40 S&W-135 or 180 grain

Heaviest and lightest?

I tend to lean to the middle of the weight spectrum in .40 cal; 150, 155, and 165 grain bullets, although I do use 135gr loads for guns that are most likely going to be used indoors.
 
If you listen two a couple of gunwriters who have capitalized on the fact that controversy sells magazines (and three books), you will like the 135s.

If you listen to trauma/ER physicians (those who see firsthand what gunshots do and don't do, and try to treat them), you will go for the 180s.

The California Highway Patrol, who probably have more experience with the .40 than anybody, say the 180s exceed the results achieved by the .357 Magnum 125 grain JHPs (generally acknowledged to the most effective stopper ever).

I personally think the 165s are the best way to go with the Golden Sabre being the "best-of-the-best."
 
I prefer the light weight loads in a 40. I carry COR-BONs 135 jhp in my Glock 23. I like the fact that over penetration is is a non problem, the track record is good and there is virtually no muzzle flash with it. The fact that it's the most accurate round in my particular pistol is a bonus also.
 
Gee, one of those "gunwriters" has been there, done that to more real live bad guys than most. Been shot, done some stopping himself.

A guy who dropped and a guy who ran around shooting for several minutes look the same on a morgue table, but not over your sights.

Nobody has the definitive anything yet, but we are getting close, and some are closer than others.
 
I've carried anything from 135 to 165 grain loads in my .40's.

I prefer the higher velocity of the lighter bullet weights. If I want a heavy slow moving bullet I'd step up to the .45 where the larger frontal diameter would make it less prone to overpenetrate.

In a .40 I want the same perfomance that made the .357 mag so good. A relatively light bullet moving at fast speeds. Since I'm not shooting at cars or through cover, I don't need as much penetration and prefer the relatively violent expansion of the lighter weight bullets.

The last time I checked , Corbon added a cannelure to their casing to help prevent bullet setback in the 135gr bullets. The batch that I had didn't have a cannelure and I began to experience major bullet setback after only two or three chamberings.

Good Shooting
RED
 
BrokenArrow -

Has he is really fired that many shots in anger? Does he actually have that broad of background in gunfighting? (Besides, out-of-print he carries a .45 ACP.)

One of the facts he seems to get confused an awful lot is that there is a big difference between a PATHOLOGISTS and ER/trauma surgeons (particularly those who have specialized in gunshot wounds).

I really don't think there is any need in restarting that controversy again. If you read my post, you will see I did not go with the two GUNWRITERS (which is really what they are) who espouse a speculative, controversial (read sells articles and books) position. I did not go with the surgeons. I did not even go with the CHP--whose collective real-world experience far outweighs the GUNWRITERS (not to mention their data is documentable which the GUNWRITERS data are not)--which says the 180s EXCEED the .357 Magnum in real-world effectiveness. I like 165 grain Golden Sabres.
 
.40 ammo choices

For casual plinking I use cheapo 180gr Winchester white box. My gun's particular favorite accuracy 180gr round.

For defensive use, either 135gr Cor-Bon or 165gr Remington Golden Sabre, with the nod usually going to the Gold Sabre.

Why?

The Winnie 180s because they're cheap and accurate in my gun. The Cor Bon cause they're the 'hottest' .40 out there, bettering the renouned .357/125. The Gold Sabre based on track record of this round (best full-power 165gr load) and reputation of GS in other calibers. Many other 165 gr loads are loaded down. Why? Dunno.
 
Tamara can't be far off. Just make sure that you have your gun when you need it and that it reliably feeds.
 
Disregarding terminal ballistics and taking accuracy into account, I prefer the middleweight cartridges. The 165 grainers tend to do well for me in that regard. Although almost any round can be made accurate to a degree, the middleweight bullets in the .40 seem to work best in my guns.

If I can hit the target consistently where I aim, all the terminal ballistics in the world mean nothing with a shot to the heart.
 
I like 135 grain hollowpoints or 180 grain ball ammo. Lighter for better velocity and expansion or heavier for penetration and "umph".
 
Does the INS/BP stop better than anybody else? IIRC, the INS/BP also has one of the worst hit ratios in LE too. ;)

FBI solicited ammo from 160 to 180 gr for testing and the new duty load is the Speer high velocity 165 Gold Dot. From Berettas:

155 Rem JHP 12.75/.73
165 Speer GD 13.7/.74

I think the CHP has been stopping people fine, doing better w the 180/40 than the 125/357, has a hit ratio higher than anybody in LE.

180 Win JHP 14.4/.66
125/357 Win SJHP 13/.47(f)

A .66 hole in the heart beats a fragmented/.73/.74 bullet that stops short no matter how much energy it does/doesn't have?

Over penetration? The 230/45 HS and GS on avg penetrate deeper than any of the above 40 loads. So does the 357SIG and 124/9 +P GD. Haven't heard about any problems with overpenetration from those loads from NYPD, Texas DPS, Richmond PD, NMSP...


Shoot what you like, you can find a reason why it's best if you look hard enough? I know I can!
 
NOT HUNG UP

Still learning, and not really concerned with the cartridge I'm carrying.
Figure all are good (at least what's in my guns) so I'm more concerned with where to place them.
 
I use 180-grain Hydrashocks in my G23 when I carry it. I myself rely on the heaviest bullet possible from a short-barreled pistol. Plus, I do all my practicing and match shooting with 180-gr. ball loads, so I'm used to the flash/blast & recoil.
 
With those two choices I would take the 135 grain loads. I prefer the full power 165 grain loads followed by the 155 then the 135 then last is the 180 grain wimp loads.
PAT
 
ITs not often the fackler crowd and the marshall crowd agree in the 40 sw they do get a full power 165 grain load.
PAT
 
If I was still toting a 40S&W I think I would opt for the 155 to 165 gr loads. Choice of manufacturer would be left up to what was the most accurate and reliable in my gun. So, BrokenArrow, with all the information that you collect and pass on to us, what do you use for personal carry?
 
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