Ever since the .40 S&W cartridge hit the market, shooters have been debating which is better, the .40 S&W vs .45 ACP. It makes sense because both cartridges basically do the same thing. Let’s break down the pros and cons of .40 S&W vs .45 ACP.
.4​0 S&W vs .45 ACP: Does it Even Matter?
L​et’s get this part done first: no it doesn’t. Handgun stopping power is a myth. With modern, well-made defensive ammo, .40 S&W vs .45 ACP is kind of a pointless debate. Look at the data on Speer Gold Dot, for example. There’s a 180-grain Gold Dot for the .40 S&W and a 185-grain Gold Dot for the .45 ACP. In independent ballistic tests, both meet the FBI minimum penetration standards, and both expand to over 0.60 inches. And that’s after defeating 4 layer denim.
The results don’t really change if you change bullet weight either. A 230-grain Federal HST in .45 ACP expands a bit more than a 155-grain HST in .40 S&W, but that’s it. Interestingly, despite the .45 ACP having a larger bullet diameter than the .40 S&W, in the case of 230 grain vs 155 gr HST, the expanded diameter difference is smaller than 0.05.
To put the bottom line up front, there is no debate. Pick whichever you like best and vaya con dios, amigo. But then this article wouldn’t be very long, so let’s get into it.
You Should Pick the .40 S&W Because It Holds More Rounds
The biggest argument in favor of the slightly smaller round in the .40 S&W vs .45 ACP debate is that .40 S&W holds more rounds in pistols of similar size. For example, a single stack 1911 holds 8 rounds of .45 ACP but can hold up to 10 rounds of .40 S&W in a magazine that’s still concealable. If we’re keeping score in .40 S&W vs .45 ACP, that one is a clear win for the shorty .40 S&W. More ammo is always better, right?
You Should Pick the .45 ACP Because it’s Nicer to Shoot
I have shot a ton of both rounds. Over a 3-year period, I shot 13,000+ rounds of .45 ACP through a bunch of different semi-auto platforms, most of which was a Glock 21. Over the same period, I shot about 7,000 rounds of .40 S&W, almost all of which were through Glocks. I can say with absolute certainty that I enjoyed shooting the .45 ACP a lot more. Most shooters agree as well, that the recoil impulse on .45 ACP is more pleasant despite it being a larger caliber, especially in polymer-framed pistols than the recoil impulse on the .40 S&W.
.40 S&W vs .45 ACP Is a Silly Debate and You Should Get a 9mm Pistol
O​f course, if the only difference in .40 S&W vs .45 ACP is that .45 ACP is nicer to shoot and .40 S&W holds more rounds, the real answer is to get a 9mm. It’s nicer to shoot than both calibers AND it holds more rounds than either. But if you’re really committed to this discussion, we’ll make a recommendation.
Editor’s Choice: .40 S&W
T​his one makes sense, at least to me. First, you do get more rounds with .40 S&W. Secondly, with careful ammo choices, such as Federal’s 205-grain Syntech Action Pistol round, .40 S&W is just as nice to shoot as .45 ACP. Lastly, thanks to law enforcement agencies in America switching to 9mm, there are loads of affordable, high-quality .40 S&W semi-autos floating around the secondary market right now. A police trade-in Gen 3 Glock 22 is a great gun, and with some of the current prices it just makes sense. With caveats, if the question is .40 S&W vs .45 ACP, then I’m going .40 S&W.
Discussion about this post