40 S&W vs 9mm Is 40 really better?

The 40 Smith and Wesson edged out the 45 ACP last week but what about the 45's older brother, the 9mm? Today the 40 S&W will take on the 9mm in wood, steel, and through soft drink cans to find out if the 40 caliber is really the king of the heap!

[@toddparsons2980]

Great to see some 40 content 👍

[@garyelliott2670]

40 cal will always outperform the 9mm, that's just the facts, great video 👍

[@christophermead9800]

Obviously the .40 is better, it’s a bigger and heavier bullet with the same velocity of 9mm.

[@BrokeBoy91]

Those that talk down on 40 do so because they have wimp wrist.

[@wizkaqueefa9003]

Love it! Not LIMP WRIST it's just a WIMP WRIST! Gonna have to steal that one.

[@birddog081]

Laughs in 10mm.

[@BrokeBoy91]

@@birddog081 all mortals must respect the mighty 10mm

[@PerceptionVsReality333]

​@@birddog081 The 10mm recoils more heavily than the 40s&w yet nobody complains about that one, pocket 380auto pistols & snub 38spl revolvers are way snappier too & same thing no negative feedback on those either. It's just the 40s&w that gets Hell for some reason.

[@steemerxaxon1643]

​@PerceptionVsReality333 EXACTLY RIGHT!!! I'll have my 40cal as long as I can buy the Ammo for it...

[@furmanmackey5479]

For both personal and professional reasons, I retired the only semi auto, chambered in 9 Minimal, handgun I still own to the safe and only bring it out when I need cheap range time. For those same reasons I reverted to my old Smith "Compact" DAO pistol chambered in .40 Stout & Wicked.

[@bmaxse]

"9 minimal" "40 stout and wicked" I love that! 👏🏼👍🏼🙏🏼🤟🏼🕺😃

[@jimheatherton7155]

I’m getting ready to do a meat target video this weekend in .40 it will be a Paul Harrell style meat target and using 165 grain cor bon, v-crown, and gold dot. I tested the cor bon in 9mm it was very impressive in meat target, super excited for the .40 test. Like your videos, I’m a new subscriber.

[@PerceptionVsReality333]

I tried that but on a pig carcass covered with a plain T-shirt & hoodie plus a thick jacket .40 & .45 were always more damaging than 9mm.

[@losi8ightyew]

@@PerceptionVsReality333 I've hog hunted with all 3 of them, .40 and .45+p are the best. So I second your statement. Good thing 9mm is high capacity, cause even with vital shots you're gonna need it lol..I'll pass on carrying 9mm for my own life, .40 it is for me🤣🤣

[@silverhorder1969]

You can also get a .357 Sig barrel for it. Which is even more powerful than the .40.

[@losi8ightyew]

Not always lol, if you look at both on underwood's site, they have the lightweight .40's running just as quick as their .357 sig now. lol

[@silverhorder1969]

@@losi8ightyew there’s also 9mm +p+ loads that surpass the power of some .40 loadings too. But when comparing Federal, Speer, Winchester WB, and all the ones most available the .357 Sig is just more powerful.

[@losi8ightyew]

@@silverhorder1969 Yeah but that's +p+, lol. You can't shoot that junk outta every pistol nor feed a steady diet of it to even practice with it. The load I quoted is just modern a standard pressure .40 load.

[@silverhorder1969]

@@losi8ightyew you run the risk of shooting Underwood’s high pressure rounds out of ANY .40 caliber too! Look at all the guns blown up by those rounds. There are plenty of YT videos on them, as well as Buffalo Bore. They blow up guns sometimes. ESPECIALLY in the .40. In fact I’ve heard of multiple.40 and 10mm blowing up. I never heard of a .357 Sig caliber blowing up. I actually never heard of any 9mm blowing up either! Not even with +p+ loads. So I’m not buying it. The .357 Sig is more powerful in 98% of all the .40 loads you can conjure up. I call that more powerful. Hands down!

