Staff Member
Platinum Supporter
- Messages
- 9,753
- Reactions
- 15,508
Just prefer the .45 ACP, but I'd much rather have a .40 S&W than either the 9mm or a 45 GAP.
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
This, and the fact that I shoot the 9mm better. Shot placement is KING for me. A miss with the .40 will be no more effective than a miss with any other round But with my G19 I know for a fact that I will have better shot placement, and 2 more rounds to use -vs- my 23. I don't hate the round, it's just not for me. I don't carry a .45 any more due solely to lack of capacity in the same size/weight gun.The ballistics aren't better enough than 9mm to warrant cost/ammo capacity/extra wear and tear.
When the .40 came out, it was a noticeable improvement on the 9mm. But compare it to all the modern 9mm rounds. It's no better.
Can anyone tell me why the .40 fmj round has a flat nose? I expect it is to slow it down a bit but wouldn't that cause more recoil/snap? I bet I could look it up but I'm lazy.
Why the dislike of the .40?
I raced USPSA with a Glock 35 and I never had an issue with it being "snappy" I've also never had any issues with my 23, but I do have really big meaty hands
The coroner conducted an examination that concluded that the .40s didn't penetrate far enough to cause enough damage to stop the subject. Mind you, most shots were in the torso and one in the neck. None of the rounds penetrated farther than 1" in the neck or torso. It was only when the .223 was brought in did the subject get dropped....being shot in the hip, lung, and foot.
The attached is the FBI jumping all over the report to defend the .40 S&W for current use....stating that the coroner's report was "innacurate" and that the .40 S&W passed all of their ballistic tests.
Nevertheless, since they used 180gr Speer Gold Dots, I switched all my carry rounds to Hornady TAP.
Read the report, but realize it is VERY graphic. It includes XRays and the examiners initial observatory pictures. Also, I would take the FBIs conclusion with a grain of salt...I don't care what some ballistic gel test says, if the rounds didn't go past the breast plate then I don't want them as my carry rounds.
Just to clarify, I'm not against the .40 S&W...not in the least bit. The round has it's uses...in fact, I own and carry a G22 and G27. What I got from the article is that bullets slow down quite considerably when they hit glass and other hard targets. This was the last stray for my faith in Speer Gold Dots as well...I had a bunch of .45 ACP rounds crimp in their cassings when loaded into a Springfield XD.
Just take what you can from the information and make your own conclusions...that is the only reason why I've posted the above. Again, I'm not anti-40, nor am I anti-Speer...I just made my own conclusions from the information provided and my own experiences and experimentations with the rounds.