LE buddy of mine has been in 2 OIS’s. Both with G22 .40 using Bonded Golden Saber 165 grain. He told me that the first felon, armed with a knife at close range, was hit in the chest. Fell like a stone and never breathed again. Superb performance for a handgun cartridge. The second was identical. The .40 is a top shelf self-defense cartridge; maybe even the best.
We switched to the .40 S&W in 1996 after three years of testing. We determined that the 155 grain JHP .40 S&W was significantly better than the 180 grain JHP. Later at the National Firearms Unit (U.S. Border Patrol) we began receiving phone calls from police agencies because of 180 grain JHP failures and requesting info on the 155 / 40. I was sharing that with a local sheriff's department firearms trainer and he mirrored our good experience with the 155 grain load, but stated that he had mistakenly ordered the 180 grain JHP during his last purchase. Subsequently a male and female sheriff's unit responded to a call and encountered a male subject who, during the encounter sucker punched the male deputy knocking him unconscious and jumped the female. During the struggle she fired three 180 grain .40 S&W rounds point blank into the assailant's chest causing him to break contact. He ran ~50 yards and sat down against a tree. When her backup arrived the subject was complaining that he was having difficulty breathing and when EMS arrived he had stopped breathing.
The 1994 AWB was in effect when I first became a firearms owner. At that time the mag capacity advantage of pistols in .40 S&W and 9mm were unable to be fully realized. The .45 ACP and .357 Magnum gained my interest and held my respect since then.
Thanks for your honesty on the 40cal. Contrary to most I've been told it's an inadequate cartridge. I never believed as much and have felt comfortable carrying one. I prefer the extra ooomph I get with the 40. Thanks to you for reaffirming my opinion of the 40S&W.
I have a glock 23 with 14k rounds through it, still going strong. You wouldn't guess the round count if you saw the internals. Everything from 50 grains up to 200 grain monsters clocking about 1100. Hotter .40 caliber loads creep up on .357 mag in terms of power and they do it with a bigger, heavier bullet. I'm a massive fan of this cartridge.
Dick, I greatly enjoy and respect your videos. Thank you. With regard to the .40 S&W, I agree with your “Goldilocks” finding, although I’ll express my conclusion somewhat differently. I’m 77, I’ve been shooting for many decades, my father was an FBI SA and firearms instruction, and I spent two decades as a Naval officer, followed by two more as Lockheed Martin’s Director of Navy TacAir Programs. My responsibilities in the last years of my Navy career and at Lockheed focused on Systems Engineering. Consequentially, I’ll apply my Systems Engineering education, training and experiences to the .40 S&W cartridge. Many have commented the “the .40” is a “compromised” round, but I’ll assert that it is an “optimized” one. To illustrate this, please consider that: > Most similarly sized sidearms chambered in .40 have capacities slightly greater than their .45 ACP brethren, and slightly less than their 9x19mm brothers . . . that’s capacity optimization. > Similarly, the .40’s mass (particularly the popular 180 grain) is essentially about 30 grains greater than the 9mm’s 148 grain loads and 50 grains lighter than .45 ACP’s 230 grain rounds . . . that’s weight optimization. > Velocity is also optimized, as is autoloader power, size, grip circumference, and trigger reach. So, as you indicated, the .40 is THE optimized “Goldilocks” cartridge. Does this suggest that the 9x19mm or the .45 ACP are poor? Certainly not; in fact, all three of these primary semiautomatic defensive rounds will (to quote Clint Smith) “poke holes” in the adversary . . . they are all marginal rapid criminal stoppers, and none factually compares to the efficacy of most defensive long-guns. Most of my EDCs are 9mm, but on my nightstand an Sig P226 - chambered in .40 S&W - often sits, ready to protect innocents. Why, because it is the optimized weapon that provides the best combination of attributes, compared with the .45 ACP and the 9x19mm.
Still have my Sig P226 Blackwater in 40 cal and I have about 10 magazines and all full of black talons, during the pandemic the ammo never slowed down a bit
AMEN! I've said for years that recoil was mental. It's the "boom" that causes the flinch. Even a .45acp isn't painful. Of course it's different in big magnums, they can actually hurt, but for a duty sidearm the recoil is fine. If there were no noise, I think recoil would be a non-issue for most.
I once hot swapped pistols with a female officer on the range who thought a .40 would be too much recoil. When she finished the string with the .40, thinking she was firing a 9mm, I asked her if she noticed a difference. She said the .40 was louder but couldn't tell the difference in recoil.
During my four years in Wyoming, over 50 years ago, I generally carried a 357 Magnum revolver or a 1911 when out camping in the mountains. I bought my first 40 S&W in the early 1990s, a Glock 23. I still have that pistol and I still carry it often, especially in Winter when I can carry it under a coat. If I'm carrying a 40 S&W or a 45 ACP, I'm happy. When I was a young airman I asked one of our officers why we couldn't have 45s like the Army; he responded something to the effect that, "If you are shooting the enemy with a pistol, you are in trouble."
The .40 S&W is my standard EDC. Started with it in 2010. Prior to this, I carried a .45 ACP. People keep telling me that the 9mm has lower recoir than the .40 in equivalent pistols. Quite frankly, I really can't tell the difference between the recoil from a 9mm and a .40 S&W in a compact or subcompact pistol. It's a superb round.
@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb By the way, I find it interesting that you call the .40 the Goldilocks cartridge, but choose a 9 mm or a .45. I can understand the 9 mm for the more compact pistols that make concealment easier, like a p365. But, can you go into why you pick the .45 over the .40 if it is reliable AND a Goldilocks AND a smaller frame? Is that just happenstance or a conscious choice? I can understand for a trooper maybe wanting the biggest piece of lead to be able to go through glass, but as a civilian are you just carrying that over?
@@bluesoverlord Fair question. I cut my pistol teeth on a Colt Government Model .45, so when I had the option to choose my duty-size gun it was a 1911 pattern. While some .40 models were made in 1911s, they quickly died out. There is something about the geometry of the .40 that doesn't work well with a standard 1911. That is why Springfield Armory created their EMP, a 9mm-sized 1911. The .40 works fine in a 9mm sized pistol, but I'm not aware of anyone making a .40 caliber 1911 anymore. So, I guess the .45 has always been my default for full-sized pistols. If a .40 is good, a .45 is better, to me.
Rock Island makes a pretty solid 1911 in both 40 and 10 mm in both single and double stack configurations... 16+1 in either 40 or 10... lots of firepower... Just offering it up. That said, I chose their 14+1 45 ACP for my go home defense... I figure if they walk through 15 rounds of 45, it's just God calling me home after that... 😂😂😂@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb
Thank you for another great video! I did the opposite of most - been a 45 guy all my shooting life, then a back injury made me switch to 9mm (even single stack .45's are just heavy and big, and it hurts to carry it on an all-day basis.. BUT...I've never felt comfortable with it, especially when I became a dad to 3 little girls, and the papa bear thing happened. So a lot of research, and talking with Massad Ayoob, and I ended up only carrying the hottest 9 I could find (usually plus P) around here...and it got to bothering me that in order for a 9mm to be acceptable, you pretty much have to use 9mm loaded to where it has one foot out of the envelope and pushes voiding warranties. Then I started paying attention to police cam videos. Seems to me like an awful lot of cops shoot the bad guy, unload the whole mag into them, and the bad guy eventually DOES stop, but usually they just go sit down and expire. None of the "sudden stops" I've always heard of with other calibers. It really got me to thinking about it, and yesterday, I did something that will probably land me on a Red Flag list - I bought my first .40 as an early birthday present . Why carry a souped up 9mm that's pushing it's luck, when I can get a .40 and still have the smaller pistol size?
I'm somewhat in the same boat there. My daily carry is currently always a Colt Python .357 magnum, I think it's a wonderful cartridge and it's a favorite. However, there are times when I want something a tad smaller or lighter. I own a full size 9mm but honestly, the more I shoot 9mm, the more I realize I don't like it as much. I want slightly more power. And I have a baby on the way so I understand that feeling of the 9mm not being up to snuff compared to a larger caliber. So currently I'm on the fence between a 40 and a 45, and want to sell my 9mm
The FBI has a history of lying about a lot of things. Just ask Trump. Anyway… I carried the 9mm for 28 out of a 34 year LE career in Los Angeles. During those 34 years, there was a window of time for 6 years when I switched to a Hk USP .45acp for duty work. Well, after that “window” in time, I decided to go back to the 9mm until I recently retired. I 💙 the 9mm with 147gr HST’s, but as of late, I now EDC either a .40 or a .357 Sig, depending on my mood for the day. My 9mm’s are pretty much “safe queens” now. The .40’s bigger “oompf” and bigger, heavier bullet is just better. Currently I’m carrying the 180gr Ranger-T’s and I just love that caliber/bullet combo. The bullet opens up to above .70” in diameter and penetrates within the 12-18” criteria that the Fan Belt Inspectors (FBI) call for. I’ll take the .40 over a “.380 magnum” (9mm) any day.
I am old enough to know that ALL politicians lie . It's the soup in which they swim . But of all the thieving, lying, disgusting con-men this country has ever produced ,tRump outdoes them all . If you believe in His Orangeness to any degree ,I actually feel sorry for you , you are being duped . Have fun paying for Melania's stylists and Donald's ineffectual attorneys .
Vindication!!!! 👏 The only real gripe I ever had about .40 was that historically, in *most* full sized duty type pistols *other* than the Glock 22, the magazine capacity was usually 12 rounds or less. The full sized HK USP held 13, but that was an outlier. Beretta 96s back in the day only held 11 rounds, SIG 226s and 229s in .40 held 12. With modern factory or reliable aftermarket magazines/extensions, this is not really an issue any longer.
@@linkbond08 Yes, but that came out around *2005* or so. Throughout the 1990s, Glock and HK were the only 2 major manufacturers (that I am aware of, at least) that offered more than 12 rounds of .40 in their factory magazines for full-sized duty handguns...the Glock 22 had 15 rounds, the HK USP held 13 rounds.
