Description
The 40 S&W has quietly become one of the better value propositions in handgun shooting, because a lot of agencies moved back to 9mm and the ammunition got cheaper as a result. The Armscor 40 S&W 180gr JHP takes advantage of that. Brass cased, boxer primed, 180 grain jacketed hollow point, loaded to the standard the cartridge was designed around.
- Why 180 grains is the 40 standard
- Full specifications
- Practice ammunition in a defensive profile
- Honest notes before you buy
- Brass, and the case for buying a 40 right now
- The bottom line
Why 180 grains is the 40 standard
The 40 S&W was built as a shortened 10mm and it settled quickly on 180 grains as its defining weight. That is what the great majority of duty ammunition used, what most pistols were regulated for, and what the cartridge does best. The Armscor 40 S&W 180gr JHP sits exactly there rather than chasing a lighter faster bullet.
The lighter 155 and 165 grain loads exist and they shoot flatter, but they also snap harder in recoil and print differently. At 950 feet per second the Armscor 40 S&W 180gr JHP has a heavier, slower push that most shooters find easier to manage, and it lands closer to where the sights on a typical 40 were set.
Full specifications
- Caliber: 40 S&W
- Bullet weight: 180 grain
- Bullet: jacketed hollow point
- Muzzle velocity: 950 fps
- Muzzle energy: approximately 361, calculated from the published velocity ft-lbs
- Ballistic coefficient (G1): not published for handgun ammunition
- Case: reloadable boxer primed brass
- Quantity: 20 rounds per box
- Part number: AC40-3N, 20 rounds per box
Armscor publishes the velocity but not the energy for this load. At 950 feet per second a 180 grain bullet produces about 361 foot pounds, which is simple arithmetic rather than a manufacturer claim. That puts the Armscor 40 S&W 180gr JHP squarely in standard pressure 40 S&W territory, not plus P.
Practice ammunition in a defensive profile
Most people shoot the Armscor 40 S&W 180gr JHP at the range. It costs close to what full metal jacket does, which makes it unusual, and it means you can practice with a hollow point profile rather than discovering feed issues later. Any pistol that runs this will run most defensive loads.
Whether to carry it is a personal call. Armscor has not published the gel testing that the major defensive lines have, so if documented terminal performance is part of your decision, buy a load that has that data. What the Armscor 40 S&W 180gr JHP offers is affordable brass cased hollow point practice, which has real value on its own.
Honest notes before you buy
Recoil in the 40 S&W is sharper than 9mm and most of that comes from the pressure curve rather than the bullet weight. The 180 grain loading in the Armscor 40 S&W 180gr JHP is the gentler end of the cartridge, but it is still a snappier gun than a 9mm. Practice accordingly.
Expect value ammunition consistency. Armscor holds reasonable tolerances for the price but extreme spread will be wider than a premium load, and a few rounds in a box may chronograph noticeably off the average. For range work that changes nothing. Function test the Armscor 40 S&W 180gr JHP in your own pistol before you trust it for anything more.
Brass, and the case for buying a 40 right now
The cases are boxer primed and reloadable, and 40 S&W brass is plentiful and cheap to load for. Save every case from the Armscor 40 S&W 180gr JHP. The cartridge operates at high pressure so case life is shorter than 9mm, but a well loaded case will still give you several cycles before the mouth starts to go.
There is also a quiet argument for owning a 40 at the moment. Used police trade in pistols are inexpensive, ammunition is widely available, and a lot of shooters have moved on. If you already own one, the Armscor 40 S&W 180gr JHP is a sensible way to keep feeding it without the cost of premium defensive ammunition for every range trip.
The bottom line
If you shoot a 40 S&W and want brass cased hollow points without paying defensive ammunition prices, the Armscor 40 S&W 180gr JHP is a sound everyday choice. You can read more about the bullet design at swiftbullets.com, or browse the rest of our stock on the MAG5 Firearms ammunition page.
MAG5 Firearms keeps the Armscor 40 S&W 180gr JHP in stock and moving, and we are glad to talk through bullet choice before you order. If you are working up a load for a new rifle, a single box of the Armscor 40 S&W 180gr JHP is a sensible place to start.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.