[Giggity-Giggity]

I, for one, have only .40S&W Glocks because I love the caliber.

I've already did the 9mm and .45ACP gig, and felt that the 40 is more fun to shoot. I laugh at the "snappiness".

So please tell me, with most giving up on the .40S&W, why do you still love it?

[G26S239]

I don't believe most people have given up on the 40. There is a vocal minority of people who don't like the 40 but when Springfield Armorery brought out the XDM recently it was a 40 caliber, likewise the Px4 was developed in 40 before 45 as was the FNP. This suggests to me that the respective marketing depts of those companies thought the 40 should come out first.

Edit: the 32 and 27 listed below are not my only 40s, I also own the SIG 229 and 239 and will be picking up a slightly used USPc in 40 later this month. I don't care what the detractors of the 40 say.

[mesteve2]

More felt recoil than a .45 acp.

Not as effective as a .45 acp.

So there is your answer.

I have one because I have to for the SO.

[WWII]

I liked it. Still do. But I picked up a 10mm and have a .45acp, also. I really have no need for the .40S&W now since I grabbed the 10mm. So I'm converting mine to a 9mm.

[Dean]

A Glock23 forty is a 14 shot forty-five that weighs two thirds as much as a 1911 and has no grip or thumb safety. Is it dangerous? Absolutely.

'You want a .45 for free? Get 180 grain bullets for your forty. There's your .45.
Get a Milt Sparks HN-55 holster and Speer Golddot hollow point bullets. Make the rest of it up yourself. Just remember that the minute you disrespect that Glock pistol it kills you, maims you, or kills an innocent.

[DonGlock26]

Originally Posted by Dean

A Glock23 forty is a 14 shot forty-five that weighs two thirds as much as a 1911 and has no grip or thumb safety.

Word.......

[bnitch]

I traded a 21 for a 23 I just like the way it feels. Now if hey start making a compact 45 I may go back till then the 40 does a good job.

[hokieglock]

there's lotsa love for the .40 in LE arenas. Also, just because not all on GT bows to the .40cal pistol god doesn't mean squat. It's very popular with competition shooters also. Gimmie my family of 4 any day of the week.

[rrog]

Originally Posted by mesteve2

...Not as effective as a .45 acp...

Okay, I guess I'll be the one to open Pandora'a Box...

Do you have any real data to back that up or is that simply your opinion based on your experiences and preferences?

Rick

[Dandapani]

went from 40 to 9mm. many more lead injection options with 9mm than with 40.

[trigger45]

I like mine.

[mongo356]

I'm currently selling my .357Sig Glocks and moving to .40
The .40 has a good range of bullets to pick from 135gr-180gr.

[G26S239]

Originally Posted by mongo356

I'm currently selling my .357Sig Glocks and moving to .40
The .40 has a good range of bullets to pick from 135gr-180gr.

Why are you selling them mongo356? All you need to do is buy the corresponding size 40 barrel for $129 + shipping in most cases.

[Boxerglocker]

Originally Posted by Dean

A Glock23 forty is a 14 shot forty-five that weighs two thirds as much as a 1911 and has no grip or thumb safety. Is it dangerous? Absolutely.

In addition a G27 is 9+1 shots is an even smaller/lighter package. Carried with a G23 mag with or without Glock +2 extension and A&G grip sleeve as a backup magazine you have IMO an even more concealable but just as effective CCW package.

[RED64CJ5]

Cost. I get a lot more range time with my 9mm. More range time improves my skills and therefore the added benefits of .40 SW are negated overall.

I also own .45 ACP pistols, so why introduce something in between? Just for fun?

I own a G22 but I rarely shoot in in .40 SW as it is my 9mm threaded barrel host. Compared to other rounds in which I keep ammo stocked, I have 100 rounds of 9mm to every single round of .40 at home.

[mongo356]

Originally Posted by G26S239

Why are you selling them mongo356? All you need to do is buy the corresponding size 40 barrel for $129 + shipping in most cases.

They are for LE use (serial #'s) and just incase an attorney might make stink out of a different barrel in wrong gun.

[DHart]

All calibers and all guns are a compromise of one factor or another of competing objectives.

Forty is not known for being a very enjoyable caliber to shoot because it is very "snappy" in feel (as compared to forty-five, for example). A lot of folks don't particularly like the snappy feel of forty.

Most who consider .40 will be comparing it to the "gold standard" pistol defense caliber, .45 acp. Compared to .45acp, guns chambered in forty tend to have a little better capacity without a huge loss in stopping power, and forty can be a little less costly to shoot than .45. These can be good reasons to choose forty, if you can find a platform that you like shooting forty caliber with. But I still find .45acp more enjoyable to shoot and would prefer to defend myself with a .45 than with a .40. I do like high capacity, however. Now we get even deeper into the world of compromise... capacity vs. potency.