Hmmmmm, being an old guy (B.1955) brought up with 45 acp and Colt; eventually caught up in 9mm/Glock craze, this video has raised my curiosity to maybe try a 40. Thank you again for a well thought out and great presentation
My EDC is the Glock G35 because it gives me 16 rounds of .40 caliber in the same size gun as an 8 or 9 round full size 1911 in a lighter gun. The .40 does better against barriers as you said such as windshield, glass and especially human bone where it will break it or go straight through. My game time ammo is the 155 grain Speer Gold Dot with a match grade barrel I am getting 1250-1270fps and in my opinion that's hard to beat. You called the 45 ACP reliable long before this video. I said that the 40 out of a 5-in barrel mimics a 45 ACP
Carried an Sig 226 40 cal on duty for several years. Bought the Sig when we switched to 9mm, one of if not my favorite pistol. Always liked the 40 cal and no doubt it hits harder than the 9mm. Thanks for the video!
I was a federal uniformed police officer with the D.O.D., and initially, we had a Beretta DAO in 9mm, then we switched to an S&W, M&P in .40 cal. I loved it so much that I purchased one for myself. You are correct. They have more stopping power and are better on barriers. I am looking at an H&K 30L in .40. Little tidbit, the H&K USP was originally designed spifically for the .40. I am relocating to Wyoming, so I also plan to purchase a 10mm for hiking around in the back country.
Apparently the Beretta PX4 Storm was also designed with .40 in mind, might make a cheaper alternative if you don't want to fork out for H&K. The gun is designed to be easy to shoot in general and in 9mm the compact shoots easier than some full size all metal guns. Just make sure to put grip tape on the frame, that's the only real weak point on the gun.
For those of us living behind the Communist lines in the United States where 10 round magazines are maximum, capacity is a Sum-Zero factor. In this situation, the 40 Smith & Wesson makes even more sense.
I bought a Delta Elite way back when it first came out. With some loads, Winchester Silvertip, being one, I felt it was a bit hot for that frame. Reminded me of my 44 mag recoil. With tamer loads it was fine. At least to me. I traded it off. I still haven't found a handgun that feels as good as a 1911 in my hand.
Well done Dick & thank for your time with this. - being a retired State Trooper SWAT Commander, Marine Corps Captain I don't comment much, but I appreciate your thoughtfulness with this. I was a full time SWAT Sergeant when our team was asked to assess a better penetrating round for Trooper involved vehicle shootings. We historically carried a 6" S&W .357 Magnum (cross draw) and the Beretta 92F with +P+ loads... At the end of the day, we adopted the .40 Cal, when our team data had the .357 Sig as the best penetrating round into motor vehicles. That round obviously didn't pan out... I have carried both the .45 Cal 1911 and a 9MM 92 Berretta in the Corps. And for roughly half my career carried the Beretta 92F 9MM on Patrol & SWAT and the .40 Cal HKs pistols both for Patrol and on SWAT. Carried the S&W M&Ps in .40 for the later half of my 26 years and retired an Ass. Chief. I reviewed many officer involved shootings during crime scenes/administrative investigations and know historically what works. As a SWAT sergeant Team Leader and as the Commander, I personally purchased & carried an HK USP Compact .45 ACP which was hybelo ported in a Team Leader vest. Great fireworks during night shoots! If memory serves me correctly, one of the few .45 ACP Factory guns that can shoot .45 Super. A bit Guchi... Have used my SWAT MP-5 9MM twice during a SWAT warrant service and have a definite opinion on penetration through residential structures... As a Team Sergeant, I elected to use an MP-5 because of its precision and rate of fire after carrying Colt 5.56 variants forever... SWAT Sergeants carried new Colt M4 s & Troopers carried the 9MM HK MP-5s. That choice, saved a biker's life twice because I was shooting 9MM over 5.56 from an M4 from subgun variants. Thanks again for your presentation and keep up on the good wisdom you impart. 🙏
I like the 40, my first pistol was one, at the time it was a bit expensive so I switched my M&P40 1.0 to 9mm with a barrel and magazine swap and it became very calm and flat, but after a while a little boring. So when my money got better I went back to the 40, then I decided to try something different and switched to the 357sig with a barrel swap and I fell in love, sight in at 25yd and hit dead on out to 150yd, same capacity as the 40 with ridiculous more speed 1400fps on a 125gr XTP. And easily make brass from 40sw, yes it's a little short but my full house loads don't care, and the vermin I hit don't seem to tell the difference.
@@64samsky 500 rounds I've had 1 split case mouth, no failures of any kind, no carbon on the primers, or other usual pressure signs, I'm using H-110 got the recipe from a Guns and Ammo Magazine September of 96.
I have to agree with you on the 40 S&W cartridge. My daughter bought me an H&K VP40 for Christmas this past year. When I first shot it I was wondering what all the talk was about the added recoil. I own and have shot pretty much all of the other handgun calibers. I honestly have to say that this particular gun is the one I shoot most accurately. Throw in the Buffalo Bore 155 grain +p loads and you have a round equal to or better than most factory 10mm ammo. 1300 fps and 582 ft/pounds. I definitely don’t feel unarmed to say the least. With 6 thirteen round magazines I should hope I can hit something 😂. 52 rounds at 10 yards produces a three inch hole centered on the X. And that’s fast fire. Thank you for stating your opinion of this cartridge. Many others would have you think it’s not worth the trouble. Great videos and so much useful information.
@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb I really enjoy your videos more than the so called unpaid and unbiased ones who own enough guns and ammo that they plainly can’t afford it. Plus you don’t try to sway anyone towards particular products. Just honest advice. God Bless!
Great Video, with much knowledge, backed by real experience. Thank you! When I went into LE, many years ago, in a small town department, we had to buy our own equipment, including our side arm and back up gun(if we wanted one). I bought a Sig model 220 45 acp as my duty weapon, having always had much respect for the proven 45. I bought a S&W airweight 38 spl as my backup. At that time, I had very little knowledge of the 40 S&W, or I might would have considered it. Some of the 30 officers in my department did carry the 40, most carried 9mm and two others carried 45 acp and one carried a 357 mag. My two favorite calibers after all of these years is 45 acp and 357 mag. I do own a Glock 23, 40 cal and I do respect and trust it, after gaining more knowledge of it over the years. I agree with you that the FBI is wrong about the 9mm being able to do what the big bores will do. No matter how much advancement there is in ammo, the 9 will never out preform the 40 or 45. I do believe the 9mm has it’s place, which in my opinion is in the smaller frame pistols for better concealment, if a larger caliber cannot be concealed well enough for the job. Keep up the good work with these videos, you are provided a great service.
Thank you for your excellent analysis of the 40 and the COMPARISONS to the 45 and the 9mm. I like the 40. and have an HK VP that shoots the 40 , the 357 sig and the 9mm with just a change of barrels. how can you beat that.? An excellent gun that handles 3 great cartridges (except the 45). I also have a brace of 1911 's for that deal. i like my Commander size the best. We are so lucky that the founding fathers set this up for us. They were really smart. ( I also like the 10mm). thanks again for your well thought out presentations. The 40 is indeed the GOLDILOCKS CARTRIDGE.
Thanks for your kind words. I have a Colt Lightweight Commander in .45 (frame dates to '53). With a second slide and two barrels (and different magazines, of course) I can fire .45 ACP, 9mm Luger and .38 Super. I'll do a video on it later this summer when I work up some "Super 9" loads for the .38 Super barrel which will equal the performance of the .357 Sig.
I’ve been watching these videos on the pros and cons of various cartridges for law enforcement and civilian use, but not in the order you released them. I’m strictly a civilian. 71 years old. Been hand loading over fifty years. Shooting and hunting somewhat longer. Regarding the 45 ACP I commented that one of my carry gun is a Springfield Armory XD-E 45 ACP DA/SA with the combination decocker and manual safety which makes it very versatile because of the different modes it can be carried in. The most accurate (for its intended purpose) for me semiautomatic pistol I ever owned was the Springfield Armory XD-40 subcompact, but I am one of those who could not get comfortable carrying a striker fired pistol without a true manual safety. With that in mind, if Springfield had made the XD-E in 40 S&W I would have chosen that. Not because I like it better than 45 ACP, I just like the 40. Now Springfield has a version of the Hellcat with a manual safety but it’s only available in 9x19, so that’s a negative for me. There is one of the older S&W Shileld in 40 available to me, but I prefer the double action first trigger pull of a revolver or the DA/SA semiautomatic. I wonder if going to something like the Shield just to get a 40 would require too much mental adjustment or could my “muscle memory” take over when drawing that type of pistol to fire in a high stress situation. I have no trouble switching from driving a vehicle with an automatic transmission to one with a multi speed manual like a truck but I’ve been doing that for a long time.
When double-action-only (DAO) semi-auto pistols started to come on line I conducted a research project using college law enforcement users - no handgun experience. We found the DAO pistols produced FAR better results than the traditional DA/SA trigger systems, given the same amount of training. I think that applies to the striker guns as well ... a consistent trigger pull is easier to master than one with different pulls for the first, then subsequent shots. With a little trigger time, I think you will master something like a Shield just fine.
I am not a cop. I don't have public money or manufacturers throwing guns at me. Not having to buy new guns is a big civilian factor. I like my .40s and can shoot them well. One has conversion barrels. There is a difference between 9 vs. 40. I'm not an over built guy. Average. I don't find .40 recoil unmanageable. Even in the light, single stack Kahr. .40 was waning when I bought it at half the price of the 9 down the counter.. With crime in my area increasing, frankly, I feel better than ever when I can carry a .40.
I think the .40 180gr recoils about as much as a 9mm+P and is an ideal service load. In a mistaken quest for even more power, the hot 165gr JHPs ended up turning off a lot of non-gun people- IMHO.
Great series! I carried a S&W M&P Shield in .40 for a few years when I first stepped away from .45 for concealment. However, from a gun that small and light, it was a bit much and I found it harder to shoot than 9mm and even .45. I also had a Glock in 40 that handled it very well, but that was moving back to a duty sized gun. I could see why LE likes it. In a full size gun it's easier than 45 and more powerful than 9.
Thanks for your hard work! I've been looking forward to this episode for a while now. One of my favorite pistols to shoot is my S&W 4046. A little dated and clunky, but they don't make them like they used to 😂 Thanks again!
You are absolutely correct that they don’t make them like they used to. I am a BIG FAN of S&W 3rd gen autos (4006, 4506, 5906, etc) for reliability and shoot ability. My S&W 40’s will feed empty casings from the mag. Try it out for yourself….impressive. My Glocks, Sigs, HKs, Berettas, FNs, and 1911s can’t do that. I have several variations but the 40’s are my favorite.
