Anyone have trouble shooting 40 S&W?

[Shipyard]

i'm beginning to notice something, maybe i'm just breathin' in a little too much russian surplus gunsmoke but...

does anyone out there have and issues with shooting 40 S&W? i know a few people who shoot 9mm like a champ, are just fine with a man sized 45 but put a 40 in their hand and it's all over the place. low to the right, high to the left - everywhere but center. it's not the gun and it's not the sights - i can shoot the guns in question at center and other random people can.

there are other variables involved obviously, but so far in my unscientific study it seems that the largest and most universal is the caliber involved with this phenomenon.

maybe it has something to do with the higher pressure round?

i duno. thought i'd throw it out there.

[45usp45]

Most that I have fired aside from the glock wannabe that Strad had have shoot well.

[macphisto]

maybe it has something to do with the higher pressure round?

Nope. The SAAMI max pressure spec for both 9mm Luger and 40 S&W is 35,000 psi. 9mm +P is 38,500. 40 +P doesn't exist. Actually, it does and it's called 10mm, which is rated for 37,500 psi.

[Pinnacle]

The 40 is a hard caliber for a lot of people to shoot well. There are a lot of people out there that get a 40 in their hand and cannot shoot it well. There are a couple of reasons - Very high Slide Speed - snappy recoil and a lot more flip than a 9mm and or a 45.

[JFettig]

They usually build 40 cal guns off of 9mm guns and the round has ~40% more momentum which means they have about 40% more recoil than a 9mm in the same platform. I gave up on the .40 cal platform because I could only shoot a 6" group and way too slow. I'd prefer to shoot a 6" group rapid fire or a 4" group a hair slower with a 9mm.

Jon

[selurcspi]

The 40 is a hard caliber for a lot of people to shoot well. There are a lot of people out there that get a 40 in their hand and cannot
shoot it well. There are a couple of reasons - Very high Slide Speed - snappy recoil and a lot more flip than a 9mm and or a 45.

Balderdash.

It's all about basics, if you are doing the basics correctly, it matters very little which caliber you are shooting.
The only caveat is is the gun phyically too large or small for you.

[Sigfan220]

You may be anticipating recoil. I had that problem with my 45, it was almost always high and to the left. But the first shot was always a bullseye so I knew the sights were on. I have since started shooting a lot more 9mm and have found my groups to be centered on the target better.

[Pezhead]

I shoot the 9mm better than the .40, but since I don't own a .40 I don't have as much practice. The few times I've shot the .45 I've shot it better too. I would like to add a .45 to the stable some day.

[rugersol]

Given the incredibly low number of .40 1911's out there, why should anyone expect tiny groups from most .40's?







FWIW, one of my most accurate guns is my S&W 610 ... shootin' .40sw.

[Seismic Sam]

They usually build 40 cal guns off of 9mm guns and the round has ~40% more momentum which means they have about 40% more recoil than a 9mm in the same platform. I gave up on the .40 cal platform because I could only shoot a 6" group and way too slow. I'd prefer to shoot a 6" group rapid fire or a 4" group a hair slower with a 9mm.

Jon

I think I may have some supporting evidence for this, as I have an incredibly rare 41 Action Express conversion kit for my 9mm Browning. The 9mm Browing is a pussycat to shoot, but turn it into a 41 AE and it is a hand biter with a very unpleasant recoil, even with a full power Sprinco 40 S&W recoil system in it. Then again, I have a Tanfoglio GT-41 that is in 41 AE caliber, and it's a pleasure to shoot with a heavy 22# spring, and I have the 9mm conversion kit for that and it's also fun in 9mm.

I have found a lot of stock EAA's to be dreadfully undersprung from the factory, so maybe the problem is too weak a recoil spring.

[Bessy]

The 40 is a hard caliber for a lot of people to shoot well. There are a lot of people out there that get a 40 in their hand and cannot shoot it well. There are a couple of reasons - Very high Slide Speed - snappy recoil and a lot more flip than a 9mm and or a 45.

I'd think all of the above, would highly dependent on the gun it was shot out rather than the caliber. I've shot 1911's in 45 and 40 side by side on numerous occasions. Loaded to the same power factor they are dam near identical. Loaded up to factory levels the 45 definitely takes longer to come back from recoil, and I definitely feel it more.

[justaguy]

Never had a problem, and I dont own one so I'm not "used" to one. Anyone that has the basics should be able to pick up any gun and shoot it.

[dleong]

Most of my couple dozen handguns are chambered in 40S&W and I have no problems with the recoil on them. But then it helps that I'm only shooting my very mild but extremely accurate subsonic 155 gr. handloads through them.

[David]

I used to buy virtually all my handguns in .40, but a couple of years ago I stopped and I get everything now in 9 or .45. I agree that people who have a good foundation in the basics should be able to shoot anything, and I shoot the same with my G21 as I do with my G22, but the snappiness of the .40 just wasn't pleasant to shoot. I feel fine shooting .45 all day, and although it has an authoritative recoil, it just doesn't snap as much. I can see where it would lead to anticipating the recoil if someone isn't used to it.

I'm not sure the difference in weight is the factor, either, as my G21SF weighs only three ounces more than my G22, for example. Then again, Ron's SV Infinity is an absolute dream to shoot in .40, but that gun is super heavy.

[White Horseradish]

I wouldn't say I have a problem. I just don't like shooting .40 - the recoil isn't unmanageable or very hard, but it somehow "feels wrong".

9mm and .45 are more fun for me. .45 ACP recoil rocks.