Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 40 S&W killing power

The .40 certainly doesn't lack power for game up to deer and hog size, but like with ANY handgun (or any gun period for that matter), shot placement is key, along with proper bullet selection. I don't regard it as magical, but at the same time it's got more balls than many give it credit for.

I've not killed a deer with a .40, but I did take the G35 one year into the woods with me, just didn't get a chance to use it. With a tougher bonded bullet or something like an XTP, you're set. I've dispatched a number of smaller critters with a .40, and can tell you that a 135gr Nosler at 1500 fps will really do a number on a full grown raccoon.

With handloads, 8.4gr Longshot gets 180gr XTPs moving out of my 4" Glock 23 at 1200 fps, which is plenty power wise and the bullet is tough enough to withstand (Same load from a longer G35 or G24 can go north of 1300-1350 fps depending on bbl) and penetrate sufficiently.

If I wanted more penetration, Beartooth makes a great 200gr WFNGC hardcast that with 800x can exit the little G23 at over 1,150 fps, and that's going to poke a hole in and out of any deer and all but the largest of hogs. Shot placement, bullet through the vitals, and you've got a dead critter.

I've had several 10mm's and loaded for it for years, but seeing how a G35 or G24 can essentially match the velocity of a G20 I didn't see the direct need to keep the pricier and larger 10mm around, nothing against the cartridge though.

Back of the skull is a vital and I know of one LE agency that shot a perp and it failed to penetrate the skull.....knocked his ass out though

I've heard of that happening with several cartridges, if the bullet strikes the skull at just the right angle it can skid off of it so to speak, making for a bloody mess even if it's not fatal.

I was reading an article where this same thing happened and due to the very odd angle at which the officer had to fire at the bad guy, after the bullet skimming off the BG's head, a .40 cal was put up the rear end of the guy and was found lodged up in his neck, killing the BG obviously.

Sounds like a good argument to use JHPs with sharp edges, if anyone made them. Expect severe angle shots to bone such as ribs or skull to not penetrate. One reason I don't do head/neck shots on deer, if they are on their feet. Post-motor vehicle impact would change that.

I know of a deputy in a neighboring county that shot a murderer through the back window of a Chevy pick up truck, the bullet then penetrated through the headrest and smacked the bad guy at the base of the skull. The .40 cal 180 gr. Gold Dot didn't penetrate the skull after going through the back glass and headrest of the truck. It did kill the bad guy, however the bullet didn't enter into the skull cavity.

Went through Glass and the head rest.... staying straight and killed the bad guy.... seems it worked perfectly.

I'll not be standing next to you when your shooting that potential hand grenade. Your Longshot load is over book max for 10mm according to my Hornady handbook! Your also a full grain over max according to the Hodgdon website.

And this is from pistols designed in 9mm then "engineered", (ie, bored out) to .40SW.

I shot a medium sized mule deer buck with my Sig 226 in a .40S&W a few years back. I was loaded with 155g cast slug out of the Sig at 1293 fps through my chronograph. That Sig is very accurate and I have shot it a lot at some longer distances to perfect shooting form. You twitch at all when shooting 100 yards plus and you will miss by 20 feet.

He was with a bunch of does when I was hunting quail when the seasons overlapped. Shot him at about 40 yards and he ran about 30-40 yards before he stumbled and fell.

In the never ending bitch moan whine argument over the "stopping power" of the 9x19mm and 45ACP, the 40 S&W is the compromise cartridge.
Since it kills humans it should work on other critters.

No worries, it's not unsafe as I've shot a lot of them, not to mention that out of the KKM barrel they're very accurate, even nicely so out of the stock barrel. By the way, 9.5gr is showing max for a 10mm (claims 1285 fps), 8.0gr gr. max for a .40 (claims 1160), both of which still have a little room to play with pressure wise. I won't lie and say it's not a warm .40 load though, it is, but I've tested up to 8.8gr in the .40 before I got signs of pressure, and it was pushing a 180gr to over 1400 fps from a 6" G24 KKM.

FWIW, 9.5gr Longshot in a G20 10mm runs right around 1260-1270 fps with a 180gr, it was a favorite load of mine for years and pushing it a little harder got me a little over 1300 fps. I personally will take Hodgdon's powder "advice" over Hornadys, since they make the powder afterall, it's good to cross reference powder I think, but I always trust the manufacturers data first and foremost. I am also aware that in several cartridges, including the .40, that Hodgdon dialed back Longshot just a touch, but for years the max was 8.0gr with a 180gr .40 and it never gave me any reason for concern as it never gave any pressure signs.



Taking into account that .40 brass is no weaker than 10mm brass and as strong as the 40K PSI 357 SIG, there's room to work with.

I have killed one deer with the 40 S&W which was a Buck that had been hit by a car and had it back leg broken. I used my Sig P239 40 with Fed 180 gr HS , dropped right there , but it was up close and personal. The 40 will work if you place the bullet in the right place, just like any other handgun round designed for Self Defense

These discussions can make me giggle. Since the .40s&W is ballistically similar to the 38.40.
And i have a first generation colt SAA bisley in 38wcf.
And inscribed under the grip something to the effect as follows:
This gun killed a grizzley, two shots 50yards, Santa(something) mexico. I forget without looking the something.
year 1914, or around there.

Maybe he missed
Since you didn't find it, you don't really know where, or even if, he hit it at all

I know a guy that killed a wounded black bear with a 40..