Ouch, dang the 40SW

Ok, folks, I admit it, the 40SW hurts. This is my 4th 40SW pistol. I inititailly purchased a Taurus 92 version in 40SW, then traded it in for a Stoeger Cougar in 40SW, then eventaully sold it because I lost interested in it. I then purchased an XD 40 beause I had to have a pistol in 40SW. And being a Glock person, I saw a 4th Gen in coyote brown G22, which I had to have. I traded the XD or it. The Taurus and Stoeger being completely steel, I found the recoil very manageable. But when I fired the XD, it being mostly polymer, it snapped more. But the Glock is just too painful to shoot. I most probbaly can last 2 magazine with it shooting 165 gr before I give up.

FYI, for comparison, my 4th Gen Glock 17 shoots softly and i really enjoy the big push of my Colt Combat Elite 1911.

OK, would a SW MP40 be a good substitute forthe Glock 22. I am wanting a strike fire pistol.

 

Try an H&K USP. Soft shooting for a .40 IME. Many people like the SIG P229 in .40.

Or buy your Taurus back. I like my PT101AF.

 

Oops you said striker fired. NVM.

Maybe a VP40? SIG P320?

 

I find the report and flash to be more annoying when it comes to .40 rather than the recoil. I've only owned two guns in it, both FNS pistols. One full size the other a compact. Yes, .40 is a bit more stout out of a polymer gun than the 9mm, but I actually find either off the FNS guns more pleasant to shoot than the Glock 26 I used to have The grip angle of the Glocks just made any recoil feel uncomfortable.

Just goes to show you how subjective recoil can be, I suppose.

 

Try some 180gr ammo before you sell your Glock. The M&P was designed for the .40S&W while the G22 was just a warmed over G17. However, the Gen4 Glocks were designed to fix problems with the .40S&W guns. If you have a Gen4 G22 it should be similar to an M&P in .40S&W capability.

Of course it could just be you don't care for .40S&W. Nothing wrong with that. Just pick another caliber.

 

Does it have to be a 40?

Don't get me wrong, the 40 is fine. My sig Stainless 226 is a 40 but it weighs 42 ounces and I use it for competition.

If you have trouble with the 40, switch to a 9mm and get more fun out of shooting.

The more you practice, the better you are. If it hurts to practice, you will not practice.

I will take 1 shot of .22LR that hits the target over a 50BMG that misses.

 

Try a G35?

The M&P wont be any different.

 

I just don't understand all the .40 caliber is so painful and ridiculously hard to shoot. I totally get 9mm is easier to get back on target and easier to master putting rounds on target but .40 certainly isn't some monster round.

I mean have folks never shot .357 magnum?

I have SIGS and HKs in .40 and they are pussycats frankly.

Now SiG and HK designed their pistols around .40 and scaled down vs Glock scaling up and you can absolutely feel that but the G22 isn't punishing by any means. Snappy yeah but not punishing.

I guess I have grown up shooting .45, 357 magnum as well as spent a fair bit of time with snub nose revolvers that recoil isn't all that bad to me unless you get really light and powerful. (Those Smith and Wesson scandium pipe bombs are a little crazy. ). 44 magnum can get pretty energetic.

I know recoil is subjective and I am not disparaging or saying that it's impossible that it would be painful to somebody nor am I saying that it is not true that 90% of shooters will likely be faster with 9mm and there is almost no ballistic difference. But I have a hard time wrapping my head around .40 being so energetic.

To each their own

 

I have a .40 HK USPc, HK P2000SK, Beretta 96D Brigadier, and S&W M&P. The .40 is probably my least favorite auto loading pistol cartridge. I think it compromises too much. I prefer to have either a lot of rounds, soft recoil, and cheap shooting (9mm) or less rounds that pack more punch (.45ACP). With .40, the round does not have an advantage other than being a compromise.

 

whereas in my world, it offers nothing but advantages. (Competition) i.e. Major power factor, more capacity than 45, etc. etc. etc.

I shoot more 40SW than any other round.

