Another plus for the .40 these days is since it isn't as popular, ammo always seems to be available during recent shortages and prices are often great deals. For example, I just got an email from Aims Surplus that has a law enforcement ammo trade in sale. They have fifty round boxes of Hornady Critical Duty for 19.95. That's a steal in anyones book. All good points made in the video.
@joshmarkowitz1595 Plus, I really like the range in which you can get 4o. I've seen 130g federal hp, 155 hp, 165 and 180 truncated and hp, plus more recently, 200g standard psi hardcast buffalo bore.. one pistol, to be a utilitarian, go to.
That's the entire reason why I own a pistol in .40 S&W. I bought it back during the ammo crisis of O'bummer's first term because .40 S&W was on the shelves all by its lonesome in every gun store in my area.
Your love for the 40 is much like my love for the 38 Super and the 28 guage shotgun shell. The good news is that I don't think any of them are going away, but ammo isn't available at every store.
When I was still fairly young my dad started buying guns. The first three handguns he brought were a Ruger P89 9mm, a S&W Sigma .40 S&W, and an EAA Witness in .45 ACP. He always described the .40 as being “snappier” than 9mm or .45. I think a large part of the .40 S&W having that reputation is due to a large number of .40’s being in lighter polymer guns and also being chambered in smaller 9 mm sized guns at the time.
My EDC is a full size Glock model G35 I carried this weapon until I retired as a federal agent. I would not feel inadequate with the 9 mm however, when the federal agencies were basically forced to go to the 40 caliber and then we got into some shootings. This is truly in my opinion. A police caliber. The G35 is the same exact size as a full size 1911 but gives me 16 rounds of 40 versus eight or nine rounds of 45 ACP. After 11 months of carrying a 40, my particular agency gave us the opportunity to choose between 9,40 and 45 The 40 does better than the 45. It has more energy and Target. Don't know how many of you are aware that even the case on the 40 caliber cartridge is thicker than that of the 45 The 40 does better against barriers such as windshield, glass and especially human bone where it will break it and go straight through 9 mm tends to stop or deflect. The 10 mm little brother doesn't disappoint and in my opinion, in a full size gun with a barrel no less than 4 and 1/2 in, it is just as good as a 45 ACP or mimics one. I'm not a fan of the g27 or the g23. You're launching a big bullet that will do the job but you get the full potential of that round out of a 5-in barrel. I feel with those 4 in down to 3-in barrels a 9 mm would be better suited. With the 40 caliber 180 and 165 grain bullets are optimal but I carried a 155 grain which hit like the hammer of Thor I though I was after the two-legged animals in our society. I wasn't trying to preserve the meat so I went with the lightweight because a tore more tissue up. I'll leave it at this. Search the forums and see if you can find this. I'm telling you from being a retired federal agent. The FBI may have gone back to 9 mm but they're shooting people more times with nine than they did 40 and that's a fact.
Arthritis caused me to ditch the G27 for EDC. But the M&P pro is still the nightstand resident. Underwood makes a great 155 XTP. Devastating round. Glad to see ammo prices for 40 go down!
40 Smith & Wesson died at the moment all the cops abandoned it. That was the only reason it ever existed to begin with. That said it's still perfectly fine for trail defense.
The main issue with 40 is premature wear on a firearm. It's a brutal round on frames that were originally designed for 9mm upsized to 40sw. It's the main reason law enforcement dropped the cartridge.
Shoot a full-house 9mm and a full-house .40 back to back and you'll realize the .40 Short & Weak is no slouch. I started buying guns in the 90s which was the peak of .40 domination. But I don't really enjoy shooting my .40s anymore. I guess I'm getting old :D
For guys like you and me who hand load it can really be a kick ass round. I've got some 165 Gold Dots running over 1200 fps. Otherwise Underwood is about the only place to get the really good ammo. With the good stuff, you're right. It can be as good as 10 mm. Thanks for another great video. I really appreciate your content.
Dude I totally agree with you! I am a 40 lover. I would love Springfield to make hellcat version in a 40 not to mention shield Plus optic ready! Keep rocking Love your s***
@@thegundungeon Heck yeah brother! It's a long shot, but it's got my vote. I didn't think Smith would make an M&P 40 METAL version, but they did, so I guess anything's possible!
