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40 S&W Ammo in ballistic gel

We shot 28 self-defense loads of 40 S&W ammo into ballistic gel

See the results below

Smith and Wesson and Winchester partnered to develop 40 Smith and Wesson ammo or the "40 cal" cartridge as a round for law enforcement. Their hope was to create a caliber that could mimic the performance of the FBI's reduced-velocity 10mm automatic round with rounds small enough in physical size to be carried with a medium-frame pistol.

40 S&W quickly caught on and remains a popular caliber for personal protection and range training today. Range shooters will likely opt for full metal jacket (FMJ) rounds with a non-expanding bullet while those seeking a round for protection will want to look at jacketed hollow point (JHP) ammo. In terms of ballistic performance, expect the lighter 40 cal rounds (155-grain) to leave the muzzle at about 1,205 feet per second and the heavier rounds (180-grain) to bring a muzzle velocity of about 1,050 feet per second.

Look for a wide selection of 40 S&W ammo for sale from trusted manufacturers like Federal, PMC and Hornady in the most common bullet types out there today, like full metal jacket (FMJ), jacketed hollow point (JHP) in the categories listed below:

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21 - 40 of 132

  1. 50rds - 40 S&W Sellier & Bellot 180gr. FMJ Ammo 50rds - 40 S&W Sellier & Bellot 180gr. FMJ Ammo

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 5 Review(s)

    $14.95
    $0.30/ppr

    50 In Stock

  2. 100rds - 40 S&W Winchester USA 165gr. FMJ Value Pack Ammo 100rds - 40 S&W Winchester USA 165gr. FMJ Value Pack Ammo

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 1 Review(s)

    $29.95
    $0.30/ppr

    34 In Stock

  3. 100rds - 40 S&W Remington UMC 180gr. MC Ammo 100rds - 40 S&W Remington UMC 180gr. MC Ammo
    $29.95
    $0.30/ppr

    29 In Stock

  4. 50rds - 40 S&W Speer Lawman Clean-Fire 180gr. TMJ Ammo 50rds - 40 S&W Speer Lawman Clean-Fire 180gr. TMJ Ammo
    $15.15
    $0.30/ppr

    135 In Stock

  5. 50rds - 40 S&W Federal American Eagle 180gr. FMJ Ammo 50rds - 40 S&W Federal American Eagle 180gr. FMJ Ammo

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 1 Review(s)

    $15.45
    $0.31/ppr

    131 In Stock

  6. 50rds - 40 S&W CCI Blazer Brass 165gr. FMJ Ammo 50rds - 40 S&W CCI Blazer Brass 165gr. FMJ Ammo

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 2 Review(s)

    $15.45
    $0.31/ppr

    73 In Stock

  7. 500rds - 40 S&W Winchester USA 180gr. FMJ Ammo 500rds - 40 S&W Winchester USA 180gr. FMJ Ammo

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 1 Review(s)

    $154.95
    $0.31/ppr

    2 In Stock

  8. 1000rds - 40 S&W Fiocchi 170gr. FMJ Ammo 1000rds - 40 S&W Fiocchi 170gr. FMJ Ammo

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 2 Review(s)

    $314.95
    $0.32/ppr

    10 In Stock

  9. 50rds - 40 S&W Remington UMC 180gr. FMJ Ammo 50rds - 40 S&W Remington UMC 180gr. FMJ Ammo
    $15.95
    $0.32/ppr

    24 In Stock

  10. 50rds - 40 S&W Speer Lawman 180gr. TMJ Ammo 50rds - 40 S&W Speer Lawman 180gr. TMJ Ammo
    $15.95
    $0.32/ppr

    132 In Stock

  11. 50rds - 40 S&W Speer Lawman 155gr. TMJ Ammo 50rds - 40 S&W Speer Lawman 155gr. TMJ Ammo
    $15.95
    $0.32/ppr

    111 In Stock

  12. 50rds – 40 S&W Winchester USA Ready 165gr. FMJ FN Ammo 50rds – 40 S&W Winchester USA Ready 165gr. FMJ FN Ammo
    $15.95
    $0.32/ppr

    94 In Stock

  13. 50rds - 40 S&W Federal American Eagle 155gr. FMJ Ammo 50rds - 40 S&W Federal American Eagle 155gr. FMJ Ammo