[@suleimancoenraad2859]

​

[@chadcrader7542]

I have both, I'll take 40 over 9 every time

[@RuggedAdventures]

I do like that 9mm is dirt cheap

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

I own, carry both but for security details, I use 9mm +P. Mainly Federal HST or Golden Saber +P bonded. 9mm is slightly better, easy to find.

[@PerceptionVsReality333]

​@@DavidLLambertmobile Federal HST 124 grain +P is my absolute favorite HD/SD round for my Beretta92FS.

[@gloriamaletta8667]

40sw is better than 9mm 357 SIG is better than 40sw 10mm is better than 357 SIG if l could choose 3 of them 1st would be 9mm for obvious reasons 2nd would be 357 SIG even though it's not popular 3rd is 10mm because 45acp and 40sw are not as powerful there are no real micro 40sw 45acp 357 SIG unless you count the Shield 40sw or 45acp or Glock 33 or 27 the Glock 30 or 29 are larger than the 33 or 27 pretty much covers any larger calibers that are somewhat small not micro for sure l think having 11+1 or 12+1 or 13+1 magazine capacity in 9mm vs 7+1 of 40sw or 45acp in Shield or 9+1 in Glock 27 or 33 is a no brainer for me I'll take the smaller less powerful 9mm with 13+1 over at best 9+1 of 40sw 357 SIG or 10+1 in the Glock 29 or 30 that is substantially larger than a SIG P365 with 12 +1 round magazines or a Canik MC9 these guns don't come in 40sw

[@losi8ightyew]

@@gloriamaletta8667 light .40 moves just as quick as .357 sig now, just an FYI.

[@mr5below078]

Make 357 sig popular

[@Gunsandbunsmma]

600ft/lb with Underwood 155 grain XTP’s out of a Glock 22 in .40sw. 582 ft/lb out of a 4” glock 23. Yeah .40SW is way more powerful and capable than 9mm AND .45

[@AllOxen]

Was so poor when I was boy,we would have to re use the soda cans from our daisy rough rider...😂❤

[@derrickbecton7526]

I love the this test and my EDC is a 40 caliber Springfield 165 grain hollow points speer gold dot

[@randyduncan795]

Whichever one you can put more rounds on target more accurately more quickly is better. You just never know how many targets will have to be hit and quickly.

[@mdsims2107]

Hey Cat, today is my first time viewing your channel and I really like what you’re doing and how you’re doing it. I have just subscribed and I look forward to seeing more great content. Thank you.

[@DavidFoley-pq2nl]

Yea another win 4 my boy doctor 40. Keep'em wanting more homie!! 😂

[@kentuckyjustice1408]

I still like my .40 better than my 9mm, for performance.

[@Abclyfestyle]

165 better than 180, for sure.

[@kevinrichardson8859]

125 grain 357sig at 1400+fps better than both! 💪

[@Abclyfestyle]

@@kevinrichardson8859 look at 135 grain underwood 40s&w and see how much better your 125 357 sig over priced shit is... it isn't brother. Its actually less powerful You cant beat 40 in a small semi auto.. alot of companies used to make the 135 grain load and have since stopped. Underwood and hornady are the only ones now

[@kevinrichardson8859]

@Abclyfestyle underwood??? All underwood AND big box 357sig ammo has more energy than 40.. especially underwood and Buffalo Bore...do yourself a favor and don't just read boxflap and marketing velocities and invest in a chronograph and personally test the two...if you don't want to do that do some research and watch more than a few videos of 357sig CONSISTENTLY out performing 40sw with the conventional 125 grain bullet weight...get your 40sw...135. 155...165. 180. 200 whatever you can muster....energy wise it's coming up short of 357sig and 10mm....40sw underwood doesn't reach what it claims on the box too often where as 357sig often exceeds what's on the box...if you know anything about ballistics you can't compare a 40+k psi bottle neck cartridge with a straight walled 35k psi cartridge...unless of course you specifically have found a way to defy physics 🤣🤣🤣🤣😒 ✌🏾 also if I'm not mistaken 40sw underwood and 357sig underwood are about the same price..overpriced BS for 20 round boxes....anything in Winchester..Remington..Federal....or S&B..40 doesn't come within 100 ft lbs of 357sig

