Bulk 40 SW Ammo

Overview of .40 S&W Ammo

.40 S&W was developed jointly by Smith and Wesson and Winchester in 1990 as a direct response to the FBI's search for a cartridge that could deliver 10mm Auto terminal performance in a standard-size service pistol frame. It fires a .400-inch diameter bullet in weights from 135 to 180 grains, with 165gr and 180gr being the most widely used weights for law enforcement and civilian carry. For two decades it was the dominant U.S. law enforcement cartridge, carried by the FBI and the majority of state and local police agencies across the country.

Following the FBI's 2014 ammunition evaluation, most major law enforcement agencies have transitioned back to 9mm, citing modern JHP loads that match .40 S&W terminal performance with higher capacity and lower recoil. Despite this, .40 S&W retains a significant and loyal civilian following among experienced shooters who appreciate its heavier bullet and slightly larger permanent wound channel. The installed base of .40 S&W pistols is enormous, and factory ammunition remains widely available across all major manufacturers.

Popular .40 S&W Brands We Carry

• PMC .40 S&W: PMC Bronze 180gr FMJ (40E), 1,000 rounds and 165gr FMJ (40D), 1,000 rounds, plus a 165gr FMJ Battle Pack (40D-BP), 900 rounds in waterproof sealed packs for storage.
• Federal .40 S&W: American Eagle 180gr FMJ (AE40R1), 1,000 rounds and American Eagle 165gr FMJ (AE40R3), 1,000 rounds for range training, plus Federal HST JHP for defensive carry.
• Blazer Brass .40 S&W: 165gr FMJ (5210), 1,000 rounds and 180gr FMJ (5220), 1,000 rounds. American-made, reloadable brass cases at budget-friendly pricing.
• Remington .40 S&W: UMC 180gr FMJ (L40SW3), 500 rounds for reliable and affordable range use.
• Speer .40 S&W: Lawman 180gr TMJ (53652), 1,000 rounds for training, matched in point of impact to Speer Gold Dot defensive loads.
• Black Hills .40 S&W: HoneyBadger 115gr Solid Copper (D40N720), 500 rounds for barrier-blind defensive performance without relying on hollow point expansion.

Best .40 S&W Ammo for Specific Uses

Why Buy .40 S&W Ammo from BulkMunitions?

• In stock and ready to ship. We only list ammunition that is physically in our warehouse. No backorders.
• Next-business-day shipping from our Knoxville, TN warehouse on orders placed before our daily cutoff.
• Bulk pricing across the full .40 S&W lineup. PMC, Federal, and Blazer Brass in 1,000-round cases consistently deliver some of our lowest cost-per-round pricing in this caliber.
• We tithe 10% of profits to Christian-based, 2A-supporting organizations every quarter, and our customers vote on where it goes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is .40 S&W still a good self-defense cartridge?

Yes. While most law enforcement agencies have transitioned back to 9mm following the FBI's 2014 evaluation, .40 S&W remains a fully capable defensive cartridge. Quality JHP loads from Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot, and Hornady Critical Duty deliver reliable expansion and penetration that meets FBI protocol standards. For shooters who already own a .40 S&W pistol and shoot it well, there is no compelling reason to switch based on terminal performance alone.

What is the difference between 165gr and 180gr .40 S&W?

165gr loads run at higher velocity, typically 1,050-1,130 fps, producing a flatter trajectory and slightly snappier recoil. 180gr loads run slower at around 950-1,000 fps but deliver more momentum and slightly deeper penetration. For range training, practice with whichever weight matches your carry load for the most transferable point-of-impact data. Both PMC 165gr FMJ and PMC 180gr FMJ are available in 1,000-round cases at competitive bulk pricing.

Can I shoot .40 S&W in a 10mm pistol?

No. .40 S&W and 10mm Auto have different case lengths and are not interchangeable. While the case head dimensions are similar, firing .40 S&W in a 10mm chamber is unsafe and not recommended under any circumstances. Always use the cartridge your firearm is specifically chambered for.

More About .40 S&W Ammo

The story of .40 S&W begins with a failure. On April 11, 1986, eight FBI agents engaged two bank robbery suspects in Miami, Florida in what became known as the FBI Miami shootout. Both suspects were killed, but two agents died and five were wounded in a gunfight that exposed significant limitations in the agency's then-standard 9mm ammunition. The resulting decade-long FBI ammunition evaluation process ultimately led the agency to adopt 10mm Auto, then to develop a reduced-pressure 10mm load that fit in a smaller frame, and finally to partner with Smith and Wesson and Winchester to produce a purpose-designed cartridge around that reduced load.

.40 S&W was introduced on January 17, 1990, chambered in the Smith and Wesson Model 4006. The FBI adopted it immediately, and within a decade it had become the dominant U.S. law enforcement cartridge. Its combination of .45 ACP-adjacent terminal performance in a high-capacity, standard-frame pistol made it compelling at a time when 9mm JHP technology had not yet caught up to the FBI's terminal performance requirements.

The second act of the .40 S&W story is the FBI's 2014 reversal. Following a comprehensive evaluation of modern 9mm JHP ammunition, the FBI concluded that quality 9mm loads had closed the terminal performance gap that had originally driven the move to larger calibers. Combined with higher magazine capacity, less recoil, lower cost, and better accuracy in qualification testing among a broader range of agents, the evidence favored returning to 9mm. Most major law enforcement agencies followed suit through the late 2010s.

For civilian shooters, the practical reality is that .40 S&W remains a fully viable defensive caliber with an enormous installed base of pistols, a broad selection of quality ammunition, and terminal performance that exceeds 9mm in bullet diameter and momentum. Shooters who own a .40 S&W pistol, shoot it accurately, and carry quality JHP ammunition are well-armed regardless of what law enforcement agencies have chosen.