First There Was the Ten, Then The .40 S&W

[The Earl o Sammich]

Why didn't they just down load the 10?  Keep the cartridge, down load it for the weak of hand.  There would be so much conservation of parts, brass, ...  only thing needed would be a change of springs....

Am I missing something?  I realize hindsight is 20/20 but there are a lot of people smarter than me....

[Screwball]

They did... look into the FBI loads.

They moved to .40 because they got similar performance out of a shorter cartridge. Instead of a .45 sized frame/grip, the .40 shrunk it down to the 9mm frame/grip. If you aren't utilizing the rest of the capability of the 10mm, why keep the entire length?

[sqlbullet]

Instead of a .45 sized frame/grip, the .40 shrunk it down to the 9mm frame/grip. If you aren't utilizing the rest of the capability of the 10mm, why keep the entire length?

It was more business driven than just wanting to optimize space.

The 1970-80's  saw most manufacturers making big investments in "wonder-nines".  New tooling, new process, trained workers.  Big money had been poured into prepping to feed to projected demand for double stack DA/SA 9mm handguns.

A downloaded 10mm, the FBI load, becoming popular would have been very bad for those investments, since the market would shift to guns that were larger.

But, the 40 S&W could fit in a "wonder-nine" chassis with just a new barrel and slide.  This would allow gun makers to continue to monetize the investments they had made in that gun concept.  And so it was hailed as "the solution".

[my_old_glock]

My understanding is that they did it to put the cartridge into a smaller frame so people with small hands could handle the gun better. The gun would also weigh less. The 40S&W case uses less brass, less powder, and smaller primers, so manufacturing costs would be lower. A shorter case uses less powder to get the same velocity from a bullet (to a point). If you put the same amount of powder into a 38 SPL shell and 357 shell, the 38 SPL cartridge would produce faster velocities (and pressures). If pressure was the same the 357 would be faster.

If you want a cheaper brass alternative, check out this post. http://10mm-firearms.com/general-discussion/40-sw-deep-throat/

You looking to do another group buy (as always I have no money)?

http://10mm-firearms.com/reloading-10mm-ammo/10mm-nickel-plated-starline-brass-group-buyshare/

.

[Spudmeister]

Yes... "the solution".  After 5 years of shooting, occasionally carrying and reloading the 40 S&W I have been disappointed over and over and over.  Granted, I am old and set in my ways but I love my 9's, 45's and 10's.  Can't find anything I like about the 40 S&W.  Much of the problem stems from stuffing it into a 9 mm platform.  Just a personal opinion of course but both of my Glock, 40 S&W's go up for sale tomorrow.  My solution. 

[sparkyv]

/You looking to do another group buy (as always I have no money)?

http://10mm-firearms.com/reloading-10mm-ammo/10mm-nickel-plated-starline-brass-group-buyshare/

I'd be interested for 200 or 300.

[sqlbullet]

I like the 40.  I own two of them.  A Sig P229 that has both a 40 and a 357 Sig barrel.  And a Beretta 96.

But, it is definitely a specialist gun that requires you spend a good bit of time to attain and retain proficiency.  This is most due to it being more energy and therefore recoil than 45 ACP, but being housed in a package that is a tiny bit lighter than a 9mm.

[45BBH]

I like the .40, and to be honest with you the only reason I have a 10mm is so that I can have a use for my large pistol primers because otherwise, I don't know if I'd own a 10mm. I do think it's a cool cartridge, though, it's just that for "social" use I don't know if there's a absolute "need" for the 10mm.  That said, now that I'm (back) into it, I don't intend to get rid of it.

[The_Shadow]

I love the 10mm as much or more than most, buy most of the time I carry the G-30 45ACP...  Why you might ask?
If ever (God Forbid) I ever need to put the gun in service and it is held for evidence at lease it may not be the coveted 10mm pistols...

[PCFlorida]

I love the 10mm as much or more than most, buy most of the time I carry the G-30 45ACP...  Why you might ask?
If ever (God Forbid) I ever need to put the gun in service and it is held for evidence at lease it may not be the coveted 10mm pistols...

I sold all my .40's about 5 years ago and don't miss them at all. And I am a firm believe that if I ever have to use one of my 10mm's in a SD scenario, the last thing I have to worry about is it being held for evidence. I will go to the safe and pull another one out until it is released or I am serving time (which I hope is not the case). In any case it has done its job and for that I am thankful.

[4949shooter]

I love the 10mm as much or more than most, buy most of the time I carry the G-30 45ACP...  Why you might ask?
If ever (God Forbid) I ever need to put the gun in service and it is held for evidence at lease it may not be the coveted 10mm pistols...

I agree. You might not see your gun again for years. And they don't normally take good care of them (store them in damp basements etc). Though the storage maybe not as much of a concern with the Glock, we still don't want this.