Best .40 S&W Ammo: Range and Defensive Picks for 2026

How to choose .40 S&W ammo for practice and carry, what bullet weights feel like, and why .40 is still a solid choice for pistols you already own.

The .40 S&W was developed in 1990 as a shorter, milder alternative to 10mm that fit in 9mm-sized pistols. It became a law-enforcement standard for decades before many agencies returned to 9mm. There are still millions of .40 pistols in use, including plenty of used police trade-ins, so ammo remains widely produced.

Bullet weights

Recoil perception varies by pistol and shooter, so try more than one weight. Many shooters practice with FMJ close in weight to their carry load so the feel carries over.

Defensive ammo

Choose a modern hollow point from a major maker and test it thoroughly in your pistol. .40 defensive loads are commonly 165 or 180 grains. Fire several magazines to confirm reliable feeding and check point of impact, then keep a modest supply and rotate it periodically. Our 9mm defensive ammo guide explains how to evaluate defensive loads in general.

Range ammo

Brass-cased FMJ from a major maker is the safe default for a pistol you rely on. .40 generally costs more per round than 9mm, so watch listings and buy a case when a good one appears. For owners who shoot a lot, some pistols accept factory-approved 9mm conversion barrels, which can lower practice costs.

Is .40 still worth it?

If you own a .40 and shoot it well, keep shooting it. Ammo remains available and modern defensive loads perform well. If you're buying your first pistol and cost per round matters most, 9mm is usually the more economical choice. The history of how 9mm came back is in our caliber wars story and the FBI's 9mm and .40 history.

Police trade-ins

Used .40 duty pistols from agency trade-ins can be good value. Inspect condition, springs, and magazines, and replace worn parts as needed. Trade-in pistols often show holster wear but may have low round counts. Budget for fresh magazines and recoil springs, and test the pistol with your chosen defensive load before carrying it.

How much to stock

Testing your carry load

Whatever .40 load you choose for carry, test it the same way. Fire at least a couple hundred rounds through the pistol overall, including several magazines of the carry load, and confirm every magazine feeds it. Check where it hits at typical defensive distances. If the pistol has any malfunctions with the carry load, try another load rather than carrying one it doesn't like. Rotate carry ammo periodically, shooting the old rounds in practice.

If you bought a police trade-in, be careful with old ammunition that may have come with it. Unless you know its history, shoot it up as practice rather than carrying it. For carry, start with fresh boxes of a load you've tested yourself. Keep a record of when you loaded your carry magazines and rotate them on a schedule so springs and ammo both stay in good condition.

For range ammo, brand matters less than consistency. Pick a brass-cased FMJ your pistol runs well and keep buying it, so recoil and point of impact stay the same session to session. If a favorite load disappears, test the replacement before buying deep.

Finally, if your pistol is a trade-in, replace the recoil spring and consider new magazines before judging any load. Tired springs cause many malfunctions that look like ammo trouble.

For a regularly used .40, a case of range ammo and a few boxes of tested carry ammo is a practical baseline. For a nightstand pistol, a few hundred rounds of practice ammo is plenty. See our storage and shelf life guide for keeping it in good condition.

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