This debate will never cease because of the overlap. In standard pressure .40 has a superior one-stop rate (94%) over 9mm but you can close that gap if you increase pressure to +p+. Many old-school LE prefer .40 due to it's stopping power. The downside of .40 is the cost vs 9mm but training with a conversion barrel solves that issue as well. Bottom line...any cartridge that can generate 500ft-lbs of energy is going to provide excellent results.
I have a bunch of .40s, I shoot a bunch of .40, I even reload for it, but honestly, I don't love it. The .40 was borne of compromise and it is like the generalist round... it doesn't do anything particularly well, it isn't weird enough to be interesting, and every other caliber eclipses it in some fashion. My EDC was a .357 Sig, but I had an incident with it earlier this year that has given me pause on the caliber for now. I know 9mm is mostly "good enough", but frankly, I want something with a bit more power. I have been carrying my G39 in .45 GAP and my G29 in 10mm, but sometimes I want something a bit smaller than either one of those chunky boys. My G26 fits in my G33 holster, so I was carrying that, but I have recently switched it up to my G27 instead. I'm kind of ambivalent about it, though. The .40 just doesn't capture my heart like the .357 Sig did
@@thegundungeon I had a.357 Sig conversion barrel for a .40 S&W Shield blow up in my hands. I don't know the complete circumstances around it (conversion barrels are not proofed, so it could have been a manufacturing defect), but I know it was not a squib. One well known shortcoming of the .357 Sig is that it has a fairly short bearing surface in the case neck. I've had plenty of .357 Sig cartridges get their projectiles pushed into the cartridge body upon feeding (once every couple hundred rounds). With my Glocks, the feed ramp is at a steep enough angle that they just get hung up when this happens and you just eject the bad round and go on. I think what happened is that the bullet in this conversation barrel got pushed into the case but still allowed it to feed into the chamber. This resulted in excessive pressures and caused the barrel to split down its length. This happened I think on the second range trip with the conversion barrel, so this happened fairly early on with it. I still don't have any concerns for the same thing with my Glocks as I've run them for years without similar things happening... bullets that get pushed into the case don't feed and I've had this happen with both factory ammo and handloads. At the range, it is annoying but can be dealt with. However, what gives me pause is that I don't want this nosing-in, feed ramp hangup happening in a defensive situation. It is a point of unreliability that other cartridges do not have and this is a known issue with .357 Sig.
@@grahamohea2424 yeah I mention that tendency in one of my R&R’s. I do the ol bench check and push as hard as I can against the bench to check for set back. You gotta be able to feel the press when loading 357 sig.
@@jasonroberts9357 I appreciate the suggestion, but I'd rather just carry a 10mm if I wanted that kind of power. HST is good enough from a .40 perspective for me. It is more that the .40 just doesn't sing to me like the .357 Sig did...
I have seen gun tubers switch to the 40 caliber from the 9 mm because of performance. I've carried the G23 for over 20 + years. Don't plan to switch, but if I did, I'd go for the 10 mm.
I owned & used a few guns from 1990s to 2020s. I use a 9x19mm +P often but I also tote my Glock 22 gen 4 used with a Glock Store .357sig barrel. 125gr HST.
I love how the 40S&W is still a topic of discussion. In every discussion, the point of ballistics is a common talking point, along with capacity. The concern with ballistics is significantly overemphasized in my opinion. Why do I say that?? Simple. The FBI, as a leading LEA used ballistic testing to decided if the 40S&W was the best round for their agents, then depended on the same test when looking at the 10mm. I get that they do that to see the wound cavity that will be produced. They then decided to go full circle with the adaption of a different caliber. Why?? Because the 40S&W did not have the so called stopping power they needed. I tend to believe the real issue was the caliber of the round at all. I feel the issue was in the placement of their rounds in the criminals. Maybe the FBI brass should have placed more emphasis on the weapons qualification at their academy, along with yearly qualifications. Bottom line, they need to set a higher bar. Now look at their challenge with the 10mm. What was their rationale for changing caliber to the 9mm?? Was it the stopping power?? No not this time. This time it was the inability of future agents to handle the new round. If the future agent could not handle the firearm, then you drop the candidate, not the firearm. Another talking point in every discussion is capacity. The simple solution is to get more magazines. If your concern is your ability to stop the threat, then caliber chose should not be the important concern. The most important concerns should be your shot placement. That requires spending more money on ammo, and placing rounds down range, not on the firearm itself. For anyone new to owning a firearm, do some good research, then find a gun store that has a range where you can get some important hands on to see if you can handle it before buying. Actual hands on is more important then having someone tell you why they chose a certain caliber.
