.40 S&W

[wingsprint410]

I should clarify, I also find the .45 ACP to be far more comfortable to shoot and more controllable- which is why I don't care about the "lack of capacity" in that caliber.  That's really my gripe- I don't believe the .40 is any more effective, but I dang sure believe it's more abusive to the shooter.  Please note, I still have not said .40 was less effective- I just don't believe it's more effective either.  And heck, I'll still probably own a .40 when I find a good deal on an old, full size USP.  But I'm not going to walk around carrying it thinking I'm any "better" armed.  It's shot placement, no matter what caliber we're carrying.

I am in the habit of staying out of caliber discussions. I will break habit by saying that I feel that it is important add the firearm itself into the equation when discussing control and recoil. Some pistols handle the .40 much better that others. For example, in my opinion the SIG 'classic line" (p226, 229 and 239) all but eliminate the issue of control and recoil with the .40. Not sure why.. I am just saying that the pistol itself has a lot to do with it. YMMV.

[tscentral]

1 mm in diameter difference, guys.  LOL.  I was waiting for the "larger wound channel, loss of blood".

Just a little math, while 1 mm is only a 10 percent increase in diameter it is a 20 percent increase in area.

Hunter

[mountainyeti]

"they admitted at my Glock Armorer class that strapping a light to the underside of a 22/23 significantly increases your chance of stoppages.  Just FYI."

What causes this?  weight distribution?  It seems strange that putting a light on the underside of the gun would increase stoppages.  Just curious.

[Eric R Shelton]

It seems it reduces frame flex enough to cause the slide to cycle faster, unimpeded by flex.  It moves too quickly to pick up the next round in the magazine.  Increasing the spring weight in a magazine has normally solved the problem.

[bshupe]

I should clarify, I also find the .45 ACP to be far more comfortable to shoot and more controllable- which is why I don't care about the "lack of capacity" in that caliber.  That's really my gripe- I don't believe the .40 is any more effective, but I dang sure believe it's more abusive to the shooter.  Please note, I still have not said .40 was less effective- I just don't believe it's more effective either.  And heck, I'll still probably own a .40 when I find a good deal on an old, full size USP.  But I'm not going to walk around carrying it thinking I'm any "better" armed.  It's shot placement, no matter what caliber we're carrying.

I am in the habit of staying out of caliber discussions. I will break habit by saying that I feel that it is important add the firearm itself into the equation when discussing control and recoil. Some pistols handle the .40 much better that others. For example, in my opinion the SIG 'classic line" (p226, 229 and 239) all but eliminate the issue of control and recoil with the .40. Not sure why.. I am just saying that the pistol itself has a lot to do with it. YMMV.

I almost went with the 226 instead of the M&P for this very issue. At least some if not all the reasons the Sigs are good with .40 is their overall weight and bore axis. The M&P has a similar bore axis but is much lighter.

I have a buddy who shot my M&P after his Ruger 9mm and he couldnt belive how much better the M&P handles. Bore axis can be everyhing to accuracy and comfort.

[Eric R Shelton]

+1, Shupe.  And I'd rip on the gun that I shot .40 through, but I figured I could offend more people at once if I disparaged the entire caliber.     LOL!  Seriously though, I'll own one at some point in the future, when it's in the right gun.

[ARtistinCA]

It seems it reduces frame flex enough to cause the slide to cycle faster, unimpeded by flex.  It moves too quickly to pick up the next round in the magazine.  Increasing the spring weight in a magazine has normally solved the problem.

We change our mag springs I believe every 6 months.  No you have to remember our mags are constantly loaded.  I dont know if "spring memory" is a myth or real but I really dont wanna ever have to test it.  And yes every time we change them we test them and sure enough 1 out fo the three is a weak spring.  The way to test them is, with an empty weapon and mag - slide closed, insert the mag in the well, hold the weapon upside down so the mag base is facing up and hit the mag eject button.  If the mag "bounces" up with a noticeable force its a good mag spring. 

A 3 pack of Wolfe (SP) springs runs what $10-20?  Ill spend $40+ a year on new spring for my two off duty guns.

[BikerRN]

Seriously though, I'll own one at some point in the future, when it's in the right gun.

Try a Hi Power.

That's the only gun I like the .40 S&W in, and I've shot a few others.

Biker

[walkingbush]

Thought I'd throw my hat in the mix. I originally carried a Walther P99 in 9mm when I first started out. That changed when my mom said she wanted a handgun for Mother's day. My dad and I took her out to try a bunch of stuff at the gun store and the one she chose (for fit) was the M&P. At that time, the only model available was the M&P40 (hadn't released the 9mm yet) so that's what we got her. We took it to the range and she shot it and loved it. I thought, "If my mom can shoot a 40 then I should be able to..." and gave it a go. To my surprise, I experience less felt recoil and less muzzle flip than with my 9mm and I clover leafed a 4 shot group at 7 yards. I promptly purchased an M&P40 for myself and it is my daily carry gun. Hammer pairs and shot placement don't seem to be a problem with this gun and I love it.

That being said, shooting the M&P9 that my wife now has is like shooting a .22. But with what was available at the time for the same capacity and exactly the same shootability, I went with the M&P. Now that I'm married I may eventually switch to the M&P9 but simply for unity of platform with my wife so we could share magazines and ammo if needed.

I will agree that within the SAME platform, 9mm is easier to shoot than 40 but between platforms some 40's are much nicer than some 9's. BTW, my SIG 229 in 40 isn't nearly as controllable as my M&P and I've often thought of selling it off for that reason. I just can't seem to bring myself to part with it though...

