WB
I got a almost brand new super small .40 the other day
Thursday, July 11, 2019, 12:32

The Kahr is super cheap on the used market and I like the trigger action. Size wise it is about 1" shorter than a G19 and lots thinner. Same size as an old Colt M1903 .32 auto. Being single stack it only holds 6+1 in .40 and I think that is the buying public's big turn off. Plus it kicks like crazy. They make an even smaller one, the PM40, but that's a bit much, maybe in 9mm. I used to be a .40 hater, before I realized it was simply a semi-auto .38-40 Win. One you can stick in your pocket. Plus it is a delight to reload and the dies do double duty loading full 10mm too. And .401 Herters, .401 WSL, .414 SM if you needed it. I much prefer the 180 gr. ammo that so closely mimic's the old west loading but what's a few grains.

Using cast bullets I prefer the old Lyman SWC and HP versions at around 170 gr. but I have a custom Corder mould that throws a 200 gr. FPGC that I will be using in the Polygonal bore. That's about all the .40 S&W can manage. In the mean time I wanted some cheap fodder. The SIG line of FMJ ammo sports a flat tip FMJ but they were out, so I got Federal. To my surprise the Federal 165 gr. FMJ is a Flat Point too. Loaded a bit leisurely at only 1050 fps it should be easy shooting in the too light 16 oz. Kahr P40. Given the Govt. model's 5" tube and the pocket gun's shorter barrel the muzzle energies should be very close. But the .40 should penetrate better, you'd figure. I like the flat tip FMJ anyway compared to the round nose that can tumble and yaw after penetrating. The FP seems to punch a hole to go through, ahead of the bullet, and penetrate straighter. I figure a .45 FP would too.