Shopping for a 40 cal carry load? You will run into dozens of 40 S&W ballistic gel videos, each with a different block, gun and result. This page shows you how to sort the useful tests from the noise. It covers what the numbers mean, where the FBI draws the line, and how the 40 S&W defensive loads on our shelves stack up by bullet weight, design and published speed.
One thing up front: Bulk Ammo Vault has not run its own gel tests. Every velocity and energy figure below comes from the product listing it is linked to.
Why the 40 S&W and Gel Testing Grew Up Together
The 40 S&W came out in 1990 as a shorter cousin of the 10mm Auto. It fits a 9mm-size frame and pushes a wider, heavier bullet. Police agencies took to it fast, and much of the modern gel test culture grew up alongside it. Agencies wanted proof a load would work through clothing, glass and car doors, not just in clean gel.
That history shows in the ammo. Many 40 cal loads were designed for law enforcement barrier tests first, and civilian boxes came later.
Reading 40 S&W Ballistic Gel Results
Every good gel test reports three things:
- Penetration depth, measured from the block face to the bullet’s nose.
- Expanded diameter, usually the average of the widest and narrowest points of the mushroom.
- Retained weight, the recovered bullet’s weight as a share of its starting weight.
The FBI asks for 12 inches of penetration as a minimum and treats 18 inches as the upper end of ideal. Inside that window, a wider bullet with high retained weight is usually the better sign. Outside it, expansion matters less. A bullet that stops short or sails past has missed the main goal.
Check the test setup first
Before you trust a 40 S&W ballistic gel number, check how it was made:
- Gel type. Calibrated 10% ordnance gel is the reference. Clear synthetic blocks can read differently.
- Calibration. A good tester fires a steel BB into each block to confirm it is in spec.
- Clothing. The FBI heavy clothing test uses layers of denim and other fabric. Fabric can clog a hollow point and turn it into a solid.
- Gun. A 4 inch duty pistol and a 3 inch subcompact will not give the same speed.
- Shot count. Look for five shots or more. A single shot can be a fluke.
40 S&W Defensive Loads We Carry
Here are the hollow point and defensive loads in our 40 cal range that list velocity and energy. Sort them in your head by bullet weight first. That is the biggest driver of how a 40 cal load behaves.
| Load | Bullet | Grain | Muzzle velocity (fps) | Muzzle energy (ft-lbs) | Pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal HST 40 S&W 180 Grain JHP | Jacketed hollow point (HST) | 180 | 1,010 | 410 | 20-round box |
| Speer Gold Dot 40 Cal 180 Grain Bonded JHP | Bonded jacketed hollow point | 180 | 1,025 | 420 | 20-round box |
| Speer Gold Dot 40 Cal 165 Grain Bonded JHP | Bonded jacketed hollow point (Gold Dot) | 165 | 1,150 | 484 | 20-round box |
| Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 40 Cal 180 Grain | Bonded jacketed hollow point (Gold Dot) | 180 | 950 | 361 | 20-round box |
| Winchester PDX1 40 Cal 180 Grain Bonded JHP | Bonded jacketed hollow point (PDX1) | 180 | 1,025 | 420 | 20-round box |
| Winchester PDX1 40 Cal 165 Grain Bonded JHP | Bonded jacketed hollow point (PDX1) | 165 | 1,140 | 476 | 20-round box |
| Golden Saber Bonded 40 Cal 180 Grain | Bonded jacketed hollow point (Golden Saber) | 180 | 1,015 | 412 | 20-round box |
| Hornady Critical Defense 40 S&W 165 Grain FTX | FTX polymer tip | 165 | 1,175 | 506 | 20-round box |
| Hornady Critical Duty 40 S&W 175 Grain FlexLock | FlexLock polymer tip | 175 | 1,010 | 396 | 20-round box |
| Federal Hydra-Shok Deep 40 Cal 165 Grain JHP | Jacketed hollow point (Hydra-Shok Deep) | 165 | 1,050 | 404 | 20-round box |
| Federal Hydra-Shok 40 Cal 165 Grain JHP | Jacketed hollow point (Hydra-Shok) | 165 | 980 | 352 | 20-round box |
| Sig Sauer V-Crown 40 Cal 180 Grain JHP | Jacketed hollow point (V-Crown) | 180 | 985 | 388 | 50-round box |
| Barnes TAC-XPD 40 Cal 140 Grain Lead Free | Solid hollow point (TAC-XP) | 140 | 1,120 | 390 | 20-round box |
| Underwood Platinum Edition 40 Cal 115 Grain Xtreme Defender | Fluted solid copper (Xtreme Defense) | 115 | 1,400 | 501 | 20-round box |
180 grain: the deep, slower option
The 180 grain bullet was the original 40 S&W weight. It is slower and tends to drive deep. Federal Personal Defense HST 180 grain lists 1,010 fps and 410 ft-lbs. Winchester Defender PDX1 180 grain and Speer Gold Dot 180 grain both list 1,025 fps and 420 ft-lbs, and both use a bonded core to hold weight after barriers.