My agency uses Glock 22. I’m so much used to it. I have one for my personal protection. I have shot both 9mm and .40 side by side. Can’t tell the recoil difference. But the Gen 5 are a little bigger than Gen 4, and it’s counter part Glock 17. There is no Serpa level 2 holster for G22 Gen 5.
Had a Glock 22 Gen 4. After about 1500 rounds, the pins started walking out. Changed the recoil spring and solved the problem. It was supposed to last till 3000 rounds. Fortunately recoil springs are cheap...
Like I said, the .40 is at the upper edge of what a 9mm frame can handle. We generally replaced recoil springs every 3 years, which would work out to 1,500 rounds or so, makes sense.
From what I've seen in my life while a 9mm may be easy to shoot and quick to get follow up shots it fails terribly against any harder barriers and even thicker canvas clothing in colder climates. Often causing a deviation or a failure to expand. While as the 40 and 45 do very well in hard barrier and seem less susceptible to failure afterwards.
Great video. Good job. I really enjoy all of your videos so far and I am definitely going to watch this one a few times. The 40 caliber is my very favorite cartridge in auto loading guns and I have no problem shooting it very well. Excellent cartridge. We’re only one Miami Dade event away from them switching away from the nine again. The thing about the 9 mm you have to find these exotic exotic +p++ rounds or whatever . But I am glad they have better ammunition now in the 9 for recoil sensitive people!
I currently carry a G22 Gen 3 (LE trade in) in a Kydex holster strong side. I find it easy to control, accurate and with the Federal HST 180 load, I am extremely confident it will do the job if called on. Thanks Dick - another great presentation.
While I have long been a fan of the .45 ACP and the 1911 - at least in part because it was the first handgun my dad ever showed me, being the sidearm he carried in WWII and brought home - the .40, I feel, is a better compromise in a carry gun. The first .40 S&W I bought, a S&W 4006, I did not like. In fact, I bought it from a competitive shooter who also did not like it, finding it to be too punishing on his wrist, causing him an RSI; he was going back to 9mm. It was heavy and unpleasant, but it did have magazine capacity, was stainless and easy to maintain, and was DA/SA so you could carry it with a round in the chamber (it had a decocker). But despite its weight, it was not as controllable as you'd think. With a high bore axis and an upright grip angle, I came to believe that the reason people moved away from the .40 was at least in part because of that gun's poor ergonomics and controllability. That belief, for me, was to be confirmed dramatically when I later bought a lightweight, compact, Taurus G2c in .40 after having purchased one in 9mm and liking the concealability and feature set. The Taurus was MUCH more controllable, faster in follow-up, and softer in recoil despite being a full pound lighter than the Smith. Lower bore axis, lighter slide weight, and less slide cycle impact. I was hooked, and remain so. When I saw your "Goldilocks" title in reference to the .40, it struck me as being right on point: not too small, not too big - just right. P.S. And you can fit 10 rounds in even a compact .40's magazine - which is important to those of us trapped in a tyrannically-controlled, Constitution-ignoring state (Rhode Island) where the ruling class does not deign to allow the serfs more than 10 rounds in a magazine lest the earth fly off into the sun. So a high-capacity 9mm DS magazine offers no added value.
I must first say thank you Dick for sharing your thoughts and opinions backed with years of experience and research we live in an age where people can share their thoughts and opinions easier than ever before so to find someone like yourself that I believe is actually qualified to speak on this topic it means a lot !! I passed up the .40 s&w and went straight to the 10mm auto in my Gen5 Glock 20 but with that said I’m comfortable with the recoil of a 10mm where as my Wife is not she doesn’t want anything to do with it but loves 9mm and can tolerate the .40 so I have to agree with you 100% when you say it’s just right as far as semi auto pistol loads are concerned. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge much respect.
Also its very versatile. With some 135gr loads you can get 1400-1500 fps and have the same performance as a 357 Sig but you could also go up to 200gr loads. I think th main reason why the FBI and other LE went to 9mm is just cost.
Good Video Dick... and accurate as it all occurred.... I was there.... back in the 80s 90s to present. Your facts are on point and this video about the "wimpy" 40... well our local PD used to issue .40 Sigs 226 and 229s for several years ago... and every shooting we had was a one shot stop that usually was a fatality. Now one thing you did not hit on was ammo.... and the ammo issue in the .40SW was its "downfall" if you'd call it that. The 180s in a 40SW, ESPECIALLY the fucking low bid ammo houses that most PDs seek out for a low price on ammo, in my opinion, was the problem. AND the reason was that we found that most low bid ammo manufacturers, used a quick burning powder, and the 180 bullet. It was learned that if the bullet was loaded too low, or sunk some, in the case, the pressures skyrocketed to the point where weapon damage occurred after hundreds of rounds fired, especially in full automatic weapons such as the venerable HK MP5. I still have my gen 3 glock g22 and 27 still and after thousands of rounds fired, but with low bullet weight -nothing heavier than a 165gr bullet- they are still in pristine shape. AND i used to handload for it but never with a 180gr bullet. It was later found, I believe by HK, that if a low budget 180gr bullet was used continuously, the remanufacturer would usually use once or twice fired .40cal brass, where the case mouth strength was reduced after 1 or 2 firings, would loose gripping power on the heavy 180 gr bullet, and from the recoiling of the semi-auto or full- auto firearm the bullets coming up from the magazine, the bullet would sink even a few thousands of a centimeter in the case. The cartridge mouth would loose some of its gripping power and just enough to sink the 180 gr bullet in the case -still fire able- but the pressures at case detonation would skyrocket enough where the bullet would fire but the weapons suffered from a serious increase of recoil battering. And, after so many rounds, - maybe just a few hundreds would start showing locking block, or barrel or frame cracking taking the weapon out of issue use and off to the shop or manufacturer it would go for warranty repairs. So moral of the story is if you got a .40sw you like - just shoot low bullet weight ammo in it and it should out live yer grand kids!
.400 Cor-Bon is really everything .40 S&W was meant to be. Too bad it didn't take off, but if you reload you can make cases from .45ACP. I'm really surprised it didn't take off since you can convert .45ACP pistols with a simple barrel and recoil spring swap.
Bottleneck pistol cases have never bee big sellers in the US. The .357 Sig a light-bullet equivalent of the .357 Revolver, but its sales continue to slide.
@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb Yeah .357 Sig is a good one with a cult following. It's ok if they disappear from shelves completely though --the beauty of these cartridges is a reloader can form them from their parent cases. This just highlights the importance of reloading. You have so much more control!
Raleigh NC PD went back to 45 because their female officers had a problem qualifying with 40. They couldn't qualify with 45. So they dumbed it down to 115gr 9mm so the least able could still qualify
I like the 40 S&W cartridge! I used it for IPSC in a Para Ordnance P16 1911 pistol. I also carried it in a Glock G22 as a duty cartridge. It always worked well and for me was very accurate. We have just transitioned to 9mm in my service. No issue with that, get a few more rounds, but not sure I notice much difference in any aspect vs the 40 S&W other than capacity. Some say the 9mm recoils less, I never thought the 40 recoiled much! Guess everyone is different.
If you get a glock, it opens the world to all kinds of stuff . On that 10mm frame you can run 10, and 40. ( a conversion barrel makes that more reliable, but it will usually run 40 just fine from the 10mm barrel...you can run 45 acp with an upper and ejector swap. From that 45 upper you can buy a 40 super conversion barrel ( true 41 mag power). If your 45 acp barrel gas enough chamber support, you can run 45 super from it. 10mm power with a 45 caliber bullet. There are just so many fun things you can do with the large frame glock... It's similar with a small frame glock and 9mm, 40sw, 357sig ect.....10mm, 40sw, 40 super, 45 acp, 45 super/450smc, 460 Rowland, are all possible off the large frame. I really want a 40 super
The 357 Sig recoil is slightly lighter, probably because of the lighter bullets, but the muzzle blast is more. Grizzly Ammunition makes a 40SW with 200 grain bullets that shoot at 1000 fps.
The US Coast Guard carried Sig 229 in .40 for a long time. Not sure how they got around the whole NATO standardization, maybe because they aren’t DOD? But they did carry a 40.
I never jumped on the .40 S&W. When it came out I was already reloading for 9mm and 45 acp, along with some revolver cartriges. And I'd been sucked into the "latest" before. Great idea, but I'll continue to pass on the .40.
Excellent video. I believe that the 40 Smith is actually a bit more exemplary than merely being reliable, which is a very good moniker on its own right. The 40 Smith & Wesson has almost the same round count as the 9 mm. And hits with almost the same slam as a 45. And I have yet to see somebody who literally cannot handle the 40. As for the 40 Smith in the 9 mm Glocks. I am not surprised that the Glocks have problems shooting that 40 Smith. The Glock was specifically designed for and around the 9mm Parabellum cartridge. And it is very good at launching them. But it comes with a couple of drawbacks. It has no functional safety on it what's so freaking ever. In a litigious society, I'm surprised that people haven't gone to jail for even carrying the damn things. They have the trigger of a daisy pistol, and they have a grip angle that I've seen people have a really hard time shooting with and they don't like to function without oil and oil draws dirt and keeps the gun from functioning. It is not a particularly well-functioning pistol if not cared for at least reasonably. My 1911, was built by my gunsmith and was carried for 22 years and but he specifically built it for shooting Camp Perry matches. I had him altered a bit when I bought it from him and had it fully hard crown, I spray dry Teflon Lube on it and I leave it the hell alone. It functions flawlessly without lubricant. And with the fully hard chrome finish on it it is fully self lubricating. And it's also documented is the most accurate Government Model on the planet. He has in competition fired a 597 out of 600 at Camp Perry on three different occasions. The next closest competitor he said shot somewhere in the neighborhood of 425 .
I carry a 9, but have on occasion shot 40 S&W M&P Shield. As long as your fundamentals are correct there is little difference in felt recoil, accuracy and precision. The hole it makes is bigger. My brother in law was embarrassed by the precision and accuracy I got with his gun. Especially knowing about my scrawny arms and I was 65 to his 55.
I have heard you mention the dragging firing pin in several videos. I have an assortment of Smith and Wesson M&P pistols in 9mm and 45 ACP and in different sizes. They all exhibit that characteristic. I have close to 80,000 rounds through one 9mm that I shot in competition for years and it is still going strong. The fact that you have mentioned this several times has me concerned about these pistols. Comments please.
