[Sergei Mosin]

I enjoy owning and shooting handguns in a variety of calibers, but one missing from my arsenal is the .40S&W. What pistol would you recommend as a way of getting the proper .40-caliber experience?

[ku4hx]

Well, the responses you're likely to get is not going to ease your decision making dilemma much if at all. There are lots of good guns in 40 cal and you're going to find people who like certain ones for certain reasons and dislike certain ones for certain reasons.

My 40 cal guns are a Smith 4006 and Glock models 22, 23, and 27. I like all four but favor the G23. All three Glocks have CTC lasers.

I also have a couple of 357 Sig barrels so the Glocks do double duty. The 27 did do triple duty before I sold my 40-9 conversion barrel. Those capabilities are a plus for me.

My suggestion is to shoot many; buy one. Many ranges rent and if I were you'd I'd start there.

[Ala Tom]

You'd better rectify that soon! The .40 S&W is the best and most versatile cartridge available for small handguns. I have had two - S&W M&P 40 FS and Ruger SR40c. Currently I only have one because I converted the M&P to .357 Sig to give my little arsenal more versatility. But I debated doing that for a long time because I wasn't sure the .357 Sig really added something beyond the .40 S&W. Indeed I have checked the comparison of the .40 with the .45ACP and found the .40 wins if you pick your ammo carefully. There is a Commercial +P load for the .45 ACP that beats the .40 but some manufacturers frown on +P loads. As an engineer, I do too. besides that is the one case (looking at energy) where the .357 Sig beats the .45. I've got it covered without going to +P.

I would caution that a .40 S&W needs enough mass to damp out the recoil. I got the Ruger after searching for a good small self-defense gun. It was as small a gun as I could shoot in that caliber. The caliber is important because it has a high record of lethality in law enforcement statistics.. I was prepared to go with 9 mm to get barely adequate power in a small package. But when the time came to spend my money on the small gun I liked, they had both the SR40c and the SR9c on sale at nearly the same price. They are identical in all dimensions. I admit was concerned about the power of a .40 in a lighter package. But I liked the handling of the SR9c so much that I thought the handling of the SR40c would also be good. That turned out to be true.

[Lonestar49]

...

Going on 7rys with both my Px4 40/G and Sig's P229/40's with total satisfaction with reliability, dependability, on-going accuracy, soft- balanced recoil, weight/design of the Sig P229's or full size 226, and the lighter weight polymer framed Px4 with rotating barrel and its effect in damping recoil.

Both models offer quick, simple, easy, quick, field stripping

Combined, all 3, now, around 24K flawless rounds.

Px4 40/G and Sig P229/40

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc306/Lonestar49/Picture042.jpg

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc306/Lonestar49/Picture039.jpg

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc306/Lonestar49/Picture057.jpg

All use 180gr sub-sonic FMJ and JHP's.

165gr is fun for long distance accuracy over 60ft.. ommv


Ls

[JustinJ]

If money is no object and you don't plan on carrying i'd go with the HK P30L in .40.

If money is an object i'd probably just with a Glock 22. I love mine. I like my SW M&P40 a little better as far as ergonomics but if the world ended tomorrow the Glock 22 would be on my hip.

[meanmrmustard]

Glock 32 with a conversion barrel.

[larryh1108]

CZ75 in the .40S&W caliber.

Handles recoil like a dream.

[rsrocket1]

Much of your decision should be based on how it feels to you. If you are a 50 - 100 yard target shooter, that's a different thing. For 25 yards and in, they all are capable of shooting good so fit and feel are what is most important to you.

I tried out a bunch of guns and found the M&P 40FS to fit me the best and I haven't regretted the decision to choose it one bit. Your best bet would be to go to as many gun stores you can and feel them all out. Better yet, try them out at the range if you can rent them.

[Jim NE]

My low cost entry into the .40 S&W caliber was a used Ruger P94 for $259.

It's good points: Accurate, reliable, and it's alloy frame gives it a heavier more substantial feel than the poly guns.

It's one bad point: Only holds 10 rounds.

Just got a new SD40ve, too, but haven't shot it yet. Feels good, though, and holds 14. Another low priced option. Good luck.

[newglockguy]

Glock 23 or 23 or the M&P 40. Shot all three and love all three but lean towards the Glock 23

[3twelves]

M&p
ppq

[Bongo Boy]

That's a bit like saying you want a vehicle with a V6 in it, which one should I get? :)

For action fun, there's the M&P Pro Series 5" and of course SA makes an XD-M 5" Competition model that would be worth at least looking at. The M&P line is supported by a number of aftermarket products and has a huge following for good reason. The MP40Pro 5" is just about the sweetest feeling 40 I can imagine.

For carry, there are too many options to even start--but again it depends on what you like, naturally. I carry the Kahr K40, and it is AMAZING in its accuracy and ability to make 40SW feel almost 'mushy' in terms of nice recoil. Highly recommended for a heavy duty DAO carry gun.

If you like the feel of Glocks and enjoy shooting them--there ya go.

I have to agree with poster above re: versatility of this cartridge. It can easily be loaded to shoot smoother and lighter than almost any 9mm factory ammo, yet has impressive statistics when loaded up in products such as the Gold Dots, if you go for that sort of thing. But for pure gut-bustin' fun, ~3.5 gr loads of Clays, Solo 1000 or Nitro 100 and a 180 gr cast bullet in that 5" M&P...you'll be good to go for the action games or just punching tiny little groups in paper.

