Want 40S&W handgun - Suggestions?

[sparkyv]

I enjoy my full sized decocker CZ P-09, and my striker fired full sized SIG P320 even more.

No polymer you say? Then I'll go with my BHP. If I were buying (a used) one today it'd be a SIG P226.

 

[Mars5l]

I prefer my S&W MP40 over my Glock 22. There was a bunch of police surplus on sale right before summer for under $300. All gone now but I'm sure they'll come back around. I also have have a Glock 35, Star Starfire, Sig P226 Elite .40, Beretta Px4 subcompact, HK Vp40 and a Walther p99 AS. Hopefully getting a Beretta 96A1 soon. On my wishlist is a Glock 24 and Beretta APX

 

[marvin02]

https://aimsurplus.com/products/leo...0-sw-handgun-w-thumb-safety?mc_cid=f238ddeb55

 

[Hugger-4641]

My Springfield XD .40 has been flawless. Rd count somewhere north of 5k, probably will never sell it.

 

[commygun]

The M&P 40C. There isn’t a single thing I dislike about it.

 

[Roverguy]

FWIW, very fond of my M&P 2.0 40. The only striker fired pistol I have kept. And, as mentioned above, a lovely grip.

 

[Tallball]

FWIW, I have a Glock 22 and bought a 9mm Lone Wolf conversion barrel for it. I also bought a couple of G17 magazines. It works flawlessly, no problems at all.

 

[kerreckt]

AIM surplus has a bunch of M&P LEO turn ins for $300. I have bought from them in the past. Very trust worthy and honest.......those were my experiences.

 

[AustinTX]

Beretta PX4 is a good one also.

Seconded. Softest-shooting polymer-frame pistol in .40 S&W, in my experience, thanks to the rotating-barrel action. Outstanding pistols.

 

[soonerboomer]

I would definitely echo the police trade-in route. However, I would and did choose the M&P Full Size police trade-ins. About three years ago I picked up one for a song. The trigger had been nicely broken in for me. It's dead nuts accurate and in great condition. Now its one of my favorite in my collection. I put 2.0 grip inserts in mine for extra grip, which is needed on the .40 in my opinion.

 

[mgmorden]

A lot of LEO trades are available in .40S&W for good prices. I'd pick up one of those. Both my Glock 22 and SW99 are such guns and they've both been fine. There are a lot of M&P's like that too. My M&P is in 9mm but I like that design as well.

 

[Kookla]

If memory serves, wasn't the M&P series originally designed around the .40 and then made for other cartridges?

 

[Ignition Override]

This gun has such a mild and Very Smooth trigger that I did Not Know that it is DAO:

a police trade-in Sig P-229 in .40.

If you are lucky you might spot one available.

Or more likely you could spot a DA/SA 229 in .40.

 

[Buzznrose]

https://aimsurplus.com/products/leo-trade-in-smith-wesson-mp40-40-sw-handgun-w-thumb-safety

$299

 

[crestoncowboy]

I have used .40 for 20 years . I have all the common guns and some not so common. The Glock 22 is my favorite duty sized gun and I carry a 27. The 226, 229, USP, and Beretta 96 are next. My CZ 75 is right up there but did have a few jams early. Shoots great though. The last one I bought was a 320 and its a fine gun too. The Taurus Beretta clones are great guns as well. I know you said no Taurus and for the most part I agree but that model is pretty universally liked.

Another option is buy a Glock 10mm and have a 10 and be able to shoot 40 as well.

As far as the gen 3 Glock having issues, I've read that a lot but every agency including my county used the gen 3 40 at some time. I never saw an issue despite seeing hundreds of thousands of rounds fired. Many of the issues were blamed on a weapon mounted light. At least one of our local departments kept a light mounted. Again I never heard of or personally saw an issue. The only gun I've personally seen fired as much in .40 is the 229.

As others said, you really missed the boat on a good used 40. I bought 226 for 300 and USP for 400. Px4 for 249. Glock 23 and 22 (I didn't get a 23) for 299. And M&P for 199. Sig 320 for 300. Back in the "great 40 turn in". My county switched to a Glock 17. But many many agencies abandoned the 40 for 9mm. Ammo was cheap too. RANGER t was 13 bucks for 50. HsT was 15 or so. Sounds like 30 years ago but was just 2



I might consider getting one of the discontinued models while you can and getting a Glock later, even though the Glock is my favorite. GLOCK still makes a 45 GAP and may be the only company that never stopped making the 10mm......it will be many years before they drop the .40. Lol.

 

[JTQ]

If memory serves, wasn't the M&P series originally designed around the .40 and then made for other cartridges?

Yes.

 

[Tallball]

I have had several good experiences with AIM.

My FiL likes his LE turn-in M&P in 40 caliber very much.

 

[TarDevil]

If memory serves, wasn't the M&P series originally designed around the .40 and then made for other cartridges?

I spent more time than I should looking for a source. I've seen this stated in THR but never in any S&W literature. What I found today (on S&W site) said the polymer M&P series was originally released in both 9mm & .40 S&W.

 

[crestoncowboy]

Sig and HK both claimed their 229 and USP were designed around the .40 in their own literature. I never saw Smith say as much, whether it's true or not idk. They had already made the 4006 and some others. Same for Beretta, I've heard users claim it was designed for the 40 but never in company literature. Just that it was designed by giugiaro and designed for the military standard 150,000 rounds. May well have been designed around 40. Idk. They had made the 96 and 8040 by then. The 4006 was the first produced for the 10 short and wimpy other than the Glock which is definitely a 9mm converted over. Smith then copied the Glock, got sued, and then made the M&P.

 

[JTQ]

I didn't more time than I should looking for a source. I've seen this stated in THR but never in any S&W literature. What I found today (on S&W site) said the polymer M&P series was originally released in both 9mm & .40 S&W.