Main problem with the Glock to me, regardless of caliber is/was that damn unsupported barrel. I never hand loaded for them but one time at a range I did experience a "malfunction" of a G17 with what was apparently a overcharged factory load. Mag popped out the bottom ,follower deformed, and case of the shell was stuck so hard that I stopped, went out and had the smith who ran the range to evaluate. Barrel was not bulged, gun was fine, but boy it really got my attention. At the time I had just transitioned to a Glock 40SNW . I thought "I'd probably be on my way to the hospital right now if this had been my 10 or 40!". Now if I had to do it over it would be a G20/21 full size with fully supported barrels, and good spring setup. 😂 Great video
The .40 is great round in a duty gun. Hard to conceal in a smaller pistol due to the thickness required. I had to carry a G27 in an IWB holster while flying several trips. It was painful.
When I had to fly a lot to transport prisoners I used a Jackass shoulder rig (ala Miami Vice) which carried the pistol and spare magazines up above the arm rests. Wedging my fat ass in a coach seat with a belt holster one time was enough to learn my lesson!
@@kevinrichardson8859 357sig is super hard to find and not more powerful than 40s&w if you look at 357sig ammo weight like 125GR you get the same performance in 40s&w with that light weight or if you go with NovX 40s&w +P you can get 1,700+fps
Maybe I missed it but I was hoping you would address the subject of Glocks having kabooms with the .40 S&W. I was qualifying with a Gen 2 G23 about 7 years ago when it happened to me during night fire. The cartridge case ruptured at the 6 o’clock position at the rim. It blew the magazine out of the pistol and cracked the frame. It stung my hand but I wasn’t injured.
That sounds like a classic ammo failure - case blew out over the feed ramp. Like you said, magazines blow out and are often wrecked. Polymer frame pistols often have a section near the top of the frame blown out. Metal frame pistols like the .38 Super I had two blowouts with won't be damaged but your hand will sting like hell. Most of the Glock "kabooms" I know of, of any caliber, trace back to bad ammo. I discuss the blowout phenomenon in my upcoming "Super 9s" ammo video in a couple of weeks.
@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb I am wondering if ammo quality may have been a contributing factor along with the much discussed unsupported part of the chamber.
Glock chambers are no more unsupported than most others. A 1911 pistol with the traditional two-part feed ramp is more unsupported than most. Blowouts are almost always a pure ammo problem. Many years ago some Egyptian once fired 9mm brass found its way into the reloading programs of a couple of companies and those cases were soft as butter and were almost guaranteed to blow. We had local cops loose a couple of blown Glocks at out range with the Egyptian brass. The ammo companies always bought them a new pistol. I had a 10mm blowout a few years ago and it was traced to an ammo company using brass from a company who had never before produced pistol brass (they made brass plumbing fittings). The brass shortage at the time caused the loader to use the untested product, which had been annealed at the HEAD of the case, not the mouth, again, guaranteeing a blowout. That was in a Nighthawk 1911 with a ramped barrel, the best possible design. The company called back the few boxes that got out of the plant and destroyed them AND never did business with the plumbing company again.
Glock added more chamber support at the feed ramp in VERY EARLY 3rd gen models and is no longer a subject of concern. On 3rd gen pistols, with the better supported chamber, you will see a little hexagon roll stamp on the side of the chamber near the caliber designation roll stamp. Today Glocks are good to go as far as kabooms. Just buy a 3rd gen on forward and rest easy.
I’ve seen to many shot multiple xs via 9mm my once again it don’t stop as well! as the 40, 45 much superior round! FYI the 40 is a snappy round, as the 357 sig even snappier! The 45acp and 10mm are much more superio!
I love the 40 funny agree a talk with my sheriff, ( at the time, I was in the academy! As he was teaching ethics, 😅 a way ath this time all NCSO officers carried what they wanted, cal, type! I ask what’s going to happen if a true bad situation happened? Soon a fryer very soon n so went to the glock, 40 as far as I’m aware still the current carry! Regardless the best thing said sheriff ever did for the troops! I personally like the 40! The 45 is superior up close! My opinion!
if you have not already filmed it, would love to get your comments on 357 discharge within a home. Talking no ear protection. What would it do to your ear drums? Would you be able to communicate with your wife after a couple of shots fired? Could I ask her if she was ok, would she hear me and if yes would I hear her response? I discharged one 357 round outdoors (not range, so grass under me and sky above, not concrete pad with roof overhead) as a test. Whereas one round of 38 spc was no big deal outside, one round of 357 rang my ears pretty good. Can't imagine what it might be like in an enclosed space.
I can't say that I have ever fired a .357 without some form of hearing protection, indoors or out, so I can't speak from experience. With something like the .357 you have both the report of uncorking several thousand pounds of gas pressure and the supersonic "snap" of a bullet over 1,100 fps. Keeping a set of electronic muffs beside your home defense gun makes a lot of sense and would only add a couple of seconds to your time in getting ready. What about those folks who choose a 5.56mm SBR or AR pistol for home protection? Those things almost require plugs AND muffs when firing extensively outdoors!
@RebelByNature I can tell you from firsthand experience that a .380 discharged within the confines of a bedroom can leave your ears ringing for a couple of days and you very well may not be able to hear effectively for several hours. With much higher pressure rounds such as 9mm and up, you run a very real risk of ruptured eardrums. There are a lot of factors that come into play, and certainly the risk isn't 100% but it isn't zero either. But I can tell you the blast from a gun pointed at you in the same circumstances will be considerably louder...
I had an experience with a .357 discharge indoors. Negligent discharge (not me) it was very disorienting. Kind of like a concussion grenade. May be a partial contributor to my tinnitus today? Bottom line, not pleasant in any shape or form.
The primer wipe story sounds a lot like the teething issues of the Sig P365. Kinda funny how the industry constantly has to relearn so many things. I never felt that the .40 was a bad cartridge, but I always felt that the compromise wasn't worth it. At least from my subjective view for concealed carry. Subcompact .40s almost never carried enough in the magazine for my taste, and if stepping up to a larger frame, I opted for a 10mm instead. .40 was just a little too big or a little too small every time I looked at it, depending on frame size.
9mm guys hate the .40 because its more powerful and has almost the same capacity.... .45 guys hate the .40 because ut is more powerful AND has more capacity... 1.5 - 2 times the capacity compared to a 1911 .45.... I own one of each caliber don't get me wrong... My Springfield Armory XD40 for EDC, my Beretta PX4 storm SOMETIMES for edc... And my Tisas 1911 for home defense with a flashlight in my other hand.... Also have a S&W 640 .38 Special +P for backup......
Dick, correct me if I'm wrong... But wouldn't the 40 be somewhat the autopistol equivalent of the 357 magnum? In the sense that both were designed specifically to give law enforcement a better round, to combat being out gunned, at least perceptively, by the bad guys? As i recall, my father told me that one of big drivers for 357 over 38 special, was that the 38 just lacked penitration of automobile glass and steel back when, where as the 357 could shoot through a vehicle, strike an engine block and stop a running car... Perhaps an examination, but not by much, in my experience with 38 vs 357. I personally choose the 40 for my 2nd favorite cartridge, after 45, but it is/has become a 9mm world...😢
I suppose you could say the .40 is an improvement over the 9mm, like the .357 was an improvement over the .38 Spl. The .357 was promoted as an automobile penetrator, but that was with the old Winchester metal-penetrating load, which I haven't seen for years. It had a sharp pointed metal tip, no idea what the core of the bullet was.
@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb There was also the old KTW rounds otherwise known as the Teflon coated bullets. Those at one point had a tungsten bullet under that coating. Many people thought that just coating a regular bullet with Teflon would make them penetrate body armor. Some states even outlawed liquid teflon.
@@timt8029The KTW rounds are supposedly illegal under a federal law banning pistol ammo designed to penetrate soft armor. If I ever remember where I stashed some 9mm KTW rounds, I'll be sure to turn them in ...
That is funny considering it is among the newest of the calibers. It might be more honest of them to say that .40 is less popular at this point in time.
LE buddy of mine has been in 2 OIS’s. Both with G22 .40 using Bonded Golden Saber 165 grain. He told me that the first felon, armed with a knife at close range, was hit in the chest. Fell like a stone and never breathed again. Superb performance for a handgun cartridge. The second was identical. The .40 is a top shelf self-defense cartridge; maybe even the best.
I gave you a thumbs up.
We switched to the .40 S&W in 1996 after three years of testing. We determined that the 155 grain JHP .40 S&W was significantly better than the 180 grain JHP. Later at the National Firearms Unit (U.S. Border Patrol) we began receiving phone calls from police agencies because of 180 grain JHP failures and requesting info on the 155 / 40.
I was sharing that with a local sheriff's department firearms trainer and he mirrored our good experience with the 155 grain load, but stated that he had mistakenly ordered the 180 grain JHP during his last purchase. Subsequently a male and female sheriff's unit responded to a call and encountered a male subject who, during the encounter sucker punched the male deputy knocking him unconscious and jumped the female. During the struggle she fired three 180 grain .40 S&W rounds point blank into the assailant's chest causing him to break contact. He ran ~50 yards and sat down against a tree. When her backup arrived the subject was complaining that he was having difficulty breathing and when EMS arrived he had stopped breathing.
The 1994 AWB was in effect when I first became a firearms owner. At that time the mag capacity advantage of pistols in .40 S&W and 9mm were unable to be fully realized. The .45 ACP and .357 Magnum gained my interest and held my respect since then.
Thanks for your honesty on the 40cal. Contrary to most I've been told it's an inadequate cartridge. I never believed as much and have felt comfortable carrying one. I prefer the extra ooomph I get with the 40.
Thanks to you for reaffirming my opinion of the 40S&W.
I have a glock 23 with 14k rounds through it, still going strong. You wouldn't guess the round count if you saw the internals. Everything from 50 grains up to 200 grain monsters clocking about 1100. Hotter .40 caliber loads creep up on .357 mag in terms of power and they do it with a bigger, heavier bullet. I'm a massive fan of this cartridge.
Dick, I greatly enjoy and respect your videos. Thank you. With regard to the .40 S&W, I agree with your “Goldilocks” finding, although I’ll express my conclusion somewhat differently.
I’m 77, I’ve been shooting for many decades, my father was an FBI SA and firearms instruction, and I spent two decades as a Naval officer, followed by two more as Lockheed Martin’s Director of Navy TacAir Programs. My responsibilities in the last years of my Navy career and at Lockheed focused on Systems Engineering.