If you shoot a lot, the .40 S&W isn't bad recoil wise. But I wouldn't put a pistol that started out as a 9mm and then chambered in 40 in the hands of a beginner. Fun story, was talking to a couple of other shooters one day back before the FBI greenlit 9mm again. One of them said, the perfect pistol for the 40 is a double-stack 1911. It's big enough to handle the recoil and it has more capacity since most people shooting USPSA Limited division were shooting .40 S&W to make Major without going for the more expensive .45 ACP or 10mm. I still have a few pistols in 40, just don't shoot them as much as I hate losing the brass and I can't find loose brass on shooting range floors anymore.
I love my 40 s&w PCC. It still hits hard. I don't see 40 s&w going anywhere. My 40 S&W carbine came with two 15 round mags and I bought 3 more 15 round mags. My PCC takes Glock mags. But there are a lot of 40 cal firearms out there so manufacturers would be dumb if they stopped producing 40 ammo.
It's to bad the 40 S&W has lost its popularity. It's a great cartridge and deserves its place in the pistol world. Thanks for shedding light on this cartridge. When shooting steel targets watch how momentum works. 45 ACP really pushes the steel followed by the 40 S&W and then the 9mm. It isn't always about kinetic energy. I like the middle ground the 40 S&W provides.
Full disclosure, I have a G22 with a 9mm conversion barrel in it. I am still looking for a .357 sig conversion for it, but not real hard, or I'd already have it. When I go for a walk in the woods I drop the .40 back in. Why? Because gold-dot 40s boogey a bit more and has more capacity and is lighter than my 1911. I hope it doesn't go away (and I don't think it will) because some of us old guys like it better than the 45. Just don't tell my vet buddies cause they'll bend my dog tags and stamp my meal card "no dessert". As you pointed out, it's ballisticly superior to both the 9 and 45, can be fired out of a 10mm barrel, conversion barrels galore. Just imagine, if you start with a 45, you get them all. And who doesn't like adaptability?
For a after market .357sig barrel, I'd suggest either a Glock Store barrel or a KKM. Both brands are ✅️ . LWA Alpha barrels are not bad but my Glocks worked 💯 with KKMs. Excellent QC....
9mm would bounce off those shoulders so of course you need 40! 40 is awesome it was just barrel swapped not engineered for it Glocks since old Gaston stole some rounds off a table to beat S&W w pistol out with their own cartridge! True story. Also 96 Berettas had issues. Hk, M&P, p229 all engineered for .40 were just fine! Also, Glock extractors will take it don't know if 1911 and the like 10mm should get much 40 no one really knows but a crap ton of 40 has been shot out of many 10mm Blocks.... I still carry 40 in winter through the Shadow Systems Comped MR920P I'm reviewing this week & next is so Efficient and high performance while being lightweight to carry just might be the do everything pistol. Come commment on those and my many 9mm vs 40 vids
I did a lot of searching research and I got the 40 shield m2.0 my first pistol. I haven’t even shot it yet I can’t wait to practice. Living in ny state reeks as far as owning weapons their strict. As far as round count I’d say it holds enough and that I won’t have to use it in self defense ever.
Another knock on the .40 goes back to when the gunmakers first started chambering their 9mm framed compact guns in .40 s&w, wanna be commandoes were saying the .40 was wearing those smaller framed guns out too quickly. I don't know how much truth there is in all that, but you know how quickly mis-information can spread.
The magazines, extractors, barrels maybe recoil springs are the main parts. I use a after market 9x19mm LWA 🐺 barrel for my older gen 4 used Glock 22. I shoot Magpul Pmags or factory Glocks.
I don’t even own a .40 and I don’t think it should die. Seems like a good cartridge. I think it’s like everything else in the firearm world: fads and perception over reality. I’d also quote the law of diminishing returns and say there’s no effective difference between 16 and 18 rounds.
#5 against the .40: Off the shelf "cheap" 10mm is ballistically similar to those hopped up .40 hand loads. Mix that with the 10 being able to shoot .40, and you are left with only one argument for the 40. If you are a girl or have girl size hands, the 10mm grip is just too big. That's it in a nutshell. Oh and slide weight... but that goes hand in hand with my original argument. See what I did there?
It remains popular here in southern CA. But we have a limited roster of guns the DADDY government here "allows" us lol and there are still many 40s on it.
