slow death of the 40?
- Thread starter maifire
- Start date
Several agencies in Ontario are switching to 9mm and more are looking at it. We are getting Sig 320 in 9mm in a month or so. We were just waiting for a suitable holster to take the 320 with a flashlight mounted on it and trigger kits that have the mandatory 8lbs of pull .17 rds in a mag and much easier for diminutive officers to shoot.
Pietro Beretta
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Ontario (G.T.A.)
Very true. I'm not a huge .40 cal guy, I am a .45 ACP & 9mm kinda guy....but for LE the .40 is perfect.
As a backup gun, or concealed carry...the sub-compact Glock 27 is a lethal little package 9+1 of potent .40 cal 180 gr. JHP in the palm of your hand, or in an ankle holster
Not a fan of the lighter loads....the 180 grain reigns supreme.I owned a Sig P226 black .40, a sub-compact Glock 27, and a Beretta 96FS Inox which were all amazing.
The Glock 27 is the best LE backup gun on the face of this planet. If we were allowed concealed carry in Canada 100% I would have a G27 with night sights in an ankle holster 24/7...charged with +P 180 gr. JHP's.
The .40 S&W ain't going anywhere
...lout long live the .45 ACP & 9mm Luger 
What matches do you refer to? I shoot IPSC and it seems that 9mm rules Production while .40 rules Standard. Here in Manitoba, Standard is the more popular division. In recent years Production has certainly increased in popularity at the Nationals level, even out numbering the Standard shooters, but certainly no where near 10 - 1. Don't take this question the wrong way, I don't doubt your numbers, just wondering which shooting sport you refer to.
Being drop by police agencies is not going to help further development of ammo, so don't expect any on the shelf latest and greatest. It's a good round and it won't die. Once manufactures got their #### together, just like the 38 Super, and fully supported the case it showed it merit. Had a few 40's over the years. If it's dead can't tell by the brass on the range.
Probably IDPA. The 40 really has no home in IDPA unless you want to down load the cartridge using heavy bullets to reduce felt recoil. I have been to major matches where the 40 is virtually absent, well beyond 1 -10, more like a couple out of 150 shooters.
Take care
Bob
Yep. ^ This about sums it up. I've personally never understood, rather been intellectually satisfied as to the reason for the .40 S&W existence. Same could be said for the .45 GAP and I don't know enough about the .357sig to comment.
Also, I believe 10mm is on the rise in popularity, just not here where it is a hand loaders option only for all intent and purpose.
Being a part of selecting the .40 over the 9 mm for a major Canadian police agency in the mid 1990's, it was not much of a decision once we settled on Glock as the platform. In those days (over 20 years ago), it was clear that the .40 ammo in the 180 grain variety was quite a step up in horsepower from the 9mm. It was not long after we made our selection that the FBI selected the .40 Glock 22 or 23 as issue gun. It has become a standard among police agencies in both the US and Canada.
Now that 9mm has improved, there is a move afoot to make the .40 look like some kind of dinosaur or mistake. Sometimes I wonder how much firearms/ammo industry plays in this kind of stuff.
Now that 9mm has improved, there is a move afoot to make the .40 look like some kind of dinosaur or mistake. Sometimes I wonder how much firearms/ammo industry plays in this kind of stuff.
Greenhorse six
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Isn't the U.S. Military looking for something bigger then the 9mm right now for their next issue pistol ?
I am failing to understand how the .40 could become obsolete due to better 9mm bullets. Any advances made to the 9mm can be applied to the .40 and .45 etc.
In my opinion it comes down to marketing hype. For a decade the guru's push capacity then the next it's "stopping power"
I can understand why a department would wish to choose the 9. It's cheaper, less recoil tends to provide tighter groups for people who practice little. Oh and it's cheaper.
For the individual who has the choice I would tend to pick the most power I can shoot accurately given the situation required. Wilderness carry would call for something different than deep concealment.
However as the most we can do is plink away in our range safe zones I think enjoying what you shoot much more important than the size of the hole, how fast it is going, and the quality of the projectile.
In my opinion it comes down to marketing hype. For a decade the guru's push capacity then the next it's "stopping power"
I can understand why a department would wish to choose the 9. It's cheaper, less recoil tends to provide tighter groups for people who practice little. Oh and it's cheaper.
For the individual who has the choice I would tend to pick the most power I can shoot accurately given the situation required. Wilderness carry would call for something different than deep concealment.
However as the most we can do is plink away in our range safe zones I think enjoying what you shoot much more important than the size of the hole, how fast it is going, and the quality of the projectile.
Yeah, the people that chose a .40 chose it for a reason, and I believe that reason is still valid for them. Side arms chosen for police use have to work well for the officers that will use them in dangerous situations. If the rank and file shoot better with a 9, then that is what they should carry. It doesn't negate the fact that the 40 is a more powerful round. I think the problem really is a lack of time and funding for training, combined with users that really have no interest in doing the training (generality, not everyone).
Personally, the 40 was my second favorite caliber behind the 45. Now I find I don't shoot it much because I've been having fun with 10mm
Personally, the 40 was my second favorite caliber behind the 45. Now I find I don't shoot it much because I've been having fun with 10mm