Consequentially, I’ll apply my Systems Engineering education, training and experiences to the .40 S&W cartridge. Many have commented the “the .40” is a “compromised” round, but I’ll assert that it is an “optimized” one. To illustrate this, please consider that:
> Most similarly sized sidearms chambered in .40 have capacities slightly greater than their .45 ACP brethren, and slightly less than their 9x19mm brothers . . . that’s capacity optimization.
> Similarly, the .40’s mass (particularly the popular 180 grain) is essentially about 30 grains greater than the 9mm’s 148 grain loads and 50 grains lighter than .45 ACP’s 230 grain rounds . . . that’s weight optimization.
> Velocity is also optimized, as is autoloader power, size, grip circumference, and trigger reach.
So, as you indicated, the .40 is THE optimized “Goldilocks” cartridge. Does this suggest that the 9x19mm or the .45 ACP are poor? Certainly not; in fact, all three of these primary semiautomatic defensive rounds will (to quote Clint Smith) “poke holes” in the adversary . . . they are all marginal rapid criminal stoppers, and none factually compares to the efficacy of most defensive long-guns.
Most of my EDCs are 9mm, but on my nightstand an Sig P226 - chambered in .40 S&W - often sits, ready to protect innocents. Why, because it is the optimized weapon that provides the best combination of attributes, compared with the .45 ACP and the 9x19mm.
Tough to argue with an engineer. Glad you like my stuff, Sir, thanks for your service.
@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb
. . . and I thank you for your service.
Frankly 40SW has long been my go to self defense cartridge. Thans again great video.
Thank you very much for a true and fair video on the 40S&W. Coming from someone with your background and expertise. FINALLY !
I retired with my Glock 22 and carry a G27 as my EDC
Still have my Sig P226 Blackwater in 40 cal and I have about 10 magazines and all full of black talons, during the pandemic the ammo never slowed down a bit
Binge watching your self defense caliber videos, best few hours on video in a long time. Thank you.
Thank you, I hope they were worthwhile.
AMEN! I've said for years that recoil was mental. It's the "boom" that causes the flinch. Even a .45acp isn't painful. Of course it's different in big magnums, they can actually hurt, but for a duty sidearm the recoil is fine. If there were no noise, I think recoil would be a non-issue for most.
Vastly underrated comment
I once hot swapped pistols with a female officer on the range who thought a .40 would be too much recoil. When she finished the string with the .40, thinking she was firing a 9mm, I asked her if she noticed a difference. She said the .40 was louder but couldn't tell the difference in recoil.
I felt that way for quite a few years now.About the forty cal . the best of both
On jumped on the 40 shortly after it came out and in retirement, I still carry it.
During my four years in Wyoming, over 50 years ago, I generally carried a 357 Magnum revolver or a 1911 when out camping in the mountains. I bought my first 40 S&W in the early 1990s, a Glock 23. I still have that pistol and I still carry it often, especially in Winter when I can carry it under a coat. If I'm carrying a 40 S&W or a 45 ACP, I'm happy. When I was a young airman I asked one of our officers why we couldn't have 45s like the Army; he responded something to the effect that, "If you are shooting the enemy with a pistol, you are in trouble."
I'm a 40 fan. The windshield testing alone sold me over 25 years ago. There is no debating the test results.
The .40 S&W is my standard EDC. Started with it in 2010. Prior to this, I carried a .45 ACP. People keep telling me that the 9mm has lower recoir than the .40 in equivalent pistols. Quite frankly, I really can't tell the difference between the recoil from a 9mm and a .40 S&W in a compact or subcompact pistol. It's a superb round.
This is quickly becoming my favorite gun tube site. Your knowledge base is great and your advice and assessments are gold. Thanks!
Thank you!
@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb By the way, I find it interesting that you call the .40 the Goldilocks cartridge, but choose a 9 mm or a .45. I can understand the 9 mm for the more compact pistols that make concealment easier, like a p365. But, can you go into why you pick the .45 over the .40 if it is reliable AND a Goldilocks AND a smaller frame? Is that just happenstance or a conscious choice? I can understand for a trooper maybe wanting the biggest piece of lead to be able to go through glass, but as a civilian are you just carrying that over?
@@bluesoverlord Fair question. I cut my pistol teeth on a Colt Government Model .45, so when I had the option to choose my duty-size gun it was a 1911 pattern. While some .40 models were made in 1911s, they quickly died out. There is something about the geometry of the .40 that doesn't work well with a standard 1911. That is why Springfield Armory created their EMP, a 9mm-sized 1911. The .40 works fine in a 9mm sized pistol, but I'm not aware of anyone making a .40 caliber 1911 anymore. So, I guess the .45 has always been my default for full-sized pistols. If a .40 is good, a .45 is better, to me.
Have to agree.
Rock Island makes a pretty solid 1911 in both 40 and 10 mm in both single and double stack configurations... 16+1 in either 40 or 10... lots of firepower... Just offering it up. That said, I chose their 14+1 45 ACP for my go home defense... I figure if they walk through 15 rounds of 45, it's just God calling me home after that... 😂😂😂@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb
Thank you for another great video! I did the opposite of most - been a 45 guy all my shooting life, then a back injury made me switch to 9mm (even single stack .45's are just heavy and big, and it hurts to carry it on an all-day basis.. BUT...I've never felt comfortable with it, especially when I became a dad to 3 little girls, and the papa bear thing happened. So a lot of research, and talking with Massad Ayoob, and I ended up only carrying the hottest 9 I could find (usually plus P) around here...and it got to bothering me that in order for a 9mm to be acceptable, you pretty much have to use 9mm loaded to where it has one foot out of the envelope and pushes voiding warranties. Then I started paying attention to police cam videos. Seems to me like an awful lot of cops shoot the bad guy, unload the whole mag into them, and the bad guy eventually DOES stop, but usually they just go sit down and expire. None of the "sudden stops" I've always heard of with other calibers. It really got me to thinking about it, and yesterday, I did something that will probably land me on a Red Flag list - I bought my first .40 as an early birthday present . Why carry a souped up 9mm that's pushing it's luck, when I can get a .40 and still have the smaller pistol size?
I'm somewhat in the same boat there. My daily carry is currently always a Colt Python .357 magnum, I think it's a wonderful cartridge and it's a favorite. However, there are times when I want something a tad smaller or lighter. I own a full size 9mm but honestly, the more I shoot 9mm, the more I realize I don't like it as much. I want slightly more power. And I have a baby on the way so I understand that feeling of the 9mm not being up to snuff compared to a larger caliber. So currently I'm on the fence between a 40 and a 45, and want to sell my 9mm
I am still rockn 40, love it! Great time to be a 40 fan. Cheap buy backs, companies selling them for cheap and ammo still on the shelf. ❤
The FBI has a history of lying about a lot of things. Just ask Trump. Anyway… I carried the 9mm for 28 out of a 34 year LE career in Los Angeles. During those 34 years, there was a window of time for 6 years when I switched to a Hk USP .45acp for duty work. Well, after that “window” in time, I decided to go back to the 9mm until I recently retired. I 💙 the 9mm with 147gr HST’s, but as of late, I now EDC either a .40 or a .357 Sig, depending on my mood for the day. My 9mm’s are pretty much “safe queens” now. The .40’s bigger “oompf” and bigger, heavier bullet is just better. Currently I’m carrying the 180gr Ranger-T’s and I just love that caliber/bullet combo. The bullet opens up to above .70” in diameter and penetrates within the 12-18” criteria that the Fan Belt Inspectors (FBI) call for.
I’ll take the .40 over a “.380 magnum” (9mm) any day.
Thanks for your service.
@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb Ditto, as you as well! 🇺🇸
If you are looking to Mr. tRump for truth on any subject , I suggest you look for another starting point .
@@robertclark972 Ok, how about your POTUS… Is Biden any better?
I am old enough to know that ALL politicians lie . It's the soup in which they swim . But of all the thieving, lying, disgusting con-men this country has ever produced ,tRump outdoes them all . If you believe in His Orangeness to any degree ,I actually feel sorry for you , you are being duped . Have fun paying for Melania's stylists and Donald's ineffectual attorneys .
Vindication!!!! 👏
The only real gripe I ever had about .40 was that historically, in *most* full sized duty type pistols *other* than the Glock 22, the magazine capacity was usually 12 rounds or less. The full sized HK USP held 13, but that was an outlier. Beretta 96s back in the day only held 11 rounds, SIG 226s and 229s in .40 held 12. With modern factory or reliable aftermarket magazines/extensions, this is not really an issue any longer.
Smith & Wesson M&P40 15 Rounds it's a full full size gun.
@@linkbond08 Yes, but that came out around *2005* or so. Throughout the 1990s, Glock and HK were the only 2 major manufacturers (that I am aware of, at least) that offered more than 12 rounds of .40 in their factory magazines for full-sized duty handguns...the Glock 22 had 15 rounds, the HK USP held 13 rounds.
@@danielgreen6547 oh so when you said historically you meant *Historically,* got ya.
Hmmmmm, being an old guy (B.1955) brought up with 45 acp and Colt; eventually caught up in 9mm/Glock craze, this video has raised my curiosity to maybe try a 40. Thank you again for a well thought out and great presentation
Bought my first .40 s&w in a Glock23 in 1990, great cartridge also have a G22
My EDC is the Glock G35 because it gives me 16 rounds of .40 caliber in the same size gun as an 8 or 9 round full size 1911 in a lighter gun.
The .40 does better against barriers as you said such as windshield, glass and especially human bone where it will break it or go straight through.
My game time ammo is the 155 grain Speer Gold Dot with a match grade barrel I am getting 1250-1270fps and in my opinion that's hard to beat.
You called the 45 ACP reliable long before this video. I said that the 40 out of a 5-in barrel mimics a 45 ACP
Carried an Sig 226 40 cal on duty for several years. Bought the Sig when we switched to 9mm, one of if not my favorite pistol. Always liked the 40 cal and no doubt it hits harder than the 9mm. Thanks for the video!
I genuinely looked forward to this video. Thanks for the work/research sir.
I have several more coming in the series.
I was a federal uniformed police officer with the D.O.D., and initially, we had a Beretta DAO in 9mm, then we switched to an S&W, M&P in .40 cal. I loved it so much that I purchased one for myself. You are correct. They have more stopping power and are better on barriers. I am looking at an H&K 30L in .40. Little tidbit, the H&K USP was originally designed spifically for the .40. I am relocating to Wyoming, so I also plan to purchase a 10mm for hiking around in the back country.
