Hi...
I went to a local gun show yesterday to just look around. More interested in a progressive press than a new gun.
No progressives to be found, so my son and I went on a LGS tour for about 5-6 hours.
Somehow, I ended up talking myself into my first tupperware gun...A S&W M&P 40 in .40S&W. Total cost out the door was $545US. Of course, add-on costs like reloading dies, a holster or two and a supply of bullets will drive the cost somewhat higher.
Me, a dyed-in-the-wool traditionalist buying my first plastic gun at the ripe old age of 60 and in a caliber I had no interest in until yesterday.
I just decided to experiment with a caliber I had no previous experience with in a platform that was totally new to me, as well.
This will not supplant my CCW weapons (1911s in .45ACP) but will be a range gun. I learned that after-market barrels in 9mm and .357Sig are available, and are supposedly, a drop-in fit. At a cost of about $170US each, it seems a relatively small cost to dally about in the world of .357Sig, as well. Not including the cost of another set of dies, brass, bullets, etc.
If I like this gun, I may well buy a barrel in each caliber to see if I can turn this into a 3-caliber handgun. I find that an intriguing idea.
Never hurts to try something new...maybe an expensive trait, but that is only a financial pain...nothing of lasting impact.
Looks like with this new toy to experiment with my plan to build an AR-platform rifle (something else I never had any real interest in) may get pushed back into summer or later.