Want 40S&W handgun - Suggestions?

[Zerodefect]

Recoil control, is half of my practice. So I quit caliber conversions.

.40 was made popular by Glock, IME. I never knew about it in any S&W or Sig. And in that era, it was crushing .45 at the jello game.

 

[chaim]

My favorite .40s that I have owned or shot are SIG P229, S&W M&P and SIG 239.

I have a 229 (my second after stupidly selling my 1st when I needed the money). They are accurate, reliable and very comfortable

My S&W M&P 40c shoots like a full sized gun. It is accurate and comfortable to shoot, and to top it off it is 100% reliable.

The first .40S&W I shot that I liked was someone else's SIG P239. By today's standards, its size to capacity are terrible, but it, again, shoots like a much larger gun. They are accurate and comfortable to shoot, with a great reputation for reliability.

I had a CZ 40B that I stupidly sold before I liked the cartridge much (I did like the gun). Within about 6 months I regretted it, and I've continued to for the ~20 years since. If you come across one at a decent price, they are good guns, and a little unusual/rare.

 

[golden]

I have owned a number of .40 S&W handguns.
I do not recommend the BERETTA 96 if you plan to use high velocity ammo like the 155 grain jhp at 1200 fps. This was my agency's issue load when we adopted the BERETTA 96D Brigadier. It was an excellent gun, both accurate and reliable and quite powerful, but this high velocity load wore them out in 10 years. If you are going to stick with the 180 grain jhp like the FEDERAL HST jhp, it will be fine. I now use this load in my 96D Brigadier and 96D Vertec without any problems.
I also had a SIG 229, it was also accurate and reliable, but the trigger was smoother on my personally owned 96D Brigadier. Also, the smaller, lighter gun recoiled more with the high velocity ammo, so I sold it.
I also have 2 STOEGER 8040, a TURKISH made copy of the BERETTA 8040. These are fine guns and seem to be able to handle any ammo without a problem. I have put about 500 through one and 700 through the other without any problems.

Jim

 

[upptick]

Would like to purchase a used 40 semiauto. Inherited a bunch of 40 ammo, both range seft defense. Use to be strickly home/self defense, bedside car/boat etc. Any suggestions for a decent, reliable inexpensive 40 handgun would be greatly appreciated.

Please no Taurus or Hi-Point. Thanks

Here's a bit of a curve ball forya: Go with a Glock 20 10mm and get a .40 cal conversion barrel. A used Glock 20 goes for around $450 and the conversion barrel is another hundred bucks or so. No need to swap magazines. I use a .40 cal conversion barrel with my Glock 20 and it shoots reliably and accurately. And somehow that polymer frame really tames the 10mm. You get two guns for about the price of one, including your .40 cal. Of course, some will say that the conversion barrel is unnecessary, that the standard 10mm barrel shoots .40 just fine....

 

[Crazy Horse]

Here's a bit of a curve ball forya: Go with a Glock 20 10mm and get a .40 cal conversion barrel. A used Glock 20 goes for around $450 and the conversion barrel is another hundred bucks or so. No need to swap magazines. I use a .40 cal conversion barrel with my Glock 20 and it shoots reliably and accurately. And somehow that polymer frame really tames the 10mm. You get two guns for about the price of one, including your .40 cal. Of course, some will say that the conversion barrel is unnecessary, that the standard 10mm barrel shoots .40 just fine....

Bnolsen made the same recommendation. I ask the following and never got a response.see Belle:

That's a good idea. I"ve only ever thought of 40 S&W to 9mm. Question, would you be able to go from a 10mm barrel to a 40 S&W barrel, then to a 9mm barrel? I've got the Glock 22 which is a 4.49 in barrel which is the same length as the 9mm G17 barrel. Those however are 4.49 inches. Assuming aftermarket has a 9mm 4.61 inch 9mm barrel for the Glock, would it work on the G20? I'm assuming if it did, that it would probably require a spring change out. Curious.