For what it's worth...
Michael Coffman

[Daeglan]

I shot the .40 in a glock 22. not my fave. shot it in a XD and its much much nicer.

[dkc4u]

I owned a Glock 22 I did not like the recoil or how I shot it.  Got a FN-40 the recoil felt much lighter and I shot it much better but decided to get the FN-45.  I shot it for the first time today put about 300 rounds through it, the recoil was like a hot 9mm load maybe. I will not buy another 40 S&W attached is a photo of todays time at the range 30 rounds of Speer Gold Dot.

[Matt G]

I've noticed an absence of any PROARMS members in this thread....  Hmmmm.....  Makes a boy wonder.

Matt G

[bshupe]

I've noticed an absence of any PROARMS members in this thread....  Hmmmm.....  Makes a boy wonder.

Matt G

Maybe you cant comment on the M&P when your sold out to XD?  lol, j/k.

[Matt G]

Maybe you cant comment on the M&P when your sold out to XD?  lol, j/k.

Oh, I think they are both pro-M and P AND XD.  Thats why I'd like to hear from them.  They aren't as "Sold out" as you think.

Matt G

[maxwell]

I prefer the 9 because if I am out on the street and I run into any NATO forces, then we can share ammo. If you carry a .40, then you're out of luck.

[TMUSCLE1]

I agree with the fact that if we are going to talk about the "snappiness" of the .40 then we need to discuss the pistol that it is being shot out of.  My XD handles it very well, while I didn't care for it coming out of a Glock 22.  Gotcha Eric!   

Seriously though...I have heard that the Sigs handle it very well and that also the M&Ps handle it great too.  I think it is a consideration to make.

Does anybody have a M&P45?  I'm looking into getting one...would like to know if you carry it, how it handles recoil, and if a person with medium sized hands would be able to shoot and handle it comfortably.  Thanks!

[Eric R Shelton]

I'm not a fan of Glock 22s or 23s.  To the point that I'd just as soon not own one.  First, you guys already know I'm not a fan of .40 S&W.  It doesn't accomplish anything that shot placement with a less abusive 9mm or .45 ACP can't do just as well.

Second, the Glock was designed as a 9mm.  Hollowing it out and trying to make a .40 fit and function led to some tolerance issues, and in my armorers class they admitted that a Glock chambered in .40 S&W became much more likely to suffer failures to feed when you mounted a light on it.  Being a big believer in a light on my pistol, this makes it a no-go for me.

TMUSCLE1, you say "gotcha", and it was funny- but what you've really got is both a gun and a caliber choice I'd just as soon avoid.  LOL.   

[TMUSCLE1]

I'm not a fan of Glock 22s or 23s.  To the point that I'd just as soon not own one.  First, you guys already know I'm not a fan of .40 S&W.  It doesn't accomplish anything that shot placement with a less abusive 9mm or .45 ACP can't do just as well.

Second, the Glock was designed as a 9mm.  Hollowing it out and trying to make a .40 fit and function led to some tolerance issues, and in my armorers class they admitted that a Glock chambered in .40 S&W became much more likely to suffer failures to feed when you mounted a light on it.  Being a big believer in a light on my pistol, this makes it a no-go for me.

TMUSCLE1, you say "gotcha", and it was funny- but what you've really got is both a gun and a caliber choice I'd just as soon avoid.  LOL.   

You got me!  (Fall over slowly ala old western movie) 

I do see your point, but do we not agree that the individual firearm comes into play as far as trying to judge the snappiness of said caliber all other things being equal?

I do have to say, over the last 6 months I have been wanting a .45 pretty badly, and I KNOW I want a M&P.  So I figured I would get a M&P45...I just don't know how it shoots and I don't have access to rent one or see how it would conceal; off to the gunstore today to fondle one!  Anybody have one? 

[Eric R Shelton]

You got me!  (Fall over slowly ala old western movie) 

I do see your point, but do we not agree that the individual firearm comes into play as far as trying to judge the snappiness of said caliber all other things being equal?

You just made me shoot coffee out my nose laughing!  Ow!      

But seriously, you're absolutely correct about the gun the round is being fired from.  HK designed the USP from the ground-up to handle the .40 S&W, and has said for years their guide rod was recoil reducing.  If the XD also has a two-stage spring in the .40, it would stand to reason that it would recoil much lighter, and would probably be why Glock is introducing this feature in the Gen4 guns...  That's why I love competition!  It forces companies to improve or die!  (Unless they're too big to fail, but that's a rant for another time.  )

[TMUSCLE1]

You got me!  (Fall over slowly ala old western movie) 

I do see your point, but do we not agree that the individual firearm comes into play as far as trying to judge the snappiness of said caliber all other things being equal?

You just made me shoot coffee out my nose laughing!  Ow!      

But seriously, you're absolutely correct about the gun the round is being fired from.  HK designed the USP from the ground-up to handle the .40 S&W, and has said for years their guide rod was recoil reducing.  If the XD also has a two-stage spring in the .40, it would stand to reason that it would recoil much lighter, and would probably be why Glock is introducing this feature in the Gen4 guns...  That's why I love competition!  It forces companies to improve or die!  (Unless they're too big to fail, but that's a rant for another time.  )

Very true...don't tempt me with "too big to fail" crap. 

Hopefully I will get to shoot some .45s this weekend.  I really want to see if they are more controllable and allow for faster follow up shots than my .40.