Despite sharing approximately the same magazine capacity as the 9mm Luger, the 40 Smith & Wesson has similar terminal ballistics in ballistic gelatin to the 45 Auto – with less accompanying recoil. These are some of the reasons why many law enforcement agencies abandoned 38 Special revolvers and 45 ACP pistols in favor of the 40 Smith and Wesson after the 1986 FBI Miami shootout.
Feel free to check out a more in-depth look at all the 40 S&W Ballistics here: https://ammo.com/ballistics/40-sw-ballistics