.40 S&W Ammo
The .40 S&W was developed in 1990 as a law enforcement cartridge and quickly became one of the most widely issued police calibers in America, a status it held for nearly two decades. It fires a .400-inch bullet at higher velocity than .45 ACP while fitting in pistols with frames sized for 9mm, offering a middle ground between the two. While many agencies have since transitioned back to 9mm, the .40 S&W remains a proven defensive cartridge with excellent ammunition selection and wide platform availability.
Read our full .40 S&W Ammunition Buying Guide ↓
Ballistics Overview
The .40 S&W typically fires a 155–180 grain bullet at 980–1,200 fps, producing 370–510 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. The 165-grain load at 1,130 fps is a common all-around choice; the 180-grain load at 1,000 fps is the standard law enforcement weight. Recoil is noticeably sharper than 9mm due to the higher pressure and heavier bullet—often described as a “snappier” impulse compared to 9mm’s softer push. In a full-size pistol, the recoil is manageable with practice; in compact platforms it can be fatiguing over extended range sessions.
Defensive Hollow Points
Federal HST in 180gr and 165gr, Speer Gold Dot 180gr, and Hornady Critical Duty 175gr FlexLock are among the best .40 S&W defensive loads, all with extensive published test data from law enforcement qualification and independent testing. The .40 S&W delivers genuine terminal performance advantages over 9mm in standard-pressure loads, though the gap has narrowed considerably with modern 9mm defensive ammunition. Any of the major law enforcement duty loads will perform reliably from quality .40 S&W platforms.
FMJ Practice Loads
For range practice, FMJ loads from Federal American Eagle, Winchester USA, PMC Bronze, and Remington UMC are the standard choices. The 180-grain FMJ is the most common practice load and matches the weight of duty hollow points for consistent point-of-impact data. Buy in bulk—500 rounds at a time—to minimize cost. .40 S&W FMJ typically runs $0.30–$0.50 per round. Brass-case FMJ is worth the premium if you reload; .40 S&W brass is widely available and the caliber is popular among reloaders.
.40 S&W vs. 9mm
The FBI’s 2014 return to 9mm touched off widespread re-evaluation of the .40 S&W, with most major law enforcement agencies following suit. Modern 9mm defensive loads have closed the terminal performance gap while offering lower recoil, higher capacity, and lower cost per round. For most shooters choosing a new platform today, 9mm is the better starting point. However, if you already own a .40 S&W and shoot it well, there is no compelling reason to switch—it remains a fully capable defensive cartridge with excellent ammunition support.
Pricing and Availability
The .40 S&W is priced similarly to .45 ACP per round due to lower production volume than 9mm. FMJ practice loads typically run $0.30–$0.50 per round; quality defensive hollow points run $0.70–$1.10. Availability is generally good from all major manufacturers. One practical advantage of the .40 S&W today is that used pistols chambered in the caliber are widely available at attractive prices as agencies and individuals have transitioned to 9mm—platforms like the Glock 22 and 23 represent strong value in the used market.
Related Pages
Browse our handguns page for .40 S&W pistol options, or see our 9mm ammo page to compare calibers. Visit our handgun ammo overview for all pistol calibers.