Posted on 02/12/2016 4:21:16 PM PST by Hot Tabasco
Anyway, now that I collected your reasons I'll answer:
The .40 S&W is an ornery caliber: Though you can find it pretty readily in bulk it doesn't have a lot of loadings so your choices are limited. It's pretty snappy in recoil and that can negatively affect some folk's accustomization to training with it. Also, if you care about it, it's not a caliber that suppresses very well. I have other opinions on the .40 but it's not worth spending a whole thread on. What I do want to point out is that it's sort of a bastard caliber from the 1990s and thanks to much improved modern 9mm Luger loadings it's appeal is waning. A great many LEAs are disposing of .40 S&W arms for several reasons, probably one of the biggest is that the FBI has recently turned their back on it -- and a lot of law enforcement agencies take the FBI's cue on everything related to firearms combat: The FBI spends a huge amount of money and time on detailed forensic examinations of law enforcement shootouts. It's their great academic study and they move in the right direction accordingly to what they've learned.
About the 9mm vs .40 vs. .45 debate: I wouldn't say the debate is now moot, but Federal has a pretty lengthy research paper done on the terminal ballistic performance of these calibers when using their hot new Federal HST loadings. I'll just link it here for your review without further comment. This is the direction the FBI is heading. Yes, the same projectile technology bringing new performance to the 9mm is likewise available for the other calibers. Notice though there's not a tremendous difference. See what data Speer has collected with their Gold Dot line. You can also find Winchester SXT Ranger terminal ballistics data. These top three market defense loadings all seem to be suggesting the same thing: It's not so much the caliber in where terminal performance lies, but the projectile architecture and making the hit on the target. I think you might find that your own skills may reverse direction if you went to .40 S&W from what you're already comfortably familiar with in 9mm. Something to think about.
That said, I carry .45 ACP because I'm used to the system I adopted some time ago. I'm no longer a ".45 > 9mm" caliber zealot now that I've learned a few things.
The only thing I could say that's deficient about your Kahr is that the barrel could be an inch longer. That's pretty much it. Hardly worth a negative point, Hot Tabasco. Your PPK/S (presuming here it's the /S model) is merely a neato collector's item to keep in the safe for occasional range trips.
Best wishes for you in whatever you choose!
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