Hunting with the GLOCK 40 MOS

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We as hunters sometimes must search out ways to heighten the challenge. For me, this stems from being blessed with regular access to properties in Virginia, West Virginia, and South Carolina that belong to friends and family and are filled with deer. (I know everyone reading this feels really sorry for my predicament.) If you put in the time afield, you’ll spot one. Generally, the maximum range for a shot is well under 100 yards in thick, timbered terrain. And it’s there, in tight, where the magic happens. 

I have carried numerous rifle and optic combinations while hunting these close-range properties over the years with the expected results. Being a hunter, I’m also a sportsman—at least when the freezer is stocked with meat for the year. And that’s what drives the desire to introduce more unpredictability to my hunts. I wanted to increase the challenge.

While archery is the typical path for hunters in my situation, I wanted to keep it “boomstick” oriented, so I decided to try my hand at handgun hunting. That meant, of course, choosing a hunting handgun.  

Well, if you are going to shake things up, you might as well go all the way. I chose a GLOCK 40 MOS chambered in 10mm Auto topped with a Trijicon RMR red dot. The G40 is the long slide version of the 10mm GLOCK 20 and about as far away as you can get from the legacy single-action heavy-hitting revolvers and single-shot setups that are more typical for handgun hunters.

The G40’s 6.02-inch barrel definitely gets the most out of the 10mm in terms of velocity providing big-bore handgun performance. I chose 10mm ammo selections from Hornady, Federal, and Buffalo Bore.  

The G40 MOS is a true “long slide” reminiscent of the company's 9mm GLOCK 17L or the shorter GLOCK 34. The 9.5-inch slide provides a significant sight radius of 8.2 inches for the 6.02-inch barrel, which gets the most out of the 10mm in terms of velocity.

For example, the subcompact GLOCK 29 in 10mm has a 3.7-inch barrel that will launch the same bullet with a muzzle velocity 100 to 120 fps slower than a G40 with its 6.02-inch barrel.

Buffalo Bore 180-grain JHP ammo clocked in at 1,320 fps from the G29, and 1,445 fps from the G40. I chrono'd Hornady 155-grain XTP at 1,242 fps from the G29, and 1,406 fps from the G40. Those are significant differences.

The extremely full-size pistol ships with 15-round GLOCK magazines.

Buffalo Bore is a prime source of 10mm ammo, offering several bullet types ranging from hard cast and jacketed hollowpoints, to full metal jacket, flat-nosed options. No, the ammo maker’s hard-cast bullets are not verboten with the GLOCK hexagonal rifling. True hard-cast bullets (as opposed to lead-swaged bullets) that are properly lubed will not foul hexagonal barrels any more than any other type of rifled barrel.

The Buffalo Bore hard cast loads are an excellent option for anyone contemplating using the 10mm against heavy-boned animals where deep penetration is necessary.

The 10mm Federal Premium 180-grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw is another load fully exploiting the 10mm’s potential. The bullet is based on the proven Trophy Bonded Bear Claw rifle bullet that controls expansion to ensure deep penetration.

The GLOCK 40’s 6-inch barrel gets 1,345 fps out of the 180-grain load. This generates 720 foot-pounds of energy, putting it roughly between the .357 Magnum and the .41 Magnum for comparison. This is the kind of power needed to face down an angry predator and for effective hunting. 

From the Hornady catalog, I selected 10mm 180-grain XTP rounds and 175-grain FlexLock Critical Duty ammo. These loads were designed with personal defense in mind, though I have found they perform great on game animals as well. Both the XTP and Critical Defense bullets leave the muzzle between 1,150 and 1,250 fps.

The Critical Duty’s FlexLock bullets have a heavy jacket and a harder, high-antimony core. The jackets are locked to the core via the same InterLock process the company uses on its centerfire rifle bullets. Hornady Critical Duty passed all five of the FBI’s barrier criteria tests, achieving more than 12 inches of penetration on target through glass, sheet metal, heavy clothing, drywall, and plywood while still expanding for maximum wound channel. Deer hide proved just as susceptible to the performance of Hornady’s Critical Duty ammo.

Anecdotally, it was no problem smacking Echo Valley Training Center’s steel targets at 100 yards with the GLOCK 40 10mm with RMR mounted. The distinct sound of 175- to 200-grain bullets smacking steel is deeply gratifying. The catch is, more than a “minute of man” is required when trying to harvest an animal at 50 yards, my preferred engagement range with an animal.

Once the weather got cold enough that layers became inhibitive for drawing the G40 from a hip holster, I switched to chest rigs from Galco Gunleather and CrossBreed holsters. I found it comfortable to wear the chest rigs over my base layers and beneath an outer layer.

The CrossBreed Chest Rig is made with a Kydex holster mounted to a wide, perforated suede backer; Galco’s Great Alaskan chest holster is made from premium steer hide leather. Both holsters have multiple points of retention keeping the G40 in place no matter the activity: riding horses, ATV, or hiking.  

Hunting with the GLOCK 40 has proved challenging, yet very rewarding. My experience with the pistol is certainly no longer academic; I have taken multiple deer and hogs with it over the past few years.  

It’s difficult to convey how much more freedom of movement you have traversing thick terrain with your hands free and the big G40 loaded with 15 rounds of 10mm strapped to your chest compared to doing the same with a rifle in your hands. It’s also a lot easier getting in and out of and riding in off-road vehicles.

Plus, I found that when escorting my young sons hunting it was great having the pistol on my chest rather than keeping track of a slung rifle. The free hands also allowed me to bring along chairs or a portable blind. The fact I was not carrying a rifle also conveyed the message I was confident in them taking the animal on their own.

I am committed to hunting with my G40 on more deer and hog trips during upcoming seasons because this will force me to sharpen my scouting and stalking skills even if the terrain is more conducive for rifle use. That was the point of handgun hunting, to begin with. 

• CALIBER: 10mm Auto
• ACTION: Semi-auto recoil-operated
• BARREL: 6.02 inches
• OVERALL LENGTH: 9.5 inches
• WEIGHT: 35.4 ounces (empty)
• SIGHTS: Fixed irons with MOS optic system mounting a Trijicon RMR
• CAPACITY: 15-round magazine
• MSRP: $799