looking for a good 40 S&W fullsize frame

A Beretta 96FS (INOx version if you can) would in my opinion be your best bet.
Mec-gar makes a 15 round magazine for it too, and the grooves in the magazine line up with the gun for the factory look, as well as providing more leverage.

Might want to look at a CZ75 in .40 also. Functionally similar, both in your price range, both highly regaurded guns.

I have the 96FS INOX.

Check out the S&W M&P40.

Carry the M&P .40 with no mag, or thumb safety myself.

Virtually all big brand Polymer guns at the 450-600 range will serve you well, it's best to line them up at the LGS and grope them like your life depends on it.... It does

Lot of nice 1911's in your range, you've given yourself access to just about everything (and I mean everything, CZ, Glock, Springfield, SW, ... short of nice custom guns in the "normal" range .)

+1 for the Beretta 96

+1 on the M&P40.
You can also get a $125 Storm Lake conversion barrel (or some say that the stock $65 Smith&Wesson barrel) and shoot .357 sig with the original 40 magazines or go 9mm with 9mm magazines and have 3 guns in 1.

Make sure you test out the gun you will be purchasing. The M&P's have a reputation (some) for a gritty and/or heavy trigger pulls. Mine was very slightly gritty, but quite light at a little over 4 pounds. After 1000 rounds there is no gritty feeling at all and a nice clean break similar to my 1911.

while decidedly much different, both the Beretta and the S&W are both excellent options.

Sig Sauer P229 or P226.

I have the P229 in .40 and it is great to shoot the .40 and was designed ground up for the .40 round. The P229 is about 1/2 inch shorter than the P226 but still a pleasure to shoot at the range and to me in .40 feels like shooting 9MM in most other pistols.

As always be sure to try out whatever you are considering.

Glock 22. Love mine.

Another +1 on the M&P 40.

CZ P-06 sounds like what you describe.
http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-p06/

If you can do without the rail, the Browning Hi Power in 40S&W is as sweet as it gets.

For a medium priced full sized .40S&W a Ruger SR40 is a fine pistol. I have the SR40c which is the compact version as well as a SR9 full sized 9mm. These are pretty good guns, neither of mine have had any problems, my SR9 has had over 1000 rounds through it while my new SR40c has had about 200 rounds fired through it with no problems at all. Both guns are accurate with decent triggers and excellent ergonomics. The SR40c comes with two mags, ten and fifteen rounds. The SR40c also comes with both a flat and pinky finger extension floorplate for the smaller magazine. I use the flat floorplate and don't need the extended plate because the SR40c's recoil is easily tolerated without the pinky grip and it's easier to conceal without it.

Try a SA XDm with the different back-straps installed to see which fits your hand best. Very accurate and controllable in .40 S&W.

There are tons of good choices out there. We are fortunate these days....

Beretta Mod. 96. Had one for years. Killed a deer with it using Federal hydra shok.

Walther P99.

Both are fine semi auto's.

Get the original, Glock 22.

Glock 22. I have a 24C and love it.

I like my Glock 22 Gen4, but if I were shopping for a .40 S&W today I'd seriously consider a CZ 75. My 9mm CZ is really sweet.

The XDM is full sized, has low recoil, and comes with a nice case and a few extras too. 4k rounds through mine...3 jams. I'd say that is a pretty good ratio. The gun is definately a comfortable pistol and I regularly go through 200 or more rounds at the range.

wildcat922 said:

like i said folks there is a ton of options in my range from stock to pretty custom id like to stay aroung a 4 to 5 in barrel and i'd like to stay under 35oz if all that is not enough like to have a picinanny rail so i could mount a laserlight combo mount on it sounds like im being picky but a ton of option to make a persons head spin around

Click to expand...

it depends on what you mean by under 35 oz. if you mean with the pistol fully loaded and the laser light combo,it will have to be polymer to stay as close to the weight limit. if not,you can choose from the aluminum framed variety or the lighter steel framed out there.

i would also opt for a service/duty type pistol of known reliability for serious carry duty over a "custom" type gun,even if you think it's reliable too.

My favorite .40

Another to consider is the FNP 40 or FNX 40 These are actually mid size. Barrel length and slide length about the same as a Glock 23...but the grips are a bit longer than a Glock 23. They hold 14 so they basically have the grip of a full size, and the slide of a mid size.
HK USP 40, HK P30 in .40

Those FN pistols are very underrated. Personally, I would suggest you try the Springfield Armory XD or XDm. Regarding your Kahr pistol, I suggest you try the 9mm version. It has less recoil and shouldn't be a problem to shoot all day long at the range.

I'll cast another vote for FNP-40. Great quality at a decent price, and FN has been enabling our "addiction" here in the States for many many years.