[@lynch6642]

​@@Abclyfestyle I carry the Glock 29, subcompact 10mm which is a little thicker than the 40 cal. But the 27 subcompact fits perfectly, the thinness really fits my pockets better and the advantage as you can swap barrels and have the 357 sig at ready. And you can use the x-grip for 15 round magazines... And also the 357 sig will fit in there.

[@PerceptionVsReality333]

Speer gold dot 165 grain is my favorite 40s&w HD/SD round. It's an absolute monster through full size pistols like the G22.

[@charlesjones5151]

Of course it's better, it's bigger, stronger, one shot stopper compared to 9 mm, this is already known

[@TheRange7]

Over the years, the late legend Jame Yeager pretty much said that 40 S&W was a dying caliber that would eventually become obsolete. His reasoning all made perfect sense to me. Then along came the pandemic and at the start there was a literal ton of 40 around while many of the other popular calibers were unobtanium. To me, the pandemic breathed some new life into 40. I think it's made a comeback of sorts. I enjoy shooting it out on the range quite a bit. I know if I have a good handle on my firearms chambered in 40, I'm going to do even better with those chambered in 9. I'm not going to repeat the reasons why James felt the way he did, but it's worth watching over on Tactical Response if you'd like to know.

[@John_Redcorn_]

His reasoning was flawed. Just because 9mm is more popular doesnt mean that other calibers will die. Just look, we still have ppl carrying 1911s. Lol 🤷‍♂️

[@TheRange7]

@@John_Redcorn_ Yes indeed, but a good deal of 1911's are now chambered in 9

[@PerceptionVsReality333]

​@@TheRange7 That's when I bought my gen 3 Glock22 & ever since the 40s&w has been my absolute favorite semi auto round.

[@John_Redcorn_]

@@TheRange7 which is even dumber. Lol

[@losi8ightyew]

Yeah but aint yeager the same dude that also had a huge opinion of the rifle that blows up in your face? Yeah....he was. lol. Good ole' c39v2. Never took that dude seriously on anything he said after that.

[@davidr7333]

I and a few friends carried 40 for several years. Some then said they were switching back to the nice. As I aged (in my 70s) I began to see a more significant split times with my 40 than my nine. So I too eventually switched. I think the 40 is a just a bit better, but the human body evidently doesn't notice that in real life. Jump to 1000 ft/lbs and THAT makes a difference.

[@almaadams3631]

No sir. 40sw. that produces over 525ft.lbs can and will cause instant incapacitation. Thoratic blood vessels being pressurized will burst small capillaries in the brain. It is no different than any brain bleed concussion. Look for NC state trooper Rodney Cook; shoots armed pickup driver. He is using a 357sig. but the terminal ballistics are easily duplicated with 135/150grn. 40sw. in the 1300 to 1400fps range.

[@davidr7333]

@@almaadams3631 The vast majority of experts I know of agree that No pistol round will consistently cause instant incapacitation. Most police now recommend shooting 5 rounds of 223 (~1000 ft.lbs) to ensure a stop. The only round generally considered a one stop is 12 gauge 00 Buck and sometimes a slug. But there are documented cases where it took 2 or 3 rounds for the 12 gauge.

[@almaadams3631]

@@davidr7333 Yeah; the same pencil pushing "experts" that relieved our troopers, sheriffs,and local LEO of 357mag., and replaced it with 38spl. This got more than one LEO killed. The politicians and legislators thought 357mag was "bad optics" because it was "to powerful"and the surgeon reports of "to many fragments and lacerated vessels to repair." You can read whatever you want. The bottom line is 357mag. rendered perps unconscious. Consistently or inconsistently can't really be studied since 357mag. was removed in 1980. For that matter, 40sw. in 135/150grn. was not street/border tested very much either because the feds wanted 180grn.loads that never produced much more than 400 ft.lbs energy.Yes, it works;and for the very reasons I have explained. Tell me you looked up Rodney Cooks shooting. If you want real experts; they would be ex state troopers, hwy and border patrol that are in their 70s and 80s now.There is more to be explained but it will take quite a few more paragraphs.

