Should I dump the .40S&W?

Since you load, it should be easy to solve this "problem". Dial it down for maybe 500 rounds until you build up the physical and mental "callous" that comes with shooting something that gives you satisfaction.

Then rely on a defense load (lots of folks recommend commercially loaded defense ammo for liability reasons I guess) that gives you the end result you seek that shoots to the same point as the range ammo you have loaded.

Trust me. If God forbid you have to defend yourself, the rough shooting defense loads will go unnoticed.
 
Skans said:
Personally, this ammo sounds too difficult to find. Why not just go with 9mm?
Click to expand...
I see what you did there..... ;)

Actually, I can see a usefulness in having a 9mm Shield and a .40S&W full-size M&P. Both should have similar recoil feel, so training is interchangeable. And you can add a 9mm barrel to the M&P with little difficulty or cost, giving you flexibility if another ammo crunch occurs.
 
Honestly, target shooting should be fun and if it is painful for you with that pistol and the ammo you are using then it is no longer fun. Change the ammo, or dump the gun. I have never understood the reasoning of shooting firearms with ammo that after a few or several rounds you are in pain.
 
Keep the M&P, buy a few boxes of 40sw 165s and sock 'em away.

Enjoy the 9mm.

When hard times hits and 9mm become scarce/costly (believe me it can happen and probably will) you'll have your 40 to cover yourself.

I have both the 9mm and the 40sw and I'm keeping both. When hard times hit I'll also have my AR15. :p
 
oyster boy and rc the OP is a reloader so a loaded ammo shortage is not a problem.


Someone suggested you simply change out the barrel.....why not drop in a non polygonal replacement barrel in 9mm and then you have more options. I use a 105 grain cast bullet for .380, 9mm and .38s for most reloading......what recoil......
 
OP you need to simplify your setup. I once had 4 .40 S&W semi-autos, I'm down to one, a Sig P226. Anybody who tells you that a .40 you can't shoot is better than a 9mm you are proficient with, is a plain idiot!

I would consider trading the Shield and the M&P full-size for a 9mm M&P Compact, and start dry & live fire practice as often as possible. The only thing that counts is hitting your target and that takes practice time.
 
The Shield is a pretty small gun for that cartridge.

I found mine twisting in my hand under recoil because of the size and shape of the grip so I got one in 9mm instead. It's much easier to hang onto.

My primary carry remains a .40 though and I won't be changing anytime soon. I just don't think the difference in split times will be enough to matter anywhere you aren't using a shot timer.
 
If it's that uncomfortable go get a 9mm. Keeping a gun you can't shoot well is not macho. 9mm with quality ammunition will be just fine.
 
If it's that uncomfortable go get a 9mm. Keeping a gun you can't shoot well is not macho. 9mm with quality ammunition will be just fine.
Click to expand...

Sounds like he'll eventually default to the .32acp, maybe the .22rf. :rolleyes:
 
If shooting the 40 is painful to you then switching to 9mm is the way to go. You might also look into a lighter caliber than 9mm when it comes to a very small gun like a shield though. As someone else mentioned earlier, a S&W Shield in 9mm will probably recoil just as harshly as a full size M&P in 40, so if the full size bothers you the Shield in 9mm probably will too.
 
To the last couple posters, shooting my M&P full size is not bad, even with hotter loads. It's just harder to stay on target. Shooting the Shield on the other hand is down right painful.

As for continually downgrading in caliber, that is not something I intend to do. I just have some damage in the wrist and knuckles of my shooting hand, and try to limit the amount of beating that it takes.

Just to test the waters, I have put both guns up for sale/trade on a few local gun sale pages. Is it just me or my area, or are .40 handguns a lot harder to resell?
 
The FBI just came out with a big hub bub about them wanting to switch back to 9mm and a lot of folks are buying in and following suit, so right now the market is flooded with 40 and not selling well. I'm loving it as usual I'm bucking the trend and have bought 4 40 in the last few months.
 
