.40 S&W History
You can’t really talk about .40 S&W without addressing its origin story. In dramatic fashion, that story starts with an FBI shoot-out. We’ve gone into greater detail on the Miami-Dade incident in 1986 before, but suffice it to say the FBI determined that its agents were outgunned in both power and capacity when they attempted to stop two rampaging criminals.
Despite the bureau’s agents hitting their targets several times, sometimes with backup .38 Special revolvers, the heavily armed bank robbers continued to fight. So, the FBI determined it needed something new, and that set it on a search that eventually led to the 10mm cartridge.
The 10mm offered the power, capacity, and penetration levels the FBI wanted, but it was also snappy in the hand and hard for some of the agency’s personnel to control. So, the bureau reached out to Smith & Wesson for help, and the .40 S&W was born. Originally, the FBI just wanted to downgrade the charge in the powerful 10mm, but this would have led to problematic airspace inside the cartridge. Instead, the .40 S&W basically downsized the case size.
funeral for .40 S&W. (Photo: Paul Peterson/Guns.com)
Don’t let the name fool you – the bore diameters for .40 S&W and 10mm are the same, but they diverge in the actual casing and powder that propels the bullet. The less snappy .40 S&W still met the FBI’s penetration standards and entered the scene in 1990. By 1997, the FBI – and many other LEO agencies – had adopted it as their go-to service cartridge.
Glock 22: Accurate, Powerful, Reliable
I grabbed a gently used law enforcement Glock 22 for my personal testing. From a dimension perspective, it closely resembles the Glock 17 in size, and it’s not far off from the Glock 19, which is an incredibly popular concealed carry option.
I put 300 rounds through this Glock 22, but not really to test the reliability. The reliability of these guns is already quite well known and has been repeatedly tested. Instead, I ran the gun alongside my Glock 21 (.45 ACP), Glock 19 (9mm), and Glock 17 (9mm) to get a feel for the differences in recoil and my personal accuracy with it.
SAVE BIG ON USED GLOCK 22 PISTOLS
Using the G22 allowed me to compare a fairly one-to-one group of guns with different chamberings. In the hand, the Glock 22 was almost identical to my personal Glock 17 and Glock 19. The grip and overall sizing are so similar that the gun fits most of my G19/G17 holsters just fine. In comparison, the grip of the Glock 21 feels much fatter and, in my humble opinion, harder to control.
Related: .40 S&W Workhorse – Glock 22 Gen 4 Review
As for felt recoil, there is certainly an increase in the snappiness of the .40 S&W G22 when compared to both the 9mm G19/G17 and the .45 ACP G21. Even the .45 ACP G21 has more of a roll to the recoil. The G22 has a definitive snap and rapid muzzle rise.
If I had to put a number on it, I would say the felt recoil is around 25 percent higher than with my Glock 17. Still, I did not struggle to really control the gun, even on hot and sweaty trips to my outdoor range. It’s fun to shoot but not necessarily a comfortable plinking round. I wouldn’t want to shoot hundreds of rounds through the G22 every day. But the recoil is not something that would make me hesitate to use it as a self-defense gun.
Specs Comparison: G22, G21, G17, G19
Glock makes a range of pistols chambered for .40 S&W. What’s remarkable is their similarity to their 9mm counterparts. I’ve gathered a few guns together for comparison.
Perhaps the most popular carry pistol in the Glock family, the Glock 19 isn’t far apart from the Glock 22. The standard G19 measures in at 7.36 inches long, 1.26 inches wide, and 5.04 inches tall. By comparison, the G22 tapes in at 8.03 inches long, 1.26 inches wide, and 5.47 inches tall.
So, the .40 S&W Glock 22 is just slightly longer and taller, but those differences virtually vanish when compared to the 9mm Glock 17. This isn’t a coincidence. Because the .40 S&W was shorter than the 10mm, Glock was able to use its previous work designing a 10mm pistol and incorporate that into the frame size of its already existing 9mm lineup.
The biggest difference, outside of the round, was a slight decrease in capacity. Glock 17s boasted a generous 17+1 round count, while the G22 dropped that to 15+1 to accommodate the slightly fatter .40 S&W round. That still makes for a decent capacity given the increase in power between the two rounds.
Related: Used LEO Glock 17 – Popular Police Trade-In Pistols for a Reason
When we compare the G22 to its bigger – or at least fatter – cousin, the Glock 21, that height and length is nearly identical. The G21 comes in at 8.07 inches long, 1.34 inches wide, and 5.51 inches tall.
The differences are minor in length and height. However, I will note that the 0.08-inch increase to the width is actually quite noticeable in the hand. It’s just starting to get to the width that I would call too fat for comfort. It’s not past that point, but I can say I prefer shooting the narrower G19, G17, and G22.
Ballistics Comparisons: 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, 10mm
If we’re considering that .40 S&W can have somewhere between 20 and 30 percent increases in felt recoil when compared to 9mm, it follows that there is a payoff in added power. But it’s not quite that simple. We could ramble for days about specific loads, 9mm +P, barrel lengths, etc. Instead, let’s just take a high-level look at some comparable specs from factory-loaded ammo from Federal.
Below is a comparison of factory-loaded Federal 124-grain 9mm compared to 180-grain .40 S&W:
So, the energy in foot-pounds between 9mm and .40 S&W at the reasonable pistol-shooting distance of 25 yards is just over 11.2 percent higher with 180-grain .40 S&W. That’s hardly the 20-30 percent increase in felt recoil, but certainly nothing to snub. If you asked me if I wanted one round of 9mm or one round of .40 S&W to stop a mountain lion, I would be a fool to say .40 caliber isn’t worth it.