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 2 Review(s)

    $15.99
    $0.32/ppr

    14 In Stock

  14. 250rds - 40 S&W Remington UMC Megapack 180gr. FMJ Ammo 250rds - 40 S&W Remington UMC Megapack 180gr. FMJ Ammo
    $79.95
    $0.32/ppr

    26 In Stock

  15. 50rds - 40 S&W Winchester USA 165gr. FMJ Ammo 50rds - 40 S&W Winchester USA 165gr. FMJ Ammo
    $16.49
    $0.33/ppr

    137 In Stock

  16. 50rds - 40 S&W Speer Lawman 165gr. TMJ Ammo 50rds - 40 S&W Speer Lawman 165gr. TMJ Ammo
    $16.55
    $0.33/ppr

    53 In Stock

  17. 50rds - 40 S&W Federal American Eagle 165gr. FMJ Ammo 50rds - 40 S&W Federal American Eagle 165gr. FMJ Ammo

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 6 Review(s)

    $16.95
    $0.34/ppr

    87 In Stock

  18. 50rds - 40 S&W Fiocchi 170gr. FMJ Ammo 50rds - 40 S&W Fiocchi 170gr. FMJ Ammo

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 2 Review(s)

    $16.95
    $0.34/ppr

    23 In Stock

  19. 50rds - 40 S&W PMC 165gr. FMJ Ammo 50rds - 40 S&W PMC 165gr. FMJ Ammo
    $16.95
    $0.34/ppr

    69 In Stock

  20. 50rds - 40 S&W CCI Blazer 180gr. TMJ Clean-Fire Ammo 50rds - 40 S&W CCI Blazer 180gr. TMJ Clean-Fire Ammo
    $16.95
    $0.34/ppr

