Why the .40SW Is (Not) Dead

[bountyhunter]

A reasonably intelligent article on the subject that this forum loves to debate: 9mm versus .40SW.

https://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/why-the-40-is-dead/

Interesting points made: the 9mm only really competes when it's the "souped to the max" 9mm compared to an average .40 load.

But as the article states, there is and probably always will be good reasons for the .40 to be around even though the 9mm will always be numerically more popular.

[laurelpark]

I don't know why people keep discounting the effectiveness of .40SW. About the only time I would prefer 9mm is in a free state where I can get more rounds into a magazine. If I'm limited to 10 rounds, I'd rather have each of those rounds come with some serious stopping power.

[ElvenSoul]

It is a good Carbine Round.

Works good out of the Hipoint Carbine.

[Red-Osier]

9mm vs finding 10mm would be a beter debate, even though I would choose 10mm every time for stoping power but .40 is more cost efective for what i do and need.

[afteractionreport]

I still prefer 9mm...

[The War Wagon]

Why the .40SW Is (Not) Dead

What idiot thought that it was?

[d4v0s]

People discount the 40 because the added recoil sucks and it costs more.

Average 40 round, who cares. Do you have Six different Mags all loaded with different ammo?

When you throw speer gold dots into a 9mm, 40, 45, and 357 sig the playing field looks mighty flat.

So let's recap, more cost, ammo is less available, it's not a 45, and it doesn't carry near as many rounds as a 9. 40 short and weak is really on the wrong end of the compromises I want to make.

Shoot what makes you happy, but please get over this lame game of pretending not to see the shortcomings in a round just because you like it. I am biased against 40 because I don't shoot it well. I also don't shoot 45 well, even though I love the history and nastalgia of the 1911.

Nobody I know hates on the 40 for its effectiveness, we all agree it's just as effective as a 9 or 45. The bullet itself is sound, the 10mm can harvest an elk with the right shot placement... like I said before, it's the simple fact that it's less capacity than the 9, and recoils more than 45. I should say it's recoil impulse is harsher than 45, which is more of a slow push. And the 9 is sharp too, but in the right gun and right grip it's easier to overcome.

That's the Crux of the issue, you don't need fpe to put people down, you bleed then out or sever spinal cords...you can't generate enough fpe in a pistol to concuss someone to death (rifles do). And with that knowledge and advancement in forensic science we have all been moving away from the heavy recoil.knowing full well we need to choose a full power 9mm load.

I also love my 1000 rounds for $145. What's 40 up to these day? 300 something?

[Merc1138]

What idiot thought that it was?

Someone who wanted to write a clickbait article.

[Deadon]

Love my .40s and I shoot em great. But Im a man with big hands. The recoil or "snap" isnt a issue for me.

[Doheny]

Love my .40s and I shoot em great. But Im a man with big hands. The recoil or "snap" isnt a issue for me.

I got a bit of a shiver down my leg when I read that.

[AceGirlsHusband]

I got a bit of a shiver down my leg when I read that.

When I read that same quote, I thought, "An E2 grip won't work for him. Probably want to get some Hogue's for his Sig."

[Doheny]

When I read that same quote, I thought, "An E2 grip won't work for him. Probably want to get some Hogue's for his Sig."

I guess I forgot what site I was on.

[Angrysnarf]

I don't know why people keep discounting the effectiveness of .40SW. About the only time I would prefer 9mm is in a free state where I can get more rounds into a magazine. If I'm limited to 10 rounds, I'd rather have each of those rounds come with some serious stopping power.

EXACTLY!!!!!!

My brother in law would always tell me to get glocks cuz of hi capacity but then again he forgets i live in california.

I dont like glocks im a 1911 and cz guy.

Since 10 is the limit here I will get 40 and 45. 9mm in single stack.

[mjheinz]

9mm is a great round. Without the 9mm, we wouldnt have any hot young ladies at the range.

just kidding but I'll stay with the 40. Thank you.

[section31]

This:

"Owing to its 10mm Auto lineage, .40 S&W can be as hard on guns as it is on shooters, and pistols chambered for .40 can have a shorter service life than their 9mm counterparts. To compensate for this many commercial . 40 S&W loads are on the light side, to reduce recoil and wear, which is partly why they perform so similarly to 9mm +P loads."