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40 S&W

The 40 S&W (aka ".40 cal") was developed after the FBI deemed the 10mm’s recoil to be a little too snappy for some of its … let’s say “more delicate” agents. This cartridge is especially popular for self-defense (See our top defensive ammo picks for 40 S&W here). 40 SW Bullet weights ranging from 105 to 200 grains are available, although many agree that 165 or 180 grains is optimal for personal protection. We work to keep bulk and defensive options ready for sale. You'll see our in-stock options below.
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61 - 69 of 69

  1. 20rds - 40 S&W Hornady Critical Defense 165gr. HP Ammo 20rds - 40 S&W Hornady Critical Defense 165gr. HP Ammo
    $29.95
    $1.5/ppr

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 4 Reviews

    87 In Stock

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 4 Reviews

    Bullet type
    Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP)     Muzzle Energy
    506     Casing Type
    Brass     Muzzle Velocity
    1175     Primer Type
    Boxer     Bullet Weight
    165 Grain
    Ballistic Data Available
  2. 20rds – 40 S&W Speer Gold Dot 165gr. JHP Ammo 20rds – 40 S&W Speer Gold Dot 165gr. JHP Ammo
    $29.95
    $1.5/ppr

    8 In Stock

    Bullet type
    Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP)     Muzzle Energy
    484     Casing Type
    Nickel-Plated Brass     Muzzle Velocity
    1150     Primer Type
    Boxer     Bullet Weight
    165 Grain
    Ballistic Data Available
  3. 20rds – 40 S&W Remington Golden Saber Bonded 180gr. BJHP Ammo 20rds – 40 S&W Remington Golden Saber Bonded 180gr. BJHP Ammo
    $29.95
    $1.5/ppr

    167 In Stock

    Bullet type
    Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP)     Muzzle Energy
    412     Casing Type
    Nickel-Plated Brass     Muzzle Velocity
    1015     Primer Type
    Boxer     Bullet Weight
    180 Grain
  4. 20rds – 40 S&W Federal Personal Defense 180gr. HST Ammo 20rds – 40 S&W Federal Personal Defense 180gr. HST Ammo
    $30.95
    $1.55/ppr

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 3 Reviews

    48 In Stock

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 3 Reviews

    Bullet type
    Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP)     Muzzle Energy
    408     Casing Type
    Nickel-Plated Brass     Muzzle Velocity
    1010     Primer Type
    Boxer     Bullet Weight
    180 Grain
  5. 20rds – 40 S&W Winchester Defender 180gr. PDX1 Bonded JHP Ammo 20rds – 40 S&W Winchester Defender 180gr. PDX1 Bonded JHP Ammo
    $31.95
    $1.6/ppr

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 6 Reviews

    94 In Stock

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 6 Reviews

    Bullet type
    Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP)     Muzzle Energy
    400     Casing Type
    Nickel-Plated Brass     Muzzle Velocity
    1000     Primer Type
    Boxer     Bullet Weight
    180 Grain
  6. 20rds – 40 S&W Hornady Critical Duty 175gr. FlexLock Ammo 20rds – 40 S&W Hornady Critical Duty 175gr. FlexLock Ammo
    $31.95
    $1.6/ppr

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 1 Review

    40 In Stock

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 1 Review

    Bullet type
    Flex Tip (FTX)     Muzzle Energy
    396     Casing Type
    Nickel-Plated Brass     Muzzle Velocity
    1010     Primer Type
    Boxer     Bullet Weight
    175 Grain
  7. 20rds – 40 S&W Black Hills 115gr. HoneyBadger Ammo 20rds – 40 S&W Black Hills 115gr. HoneyBadger Ammo
    $38.95
    $1.95/ppr

    29 In Stock

    Bullet type
    HoneyBadger     Muzzle Energy
    448     Casing Type
    Brass     Muzzle Velocity
    1325     Primer Type
    Boxer     Bullet Weight
    115 Grain
  8. 10rds - 40 S&W CCI Shotshells 3/16 oz. #9 Shot Ammo 10rds - 40 S&W CCI Shotshells 3/16 oz. #9 Shot Ammo
    $20.95
    $2.09/ppr

    137 In Stock

    Bullet type
    #9 Shot     Muzzle Velocity
    1250     Bullet Weight
    88 Grain
  9. 20rds - 40 S&W G2 Research RIP 115gr. HP LF Ammo 20rds - 40 S&W G2 Research RIP 115gr. HP LF Ammo Video
    $43.95
    $2.2/ppr

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 3 Reviews

    16 In Stock

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 3 Reviews

    Bullet type
    Solid Copper Hollow Point (SCHP)     Casing Type
    Brass     Muzzle Velocity
    1095     Primer Type
    Boxer     Bullet Weight
    115 Grain

61 - 69 of 69

Geltest header image

40 S&W ballistic gel test results

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

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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More About 40 S&W Ammo

When Was the .40 S&W Created?

In the world of firearms, the .40 S&W is actually a fairly new cartridge. It was created in 1990 after an infamous shootout between two bank robbers and eight FBI agents. Two agents lost their lives in a gun battle that saw the law enforcement personnel heavily outgunned. Despite being hit by the agents, the bank robbers were able to continue fighting, although they were eventually killed by law enforcement. In the aftermath, the FBI commissioned the production of a powerful cartridge with manageable recoil, giving law enforcement stopping power while allowing for accurate secondary shots. With this goal in mind, the .40 S&W was born.

What Does the “S&W” Mean?

“S&W” stands for Smith & Wesson, the company that was primarily responsible for creating the cartridge. It is common practice, dating back to the 1800’s, to have companies put their names on ammunition. This is seen in rounds like the .223 Remington, .270 Winchester, and 9mm Luger.

How Does the .40 S&W Compare to the 9mm Luger?

While these two cartridges are often compared, due mostly to the overall popularity of both, they are distinctly different products. The biggest difference is size: .40 S&W is noticeably larger than 9mm Luger ammo and has a wider bullet and neck diameter. They do, however, have similar overall lengths. Because of the wider diameters, the .40 S&W generally has higher stats for power. Head to our blog for more on how 40 S&W compares to 9mm.

Is a 10mm Auto the Same as a .40 S&W?

No. While these two cartridges are similar in diameters, they are different in overall length. They both have bullet diameters of .4 inches, but the 10mm Auto has a longer overall length. The result is that the 10mm Auto generally fires at a faster speed and has more power compared to the .40 S&W, assuming the cartridges are loaded with similar bullets. The .40 S&W, however, has lighter recoil. In fact, it was designed to have a forceful impact with lighter recoil, which makes for accurate followup shots.

What Type of .40 S&W Ammo Should I Purchase?

That depends on the purpose for your ammunition. If you are using the cartridges for target practice or competition, you will likely want full metal jacket rounds, which cycle with greater ease and leave less fouling in the barrel. On the other hand, if you are loading your weapon for self defense, you will want expanding rounds, such as jacketed hollow points or jacketed soft-nose bullets.

Recent 40 S&W Reviews