I have a USP40. It is a sweet shooting gun.
Apparently the Beretta PX4 Storm was also designed with .40 in mind, might make a cheaper alternative if you don't want to fork out for H&K. The gun is designed to be easy to shoot in general and in 9mm the compact shoots easier than some full size all metal guns. Just make sure to put grip tape on the frame, that's the only real weak point on the gun.
I would be back living in God's country (Wyoming) if not for some family obligations. You'll love it.
Another great, clear bit of instruction. I was considering a 40S&W handgun but wanted to know more. Thanx!
I've carried my Glock 23 Gen 4 since it was released by Glock in 2008 and feel nothing but confidence in it as my EDC.
For those of us living behind the Communist lines in the United States where 10 round magazines are maximum, capacity is a Sum-Zero factor.
In this situation, the 40 Smith & Wesson makes even more sense.
I bought a Delta Elite way back when it first came out. With some loads, Winchester Silvertip, being one, I felt it was a bit hot for that frame. Reminded me of my 44 mag recoil. With tamer loads it was fine. At least to me. I traded it off.
I still haven't found a handgun that feels as good as a 1911 in my hand.
Well done Dick & thank for your time with this.
- being a retired State Trooper SWAT Commander, Marine Corps Captain
I don't comment much, but I appreciate your thoughtfulness with this.
I was a full time SWAT Sergeant when our team was asked to assess a better penetrating round for Trooper involved vehicle shootings. We historically carried a 6" S&W .357 Magnum (cross draw) and the Beretta 92F with +P+ loads...
At the end of the day, we adopted the .40 Cal, when our team data had the .357 Sig as the best penetrating round into motor vehicles. That round obviously didn't pan out...
I have carried both the .45 Cal 1911 and a 9MM 92 Berretta in the Corps. And for roughly half my career carried the Beretta 92F 9MM on Patrol & SWAT and the .40 Cal HKs pistols both for Patrol and on SWAT. Carried the S&W M&Ps in .40 for the later half of my 26 years and retired an Ass. Chief. I reviewed many officer involved shootings during crime scenes/administrative investigations and know historically what works.
As a SWAT sergeant Team Leader and as the Commander, I personally purchased & carried an HK USP Compact .45 ACP which was hybelo ported in a Team Leader vest. Great fireworks during night shoots! If memory serves me correctly, one of the few .45 ACP Factory guns that can shoot .45 Super. A bit Guchi...
Have used my SWAT MP-5 9MM twice during a SWAT warrant service and have a definite opinion on penetration through residential structures...
As a Team Sergeant, I elected to use an MP-5 because of its precision and rate of fire after carrying Colt 5.56 variants forever... SWAT Sergeants carried new Colt M4 s & Troopers carried the 9MM HK MP-5s.
That choice, saved a biker's life twice because I was shooting 9MM over 5.56 from an M4 from subgun variants.
Thanks again for your presentation and keep up on the good wisdom you impart.
🙏
Thanks for the kind words and your long, impressive service.
My thanks to you sir
I like the 40, my first pistol was one, at the time it was a bit expensive so I switched my M&P40 1.0 to 9mm with a barrel and magazine swap and it became very calm and flat, but after a while a little boring.
So when my money got better I went back to the 40, then I decided to try something different and switched to the 357sig with a barrel swap and I fell in love, sight in at 25yd and hit dead on out to 150yd, same capacity as the 40 with ridiculous more speed 1400fps on a 125gr XTP.
And easily make brass from 40sw, yes it's a little short but my full house loads don't care, and the vermin I hit don't seem to tell the difference.
I'd worry about the short case causing pressure problems.
@@64samsky 500 rounds I've had 1 split case mouth, no failures of any kind, no carbon on the primers, or other usual pressure signs, I'm using H-110 got the recipe from a Guns and Ammo Magazine September of 96.
I have to agree with you on the 40 S&W cartridge. My daughter bought me an H&K VP40 for Christmas this past year. When I first shot it I was wondering what all the talk was about the added recoil. I own and have shot pretty much all of the other handgun calibers. I honestly have to say that this particular gun is the one I shoot most accurately. Throw in the Buffalo Bore 155 grain +p loads and you have a round equal to or better than most factory 10mm ammo. 1300 fps and 582 ft/pounds. I definitely don’t feel unarmed to say the least. With 6 thirteen round magazines I should hope I can hit something 😂. 52 rounds at 10 yards produces a three inch hole centered on the X. And that’s fast fire. Thank you for stating your opinion of this cartridge. Many others would have you think it’s not worth the trouble. Great videos and so much useful information.
Thanks for the kind words.
@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb You’re very welcome sir.
@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb I really enjoy your videos more than the so called unpaid and unbiased ones who own enough guns and ammo that they plainly can’t afford it. Plus you don’t try to sway anyone towards particular products. Just honest advice. God Bless!
Great video, my very first handgun was a 40cal!
Great Video, with much knowledge, backed by real experience. Thank you!
When I went into LE, many years ago, in a small town department, we had to buy our own equipment, including our side arm and back up gun(if we wanted one).
I bought a Sig model 220 45 acp as my duty weapon, having always had much respect for the proven 45. I bought a S&W airweight 38 spl as my backup.
At that time, I had very little knowledge of the 40 S&W, or I might would have considered it. Some of the 30 officers in my department did carry the 40, most carried 9mm and two others carried 45 acp and one carried a 357 mag.
My two favorite calibers after all of these years is 45 acp and 357 mag.
I do own a Glock 23, 40 cal and I do respect and trust it, after gaining more knowledge of it over the years.
I agree with you that the FBI is wrong about the 9mm being able to do what the big bores will do. No matter how much advancement there is in ammo, the 9 will never out preform the 40 or 45. I do believe the 9mm has it’s place, which in my opinion is in the smaller frame pistols for better concealment, if a larger caliber cannot be concealed well enough for the job.
Keep up the good work with these videos, you are provided a great service.
Thanks for the kind words and for your service!
Dam,good,job
Thank you for your excellent analysis of the 40 and the COMPARISONS to the 45 and the 9mm. I like the 40. and have an HK VP that shoots the 40 , the 357 sig and the 9mm with just a change of barrels. how can you beat that.? An excellent gun that handles 3 great cartridges (except the 45). I also have a brace of 1911 's for that deal. i like my Commander size the best.
We are so lucky that the founding fathers set this up for us. They were really smart. ( I also like the 10mm). thanks again for your well thought out presentations. The 40 is indeed the GOLDILOCKS CARTRIDGE.
Thanks for your kind words. I have a Colt Lightweight Commander in .45 (frame dates to '53). With a second slide and two barrels (and different magazines, of course) I can fire .45 ACP, 9mm Luger and .38 Super. I'll do a video on it later this summer when I work up some "Super 9" loads for the .38 Super barrel which will equal the performance of the .357 Sig.
I’ve been watching these videos on the pros and cons of various cartridges for law enforcement and civilian use, but not in the order you released them. I’m strictly a civilian. 71 years old. Been hand loading over fifty years. Shooting and hunting somewhat longer. Regarding the 45 ACP I commented that one of my carry gun is a Springfield Armory XD-E 45 ACP DA/SA with the combination decocker and manual safety which makes it very versatile because of the different modes it can be carried in. The most accurate (for its intended purpose) for me semiautomatic pistol I ever owned was the Springfield Armory XD-40 subcompact, but I am one of those who could not get comfortable carrying a striker fired pistol without a true manual safety. With that in mind, if Springfield had made the XD-E in 40 S&W I would have chosen that. Not because I like it better than 45 ACP, I just like the 40. Now Springfield has a version of the Hellcat with a manual safety but it’s only available in 9x19, so that’s a negative for me. There is one of the older S&W Shileld in 40 available to me, but I prefer the double action first trigger pull of a revolver or the DA/SA semiautomatic. I wonder if going to something like the Shield just to get a 40 would require too much mental adjustment or could my “muscle memory” take over when drawing that type of pistol to fire in a high stress situation. I have no trouble switching from driving a vehicle with an automatic transmission to one with a multi speed manual like a truck but I’ve been doing that for a long time.
When double-action-only (DAO) semi-auto pistols started to come on line I conducted a research project using college law enforcement users - no handgun experience. We found the DAO pistols produced FAR better results than the traditional DA/SA trigger systems, given the same amount of training. I think that applies to the striker guns as well ... a consistent trigger pull is easier to master than one with different pulls for the first, then subsequent shots. With a little trigger time, I think you will master something like a Shield just fine.
Great video sir, thank you for the information and history. Worth every minute!
Glad you liked it.
Thanks for the work as always sir. .40 SW was an acquired taste for me. Glad I opened my mind a bit. Stay safe over there across the big muddy.
Identical ballistics to the 150 year old .38-40... Good ideas always seem to come back into style eventually.
I am not a cop. I don't have public money or manufacturers throwing guns at me. Not having to buy new guns is a big civilian factor. I like my .40s and can shoot them well. One has conversion barrels. There is a difference between 9 vs. 40. I'm not an over built guy. Average. I don't find .40 recoil unmanageable. Even in the light, single stack Kahr. .40 was waning when I bought it at half the price of the 9 down the counter.. With crime in my area increasing, frankly, I feel better than ever when I can carry a .40.
I think the .40 180gr recoils about as much as a 9mm+P and is an ideal service load. In a mistaken quest for even more power, the hot 165gr JHPs ended up turning off a lot of non-gun people- IMHO.
.40 and 10mm shooter and reloader of both here- one for 2 legged defense and 1 for 4 legged defense w specific loads. Thx!
Thank you , great job and info .
Great series! I carried a S&W M&P Shield in .40 for a few years when I first stepped away from .45 for concealment. However, from a gun that small and light, it was a bit much and I found it harder to shoot than 9mm and even .45. I also had a Glock in 40 that handled it very well, but that was moving back to a duty sized gun. I could see why LE likes it. In a full size gun it's easier than 45 and more powerful than 9.
Thanks for your hard work! I've been looking forward to this episode for a while now. One of my favorite pistols to shoot is my S&W 4046. A little dated and clunky, but they don't make them like they used to 😂
Thanks again!
Glad you liked it.
