Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 40 SW AMMO

I’m looking for recommendations for 40 SW defense ammo.
I’ve done Search twice w/ no luck.

Weapon is a SW MP 40. I prefer light to mid weight bullets but preference is on
reliability. I won’t shoot it enuff to handload, so a few 50 ct boxes will suffice. I have a 9 mm & a huge supply of 9 mm ammo for practice so that’s covered.

What 40 SW ammo has worked well for you ?


Thanks
Jerry

I use Hornady Critical Defense.

I carry 165gr Winchester Ranger SXT, but they are tough to find. Stocked up a good while back.

The 165gr Gold Dot is my second choice.

Why in this world or anyother world would you even own a 40 S&W when you own the Miraculous Farce know as the 9MM? That is just lunacy. With the atomicness of the atomic 9MM it makes no sense.
Let the Illuminated Illuminati educate you on the lethalness of the most lethal 9MM.
Me as a mere unilluninated unilluminati cannot discribe in a discriptive describing way what you are doing that is heinous.

YOU said you are a Doofus. You proved it.

Irrelevant response.


Jerry

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/#40SW
Take a look at the lucky gunner ammo tests. I'd pick something in the 180gr, Gold Dots or Golden Sabres.

Winchester Ranger-T/PDX-1, Speer Gold Dot, Federal HST, Hornady Critical Duty, or Remington Golden Saber. These are premium and perform about the same.

180gr HST handloads at 1058 fps are brutal on meat, shot them into water filled metal coffee cans, and three freezer burnt chickens Wife gave me, holy damn they tore that chit up!

If you can find some factory loads running that speed, you're set for a soft point SD/CCW round.

I've seen 165 grain Golden Sabers, 180 grain Hydra Shocks and 165 & 180 grain Federal HST work on two and four legged recipients. Any of them are plenty effective if you place them well.

Thanks guys, I appreciate it I have a few decent places locally to check on
factory ammo. I can also look into ordering off the net. Shipping will probably
be too steep.

I’ve had 357s and 44s I had trimmed down to my 6906 and have more components than I will live long enuff to shoot.

I didn’t have any idea of where to start with 40 factory. Y’all have given me good options
to start.

Thank you.

Jerry

Border patrol used a 155 jhp with good success. I like 180 gold dots or hst

Words to the wise: "When you catch an adjective, kill it!"

~ Mark Twain

I use 165gr HST in my M&P40 2.0. I also have 1000 rounds of 180gr HST for when I run out of 165s.

Hard to go wrong these days. Winchester rangers by their various names, plus HST's, Gold Dots, Golden Sabres. Pick yer choice of whatever is on sale. As many have said I prefer the 180's as well. They penetrate more consistently in just about all the above bullets and will deflect less if they hit something in front of the vitals. You've got a caliber that will throw a nice heavy bullet with a high sectional density, why not use it? Unless your sights are regulated to 165. That's a good reason. But I would not go less than 165.

Dunno if Walmart still carries it, but you'll want a couple of 100 rd. Winchester FMJ for practice and reliability testing your gun if you just got it. 200 rd. minimum to check for malfunctions.

I read an article years ago about their bullet weight trials, I can’t remember why the chose the 155. I think most agencies carry the 180 grain weight.

Maybe somewhere can dig up that article.

Take a look at the police trade in ammo at Sportmans Outdoor Super Store.
I picked up a few boxes of Winchester ultra-nasty & Speer Gold Dot at 50 cents/dollar of new.
I'm shooting an M&P40 Compact 2.0 4" and 180's feel pretty good.
I was shooting whatever was cheapest for plinking, which was Blazer Brass 180gr FMJ from my local BiMart $12.97/50 on sale (once a month).

I'm down to two 40 S&W chambered guns that don't see a lot of use, but I use win Ranger-T 155's or Fed HST 165's.

MM

Columbus Ohio PD used 180 grain HST for 12 years before switching to 9mm in 2019. Very good track record for Stops on bad guys. I still carry it in my 40s.

Ron

I use Federal 155 gr HST.

Just happened to be the most accurate of the ammo tested and shot to the sights for my H&K USP...so that is what I use for factory ammo.