[@aldousorwell3807]

​@@davidr7333Where is this "223" that only does "1,000 fps"?...

[@davidr7333]

@@aldousorwell3807 Good correction. I meant 1000 foot-pounds of energy.

[@CarnivoreAF]

My EDC is a Sig P320 in .357 Sig!

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

My older cousin owns a NIB full size .357sig model. He likes it. His daughter got him a .40 SIG barrel 4yr ago but he rarely uses .40S&W.

[@evanschulte8176]

So when is the 38 super vs 38 special video

[@furmanmackey5479]

Folks tend to forget that the .38 Super is a great self-defense round that with bullets in the 135grn to 155grn range can be as effective as a .357 Magnum. I blame gun manufactures for the decline of the .38 Super not the actual real-world effectiveness the round is capable of in self-defense scenarios when compared to the vastly over hyped 9 Minimal. Today, sadly enough, finding a properly manufactured pistol in .38 Super AND ammo can be a problem.

[@user-qg5ki5lg6s]

In a 10 rd max magazine capacity state, capacity becomes a non-issue. My S&W M&P 40c is a 10+1 gun and handles the 40 nicely. I have a 9mm conversion barrel and magazines. I see no real recoil difference between the 40 and a 9 mm 125 gr or larger +p.

[@GoonyMclinux]

Capacity is a non issue until you need it.

[@user-qg5ki5lg6s]

@@GoonyMclinux agreed. My solution in my communist state is carrying 2 guns..an LCP is always in my pocket.

[@sgoell75]

Love my RUGER SR 40 upgraded to my specs.

[@douglashass477]

Reminds me of what Paul Harrell used to say, soda, better for shooting than for drinking 😅

[@Jrh-rp7np]

The only .40 I have is p226,, I still haven’t got the .357 Sig conversion barrel for it.. But,, I love that gun I’d take it anywhere., Because,, it’s heavier and has a 4.4 inch barrel there is very little felt recoil and muzzle rise.. I can keep that thing on target all day long…

[@arch3088]

There is so little real world difference between the two. Shot placement is so much more important.

[@RuggedAdventures]

A voice of reason on the internet, protect this one at all costs!

[@PerceptionVsReality333]

You sure about that? There used to be tons of police shootings videos before YT took them all down where assailants were mag dumped by 9mm & still kept fighting back. You won't hear about that from 40s&w, police got the most 1 shot stops with it. Former police & former FBI/CIA agents swear on the effectiveness of the 40s&w.

[@vic2796]

Bingo ! I’ll take the extra rounds with the 9mm

[@PerceptionVsReality333]

@@vic2796 Only two extra rounds, that's not a significant difference. In states where there's a 10 round capacity only I'll take 40s&w any day.

[@MrNexor-cj8gs]

This is the real answer. It's like arguing over using a 45 megaton bomb versus a 50 megaton one. They're both going to destroy the target.

[@sokyoutdoors588]

40 is my woods and winter caliber. Starting to get black bears in my area so even though 9mm with high end ammo would do it, I prefer to buy 50 for sub $30. In winter time in my area people pile the clothes on thick, I just feel more comfortable with the extra weight of the bullet.

[@RuggedAdventures]

Solid reasoning!

[@nicholasroberts9618]

Now do 357Sig

[@stephenm2951]

When can the silly guys,actually examine the .40?it isn't a COMPROMISE anything!! It's the BEST combination of cartridge attributes;seen in over 50 years! High capacity;SUPERLATIVE penetration,AND enegy transfer;ALL that in a 9MM sized frame ! Short and weak my ass!!

