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The .40 S&W is a versatile cartridge that delivers a balance between magazine capacity and power. In 1994, the company introduced its Sigma line of handguns as a competitor to Glock. Among these weapons is the .40 caliber SW40F — SW40 for Smith & Wesson 40 and “F” for “full size” — the precursor to the M&P.

If you’re interested in carrying a handgun for self-defense, you need to consider the caliber. The importance of correct shot placement cannot be overstated, but the terminal performance of the ammunition is critical to reliable incapacitation. The most common handgun cartridges for law enforcement and private self-defense are the .40 S&W and .45 ACP. 

In 2005, Smith & Wesson introduced the M&P as a competitor to the Glock series of handguns. The M&P is a striker-fired, polymer-framed, semi-automatic pistol available in several calibers and variants. M&P stands for Military & Police, a designation the pistol shares with the company’s Model 10 service revolver. 

The M&P 40, specifically, fires the .40 S&W cartridge, which Smith & Wesson developed in cooperation with Winchester in 1990. This round offers increased power compared with the 9mm Luger cartridge and increased capacity compared with the .45. While not the first Smith & Wesson .40 pistol, the M&P is one of the most versatile. 

For gun owners seeking an alternative to the 9mm and .45 ACP cartridges, the .40 S&W delivers a bullet with greater frontal surface area, expansion potential, and kinetic energy than standard-pressure 9mm loads. 

At the same time, .40-caliber handguns can be more compact than those chambered in .45 ACP and tend to have higher magazine capacities. The result is a compromise suitable for concealed carry, home defense, and law enforcement.