Why Get a 40-caliber Revolver?

[Tallball]

I like to shoot revolvers. When I go to the shooting range, I like to shoot a 22 revolver, a 32 or 38, and something that starts with a 4 and goes boom. One of my favorite large bores is my Rossi 720 in 44 special. I also carry a Charter Arms Bulldog sometimes.

Luckily I have a couple of 9mm revolvers, so even when 38 special is hard to get (or just too expensive), I can still shoot something equivalent. Likewise, I do have three revolvers that shoot 45acp, so I can shoot those when 44 special or 45 colt are hard to get or extremely expensive - which is pretty much all of the time lately.

In the past couple of years I've been keeping my eyes open for an affordable used revolver in decent shape that shoots 40 caliber S&W. It gives me another option for shooting a 40-something caliber revolver. I remember times when there's been 40 caliber ammo on the shelves and no 45acp, so I thought it would be nice to have 40 caliber revolver, just in case.

I finally ran across a Taurus Model 405 used in nice condition for $399. I think I'm going to like it. It's a 40-caliber version of the Taurus Tracker. I've owned two other Trackers, a 22lr and a 44 special. They went bang every time, but their triggers were meh. I traded them away because I got a K22 and a Rossi 720 and realized I would never shoot the Trackers again. This one has a better trigger than either of the other two - not great, but pretty good for a Taurus. It may have been someone's carry piece, according to what looks like holster wear. It locks up tight and the action is smooth. The turnline and area around the firing pin show that it's been shot some, but not a whole lot. Some people don't like the ribbed Tracker grips, but I actually do. They fit my XXL hands very well.

It's a heavy medium-framed revolver with a 2" barrel. It holds five rounds. I think I'm going to enjoy shooting it. It should be similar to shooting the Rossi 720 I enjoy so much. If 40 caliber is a little snappier, I'll just enjoy it that much more.

My reason for purchasing this is just for a range toy. It should be a lot of fun for that. I already ordered and received TK moonclips for it, and they work just fine. I doubt I will ever carry it or use it as a nightstand gun, but I'd be okay with either after a couple of hundred trouble-free rounds. I carry five-shot 38's more than anything else, so it would be a small upgrade, caliber-wise.

So am I crazy and a 40-caliber revolver is a bad idea? Will the recoil be too violent for my tender little paws? Was it for sale because the previous owner needed more than five rounds? How could any Taurus revolver ever be anything but faulty and evil? What kind of nut job goes around shooting revolvers in 2022? Why would some deranged person design a revolver for a semiautomatic round?

Do you have a 40-caliber revolver? How do you like it?

I hope to shoot this and my Match Champion on Saturday morning. Looking forward to both!

Taurus Model 405

• Tallball
• Dec 15, 2022

 

[Riomouse911]

Neat pickup .

Personally I have no use for a .40 S&W revolver, but those who do are all right by me .

Stay safe.

 

[tominboise]

Because it's fun. Like 99% of what we do/need/want/have on this forum. Because it's fun.

 

[.455_Hunter]

I have a Vaquero with the dual cylinder .38 WCF and .40 S&W set-up. Factory 180 gr .40 shoots pretty much the same POI as factory 180 gr .38 WCF, and is MUCH cheaper.

 

[mcb]

Moonclips rule! ...so 40S&W and 10mm Auto revolvers rule too!

 

[GarrettJ]

I have a Vaquero with the dual cylinder .38 WCF and .40 S&W set-up. Factory 180 gr .40 shoots pretty much the same POI as factory 180 gr .38 WCF, and is MUCH cheaper.

I prefer the Blackhawk over the Vaquero. But I’d jump on the 38-40 / .40 version if I found one.

I did grab a 10mm/.40 BH when they were released, and glad I did. Now that that limited run is out, prices have jumped. Shortly after I found a .38-40 / 10mm Buckeye that wasn’t silly money.

Maybe I’m just a sucker for the oddball guns.

 

[film495]

I never shot 40 s&w in a revolver, but in semi autos I don't notice enough of a difference to tell if it is 40 or 9mm. I think the first time I shot it I thought it was lighter and in retrospect I think that was just because the slide activated time was faster/quicker. So, maybe it is a touch snappier, but - IMHO not much more than 9mm. be interesting to see what you think out of that short barrel revolver.

 

[Buckeye63]

This one doesn’t use moon clips

 

[sparkyv]

Looks like all of us nuts here need some help! We think shooting 40S&W in a revolver is fun. Image that!

What kind of nut job goes around shooting revolvers in 2022? Why would some deranged person design a revolver for a semiautomatic round?

This one tames the 40S&W down to the level of a purring kitteh. Like mcb's, it handles 10mm rounds with aplomb.

 

[Targa]

Moonclips, that’s why..

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

Because why not? Especially if you're a reloader. Something that shoots unusual ammo makes it feel more personable to you.
I like .40 cal and believe it is under appreciated, but if it was a common caliber, would we really be fond of it in the same way? Better let it be odd so it becomes just "our" thing.
I wanted a .40 cal revolver too.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Shortly after I found a .38-40 / 10mm Buckeye that wasn’t silly money.

