So How Good IS The 40 Cal?

I got asked that again today by a guy who reads my gun blogs, and I simply answered....."darned if I know."

"Well....aren't you one of the "gun guru's" around here?"

"I'm not a "guru" or "expert" on ANY of 'em.   I usually only write about the ones that interest me, and related subjects.  I've been shooting and collecting over 2/3 of my life, so most of what I've written on this subject comes from actual hands-on experience, including 4 specific weapons from the "combat zone."

That still doesn't make me an "expert".....just "knowledgeable" on the ones I've HAD experience with.

OK....all that being said.......I SHOT a 40 once, in a friend's Glock pistol.  I didn't particularly care for it, but there WERE some "prejudices" if you will........Glocks don't "feel right" to me.......I find them a bit "top-heavy" and I've never cared for the trigger pull on one.  The OTHER thing is that judging from the recoil and impact into the dirt behind the target, it didn't feel like much more than the 9mm, which I don't consider to be enough gun either.

But that's just the old Bazookaman's opinion.  Ten different shooters could have shot that same pistol and come up with ten different answers.  (So I told that guy this morning to not take MY opinion as some kind of "gospel").

A lot of people seem to LIKE the 40 Caliber.  I know a COUPLE of guys who shoot 40's, one is a Smith & Wesson and the other guy has a "P" series Ruger in that caliber.  A lot of cops carry 40's, so you have to read my gun blogs with an open mind.

While I'm not a big fan of semi-automatic pistols,  on those rare occasions when I DO carry one, it's almost ALWAYS a 45 ACP., and is ALWAYS a "1911" model pistol......a design proven and trusted through two world wars, Korea and Vietnam.

Police logs are FULL of reports of felons on drugs  taking multiple hits from 9's & even some 40's, yet still had to be wrestled to the ground.  When you hit some dude solidly  with a big 230-grain bullet from a 45, I don't care "what he's on", he's going down.

Now, to be fair, most 9's & 40's are small enough to carry concealed, most of the time, almost un-noticed.  And in most cases, will do the job you ask of it.  MOST of the time.

The 9mm has been around a long time.  This Walther P-38 and Smith & Wesson M-39 are good examples of fine pistols.  It is prudent to remember, however,  that pop cans don't shoot back.  (The revolver pictured above the M-39 is a Smith & Wesson Model 29, 44 Magnum, which WILL "end the argument with one "squeeze)."

The 380 ACP is extremely popular, and tucks away handily, but it lacks the power of the 9mm, and nowhere NEAR a 44 as you can see.

I don't have a photo of a 40, because I don't own one.  To ME (my opinion only), the 40 is a slightly souped-up 9mm.  Like I said, when I DO CARRY a semi-auto, it's a 45.............

Like this Springfield 1911......................with a nice big 230-grain slug!

Obviously, the bigger the cartridge, the bigger the GUN has to be to handle it, so the 45 doesn't "hide-away" as easily as a "9" or a "40", but its history as a reliable "man-stopper" is exactly a century old now, this year!

And as to the original question............... "How good IS the 40?"

"DARNED IF I KNOW!"