Is the .40 S&W Enough for America's Deadliest Predators? (9mm vs .40 vs .45)

It was born out of a gunfight. After the 1986 FBI Miami shootout, where a 9mm bullet stopped just short of a suspect's heart, the FBI went looking for something deeper-penetrating and harder-hitting. The 10mm was too much for many agents, and in 1990 the .40 S&W was born: the same bullet in a shorter case that fits a 9mm-sized pistol. For more than 20 years, it rode in the holsters of police officers and federal agents across America. In episode 3 of our pistol series, we take the .40 S&W into the woods against nine of North America's most dangerous animals, from the coyote and wolf to the feral hog, black bear, grizzly and polar bear. We cover the real numbers, why the .40 recoils sharper than the 9mm or the .45, and why heavy 200 grain hard-cast loads give it the best penetration potential of the three service cartridges. And at the end: did the "middle child" beat both of its parents? Every animal gets one of four verdicts: Comfortably handled, Adequate, Marginal or Not enough. Watch the 9mm and .45 ACP episodes, plus the full revolver series (.38 Special to .500 S&W Magnum), in the playlists on this channel. Next up: the .380 ACP. ⚠️ This video is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Always follow local laws, hunting regulations and safe firearm handling practices. In bear country, carry bear spray as well and learn how to use it. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:21 Born from a gunfight 04:13 The numbers 06:21 The load that changes everything 08:01 Coyote 08:52 Wolf 09:41 Alligator 10:56 Mountain lion 11:50 Feral hog 13:10 Black bear 14:32 Bison & moose 15:21 Grizzly bear 17:22 Polar bear 18:27 The scoreboard 18:56 9mm vs .40 vs .45: the verdict 20:23 What's next #40SW #BearDefense #9mmVs40 #Grizzly #HardCast #FBI #Firearms #Handgun #CaliberVerdict