is .40 dead?

To some people who are recoil sensitive, yes! To some people who want nothing more than a 9, yes ! For me and three others in my family, who own many 9's, HELL NO !! LOVE THE 40, WILL NEVER LET IT GO ! To each their own, I guess ??
 
Love me some .40.

For competition and defense.

Close to 600 foot pounds of energy with the right ammo.

It's insanely cheap right now down here. FMJ for 20 cents a round and I just picked up a few hundred rounds of Winchester hollow points for 28 cents a round.
 
cadgo said:
Love me some .40.

For competition and defense.

Close to 600 foot pounds of energy with the right ammo.

It's insanely cheap right now down here. FMJ for 20 cents a round and I just picked up a few hundred rounds of Winchester hollow points for 28 cents a round.
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I like the .40 as pistol-calibre carbine fodder; in some places around Toronto the .40 sold cheaper than 9mm (apparently) because of efforts to move inventory... ;)
 
This is pretty funny considering how much ongoing interest there is in calibres that I never even heard of before coming here. If a strange niche market calibre can survive, then an extremely popular one that is still used by many agencies will be around for a while yet. Considering that .455 Webley and .45LC are still around after a hundred plus years, I don't think .40 S&W will disappear any time soon.

As far as shooting it using similar max loads with light bullets, my SR40 definitely has more recoil than the SR9. Which is understandable considering that they are identical in every respect except for the barrel bore size but the .40 consistently produces better groups than the 9mm version.
 
easyrider604 said:
Number 1 is the answer to Number 3. Yes, there is an advantage. Accuracy is a real and quantifiable advantage. It could win you a trophy or ________. Besides, IMO, only accurate guns are interesting.

My handloads are very accurate in my Ruger P91 and FNS40L, as well.

5-shot groups of 2 inches at 15 meters are possible with my P91, off hand, on a good day.

FNS40L can do 3 inch groups under the same conditions.

The 40's accuracy and power are its two endearing qualities, IMO, particularly in the light of our 10 round mag limit.

Another reason (of lesser importance) I like or even love the .40 is that guys are unloading them in almost brand new condition, and I picked up my 40s for ridiculously cheap.
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The reason I said no real advantages is that my reload for the 40 just happens to be spot on for that handgun. I haven't quite got it right in 9mm yet for my Pardini but it is close very close. There is maybe a 1/2" difference in my group sizes.
 
Ebola said:
Law enforcement is dumping the .40 for 9mm as of late. I hope there is a another metric to measure how close to death the .40 is.
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I dont know about metrics, but .38 spl and .357 magnum have long been discarded by LEO. I think these two "ancient" calibers are still healthy octogenarians, or older.

My 686 and GP100 still get as much range time as the rest of the gang.
 
HIGHRPM said:
To some people who are recoil sensitive, yes! To some people who want nothing more than a 9, yes ! For me and three others in my family, who own many 9's, HELL NO !! LOVE THE 40, WILL NEVER LET IT GO ! To each their own, I guess ??
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That’s how I feel because if your sensitive towards a “Real” 40, I mean 10mm then get the 40s&w I guess. The 40 is a bastard cartridge that was a total waste of time. Higher pressure to gain slightly more performance over a 9+p+mm but far less then the 10mm.
 
Sqr said:
That’s how I feel because if your sensitive towards a “Real” 40, I mean 10mm then get the 40s&w I guess. The 40 is a bastard cartridge that was a total waste of time. Higher pressure to gain slightly more performance over a 9+p+mm but far less then the 10mm.
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Well since this point was brought up, standard 9mm and standard 40 are SAAMI rated at 35,000psi. But power factor is roughly 50% higher on the 40, if power factor is a valid measure of performance.

I won't go into my .40 reloads that are listed on the Hodgdon chart as 1,150 fps with 180 grain head, Power Factor well over 200. Pressure 32,300 psi.


9mm +P+ is 42,000 psi as mentioned in some webpage (not the SAAMI webpage).
 
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easyrider604 said:
Well since this point was brought up, standard 9mm and standard 40 are SAAMI rated at 35,000psi. But power factor is roughly 50% higher on the 40, if power factor is a valid measure of performance.

I won't go into my .40 reloads that are listed on the Hodgdon chart as 1,150 fps with 180 grain head, Power Factor well over 200. Pressure 32,300 psi.

9mm +P+ is 42,000 psi as mentioned in some webpage (not the SAAMI webpage).
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Yep, sitting with a 211 PF here too. 9mm is more popular because it is cheap, and that is a redeeming virtue for training troops etc.

.40 will never die.... because 10mmAUTO!!!!
 
Sqr said:
That’s how I feel because if your sensitive towards a “Real” 40, I mean 10mm then get the 40s&w I guess. The 40 is a bastard cartridge that was a total waste of time. Higher pressure to gain slightly more performance over a 9+p+mm but far less then the 10mm.
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Buffalo bore max load for each:

9mm: 500 foot pounds of energy
40sw: 580
10mm: 700

So 80 extra foot-pounds of energy is nothing but 120 is far more?

10mm is alright but it's not some monstrously powerful cartridge. Plus large framed guns are a pain to carry and if a pistol is only for home defense I'd rather grab my AR15.
 
Love my .40. It is my IDPA shooter and I take it to the range every time I go. Before I had the fundamentals down after a box my wrist was hurting so I put it away for a bit but now that my game is up to par she is a hoot. If carry permits ever were to come my way I would be bringing the .40 everywhere I go.
 
I like the .40 because it has the punch of a 357 magnum, it's got the same 10-round capacity as the 9mm versions, and it's chambered in light, compact and handy polymer semi-autos that are extremely reliable, durable and accurate. Power, accuracy, reliability, longevity in a lightweight package with great ergonomics (most shooters will find their ideal polymer pistols, ergo-wise).

What other caliber can deliver all these qualities in a firearm?

How can the .40 ever die?
 
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