds(mostly semi auto) are underpowered. If you examine ballistic wounds to the skull, and mostly cranial vault(since facial bones are easier to penetrate or separate) they have very similar entrance patterns. From a forensic stand point it is much easier to determine between rifle vs handgun projectile trauma than it is between handgun caliber.

The 9mm is very tame
The 45 is heavier but more of a push
The 40 is snappier than both.

User should base decision on which they can shoot better, what would be more important is how many shots you can keep center mass. There is no point in going up to 45 or 40 or anything else if you cant keep shots in center mass. If at the range you get a shot center mass and follow ups are fliers, in a high stress shooting situation you will do even worse.

More velocity is always better, go as high as you can accurately shoot.

[dadoody]

I guess I'm trying to say that the 40 doesn't feel like it's in the middle when you shoot it.

Because it isn't . 45acp is stubby, fat, and relatively slow. 9mm is slightly smaller and faster. Both rounds around around 100 years old. The 40 is powerful and modern....but I don't like the snap.

All I have are 45s.

At the end of the day, it's about what you enjoy shooting and what's easiest for you for quick shot placement. For many, it's 9mm

[jdben92883]

I was a 40-guy for a LONG time. Until I really focused on the quality of my follow-up shots. I don't put .40 in the middle of 9mm and .45. I consider it's recoil properties inferior to both.

[003]

The .40 is an OK round. The facts are it does no more in the real world than the 9 MM, but at a much higher cost in noise, recoil and dollars. The true believers can argue energy transfer, velocity and dollar value all day, but it does nothing that is not done equally well or better by both the 9 MM and the .45 auto.

[Creampuff]

Because you might be too young to remember how it came about. Back in the late 80's, particularly after the FBI/Miami shootout, there was a perception that the 9mm had failed. (Really it might have been shot placement and the poor expansion of older technology like the Winchester Silvertips)

The FBI went to the S&W 1076, but the 10mm was found to be too much recoil for them. And after that they went to the 10mm lite - or what we know as the 0.40. The 0.40 became an "in between" between the 9mm and the 10mm.

Wow, I remember those times, it seemed like everyone was switching over to the 0.40 and every gun magazine was covering that subject.

[Mayor McRifle]

I see alot of people consider the 40 to be an in-between round when considering getting a 9, 40, or a 45.

Because .45 > .40 > 9 mm. The .40 is in between the .45 and the 9 mm in size.

I guess I'm trying to say that the 40 doesn't feel like it's in the middle when you shoot it.

And yet it is.

[Win231]

If one is only considering bullet diameter and not energy, the 40 is between the 9mm & 45 ACP.
9mm - .355
40S&W - .400
45 ACP - .452

[duc71]

The 9mm is very tame
The 45 is heavier but more of a push
The 40 is snappier than both.

I agree .

[emtmark]

.40 is a 10mm short and I love it


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[scotchblade]

Kind of like .41 Magnum is between .357 and .44.