9mm + 1mm =.40cal = Increased and erratic recoil, less bullets. The correct answer for more power is .460 Rowland. Just making up a comment for the algorithm soup :)
I think it could be broken down to yrs experience as well. New shooters are offered 9mm & 380 all day, seasoned shooters own & appreciate the “older calibers” and understand their effectivness. I’ve been shooting pistols & revolvers for almost 20yrs, as my experience has grown I’ve researched and shot more guns & ammo & settled on my preferred carry & plinking rounds in this order; 10mm, 357 mag, 40 s&w, 9mm (in small guns) then everything else. I wouldn’t have started out with the bigger more heavier rounds, and especially not if I didn’t shoot as often as I can…so 9mm & 380 are primarily found in a new shooters hand, not exclusively but primarily, as the current gun market steers it that way.
I just bought another AR40. I don’t see 40 going anywhere anytime soon. There are guns currently being made in 40. There may not be any micro compacts made in it. But if people complain about recoil, and people are compensating 9mm’s to combat 9mm recoil. A micro 40 doesn’t seems feasible. That said, I suspect with as many 40’s that are out in the wild. 40 will endure like 38 Spl has.
I can really tell the difference in 40 recoil especially with hot hollowpoint loads. Target ones not so much. Prefer 45acp recoil. heavy revolver recoil feels different due to grip differences
@@ThePenn7 I’m probably one of the few that think double action revolvers have the worst felt recoil. SAA clones feel much better to me than double actions but semis seem to tame everything the best.
@@thegundungeon I’ve noticed if I get higher up on the grip it’s not an issue. These days most of my revolvers are DAO with bobbed hammers so I don’t have the spur rub or pinch my hand.
40 is DEAD. except when KungFlu hits and thats all thats on the shelves. it had been proven to many times recent years that 40 does the same as 9 w less recoil. not to say it doesnt have more so called power but in GEL it does the same
It doesn't do the same lol. It has bigger wound channels and penetrates a bit deeper. Gel doesn't represent human tissue so this kind of argument is weird anyway.
People forget: the only real reason is to see how a bullet opens under stress. It’s a consistent medium geared towards consistent results. It’s not intended to simulate animal/human anatomy. Gel is just to test a bullet’s ability to expand. Not it’s performance in a living organism
@@robertfree1908 Correct --- shooting gel is comparing gel to gel Gel is one of the items the FBI used to TRY to cover their butt after the Miami Dade shootout
FBI protocols used different media- fabric, plywood, auto glass, sheet rock, etc. 9x19mm +P in 2024 holds up well. Can a 10mm or .45acp be 💥 ? Yes. Is it always needed? No.
Another plus for the .40 these days is since it isn't as popular, ammo always seems to be available during recent shortages and prices are often great deals. For example, I just got an email from Aims Surplus that has a law enforcement ammo trade in sale. They have fifty round boxes of Hornady Critical Duty for 19.95. That's a steal in anyones book. All good points made in the video.
@@joshmarkowitz1595 good point. And the law enforcement trade in guns right now are something we are gonna regret not taking advantage of if we don’t.
@joshmarkowitz1595 Plus, I really like the range in which you can get 4o. I've seen 130g federal hp, 155 hp, 165 and 180 truncated and hp, plus more recently, 200g standard psi hardcast buffalo bore.. one pistol, to be a utilitarian, go to.
That's the entire reason why I own a pistol in .40 S&W. I bought it back during the ammo crisis of O'bummer's first term because .40 S&W was on the shelves all by its lonesome in every gun store in my area.
Your love for the 40 is much like my love for the 38 Super and the 28 guage shotgun shell. The good news is that I don't think any of them are going away, but ammo isn't available at every store.
@@brianmoore1164 38 super is tits lol
@thegundungeon Spend some time with a 28 Ga, and you will love it too.
What store have you been to without some 40 ammo on the shelf? That’s ludicrous. 40 is available everywhere that sells ammo. Lol
When I was still fairly young my dad started buying guns. The first three handguns he brought were a Ruger P89 9mm, a S&W Sigma .40 S&W, and an EAA Witness in .45 ACP. He always described the .40 as being “snappier” than 9mm or .45. I think a large part of the .40 S&W having that reputation is due to a large number of .40’s being in lighter polymer guns and also being chambered in smaller 9 mm sized guns at the time.
@@MidWesternShootingEnthusiast very well could be
My EDC is a full size Glock model G35 I carried this weapon until I retired as a federal agent.
