.40 Super

The .40 Super is a centerfire pistol cartridge developed by Triton Cartridge in the late 1990s. It is essentially a .45 ACP case necked down to accept a .40 caliber (10mm) bullet. This allows the .40 Super to achieve higher velocities and energy levels than the standard .40 S&W, approaching or even exceeding the performance of the 10mm Auto in some loadings.

The primary goal of the .40 Super was to provide a higher-performing .40 caliber cartridge for law enforcement and personal defense, addressing concerns about the perceived limitations of the .40 S&W in certain scenarios. By utilizing the larger .45 ACP case, the .40 Super can hold more powder, resulting in increased muzzle velocity and energy.

While the .40 Super offers significant performance advantages, it also has some drawbacks. These include increased recoil, muzzle flash, and cost compared to the .40 S&W. Furthermore, due to its relatively limited production and availability, ammunition and firearms chambered in .40 Super are less common than those chambered in more mainstream cartridges. Firearm conversions generally require a barrel swap to a .40 Super barrel and can sometimes necessitate other modifications to handle the increased pressures.