Is .40cal a useless caliber to carry?

[Mike.357]

Since the chances of you ever having to use any weapon in a self defense situation is slim to none, pick what gun and caliber you are most comfortable with and learn how to use it.

This, is QFT

[Guest nashvegas]

I shoot and carry both 9mm and 40SW. I shoot the 40 better (maybe cause I don't use plastic guns?) so that's mainly what I carry...

Edited August 16, 2010 by nashvegas

[Guest Glock23ForMe]

Anything less than a .50 Desert Eagle, you might as well be carrying a water gun...

[Guest Keinengel]

Anything less than a .50 Desert Eagle, you might as well be carrying a water gun...

Hey I resent that! My .44 mag Desert Eagle has plenty of stopping power...

Although that one appears to be a Tokyo Marui.

[Guest The Highlander]

I don't carry but I think the caliber wars are way over rated. You'd likely be better served by ignoring caliber and going with the round you are most accurate with.

This is the best piece of advice going for choosing a carry gun.

For what it is worth, I think the .40 S&W is the number one choice issued to police in the USA. I remember reading that, but not where I read it. I think the article also said the Glock 22 is the most-issued handgun in America.

I in no way would feel undergunned, or inappropriately gunned with a quality .40. I think your time is better spent on choosing the right platform (SIG, Glock, HK, Ruger, etc.) and then worry about the caliber.

[Guest cheez]

To say that the .40 is "useless" is just too funny. Give us all a break.

[Guest HvyMtl]

Police follow what the FBI designate as their firearm.

40 is a compromise round. It is, roughly, 10mm lite... Is it a bad round? No. Is it better than 45, 357, or 9? Well. No. Is it worse? No.

It is a larger bullet than 9, but smaller than 45.

Recoil is the issue I have with the 40 - its a quick hard snap, unlike the steady heavy push of a 45, or the light snap of a 9.

Some like the feel of the recoil. And I have found it to be personal preference.

A very acceptable defense round.

The cost per round is nearly the same as a 45. I just wish its costs were closer to the 9.

[mikegideon]

Personally, I think you should pick your caliber based on the size of the person you're going to shoot

[Guest Chandler]

I never meant to get into a caliber round debate, it was just something that crossed my mind when I was observing my friends choices. With my limited knowledge of guns I figured they new something that I didnt. I recently got a sig239 and really like it, so just was wondering why I didnt really see other .40cal around.

[Guest trigem]

Dad Gum Trigem! Did you write that dissertation! That was very well written. You eliminated many of the myths about stopping power and stuck to the facts. I have nothing to add to that. You should get that published. You should omit those pornographic pictures. Oh wait! That ain't porn....my bad.

No I'm not that smart Did seem to cover what I wanted to know!

[daddyo]

Many PD's issue .40 cal. weapons, so it obviously is an effective round. So, no, it is not useless. I would prefer a rifle over ANY handgun if I needed the most effective weapon, but they're too hard to carry.

I personally prefer 9mm and .45 in a semi-auto, but that's simply my preference.

[Backon4]

I've been shooting .40 for 13 years. Never owned a .45 and never cared for 9mm. Only thing I can say is I never heard of anyone get shot 11 times by a .40 and living but there are several instances of it with 9mm (50 cent just being one). Alos to get anywhere near the power of a .40 with a 9mm you have to run +p or+p+ and that makes it out of my price range. Only 9mm I own (not here yet) is the new S&W SD9 that I got for my wife because although she can shoot the .40 the recoil is a bit much and she can barely rack the slide.

[Guest DanE479]

The people that have gotten shot 11 times by a 9mm and are still living were shot with FMJ rounds, and shot by unskilled shooters that had no clue about shot placement. THat argument is a non-starter.

Most places I look, +p ammo for 9mm is very close in price to regular ammo. In Speer gold dot, the different power loads are the same price.

Just an FYI.

[DaveTN]

The people that have gotten shot 11 times by a 9mm and are still living were shot with FMJ rounds, and shot by unskilled shooters that had no clue about shot placement. THat argument is a non-starter.

Most places I look, +p ammo for 9mm is very close in price to regular ammo. In Speer gold dot, the different power loads are the same price.

Just an FYI.

Sorry but when I was a cop I saw the autopsy photos of a guy that was shot (19… I think) times by Police and was still returning fire. They were shooting him with 9mm hollow points. He was dead, he just didn’t know it, and continued shooting until he collapsed.

The Officers at the scene were amazed.

I carried a 9mm Browning Hi-Power off duty at the time. I sold it and have never owned another 9 since.

But like always in all the caliber wars, that just my opinion based on what I saw.

I will not argue a headshot would not have taken him down, but I will say that unless you have experienced a shooting; I wouldn’t count on having the ability to do it.

[daddyo]

Sorry but when I was a cop I saw the autopsy photos of a guy that was shot (19… I think) times by Police and was still returning fire. They were shooting him with 9mm hollow points. He was dead, he just didn’t know it, and continued shooting until he collapsed.

The Officers at the scene were amazed.

I carried a 9mm Browning Hi-Power off duty at the time. I sold it and have never owned another 9 since.

