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PaBoog-Great 10mm article! Got the .40 by Hawks?
jsergovic
Member Posts: 5,526
That was a great read!
I know you didn't type it, at least I hope you didn't spend all that time.
If you have it, can you C&P "The .40 Smith & Wesson." by Chuck Hawks ?
Thanks.
Jim
Hey, that KA-BAR really makes for closer shaving [:D][:D][:D][:o)][:o)][:o)]
I know you didn't type it, at least I hope you didn't spend all that time.
If you have it, can you C&P "The .40 Smith & Wesson." by Chuck Hawks ?
Thanks.
Jim
Hey, that KA-BAR really makes for closer shaving [:D][:D][:D][:o)][:o)][:o)]
Comments
The new cartridge was named the .40 Smith & Wesson. It uses the exact same .400" diameter bullets as the 10mm Auto. By reducing the powder space to only that needed to duplicate the 10mm Lite police load, the case was held to the same overall length as the 9x19. The .40 uses a true straight case. It is not tapered for feed reliability like the 9x19 case. The SAAMI mean maximum pressure is 35,000 psi.
The .40 S&W successfully met all of its design parameters, and was an immediate success. It has become the most popular police cartridge in the U.S. Beretta, Browning, CZ, Glock, H-K, Kahr, Ruger, SIG, S&W, Taurus, Walther and just about everyone else offers service style autoloaders in .40 S&W. All of the major ammunition companies load .40 S&W cartridges. The sales of reloading dies in the caliber are also strong.
The cartridge was probably helped along by passage of the ill-advised "Brady Bill," which mandated 10 round magazines in the U.S. Now pistols that formerly held 15 rounds of 9mm or 10 rounds of .40 were limited to 10 round magazines in either caliber. The 9x19 lost its advantage in firepower because of the artificial influence of the Brady Bill. A lot of shooters no doubt figure that if they are limited to 10 rounds, they might as well have the biggest 10 rounds that will fit into the gun. In most cases, that is the .40 S&W.
Factory loads are offered with 135, 155, 165, and 180 grain bullets. The popular Federal Hydra-Shok 155 grain and Remington Golden Saber 165 grain bullets in .40 S&W are both running an excellent 94% one shot stops, according to the ongoing study by Marshall and Sanow.
The published ballistics of the 165 grain Remington Golden Saber (JHP) load shows a muzzle velocity of 1150 fps and muzzle energy of 485 ft. lbs. The mid-range rise is 1" over 50 yards, and 4" over 100 yards. This is typical of the popular 155-165 grain factory loads.
Reloaders have plenty of components from which to choose. The fifth edition of the Nosler Reloading Guide shows that 6.8 grains of WSF powder can drive their 135 grain JHP bullet to a MV of 1072 fps, and 7.8 grains of WSF can drive the same bullet to a MV of 1242 fps. These loads used Winchester cases and WSP primers, and were chronographed in a 4" pistol barrel.
Naturally, increased energy means increased recoil, and the .40 does kick more than the 9x19. It also has noticeably increased muzzle blast. Both are less than with the .45 ACP or .357 Magnum, however.
If there is a bad rap on the .40 S&W it seems to be that accuracy in most pistols is below the average of the 9x19 or .45 ACP. Accuracy is normally acceptable for a pistol to be used at typically close self-defense range (less than 10 yards), but the relatively large groups delivered by most .40 pistols at only 25 yards makes long range shooting with these pistols problematical. The .40 S&W would probably not be the best choice for someone who might have to defend himself or herself in the great outdoors. The military, for instance, is wise to stick with the 9x19.
http://chuckhawks.com/
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