    6 In Stock

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21 - 40 of 132

40 S&W Ballistic Gel Test Results

About This Data

Used firearms icon
Firearm Used S&W M&P40c
Barrel length icon
Barrel Length 3.5"
Distance target icon
Distance to Target 10 Feet
Barrier icon
Barrier 4-layer cloth
Ammo 5-shot average penetration depth 5-shot average diameter 5-shot average velocity
20rds - 40 S&W Barnes 140gr. TAC-XPD HP Ammo
  11.7"
0.76" 1027
20rds – 40 S&W Black Hills 140gr. Barnes TAC-XP HP Ammo
  11.06"
0.73" 1088
20rds – 40 S&W Black Hills 180gr. JHP Ammo
  21.98"
0.43" 957
20rds - 40 S&W Federal Hydra-Shok 165gr. HP Ammo 500rds – 40 S&W Federal Hydra-Shok 165 gr. JHP Ammo
  16.7"
0.48" 960
50rds - 40 S&W Federal LE Tactical HST 165gr. HP Ammo 1000rds – 40 S&W Federal Premium Law Enforcement 165gr. HST JHP Ammo
  18.92"
0.68" 1037
20rds – 40 S&W Federal Personal Defense 180gr. HST Ammo
  15.4"
0.72" 940
1000rds - 40 S&W Federal Premium Tactical 180gr. HST JHP Ammo 50rds – 40 S&W Federal Tactical 180gr. HST Ammo
  15.38"
0.69" 983
20rds - 40 S&W G2 Research RIP 115gr. HP LF Ammo
  10.68"
0.4" 1082
20rds - 40 S&W Hornady 180gr. XTP Jacketed Hollow Point Ammo 200rds – 40 S&W Hornady Custom 180gr. XTP Ammo
  23.28"
0.4" 913
20rds - 40 S&W Hornady Critical Defense 165gr. HP Ammo 200rds - 40 S&W Hornady Critical Defense 165gr HP Ammo
  18.68"
0.47" 1047
20rds – 40 S&W Hornady Critical Duty 175gr. FlexLock Ammo 200rds - 40 S&W Hornady Critical Duty 175gr. FlexLock HP Ammo
  19.34"
0.47" 978
20rds - 40 S&W Magtech First Defense Justice 130gr. SCHP Ammo
  13.7"
0.69" 1233
50rds - 40 S&W Remington Golden Saber Black Belt 180gr. BJHP Ammo
  20.84"
0.45" 864
20rds - 40 S&W Sig-Sauer Elite Performance Ammunition 165gr. V-Crown JHP Ammo
  20.26"
0.48" 1016
1000rds - 40 S&W Speer Gold Dot LE 155gr. GDHP Ammo 50rds – 40 S&W Speer LE Gold Dot 155gr. JHP Ammo
  15.08"
0.63" 1143
50rds – 40 S&W Speer LE Gold Dot 165gr. JHP Ammo 1000rds - 40 S&W Speer Gold Dot LE 165gr. JHP Ammo
  15.88"
0.62" 1080
50rds - 40 S&W Speer LE Gold Dot 180gr. HP Ammo 1000rds – 40 S&W Speer Gold Dot 180gr. Bonded JHP Ammo
  14.58"
0.64" 969
20rds – 40 S&W Speer Gold Dot 165gr. JHP Ammo
  17.24"
0.54" 1036
50rds - 40 S&W Winchester Silvertip 155gr. Hollow Point Ammo 500rds - 40 S&W Winchester Silvertip 155gr. Hollow Point Ammo
  16.26"
0.62" 1214
20rds – 40 S&W Winchester Defender 165gr. PDX1 Bonded JHP Ammo
  16.44"
0.71" 1069
20rds – 40 S&W Winchester Defender 180gr. PDX1 Bonded JHP Ammo
  17.02"
0.67" 979
20rds - 40 S&W Winchester W Train and Defend 180gr. JHP Ammo 200rds - 40 S&W Winchester W Train and Defend 180gr. JHP Ammo
  16"
0.66" 868
50rds – 40 S&W Winchester Ranger T-Series 180gr. JHP Ammo - Law Enforcement Trade-In 500rds – 40 S&W Winchester Ranger T-Series 180gr. JHP Ammo - Law Enforcement Trade-In
  16.46"
0.74" 1118
50rds – 40 S&W Winchester Ranger T-Series 165gr. JHP Ammo - Law Enforcement Trade-In 500rds - 40 S&W Winchester Ranger Talon 165gr. HP Ammo
  15.84"
0.73" 1127
50rds - 40 S&W Federal LE Tactical HST 180gr. HP Ammo 1000rds - 40 S&W Federal Premium Law Enforcement HST 180gr. JHP Ammo
  16.4"
0.72" 962
50rds - 40 S&W Federal Train + Protect 180gr. VHP Ammo
  21.72"
0.46" 914
20rds - 40 S&W Magtech 130gr. First Defense Solid Copper HP Ammo
  13.5"
0.59" 1086
20rds - 40 S&W MAGTECH Guardian Gold 155gr. HP Ammo
  18.1"
0.58" 1175

Recent 40 S&W Reviews

  • ☆☆☆☆☆
    Awesome! Great ammo and customer service..
    TC on 50rds - 40 S&W Federal LE Hi-Shok 180gr. Hollow Point Ammo
  • ☆☆☆☆☆
    Oh and AMMO TO GO IS BEST ON THE NET HANDS DOWN LOVE YOU GUYS!!! ______________________ We love our customers too Steven! Thanks for the kind words my friend. Randy
    Steven Goellner on 50rds - 40 S&W Federal LE Hi-Shok 180gr. Hollow Point Ammo
  • ☆☆☆☆☆
    Ramps up slide perfectly into barrel no problems burns clean very little carbon build up my only gripe is firing pin issue not a bullet one so thumps up!
    Steven Goellner on 50rds - 40 S&W Federal LE Hi-Shok 180gr. Hollow Point Ammo
  • ☆☆☆☆☆
    This stuff in this grain is my winter carry ammo for self defense(due to heavy clothing in winter time needs more reliable consistent penitration), it doesn't comprise in consistency, it's hold really true for expansion and penitration, normally I like 180gr (just me I'm a go big grain or go home guy) but this in 165 beats the heck out of its 180gr brother in the same exact ammo. FYI my summer carry when I don't have to worry about heavy clothing on my attacker is the 180gr ranger t series (RA40T) best expansion your ever gonna see on a 40! But won't burrow as deep as these when it comes to clothing.
    Justin on 20rds – 40 S&W Winchester Defender 165gr. PDX1 Bonded JHP Ammo