[@joshgroves1085]

Yeah but I still will go with a 45 ACP because I think it has more stopping power than either the 9mm or the 40 but the 40 is a good caliber and my favorite caliber is a revolver round 44 magnum I love stopping power for me and this is just my preference I will take stopping power over capacity anyday

[@bmaxse]

Bullet shape/look: 40, manly (blunt, hammer) 9, girly (lipstick) 40 >>> 9 🇺🇸🤟🏼🙏🏼

[@almaadams3631]

135, 150/155grn. loads are the best use of the 22mm. length case. 180grn. was a hold over from 10mm. The 135grn. @ 1400fps. easily puts 40sw. in 357mag/sig energy and terminal ballistics territory.

[@djhogan9399]

I would like to see a test of a S&W SD40 2.0 pistol

[@almaadams3631]

The new trigger looks promising. I want S&W to release a damn Shield Plus in 40sw. I mean, they would sell every one they made. Just try to find a 40sw.M&P 2.0 3.6 sub compact ( 10 round mag) these days. The 13 round 40sw. are going to be hard to find soon. I don't get it. If 40sw. is so "dead", why are these smaller pistols so rare now? CMMG Banshees 8" barrel are damn hard to find as well. Every time they produce a run, it sells out immediately. BS! The 13

[@t-rex3813]

40 for the win……and the tests are fine they definitely got you in the woods shooting stuff with your guns, bravo sir you are winning

[@RuggedAdventures]

Excellent perspective! The tests are supposed to be a little goofy anyway.

[@kerrydavidsadler980]

I love my taurus G2C 40 s.w , a little more power than my 9mm. Takes some rangetime to get used to the recoil but not much difference between my 9mm and my 40 s.w.

[@JR15A2]

HK USP 40 (+ extra barrel in .357 Sig), nuff said.

[@John_Redcorn_]

Yes. Yes it is.

[@MrNeo562]

I have carried the S&W1076 10mm and then the Glock 35 40S&W as duty weapons. I loved the 10mm but liked the 40 even more because of the capacity. I will still carry the 40 over a 9 any day. Another plus of the 40 is I can change out the barrel for a .357sig barrel and really packs a punch! I can even use the same magazines.

[@davidkachel]

9mm is the King of the mouse gun calibers. I only use it in tiny little guns.

[@Luke-wy1fn]

If u can only get one shot off, which one???

[@vinny5203]

my 5 shot s&W 38 holds as many rounds as my shield 40 with the flush mag . I still carry it though

[@kevinrichardson8859]

Shield 40 holds 6 +1 or 7+1...where do you get that 5 is the same as 7 or 8? 🤔

[@GLOCKCOPG23]

@@kevinrichardson8859He is not good at counting up to 10. 😂

[@vinny5203]

@@kevinrichardson8859 hey your right, i never use that mag and though thit it was 1 less . Still not gonna use it

[@steemerxaxon1643]

My 40cal is the Last pistol I would EVER get rid of...

[@mmabagain]

Yes, the 40 is better than the 9mm. But, the 9mm is more than good enough.

[@ThomasSimmons-j9l]

.40 for the win😂 Now im not selling my P 226 in .40 or my CZ P09 in .40 or my Hk USP .40

[@azcop2]

This a moot point, both rounds will work. Usually it’s the shooter that is the problem.

[@oneijack98]

10mm stops bears.

[@dravenmcgee3188]

Look into making your own ballistic gel. It's alot cheaper then you'd think

[@woodybowen5362]

10mm better than either.

[@Chris50lR]

I was shot 3 times in 2016 , they don't play

[@johnw4999]

.40 is better than the 9mm; the 10mm is king as it’s very versatile.

[@mikejaan66]

Sold all my 40's won't buy another or recommend them. I'd go 10mm before going back and i carry 9mm everyday.

