NCJ Number
132964
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 39 Issue: 10 Dated: (October 1991) Pages: 44,48-49
Date Published
1991
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The fastest growing caliber of ammunition used by American law enforcement agencies is the .40 Smith & Wesson semi-automatic cartridge jointly developed with Winchester-Olin.
Abstract
The development of this cartridge followed other efforts to design the ideal defensive bullet which was thought to be .40 to .41 caliber, to weigh 180 to 200 grains, and to travel between 990 and 1050 feet per second (fps). The .40 Smith & Wesson cartridge made the 10-mm weapon used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation obsolete and has made inroads into sales of 9-mm and .45 semi-automatic weapons as well. Many law enforcement agencies have adopted the .40 Smith & Wesson; the first police agency to do so was the California Highway Patrol. The bullet is available in a range of loads including heavy hollowpoint, light hollowpoint, fragmenting exotic, hardball, and practice/qualifying ammunition. All major ammunition factories now produce some design of 950 fps 180 grain jacketed hollowpoint (JHP) load.