.40 S&W Caliber Cartridge not Accurate?

Just Bought an HK 40c

I have shot just about everything except the .40 and the 10mm. I recently purchased an HK 40c and plan to take it to the range in the next few weeks to see how it does. However, I will say that I find Sig 9mm (239) to be more accurate than my Glock-19, so I tend to think its more about the gun, grip and trigger control and less about the ammo...
 
The majority of PD's in America, as well as the majority of Federal agencies use the .40 cal. It is a powerful and accurate round. I've owned a Glock 22for the last 16 years. I also have a .40 cal FNP and Beretta. It will get the job done.
 
If not .40 then which?

Some of you have said that .40 S&W is, "pretty accurate for self defense". That seems to give the impression that you think another pistol cartridge is more accurate. So...

Without starting a huge malicious debate, which pistol round is most accurate? You may want to list a few of them in the order you like. And if you think's it's .40 S&W please say so. (I know some depends on brand of gun and brand of ammunition. I just want other people's opinion.)
 
Depends on what you mean by "accuracy". For off hand shooting out to 25 yds there seems to be more difference in accuracy between ammo brands/models than cartridges such as 9mm, .40 and .45ACP. Also, the .38 and .45ACP have nearly 100 yds of evolution in firearms which most of includes bullseye competition.

The .40 was designed specifically to meet combat criteria not bullseye competition standards, and the firearms for it have been primarily intended for LEO and defense. Maybe in a hundred years some .40 pistols will evolve to be tuned for better target accuracy. But right now the competitions it is used for favor reliable functioning, capacity and speed over pinpoint accuracy.

The transonic velocities of lighter bullets can also be a factor not experienced in all but the most extreme .45ACP (such as 165 gr). I suspect a 180 gr .40 is just as inherently accurate as a 230 gr .45ACp or 147 gr 9mm all of which have similar sectional densities (therefore approximately the same bearing length) and velocities.

I think the accuracy issue has more to do with the ammo type and firearm used than the cartridge when it cmes to the popular auto pistols. for instance, the .380ACP is not known as being inherently accurate. Light, stubby bullets. But, when fired in a fixed barrel blowback pistol like the Makarov it can easily be more accurate than 99% of recoil operated pistols.
 
The cartridge only gets the bullet moving. The barrel is what puts it on the target. I always laugh when I hear someone say a certain cartridge is accurate.
 
The barrel does help put it on target, but bullet construction makes a major difference.

Using my MP5 with its Beeman SS3 on top, I've shot Norinco 9mm that was acceptable at 15 yards, but would group at around 15" at 100 yards. Same gun, same day, using Federal 9BP, the groups shrank to around 4".

The way the bullet is made, and especially the base of the bullet, is critical to accuracy, especially when rifle bullets are concerned, but also pistol bullets.
 
I think Dances with Guns is correct when he says that the round is brand picky. My first .40 was a Smith & Wesson 4006, and I couldn't hit a pie plate at 50' with it. It left me completely unenthused about the .40.

It wasn't until I got a Browning Hi-Power in .40 that I saw the accuracy potential of the round. I have since gotten a CZ 75 in .40 and that has proven to be quite accurate with the .40 cartridge as well.
 
I have two S&W 40 autos.... I shoot them 3-4 times a month.... Am better with one than the other ... but... I wouldnt call it an inaccurate caliber.
 
Really the .40 is not accurate?:eek:

Damn, tell that to all the bad guys who have been shot by a .40.

I have shot about every caliber out there, and honestly, in my humble opinion, it is the handgun (including length of barrel, sight alignment), shooter and the round, not the caliber.
 
I was a hardcore 9mm fan, and just made the switch to .40, and I'm loving it. Ammo availability, more power, and I don't notice any difference in recoil, but everyone else calls it ''snappy''. I've found it to be a VERY accurate, and potent round.
 
Most accurate round out there? I'd say it was the 9 mm followed by the 45 colt then 45 ACP, but all these rounds have been around for a hundred years or so. Plenty of time for developing accurate loads and bullet design.

The 40 has only been around for about 20 years or less, give it time. Besides how accurate do you have to be at 10 to 30 feet?

My question would be "Why would you use a 40 for bullseye shooting anyway"?

Just my 2 cents.

Jim
 
I've owned a S&W model 4006 .40 cal. for many years. I carried it as a police officer in the mid-90's and for self-defense since. I personally find it to be very accurate up to 30yds. which is about as far as I shoot at the range. Much as I hate to admit it, I shoot it better than my beloved Ruger speed six .38. That's my two cents. For what its worth.
 
Besides how accurate do you have to be at 10 to 30 feet?
Click to expand...

plenty, I would think...non vital vs vital organ shots actually. I'm more accurate with a 9mm and .45 GAP than I ever was with a .40. BTW, I've owned all 3 and shot them plenty.
 
Geek said"Is it really less accurate than let's say a 9mm or a .45" ACP?

Referencing 9 vs .40 vs .45 threads on this forum concerning accuracy, power, durability, and other measures of 'goodness' will bring you to only 1 conclusion.

What you are really talking about are 3 empty pieces of brass that vary in ID, OD, and length.

All else is changeable.
-bullet
-primer
-powder
-firearm
-shooter
-and.. something else I'm not thinking of right now

Point is all of these have much more to do with accuracy than those 3 empty pieces of brass.

(((also.. I stand by my earlier post on the .22. I can put a full magazine well inside 99% of the groups shot with any of the above 3 calibers. .....Well that is if my son will let me shoot his Browning Buckmark)))
 
Well....

All I will add is over 40% of law enforcement in the US are issued Glock sidearms and most are in 40 cal. Many perps are shot during stressful confrontations with the .40 and the results speak for themselves. A local LEO shot a perp at nearly 40 feet with 11 hits after the officer had been hit in both legs.

I have qualified with the .40 for several years. In previous years I qualified with the .357 mag and 9mm without a problem.

My experience has been that each gun likes one brand & load of ammo more than others. As previously stated by another poster, the .40 is not made to be competion quality but I feel with good handloading, some improvement in accuracy can be made.

I do not shoot the .40 for accuracy, I shoot for self defense. It is accurate enough for my needs. If I wanted precise accuracy, I would be using scoped rifles or at least a revolver with a longer barrel. All it takes is one properly placed shot to stop aggression.
 
Accurate round

Years ago, it was said that the 9mm was not a good target round because it was "too brittle" - whatever that meant. Then the USAMU armorers figured out a way to accurize the Beretta 92 and - Lo! It became an accurate cartridge.
Most accurate pistol round - already stated by another poster - the .22LR. A quality .22 semi-auto will put 10 shots into an inch at 50 yards. The best your top shelf CF guns will give is two inches, though a tuned Bullseye gun will do better.
Pete
 
Some good points, but I'd say that the 40s&w is more accurite than mnost of itsd shooters.

Played around last weekend with my g27 and was hitting clays stuck on trees at 50-75', thought that was nice for such a short barrel also :)
 
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