Thinking about a .40 -- opinions?

[Darrin]

Well, I'm not female, but I am a small guy.

Anyway, I just moved from a large framed 9mm (Astra A-90) to a small framed .40 (Astra A-70). Does it kick more? Sure. That's why I'm shooting the crap out of it so I can 'know' my tool and be use to it. The more I shoot it, the more control I have over it, the more confident I feel with it.

Yeah, the ammo is a little more expensive than 9mm, but I made the choice of .40 cal for carry via research (here and other places on the www) that told me, "this is the caliber for you, Darrin."

I can't see this caliber as a 'range' type of gun. What I mean is, when I think of the .40 caliber, I think of "personal protection." When I think of the 9mm or .45 caliber, I think of "range gun," "competition gun," and "personal protection."

Yeah, well, IMO, IME, YMMV, etc...

 

[mrapathy2000]

The .40S&W is a ok round they could of made it better. 135grain rounds will hit 1200-1300fps out of 3-4 inch barrel and has tame recoil in good gun.

My favorite guns in .40S&W is Steyr M40 and Springfield XD

glocks have unsupported chambers which isnt horribly bad but reason for some caution.

Sig's are always good also if you have money to spare.

Steyrs retail for $600+ though are availible due to special arrangement with steyr-mannlicher of austria to sell them low till the fall then the price goes up.

 

[45auto]

If you are 'recoil sensitive' and don't reload, I would stick with the 9mm.

If you do reload, then you can 'tailor' almost any caliber, within reason, to a comfortable level for you.

 

[CZ52GUY]

re: It's Glock or Beretta for me...

Hi,

If your choices are between Glock and Beretta I can report good experience with both the G22 & G23 from Glock in .40 S&W.

Weight shouldn't be an isssue (both are light), the G22 providing a little less recoil than the G23. The Glock trigger takes some getting used to. If the CZ-75B in .40S&W is approved in your state, I'd recommend consideration of that also. I have the CZ-75B in 9mm but have heard great reports about the .40S&W version also...CZ-75's tend to "outshoot" the shooter.

I don't have direct experience with the Beretta but you can get some hands on users feedback at the Beretta Forum http://www.berettaforum.net/.

In general, the .40S&W was a moderate step up for me from the 9mm. I'd recommend starting with 180gr first based on my experiences. I'm a reasonably big guy (although vertically challenged), so I can't say how you'll react to it...if opportunity to "try before you buy" is available, by all means do so.

Good luck & safe shooting,

CZ52'

 

[Sean Smith]

Here is what I'd do in your situation, now that I'm smarter than I was when I was in your situation :

Since you are still "recoil shy," stick to 9x19 in your autoloaders for a while. More shooting more better, and it is hard to beat your practice-per-$ ability with 9x19.... except maybe with .38 Special, and you've got that covered, too.

Before you decide to get a more powerful autoloader, try hotter ammo in your 9mm or .357 Magnum. If that just seems like more fun, then get a more powerful autoloader. With practice, you can work your way up to at least .44 Magnum or so, but there is no reason to rush into more power if you don't really want to deal with the extra kick yet.

 

[Bowlcut]

I still want to shoot a styer but i love my sw99 in .40. shooting it back to back with sheslinger's p99 in 9x19...you could barely tell which gun you were fireing. Only difference is the "snappiness" in a .40 round compared to the bluntness of a 9x19. .40's tend to snap back, not hard, but fast on their recoil. a .45 hits ya harder, but preceved recoil on the wrist is less, to me atleast. the .40 has a quick snap which sometimes can feel as it has more recoil than it does

 

[Spanky McFly]

I recently stepped down from a .45 to a .40. I am pleased with my improved accuracy, cost savings, and recoil. My wife shoots my USP40 and likes the recoil better than her .357 Ladysmith ( she will not shoot .38 out of her LS???). It's all what you get used to.

 

[Khornet]

Mastro,

why do you shoot females? Aren't there any males to shoot?

I don't know where all this 'nasty .40 recoil' stuff is coming from. I mean, it's noticeable, and does seem to happen faster than .45 and all, but I don't find it bothersome and I'm no big guy (5'9" 174 lb) (oh, and blue eyes, 33 waist, good looking but no bust to speak of). In fact, I find that my Ruger P90 .45ACP kicks about the same. Both are actually PLEASANT.

I think it's a matter of gun fit, which can tame or worsen recoil. My G22 is comfy to my hands, yours may be another story. I like the fact that I can carry so many more rounds with 40 vs 45 though.

 

[Mike86]

I just started m girlfriend shooting last week. First time at bat she shot a 8 shot 7" group @ 5 yds with .38's in my 608 Taurus (3-1/2 lbs and ported). Second time up she shot a 9 shot 6" group at 5 yds with a friends Baby Eagle semi-compact in .40, 6 of the 9 inside 2". That was her first two times ever firing a weapon to my knowledge.

IMO recoil is relative. She didn't know that .40 has a "bad" rep for recoil and I didn't tell her. In fact she put 60 rounds out of the .40 and 30 out of my 608 that day. The reason we left was time constraints, she wanted to shoot the .40 more. Her chief complaint about both guns was they weighed too much. I just ordered me a Baby Eagle compact poly frame in .40 and plan to rent her a 9mm next time to get her opinion.

If it would help I could get her opinion first hand on .40 recoil from a first time shooter for you.