I would not feel inadequate with the 9 mm however, when the federal agencies were basically forced to go to the 40 caliber and then we got into some shootings. This is truly in my opinion. A police caliber.
The G35 is the same exact size as a full size 1911 but gives me 16 rounds of 40 versus eight or nine rounds of 45 ACP.
After 11 months of carrying a 40, my particular agency gave us the opportunity to choose between 9,40 and 45
The 40 does better than the 45. It has more energy and Target. Don't know how many of you are aware that even the case on the 40 caliber cartridge is thicker than that of the 45
The 40 does better against barriers such as windshield, glass and especially human bone where it will break it and go straight through 9 mm tends to stop or deflect.
The 10 mm little brother doesn't disappoint and in my opinion, in a full size gun with a barrel no less than 4 and 1/2 in, it is just as good as a 45 ACP or mimics one.
I'm not a fan of the g27 or the g23. You're launching a big bullet that will do the job but you get the full potential of that round out of a 5-in barrel.
I feel with those 4 in down to 3-in barrels a 9 mm would be better suited.
With the 40 caliber 180 and 165 grain bullets are optimal but I carried a 155 grain which hit like the hammer of Thor
I though I was after the two-legged animals in our society. I wasn't trying to preserve the meat so I went with the lightweight because a tore more tissue up.
I'll leave it at this. Search the forums and see if you can find this. I'm telling you from being a retired federal agent. The FBI may have gone back to 9 mm but they're shooting people more times with nine than they did 40 and that's a fact.
Arthritis caused me to ditch the G27 for EDC. But the M&P pro is still the nightstand resident. Underwood makes a great 155 XTP. Devastating round. Glad to see ammo prices for 40 go down!
@@coalgunsandfreedom6891 life happens, sorry to hear that but glad you’re still able to enjoy the ride
Those Underwood rounds are smoking hot!
40 Smith & Wesson died at the moment all the cops abandoned it. That was the only reason it ever existed to begin with.
That said it's still perfectly fine for trail defense.
I really wish S&W would make a 40 shield+
Preach it brother!
@@jasonroberts9357 and while they are at it one in 10 mm
@@atomross13 Got my vote!
I think they do? .40 RULES!!!
In 40 I Trust!!!!
@@richarddavis3918 lol
😂
The main issue with 40 is premature wear on a firearm. It's a brutal round on frames that were originally designed for 9mm upsized to 40sw. It's the main reason law enforcement dropped the cartridge.
Right on. I carried a G23 for years. Ive carried a G48 for yhe last 3. If I could get g48 in 40, I would pick it first.
@@jwgbmp40 they need to make some of these small ones in 40!
Shoot a full-house 9mm and a full-house .40 back to back and you'll realize the .40 Short & Weak is no slouch. I started buying guns in the 90s which was the peak of .40 domination. But I don't really enjoy shooting my .40s anymore. I guess I'm getting old :D
@@jeffshootsstuff lol it happens
I’m with ya on the old thing. 40 was with me for 25 years, but it’s punishing in a compact now.
I'm not a huge fan of the Taurus pistols but they make the G3c in .40 with 10+capacity.
For guys like you and me who hand load it can really be a kick ass round. I've got some 165 Gold Dots running over 1200 fps. Otherwise Underwood is about the only place to get the really good ammo. With the good stuff, you're right. It can be as good as 10 mm. Thanks for another great video. I really appreciate your content.
Dude I totally agree with you! I am a 40 lover. I would love Springfield to make hellcat version in a 40 not to mention shield Plus optic ready! Keep rocking Love your s***
Come on Smith and Wesson make a Shield Plus in 40! Don't forsake the cartridge with your name on it!
@@jasonroberts9357 yeah and a shield 45 but in 10mm lol
@@thegundungeon Heck yeah brother! It's a long shot, but it's got my vote. I didn't think Smith would make an M&P 40 METAL version, but they did, so I guess anything's possible!
This debate will never cease because of the overlap. In standard pressure .40 has a superior one-stop rate (94%) over 9mm but you can close that gap if you increase pressure to +p+. Many old-school LE prefer .40 due to it's stopping power. The downside of .40 is the cost vs 9mm but training with a conversion barrel solves that issue as well. Bottom line...any cartridge that can generate 500ft-lbs of energy is going to provide excellent results.
@@angrysheepdog9744 answer is always 10mm lol 😂
@@thegundungeon amen
@@thegundungeon or 357 SIG 🤣.....