 

+1 on the comment about the HK USP .40, it is pretty soft shooting, the USP platform was made for the .40.

 

I've found 180gr. Blazers to be no better than any other kind of .40 ammunition. Other than my own handloads, ALL factory .40 S&W is too "snappy" for my taste, at least in a Glock 22.

While I don't find it at all "painful", I find the .40 S&W in a Glock 22 (2nd Gen) VERY difficult to control. Slide velocity is higher quicker than 9x19mm or .45acp guns.

I'm sorry I missed my chance to get a BHP in .40 S&W.

 

IMHO - .40S&W only seems to bark a little loud as your transitioning from something lighter. If you're been shooting 9mm for months (or years) and shoot a .40S&W, it's going to feel like it recoils a lot more only because you're just not used to it.

Shoot the .40 for a month or two and it'll feel completely normal - AND, if you happen to pickup a 9mm afterwards it'll feel like it recoils less than it used to (which isn't really the case, but you'll just perceive it to be so ).

 

I have a Walther PPX 40, a Ruger SR40-C and an XD-40. I have no problem shooting any of them, although the Ruger is my favorite, followed closely by the Walther.

 

I have an XD Mod 2 with a 3" barrel with which I have zero problems with recoil. Shot the S&W BUG Nationals with it using standard factory ammo (165 gr at a little over 1,000 fps) and found it very pleasant over the course of the day's 200+ rounds.

 

.40 caliber S&W is not my favorite center-fire pistol cartridge either, but I have a pistol chambered in .40 and I have shot a few others.

I recently bought a SIG P320 full-size in .45 ACP and it manages recoil very well and is very accurate. I do prefer .45 ACP to .40 S&W. But I shot a full-size P320 .40 caliber as a range rental last year and I though it softened recoil very well. It was also the most accurate .40 caliber in my hands.

For carry you would likely want the P320 compact model and the recoil characteristics of the smaller pistol might differ, of course. But based on my experience with the full-size P320 .40 I would try one if you have the chance.

 

Try the largest beavertail backstrap. Undercut the trigger guard. Smooth out the trigger shoe.

There's no reason a Glock 22 can't feel fine. I'd suspect your grip to, but I'm not there. When I originally did shoot tons of ammo through my G23 it did hurt. But eventually I toughened up. Practice makes perfect.

 

I own an XD-40 & have shot a couple of Glocks chambered for .40. My perception is the XD doesn't seem to recoil as much while the Glocks seem to slap my hand harder. I believe this is because the XD has a higher bore axis so it tends to have more muzzle flip while the Glocks recoil is directed more straight back into my hand. Neither was unbearable to me. If you could before you buy another .40 it might be a good idea to visit a rental range & try before you buy. If you can find a range with a wide selection it might save a lot of trouble & expense later on.

 

The .40 isn't for everybody. I have no experience with striker-fired .40 pistols, but SIG and HK make some hammer-fired .40s that handle the recoil well. I have a P229R DAK and a USP, both of which were designed around the .40 cartridge and do well with it. I doubt I'll be adding any more .40s but never say never!

 

Just ditch the .40 then. 9mm offers more capacity with less recoil for less cost and solid terminal performance. Nothing wrong with .40, it is a good round...unless you can't shoot it well! I have never liked .40 recoil so I choose 9mm or .45 ACP.

 

I have a smaller lighter polymer 40, and a larger heavier steel 40. The polymer one jumps a bit when I shoot it. The steel one is smooth and steady.

 

Thanks for all your responses. The 4th Gen Glock 22 has an extended backstrap insert. I will try it this weekend. I think this ergonomic accessory should make a sigbnificant difference.

 

For the relative ballistic gain over a 9mm+p, 40sw gain more snap if you ask me. For the margins provided the 357 seems to recoil less.

 

It seems you have shot a variety of 40 handguns. Maybe look at your grip. I can understand if the recoil is to excessive. I don't but I'm not judging here at all. Keep a firm 2 handed grip and solid stance. I too grew up shooting larger caliber handguns and maybe that is why the 40 seems very acceptable to me. Good luck with your shooting.