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Deer-legal in my state. Huh? The Glock 23 is legal in my state. A .40 S&W shot through at least a 4 inch barrel is considered desirable where I live. Add the ability to shoot .40 from a carbine, and the joy increases with every foot-pound of extra power you get with that longer barrel.

.40 Concealed Pistol

.40 Concealed Pistol

Why is it said that you can take a deer with a .40 S&W around these parts? Because it is a strong cycle in itself. Its maximum legal enforcement may have been a few years ago, but that doesn't take the light off the vegetables.

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He is still a good man and (according to my state's deer rules) still a good tapas deer. Many law enforcement agencies used (or used) the .40 S&W, most notably the FBI, for a while before returning to the 9mm. It lost popularity, but the .40 S&W is still very effective. Let's take a quick look at the cartridge and then check out the gun.

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Where did it come from? The .40 S&W was created when the FBI (which adopted the 10mm cartridge) asked Smith & Wesson to downsize to 10mm. The 10mm full bore is a real hand so they want agents to be able to shoot effectively. S&W created its namesake .40 by shortening the case 10mm and lowering it slightly, and the FBI adopted it. For a more complete history of the .40, read my cartridge comparison.

It's quite interesting, especially if you're a fortysomething fan. To be honest, I have never owned a .40 pistol or carbine. I have nothing to do with the round — I just shoot, drop bullets, and reload 9mm and .45 ACP. I don't see the need to go with the .40 since I have a "library" around. Next to it on the shelf caliber. I have often thought about getting a .40 and may do so in the future. If I do, the reload dies and the bullet mold is next on the list.

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Using a gun that provides 400 (or more) foot pounds will tend to be reassuring. This is especially true if the gun is not large, easy to use, and holds a dozen. 10 or more rounds in its magazine. I think part of the decline of the .40 is that the ballistic development of the 9mm cartridge has really taken off. Also, there are very sharp 9mm loads out there now that deliver pounds of power, like the Hostess Twinkies that deliver power.

Since you can carry more 9mm ammunition in a given area than you can carry .40 ammunition, that makes a difference. Take a look at the market leader in compact 9mm pistols that most are compared to - Glock's best-selling Model 19. This is a gun that is basically the same size as our Model 23, but can carry two more rounds. In its 23 standard magazines, 15 rounds with 13.

Here, we see the same difference when looking at full-size Glocks in 9mm and 40, 17 and 22 models respectively. The Model 17 holds 17 rounds in the standard magazine compared to 15 .40 rounds in the Model 22.

.40 Concealed Pistol

That's not interesting, but for some it makes a difference. Some carry 5 J-frame bullets - they don't seem to be concerned about capacity. If you know where to place your shot, this can lead to a smaller cartridge capacity.

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However, if we go the other way, we find that the .40 S&W magazine you have in your pistol will hold one or more rounds from a similar sized .45 ACP weapon. Using the same magazine comparison as above, the full-size Glock Model 22 in .40 holds two more rounds in its standard magazine than the full-size Glock Model 21 in .45 ACP, 15 to 13.

Being a .45 fan, this is not exactly comforting news, but (as the saying goes), it is what it is. My interest is that it is amazing how much you can have a 13 round ACP in your carry gun, not counting the extra magazine and one in the chamber. Capacity plays a big role in caliber selection. But the .40 is still a good choice. It sits in the middle between the 9mm and the .45 ACP, and as Goldilocks discovered, the middle might be the best place.

One thing you might not think off the bat when it comes to the 23 is caliber compatibility. If you bought a .357 Sig barrel for your Model 23, you now have a gun in that caliber. A .40 caliber magazine should work since the .357 Sig is based on a .40 case.

At worst, the follower setting can cause feeding problems, so you should choose a model 32 magazine. Another size that the 23 easily converts to is 9mm. Buy a convertible barrel for about a hundred bucks and some model 19 magazines and now you are in the business of 9mm with the important thing becoming a model 19 that says "23" on the slide. So you can have three guns for the price of the initial gun purchase and a few spares after the purchase.

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If the ease of changing calibers isn't enough to make the 23 attractive, I don't know what will be. However, this is a very interesting skill - one gun, three calibers.

.40 will let you know you're not shooting a 22. Its recoil is described as fast, especially in lighter pistols. If we remember that the .40 is a descendant of the 10mm, its versatility is explained. When you are pushing a 180 grain bullet to a velocity south of 1000 fps then you are going to get some boost in terms of recoil.

You are correct at 400 ft/lbs of energy, as are some of the lowest .357 Magnum loads. I mentioned above how this round is legal in my state, and I guess I can see why. The 10mm will do everything better than the .40 when it comes to hunting, but when it comes to concealed carry and personal defense (read more about self-defense safety), I can see that the .40 is more useful than the 10mm.

.40 Concealed Pistol

The 10mm also has some rapid recoil (at least the ones I've shot with) that make it difficult to recover from time. It tends to make follow-up shots harder to pull off in any fast-paced, stop-motion style. I know there are some of you out there who shoot 10mm regularly and are fine with its recoil, but for most of us shooters, it's a lot.

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Now we see the connection between the 10mm and the .40 S&W in recoil. 10 will be more, but the .40 in light guns will still get your attention.

.40 S&W out of 23 can be a little bit of its own. I only shot one load, a 180 grain FMJ truncated cone bullet on the right at 990 fps from SIG Sauer. This is a decent practice load, which will help you acclimate to the way the .40 feels when you fire it. The real defense bullet will be very strong. And your hands will quickly know the difference.

If you carry a .40, you owe it to yourself to train diligently with different self-defense loads. And, don't take a full magazine and go home. The .40 needs a little more work in the performance department due to its higher recoil than the 9mm. But if you take the time, you will accomplish something that not all shooters do - tame the .40 enough to perform.

Now, don't be impressed that I think 0.40 is too much. It takes a little longer to get the hang of it when shooting it from a smaller pistol like the Glock 23. It's worth the gun.

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23 This seems accurate due to the small amount of shots I shot with it. I've said it before - Glocks tend to be more accurate than average.

The 23 is slightly smaller than the 22, with two magazine capacities compared to the 22. So it can be a good choice for a concealed carry gun. Its standard 13-round capacity makes it more than adequate for most situations, and its compact design strikes a solid balance between full-size and compact pistols. Have a smaller gun than full size if you have one, but you can always use full size magazines if you choose - they may stick out a bit. However, it is a simple but reliable and accurate alternative to the .40 small pistol.

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