You are absolutely correct that they don’t make them like they used to. I am a BIG FAN of S&W 3rd gen autos (4006, 4506, 5906, etc) for reliability and shoot ability. My S&W 40’s will feed empty casings from the mag. Try it out for yourself….impressive. My Glocks, Sigs, HKs, Berettas, FNs, and 1911s can’t do that. I have several variations but the 40’s are my favorite.
My agency uses Glock 22. I’m so much used to it. I have one for my personal protection. I have shot both 9mm and .40 side by side. Can’t tell the recoil difference.
But the Gen 5 are a little bigger than Gen 4, and it’s counter part Glock 17. There is no Serpa level 2 holster for G22 Gen 5.
I concur 🇺🇸
Had a Glock 22 Gen 4. After about 1500 rounds, the pins started walking out. Changed the recoil spring and solved the problem. It was supposed to last till 3000 rounds. Fortunately recoil springs are cheap...
Like I said, the .40 is at the upper edge of what a 9mm frame can handle. We generally replaced recoil springs every 3 years, which would work out to 1,500 rounds or so, makes sense.
Great history. Interesting historical figures.
From what I've seen in my life while a 9mm may be easy to shoot and quick to get follow up shots it fails terribly against any harder barriers and even thicker canvas clothing in colder climates. Often causing a deviation or a failure to expand. While as the 40 and 45 do very well in hard barrier and seem less susceptible to failure afterwards.
I really enjoy your input.i am a new subscriber
Great video. Good job. I really enjoy all of your videos so far and I am definitely going to watch this one a few times. The 40 caliber is my very favorite cartridge in auto loading guns and I have no problem shooting it very well. Excellent cartridge. We’re only one Miami Dade event away from them switching away from the nine again. The thing about the 9 mm you have to find these exotic exotic +p++ rounds or whatever . But I am glad they have better ammunition now in the 9 for recoil sensitive people!
Awesome video
Thanks
I currently carry a G22 Gen 3 (LE trade in) in a Kydex holster strong side. I find it easy to control, accurate and with the Federal HST 180 load, I am extremely confident it will do the job if called on. Thanks Dick - another great presentation.
New sub here. I agree. Your presentations are spot on and the history is well delivered.
Thanks for subscribing.
While I have long been a fan of the .45 ACP and the 1911 - at least in part because it was the first handgun my dad ever showed me, being the sidearm he carried in WWII and brought home - the .40, I feel, is a better compromise in a carry gun.
The first .40 S&W I bought, a S&W 4006, I did not like. In fact, I bought it from a competitive shooter who also did not like it, finding it to be too punishing on his wrist, causing him an RSI; he was going back to 9mm. It was heavy and unpleasant, but it did have magazine capacity, was stainless and easy to maintain, and was DA/SA so you could carry it with a round in the chamber (it had a decocker).
But despite its weight, it was not as controllable as you'd think. With a high bore axis and an upright grip angle, I came to believe that the reason people moved away from the .40 was at least in part because of that gun's poor ergonomics and controllability.
That belief, for me, was to be confirmed dramatically when I later bought a lightweight, compact, Taurus G2c in .40 after having purchased one in 9mm and liking the concealability and feature set. The Taurus was MUCH more controllable, faster in follow-up, and softer in recoil despite being a full pound lighter than the Smith. Lower bore axis, lighter slide weight, and less slide cycle impact. I was hooked, and remain so. When I saw your "Goldilocks" title in reference to the .40, it struck me as being right on point: not too small, not too big - just right.
P.S. And you can fit 10 rounds in even a compact .40's magazine - which is important to those of us trapped in a tyrannically-controlled, Constitution-ignoring state (Rhode Island) where the ruling class does not deign to allow the serfs more than 10 rounds in a magazine lest the earth fly off into the sun. So a high-capacity 9mm DS magazine offers no added value.
Thanks Dick. Good stuff. If you have time, pass along your thoughts on the .357Sig after your revolver caliber vids. Appreciate your content.
Loved the video, now let's go get some of those precious metals!
I must first say thank you Dick for sharing your thoughts and opinions backed with years of experience and research we live in an age where people can share their thoughts and opinions easier than ever before so to find someone like yourself that I believe is actually qualified to speak on this topic it means a lot !! I passed up the .40 s&w and went straight to the 10mm auto in my Gen5 Glock 20 but with that said I’m comfortable with the recoil of a 10mm where as my Wife is not she doesn’t want anything to do with it but loves 9mm and can tolerate the .40 so I have to agree with you 100% when you say it’s just right as far as semi auto pistol loads are concerned. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge much respect.
Thank you for the kind words.
Also its very versatile. With some 135gr loads you can get 1400-1500 fps and have the same performance as a 357 Sig but you could also go up to 200gr loads. I think th main reason why the FBI and other LE went to 9mm is just cost.
Thanks for this video! I carry a Glock 32c in 357Sig, but I have a .40 Cal barrel . I reload, so no problems for me.
I agree with you 100%
Good Video Dick... and accurate as it all occurred.... I was there.... back in the 80s 90s to present. Your facts are on point and this video about the "wimpy" 40... well our local PD used to issue .40 Sigs 226 and 229s for several years ago... and every shooting we had was a one shot stop that usually was a fatality. Now one thing you did not hit on was ammo.... and the ammo issue in the .40SW was its "downfall" if you'd call it that. The 180s in a 40SW, ESPECIALLY the fucking low bid ammo houses that most PDs seek out for a low price on ammo, in my opinion, was the problem. AND the reason was that we found that most low bid ammo manufacturers, used a quick burning powder, and the 180 bullet. It was learned that if the bullet was loaded too low, or sunk some, in the case, the pressures skyrocketed to the point where weapon damage occurred after hundreds of rounds fired, especially in full automatic weapons such as the venerable HK MP5. I still have my gen 3 glock g22 and 27 still and after thousands of rounds fired, but with low bullet weight -nothing heavier than a 165gr bullet- they are still in pristine shape. AND i used to handload for it but never with a 180gr bullet. It was later found, I believe by HK, that if a low budget 180gr bullet was used continuously, the remanufacturer would usually use once or twice fired .40cal brass, where the case mouth strength was reduced after 1 or 2 firings, would loose gripping power on the heavy 180 gr bullet, and from the recoiling of the semi-auto or full- auto firearm the bullets coming up from the magazine, the bullet would sink even a few thousands of a centimeter in the case. The cartridge mouth would loose some of its gripping power and just enough to sink the 180 gr bullet in the case -still fire able- but the pressures at case detonation would skyrocket enough where the bullet would fire but the weapons suffered from a serious increase of recoil battering. And, after so many rounds, - maybe just a few hundreds would start showing locking block, or barrel or frame cracking taking the weapon out of issue use and off to the shop or manufacturer it would go for warranty repairs. So moral of the story is if you got a .40sw you like - just shoot low bullet weight ammo in it and it should out live yer grand kids!
.400 Cor-Bon is really everything .40 S&W was meant to be. Too bad it didn't take off, but if you reload you can make cases from .45ACP. I'm really surprised it didn't take off since you can convert .45ACP pistols with a simple barrel and recoil spring swap.
Bottleneck pistol cases have never bee big sellers in the US. The .357 Sig a light-bullet equivalent of the .357 Revolver, but its sales continue to slide.
@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb Yeah .357 Sig is a good one with a cult following. It's ok if they disappear from shelves completely though --the beauty of these cartridges is a reloader can form them from their parent cases. This just highlights the importance of reloading. You have so much more control!
Raleigh NC PD went back to 45 because their female officers had a problem qualifying with 40. They couldn't qualify with 45. So they dumbed it down to 115gr 9mm so the least able could still qualify
I like the 40 S&W cartridge! I used it for IPSC in a Para Ordnance P16 1911 pistol. I also carried it in a Glock G22 as a duty cartridge. It always worked well and for me was very accurate. We have just transitioned to 9mm in my service. No issue with that, get a few more rounds, but not sure I notice much difference in any aspect vs the 40 S&W other than capacity. Some say the 9mm recoils less, I never thought the 40 recoiled much! Guess everyone is different.
I'm like you, I never thought the .40 had much more felt recoil.
I’ve never owned one but I’m kicking over buying a 10mm thanks for the video brother
If you get a glock, it opens the world to all kinds of stuff . On that 10mm frame you can run 10, and 40. ( a conversion barrel makes that more reliable, but it will usually run 40 just fine from the 10mm barrel...you can run 45 acp with an upper and ejector swap. From that 45 upper you can buy a 40 super conversion barrel ( true 41 mag power). If your 45 acp barrel gas enough chamber support, you can run 45 super from it. 10mm power with a 45 caliber bullet.
There are just so many fun things you can do with the large frame glock...
It's similar with a small frame glock and 9mm, 40sw, 357sig ect.....10mm, 40sw, 40 super, 45 acp, 45 super/450smc, 460 Rowland, are all possible off the large frame.
I really want a 40 super
It's sad that Sig no longer make a 40 or 357 Sig.
Dam,badass
The 357 Sig recoil is slightly lighter, probably because of the lighter bullets, but the muzzle blast is more. Grizzly Ammunition makes a 40SW with 200 grain bullets that shoot at 1000 fps.
The US Coast Guard carried Sig 229 in .40 for a long time. Not sure how they got around the whole NATO standardization, maybe because they aren’t DOD? But they did carry a 40.
The US Army's Delta unit carried Glock 22s in .40, but I hear they have switched to the 9mm now.
I never jumped on the .40 S&W. When it came out I was already reloading for 9mm and 45 acp, along with some revolver cartriges. And I'd been sucked into the "latest" before.
Great idea, but I'll continue to pass on the .40.
Old,west,3840
Ive really enjoyed this series. Even if your are a old fudd cop.
He recommends the AR15 for home defense. A Fudd would never do that.
Well, I'm damn sure old!