I have a bunch of .40s, I shoot a bunch of .40, I even reload for it, but honestly, I don't love it. The .40 was borne of compromise and it is like the generalist round... it doesn't do anything particularly well, it isn't weird enough to be interesting, and every other caliber eclipses it in some fashion. My EDC was a .357 Sig, but I had an incident with it earlier this year that has given me pause on the caliber for now. I know 9mm is mostly "good enough", but frankly, I want something with a bit more power. I have been carrying my G39 in .45 GAP and my G29 in 10mm, but sometimes I want something a bit smaller than either one of those chunky boys. My G26 fits in my G33 holster, so I was carrying that, but I have recently switched it up to my G27 instead. I'm kind of ambivalent about it, though. The .40 just doesn't capture my heart like the .357 Sig did
@@grahamohea2424 do share the event with the 357 sig
@@thegundungeon I had a.357 Sig conversion barrel for a .40 S&W Shield blow up in my hands. I don't know the complete circumstances around it (conversion barrels are not proofed, so it could have been a manufacturing defect), but I know it was not a squib. One well known shortcoming of the .357 Sig is that it has a fairly short bearing surface in the case neck. I've had plenty of .357 Sig cartridges get their projectiles pushed into the cartridge body upon feeding (once every couple hundred rounds). With my Glocks, the feed ramp is at a steep enough angle that they just get hung up when this happens and you just eject the bad round and go on. I think what happened is that the bullet in this conversation barrel got pushed into the case but still allowed it to feed into the chamber. This resulted in excessive pressures and caused the barrel to split down its length. This happened I think on the second range trip with the conversion barrel, so this happened fairly early on with it.
I still don't have any concerns for the same thing with my Glocks as I've run them for years without similar things happening... bullets that get pushed into the case don't feed and I've had this happen with both factory ammo and handloads. At the range, it is annoying but can be dealt with. However, what gives me pause is that I don't want this nosing-in, feed ramp hangup happening in a defensive situation. It is a point of unreliability that other cartridges do not have and this is a known issue with .357 Sig.
@@grahamohea2424 yeah I mention that tendency in one of my R&R’s. I do the ol bench check and push as hard as I can against the bench to check for set back. You gotta be able to feel the press when loading 357 sig.
Check out some of the 40 s&W loads from Underwood. They seriously are at .357 mag level velocity and ft pounds of energy!
@@jasonroberts9357 I appreciate the suggestion, but I'd rather just carry a 10mm if I wanted that kind of power. HST is good enough from a .40 perspective for me. It is more that the .40 just doesn't sing to me like the .357 Sig did...
I have seen gun tubers switch to the 40 caliber from the 9 mm because of performance.
I've carried the G23 for over 20 + years. Don't plan to switch, but if I did, I'd go for the
10 mm.
I owned & used a few guns from 1990s to 2020s. I use a 9x19mm +P often but I also tote my Glock 22 gen 4 used with a Glock Store .357sig barrel. 125gr HST.
I love how the 40S&W is still a topic of discussion. In every discussion, the point of ballistics is a common talking point, along with capacity. The concern with ballistics is significantly overemphasized in my opinion. Why do I say that?? Simple. The FBI, as a leading LEA used ballistic testing to decided if the 40S&W was the best round for their agents, then depended on the same test when looking at the 10mm. I get that they do that to see the wound cavity that will be produced.
They then decided to go full circle with the adaption of a different caliber. Why?? Because the 40S&W did not have the so called stopping power they needed. I tend to believe the real issue was the caliber of the round at all. I feel the issue was in the placement of their rounds in the criminals. Maybe the FBI brass should have placed more emphasis on the weapons qualification at their academy, along with yearly qualifications. Bottom line, they need to set a higher bar.
Now look at their challenge with the 10mm. What was their rationale for changing caliber to the 9mm?? Was it the stopping power?? No not this time. This time it was the inability of future agents to handle the new round. If the future agent could not handle the firearm, then you drop the candidate, not the firearm.
Another talking point in every discussion is capacity. The simple solution is to get more magazines. If your concern is your ability to stop the threat, then caliber chose should not be the important concern. The most important concerns should be your shot placement. That requires spending more money on ammo, and placing rounds down range, not on the firearm itself.
For anyone new to owning a firearm, do some good research, then find a gun store that has a range where you can get some important hands on to see if you can handle it before buying. Actual hands on is more important then having someone tell you why they chose a certain caliber.
