Game over for the 40 S&W. Say it ain't so!

Meaning there is no "if 9mm gained so much performance, surely the 40 gained just as much performance"...
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It is true that all ammo in all calibers have gotten better, and roughly at equal amounts. The problem with this argument is the assumption that 9mm used to be inferior.

Having confidence in your personal defense weapon and caliber is more important than actual performance, in reality they are all about the same and always have been. The 9mm has never been inferior to 45 ACP. All objective tests conducted over the last 100+ years have always shown the 2 to be equal performers when comparable bullets were used. For example 9mm FMJ vs 45 FMJ or the same HP bullet designs.

But American shooters have only recently become comfortable with and accepted the idea. They have always had more confidence in larger calibers even though there was no real proof they were any better.

The 40 was introduced at a time when cops wanted more ammo available than revolvers or 45 cal. pistols of reasonable size would allow. And they weren't ready to accept 9mm. The 40 was a very good round, and still is, but I'd just as soon skip over 40 and go straight to 10mm if I wanted anything bigger than 9mm. The 45 ACP pistols are just for nostalgia anymore.

But I see 40 S&W slowly fading. There are still a very large number of dept's and individuals using 40 S&W, but as LE depts. upgrade I predict more and more going to 9mm. If 9mm, 40, and 45 all do exactly the same thing with comparable ammo, and they do. Why limit ammo capacity, increase recoil, costs, and firearm size?
 
Law enforcement as a whole does not choose what is best, they choose what their suppliers market to them. I used to purchase for out department. What was "best" was never a factor in the purchasing. The .40 statistically performs no better in L.E. shootings than the 9mm does. The 9mm's reputation was ruined in the LAPD shoot out against the bank robbers wearing body armor. As we all know any handgun cartridge would be useless against that type body armor. We also all know that no crisis goes unwasted. The response to this crisis of the "underpowered 9mm" was the 10mm. Many officers could not hit the broad side of a barn with the 10 due to its recoil. So, here comes the 10mm short AKA .40S&W. Manufacturers love to sell firearms. Here came the reps. with the .40's priced to sell and their stories about its superiority to the 9mm.
 
once again the statement that a nine is just as good as any other defensive round is. Bigger bullets, heavier bullets, higher velocity, it will all help in case the nine somehow is inadequate.

Saying that the nine is good enough to meet standards completely ignores that meeting minimum standards is all that matters. Maybe you're going to find yourself facing down a raging cow that has invaded your back yard because you are grilling his brother's entrails. maybe some other more realistic situation will occur that will leave the nine less than capable of defeating the threat. Want to choose adequate, or decide (as is your choice) to go beyond adequate?

Buy your ammo online if you can't find it locally. Whatever your local stores refuse to carry, your friendly internet product providers will sell to you any day of the week, 24/7.
 
compromise

The .40 began life as a compromise round and is still very good at that. It combines higher mag capacity, with a wider, heavier bullet over its rivals the 9mm and .45. Though there are indicators that "ammo improvement" is improving the 9mm performance, I am of the firm opinion that those same advances improve the .40 (and .45) as well.

I am glad you survived your incident.....and I would point you back to your LE background regards choice. You carried and had faith in the .40....yes? And you've got time behind a Glock, .....yes? I'd capitalize on both those points, and only sway in that I might consider a Glock 23 due to dimensions, over your issue G22, but only if it helped w/ concealment. Your frame and climate may lend itself to full size pistol and not need the compact model.

What you need are some more gun shops and shopping options. The .40 and pistols so chambered are here to stay...despite what may be local to you.
 
If I was into .40SW (I'm not), now would be a great time to buy. I'm amazed by the multitude of deals available these days on police trade-in .40 Glocks, SIGs, and HKs as various forces drop that caliber for 9mm. Ive seen .40SW Glocks well under $400 lately and SIG, and HKs around $450 or less.
 
The Glock 22 Gen 4 without any back strap inserts conceals amazingly well. It's extremely soft shooting. The Glock 23 in any generation is a good choice. I carry a Gen. 3 23 the most but I will carry the Gen. 4 22 from time to time.
 
Because I am a contrarian, I have gone over to the .40 S&W. I find that in factory loads it is of consistently better manufacturing quality. It is available on the shelves when everyone else has cleaned out the 9mm Luger. The price of new .40 ammo has become more competitive with 9mm Luger. Its flat-nose heavier bullets hammer the poppers and plates with authority. Now is a good time to buy a couple of .40 pistols because the prices of the guns are lower too. Also, the .40 uses a small primer, which is better for the cost of reloading and safer than the risks of using large pistol primers (such as on the 10mm Auto and .45 ACP). The .40 S&W is here to stay. It is the thinking man's choice in a pistol caliber.
 
I think the the 40sw pistols and ammo became more competitive because lot of folks dropped the 40sw in favor of the 9mm.

the supply went over the demand.
 
It is the thinking man's choice in a pistol caliber.
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Really?! I think .40 is a fine choice that is not going anywhere. There is a difference in being contrary, and being arrogant and insulting though. Good luck with that.
 
Game over for the 40 S&W. Say it ain't so!

K_Mac said:
It is the thinking man's choice in a pistol caliber.
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I agree, in a way.

Logic is really the only reason to choose .40.

It's not as favorable to shoot, in most cases as 9 or .45, but it has rational advantages.

There are lots of guns chambered for it. There is every ammo type under the sun for it. The ammo and guns are everywhere, and easier to acquire. It performs well, and gives a high capacity in most platforms.

It's a "logical" caliber, as opposed to a "feel good" caliber.

9mm feels good. .45Auto feels good. .40 doesn't really feel as good, but it does make sense.

It's a thinking man's caliber.
 
I think the problem with the 40sw is that they were put on the 9mm frame. Only a few were made solely for the 40 and those shoot good.
 
If the 40 is dying then it's going to be a long slow death. There are too many of them out there in active use and they do the job good enough.
 
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