Anybody a big fan of the .40?

[Dante1983]

I noticed last year there was still 40 ammo on the shelves. I remember 18 years ago 40s were the most popular thing around. I carried a 357 and didn’t pay attention to semi automatics until recently. When/why did the 40 lose popularity? Anyone here love them?

 

[Bigtanker]

With the advancement in bullet technology, the Foretay doesn't offer much of anything a good 9mm can't do. Lower capacity, snappier recoil, harder on the firearm, and higher cost of ammo are the downsides. It does offer better barrier penetration, like car doors and windshields, but that is about it.

It's still a good round, but with multiple .gov like the FBI and many police departments ditching it for the 9mm, regular folks seem to follow suit.

 

[DadSmith]

I love my 40 Cooper.

 

[Ruger_Ronin]

I still occasionally carry a .40 (G22). I'm not necessarily nostalgic for it. I shoot more .45, but as BT stated it is declining in popularity. Now that it is a fashion faux-pas for the masses, all the more available ammo for me!

 

[2in1evtime]

I shoot more .40 than i do 9mm, i just prefer it myself

 

[dan1856]

I still like the .40, it is popular in the USPSA limited division. 180 GR factory ammo makes major PF but a lot of people reload for that game.

 

[Leadeye]

38-40 is still around. Same diameter and power.

 

[IUKalash429]

Fan. Just bought another 600 rounds to stash away. My first pistol was a Glock 22 which I still have and shoot, and occasionally carry.

 

[Usmccookie]

BT put it well.

I sold my last .40 last year. I was offered a premium price for my p320 and almost 1k rds. I couldn't say no. Took that money bought myself a g43x and consolidated my high use guns to 9mm and 556.

The cost of ammo makes it hard to stay proficient in multiple calibers. 9mm does the job, I enjoy it, and I can almost afford it. so there you go.

 

[88E30M50]

I'm definitely a fan. Sure, 9mm a has risen to become adequate but .40 still beats it in most categories. .40 is an American caliber, right up there with .45 ACP.

 

[KellyinAvon]

Prior to the Great Ammo Shortage of 2020 the .40 S&W was thought to be a dead caliber. Afterwards when the .41 Magnum guys couldn't find ammo? Looks like .40 might be back.

 

[BugI02]

9mm 115 gr @ 1180 fps. power factor = 135.7

9mm 124 gr @ 1150 fps. power factor = 142.6

9mm 147 gr @ 1000 fps. power factor = 147.0

Those are for federal factory loads for fmj to make comparisons easy

357 sig 125 gr @ 1350 fps. power factor = 168.8

40 S&W 165 gr @ 1130 fps. power factor = 186.5

Also Federal factory fmj loads. Power factor is used as an easy comparison for muzzle energy

Seems like the 124 gr shooters would find more of what they're looking for in 357 sig and the 147 shooters in 40 S&W

Yes, I'm a 40 fan, one of my EDCs is an FNP 40 (hammer fired DA/SA with decocker)

The other is a CZ 75 P-01 mostly in the summer when I don't want to carry a full size (also hammer fired DA/SA with decoder

I have an FNX 40 with a 357 sig barrel that may join that rotation but haven't invested in holster age and practice yet

At 14+1, the FNP isn't giving away much in capacity and has quite a bit more power deliver as well as a bigger hole, and I love the way the FNP handles and shoots

I wish they made a P-01 in 357 sig

 

[Bluedragon]

I prefer 9mm but do own a couple 40's. I only really like 40 though when its in a gun designed around it and not a 9mm adapted for it. My Sig P229 is a particular favorite to plink 40s with.

 

[DadSmith]

45acp 230gr loaded at 750fps makes 172 PF and is very easy to shoot.

 

[WebSnyper]

40 was declining in popularity and the smaller 9mm's pushed it farther out of popularity, IMO. I just didn't like the 40 in even a Glock 27 sized gun.

 

[DRob]

Many police departments, IMPD included, have gone back to 9mm for a variety of reasons. The ammo is cheaper and they use a lot in training. Today's 9mm ammo is MUCH better than the crap ball ammo they issued when they switched from S&W .357s to 9mm Berettas (talk about a step backwards) many years ago. Contrary to what some believe, many cops (I was one for 26 years) are not "gun people". The recoil of the 40 can intimidate shooters of lesser stature, experience, and/or smaller hands. I like my Glock 23 but will occasionally convert it to 9mm for practice. It's my EDC in .40 caliber with 165 Rem Golden Sabers.

 

[Itchytriggerfinger]

One of my favorite guns is my USP 40.

 

[Leo]

I think "fan" is way too strong of word for any caliber.

I was about 40 years behind getting into the .40 S&W. I just never took time to figure out the round was not problematic, but the early glocks were. Once I bought a Para Ordinance 16.40 to use for games, and spent some time using a Beretta 96, I learned that there was nothing wrong with the round. The .45acp had a 75 year head start and easily holds that popularity. As mentioned, all kinds of technology has been applied to smaller bullets. I still appreciate the higher horsepower. It does not matter if a high tech bullet works if you have a plain bullet slapping and extra 50 or 60 power factor against the target.
What hot rodder shows up to a race with a smaller motor?

 

[88E30M50]

I prefer 9mm but do own a couple 40's. I only really like 40 though when its in a gun designed around it and not a 9mm adapted for it. My Sig P229 is a particular favorite to plink 40s with.

The P229 in .40 is a very nice combination. It's what that round needed from the start.

 

[BigRed]

I noticed last year there was still 40 ammo on the shelves. I remember 18 years ago 40s were the most popular thing around. I carried a 357 and didn’t pay attention to semi automatics until recently. When/why did the 40 lose popularity? Anyone here love them?

Somebody figured out the "slow and weak 10" joke was not just a joke and found real 10?