For short guns, Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 180 grain is tuned to expand at lower speed. It lists 950 fps and 361 ft-lbs, which tells you it was rated from a shorter barrel.
165 grain: the middle ground
165 grain loads run faster with a bit less recoil. Speer Gold Dot 165 grain lists 1,150 fps and 484 ft-lbs. Hornady Critical Defense 165 grain lists 1,175 fps and 506 ft-lbs and uses a soft polymer tip so clothing doesn’t plug the cavity. Federal Hydra-Shok Deep 165 grain is built, as the name says, for deeper travel than the classic Hydra-Shok.
Light and fast: 115 to 140 grain
Lighter 40 cal loads trade mass for speed. Barnes TAC-XPD 140 grain is solid copper, so there is no jacket to peel away. Underwood Xtreme Defender 115 grain is a fluted, non-expanding design at 1,400 fps and 501 ft-lbs. Don’t judge fluted bullets by expansion. Look at depth and track width instead.
Things That Shift Gel Results
Gel tests are only as good as their conditions. Keep these in mind.
- Speed loss in short barrels. Box figures often come from a longer test barrel. A compact can lose enough speed to change how a bullet opens.
- Temperature. Gel that is too warm or too cold reads wrong. That is why calibration matters.
- Angle and distance. Most tests shoot square into the block from close range. Real shots rarely are.
- Bullet design. Bonded, solid copper, polymer tipped and fluted bullets each have their own trade-offs.
The best test is still your own pistol. Shoot your chosen load for accuracy and reliable feeding before you carry it.
Training Ammo That Pairs Well
Match your practice ammo to your carry weight. If you carry a 180 grain hollow point, train with 180 grain ball like Winchester USA White Box 180 grain FMJ at 990 fps and 390 ft-lbs. If you carry 165 grain, Blazer 165 grain FMJ lists 1,100 fps and 443 ft-lbs. Federal also sells a Practice and Defend HST and Syntech combo that pairs 50 practice rounds with matching HST carry rounds.
Comparing calibers? Read our guide to 45 ACP ballistic gel test results or the 357 Sig ballistic gel test data page. The 357 Sig is built on a necked-down 40 cal case.
Check Your Local Rules
Laws on hollow points, carry and self-defense vary by state and city. Check your state and local rules before you buy or carry any defensive load.
Shop 40 Cal Ammo
See our full 40 S&W ammo selection, from 1,000-round cases of range ball to 20-round boxes of bonded hollow points. Narrow it down by bullet weight, read some calibrated 40 S&W ballistic gel tests, and confirm the load runs in your gun.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 40 S&W better than 9mm?
Neither is better in every way. The 40 S&W fires a wider, heavier bullet. The 9mm holds more rounds per magazine and has less recoil. With modern hollow points, good loads in both calibers can meet the FBI 12 to 18 inch penetration window. Pick the one you shoot fast and accurately.
Is 40 S&W dead?
No. Many police agencies have moved back to 9mm, and some shooters have followed. But plenty of pistols are still chambered in 40 S&W, and makers still load full lines of range and defense ammo for it, including the dozens of 40 cal loads in our own range.
What is 40 S&W ammo?
40 S&W is a pistol cartridge made by Smith & Wesson and Winchester in 1990. It is based on a shortened 10mm Auto case and fires a .40 inch bullet, most often 155 to 180 grains. It fits in pistols about the size of a 9mm.
Can you shoot 40 S&W in a 10mm?
Don’t do it unless your gun maker says it’s safe. The 40 S&W is shorter than the 10mm, so it may not headspace right in a 10mm chamber. That can cause misfires or case ruptures. Only fire the cartridge stamped on your barrel or listed in your manual.
What is ballistic gel made of?
Ordnance ballistic gel is gelatin mixed with water, usually a 10% mix by weight. It is chilled and calibrated before use so results stay consistent. Clear synthetic gels are made from other materials and may not match calibrated ordnance gel exactly.