Hilton Yam on the 9mm M&P, the original article seems to be gone from the internet, but this quote is still available...

https://www.military.com/kitup/2013/02/hilton-yam-10-8-performance-glock.html

Same with .40 – the M&P was designed for the .40, with steel chassis for increased rigidity and none of the durability or function issues of the Glock 22. Oddly, the 9mm was shoehorned into the M&P platform rather than the reverse which is true for Glock, and it is therefore the weakest model of the M&P.

The 9mm M&P's were plagued by inaccuracy issues, at least through the first generation of M&P's, while the .40's were typically very good, and the .45 Auto versions were known for exceptional accuracy.

Glock and Beretta 90 Series were the opposite. They were designed as 9mm guns and .40 S&W was shoehorned into those guns. The Beretta 92 is a great gun in 9mm, the Beretta 96 is known for their good shooting, but short lifespans.

Edit to add: Today is probably the best time ever for the Beretta 90 Series guns. There are more models available than ever before. In this huge line-up of Beretta 90 Series guns, the only model they offer in .40 S&W is the 96A1, a gun that comes with a unique frame and included buffer.

https://www.beretta.com/en-us/90-series/

 

[TarDevil]

The 9mm M&P's were plagued by inaccuracy issues, at least through the first generation of M&P's

That I well remember.

Thanks for the reference.

 

[crestoncowboy]

Hilton Yam on the 9mm M&P, the original article seems to be gone from the internet, but this quote is still available...

https://www.military.com/kitup/2013/02/hilton-yam-10-8-performance-glock.html

The 9mm M&P's were plagued by inaccuracy issues, at least through the first generation of M&P's, while the .40's were typically very good, and the .45 Auto versions were known for exceptional accuracy.

Glock and Beretta 90 Series were the opposite. They were designed as 9mm guns and .40 S&W was shoehorned into those guns. The Beretta 92 is a great gun in 9mm, the Beretta 96 is know for their good shooting, but short lifespans.

Edit to add: Today is probably the best time ever for the Beretta 90 Series guns. There are more models available than ever before. In this huge line-up of Beretta 90 Series guns, the only model they offer in .40 S&W is the 96A1, a gun that comes with a unique frame and included buffer.

https://www.beretta.com/en-us/90-series/

I always liked the 92/96. Have several. But do they even make a nice blued one now. Or are they all ugly black over brunitron/ od/khaki guns with that hideous rail. Lol.

 

[Mike J]

I have used .40 for 20 years . I have all the common guns and some not so common. The Glock 22 is my favorite duty sized gun and I carry a 27. The 226, 229, USP, and Beretta 96 are next. My CZ 75 is right up there but did have a few jams early. Shoots great though. The last one I bought was a 320 and its a fine gun too. The Taurus Beretta clones are great guns as well. I know you said no Taurus and for the most part I agree but that model is pretty universally liked.

Another option is buy a Glock 10mm and have a 10 and be able to shoot 40 as well.

As far as the gen 3 Glock having issues, I've read that a lot but every agency including my county used the gen 3 40 at some time. I never saw an issue despite seeing hundreds of thousands of rounds fired. Many of the issues were blamed on a weapon mounted light. At least one of our local departments kept a light mounted. Again I never heard of or personally saw an issue. The only gun I've personally seen fired as much in .40 is the 229.

As others said, you really missed the boat on a good used 40. I bought 226 for 300 and USP for 400. Px4 for 249. Glock 23 and 22 (I didn't get a 23) for 299. And M&P for 199. Sig 320 for 300. Back in the "great 40 turn in". My county switched to a Glock 17. But many many agencies abandoned the 40 for 9mm. Ammo was cheap too. RANGER t was 13 bucks for 50. HsT was 15 or so. Sounds like 30 years ago but was just 2

View attachment 1089701

I might consider getting one of the discontinued models while you can and getting a Glock later, even though the Glock is my favorite. GLOCK still makes a 45 GAP and may be the only company that never stopped making the 10mm......it will be many years before they drop the .40. Lol.

I remember the time you speak of. It was pre-covid, guns & ammunition were less expensive, everything was easier to find. That was when I bought my M&P 2.0 40 Compact (4" barrel). I was actually wanting a G-23 but I ran across a deal on the M&P new for $350. I figured I was getting a new M&P for a used Glock price so I jumped on it. At the time I was lusting after the Sig P-226 & P-229 trade ins CDNN seemed to constantly have posted but didn't buy one. As soon as Covid hit everything gun related got crazy & the deals disappeared.

To the OP. So far I have owned 3 .40's. An old Ruger P-series that I actually like but wouldn't recommend for various reasons. A XD-40, It was mechanically accurate & reliable but I discovered it was easier for me to shoot better with other platforms. The aforementioned M&P 2.0 Compact. The M&P is what I usually carry on my person. I have shot a G-23 & liked it a lot.
I am another that believes it is better to buy a .40 that was designed to be a .40 than a .40 shoehorned into a 9mm gun. I believe as has been said the M&P was designed for .40. I seem to remember Sig redesigning some of their P-series guns for .40. I believe Glock made changes in their 4th generation guns to better accommodate .40 though I don't know how true some of the stories I read were.

 

[BJung]

I've owned and have only shot a Browning 40cal. It's accurate and has a nice feel to me.

 

[cfullgraf]

I'm happy with my Beretta 96, S&W M&P40 and S&W M610.

I had a Springfield P9C sub-compact chambered in 40 S&W that was difficult to shoot and shot itself to pieces due to its small size. Of course, the P9C sub-compact has long been discontinued but i mention it because a smaller size 40 S&W piustol may not be comfortable to shoot.