If you shoot a lot, the .40 S&W isn't bad recoil wise. But I wouldn't put a pistol that started out as a 9mm and then chambered in 40 in the hands of a beginner.
Fun story, was talking to a couple of other shooters one day back before the FBI greenlit 9mm again. One of them said, the perfect pistol for the 40 is a double-stack 1911. It's big enough to handle the recoil and it has more capacity since most people shooting USPSA Limited division were shooting .40 S&W to make Major without going for the more expensive .45 ACP or 10mm. I still have a few pistols in 40, just don't shoot them as much as I hate losing the brass and I can't find loose brass on shooting range floors anymore.
I love my 40 s&w PCC. It still hits hard. I don't see 40 s&w going anywhere. My 40 S&W carbine came with two 15 round mags and I bought 3 more 15 round mags. My PCC takes Glock mags. But there are a lot of 40 cal firearms out there so manufacturers would be dumb if they stopped producing 40 ammo.
@@randylangton1932 oh the ammo won’t go away for a long time if ever. I doubt it will, but it may get less and less available
It's to bad the 40 S&W has lost its popularity. It's a great cartridge and deserves its place in the pistol world. Thanks for shedding light on this cartridge. When shooting steel targets watch how momentum works. 45 ACP really pushes the steel followed by the 40 S&W and then the 9mm. It isn't always about kinetic energy. I like the middle ground the 40 S&W provides.
@@rangetime6779 I’m a fan as well
Full disclosure, I have a G22 with a 9mm conversion barrel in it. I am still looking for a .357 sig conversion for it, but not real hard, or I'd already have it.
When I go for a walk in the woods I drop the .40 back in. Why? Because gold-dot 40s boogey a bit more and has more capacity and is lighter than my 1911.
I hope it doesn't go away (and I don't think it will) because some of us old guys like it better than the 45. Just don't tell my vet buddies cause they'll bend my dog tags and stamp my meal card "no dessert".
As you pointed out, it's ballisticly superior to both the 9 and 45, can be fired out of a 10mm barrel, conversion barrels galore. Just imagine, if you start with a 45, you get them all. And who doesn't like adaptability?
@@Tonys_House exactly!
For a after market .357sig barrel, I'd suggest either a Glock Store barrel or a KKM. Both brands are ✅️ . LWA Alpha barrels are not bad but my Glocks worked 💯 with KKMs. Excellent QC....
I have a 40 S&W in my carry rotation, I'm a huge fan of the 40 s&w. Federal HST 180grain s&w ftw 🙂
Good video. Thank you!
@@Matteo_ thank you!
9mm would bounce off those shoulders so of course you need 40! 40 is awesome it was just barrel swapped not engineered for it Glocks since old Gaston stole some rounds off a table to beat S&W w pistol out with their own cartridge! True story. Also 96 Berettas had issues. Hk, M&P, p229 all engineered for .40 were just fine! Also, Glock extractors will take it don't know if 1911 and the like 10mm should get much 40 no one really knows but a crap ton of 40 has been shot out of many 10mm Blocks.... I still carry 40 in winter through the Shadow Systems Comped MR920P I'm reviewing this week & next is so Efficient and high performance while being lightweight to carry just might be the do everything pistol. Come commment on those and my many 9mm vs 40 vids
Truth!
I did a lot of searching research and I got the 40 shield m2.0 my first pistol. I haven’t even shot it yet I can’t wait to practice. Living in ny state reeks as far as owning weapons their strict. As far as round count I’d say it holds enough and that I won’t have to use it in self defense ever.
@@rodofsteel6662 good choice, maybe one day the entire country will be free again
The 40 cal. Brethren approves this message!🧛
@@jasonroberts9357 😂
@@thegundungeon 😎👍
Another knock on the .40 goes back to when the gunmakers first started chambering their 9mm framed compact guns in .40 s&w, wanna be commandoes were saying the .40 was wearing those smaller framed guns out too quickly. I don't know how much truth there is in all that, but you know how quickly mis-information can spread.
It was true in the rebarrelled not engineered for it guns for LE use Ie Glock before gen 5 and Beretta 96....dead at 10k rounds.
The magazines, extractors, barrels maybe recoil springs are the main parts. I use a after market 9x19mm LWA 🐺 barrel for my older gen 4 used Glock 22. I shoot Magpul Pmags or factory Glocks.
I don’t even own a .40 and I don’t think it should die. Seems like a good cartridge. I think it’s like everything else in the firearm world: fads and perception over reality.
