Do I need a .40?

[Mr_Incredible]

I have .38, .22, 9mm, .40, and .45 pistols and ammo stashes. You need more calibers if you want more calibers. You will never know until you own them whether they are worth it for you. Get new dies and supplies and reload more.

Be advised, Glock pistols don't shoot lead bullets, they have to be jacketed.

I have a G23 with .40 and 9mm barrels. It's great fun.

I've ordered a G30S but it's not here yet. I think that will become my favorite. I really enjoy shooting .45acp.

Try them all. Rent some at the range if you want.

 

[strat81]

Originally Posted By: zerosoma
Reason I'm asking is I have been looking at the sig sp2022 and the smith sd series and they come in both 9 and 40. I can see if I get a 9, I'll already have ammo and can reload but then I'll have a diff caliber if I go with 40 and will have it available if shtf or 9 ain't available...


Both the SP2022 and SD9 are mediocre pistols at best, and are built to a price point. Not terrible, and certainly better than some of the cheaper choices out there, but both are lacking.

Used Glocks, Berettas, and 3rd-gen Smiths are not much more $$$ than a new SD9. Unless your budget is so tight that it has to be one of the two you mentioned, I'd look for something better.


As for caliber, I've never cared for the recoil impulse of the .40. I also prefer the capacity advantage 9mm offers over the .40. My .45 is nice, but I only use it for matches.

 

[HM12460]

It's pretty much all been said... I will add I have a LC-9 and a SR40C and really like them both.

 

[zerosoma]

Yah I looked at a ruger sp101 again yesterday as well as the sd9 and sp2022. Even though the ruger is more expensive it felt really solid and perfect for my hand. It's probably a much better gun, too.

 

[nleksan]

Not a fan of the way the 40SW recoil feels, it makes me shoot significantly slower for the same accuracy.

Personally, my go to caliber is 357SIG as it is the only handgun round that I have never had a feeding issue with when using LV rounds and a suppressor, it's extremely flat shooting and very accurate, and if you handload you can keep it subsonic while retaining more energy than a 9x19 subsonic (still less than the inherently subsonic 45 tho).
The fact that the P226 is my favorite handgun doesn't hurt. GemTech's Ti 9mm suppressor also works extremely well with the round, which is important to me as I shoot with suppressors the vast majority of the time.

 

[danthaman1980]

Originally Posted By: zerosoma
Most of my pistols are 9mm and it's what I reload. Seems to be the best way to go. I always get an itch for a new pistol, and thought about .40 or .45. Issue is, more bullets to buy and I don't reload them (40 or 45). Could get expensive. Any benefit to having guns in multiple calibers? I've always been a 9mm guy myself.


Since you reload, I'd suggest holding off on a .40 for now. You'd be sorely disappointed at the scarcity of jacketed .400/10mm bullets in the marketplace right now. You could always load up hardcast lead bullets, but then you'd have to select your firearm based on what you'd be comfortable shooting lead through.

If you really have the itch for a new caliber, consider a .357sig. Bullets are more plentiful and you can reload those for basically the same cost as 9mm. Pick a .357sig that can be converted to .40 with a barrel swap, and you have the option to do so later on, when .40 bullets become more readily available.

 

[tomcat27]

ammo availability is a big concern for me. its really hard to find ammo lately, and for the forseeable future

 

[Astro14]

I've had no problem finding .40. It's been more available than 9mm...

 

[Sonic]

Originally Posted By: Astro14
I've had no problem finding .40. It's been more available than 9mm...


This is the same situation where I live. 40S&W 50 rnd packs are down to $15.99 at the gun store(Blazer aluminum)and $16.99 for the brass. But, the 9mm is still slim pickins. Even Walmart seems to always have the 100 round packs of WWB .40 everytime I'm in there. No 9mm though. I think it's an advantage to have pistols in more than one caliber. If you can't find one type of ammo maybe you can find another. Especially if you're in a situation where you really need or want it. Owning guns and buying ammo is an expensive hobby for sure. I think it's a good idea to have options in caliber.

 

[danthaman1980]

Originally Posted By: Sonic
Originally Posted By: Astro14
I've had no problem finding .40. It's been more available than 9mm...


This is the same situation where I live. 40S&W 50 rnd packs are down to $15.99 at the gun store(Blazer aluminum)and $16.99 for the brass. But, the 9mm is still slim pickins. Even Walmart seems to always have the 100 round packs of WWB .40 everytime I'm in there. No 9mm though. I think it's an advantage to have pistols in more than one caliber. If you can't find one type of ammo maybe you can find another. Especially if you're in a situation where you really need or want it. Owning guns and buying ammo is an expensive hobby for sure. I think it's a good idea to have options in caliber.


True, loaded factory .40S&W is easy enough to find, for sure... Kind of odd that loaded .40S&W ammo is so plentiful, yet .400/10mm bullets (as reloading components) are so scarce.

9mm is pretty much the opposite at the moment. Loaded factory 9mm ammo is harder to find, but jacketed .355/9mm bullets are more readily available.

 

[bcossa2001]

Yes, because I have one I'm trying to sell

 

[2cool]

Unless you want to do case trimming, I'd stay away from the .357sig. I have not reloaded a bottle-neck round yet, but all of the references say that the cases must be miked and trimmed as needed. Just seems like lots of work in pistol quantities when other useful cartridges are available.
As to the "shortage", my LGS always seems to have both the spendy JHP and Berry's plated bullets in stock. I check once every two weeks, and I'll see something I could use every time. I may not have 5 choices each time, but I don't shoot 100 of the expensive bullets at a time, that's what the plated are for (which I buy by the 1k box). IMO the panic shortage is easing, the folks in the store agree that the reflexive panic buying has slowed. Maybe everyone that was "stocking up" is now looking at a pile of ammo boxes and no cash for Christmas.
Again, IMO the only proper place for a .357 bullet is on the front of a .357 magnum brass stuffed with 15 grains of H110. If you miss, you might ignite them with the fireball!!!!