The discussion opens with a look at .40 S&W as a middle ground between 9mm and .45 ACP. The featured load is a Winchester Super-X 155-grain .40 caliber jacketed hollow point SilverTip, with a listed muzzle velocity of about 1,205 feet per second. The video explains that .40 S&W’s adoption traces back to the 1986 Miami FBI shootout, where law enforcement recognized the limitations of revolvers in modern gunfights. Revolvers were not necessarily ballistically inadequate, but their low capacity and slow reloads put officers at a disadvantage against opponents armed with semi-automatic firearms. This event pushed agencies toward higher-capacity semi-auto platforms using magazines, while still seeking terminal performance similar to established .38 Special FBI loads and wadcutters.
The .40 S&W cartridge was introduced around 1990 to meet FBI and law enforcement requirements for a more tactical platform with magazine-fed capacity and performance comparable to earlier FBI handgun loads. Both 9mm and .45 ACP were evaluated, but at the time 9mm did not deliver the desired ballistics. A developer named John Hall introduced a 10mm-based concept that effectively became the .40 S&W, using a 10mm-diameter projectile in a shorter case. Since its introduction, .40 S&W has remained in production and has been widely used by law enforcement and some military forces. A surplus Glock 22 in .40 S&W is shown as an example of a common duty pistol, equipped with night sights and representing the type of sidearm many agencies have issued in this caliber.
The video compares felt recoil between a 9mm Glock 19X and a .40 S&W Glock 22. The Glock 19X uses a full-size Glock 17 frame with a shorter slide, and it is fired with 115-grain 9mm ball ammunition. On the range, the 19X is described as feeling good and manageable. The shooter then switches to the Glock 22 in .40 S&W, loaded with 155-grain Winchester SilverTip jacketed hollow points. The .40 S&W is immediately noted as noticeably more “snappy,” with stronger recoil than the 9mm setup. The comparison highlights that .40 S&W uses a slightly larger-diameter bullet than 9mm, but is slimmer and faster than .45 ACP, resulting in a distinct recoil impulse that many shooters perceive as sharper, especially in lighter polymer-framed pistols.
A .40 S&W Magnum Research Desert Eagle, described as a “baby Deagle” resembling a Jericho-style pistol, is then tested on the range. This version is an all-metal handgun, significantly heavier than the Glock 22. When fired with .40 S&W ammunition, the Desert Eagle exhibits noticeably reduced felt recoil compared to the lighter polymer Glock. The additional weight and metal construction help tame the snappy character of the cartridge, making the shooting experience smoother and more comfortable. The segment emphasizes how platform choice—weight, frame material, and overall design—strongly influences how .40 S&W feels in the hand, even though the cartridge itself remains the same.
The conversation turns to whether .40 S&W remains relevant. The cartridge has been in continuous production since 1990 and is still issued by many law enforcement agencies and some militaries. The video notes that at one point, .40 S&W was often the only pistol ammunition readily available during shortages. The host acknowledges ongoing debates: some shooters prefer .45 ACP for a heavier, slower bullet, while others favor 9mm for higher capacity and modern ballistic performance. .40 S&W is described as a snappy cartridge whose recoil varies significantly by platform, feeling more pronounced in lighter pistols and more controlled in heavier metal-framed guns. The role of 10mm is briefly mentioned, with interest in future testing and potential comparison between .40 S&W and 10mm to evaluate their relative effectiveness.
The video closes with details about a current giveaway featuring a NEMO Omen semi-automatic rifle chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum. The rifle is configured in an AR-style platform and equipped with a Trijicon Tenmile scope, a bipod from Warne, and Zeiss scope rings. The giveaway is run in collaboration with Premier Body Armor, which is providing an Eagle vest rated to Level IIIA and new polymer plates rated to Level III. Donut Operator is mentioned as a collaborator who also owns a NEMO rifle and has shot it alongside the host at Premier Body Armor’s facility. Viewers are directed to visit ClassicFirearms.com, use the top banner to access entry links, and enter the codeword “donut” for the promotion.
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