But like always in all the caliber wars, that just my opinion based on what I saw.

I will not argue a headshot would not have taken him down, but I will say that unless you have experienced a shooting; I wouldn’t count on having the ability to do it.

How long ago?

[DaveTN]

How long ago?

Around 84. Is this the part where you tell me that today’s rounds are so much more advanced than Federal Hydra Shoks were back then?

[daddyo]

Around 84. Is this the part where you tell me that today’s rounds are so much more advanced than Federal Hydra Shoks were back then?

I would not presume to tell you anything about that which you have already made up your mind.

Edited August 24, 2010 by DaddyO

[Guest DanE479]

Dave:

In response to your last remark about having to have the experience in order to judge, all I can say is that I have the experience, but cannot comment on it per the advice of legal counsel.

I've read case reports, and talked to guys that dumped multiple .45 rounds into suspects, and had the same results that you commented on. The guys were dead, they just didn't know it yet.

It's not about the caliber, it's about the shot placement. Period, end of story.

[Smith]

Dave:

In response to your last remark about having to have the experience in order to judge, all I can say is that I have the experience, but cannot comment on it per the advice of legal counsel.

I've read case reports, and talked to guys that dumped multiple .45 rounds into suspects, and had the same results that you commented on. The guys were dead, they just didn't know it yet.

It's not about the caliber, it's about the shot placement. Period, end of story.

Wasn't the guy in one of the FBI documents hit with multiple .40/.45 rounds? I can't find the report ATM, but I'm sure it will turn up.

[Warbird]

Wasn't the guy in one of the FBI documents hit with multiple .40/.45 rounds? I can't find the report ATM, but I'm sure it will turn up.

If you are referring to the Miami incident, no. They were hit with 38 special rounds mainly fired from short barreled revolvers. The revolvers were 357, shooting 38 +P. Some agents had 9mm, but most of the actual hits came from the officers shooting the revolvers. The suspects did take both 38 and at least one took a 9mm hit. It would be mere speculation on the part of anyone to say the suspects would have been stopped quicker with a 40 or 45 round. In the end it made a change in the FBI and afterward they were allowed use of better weapons including rifles, which is what killed the agents who died. A couple of officers with their own 223 well could have stopped the assailants before they did. At the very least they could have held them at longer bay than in the end was necessary to get fire on the bad guys.

This is the truth and the fact about handgun calibers, everyone of them has had spectacular success and failures. EVERY one of them. There are factual cases of men pumped up on meth or pcp and other whacked out things who kept coming after many hits taken. There is no extraordinary put them down with one shot handgun round in general use. The people who say 9 sucks and won't put em down but the 45 will knock em off their feet, are either misinformed or full of bunk.

Oh and while we are at it there are cases of people taking shotgun slugs, 00 buck shot and even rifle rounds who kept coming. If you are a hunter, you understand these things. Animals can do extraordinary things when hormones are raging through their system. Last year we shot a wolverine 3 times with a 300 short mag. First shot was at 150 yards, second at about 100 and third at 25 to 30. He kept coming and we knew we hit him. When he finally died we found three bullets, all kill shots. He was dead on the first shot, but the hormones in his system kept him going for quite some time.

Shoot what you like and shoot it well. A well placed 9 is better than a missed 40 or 45.

I find the caliber debates fun, I have my preferences like anyone else. But I find it absurd when someone says I saw someone take this many shots and live so I know that round sucks and I'll never carry a gun in that caliber. If it is 38 special or higher your odds of stopping an attack are very very good. 380 is personally the lowest I will carry, but I never do anymore. Lots of people do though and feel more comfortable with it than many other options. Heck, some carry small 22 mag pistols. Great, just make sure you can hit with it and be prepared and situationally aware.

Edited August 24, 2010 by Warbird

[Will Carry]

unless you have experienced a shooting; I wouldn’t count on having the ability to do it

That is the truth!

[Smith]

Here is the report I was talking about. Guy was hit with a combination of 17 .40 and .223 bullets. Be sure to read the conclusion at the end. It is graphic with autopsy photos. http://concealedcarryholsters.org/wp-content/files/FBI-Analysis-on-PA-Police-Shootout.pdf

[tnhawk]

I carry pistols in both .40 and 45 acp calibers. My choice is dependent on my clothing and the weather, more often than number of rounds or stopping power. If you don't have it at the monent you need it, other factors are meaningless. I believe frequent practice is more important than caliber or velocity.

[lowbud]

I carry the .40 becasue of one simple reason, The abundance of ammo available. During the shortage over the last few years I was always able to pick .40 at my local walmart or gun store. Can't say that about 9mm or 45 or anything else for that matter. The shelves were bare accept .40. This is really the only reason. My gun of choice is the Kahr PM series for carry. The PM40 and PM9 are close to the same size/weight so I really don't have a prefrence on the caliber itself as much as the availability of the ammo.

As for one being more accurate then the other, can't prove it by me.. I can hit the same target with every caliber i own.

[Guest DeadEye]

This post is Stupid and the person who started it seems to know nothing about guns and ammo!