I’d also quote the law of diminishing returns and say there’s no effective difference between 16 and 18 rounds.
#5 against the .40: Off the shelf "cheap" 10mm is ballistically similar to those hopped up .40 hand loads. Mix that with the 10 being able to shoot .40, and you are left with only one argument for the 40. If you are a girl or have girl size hands, the 10mm grip is just too big. That's it in a nutshell. Oh and slide weight... but that goes hand in hand with my original argument. See what I did there?
It remains popular here in southern CA. But we have a limited roster of guns the DADDY government here "allows" us lol and there are still many 40s on it.
I hope not…. I just did a .40 S&W build with a p320 upper, custom works trigger and Wilson combat lower. My first .40
@@Citizen2ACitizenLLC oh nice!
Bro's a brick house, I don't feel the recoil. 😊😅😎🚒😎💯🔥💪
@@brudamiranda3314 lol maybe just numb to it
😅😅
Don't pick on little bubby! The coolest part about 40 are the conversion options. Any time you buy a 40 u are buying a 3 caliber gun in the making.
@@pscallahan that’s right lol
9mm + 1mm =.40cal = Increased and erratic recoil, less bullets.
The correct answer for more power is .460 Rowland.
Just making up a comment for the algorithm soup :)
@@gurugoguzhanson lol
Yeah!
I think it could be broken down to yrs experience as well. New shooters are offered 9mm & 380 all day, seasoned shooters own & appreciate the “older calibers” and understand their effectivness. I’ve been shooting pistols & revolvers for almost 20yrs, as my experience has grown I’ve researched and shot more guns & ammo & settled on my preferred carry & plinking rounds in this order; 10mm, 357 mag, 40 s&w, 9mm (in small guns) then everything else. I wouldn’t have started out with the bigger more heavier rounds, and especially not if I didn’t shoot as often as I can…so 9mm & 380 are primarily found in a new shooters hand, not exclusively but primarily, as the current gun market steers it that way.
@@dylanunderpar I get that. I get so bored with 9 lol
I just bought another AR40. I don’t see 40 going anywhere anytime soon. There are guns currently being made in 40. There may not be any micro compacts made in it. But if people complain about recoil, and people are compensating 9mm’s to combat 9mm recoil. A micro 40 doesn’t seems feasible. That said, I suspect with as many 40’s that are out in the wild. 40 will endure like 38 Spl has.
@@Matteo_ I want a micro 10!
@@thegundungeon Glock ever makes a 4” single stack G36 type in 10mm with a longer, ie 19 length grip? I’d buy two.
I carry my 40 every day
I can really tell the difference in 40 recoil especially with hot hollowpoint loads. Target ones not so much. Prefer 45acp recoil. heavy revolver recoil feels different due to grip differences
@@ThePenn7 I’m probably one of the few that think double action revolvers have the worst felt recoil. SAA clones feel much better to me than double actions but semis seem to tame everything the best.
It's physics, The Recoil spring in a semi-auto absorbs a lot of the felt recoil. 👍 @@thegundungeon
@@thegundungeon I’ve noticed if I get higher up on the grip it’s not an issue. These days most of my revolvers are DAO with bobbed hammers so I don’t have the spur rub or pinch my hand.
Your not recoil sensitive…unless we are talking 357 j frames! 😂
@@18wheelsandadozen6shooters5 that’s more than a sensitivity lol 😂
40 is DEAD. except when KungFlu hits and thats all thats on the shelves. it had been proven to many times recent years that 40 does the same as 9 w less recoil. not to say it doesnt have more so called power but in GEL it does the same
@@jjgriffin3275 lol kungflu
It doesn't do the same lol. It has bigger wound channels and penetrates a bit deeper. Gel doesn't represent human tissue so this kind of argument is weird anyway.
People forget: the only real reason is to see how a bullet opens under stress. It’s a consistent medium geared towards consistent results. It’s not intended to simulate animal/human anatomy. Gel is just to test a bullet’s ability to expand. Not it’s performance in a living organism
@@robertfree1908 Correct --- shooting gel is comparing gel to gel
Gel is one of the items the FBI used to TRY to cover their butt after the Miami Dade shootout
FBI protocols used different media- fabric, plywood, auto glass, sheet rock, etc. 9x19mm +P in 2024 holds up well. Can a 10mm or .45acp be 💥 ? Yes. Is it always needed? No.