Softest shooting .40 Pistol

[MarcusWendt]

I'll also add to the M&P votes. It's a real surprise. I also like my SIG P226ST all stainless.

Someone else mentioned the Walther P99. I'd strongly disagree with this. I love my P99, but I find it is the snappiest of all my .40's

 

[Deanimator]

I've fired my Glock 23 a whole buch of times and don't find the recoil all that bad. Other folks think it's a pain.

I've got a Glock 22. While I like it, it's VERY lively with the old Blazer 180gr. FMJ-TC load. It influenced me to buy a Glock 19 instead of a Glock 23.

 

[nwilliams]

M&P40 or Sig 229 in my experience are the two softest shooting .40's I've ever owned.

 

[1KPerDay]

I've got a Glock 22. While I like it, it's VERY lively with the old Blazer 180gr. FMJ-TC load. It influenced me to buy a Glock 19 instead of a Glock 23.

too bad... the G23 actually 'kicks' less than the 22. I've had 3 guys try them back to back and they all agreed. weird.

 

[boatguy]

I shoot an STI Edge in 40 S&W. I find it very pleasant to shoot. My wife likes to shoot it ( she usually chooses it for our range trips) and she does not like to shoot any of the other 40 S&W's. The only negative would be the price. I think it was worth the money but I am a gun nut.

 

[ScotZ]

The "Soft feel" is the reason I bought my .40 SIG 229. A friend let me shoot his SIG 229 and I fell in love the very first shot I took.

The feeling you are talking about is very subjective. Many many variables ultimatly come into play.

 

[DFW1911]

Someone else mentioned the Walther P99. I'd strongly disagree with this. I love my P99, but I find it is the snappiest of all my .40's

Mine too!

I agree with the others re: the Sig229. I've also shot a Glock 22C (c for compensated) which was a breeze to keep on target and the recoil was really nothing to speak of. I guess the compensator works to some degree. I don't know what it would do to your night vision, however.

 

[Jason_G]

I'm surprised at the number of folks saying "M&P". I like the M&P, but the Beretta PX4 in .40 is softer than the M&P in 9mm to me .

Jason

 

[Zundfolge]

Steyr M40 or S40 ... I own one of each and they're the softest shooting .40s I've ever shot.

 

[Erik]

Between the ergonomics, the design and the weight, the 1911s chambered in .40 S&W that I have fired have always seemed to transmit the least amount of felt recol. But as mentioned, it is a very subjective thing.

 

[KadicDeshi]

Based on the 40s that I've shot, I'd say the Browning Hi-Power. But I will admit that I've shot relatively few 40s.

Barrett

 

[FireArmFan]

I shot a Heckler & Koch P2000 .40 and was very impressed with it. Recoil was very minor and not punishing like I think it is coming from the barrel of a compact or subcompact Glock. I liked this pistol so much and did so well with it, I'm now actively trying to find one to purchase

I agree. My .40 P2000 takes recoil very well. On all the .40S&W's I've shot, I've never really experienced the "snappy" recoil I hear so much about with .40's.

 

[lechiffre]

beretta cougar
i find the recoil of the .40 cougar to be about equal with the 9mm m9.

 

[biggiesmalls]

from personal experience, beretta 96 and glock 22 are lighter to handle than sig 229 and even 226. never shot a usp though, so i wouldn't know. my kahr p40 is definitely one of the more unbearable ones i think.

 

[HKURAZ]

I my self have a CZ 75 Compact .40. At first it was very snappy. Changed the main spring to 24# and it is very nice now.

I shot a m&p40 and it did have less recoil than the CZ even after the mod. But the CZ shot more accurately and to my surprise faster on target.

Glock 22 was ok.

HK USP 40 is feels soft but the slide kid of goes through a wave of energy dampened by the dual springs.

From what I hear PX4 might win here, then the M&P or Steyr.

 

[HKURAZ]

I just shot a beretta 96 and it was snappier than the CZ 75 Compact 40. The CZ its nice now with hogue rap around grip and 24# main spring. Felt recoil with the grip now is about the same as the M&P.

 

[SDGlock23]

My vote goes to the M&P. I enjoy my Glock .40's, but alot of folks think they're too snappy.

 

[J Lambs]

NOT THE S&W40VE, that's for sure!!

 

[texas bulldog]

Based on the 40s that I've shot, I'd say the Browning Hi-Power. But I will admit that I've shot relatively few 40s.

i was wondering if anyone would mention the BHP. maybe it's just because i love that platform, but it's an all-steel, full-size .40. of the few .40s i've gotten to fire, it was definitely the most tame.

 

[Eyesac]

I vote for non compact Glocks or any poly fullsize for that matter.

 

[ARTiger]

I used to have a Beretta 96 and it wasn't bad at all. Recently shot a FNP40. . . nice soft shooter. I like it a lot and will probably be buying the 45 version soon.

 

[Mark K. C.]

Add another Beretta 96 to the list. Mine is a rose to shoot.

 

[Snowdog]

Zundfolge beat me to it. There's no doubt in my mind that my Steyr M40 is the least "snappiest" and most mellow of all the .40S&W I've owned or fired. I'm sure it has something to do with the massive slide and grip angle/contour.

 

[Fishman777]

It will depend...

I find that recoil is based largely on the weight of the gun and the grip. Guns that don't fit me very well are not as controllable as guns that are a good fit. My GP100 with hogue grips is about the perfect gun for me. It feels so natural. I can shoot nasty .357 magnum loads and it still feels more controllable than almost any autoloader in almost any caliber. I guess the trick is to find the gun that fits you the best. I think that you won't really know this until you shoot the gun.

 

[Z71]

For it's size, a S&W 4046 is the nicest shooting .40 I've shot. Also about the thickest hunks of stainless steel semi-auto sidearms made!

Does have more muzzle flip than a 9mm, but is easy to shoot never the less.