I have carried a mod 23 for 15 yrs as armed security
Excellent video. I believe that the 40 Smith is actually a bit more exemplary than merely being reliable, which is a very good moniker on its own right. The 40 Smith & Wesson has almost the same round count as the 9 mm. And hits with almost the same slam as a 45. And I have yet to see somebody who literally cannot handle the 40. As for the 40 Smith in the 9 mm Glocks. I am not surprised that the Glocks have problems shooting that 40 Smith. The Glock was specifically designed for and around the 9mm Parabellum cartridge. And it is very good at launching them. But it comes with a couple of drawbacks. It has no functional safety on it what's so freaking ever. In a litigious society, I'm surprised that people haven't gone to jail for even carrying the damn things. They have the trigger of a daisy pistol, and they have a grip angle that I've seen people have a really hard time shooting with and they don't like to function without oil and oil draws dirt and keeps the gun from functioning. It is not a particularly well-functioning pistol if not cared for at least reasonably. My 1911, was built by my gunsmith and was carried for 22 years and but he specifically built it for shooting Camp Perry matches. I had him altered a bit when I bought it from him and had it fully hard crown, I spray dry Teflon Lube on it and I leave it the hell alone. It functions flawlessly without lubricant. And with the fully hard chrome finish on it it is fully self lubricating. And it's also documented is the most accurate Government Model on the planet. He has in competition fired a 597 out of 600 at Camp Perry on three different occasions. The next closest competitor he said shot somewhere in the neighborhood of 425 .
I carry a 9, but have on occasion shot 40 S&W M&P Shield. As long as your fundamentals are correct there is little difference in felt recoil, accuracy and precision. The hole it makes is bigger.
My brother in law was embarrassed by the precision and accuracy I got with his gun. Especially knowing about my scrawny arms and I was 65 to his 55.
I have heard you mention the dragging firing pin in several videos. I have an assortment of Smith and Wesson M&P pistols in 9mm and 45 ACP and in different sizes. They all exhibit that characteristic. I have close to 80,000 rounds through one 9mm that I shot in competition for years and it is still going strong. The fact that you have mentioned this several times has me concerned about these pistols. Comments please.
The US Coast Guard used .40 for a while. I dont know if they still do.
Main problem with the Glock to me, regardless of caliber is/was that damn unsupported barrel. I never hand loaded for them but one time at a range I did experience a "malfunction" of a G17 with what was apparently a overcharged factory load. Mag popped out the bottom ,follower deformed, and case of the shell was stuck so hard that I stopped, went out and had the smith who ran the range to evaluate. Barrel was not bulged, gun was fine, but boy it really got my attention. At the time I had just transitioned to a Glock 40SNW . I thought "I'd probably be on my way to the hospital right now if this had been my 10 or 40!". Now if I had to do it over it would be a G20/21 full size with fully supported barrels, and good spring setup. 😂 Great video
The .40 is great round in a duty gun. Hard to conceal in a smaller pistol due to the thickness required. I had to carry a G27 in an IWB holster while flying several trips. It was painful.
When I had to fly a lot to transport prisoners I used a Jackass shoulder rig (ala Miami Vice) which carried the pistol and spare magazines up above the arm rests. Wedging my fat ass in a coach seat with a belt holster one time was enough to learn my lesson!
If you want thinner, get the Shield 40. Also happens to be extremely reliable.
If you can still find them the ruger sr40c is thin and has a 9 round mag and 15 round mag
Then change the shield 40 to a 357sig...for a REAL powerhouse @SDMacMan
@@kevinrichardson8859 357sig is super hard to find and not more powerful than 40s&w if you look at 357sig ammo weight like 125GR you get the same performance in 40s&w with that light weight or if you go with NovX 40s&w +P you can get 1,700+fps
This info is all well and good. But what caliber do Bud and Ginger recommend ?
They prefer anything that smells like bacon.
Maybe I missed it but I was hoping you would address the subject of Glocks having kabooms with the .40 S&W. I was qualifying with a Gen 2 G23 about 7 years ago when it happened to me during night fire. The cartridge case ruptured at the 6 o’clock position at the rim. It blew the magazine out of the pistol and cracked the frame. It stung my hand but I wasn’t injured.
That sounds like a classic ammo failure - case blew out over the feed ramp. Like you said, magazines blow out and are often wrecked. Polymer frame pistols often have a section near the top of the frame blown out. Metal frame pistols like the .38 Super I had two blowouts with won't be damaged but your hand will sting like hell. Most of the Glock "kabooms" I know of, of any caliber, trace back to bad ammo. I discuss the blowout phenomenon in my upcoming "Super 9s" ammo video in a couple of weeks.
@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb I am wondering if ammo quality may have been a contributing factor along with the much discussed unsupported part of the chamber.
Glock chambers are no more unsupported than most others. A 1911 pistol with the traditional two-part feed ramp is more unsupported than most. Blowouts are almost always a pure ammo problem. Many years ago some Egyptian once fired 9mm brass found its way into the reloading programs of a couple of companies and those cases were soft as butter and were almost guaranteed to blow. We had local cops loose a couple of blown Glocks at out range with the Egyptian brass. The ammo companies always bought them a new pistol. I had a 10mm blowout a few years ago and it was traced to an ammo company using brass from a company who had never before produced pistol brass (they made brass plumbing fittings). The brass shortage at the time caused the loader to use the untested product, which had been annealed at the HEAD of the case, not the mouth, again, guaranteeing a blowout. That was in a Nighthawk 1911 with a ramped barrel, the best possible design. The company called back the few boxes that got out of the plant and destroyed them AND never did business with the plumbing company again.
Glock added more chamber support at the feed ramp in VERY EARLY 3rd gen models and is no longer a subject of concern. On 3rd gen pistols, with the better supported chamber, you will see a little hexagon roll stamp on the side of the chamber near the caliber designation roll stamp. Today Glocks are good to go as far as kabooms. Just buy a 3rd gen on forward and rest easy.
I’ve seen to many shot multiple xs via 9mm my once again it don’t stop as well! as the 40, 45 much superior round! FYI the 40 is a snappy round, as the 357 sig even snappier! The 45acp and 10mm are much more superio!
I love the 40 funny agree a talk with my sheriff, ( at the time, I was in the academy! As he was teaching ethics, 😅 a way ath this time all NCSO officers carried what they wanted, cal, type! I ask what’s going to happen if a true bad situation happened? Soon a fryer very soon n so went to the glock, 40 as far as I’m aware still the current carry! Regardless the best thing said sheriff ever did for the troops! I personally like the 40! The 45 is superior up close! My opinion!
if you have not already filmed it, would love to get your comments on 357 discharge within a home. Talking no ear protection. What would it do to your ear drums? Would you be able to communicate with your wife after a couple of shots fired? Could I ask her if she was ok, would she hear me and if yes would I hear her response? I discharged one 357 round outdoors (not range, so grass under me and sky above, not concrete pad with roof overhead) as a test. Whereas one round of 38 spc was no big deal outside, one round of 357 rang my ears pretty good. Can't imagine what it might be like in an enclosed space.
I can't say that I have ever fired a .357 without some form of hearing protection, indoors or out, so I can't speak from experience. With something like the .357 you have both the report of uncorking several thousand pounds of gas pressure and the supersonic "snap" of a bullet over 1,100 fps. Keeping a set of electronic muffs beside your home defense gun makes a lot of sense and would only add a couple of seconds to your time in getting ready. What about those folks who choose a 5.56mm SBR or AR pistol for home protection? Those things almost require plugs AND muffs when firing extensively outdoors!
@RebelByNature I can tell you from firsthand experience that a .380 discharged within the confines of a bedroom can leave your ears ringing for a couple of days and you very well may not be able to hear effectively for several hours. With much higher pressure rounds such as 9mm and up, you run a very real risk of ruptured eardrums. There are a lot of factors that come into play, and certainly the risk isn't 100% but it isn't zero either. But I can tell you the blast from a gun pointed at you in the same circumstances will be considerably louder...
I had an experience with a .357 discharge indoors. Negligent discharge (not me) it was very disorienting. Kind of like a concussion grenade. May be a partial contributor to my tinnitus today? Bottom line, not pleasant in any shape or form.
The primer wipe story sounds a lot like the teething issues of the Sig P365. Kinda funny how the industry constantly has to relearn so many things.
I never felt that the .40 was a bad cartridge, but I always felt that the compromise wasn't worth it. At least from my subjective view for concealed carry.
Subcompact .40s almost never carried enough in the magazine for my taste, and if stepping up to a larger frame, I opted for a 10mm instead. .40 was just a little too big or a little too small every time I looked at it, depending on frame size.
We all come at problems from a different perspective. That is why there is no perfect pistol we can all use equally.
Wy 110lb wife qualified with 40. She said "she got tired faster after shooting all day with 40" LOL
9mm guys hate the .40 because its more powerful and has almost the same capacity....
.45 guys hate the .40 because ut is more powerful AND has more capacity... 1.5 - 2 times the capacity compared to a 1911 .45....
I own one of each caliber don't get me wrong... My Springfield Armory XD40 for EDC, my Beretta PX4 storm SOMETIMES for edc... And my Tisas 1911 for home defense with a flashlight in my other hand....
Also have a S&W 640 .38 Special +P for backup......
Dick, correct me if I'm wrong... But wouldn't the 40 be somewhat the autopistol equivalent of the 357 magnum? In the sense that both were designed specifically to give law enforcement a better round, to combat being out gunned, at least perceptively, by the bad guys?
As i recall, my father told me that one of big drivers for 357 over 38 special, was that the 38 just lacked penitration of automobile glass and steel back when, where as the 357 could shoot through a vehicle, strike an engine block and stop a running car... Perhaps an examination, but not by much, in my experience with 38 vs 357.
I personally choose the 40 for my 2nd favorite cartridge, after 45, but it is/has become a 9mm world...😢
I suppose you could say the .40 is an improvement over the 9mm, like the .357 was an improvement over the .38 Spl. The .357 was promoted as an automobile penetrator, but that was with the old Winchester metal-penetrating load, which I haven't seen for years. It had a sharp pointed metal tip, no idea what the core of the bullet was.
@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb
There was also the old KTW rounds otherwise known as the Teflon coated bullets. Those at one point had a tungsten bullet under that coating.
Many people thought that just coating a regular bullet with Teflon would make them penetrate body armor. Some states even outlawed liquid teflon.
@@timt8029The KTW rounds are supposedly illegal under a federal law banning pistol ammo designed to penetrate soft armor. If I ever remember where I stashed some 9mm KTW rounds, I'll be sure to turn them in ...
👍🏽
i went into high end gun store asking for 40 pistols, they said it was obsolete
That is funny considering it is among the newest of the calibers. It might be more honest of them to say that .40 is less popular at this point in time.
Keep shopping…
Bump
.40sw with 155 grain at about 1200 fps = 1 shot stops...
Whats the best 10mm thats reliable and under a 1000 dollars?
Glock 20
How does a .40 S&W +P+ compare with a 10 mm?
😂 no such thing