Is the Sun Setting on the .40 S&W?

I came across two interesting posts in the past two days suggesting that the reign of the .40 S&W may be coming to an end. The first was an article on The Truth About Guns website, entitled: "Is this the Beginning of  the End for .40 Caliber?" The next was published on the SurvivalBlog, entitled: "Pat's Product Review: Buffalo Bore Ammunition."

The TTAG article discussed the decision of the St. Paul Police Department to return to 9 mm after using .40 S&W for many years. The reasons cited by the Department are (i) using modern loads, the difference in performance is negligible, but (ii) the 9 mm will have a slight advantage as to the number of rounds it carries, and (iii) because the 9 mm kicks less, it is faster to get it back on target.

Pat's Review makes similar points, although the object of the article is to discuss an excellent product made by an excellent company. He writes:

Most police agencies have abandoned the 9mm in favor of the .40 S&W round in their handguns. However, prior to the .40 S&W coming along, law enforcement was using +P and +P+ 9mm loads in their guns, and they had outstanding results in putting the bad guys down. When a new load came along, they all wanted it - and most police departments dumped the 9mm in favor of the .40 S&W or the .45 ACP. I find that I can shoot a 9mm handgun faster, and with more accuracy on-target, than I can with a .40 S&W loaded handgun. Recoil has a lot to do with it - not that I find the .40 S&W recoil to be objectionable, it's just that I can get the front sight back on target faster with a 9mm than I can with the .40 S&W. Buffalo Bore has 9mm loads in 115 grain, 124 grain and 147 grain bullet weights, with +P and +P+ loadings in many of these bullet weights. I personally like the 124 grain JHP +P loading, as I feel it gives me the best compromise between deep penetration and bullet expansion. And, this is just my personal choice, you may want to go with one of the 115 grain JHP loadings for more expansion and less penetration. Or the 147 grain JHP with more penetration and less expansion. Truth be told, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the Buffalo Bore loads in 9mm. Buffalo Bore also offers some FMJ loads, and I think they would be great for carrying in your handgun when you're out in the woods - you'll want that extra penetration if you run across big game - where the vitals are buried deep.

I have never been endeared to the .40 S&W. My first encounter with the .40 S&W was when FN decided to introduce a .40 S&W Hi-power. My father-in-law was anxious to try it out, and so was I, so we headed off into the desert. After shooting it a few times, I never had a desire to shoot or own a .40 S&W again. It had the recoil of a .45 ACP, but in a short, sharp impulse--like the 9 mm, but stronger and more unpleasant. It was like someone combined the worst aspects of the .45 and 9 mm into one cartridge. I have had friends try and "convert" me to the .40 S&W, and have shot various .40s in the following years. However, they all lacked the solid satisfaction from shooting a .45, or the quick follow-up of a 9 mm. And, I'll be honest, 9 mm is a lot cheaper to shoot.