40 S&W

C

Cooter Brown

Inactive
Sorry if this has been discussed. And if it has, please just direct me to the discussion.

Can someone please give me a quick explanation as to the philosophy that the 40 cal has a higher recoil to actual power ratio than other mainstream ammo?

The only 40 cal that I'm familiar with is my Kahr PM40 and it almost kicks out of my hand. But that doesn't really count as it is a Kahr PM40.

So what are your thoughts?
 
I bought a Sigma just because I didn't have a 40 cal. plus it was cheap, bought it off the local radio want adds.

Surprisingly it shoots quite well, I don't understand the talk of excessive recoil of the 40, I haven't noticed it.

The only problem I have with my Sigma, is it scatters brass to hell and back. You need at least three grandkids to keep up with and police your brass.

I like it, I carry a 642 so don't find the DA only trigger objectionable.
 
get another gun

My answer, get another gun! Get a decent 44 mag with some very-warm/hot loads and shoot it first. It should make the 40 feel like a BB gun.

Another reason to buy "just one more". he he
 
I find my .40 S&W to be pretty "snappy", with more perceived recoil than the .45 ACP pistols I've shot, but I think it has more to do with the fact that the .45s I've shot have been full-size 1911s, while my .40 is a 3" 1911.
 
my only 40 is an xd sub compact, so my view is a little skewed. From a fullsize it isnt nearly as bad. I still shoot the thing better than my berretta 92.
 
I have a Sigma 40 cal & the recoil isn't too bad at all.
The frist trigger pull is a bit heavy, but one can get used to it.
I'm 5' 6" , it fits easily in my hands & my wife shoots it at the range also.
 
I sold a Glock 23 due to the snappy .40, and slower follow up shots...I sold it for a .45GAP Glock 39 and couldn't believe that the GAP round is night and day compared to the .40. I'm much more accurate and have faster follow up shots with the .45.
 
Sorry if this has been discussed. And if it has, please just direct me to the discussion.

Can someone please give me a quick explanation as to the philosophy that the 40 cal has a higher recoil to actual power ratio than other mainstream ammo?

The only 40 cal that I'm familiar with is my Kahr PM40 and it almost kicks out of my hand. But that doesn't really count as it is a Kahr PM40.

So what are your thoughts?
Click to expand...

I think you won't enjoy shooting .44 mag class cartridges.

The .40 S&W fits nicely into 9mm sized guns, and yes, it kicks more than a 9mm.

In those small, light handguns, it may recoil more than a .45 ACP from a full sized handgun. The .40 S&W utilizes higher pressures, and higher resulting velocities than the .45 ACP, so the recoil can feel "snappy" from a small(er), lighter handgun.

But the .40 S&W isn't a 9mm, and it does hit harder. That's why it kicks more from same sized guns. That's also why a lot of law enforcement agencies have switched from 9mm to .40 S&W.

But don't pay too much attention to what naysayers post on the internet about the .40 S&W. It's a nice cartridge that hits more like a .45 than a 9mm. Handguns are available with higher capacity than .45 ACP, yet in a smaller, tighter package.

The 9mm is a nice cartridge in it's own right, but I personally have no use for it.
 
Thanks for all your comments.

Here is my dilemma;

I love my 45s, so I need no selling on that caliber. I've got an HK45

HK45Big.jpg


& a Glock 30 sf

1001418b.jpg


Also on my wish list is a Kimber 1911 CDPii (not sure which one yet)

Kimber_Pro_CDP_II_right_side_350.jpg


and a FNP-45 Tactical then adding a suppressor of course.

FNM0173mb.png




But back to the point, I currently carry a Sig P238

Sig-Sauer-P238-LaserGrip.jpg


but recently "upgraded" to the Kahr PM40

Item_Kahr_PM40.jpg


This thing kicks way too much for any hope of an accurate follow up shot. And it actually slips off my third finger. I really don't want any larger framed gun to carry in this hot Oklahoma summer weather. So I'm thinking about a Kahr PM9. I'm trying to get my wife interested in a full sized 9mill as well. But that is a different purchase. I don't want to add a 5th caliber to the gang I've also got a S&W 640 J frame. So it's either trade in the PM40 for a PM9 and get the wife a full size 9, or ... well I guess that is the only idea I've got.

Thoughts?


Yeah, I like guns and I want more of 'em.
 
Not to mention 9mill is half the price of 45s and almost half the price of 40s. I like to shoot and is sucks dropping $50-$60 for 100 rounds. And that's the "cheap" factory reloads I get at my gun club.


Another question, is it sacrilege to buy a 1911 in any other caliber than 45acp? They make some sweet 9mills in that model.
 
Cooter,

If the PM40 has too much recoil, and that's the size gun that you want to carry, then the obvious choice is to get that sized gun chambered for a smaller, lighter recoiling cartridge.

