Police Sergeant Pontificates on .40 vs 9mm "cartridge ignition pressures"

Gun Watch ^ | 9 September, 2018 | Dean Weingarten

[Big Red Badger]

Revolver lock ups??
Me,,, never.

[fini]

"Never cared for Glocks myself. They have the ergonomics of two 2”x2”s nailed together, at least in my hand."

I agree. I have several Glocks and I can never find it in me to love them. Like a hammer, they are stone cold reliable, but not elegant. I know of no one that loves their hammer.

I have several friends that own almost every type of Glock, but when they want to brag about a gun, they always pull out another type of pistol.

[mrmeyer]

Different strokes for different folks. I’ve got 3 glocks like them all. Also like my 4 inch 686p, cz p01, and Ruger Mark II. All run flawlessly.

[Mr Rogers]

"Glocks are something you have to force yourself to love for the first few months. Then, you wonder why you even bother with all the other guns out there."

I agree with the first part. I bought a slightly used Glock 27. And it isn't as bad as I thought it would be. It shoots anything I feed it (cheap ammo thus far). Doesn't point as bad I I thought. It can certainly shoot better than I do - as is true of most guns. Conceals OK, not great.

I bought it for carry while hiking in the desert. I wanted something that could make a big hole deep into a javelina or cougar, but lighter than my 686+ (or 29!). I think I could get to like it OK as a weapon.

But get to where I wouldn't care about a good revolver? I don't think so! Every revolver I own points better and has a vastly superior trigger.

And while I'm trying to work it into a carry role, I'm not sure what it offers against a humans that improves on my J-frame with thick rubber grip - which is about the same size grip as the Glock. More rounds? I suppose. But I'm not a cop. I'm no longer military. Not sure the extra rounds do much for me, other than tempt me to use a lot of rounds without a lot of care.

A revolver's curves are easier to hide, IMHO. And offer a better grip than the 27 model, at least:

I could see getting to where I valued the Glock as a weapon, but not to the point where I would "wonder why you even bother with all the other guns out there."

[Mr Rogers]

“I’ve owned 4 revolvers and had many lockups with prolonged shooting sessions.”

Can’t speak to trying to shoot 500 rounds in one session, nor can I imagine wanting to. But in 40 years of using revolvers, I’ve had 2 failures. One came with a Dan Wesson that I had carried thru a vicious dust storm I got caught in. It had enough sand inside it wouldn’t shoot until I squirted plenty of cleaner into its works. The second came when the strain screw came loose in my 686 and I got light primer strikes. Tightened it and have never had a problem since.

If I’m ever in a situation where I need to shoot defensively, I’d trust the Glock 27 I own and my Beretta Pico (and my Beretta 92, although I don’t carry it). I had a S&W Shield that I wouldn’t trust at all. But if I had to pull a gun and count on it in close contact, as a belly gun, I’d trust any S&W or Ruger revolver over any semi I’ve owned.

[yarddog]

The .40 S&W is a good cartridge.

It’s main problem is it is neither fish nor foul. It might be a tiny bit more effective than the 9mm but it does so at the cost of recoil, cost of ammo and wear.

Probably it’s worst feature is when you try to combine a compact gun with it. I have a Star Firestar compact which works perfectly, is accurate and recoil is not bad.

The only problem is it is so heavy that sticking it in my pocket makes my shoulder or pants droop. It is heavy as a hunk of lead.

[smokingfrog]

Bottom line ... 9mm ammo is cheaper.

[NYAmerican]

” I know of no one that loves their hammer.”

I love my hammer.

[sarge83]

I have had one lock up in 30 years, a Taurus 605. The .40 S&W glocks along with .10 mm glocks have unsupported barrels which can cause issues with higher pressured rounds like the .40 and .10. I actually had my Glock 29 kaboom on me and the frame cracked. The simple fix is a supported replacement barrel like Wolff makes. I like the .40 it’s just got a more of a snappy recoil than the .9mm.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Do they absolutely know what kind of loads were being consistently used in the .40’s? How many of these guns got dropped, banged against walls and God knows what during normal police activities. Who knows?

One thing for sure according to a big FBI report the accuracy rate soars when the cops switch from .40 to .9mm

[wastedyears]

How about firearms that are over 100 years old that still work just fine?

And they wonder why nobody likes them.

[Bryanw92]

>>I agree with the first part. I bought a slightly used Glock 27. And it isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. It shoots anything I feed it (cheap ammo thus far). Doesn’t point as bad I I thought. It can certainly shoot better than I do - as is true of most guns. Conceals OK, not great.

Look at your photos. Assuming an IWB holster, the part that is at risk for not being concealed is the part where your giant Pachmayr grip is huge compared to the Glock.

I still carry my J-frame from time to time, but the quality of small 9mms has reached the point where the J-frame will probably sit in the safe from now on.

But, here’s my disclaimer: I don’t carry a Glock concealed. I only carry DAOs as a concealed weapon. I’m experimenting with a S&W Shield 2.0 right now because it’s a striker-fired gun with a manual safety.

[Mr Rogers]

” Assuming an IWB holster, the part that is at risk for not being concealed is the part where your giant Pachmayr grip is huge compared to the Glock.”

No. It isn’t. Same thickness as the Glock’s grip. Much rounder. Same height, since a revolver isn’t shaped like an L. And the revolver’s very irregular shape conceals much nicer than a brick. All IMHO, but I’ve carried both and tried concealing both. The Pachmayr grip makes shooting 357s work fine, but the grip is about the only thing I need to conceal - and it has no sharp edges or corners.

The biggest problem I have in concealing the Glock is the corners.

I’m not knocking the Glock. I honestly like it better than I expected. But it sure isn’t going to make me forget my revolvers!

[762X51]

Yes indeed. The CZ75 feels GREAT. The SA/DA pistol came into existence for a reason...those reasons are still valid. The Beretta 92 is a little too large for my liking.

[762X51]

I’d trust any S&W or Ruger revolver over any semi I’ve owned.
No truer words were ever spoken.

[Big Red Badger]

All My Heroes have been Rugers’.
Had a squib on a SW Shield 9mm
a few weeks back,first round fail.

A revolver FTF would have meant
Another pull on the Trigger!

[yarddog]

Actually a squib could lock a revolver up for days.

[marktwain]

Actually a squib could lock a revolver up for days.

Push the bullet between the cylinder and the barrel, it takes considerable time and effort to clear.

Push it into the barrel all the way, and it can be worse.

[mabarker1]

Ruger Mark II

My FAVORITE Pistol hands down. Any kind or type of the Thousands of Rounds of ammo I've ever run through the P85 MK-II has worked flawlessly. No jams, stove pipes or misfires. FMJ, RNL, JHP, Talons. Even with aluminum cases. It didn't matter. Including with 35 round Mags emptied rapidly. And the Best Safety, ever IMO.

[mabarker1]

And when TSHTF happens will be readily available for pickup if needed, Worldwide.