Well, as amusing as that is I'm sure if my .40 Shield is too much for me to shoot then 10mm would feel like torture.
Click to expand...

10mm is no problem in the right gun and the same can be said about 40. It sounds like you have the wrong gun for you and the way you shoot. I think before the dump get some self defense ammo and shoot it. Then evaluate if you created a problem that does or does not exist with your reloads. I have a 10mm 1911 with a 6 inch barrel a heavy pistol to be sure but the recoil is soft and easy to manage. I have a HK P2000 in 40 and the recoil is not that bad. I would also recommend that you upgrade on your ability to meter powder so you can customize your loads. I understand that the scoops work but there are much better tools for better control of your loads. I picked up a powder measure for under 30 bucks last week. A beam scale is not expensive either. They don't have to be new used is just fine at least in my world.

Good luck with what ever you decide.
 
The FBI just came out with a big hub bub about them wanting to switch back to 9mm and a lot of folks are buying in and following suit, so right now the market is flooded with 40 and not selling well. I'm loving it as usual I'm bucking the trend and have bought 4 40 in the last few months.
Click to expand...

I'm hoping the ammo prices will drop way down. :)
 
Is it just me or my area, or are .40 handguns a lot harder to resell?
Click to expand...

No, actually, you're right.

Local gun stores, not to mention gunshows, are all awash with someone's "pre-owned" _____ (pick the make & model) .40S&W pistol.

People are either downsizing to a 9mm, or upgrading to a .45acp or 10mm.

The .40 pistol being sold off, when the seller looks back on it, was usually the result of a theoretical compromise which proved unsatisfactory in the real world, after some trigger-time with it, for a variety of reasons.
 
I say give it at least 12 range sessions to get better, might take a year if your a once a month kind of guy. If your not stronger with it by then - yes, get rid of it.


I started out with a .40 as my first handgun when I was 21, I got proficient with it. So, when I got my 45 I shot it well - better than the .40, same thing with the 9mm. So, I don't have a .40 anymore, I shoot 9 and 45 better.

I would say go with a 9mm and pick up a few boxes of Hornady Critical Defense Lite.
 
I say give it at least 12 range sessions to get better, might take a year if your a once a month kind of guy. If your not stronger with it by then - yes, get rid of it.


I started out with a .40 as my first handgun when I was 21, I got proficient with it. So, when I got my 45 I shot it well - better than the .40, same thing with the 9mm. So, I don't have a .40 anymore, I shoot 9 and 45 better.

I would say go with a 9mm and pick up a few boxes of Hornady Critical Defense Lite.
Click to expand...

Due to lack of opportunities, I'd say I'm of the once a month variety, sometimes less. I dry fire quite a bit, but that doesn't help me deal with recoil at all. That is another factor that contributes to my decision on switching from .40.

I would like to get to the range more, but there are a lack of them locally. The one I go to is about 45 minutes away, and it's $20 an hour. I am a new parent, so cash and time are usually in short supply. With the 9, I would feel more secure in my shooting with limited time to practice.
 
IMhO (and lots of others too) 9mm is adequate.

Don't beat yourself up or feel bad about not liking the .40.

One of my friends favorite line is 'it doesn't take any brains to be miserable.'

My friend lets me shoot his Ruger LCR but I just won't do it if he's got 158 grain .357 magnum rounds. I once tried a couple of those rounds and I'll admit to anybody that that is more than I can handle (or maybe I'll try to save face and say something like that is more than I 'choose' to handle).
 
I missed the part about partly damaged or disabled hands, if that's a permanent problem, then perhaps the 9mm is also a bit much, might want to consider a good .380.

I won't recommend using a light reload, you may have cycling issues and that is not good for a defensive pistol.

The gun is a tool, if you need to use a different one to achieve the desired result, then try something else. Don't let yourself be locked into undesirable recoil if you can select a more manageable caliber.

Even Clint Eastwood had to use .44 Special loads in his Dirty Harry .44 Magnum.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top