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All my semi autos are in .40 (well except for my one .22lr). I have 5 M&P .40's, (2 5", 2 4.25", 1 3.5") and one H&K USP .40. I like the caliber but the main reason I stick to it is that the weapon I'm "issued" to carry at work is in .40 and i prefer to minimize the number of calibers I deal with....it makes stocking up on ammo easier. I currently have about 1200 rounds of .40 S&W 180gr HST's in my safe. I find the recoil to be less than that of a .45 when fired out of a pistol of the same weight. It also doesn't give up much magazine capacity compared to a gun of similar size in 9mm. Plus my favorite pistol, the M&P 40 was designed around the .40 and I have rarely experienced a malfunction in firing 10,000 rounds or so throuugh my M&P's. The USP might've been designed around the .40 too now that I think about it. If I was issued a 9mm pistol I'd probably be a glock/beretta fan instead of a M&P/USP fan.

The .40 does not give me any advantage in IDPA. To the contrary, it's a pretty significant handicap in my division (SSP) especially considering I don't handload at all. I'm probably experiencing twice the recoil of the 9mm bunny farters. I'm not making excuses, but I doubt I'd ever win any competitions anyway since there are usually at least a few masters who show up at my club.