need .40 S&W information

[mattri]

Don't know a lot about this round.   I know that it was designed as a defense round for the FBI and has been used by police, home defenders etc.  A little less than a 10mm, a little more than a 9mm. 

  What bullets are available, what powders work well, any and all loading information welcome.


  What is it's effective range?  How well does it penetrate?  Accuracy potential?

  Is it just for personal defense?  Do people hunt with this round? 

  Really looking for an overall view of the round, its potential and limitations.  Thanks, Matt. 
 

[Dand]

Grab a loading manual like Speer, Sierra or Hornady and read about it. Or google it. Its had a very short and fast rise to wide popularity since it arrived in the 90's I think.

Its well documented. It was devised as police round when the 10 mm seemed too hot and to approximate 357 mag power in a semi auto pistol. It is a popular self defense round now too. Some like it some don't as can be expected.

Look up the components at any major reloading supply and you'll see bullets from about 130 to 200 gr. Cases from all major domestic and MANY foreign makers. Wide variety of powders work fine in it.

I'm a little surprised you're asking as it has become so well known - but then I spend too much time reading gun rags instead of shooting.

Spend a little time on this forum and you could learn quite a bit about it.
cheers

[Savage]

There is as much load data as you'd care to read online from the powder manufacturers.  The .40 has been around a long time, and is well established as an effective pistol round. Just like any other cartridge, some love it, some hate it. Personally, I find it quite useful.
Savage

[Scibaer]

i carry a kahr in .40s&w daily as my concealed carry
there are limitless info, articles and stories, gun and ammo reviews on the .40 to keep you reading for a long long time
i handload for the .40 and for my personal opinion , general overall view.. well, i trust my life to its potential

[1sourdough]

 Good round, plenty of cheap once fired cases around for reloading. I use Hodgdon Universal powder & 165 grn plated bullets for most of my 40 cal loading.

[kid buckskin]

i find that the 40 sw shoots nice and flat plenty of power up to 75 yd and force at point of impact is impressive a little more than 45 acp but dosent expand that well unless a jhp is used, i like its preformance in my opion still favor 45 acp for brut force stoping power

[williamlayton]

The .40 is, in my opinion, a nitch round that does not provide any real improvements to other rounds.
Gamers seem to like it and for that purpose it keeps interest.
Working professionals often do not have a choice.
I prefer shooting the ,357sig over the .40--but just because of the shooting characteristics.
I really prefer shooting my old standards--the .38 super, 9x23 and .45.
Now I have really become fond of the .327---unfortunately so has some of the family members. $$$$.
Blessings
 

[Scibaer]

william,
 can you please explain "gamers" in your above post ?
i'm not familiar with that term in relation to firearms

[williamlayton]

Sorry for the confusion.
Those who participate in IDPA and such.
Blessings

[Scibaer]

ah, ok 
thanks william, i got ya now.
thats a pretty good recommendation for the .40 isnt it, if the IDPA guys like it ?
 

[Empty Quiver]

The 40 isn't considered a hunting round. No doubt it will kill, but it has been developed as a defense round. My opinion is that it was developed to address the short comings of 9mm. This was at a time when JHP bullets were much less reliable. The 9mm with its high capacity was desireable as was a 45 with its heavier impact.

 Engineers split the difference and .40S&W it was. A few more rounds in the grip and a bit more energy on target and a decent sized hole whether the bullet expanded or not.

It can now be argued that 9mm is every bit as good as a 40 now that the bullets have been improved. If you shoot the finest JHP available 9 is just dandy. If you are shooting the cheapest JHP 40 might be a better choice just like it was when introduced.

[Basicguy]

I agree completely
I got more 40 brass than I could carry so I got a 40sw  to shoot them. I can reload the brass for a few cents and it makes a strong hitting round. Habits die hard I pick up easy to find brass but I have thousands that have been shot once. I reload mostly copper plated soft lead bullets and they hit hard. If I could pick up as much 45 or 9 brass as cheap I would be reloading for them in quantity.

I was looking at my reloads shot into a thick dry catalog. By the time that they got out of the 2" of dry paper they were tearing out round 1/2" holes. These rounds were not HP but simple Berry plated soft lead conical bullets. My brass doesnt bulge and I am getting 1030fps from a 4" barrel. I am shooting mostly Unique similar to Sourdough.

Dont get me wrong,  I am not dissing 45 even 22's
I like guns.

Good round, plenty of cheap once fired cases around for reloading. I use Hodgdon Universal powder & 165 grn plated bullets for most of my 40 cal loading.