Will a .40 S&W Penetrate Concrete?

No — stops inside concrete (reaches 31 mm of a 100 mm barrier)
Penetration depth
31 mm (1.2″)
Impact velocity
300 m/s (984 fps)
Muzzle energy
527 J (388 ft-lb)
Bullet behaviour
Intact

Fired at the muzzle, a representative .40 S&W load (11.7 g, FMJ, 300 m/s) reaches roughly 31 mm (1.2 inches) into concrete. It loses its energy before defeating a typical barrier of this material.

About Concrete

Poured concrete (~100 mm) covers slabs and structural walls.

.40 S&W against other materials

MaterialDepth (mm)Depth (in)
Red Brick59 mm2.3″
Tempered Glass13 mm0.5″
Steel A361 mm0.0″
Steel AR5001 mm0.0″
Aluminum 60618 mm0.3″
Run your own numbers in the calculator →

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