Bill460
Member
With the FBI returning back to the 9 MM, there has been a slew of other law enforcement agencies across the nation following along, and dumping the .40 S&W. Even without the FBI, this cartridge will still have legs for years to come. If for no other reason than police trade in's of Glock 22s, along with various other semi .40's are FLOODING the market right now. And they are selling cheap. And let's face it, this is America, and people love a good buy.
The problem with buying cheap .40's is whatever you save in buying the gun, you're going to give right back in ammunition cost if you shoot it with any regularity. 9 MM Ball ammo can now be had for under $9.00 @ box if you take the time to shop for it. Sales on pistol ammunition, (especially bulk Ball ammo), are everywhere today. Both on the Internet, as well as the big box stores. .40 ammo is priced higher across the board.
For the average Joe who shoots just a few boxes a year, it's not going to matter. But for someone who puts several thousand rounds a year downrange, it adds up fast.
The military never showed any real interest in the .40 S&W, so there was never any support there. Since it only came to be because of the FBI, and now they have basically dumped it, other law enforcement agencies across the country have more or less engaged in the game of, "monkey see, monkey do".
Police departments nationwide are following the FBI and dumping their .40's, and are going back to the 9 MM as well. Again, it's not because the .40 is "bad". It isn't. It just after analyzing hundreds of law enforcement / perpetrator shootings over the last several decades, it doesn't show a record of any measurable ballistic improvement over the 9 MM. Especially with the current crop of improved self defense ammunition that is now available for both cartridges. And most cops certainly can't shoot it any better.
The 9 MM / .45 ACP debate still rages today with no real clear winner. Improved ammo and all. So it's rather doubtful the .40 S&W will do any better when the whole, "Tastes great... Less filling" bantering plays out.
The problem with buying cheap .40's is whatever you save in buying the gun, you're going to give right back in ammunition cost if you shoot it with any regularity. 9 MM Ball ammo can now be had for under $9.00 @ box if you take the time to shop for it. Sales on pistol ammunition, (especially bulk Ball ammo), are everywhere today. Both on the Internet, as well as the big box stores. .40 ammo is priced higher across the board.
For the average Joe who shoots just a few boxes a year, it's not going to matter. But for someone who puts several thousand rounds a year downrange, it adds up fast.
The military never showed any real interest in the .40 S&W, so there was never any support there. Since it only came to be because of the FBI, and now they have basically dumped it, other law enforcement agencies across the country have more or less engaged in the game of, "monkey see, monkey do".
Police departments nationwide are following the FBI and dumping their .40's, and are going back to the 9 MM as well. Again, it's not because the .40 is "bad". It isn't. It just after analyzing hundreds of law enforcement / perpetrator shootings over the last several decades, it doesn't show a record of any measurable ballistic improvement over the 9 MM. Especially with the current crop of improved self defense ammunition that is now available for both cartridges. And most cops certainly can't shoot it any better.
The 9 MM / .45 ACP debate still rages today with no real clear winner. Improved ammo and all. So it's rather doubtful the .40 S&W will do any better when the whole, "Tastes great... Less filling" bantering plays out.