As much dislike as I have for the 9mm in general, it's not a bad cartridge. I choose to shoot something else, but that doesn't mean it's better for anyone else.

Choose what you believe will work for you, for your situation and abilities. It's hard to make a bad choice of SD cartridge these days if you stay within generally accepted guidelines. The 9mm definitely fits within any percieved or stated guidelines for such a firearm.

It's great to have choices.

Daryl
 
I shoot a 460, 44 mags, 357 mags with hot handloads, etc etc. What recoil? My Sigma 40 and my P226 are pussycats.
 
I carry a Walther PPS in .40, have a P99 in the same caliber. Also I have a CZ40B that I love. Its my favorite handgun round. Get a fullsize for home protection and the shooting range. Carry the Kahr if its reliable. Its a small gun and the recoil is just something to deal with. Good stopping power for a tiny package, imo.
 
I know what you mean about hot summers. Down here in South Florida it is in the 90s daily. I have a Glock 23 and a Sig P229 which are both 40. I used to carry a S&W 340PD and now I'm very happy with a Kahr P9 in the Bandera Gun Leather "Beltster."

It is so comfortable that I have come home from work and forget that I'm still carrying the pistol for the first half hour I'm at home. Shoots well too. No malfunctions out of mine so far. (knocking on wood). Sure I would rather have a 40 but this is comfortable to carry and to shoot so I highly recommend it if you have the hot summer weather to contend with.
 
Ever shoot a 9mm with +P ammo? This is roughly what you will experience with the .40 S&W load. Hence, to me, shooting a .40 is no more difficult than when shooting a 9mm with high pressure defense loads. As with any other caliber, the gun which this load is fired through can make a difference in terms of comfort and accuracy.

In addition, from what I have gathered, the .40 S&W (given the proper ammo) is more effective than the 9mm in terms of "stopping" power.

Each to their own. Just like many other loads out there...you either like it or you do not.
 
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.40 recoil

I have a Glock model 22, full size .40 S&W. Last year I purchased a Colt Commander .45 ACP. it was an impulse buy, I went into my local shop and it was on sale, it was just so pretty, all stainless and all. So many people here have said that the .40 is snappy and the .45 has a softer "push" Well, now that I have both and have put several hundred rounds of 230gr. 45's down range I can say from experience BULLSHOOT! My .45 kicks more, not a soft push and not really punishing but it has more, sharper recoil than my Glock 40.
A friend has a Glock model 23 (compact .40) the recoil on his gun is noticeably harder than my full sized Glock. I'm seriously considering a Glock subcompact, I'll probably go with a model 26, 9mm.
 
Cooter,

I was going to try and answer your post about the .40 'kicking hard'.... then I saw your post about wanting a 1911 in 9mm. At that point I realized there just wasn't anything I could do to help you ;)

All kidding aside... Wolf 180 grain FMJ is one of the softest-kicking .40 loads I've fired, if you're not adverse to steel-cased ammo. If you are, and you reload, you can always cook up something lighter.

Personally, I'd suggest that you give the Browning Hi Power (or its many clones) a hard look before settling on a 9mm 1911.
 
The .40 feels "snappier" than the .45 but it's STILL a softer recoil. The .40 tends to make me twist my forearm for some reason but the .45 recoil is more
of a dull slow "push" felt in my shoulder and "twinge" in my neck. (The latter is because of damage from a injury.) I'm more accurate with the .45 but prefer the 9mm for all of the commonly heard reasons.

The .40sw is a cartridge I can live without in my collection. Especially, since in the last few years improvements in ammo designs allow the 9mm to rival/equal it's performance.
 
I've shot the 40 in an all steel 1911 and it did'nt seem a lot different than a 45.In your case however you're firing a cartridge 10% smaller than a 45,with average bullet weight about 30-35% less at chamber pressures nearly double the 45,in a platform almost 1/3 size and weight of an all steel 1911.Whats not to like?

My niece had a fair amount of trouble getting under her PM9,but a grip sleeve,a Pierce grip extender and standard pressure rounds had her in the 9 and 10 ring out to 15 yards by the time she broke the gun in.(these are not target or extended range combat pistols)
If you try a simple bike tube sleeve and grip extender so you have a place for your pinky finger,and maybe try lighter loads,say 155-165 grn. standard pressure stuff,until you're more accustomed to the gun, you might find yourself in a whole new ballgame.
You certainly are'nt the first person to notice the sting and wiggle of that narrow Kahr grip,nor the first to realize why they sell a mountain of grip sleeves and extensions.
Plus if you ever see a polymer semi-auto in slow-mo,you will understand in an instant why it feels like its trying to go into orbit under recoil.
I would transport you to such a magical place..but alas I'm but a single finger keyboardest and hopeless digital dinosaur adrift in a polymer My Space universe....just think You Tube..seek and ye shall find.
 
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