Why all the hate on .40

[Leo]

The internet has made so many camps of fan bases that are really harsh to others.

In 1972 we would go to a range and see a firearm someone else is shooting. You asked, he would tell you about it and your comment would be "cool gun" or "it looks nice" "I never saw one of those before" followed by "how does it shoot". The guy would show you his target or maybe offer you a couple of shots to try out. He was happy to have it and you were happy for him.

Same with guitars, you used to be happy for anyone who got one. "It looks cool, how does it play?" Maybe he would let you play your version of Born to be Wild or Iron Man on it

Now whenever someone has anything even slightly different, dozens of people tell the guy "everyone knows that whatever you like sucks".

Imagine a world where everyone could only drive a tan Prius, wear USMC black plastic glasses and not be allowed to try anything different.

Nothing wrong with a .40 even if I like .45acp better.

 

[ECS686]

The internet has made so many camps of fan bases that are really harsh to others.

In 1972 we would go to a range and see a firearm someone else is shooting. You asked, he would tell you about it and your comment would be "cool gun" or "it looks nice" "I never saw one of those before" followed by "how does it shoot". The guy would show you his target or maybe offer you a couple of shots to try out. He was happy to have it and you were happy for him.

Same with guitars, you used to be happy for anyone who got one. "It looks cool, how does it play?" Maybe he would let you play your version of Born to be Wild or Iron Man on it

Now whenever someone has anything even slightly different, dozens of people tell the guy "everyone knows that whatever you like sucks".

Imagine a world where everyone could only drive a tan Prius, wear USMC black plastic glasses and not be allowed to try anything different.

Nothing wrong with a .40 even if I like .45acp better.

people have become ruder by the week these days. And unfortunately a lot of gun enthusiasts sort of are worse than other groups. The rude ones believe whatever bandwagon they are in with and there can be no others.

Look at the Cult of the Red Dot Church people!

 

[Ghostface]

9mm guys be like: Ammunition developments has made bigger, more powerful calibers obsolete. These Ammunition developments don't apply to the bigger, more powerful calibers.

40/45 guys be like: Why don't you carry a .380 then.

9mm guys be like: It's not as big or powerful as a 9mm....

 

[led4thehed2]

To me, 9, 40, and 45 are a matter of preference. I've seen ballistics gel tests where each caliber has loads that penetrate and expand adequately in certain guns, and some that don't. The results seem to be load/gun combo specific.

I see it as kinda splitting hairs since they all pale in comparison to shotgun and rifle rounds, right?

That's all I got.

 

[Leo]

I see it as kinda splitting hairs since they all pale in comparison to shotgun and rifle rounds, right?

"ain't much trouble a man can't fix with 900 dollars or a 30-06"

 

[firecadet613]

To me, 9, 40, and 45 are a matter of preference. I've seen ballistics gel tests where each caliber has loads that penetrate and expand adequately in certain guns, and some that don't. The results seem to be load/gun combo specific.

I see it as kinda splitting hairs since they all pale in comparison to shotgun and rifle rounds, right?

That's all I got.

Don't hate and don't let them get lonely. Buy all 3.

 

[BE Mike]

Lots of anonymous internet hate and ignorance on the internet. Lots of social media influencers will say or do just about anything to get hits and make money. I don't see that much when folks are actually interacting face-t-face on the range or at a gun club meeting room. Having said that, yes the .40 S&W popularity declined with less interest from law enforcement agencies. The cost of the ammo also has something to do with it, too.

 

[VERT]

The thread lives!!!

Law Enforcement moved away from .40 S&W because of budgets. A secondary consideration was more smaller statured shooters. The terminal performance and capacity argument is simply justification for their actions. Departments had an opportunity to trade in old guns on new guns and they took it. They had the opportunity to save on the cost of practice ammo and they took it. (Edit: I am sure the qualification scores went up as well because of newer guns, less recoil. Red Dots could further improve those.)

Those Glock 22 trade ins can be had for a bargain. I was just looking at 200 grain, 1000 FPS hard cast ammo from buffalo bore and Federal. It isn’t full house 10mm but a $300 budget hiking gun with 16 rounds isn’t to shabby.

 

[ECS686]

Lots of anonymous internet hate and ignorance on the internet. Lots of social media influencers will say or do just about anything to get hits and make money. I don't see that much when folks are actually interacting face-t-face on the range or at a gun club meeting room. Having said that, yes the .40 S&W popularity declined with less interest from law enforcement agencies. The cost of the ammo also has something to do with it, too.

All great points .i will add though as far as price that’s only half of it. And one thing for my case anyway If you compare to the everywhere cheap mundane 115 target sure but myself I like the loaded to real capabilities 124 NATO at 1,200 fps or 147 than the cost savings isn’t as great. (And I’m not saying I never run 115’s or anyone is wrong just I personally like 134 and 147 grain as they better reflect duty ammo)

People get on their soapbox and start repeating what they “hear” and it seems YouTube guntubers are getting bad at the click bait

 

[LtScott14]

Just go and practice, clean and maintain your firearm, and carry daily with a spare reload magazine. Be your choice of 9mm, 40cal, or 45ACP. They all work!
Get one of each per suggestion, ends the lesson.

