40 s&w for hunting

[tedro]

I have a Glock 24 6" barrel in 40S&W and was wondering about using Double Taps 180gr Nosler bullet at 1180 fps and 520ft lbs would be adequate for deer. I realize it's no 44mag or 454 but I THINK that at 40 yards or less this sounds like it may be up to the task.

[mcwoodduck]

if it is legal i do not see why a single round will not do the job.
I say legal as some states have a ctg power or length minimum.
There also may be a barrel length minimum.
 

[t-reg]

Yup, a bow range pistol.   Sounds like a good time, when I get a .40 it will see some deer hunting.


Don't know the specs on that ammo, but a concern is that most SD ammo designed for limited penetration.  Bullet design is critical to handgun hunting and I would be concerned that an SD round may not have the penetration to reach vital organs, break bones or completely pass through the target.

[Lonegun1894]

I haven't looked at the specific bullet in question, but as long as the bullet itself is up to the task and will hold together well enough to provide adequate penetration, that should be plenty of gun for close shots like you're talking about.  I'm not sure I would stretch it much past that though.

[Anduril]

............. I THINK that at 40 yards or less this sounds like it may be up to the task.

I like your thinking. Go for it and post a photo if you score.
 
BUT check the hunting regs like mcwoodduck mentioned. You don't need trouble from that end.
..
 

[Lloyd Smale]

ive shot hogs using the 10mm with 180 cast at about those velocitys and it did just fine. Just remember as with any handgun hunting that bullet placement i crutial!

[spruce]

Offhand I'd guess those specs are awfully close to the old .38-40 black powder loads in a carbine.
 
If dead deer could talk I'd bet a lot of them would say that's a perfectly adequate load!

[t-reg]

ive shot hogs using the 10mm with 180 cast at about those velocitys and it did just fine. Just remember as with any handgun hunting that bullet placement i crutial!

What type of cast bullet did you use?


Curious cause I'm in the .40 market and will use it for deer and hogs.  (Smaller stuff too)

[Lloyd Smale]

the bullet i used at the time was the rcbs 180 round flat. Ive actually gotten a hp mold since then and one of these days id like to try that on pigs. Problem is in MI the antis have pretty much tied up the hog hunting. My buddy had a game ranch and let us shoot his culls every year but that isnt happening anymore and im sure not going to travel and pay 600 bucks to end up with 50 lbs of questionable meat.

[csi-cop]

I have used the 40 S&W speer 180 gold dots from a Glock 22 and Sig 229 for the last 12 years or so and had to put down several deer a year that had been struck by vehicles but were too badly hurt to let go. most were close shots but I have taken several at 30 to 40 yards due to terrain. only had three I remember that needed more than a single shot. Bullet placement was the problem on those, my problem not the round. We donate the meat to several charities if the driver doesn't want it so I have seen some of the effects most all were past through but then our average deer size here is about 90 Lbs. Speer list the round at 1025 FPS and 420 Ft Lbs at the muzzle from a 4 inch barrel.
 
My thoughts are if it's legal I see no problem with the 40

[t-reg]

the bullet i used at the time was the rcbs 180 round flat. Ive actually gotten a hp mold since then and one of these days id like to try that on pigs. Problem is in MI the antis have pretty much tied up the hog hunting. My buddy had a game ranch and let us shoot his culls every year but that isnt happening anymore and im sure not going to travel and pay 600 bucks to end up with 50 lbs of questionable meat.

With your experience how would you compare the performance of RNFP to SWC on game?  I've shot many deer with .44 cal LSWC, a few with HP at first.  Have not shot game with RNFP from revolver and I'm curious 'cause they seem to hit stuff similar to LSWC.   Been thinking they'd be best choice in a .40 S&W for MI deer and a possible hog encounter.

[Mikey]

t-reg:  as Lloyd mentioned earlier, it's placement that counts.  When you compare the size of the metplat on rnfp slugs to swc slugs you may be surprised to see a bigger metplat on the rnfp slugs, but I prefer the swc for its sharp bore diameter edge.
In the 40 caliber/10mm bore I have used both the rnfp and the RCBS 40170, the 170 gn swc Keith developed for the 38-40, which as Spruce surmised earlier was found perfectly adequate for whitetail, hog and black bear, back in the day. 
There is a contention that the swc slug does not cut the same square hole through game to cause the same damage that a large flat metplat creates.  I do not recall being able to tell the difference.  From a pistol, both slugs cut straight through although I felt, and still feel that the rnfp could/would deflect more easily than the flat nosed straight shouldered swc slug even though the rnfp had the slightly larger metplat.
Your double tap ammo should suffice for whitetail - it certainly has the power althjough I would prefer to see a swc slug used.  You should be able to use the swc slugs in your 10.  Regardless, good luck.......