Saw one with bids over $1000 maybe $1200 a month or two ago... Thats one id like to have.

 

[TTv2]

I would gladly buy a .40 revolver... so long as it can also shoot 10mm.

 

[GarrettJ]

Saw one with bids over $1000 maybe $1200 a month or two ago... Thats one id like to have.

Yeah, seems like there are always a couple of the Buckeye Blackhawks on gunbroker for $1200-1300. They rarely sell, just get relisted. This goes back to when regular Blackhawks sold for $500 new.

I happened to find one for around $800 and jumped on it. And then as these things work out, I saw another at the LGS just a few months later for $850. I really had to restrain myself from getting that as well. After all, I then had two 10mm Blackhawks already.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Yeah, seems like there are always a couple of the Buckeye Blackhawks on gunbroker for $1200-1300. They rarely sell, just get relisted. This goes back to when regular Blackhawks sold for $500 new.

I happened to find one for around $800 and jumped on it. And then as these things work out, I saw another at the LGS just a few months later for $850. I really had to restrain myself from getting that as well. After all, I then had two 10mm Blackhawks already.

These were actual bids on proxibid. Not asking prices!

Im relegated to a 10mm glock and a 99 year old 38-40 Colt New Service. Id love a 38-40 ruger to work up some high powered loads.

 

[lee n. field]

I


I finally ran across a Taurus Model 405 used in nice condition for $399.

They did not make that long.

 

[mavracer]

Moonclips rule!

I've shot 40 in my Ruger Match Champion 10mm.

 

[cfullgraf]

I have a S&W Model 610. I’ve shot 30 or so 40 S&W through it just to see how the 40 S&W shot.

Yes, moon clips rock.

 

[Blkhrt13]

My only concern would be availability of moon clips. Those weren’t made for long. That’s a nice package. Kinda wish we had something for scale. How does it compare to jframe s or colt d frames?

 

[TTv2]

You can shoot rimless cartridges without moon clips as long as the chamber is made so the headspacing is done from the case mouth and almost all modern DA revolvers are made that way with the exception of the Ruger Redhawk in .45 Colt/ACP.

 

[Styx]

I never shot 40 s&w in a revolver, but in semi autos I don't notice enough of a difference to tell if it is 40 or 9mm. I think the first time I shot it I thought it was lighter and in retrospect I think that was just because the slide activated time was faster/quicker. So, maybe it is a touch snappier, but - IMHO not much more than 9mm. be interesting to see what you think out of that short barrel revolver.

I feel the same except way about the M&P Shield 40, Kahr K40 and MK40, and the Sig P290 in 40S&W I've fired. I can't really tell the difference between 9mm, and matter of fact, a few 9mm handguns I fired and the XDS in 45 kicked and recoiled more than 40s&w.

 

[Tallball]

It seemed like my choices were the Taurus, a Charter Arms Pit Bull, a Ruger SA, or a S&W 610.

I really like my Ruger single actions, and I really like my S&W N-frames, but those options are around $1,000 apiece. (And I already have them both in 45acp.)

I have a 45acp Pit Bull and like it okay. Like my 44 special Bull Dog, it's much more of a carry piece than a range toy. IIRC, the last 40 caliber Pit Bull I saw sold for north of $500... maybe $600? They are rare lately and that's a lot for a Charter Arms.

Sizewise, the Taurus just seems like a 2" K-frame snub with bigger grips.

I have five moon clips for the Taurus and plan on ordering five more, but that should be plenty. It's just a range toy, and I might not really need them. The ones for my 9mm SP101 are so easy that I use them all the time. My 45acp ones are such a beast that I just shoot the 625 without them, and the brass falls out so easily that they're not even necessary for a range visit.

Thanks for all of the kind comments. The 405 seems like a nice size for a range toy. It's small enough that the 40 caliber should be a little bit spicy and fun, but it's heavy enough and has a big enough grip so that shooting 50 rounds or more at a time should be NBD.

It's similar to this, but not as sweet a trigger, different grips, and holds five rounds of 40 instead of six rounds of 38.

Smith And Wesson Model 10 Snub

• Tallball
• Apr 20, 2020

 

[film495]

I feel the same except way about the M&P Shield 40, Kahr K40 and MK40, and the Sig P290 in 40S&W I've fired. I can't really tell the difference between 9mm, and matter of fact, a few 9mm handguns I fired and the XDS in 45 kicked and recoiled more than 40s&w.

I forget the exact model, but - what I shot was the same smith and wesson model in 9mm and 40 sw. A friend of mine had the same firearm in both cartridges. The recoil maybe in a semi auto to me for 40 maybe just seemed quicker with less flip and easier to get back on target. Nothing at all like the muzzle flip from 45ACP or others. The only downfall to me was reloading the magazines, they were brutal. I'd never consider the model I shot just do to the magazines, but the idea of it in a revolver I admit seems kind of interesting, just cause I guess it seems cool, and there would be no magazines that are a bear to load.

 

[flightsimmer]

I've been lucky, here's a few mine.

 

[DukeConnor]

I've been lucky, here's a few mine.View attachment 1121276

The carbine looks interesting. What the heck is it ?