.40 Cal Pistols - The FBI claimed for decades that the .40 Smith & Wesson was the best personal defense round. But the 9mm vs. .40S&W battle continues. (Photo courtesy of FBI)
But for those who have yet to become emotionally attached to a single cartridge, let's talk about the 9mm Parabellum and the .40 Smith & Wesson.
.40 Cal Pistols
It is often misunderstood that the .40 S&W was developed for the FBI because the 9mm failed in the infamous 1986 Miami shootout. However, the standard issue FBI pistol at the time was a .38 Special revolver.
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FBI Director James Comey unveiled a three-panel memorial display that tells the story of the "1986 FBI Miami Shootout." It was this shootout that gave birth to the .40S&W round and the decades-long debate over which round was the best. (Photo by FBI)
The firing involved 9mm rounds. And is believed to be an inch short of the culprit's heart.
But after the shootout in Miami, the FBI decided they needed to replace their revolvers with semi-automatic pistols. Semi-automatic pistols hold more rounds and are easier to reload.
And since they were going to replace all the guns anyway, they thought they'd check out some new rounds as well.
Show Us Your .40 Caliber Pistols!
The FBI has long considered the 9mm in its search for a new standard-issue sidearm. However, the FBI also tested hand-loaded 10mm ammunition from Special Agent John Hall of the FBI Firearms Training Unit.
After these tests, the FBI decided they wanted something like a 10mm round, with a slightly slower muzzle velocity than standard ammunition.
The FBI used the .40 S&W for nearly 30 years before adopting the 9mm in 2015.
Both rounds were used by the military, other government agencies and civilian defenders. So it's hard to identify a clear winner here. Or is it?
Smith & Wesson Sd40 Ve 40 S&w Full Sized 14 Round Pistol
But once upon a time, a firearms and defensive tactics instructor at an Ohio police department gave a great analysis of a real-life shooting:
Since you cannot shoot 2.45 or 2.36 bullets, the numbers must be rounded up to the next whole bullet. Which means everyone (including .45 shooters) gets an average of 3 shots to reach handicap.
In fact, study author Greg Elifritz concluded that the difference in wounding potential between the various handgun rounds was negligible.
Just a few years ago, the FBI released a study confirming that the 9mm was the best round for its agents. (Photo courtesy of FBI)
Two Black Semi Automatic Pistols, A 9mm And A 40 Caliber On A White Background Stock Photo
But, Newton's third law exists. And, this means that if a gun fires with enough energy to knock a person down, the recoil will be strong enough to knock you down when you shoot it.
No matter where you go, the common wisdom is that shot placement is more important than what caliber you shoot.
Now, that's not to say that caliber doesn't matter. Too small rounds may not penetrate the chest plate or other bones.
And saying that caliber is irrelevant suggests that you can use a BB gun as long as you hit them in the right spot.
Kahr Cm40 Sub Compact 40 Caliber Semi Auto Pocket Pistol
Caliber matters. But the emphasis on shot placement is a reminder that, if you forget, you're effectively shooting zero caliber.
That's only a 5 cent difference. But, it adds up. Over the course of 1000 rounds, you can pay about $80 more for your ammo if you shoot a .40.
Regardless of your budget, you'll get more practice rounds for your money, and therefore become more proficient with your rifle, if you shoot 9mm - which helps with that whole shot placement thing. does.
Since the .40 S&W is essentially just a short 10mm round, it has a higher burst pressure than both the 9mm and .45 ACP.
Sig Vs. 40 S&w
However, high-pressure rounds tend to produce rapid recoil, which can be uncomfortable for some shooters. Shooting with one hand can also be more difficult.
Can you improve your shooting skills enough to manage to recoil and shoot a .40 S&W really well? Absolutely.
But if you spent an equal amount of training resources shooting the same pistol chambered in 9mm, you'd probably end up faster and more accurate with the 9mm. The 9mm round has less recoil energy to absorb and control.
Additionally, many manufacturers use the same frame on their 9mm and .40 S&W pistols. This causes longevity issues because the 9mm frame is not designed to withstand the recoil force of a .40 caliber round.
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In the context of self-defense, reloading may be impossible. So it is better to minimize the chances of reloading.
Magazine capacity in 9mm is always greater than in .40 S&W, provided you are comparing two guns of the same size. So, in almost any context, a 9mm handgun allows you to outperform a .40 S&W.
Now, before everyone runs off to defend their .40 caliber darling: there's really no need to be defensive. The .40 S&W is a perfectly viable self-defense round.
Modifying your gun takes training time and money. So, if you're already ready to shoot a .40 S&W, it might be the most efficient and economical to stick with, depending on how much you shoot.
Glock 22 Gen 4 .40 Cal Semi Auto Pistol
But if you shoot a lot and want to shoot better for less money, or if you're considering a handgun for personal or home defense, pick up a 9mm handgun and start shooting. You'll save time and money without sacrificing defensive performance.
GearScout Contributor Jay Chambers is a professional freelance business owner based in Austin, Texas. Having lived through several natural disasters and more than a few man-made disasters (Hillow 2008), he believes that resilience and self-sufficiency are essential in this increasingly unpredictable world. So he started a business! J writes in the Minuteman Review.
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Times are always changing, and that certainly applies to the gun world. A current trend we are seeing now is the resurgence of the 9mm at the expense of the .40 S&W.
For example, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently switched from the .40 S&W to the 9mm Luger, specifically switching from the Glock 22 and 23 to the Glock 17 and 19. The US military strongly considered switching to the .40, but ultimately stuck with the 9mm when they selected the SIG Sauer M17 as their new service weapon. And police departments across the country are trading in their .40 caliber pistols for the 9mm.
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It's not hard to see why. Although the 9mm FMJ is a poor round for stopping humans, there are a plethora of highly effective self-defense hollow point loads available today for civilians and law enforcement. As a result, the need for the .40 is greatly reduced, and on top of that, the 9mm pistol holds more bullets and recoils less.
You see, the whole reason for the .40 was to give law enforcement a more powerful pistol than the 9mm. Yes, the .45 ACP was out, but even the .45 pistols were very limited in capacity. This is why the 10mm was developed, but when the recoil produced by the round was too much for some, it was shortened to the .40 S&W we have today.
The .40 S&W has performed well for many years and will continue to do so for many more years, but as just discussed, the transition to a round that greatly increases stopping power and a That's why we've seen it in a lighter and more controllable package. The .40 pistol was replaced by the 9 mm.
But at the same time, this transition from .40 means that there is an abundance of .40 caliber pistols on the market today, many of which are available at below-average prices. And just because the .40 caliber itself isn't as popular as it once was doesn't mean it's not a viable choice for defense.
Springfield Releases New .40 Caliber 1911 Emp Pistol :: Guns.com
In fact, .40 is the third most popular caliber today behind 9mm and .45 ACP, and is still very easy to find. For these reasons, the .40 caliber pistol remains a more viable option for self-defense or home defense, and again, the abundance of surplus guns and police trade-ins means that you have a budget price. There are plenty of options at points.
What makes the Beretta Px4 Storm an impressive option for .40 is its capacity: 14+1 rounds in the full-size version and 12+1
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