40 s&w- which guns can handle it?

[ugaarguy]

Runnin', here's a pic from TFL showing the feed ramp area on three Glock bbls. From left to right you'll see least case support to most case support.



Photo from voyager4520 on TFL - http://thefiringline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4918338&postcount=23.

 

[RunninLate]

Thanks UGAARGUY.

I guess I need to look at the guns from the ramp side now that I know what I am suppose to be looking at. I have a Sig 226 40, S&W Sigma 40, Springfield XD 40 compact and a Glock 23.

Thanks

 

[mgmorden]

I have a Sig 226 40, S&W Sigma 40, Springfield XD 40 compact and a Glock 23.

I've not looked at the Sigma barrel specifically, but my SD40VE (which shares many parts with the Sigma - including barrels), does not have a fully supported chamber. That said, it hasn't caused me any issues, and I reload.

Personally, I'd wager good money on almost all Glock KB's being caused by errant double-charges or other such mistakes rather than the slightly unsupported chamber. It bulges the case a bit, but a "bulge buster" die kit from Lee is fairly cheap and solves that problem.

Given the amount of range pickup brass I shoot, and how likely it is to come from a Glock, I'd be using the bulge buster on .40S&W brass even if my personal gun did have have a fully supported chamber.

 

[Doogledog]

I've had a glock 23c for several years now with no issues. I just took a concealed carry class with it a few weeks ago and fired over 600 rounds with no problems at all. I also have a M&P 40 and had an FNS 40. I reload and I've never had any issues with any of my .40 cal pistols.

 

[Quentin]

I think the early 1990s pistols chambered up from 9mm to 40S&W had teething problems but today new models should be fine. For example the Browning Hi Power had trouble at first until they moved from forged to cast frames. Glock had to go from a 2-pin to 3-pin frame and had to correct barrel chambers that didn't support the 40S&W case enough.

I have a '90s Generation 2 G22 that has the strengthened frame but its chamber is a little loose. My Gen 3 G27 and Gen 4 G23 support the case more. I've had no issues with any of them and the old G22 has thousands of rounds through it so I'm not expecting problems. ugaarguy's picture above shows exactly what to expect.

 

[Lucky Derby]

I have had a glock model 23 since the early '90's. Never a moments trouble. I'm a Colt SAA as well as other Colt models and USFA SA collector... I like my 1911's, but I feel the most secure with that 40 S&W caliber. When loaded with defensive ammo, it wreaks havoc much more noticeable than my other calibers. I am very pleased and one of the only guns that I have never traded. It's a necessary tool.

And the Glock 23 is a 9mm Glock 19 opened up to .40.
You're worried about nothing.

 

[shooter1]

If you can afford the ammo it would take to "Wear Out" most any modern pistol, you've got more money than me. I have a Glock 35 with 30,000 + rds of .40 thru it, and about 8,000 rds of 9mm thru the LW conversion barrel in the 35. I'm on my 3rd recoil spring, replaced as PM, not due to a failure. I've had two broken trigger return springs, and one slide stop. All replaced in the field in a matter of minutes with only a punch. I carried a Glock 22 as a duty gun for years and shot it a lot. Kept the pistol when I retired, still shoot it from time to time. I'd be hard pressed to estimate the number of rounds thru it. Only routine PM required. No parts failures. I really like the .40, although I have more .45s and 9mms than .40s, I shoot the 40 about 60% of the time.
If you want a .40, jump in. Noting special to be concerned about.
str1

 

[jjones45]

Well I don't think any particular pistol is going to hold up better than the next respectable gun manufacturers pistol brand, but I will give you a list of personal favorite tough as nails 40 s&w pistols that you most certainly will not afford to shoot out or live long enough to do so. Parts breakage will happen with all guns once you reach a high enough round count, even with a rock solid 9mm. Well my list is hk usp, glock 22/23, sig p229, m&p 40, ruger sr40, and a very personal favorite walther ppq. These are not the only long lasting 40's but more so my personal favorite like everyone else did or is going to post

 

[glove]

My Taurus PT140 Mil. Pro. handles any .40 I put through it. Over 500 rounds at this time.

 

[JDR]

I have a Sig P226 .40 with a Hogue Monogrip that really helps contend with the snappy recoil better than most other .40s.

 

[Big Shrek]

Pretty much anyone from the 90's, 1st Gen .40's had problems...
with a few exceptions...like Star, who overbuilt everything...

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Big Shrek,

My P9 Ultra IPSC 40 takes exception to that statement. It is a 90's gun that has now digested over 10,000 40's with no issues since the first time out. It broke a slide stop which Springfield replaced with a spare and no issues since. It is not a common model but it was built (finished) during a time that Springfield really put a lot of effort into their guns. I bought it specifically for the trigger as it was near 1911 quality out of the box which is saying something for a 75B format gun.

I bought this before I went to 10mm and I was loading them hot. Really hot to get the power I was after. Finally I just got a 10mm and took the 40 loads back to book level. It never blew out, had a hickup and is extremely well supported gun.

So I would argue (as an owner and user) that the Springfield P9 40's were good from day one. These models were may for IPSC use and were fully approved right out of the box.

Please note there are two versions if you are looking for one. Both are long slides, but if you look at the frames and slides, the early ones are polished, have browning high power style notches in the front and a squared trigger. Later ones are parkerized, and have a witness style frame. Please see below. Mine is the polished one in the top two shots, the bottom one is one of the later ones.

 

[j1]

My Glock model 27 is a honey. Small and powerful enough. No faults found.

 

[Bexar]

I understand the H&K USP .40SW started out as designed around the .40SW. Frame...barrel...recoil system...the works. The early USP .40S had "cut" rifling barrels and the later polygonal. I don't think you'll find a stronger system than the USP40 system.

 

[Bexar]

In researching the wear and tear on the USP45 and the HK45 I found a reference on an HK forum about the USP having fired 300,000 rounds mas o menos at Federal Cartridge Co. One of the posters mentioned that Remington ammo has a Glock that has gone 900,000 rounds and still going. I don't think it's possible to wear either one out. That said...I did hold a used .40 Glock 22 early model that did seem a little sloppy.

 

[RunninLate]

This tread really got me thinking so I went to my 40s to see how much of the round was supported. Here are a few pictures from each gun:

Smith Sigma 40

Sig 226

Glock 23

Springfield XD Compact

I am almost sure that I have these label correctly.

 

[trigga]

i've fed my glock 22 more ammo than the gun is worth (several thousands already), definitely is still holding up. only had two stoppages which mainly I can contribute to ammo and user error. i wouldn't hesitate on a good deal if i find another one. keep in mind, nothing last forever although some things last longer than others. what are the chances an average person shooting 100,000 rounds through their gun? if so they should have the money to buy a replacement.

 

[hardluk1]

MY CC is the larger poly 4" kahr , TP40 I have been shooting not just 40sw but underwoods hotter ammo. My carry load is the 155gr at 1302fps average. To date I have 200 of those rounds thru it along with another 700 rounds of factory 165 and home brewed 165gr ammo 100% reliably. The handgun handles very well. It is the size of a commander and weighs 22oz empty. Thin a, light and small enought to wear about any way you could want to iwb. Great cc pistol.