40S&W a good caliber?

Pathfinder · May 2002

The search feature wasn't functioning so I'm posting new...

I'm considering getting a pistol in this caliber. What's the word? Good? Bad? OK?

By the way, the pistol is an Israeli BUL. Can anyone recommend this piece?

JMMSID · May 2002

I am a fan of the .45ACP. However I once was faced with the choose to buy a browning Hi-power in .40sw or 9mm. I did my homework and chose the .40sw. Why? you might ask. The Browning was to be my home defence firearm. The .40sw round is (according to what I have read) the most effective defencive pistol round. If I remember correctly I was reading and issue of Handguns or G&A and read the Ammo reviews on various rounds. They claimed that a .40sw federal hydroshock, fired into the center mass of an attacker had a 98% chance of causing "incapacitating Damage" to the attacker. I read this a couple of years ago so I may be remembering it inaccuratly...other members, please let us know what you think? As far as your hand gun question...I have no experiance with the BUL. Hope this helps.

MIKE WISKEY · May 2002

.40 S&W, LESS THAN A .45 ACP. MORE THAN A 9MM

gap1916 · May 2002

9mm, .40S&W, 357sig, .45, they are all good self defence rounds and have been used as such by many. Bullet placement for self defence is key. Personal preferance is just that. What do you feel confident in when it comes to your life or the lives of those you care for. My 2 cents

Piadea · May 2002

Biggest advantage to the 40 is it fits in 9MM size guns but has a lot more stopping power. I haven't given up my 45's but I carry a S&W 4013. The 40 is easy to reload and more accurate than the 9MM as well. I bought my first 40 after talking to a professional body guard who said he'd dropped two assailants with two shots, no survivors. Don't know anything about the gun you're considering but there are plenty of good 40 S&W's to choose from. Good Luck.

Nighthawk · May 2002

As for the .40 auto it is an excellent cartridge from plinking to self defence. The .40 is the most popular law enforcement caliber in the U.S. With the 135gr bullet it has a better one shot stop rate than the legendary 125gr .357 magnum load. there have been enough law enforcement shootings with this caliber that the FBI done a three year study on it and other calibers and with a 155gr bullet it proved to be the best one shot stop rate caliber of this age. The .357sig is creeping up on it but has not been around long enough yet to rate it. As for ammo for the forty every major ammo company makes a variety of rounds for it. You can also by bukl ammo for the forty very cheap.

Good Luck.

Rugster

royc38 · May 2002

The .40 is a good cartridge (between the 9mm and the .45). I just recently bought a used Beretta 96 and it shoots great. Right now the .40 is the hot thing on the market in auto pistols. I have seen these things come and go over the years so my advise to you is shoot all the different calibers before you decide what you want. Everyone on this board has their own favorite and so will you. I think the 40 will last because like mentioned above the .40 can be shot off of a 9mm platform gun. This is exactly what done in the 10mm which is a way better round than the .40 cal. Another thing to keep in mind is that all of the calibers in the auto are always to compared to the .45.(hmmm). Hope this helps.

LIKTOSHOOT · May 2002

If you like the .38 the .40 is the same thing in a auto round and nothing more. Some people are so easily fooled. LTS

Pathfinder · May 2002

Thanks for all the great replys. This will be my first handgun if I buy it and I wanted to get a good caliber. It sounds like I'm on the right track. The gun will be mostly for plinking and target practice but it's good to know that this caliber is good for self defense as well. Any other advice on a first handgun will be gladly received.

mballai · May 2002

I think of the 40 as just a 9mm on steroids. I purchased my first 40 quite recently and like it just fine. All other things being equal (they rarely are), you are getting a slight improvement in effectiveness for self defense for a bit more money in ammo versus a 9mm and a bit less money than the 45. If you shoot it well, the 40 is a good caliber.

Buy a handgun that fits your hand. Many guns do usually fit, but some feel better than other. I don't know the BUL, but can recommend the Glock, Sig and Beretta.

Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead

k.stanonik · May 2002

Glock, Browning, H&K, any of these will fit your wants, i would suggest going to your local range and see if they have any for rent to try or see if for a fee they will let you shoot a used one that the have.

ATF · May 2002

The .40 is a 10 m/m that has not grown up yet.

ATF

William81 · May 2002

The .40 S&W is a fine Handgun caliber. Just get used to the idea that it will not be your last as no one can own just one.
......

I do not know much about the BUL. I can recommend a Glock or HK. I own a couple examples from these companies and have been very pleased with them....I would suggest time at a range where you can rent different models to find one that fit and feels good in your hand...There are many possibilities out there. Good luck with your purchase.

rsnyder55 · May 2002

It all depends on what you are looking for. Depending on placement and bullet used, any of the calibers will probably serve you well.

If I remember correctly, the 40 was developed to give 45ACP power in a 9mm package and a comparable number of rounds. Even though the 40 is on a 9mm platform, the platform has to be beefed up to handle the caliber. None of the 40 platforms are as light as the 9mm platform they derived from and the magazine capacity limit is now in force so the 40 doesn't really give the advantage over the 45 it was intended to anymore.

If you don't reload, 9mm is the cheapest to buy. For target, 45ACP is probably the more accurate and a proven stopper. In my opinion, the 40 was a compromise.

I guess as always, it boils down to what feels and shoots good for you.

Iconoclast · May 2002

Opinions about the virtues / drawbacks of any particular caliber or "the best" for a particular purpose are like a certain part of human anatomy; everyone has one. The fibbies did a lot of testing in the development of the .40; it was really created in response to their perceived need for something better than the 9mm in the wake of the loss of agents in a FL shoot-out several years back. I like mine, but never had to use it 'for real' (& hope I never will), but the stats developed by the Feds suggest it does the job. It is accurate and easy to load - just don't use reloads in the Glock.

40S&W a good caliber?

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