{"id":14093,"date":"2024-07-26T18:16:30","date_gmt":"2024-07-26T18:16:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/?p=14093"},"modified":"2024-07-30T21:58:05","modified_gmt":"2024-07-30T21:58:05","slug":"40-sw-vs-10mm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/40-sw-vs-10mm\/","title":{"rendered":"40 S&W VS 10mm"},"content":{"rendered":"

Regarding handgun cartridges, the 40 S&W VS 10mm stand out as popular choices among enthusiasts and professionals alike. Each cartridge offers more power than the 9mm and has many loyal followers. While interest in the 40 S&W has waned over the years, the 10mm has seen a resurgence, thanks in part to manufacturers producing new guns to harness the power of the cartridge. If you’re stuck between which option to choose, this article will help you make an educated decision.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Both have their unique histories, characteristics, and applications. This article will explore each cartridge’s background, compare their features, and discuss their best uses.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Brief History<\/b><\/h2>\n

The 10mm cartridge came about in the early 1980s, mainly due to the efforts of <\/span>Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Cooper<\/span><\/a>, a firearms legend. He envisioned a powerful handgun cartridge capable of significant stopping power and penetration. Using Cooper’s\u00a0 design, the FBI developed a “light” 10mm load to issue to their field agents. Not to be outdone, Smith & Wesson also had a .40 caliber load in development at the same time. <\/span><\/p>\n

Smith & Wesson were confident their new .40 caliber round could achieve identical ballistics to the FBI’s light 10mm, with the advantage of their shorter cartridge fitting into 9mm size pistols. The announcement of the FBI’s development of the 10mm likely gave S&W the kick in the pants they needed to bring their .40 caliber to market. The FBI officially adopted 10mm in Nov 1989 and the .40 S&W cartridge was unveiled in Jan 1990 at SHOT Show.<\/span><\/p>\n

There’s a lot of rumor and innuendo as to why the FBI abandoned the 10mm round shortly after adopting it. The most common rumor is that the recoil was too intense for some agents to handle. While there are no actual statements from the FBI to back up that claim, there are official data points that indicate reliability, size, and weight were key factors in making the decision to switch. Unofficially, it’s possible that the FBI realized the .40 S&W cartridge made the 10mm obsolete for their purposes and the decision was made to move forward in order to protect their funding.<\/p>\n

Today, law enforcement agencies nationwide often use the .40 S&W. It\u2019s also quite common among handgun owners, though the 9mm remains the most popular. The 10mm is far less common due to its increased recoil and cost.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Do the 10mm and .40 S&W Stack Up?<\/b><\/h2>\n

When comparing the 10mm to the .40 S&W, there are several factors to consider:<\/span><\/p>\n