R&R | 40 S&W Lets Talk About It

Published on September 4, 2025
Duration: 7:50

This video discusses the historical popularity and current relevance of the 40 Smith & Wesson cartridge. The speaker highlights its advantages in USPSA competition for achieving major power factor scoring and argues for its continued viability, citing its terminal ballistics and manageable recoil compared to 9mm. The discussion also touches on the trend of law enforcement moving away from 40 S&W to 9mm, primarily for cost reasons, and the subsequent impact on firearm manufacturing.

Quick Summary

40 Smith & Wesson remains a viable cartridge, particularly for competition like USPSA where it allows for major power factor scoring. While law enforcement has shifted to 9mm for cost reasons, 40 S&W offers comparable recoil to 9mm with potentially better terminal performance and firearm conversion options.

Chapters

  1. 00:01Intro & Reloading Ramblings
  2. 00:18Why Talk About 40 Smith & Wesson?
  3. 00:25Evolution of 40 S&W Popularity
  4. 01:02Past Dominance of 40 S&W
  5. 01:26Getting into 40 S&W for Competition
  6. 01:3140 S&W in USPSA: Major Power Factor
  7. 02:04Decline in General Popularity
  8. 02:11Law Enforcement Shift to 9mm
  9. 02:28Cost vs. Terminal Performance
  10. 03:02Newer Firearms in 9mm Only
  11. 03:22Smith & Wesson Still Producing 40s
  12. 03:35Personal Appreciation for 40 S&W
  13. 03:51Ideal Compact 40 S&W Firearms
  14. 04:43Military Crimp Primers
  15. 05:04Downfalls of 40 S&W vs. 9mm
  16. 05:23Sheep Mentality in the Gun Community
  17. 06:00Hoping for a 40 S&W Comeback
  18. 06:04Caliber Conversion Perks: Glock 23
  19. 06:27Glock 19 vs. Glock 23 Versatility
  20. 06:43Case Head and Extractor Compatibility
  21. 07:07Final Thoughts on 40 Smith & Wesson
  22. 07:179mm vs. 40 S&W Debate
  23. 07:26Following Law Enforcement's Lead
  24. 07:45Outro

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was 40 Smith & Wesson once so popular?

40 Smith & Wesson experienced a surge in popularity several years ago, becoming a dominant caliber. This was partly due to its adoption by law enforcement and its effectiveness in competition shooting like USPSA, where it allowed for major power factor scoring.

What are the advantages of 40 Smith & Wesson in competition?

In competitions like USPSA, 40 Smith & Wesson allows shooters to achieve major power factor, which results in easier scoring. The speaker also notes that its recoil is manageable and comparable to 9mm, while still offering good capacity in firearms.

Why did law enforcement move away from 40 Smith & Wesson?

Law enforcement agencies largely transitioned away from 40 Smith & Wesson back to 9mm primarily for cost reasons. While 9mm may offer slightly more capacity in some firearms, the speaker argues there's no significant terminal performance advantage over 40 S&W.

Can a 40 Smith & Wesson firearm be converted to other calibers?

Yes, some 40 Smith & Wesson firearms, like the Glock 23, can be converted to shoot 357 SIG or 9mm with a simple barrel change and sometimes a magazine swap. This offers greater versatility compared to 9mm-only firearms.

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