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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

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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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41 - 60 of 61

  1. 20rds – 40 S&W Hornady American Gunner 180gr. XTP JHP Ammo 20rds – 40 S&W Hornady American Gunner 180gr. XTP JHP Ammo
    $19.95
    $1.00/ppr

    190 In Stock

  2. 25rds – 40 S&W Sellier & Bellot XRG Defense 130gr. SCHP Ammo 25rds – 40 S&W Sellier & Bellot XRG Defense 130gr. SCHP Ammo
    $24.95
    $1.00/ppr

    41 In Stock

  3. 25rds – 40 S&W Fiocchi 155gr. XTP Ammo 25rds – 40 S&W Fiocchi 155gr. XTP Ammo
    $25.95
    $1.04/ppr

    69 In Stock

  4. 20rds – 40 S&W Black Hills 180gr. JHP Ammo 20rds – 40 S&W Black Hills 180gr. JHP Ammo Video
    $20.95
    $1.05/ppr

    62 In Stock

  5. 20rds – 40 S&W Federal Punch 165gr. JHP Ammo 20rds – 40 S&W Federal Punch 165gr. JHP Ammo
    $21.95
    $1.10/ppr

    137 In Stock

  6. 20rds – 40 S&W Underwood 180gr. JHP Ammo 20rds – 40 S&W Underwood 180gr. JHP Ammo
    $21.95
    $1.10/ppr

    194 In Stock

  7. 20rds – 40 S&W Underwood 150gr. JHP Ammo 20rds – 40 S&W Underwood 150gr. JHP Ammo
    $22.95
    $1.15/ppr

    23 In Stock

  8. 20rds – 40 S&W Barnes VOR-TX Handgun 140gr. XPB Ammo 20rds – 40 S&W Barnes VOR-TX Handgun 140gr. XPB Ammo
    $22.95
    $1.15/ppr
    • Buy 5 for $19.00 each

    153 In Stock

  9. 20rds – 40 S&W Remington HTP 180gr. JHP Ammo 20rds – 40 S&W Remington HTP 180gr. JHP Ammo
    $24.00
    $1.20/ppr

    12 In Stock

  10. 200rds - 40 S&W Hornady Critical Defense 165gr HP Ammo 200rds - 40 S&W Hornady Critical Defense 165gr HP Ammo
    $259.95
    $1.30/ppr

    5 In Stock

  11. 20rds – 40 S&W Winchester Defender 165gr. PDX1 Bonded JHP Ammo 20rds – 40 S&W Winchester Defender 165gr. PDX1 Bonded JHP Ammo

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 4 Review(s)

    $26.95
    $1.35/ppr

    36 In Stock

  12. 20rds – 40 S&W Black Hills 140gr. Barnes TAC-XP HP Ammo 20rds – 40 S&W Black Hills 140gr. Barnes TAC-XP HP Ammo Video
    $27.65
    $1.38/ppr

    130 In Stock

  13. 20rds - 40 S&W Hornady 155gr. XTP Jacketed Hollow Point Ammo 20rds - 40 S&W Hornady 155gr. XTP Jacketed Hollow Point Ammo
    $27.95
    $1.40/ppr

    12 In Stock

  14. 20rds - 40 S&W Federal Hydra-Shok 165gr. HP Ammo 20rds - 40 S&W Federal Hydra-Shok 165gr. HP Ammo Video
    $27.95
    $1.40/ppr

    2 In Stock

  15. 20rds - 40 S&W Sig-Sauer Elite Performance Ammunition 165gr. V-Crown JHP Ammo 20rds - 40 S&W Sig-Sauer Elite Performance Ammunition 165gr. V-Crown JHP Ammo Video
    $27.95
    $1.40/ppr

    9 In Stock

  16. 20rds - 40 S&W Hornady Critical Defense 165gr. HP Ammo 20rds - 40 S&W Hornady Critical Defense 165gr. HP Ammo

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 3 Review(s)

    $28.95
    $1.45/ppr

    56 In Stock

  17. 20rds - 40 S&W Barnes 140gr. TAC-XPD HP Ammo 20rds - 40 S&W Barnes 140gr. TAC-XPD HP Ammo

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 3 Review(s)

    $29.45
    $1.47/ppr

    35 In Stock

  18. 20rds – 40 S&W Speer Gold Dot 165gr. JHP Ammo 20rds – 40 S&W Speer Gold Dot 165gr. JHP Ammo
    $29.95
    $1.50/ppr

    42 In Stock

  19. 20rds – 40 S&W Hornady Critical Duty 175gr. FlexLock Ammo 20rds – 40 S&W Hornady Critical Duty 175gr. FlexLock Ammo

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 1 Review(s)

    $31.95
    $1.60/ppr

    34 In Stock

  20. 20rds – 40 S&W Federal Personal Defense 180gr. HST Ammo 20rds – 40 S&W Federal Personal Defense 180gr. HST Ammo

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 3 Review(s)

    $31.95
    $1.60/ppr

    32 In Stock

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41 - 60 of 61

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 20rds - 40 S&W MAGTECH Guardian Gold 155gr. HP Ammo
  18.1"
0.58" 1175

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