.40 S&W falling out of favor?

Yes the 40 is definitely more of a competition caliber these days. I'm sure it will be around for awhile. If I saw a gun in 40 that i liked i would have no issues going for it.

hatman1793 said:
10mm has seen a "slight" resurgence, and many more manufacturers are chambering it in thir guns. But the factory 10mm of the past pushed those 180's & 200's into the 1300+ fps region. Factory 10mm are alot tamer today mostly beating 40S&W by 50-150 fps only.

Frankly, 10mm is over-rated and mostly a hobby caliber that most avoid. Most competitors employ 40 or 9mm.
Where 40S&W comes into its own is when 155-165 grain bullets are used. Sure, the same can be said for 10mm but who gives a #### if you leave your 40 brass behind. Not so with 10mm. And hot rodding the 10mm & a steady diet of hot 180's or 200's will punish your frame.

Light target loads in your 40S&W platform? Yes! Light 10mm loads in your platform? A total waste since 40S&W will do it cheaper in every application.
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"Many more manufacturers are chambering it" = because it has seen a huge resurgence. Also many more ammo manufacturers are loading for it and up to full strength. While more the case in the US, people like the 10mm because it is versatile and occupies a niche the 40 can't - hunting and high capacity backcountry back up. Even here more and more are using it as their ATC. 10mm is not marketed to the competition speed shooter.
 
ted_dent said:
One of the biggest factors in the move back to 9mm from 40S&W is the advent of 147 gr. 9mm projectiles. When standard 9mm loads were 115 & 124 gr. bullets there was a significant ballistic difference between them and the standard 180 gr. 40 S&W load. With 147 gr. bullets that difference is minimized and for law enforcement the 9mm offers the advantage of higher mag capacities (typically 17 rounds of 9mm vs. 15 rounds of 40S&W). I also agree that 40 in polymer guns is a snappier round to shoot than 9mm and this becomes more of an issue with so many more females in LE these days. Light gun + snappy round + less hand strength = less controllability.
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147gr 9mm bullets have been out there forever. It's overall design of the new bullets that make them more effective.
 
9 is more popular on ranges because it's cheaper; that's no surprise. 40 is a great round that served a purpose for many years. Things change, and police and military will always go to whatever is most economical. In this case, again, 9 gets to win because it's cheaper. In terms of power, the 40 will always be superior.
 
Kosmonument said:
9 is more popular on ranges because it's cheaper; that's no surprise. 40 is a great round that served a purpose for many years. Things change, and police and military will always go to whatever is most economical. In this case, again, 9 gets to win because it's cheaper. In terms of power, the 40 will always be superior.
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False beliefs my friend. Statistically bad people require 3 rounds to be netrualized, and that is across the board for 9x19, .40S&W and .45ACP. If 3 rounds is needed why carry a gun with more recoil and fewer rounds? Add in the additional cost to operate and the reduced service life(talking 40's here) and it's a no brainer why 9x19 is the Goldilocks calibre.
 
I’m not buying into the stats that modern 9mm is better or equal to the modern 40 cal Bullet.

How can a 9mm bullet (of a certain design) travelling at a power factor of 125-130 be equal or better than a .40 Bullet (of the same design) at 180-200 power factor?
 
easyrider604 said:
I’m not buying into the stats that modern 9mm is better or equal to the modern 40 cal Bullet.

How can a 9mm bullet (of a certain design) travelling at a power factor of 125-130 be equal or better than a .40 Bullet (of the same design) at 180-200 power factor?
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Because power factor is meaningless outside IPSC. FBI tests are repeatable and scientific and also show almost no difference between modern 9mm, .40 and .45. so all things being equal the cartridge with lower cost that affords higher capacity is the clear winner.
 
IMO, tests and results can be skewed one way or the other. Depending on the “needs” of the agency or the powers that be.

Don’t get me wrong. I got more 9mms than any other pistol caliber. And in the Canadian reality of 10 rds max cap magazines, 40 and 45 still make the most sense to me.

Btw, Sgt York earned his Congressional Medal of honour among other feats, by dropping 7 enemies with one 1911 45acp pistol and one magazine. If I remember the narrative correctly.

That’s enough to convince me and to keep me convinced.
 
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B said:
Because power factor is meaningless outside IPSC. FBI tests are repeatable and scientific and also show almost no difference between modern 9mm, .40 and .45. so all things being equal the cartridge with lower cost that affords higher capacity is the clear winner.
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This is the answer some of you need to read then read again.

easyrider604 said:
IMO, tests and results can be skewed one way or the other. Depending on the “needs” of the agency or the powers that be.

Don’t get me wrong. I got more 9mms than any other pistol caliber. And in the Canadian reality of 10 rds max cap magazines, 40 and 45 still make the most sense to me.

Btw, Sgt York earned his Congressional Medal of honour among other feats, by dropping 7 enemies with one 1911 45acp pistol and one magazine. If I remember the narrative correctly.

That’s enough to convince me and to keep me convinced.
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So one anecdotal story that was likely written by York himself and you take it as gospel?? WOW!
 
easyrider604 said:
I’m not buying into the stats that modern 9mm is better or equal to the modern 40 cal Bullet.

How can a 9mm bullet (of a certain design) travelling at a power factor of 125-130 be equal or better than a .40 Bullet (of the same design) at 180-200 power factor?
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I agree big bullets make big holes . This is why the 10 mm has gained favor as a game cartridge in the USA. A old bird hunter friend of mine once told me if you want to kill something get a 12 gauge not a sub gauge.
 
easyrider604 said:
I’m not buying into the stats that modern 9mm is better or equal to the modern 40 cal Bullet.

How can a 9mm bullet (of a certain design) travelling at a power factor of 125-130 be equal or better than a .40 Bullet (of the same design) at 180-200 power factor?
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The stats say that the modern 9 has advanced and is equal to the 80s 40 cal. But they also say that the 40 has also advanced. So the two are still not equal and never will be.
 
Kosmonument said:
The stats say that the modern 9 has advanced and is equal to the 80s 40 cal. But they also say that the 40 has also advanced. So the two are still not equal and never will be.
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Unless you listen to the FBI who do more testing than any other agency or organization in the world. If you are in to YouTube there is great slow-mo testing done by a guy named brassfetcher. He tests all manners of JHPs directly comparing 9mm, .40 and .45. Instead of relying on 100+ year old anecdotes or personal feeling go ahead and ingest some hard information and then decide.
 
Kosmonument said:
The stats say that the modern 9 has advanced and is equal to the 80s 40 cal. But they also say that the 40 has also advanced. So the two are still not equal and never will be.
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You clearly are pulling your comments from thin air. The .40 S&W cartridge was released in 1990, so it is not a cartridge of the 80's, but good try..
 
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