 

[Amishman44]

people have become ruder by the week these days.

In a time when immaturity is now the 'norm'...
I'll stick with at least working at being mature...

 

[Rebel Jack]

Forgive me if this was already mentioned, but I have heard .40 is pretty hard on a pistols internals. Broken parts, burned out barrels, etc. Far faster than a 9mm or .45 pistol of same design (ie., Glocks).

Now personally, I don’t know that for fact, but the individual who said it spoke gospel to more than a few folks.

 

[VERT]

Forgive me if this was already mentioned, but I have heard .40 is pretty hard on a pistols internals. Broken parts, burned out barrels, etc. Far faster than a 9mm or .45 pistol of same design (ie., Glocks).

Now personally, I don’t know that for fact, but the individual who said it spoke gospel to more than a few folks.

I have heard this as well. Makes sense because the .40 is more powerful then 9mm and faster then .45. But let’s run the numbers.

Assume a .40 S&W has a 30k round life expectancy as opposed to infinite in a similar 9mm or .45. I think we can agree that is the ultimate in a comparison. 30000 rounds x $0.30 (30 cents) = $9000. So $9000 worth of ammo compared to a $500 gun. Who really cares if you wear it out, melt it into an ashtray and buy another one.

 

[edporch]

I have heard this as well. Makes sense because the .40 is more powerful then 9mm and faster then .45. But let’s run the numbers.
-snip-

I think at least a part of this opinion got started because some manufacturers just used their existing 9mm pistol, built the .40 on it, and some pistols weren't up to the extra recoil forces.

 

[Peacekeeper3073]

Forgive me if this was already mentioned, but I have heard .40 is pretty hard on a pistols internals. Broken parts, burned out barrels, etc. Far faster than a 9mm or .45 pistol of same design (ie., Glocks).

Now personally, I don’t know that for fact, but the individual who said it spoke

I think at least a part of this opinion got started because some manufacturers just used their existing 9mm pistol, built the .40 on it, and some pistols weren't up to the extra recoil forces.

gospel to more than a few folks.

Average recreational shooter would probably never wear out a 40 cal even if it started as a 9mm, example being the Glock 23 pre Gen5. Check and change springs on a regular basis recommended of course.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Forgive me if this was already mentioned, but I have heard .40 is pretty hard on a pistols internals. Broken parts, burned out barrels, etc. Far faster than a 9mm or .45 pistol of same design (ie., Glocks).

Now personally, I don’t know that for fact, but the individual who said it spoke gospel to more than a few folks.

Depends on the gun and how well you stay on top of maintenance. Some are redesigned 9mm, some are .40 originally. Few people shoot a gun to death, and even fewer who change out RSAs in a timely manner manage to do so.

 

[Amishman44]

Forgive me if this was already mentioned, but I have heard .40 is pretty hard on a pistols internals. Broken parts, burned out barrels, etc. Far faster than a 9mm or .45 pistol of same design (i.e., Glocks).

Now personally, I don’t know that for fact, but the individual who said it spoke gospel to more than a few folks.

Glock 23 Gen 5 does have a heavier slide (very similar in size to the Glock 29) set up, which helps to absorb the additional forces created from the higher pressure of the .40, as well as helps to mitigate recoil a bit too! The one I shot felt a lot more comfortable with from recoil when it comes to shooting a 180 grain bullet as well as make for a smoother (just my opinion) second or follow-up shot as well.

 

[Knights1776]

9mm guys be like: Ammunition developments has made bigger, more powerful calibers obsolete. These Ammunition developments don't apply to the bigger, more powerful calibers.

40/45 guys be like: Why don't you carry a .380 then.

9mm guys be like: It's not as big or powerful as a 9mm....

That's a great analogy. I personally do not have anything against the .40SW.

 

[DadSmith]

Glock 23 Gen 5 does have a heavier slide (very similar in size to the Glock 29) set up, which helps to absorb the additional forces created from the higher pressure of the .40, as well as helps to mitigate recoil a bit too! The one I shot felt a lot more comfortable with from recoil when it comes to shooting a 180 grain bullet as well as make for a smoother (just my opinion) second or follow-up shot as well.

40S&W and 9mm have the same pressure specs. Both max out at 35,000psi.

 

[Compatriot G]

Glock 23 Gen 5 does have a heavier slide (very similar in size to the Glock 29) set up, which helps to absorb the additional forces created from the higher pressure of the .40, as well as helps to mitigate recoil a bit too! The one I shot felt a lot more comfortable with from recoil when it comes to shooting a 180 grain bullet as well as make for a smoother (just my opinion) second or follow-up shot as well.

I have a G23 Gen 5 and it fits perfectly in a SERPA Holster (yeah, I know) designed for a G20 or G21. I have seen on the Internet that the slides on the Gen 5 .40's are the same slide thickness as the G37, 38 and 39. I have never actually seen a .45 GAP Glock in person, so I can't verify that.