[@True-word74]

40 blows just go to 10mm

[@Mudrabbit308]

9mm for faster follow ups, 10mm if power is needed. 40sw not really necessary bc you can get weak 10mm factory loads thats comparable to .40 with the option to step it up if needed. It’s like arguing 556 is too weak & 762/308 is king; bar none. The fact of the matter is that 556 is completely acceptable when considering shot placement, follow up shoot-ability, etc. over the more powerful rounds. Why doesn’t the same logic apply to 9mm over the more powerful .40?

[@Yetified_Mayhem]

Love my 10mm but ammo is just more pricey. Sure u can run 40 in the 10. But the trade in 40 HST is 23 bucks.. Cheaper than 9.. So I carry w 40 and stock up on HSTs

[@John_Redcorn_]

Because theres no real difference in follow-up shot ability between 9 and 40. I cant tell the diff. If youre carrying a micro compact, then 9mm absolutely makes sense but for anything close to G19 size the 40 wins.

[@virgilpalmer2427]

40 ballistics are better, i know that..! but trends change with propaganda.. like everything in the gun industry...

[@survivetheattack]

The centimeter is good, centimeter Magnum is better! 10mm for the win!

[@davidfields4981]

YES it is much better. Far more power

[@ericvantassell6809]

Nobody who shoots 10 mm cares about. 40 silly & wimpy

[@RuggedAdventures]

Based on the comments I have seen in my last two 40 videos 10mm shooters care an awful lot!

[@1776goodfight]

So tired of caliber war videos. How long now? 10-15 years and thousands of videos? Stop, please for the love of God

[@RuggedAdventures]

Don't click it?

[@richvest7212]

There's a reason 40 caliber is losing popularity It's too hot for the guns it's chambered in and doesn't really fill a need

[@lynch6642]

The .40 cal does exactly like it was intended to do, more power and knock down than the 9mm and holds more rounds than the 45. Yes police departments all over the country are going back to the 40 cal because of the poor performance of a 9mm and people complaining about Mag dumps and how many rounds it's taking to stop people.. and the 40 cal being too powerful for guns is a myth. Show the info if you have any .

[@duaneridings6591]

@@lynch6642 Exactly correct -- I have read and agree that the 9mm is not doing what it's put up to be Unleash the 40

[@PerceptionVsReality333]

Too hot for handguns? But it operates at the same SAAMI specs as 9mm at 35,000 psi. I looked into this Glock kaboom thing last year & discovered it was because of an ammo issue with reloaded ammo. Don't be cheap & buy factory ammo only & it'll be alright.

[@PerceptionVsReality333]

​@@lynch6642 Even with the new bullet tech police are still having to mag dump bad guys.

[@theumpteenthtime8854]

Glock and some cheaper companies built 40 caliber guns based on 9mm platforms that weren't made to handle 40sw pressures back in the day. Companies like H&K, SW m&p line, sig 229, etc. all made guns built for the 40sw, and the 9mm variants are actually downgrades based on the same platform, making them extremely reliable and durable for the 9mm. Glock finally realised that there was a lasting market for a 40sw firearm built to withstand the 40sw pressures, that being in Brazil. The gen 5 40sw Glocks are actually built for the cartridge, made and designed with stronger rails and larger, heavier slides for Brazillian officers, not just modified 9mm platforms. Unlike gen 2, 3, and even the heavily modified gen 4 with the additional pin and modified recoil spring.

[@everythingdefensivecarry1108]

Minor detail, but it’s the 45 Auto, not ACP.

[@RuggedAdventures]

Two names for the same cartridge.

[@defilade1066]

This topic has been beat to death over decades. 9mm for the win.

[@GLOCKCOPG23]

9 wins every time at coming in second to 40

[@pitdawg6418]

Let's not forget "COST". Cost of BOTH the pistol and to feed it A.K.A. bullet cost!

[@RuggedAdventures]

9mm is dirt cheap!

[@steemerxaxon1643]

Cheap ain't always Good For QUALITY RESULTS when you need them