# FBI Ballistics Guru Drops the Hammer: Why 9mm Finally KO’d .40 S&W in the Caliber Wars
In a rare peek behind the curtain of federal firepower, firearms YouTuber James Reeves infiltrated the FBI’s ultra-secure Ballistic Research Facility in Huntsville, Alabama—the black-site lab where Uncle Sam stress-tests ammo like it’s auditioning for John Wick. What Reeves uncovered isn’t just nerdy gel-block data; it’s the scientific smackdown that’s been brewing since the ’80s. The FBI, after decades of .40 S&W worship (pushed hard post-1986 Miami shootout to bridge 9mm’s weakness and .45 ACP’s recoil beast-mode), flipped the script around 2015-2017. Why? Modern 9mm hollow points—think Speer Gold Dot or Federal HST—now deliver *superior* penetration (12-18 inches in calibrated gelatin, meeting FBI’s 12-18 inch gold standard) and expansion (.65-.75 inches) compared to .40’s inconsistent performance. Ballistics expert Todd Brian broke it down: 9mm +P loads punch through barriers like auto glass and heavy clothing with less deflection, while .40’s fatter slug often yaws unpredictably, risking under-penetration or over-penetration. Evidence? Side-by-side FBI tests show 9mm averaging 15 inches penetration vs. .40’s spotty 10-16, all backed by high-speed video and peer-reviewed protocols from the FBI’s own Ammunition Testing Protocol (updated 2014). Reeves’ tour footage is gold—watch a 147gr 9mm JHP mushroom perfectly while .40 siblings fragment like overcooked sausages.
This isn’t just lab trivia; it’s a seismic shift for the 2A community, vindicating the 9mm > everything crowd and torching the macho myth that bigger caliber = better stopping power. Context: .40 S&W was the FBI’s panic-buy after Miami, where 9mm FMJ failed to drop a shotgun-toting psycho—ignoring that jacketed hollow points weren’t mature yet. Fast-forward to today: with bonded, barrier-blind bullets, 9mm offers higher capacity (17+1 in a Glock 17 vs. 15 for .40), milder recoil for faster follow-ups (critical in the 21-second-average civilian DGU), and cheaper training ammo to boot. Implications? Ditch the .40 hoarding—it’s the New Coke of calibers, obsolete and overpriced. For concealed carriers, LEOs, and range rats, stock 9mm: it’s the everyman’s fight-stopper, proven in FBI trials, real-world shootings (e.g., 2017 Vegas response), and now immortalized in Reeves’ viral deep-dive. Pro-2A takeaway: Science sides with freedom—carry what shoots straight, holds more, and lets you train harder without breaking the bank. Time to upgrade, patriots; the ballistics ballot is in, and 9mm wins by a landslide.