I can see both 9mm and .45 acp as somewhat better choices, but for different reasons.

A G19 with 15 rounds of hot 9mm on board is an excellent defense gun, great capacity for it's size, relatively economical to shoot, and very enjoyable to shoot. But potency really isn't up to .45 acp! Still, well placed 9mm +P defense bullets can be very effective indeed.

A G21 with 14 rounds of .45 acp on board is also an excellent defense gun and very enjoyable to shoot. Excellent potency, very good capacity, but not great as a CCW gun, though do-able for some people.

My G23 is not so enjoyable to shoot and has been ever so slightly less reliable than my 19, 30, and 21SF, but it does have good capacity and stopping power for it's size. Not a bad choice, not great either. Numerous compromises involved here.

Forty can be viewed as having better capacity and a little less expensive to shoot than .45, and better power than .9mm.

Forty can also be viewed as worse capacity than 9mm, more costly to shoot than 9mm, and less power than .45!

Is the glass half full or half empty? You decide that.

That said, it is a reasonable choice in caliber, if you can find a platform which you enjoy shooting it in.

For forty, I've got a couple of Browning Hi-Powers in .40, an M&P 40 Compact, a G23, and most recent acquisition, an STI Edge in .40. Of them all, the G23 is the least enjoyable to shoot, I really don't like shooting it at all - compared to other choices. My G29 and G23 are my least favorite Glocks simply because they are not as enjoyable to shoot as my G19, G30, and G21SF.

The Hi-Power forty, M&P 40C, and Edge all handle .40 surprisingly comfortably. But the Edge is by far the nicest shooting .40 I can imagine, due to it's size, weight and build quality... so smooth, so stable, and great capacity (17-rnds in the standard mag, 20-rnds in slightly extended mag).

Competition shooters typically choose the Edge in 40 and shoot the lightest loadings they can get by with that still qualify as major. Light .40 loadings are more enjoyable to shoot for most people than full power forties... especially in a luxury gun like the Edge. I choose my Edge for defense duty, however.

[RED64CJ5]

Originally Posted by DHart

All calibers and all guns are a compromise of one factor or another of competing objectives.

Great post.

[Giggity-Giggity]

Thanks for all your input. I feel very narrow minded in just owning Glocks in .40S&W. Maybe later down the line, I'll end up with a G17 or G21SF. But so far the .40S&W adds a little spice to my shooting sessions.

I guess I'm that guy with the one gun.

Thanks again! Please continue on your thoughts on the caliber.

[Glock Kommando]

Also depends on where you live. Here in Tulsa the .40 is popular cause you can find plethora of ammo in various types and flavors. Also there is a strong 9mm following, but when I go to my local gun store .40's are being bought almost all the time. I know my local police supply sells M&P .40's 5 to 1 over the M&P 9.

[G26S239]

At the BATFE web site their stats show the Glock 22s and 23s as being Glock's #1 and 2 sellers respectively for the year 2006. That is not all Police sales either, I owned a 22 that I traded for a 357/40 SIG P239 and still own a G27 and a 32 with a 23 barrel. Two of my brothers own G22s and 40 pistols and ammunition are very easy to find at any gun shop or gun show.

[SDGlock23]

I've also wondered why so many, at least on GT, dislike the .40 for some reason. If I had to pick just one caliber, it would be the .40 since you get 9mm like capacity with better than .45 performance. I like to think of it as a flatter shooting, more "spicy" .45.

I own three, a G27, G23 and G35. I wouldn't mind a G22, but the G35 is essentially the same except it has a longer slide. I do have a LoneWolf Glock 24 barrel for the 35 and via reloading, it can put out some very impressive numbers.

Some guys say the .40 isn't as effective as the .45, but practically nobody argues that the .45 is better than the 10mm. Well, the .40 can easily get 10mm like performance when you reload, so likewise, it's a no brainer that the .40 is definitely a step above the .45.

Also, I've got thousands and thousands of pieces of .40 cal brass, so to me it's also very cheap to shoot.

[Officer's Match]

An aspect of the 40 I appreciate is that I'm more confident in the 40's performance in shorter barreled ccw pistols. I carry a P2000SK loaded with 155gr JHP Rangers. I am not entirely comfortable with 45acp in lengths under commander size. Ditto 9mm as the velocity advantages it has are mitigated by shorter barrels IMO.

[1006]

I think a lot of good stuff has been posted here. So, here is my 2 cents worth.

The forty domintes in two arena's Law Enforcement and IPSC/USPSA Limited catagory sport shooting. For all other IPSC/USPSA catagories, general plinking, IDPA, PPC, Steel Shooting, and from a reloadiing perpective -- the 9mm and 45 offer the advantage of being easier to score points and being more forgiving.

[ramblinoak]

i will stick with my 40 calibers............

G22 G35 Baby Eagle..............

ramblin