Now, I just bought an EAA Witness Hunter in 10mm, and I've gotta say, it may be the nicest auto pistol my money can buy--it is, in fit and finish at least, all of what the $3,000 custom 1911s have to offer, and then some. I'd take a close look at the EAA Witness Elite Limited as a solid-block-of-steel gun for guaranteed pleasure, if that sort of thing appeals.

[Carter]

My favorite .40 is the M&P. I shoot it better than the glock or xd. Plus it just feels good in my hand.

After the M&P I'd probably go CZ.

[sigarms228]

Not too many pistols I like in the .40 but I love my P229 in .40. Yeah they are pricy but usually a lot of low mileage LE trade ins or CPO available at around the $500 price range.

As always it is best to try out as many as you can and then make your decision.

http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv60/kk9zz/P229-target1.jpg

[CPshooter]

I also vote for a Sig P229 in .40. I bought a CPO trade-in gun that looks and functions like a brand new gun, but I only paid $500 for it. Doesn't have the silly rail up front either, so IMHO it's a way better deal than running out and buying a new Sig. One of the most enjoyable guns to shoot in .40s&w, hands down. It's my only .40, but totally worth having to buy another type of ammo for...

Here's mine after last week's trip to the range:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/TonyG749/iPhoneUpload-1.jpg

[Josh45]

How about a PT940 from Taurus? Im selling one in the classifides if your interested.

[Bovice]

The P229 is the best .40 on the market. 15 yards and a couple full magazines yielded this.

[EBK]

IF you just want to check out the .40 round and not spend a lot of money incase you dont like it. Look into the Smith and Wesson SD40 VE (not the sigma sw40ve). Should be able to find one for under $300 before taxes. Add an APex trigger kit for $20 and you have a darn nice defensive pistol in .40 if you decide you like the caliber. If you decide .40 isnt for you sell it and you wont be out much money.

[AABEN]

I have Bersa 9mm that at 25yards setting I can put all 17 in a 6in target. It is a keeper!

[ccbricker]

The beauty of the 40S&W is ammo is usually available when many of the other calibers sell out. Walmart locally (KY) for example has been out of 9mm and 45ACP for a couple of weeks but there is plenty of 40 on the shelves.

[EBK]

The beauty of the 40S&W is ammo is usually available when many of the other calibers sell out. Walmart locally (KY) for example has been out of 9mm and 45ACP for a couple of weeks but there is plenty of 40 on the shelves.
That is exactly the reason I bought the SD40 VE

[Sergei Mosin]

Lots of interesting choices. Most interesting to me are the CZ 75B (one of which I own in 9mm) and the SIG P226 or P229 (with the added bonus of an easy conversion to .357 SIG.) I agree that a trip to the local rental range is in order - see if that scratches the itch or makes me want to own one.

[DDawg]

I love my Glock 23..I just feels right in my hand.
Shoots nicely too

[sub-moa]

If as you say, you want to "experience" the .40S&W cartridge then you should obviously have a point of reference to compare it to. If you already own a 9mmp pistol that has a .40S&W counterpart...such as your CZ, that would provide you the best understanding of how the .40S&W handles. Start with a new platform and you won't know exactly what handling characteristics are cartridge and what handling characteristics are platform...

[dbro822]

I'll have to vote for the G23 or a smith M&P.

[poboy6]

XD 40. Light, rugged and incredibly reliable.

[Sergei Mosin]

If as you say, you want to "experience" the .40S&W cartridge then you should obviously have a point of reference to compare it to. If you already own a 9mmp pistol that has a .40S&W counterpart...such as your CZ, that would provide you the best understanding of how the .40S&W handles. Start with a new platform and you won't know exactly what handling characteristics are cartridge and what handling characteristics are platform...

That's an excellent point. I'm pretty sure the local range has a .40S&W CZ 75B to rent and they probably have a SIG in .40 too. Both are platforms with which I'm familiar, so they're the ones to try.

[Sergei Mosin]

Ran 49 rounds through a .40S&W CZ 75B today. I say 49 and not 50 because the gun suffered a failure to extract and double feed malfunction - first one of those I'd suffered and a real pain to clear. I need to work on my clearance drills. The round must not have been crimped very well because it was set back very deep into the case after I cleared it (it was OK before) - this is why I avoid Ultramax, but it's what the range sells for use in their guns.

Anyway, the cartridge itself didn't impress much. More recoil than the 9mm, appreciably lower capacity, and I didn't shoot it worth a darn compared to what I can do with my 9mm CZ. I think I'm over the .40S&W.

[sub-moa]

My current accumulation of .40s stands at 17 :what:...the last one bought only 3 week ago (S&W M&P40). I was issued a couple .40s (Beretta 96G Centurians) the last few years before retirement. I ran hundreds of Officers through .40 Transition Training as well as I don't know how many regular qualifications @ the range. I have personally fired I don't know how many tens of thousands of rounds through issued .40s...as well as my own 96 Berettas x3, HK USP/USPc, Glock 22x2/23/27/24/35, 5x BHPs and that new S&W M&P...to say nothing of other peoples Sigs and CZs. If I were to use a single word to describe my personal take on the .40 it would be: "underimpressed".

The .40 is not "everything the 9mmP wants to be" nor is it "everything the .45acp should be", it is not some kind of "way too snappy recoil" round nor is it a "pussycat"...at least in decent Duty/SD loads. The .40 does what it was designed to do; mimic the 10mm Lite in a 9mmP package...which it generally does.

IMHO, there is really nothing wrong with it in general, but by the same token, it was not rendered forth on the 8th. day either ;):evil: