Why did homeland security buy millions of 135 grain .40?

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You also asked 'Why' the USMC bought 185 SWC 35 ACP. Who knows? Maybe it was an itch that they had to scratch. Maybe the GAO can devine the answers.
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I don't care why they chose/bought the 135gr .40, in fact, if I carried a .40 I'd probably buy some of the overrun. Good ammo at a good price.

To me the bigger question is WHAT'S THE USMC DOING WITH A 35 ACP?:eek: Velocity? Weight? Can't be used by the enemy? I WANT TO KNOW!!:rolleyes:
 
I think we all have figured out that bigger bullets generally don't need to expand as much to be effective. I would bet however that a 135 grain 40 S&W has a lot more frontal surface area than a 9mm and that in actual shootings it is more effective than the 127 grain ranger +P+ that was so popular at the end of the 9mm craze. Ammo like that was responsible for wearing out guns and breaking beretta slides when the M9 was first adopted. To get a 9mm going 1250 fps you really have to jack up the pressure and that increases slide velocity. A 135 grain 40 at 1200 fps is a nice mid power load for 40 cal. and probably relatively soft shooting compared with a similar jacked up 9mm. I wouldn't volunteer to stand in front of it telling everybody it's a sissy round! It's probably very good at stopping a fight and may have shallow penetration characteristics and lose momentum much faster for use in crowded areas such as an airplane in the case of the air marshals.
 
Ranger "T"?????

We just did the first evolution of firearms quals in my dist. Half the guys showed up with .......135 gr, .40 cal, nontoxic (lead free) frangible "training" ammo. Issue. From HQ.

Does the "T" stand for training. The OP does not specify a bullet type.
Again, I"m betting its a "green" training round.
 
Its a snap, a pretty snappy-snap at that! I've thrown my lot in with .40 S&W but if I had to do it over again, I'd go with .45 ACP.
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Yes, it has "snap." But it is an accurate round, once one gets used to it. Frankly, I love the .40 S&W as it bridges a gap between the .45ACP and 9mm...for my needs at least.

As a somewhat off topic statement, I must say that I strongly believe that, inherently speaking, the .40 S&W load trumps the 9mm in terms of stopping ability...all without sacrificing a great deal of accuracy; regardless of how "snappy."

To the OP-

In terms of the 135 grain thing, I prefer 165 or 180 myself.
 
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crazy thought

What if 'they' knew what they were doing?
What if the 135g / 1200fps load works great?
On people, I mean, not jello, or the Box of BS/MyffedBusters, or whatever?

(I still have some 155g BP ammo 'gifted' to me for testing; hot stuff. For Berettas, I mean.)


My personal choice for my premier 40 S&W / 10mm civilian SD ammo was the 135g Nosler, so I'm assuming Winchester worked out any serious barrier-penetration concerns with their LE bullet.
 
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Why did homeland security buy millions of 135 grain .40?

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Why did homeland security buy millions of 135 grain .40?

The bullet in question is the 135 grain ranger T.

135 grains at 1200 fps.


Why even have .40?
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You can get the same results with 125 grain 9mm at 1250 fps


They could have saved millions by just using 9mm handguns and rounds.
 
Because I bought NYPD 9mm ammo (GDHP 9mm 124g +P for $.25 a around) was sold off at cost!:D

Thank you NYPD.

And thank you for the .38spl +P GDHP at $.30 a round!:D

Want to see my case's?:p
 
"Same results"

Maybe just maybe from the muzzle end (maybe), but most definitely NOT on the end we hold on to......



Think think think think think, ay?
 
Just to correct the U.S. Secret Service carries the Sig P229 in .357 sig not in 40 S&W. However the US Coast Gaurd uses the P229 in .40.
ICE uses the H&K in .40. The guy who said Air Marshalls carry in .357 sig is also correct they don't carry a .40. There are also other agentcies that carry a .40 like BATF, USMS, both list it as optional.
I can't remember where FBI is in things now but they issue one of five guns and allow others. Last I checked they issue either a Glock 22, G23, G17, G19, and of course the 1911 for the HRT teams.
 
Why?

Because it was an administrative decision based on a recommendation from a panel that chose the original duty weapon in the first place.

After that ammunition supply is more a factor of lowest bid based on issued specifications rather than that same panel going over reams of ballistics data.
 
Why? Because they can afford to but whatever they want. After all, they have our money to do it with. You dont have to make good/smart decisions when you have unlimited funds.

Sure the 9mm would work fine. But there's a new toy on the block and they all want one. .40S&W for Everyone. Woo Woo ! :cool:
 
Let's keep this thread going!

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jgcoastie said:
Do you honestly think any of the firearms, ammunition, and weapon accessory companies are hurting for cash?

Where have you been for the past two years?
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I don't know about tipoc, but I watched ATK's stock lose 30%, unfortunately...

But then the bailout should be going to Federal, not Winchester. Olin's doing fine.
 
not an expert...

i am not an expert, and don't have alot of experience with the 40s&w round (although i will be picking one up in a month)...

but i am with WESHOOT (post #48)...what if they purchased this round because it works?!

i know it's a light round...i get that. but what if it REALLY DOES WORK?

i found it a bit interesting that nobody replied to WESHOOT's last comment
 
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