.40 S&W: Inherently inaccurate chambering?

The .40 is in my experience, every bit as accurate as a .45, and certainly a 9mm or .38S. That is, in a $3000 Standard gun with a properly fitted match grade barrel, I have personally shot 7/8" 10 shot groups at 50'. Beyond that my eyesight isn't good enough, and I can only shoot that well indoors with poerfect lighting. I have built .38Super open guns (with red dot sights) that will shoot 1 1/2" at 50m, but I suspect that one of my .40's would better that with an optical sight on it. Never tried :) It is well documented that we can get slightly better accuracy without a comp...

If the S&W guys can't get accuracy they like, they need to try it on a 1911, maybe...

Gunnar
www.armco-guns.com
 
Rick said:
but a .40 is going to get you more biters than a 9mm. Where one or two points/X-count in a 1500 match can make the difference between first and also-ran,
?
Click to expand...


by this arguement though, and why not shoot a .45 acp with semi-wadcutters, more biters again and no real difference in recoil.
 
There is still considerable more felt recoil with most mild 45 loads, ie. 3.8 W231 under a 180 SWC, that there would be with a 110 or 115 9mm load of almost any velocity.
 
Last edited:
koldt said:
There is still considerable more felt recoil with most mild 45 loads, ie. 3.8 W231 under a 180 SWC, that there would be with a 110 or 115 9mm load of almost any velocity.
Click to expand...

Yep, but he's talking about a .40 for target use, and the difference between tossing say a 185 swc at 650-700 fps in .45 or a 155-180 gr swc the same way out of a .40 won't amount to a hill of beans and will give him more 'bitters' as he calls them.
 
Sure, but getting back to the original question, and point to this thread, is can anyone come up with a 40 S&W load/gun combo, that can quarantee an X ring accuracy on a B27 target at 50 yards? Or better yet, an X ring accuracy on an NRA 2700 bullseye target at 50 yards? 10 rounds out of a 6 inch barrel.

The point being, I can get that type of accuracy out of at least 5 of my handguns. Two are 38spl, two are 9mm and one is 38 super. And that is not Ransoming a couple of my 45s yet as I have no questions as to the potential for the 45 ACP load.
 
I purchased a SVI with Schueman barrel in 40S&W .
The proof test target came with under 1 inch group at 50 yards!(factory loading)
Beyond my abilities to reproduce!!!
Quality components,religious handloading practices will keep the 40 running with the bulls.Nothing inherently inaccurate about it.
However if I was shooting PPC score I'd choose a 38 wheel
JMHO
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom