9mm vs 40 S&W

[MikeinnLA]

Following up on a CZ75 thread, I'm in the market for a CZ75 SA for target shooting mostly. The seemingly always available 40 S&W ammo has me thinking of going that way, but I have never fired 40 S&W. How would you compare these two cartridges in terms of accuracy, recoil, etc keeping target shooting in mind. Yes, I tried search.

Thanks, Mike

[Teletiger7]

Following up on a CZ75 thread, I'm in the market for a CZ75 SA for target shooting mostly. The seemingly always available 40 S&W ammo has me thinking of going that way, but I have never fired 40 S&W. How would you compare these two cartridges in terms of accuracy, recoil, etc keeping target shooting in mind. Yes, I tried search.

Thanks, Mike

Personally I like 9mm and .45 better. The recoil in 9mm is faster but it is lighter. Recoil of 45 is slower but heavier. Recoil of .40 to me is fast and heavy. I find 9 and 45 to be more controllable. Not that you can't shoot the .40 well but it comes down to personal preference. lighter recoil, quicker follow up shots, this particular pistol was originally designed around the 9mm cartridge, Cheaper. Some people have described the recoil of the .40 as being "snappy". try both and see which you like.

[MadMex]

Huge difference in 165 vs 180 in compact 40’s; slightly noticeable in mid size frames, and nearly negligible in full size frames.

[C.G.]

Personally I like 9mm and .45 better. The recoil in 9mm is faster but it is lighter. Recoil of 45 is slower but heavier. Recoil of .40 to me is fast and heavy. I find 9 and 45 to be more controllable. Not that you can't shoot the .40 well but it comes down to personal preference. lighter recoil, quicker follow up shots, this particular pistol was originally designed around the 9mm cartridge, Cheaper. Some people have described the recoil of the .40 as being "snappy". try both and see which you like.

Same here, I find the .40 "snappy"; more than even the .357 Sig. On the other hand some people don't mind it, so I would try to shoot both before you decide.

[Waldog]

Until the recent ammo/powder/primer/lead bullet shortage madness started after a recent Presidential election, the 9mm was by far the cheapest to shoot with factory ammo. Many did not even reload 9mm. The 40 was 1/2 again more expensive to shoot with factory ammo.

9mm ammo is popular and has soared in price and is difficult to find. My only strong recommendation is to avoid steel cased ammo. The reason is that to keep the cases from rusting, they are painted with clear lacquer. When they are fired, the lacquer melts and the case sticks in the chamber.

Like other poster's said, the recoil of the 40 is quite snappy and the 9mm is very easy to shoot. That said, the 40 can be handloaded to a very comfortable level.