Additionally, that energy ratio only improves at range, with a 20.5 percent increase in foot-pounds between .40 S&W and 9mm at 100 yards (ambitious with a handgun, but carbines are certainly an option).
The recoil difference between standard 9mm and .40 S&W is noticeable. That isn’t necessarily reflected in an equal increase in “stopping power,” but it does follow that you should expect some benefits on the receiving end of the .40 round.
As a quick note on 9mm +P – here is the 25-yard comparison with .40 S&W, keeping in mind that +P ammo may not be rated for all 9mm handguns and generally comes with a premium price tag:
Let’s now take a look at .45 ACP, which is still a fairly common duty round for police officers in guns like the Glock 21. At 25 yards, .45 ACP with a 230-grain bullet is delivering a healthy 389 foot-pounds of energy, or a hair short of a 6-percent increase over .40 S&W. I’ll note again that the .45 ACP Glock 21 has a noticeable increase in the frame size and feel. It’s a fat round, and it demands a fatter grip. That also comes at a cost of capacity.
Finally, where would we be if we didn’t compare the .40 S&W to its parent cartridge, the 10mm?
Just a quick glance at the specs tells you that 10mm, in theory, outperforms .40 S&W in every category from drop at distance to velocity and energy.
Of course, there are plenty of variables that could change these figures, from the specific round and bullet weight to barrel length and shooting conditions. With all things being equal, .40 S&W has its advantages. Those also come with some distinct disadvantages. Some shooters do not like the increase in felt recoil; while others have no issues with it.
Some Ballistic Testing
Many shooters take the specs at face value for rounds, but terminal performance isn’t always measured in just the numbers on a ballistics spreadsheet. Since there are plenty of ballistic tests already out there using gel, I’ve forgone doing my own gel testing for this article.
However, I did pull out some old body armor and shot it with 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. That is a test that’s not very common and demonstrates the way these rounds perform against harder targets.
Here’s a solid gel test. Notice that, just because 10mm looks better on paper, it doesn’t guarantee better end results for some types of ammunition:
…And for the fun part, here’s what 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP do to some 1990s military Kevlar. For some context, here is what happens when the same hard armor is hit with 9mm and .45 ACP:
Related: Everyday Armor Review – Phoenix T-Shirt (Ballistic Test)
Because .40 S&W offers mass and speed, it also has some serious impact potential even on a harder target. Here are the results at 15 feet with the 180-grain FMJ .40 ACP:
The ability to drop all the energy into the target has obvious merits for a hunting or self-defense round. It may not have some of the energy levels in the best 10mm rounds, but even standard .40 S&W is no slouch.
10mm Resurgence
It’s just a fact that 10mm has far outpaced .40 in new production guns. Every year, there are numerous guns chambered for 10mm hitting the market. I can’t even remember the last time I saw a brand-new .40 S&W design roll out.
There are still plenty of .40 cals floating around, from the Glock 22 and SIG Sauer 226 to Smith & Wesson’s SD40 VE and CZ’s TS2, not to mention a large aftermarket filled with guns. Heck, we even came across a large collection of police trade-in guns that come with night sights and the character of having been actual law enforcement firearms. Better yet, they are at a great price point.
While I’m tempted to say modern ammo loads and firearm designs have more or less tamed the 10mm and solved the issues the FBI originally had with the design, that’s not always true.
There’s an argument to be made that many 10mm loads may be a bit underpowered to really maximize the advantages of the cartridge. However, you can’t deny it’s the round that came out on the top of the market when compared to .40 S&W.
Related: Why 10mm Refuses to Go Away…And We’re Glad
Everyone from Hi-Point and Smith & Wesson to Glock, SIG Sauer, Colt, and Springfield offers a popular 10mm option.
Pros & Cons: Why Get a .40 S&W Pistol?
The FBI has since moved back to the 9mm round for likely two main reasons. First, the round offers more capacity. Second, the lower recoil makes follow-up shots easier for most shooters, and there are plenty of newer 9mm loads to improve terminal performance these days.
With that said, I have noticed after several range trips that I shoot the Glock 22 with its .40 S&W round well at the range. I even see my groups tighten a bit in follow-up shots. I credit this to the gun’s size and the fact that as that recoil hits, you stop overthinking shots and shoot a bit more instinctively.
Here's my shortlist of the pros and cons for guns chambered in .40 S&W:
Pros:
- Accurate with good energy at longer ranges
- Plenty of reliable firearms already chambered for it
- Ammo remains easily available
- Lots of used and new options at good prices
- Offers increased power/energy
- Smaller than 10mm
- Better capacity than .45 ACP
- Interesting history
- Fun to shoot
- Guns like the G22 fit many Glock 19/17 holsters
Cons:
- More felt recoil than 9mm
- Generally less power potential than 10mm
- More expensive than most 9mm
- Can wear out parts faster in high-volume shooting
-
Not as many brand-new designs
Final Thoughts
Shooters’ needs and expectations really dictate whether .40 S&W is a good fit. If we’re being honest, .40 S&W is hardly dead, but it’s also not exactly a rising star anymore. Most of the guns chambered for the round have been around for a while. They are still being made, but not many new designs are rolling out.
Sure, 10mm stole a lot of the thunder, and 9mm has really blossomed into tons of options. But the good ol’ .40 S&W is still around and loved by many for its increased power potential and capacity. As for me, I wouldn’t hate adding this used Glock 22 to my personal collection to widen my caliber options. It’s been a fine shooting companion so far.
