With 180-200 gr. bullets, maybe a hard cast type. Ranges inside, say, 50 yards.

Deer? Or is it best for prdators, like coyotes, etc.

To be legal for deer hunting in Illinois you need a minimum of 500 ft-lbs. of muzzle energy. What is the velocity of your load? A 45 Colt (not ACP)has trouble making the grade, unless its a hot load. I think the 40 S&W was made for two legged predators.
Greg

Minnesota required a case length of 1.85 inches i believe but they do make an exception for the 10MM mag, also must be of at least .24 cal, other than they say that they prefer at least magnum handgun calibers with 357 being minumal power range , other than that its open statewide for handguns with no other caliber restrictions. so that leaves out the 40S&W

of course that is for big game, would probly be ok for , preditors and small game

What about power-wise, not legal reasons. Is 400-450 ft-lbs, and a 200 gr. hard cast bullet enough to penetrate into the vitals and do some damage on a deer? Ranges inside 50 yards.

Season before last, I realized that my 41Mag S&W had been scavanged for its scope and so I looked through the safe for something with which to hunt deer. Had already taken two with a rifle.

Only thing left was an IPSC single column 1911-based race gun in 40 S&W. Is a 4 1/2" compensated Nowlin barrel and is fitted with a Bushnell Holoscope. Only appropriate ammo in the house was based on 135 gr Nosler HP's loaded to almost 10mm length. They were chrono'd at 1450 fps.

That afternoon I shot a large doe at 45 yards with the pistol. She turned toward me just as I pulled the trigger. Projectile went in the left front side of the chest. She did a forward summersault on impact ... quivered a few times and died on the spot. Most instant kill I've ever seen.

The bullet exploded in the front chest ... did not seem to have exited, and did not seem to have penetrated the gut. The upper chest was full of blood, and the heart was pulverized.

Interesting experiment ... and VERY effective, but I'd not do that again. Too much room for error. Used the 41 Remington Magnum last year.

Did make me MUCH more careful as an IPSC shooter ... the terminal ballistics of that load are TERRIFYING. An accident would simply be unthinkable!

mike starling

I think trying to push a 200 grain bullet out of a 40 S&W would be a big mistake. Presures up.. and poking along at none too impresive speeds.

40 S&W is about the ballistic equal of original 38-40 loads which has probably taken a lot of game.... BUT...... I wouldnt push your luck.
the 40 would probably work ok on deer sized game at bow hunting ranges. I wouldnt do it unless I HAD to.

I agree with the above. 200 grain bullets and the 40 SW cartridge are not a good combo.

Might be a good caliber for javelina, I dunno.

Well, you can kill a deer with a .22 LR if you whack it between the eye and ear.

I had a .40 S&W Ruger carbine. I sold it. It makes a nice ranch gun for busting raccoons in the trash cans at night, or coyotes in the yard, or stray dogs who don't act right.

Now I've got a lever action Marlin in .357, and it can do all that and has the penetration to take deer, even with a less than perfect shot.

I really tried to like .40 S&W, but it just didn't suit me.

The 40 Smith & Wesson was designed for hunting only one kind of animal, humans. Sure, you can kill a deer with the 40, but it would take a well placed shot with the proper bullet. Small game? Bullet diameter is a bit large and might destroy too much meat.

I don't think that the 40S&W is legal for anything but perp's here in Oklahoma but they sure work great on B&C Armadillo. I'm not usually this sporting when it comes to these little football helmets with legs, I normally taken them out with a 308 Win. I know I'm sick but it sure is fun.