TIA

CH

 

[upptick]

Bnolsen made the same recommendation. I ask the following and never got a response.see Belle:

If what you're asking is whether the Glock 20, a 10mm gun, can be converted to fire 9mm, I don't think so, but I may not be well-informed on the issue. My understanding is that the Glock 20 has a way beefier slide and a much stiffer spring than the 9mm Glocks. Plus the 10mm magazines wouldn't work with 9mm. If what you're after is a single gun that can fire multiple calibers I think the Glock 23 might be the ticket since it comes in .40 but there are conversion barrels in 9mm and .357 Sig.

 

[Crazy Horse]

Here's a bit of a curve ball forya: Go with a Glock 20 10mm and get a .40 cal conversion barrel. A used Glock 20 goes for around $450 and the conversion barrel is another hundred bucks or so. No need to swap magazines. I use a .40 cal conversion barrel with my Glock 20 and it shoots reliably and accurately. And somehow that polymer frame really tames the 10mm. You get two guns for about the price of one, including your .40 cal. Of course, some will say that the conversion barrel is unnecessary, that the standard 10mm barrel shoots .40 just fine....

Bnolsen made the same recommendation. I ask the following and never got a response.

If what you're asking is whether the Glock 20, a 10mm gun, can be converted to fire 9mm, I don't think so, but I may not be well-informed on the issue. My understanding is that the Glock 20 has a way beefier slide and a much stiffer spring than the 9mm Glocks. Plus the 10mm magazines wouldn't work with 9mm. If what you're after is a single gun that can fire multiple calibers I think the Glock 23 might be the ticket since it comes in .40 but there are conversion barrels in 9mm and .357 Sig.

Thx. I typically get a 40 and a 9 mm barrel to go with it. I was curious since you mentioned going from 10 to 40, if you could also go down to 9 since most 40's can be converted to 9's with just a barrel and in this case a spring since the 10mm spring is beefier.

CH

 

[mrray13]

The M&P 2.0 should be tops on you list for striker fired. It and it’s lil cousin the Shield, are the only .40 S&W pistols I have left.

The H&K VP40 would be my second striker choice.

Hammer fired opens up a lot of doors. From 3rd gen Smiths to FNs to Sigs to CZs and all of the clones, price and variety are virtually endless.

 

[JTQ]

Here's a bit of a curve ball forya: Go with a Glock 20 10mm and get a .40 cal conversion barrel.

Perhaps a better option would be a G37, that if you can find one, would probably be cheaper than a G20, and the frame is the same size as the 9mm and .40 S&W Glocks, so you don't have to worry about using a mag that is too big (G20) for the round you are planning on using .40 S&W.

Chances are good, you'll find the G37 slide quite similar to the Gen 5 G22 slide.

 

[qwert65]

Pop the dentent out of the lever and it becomes a decocker only



I you want to change the shape of the levers too, you can replace them with a decocker only lever https://langdontactical.com/px4-carry-lever-decocking-lever/

thanks!

 

[crestoncowboy]

Perhaps a better option would be a G37, that if you can find one, would probably be cheaper than a G20, and the frame is the same size as the 9mm and .40 S&W Glocks, so you don't have to worry about using a mag that is too big (G20) for the round you are planning on using .40 S&W.

Chances are good, you'll find the G37 slide quite similar to the Gen 5 G22 slide.

I've fired tens of thousands of 40 rounds through a Glock 20 and 29 mag. Never had an issue. The grip is fat obviously. But it's never caused any issue.

 

[crestoncowboy]

Bnolsen made the same recommendation. I ask the following and never got a response.

Thx. I typically get a 40 and a 9 mm barrel to go with it. I was curious since you mentioned going from 10 to 40, if you could also go down to 9 since most 40's can be converted to 9's with just a barrel and in this case a spring since the 10mm spring is beefier.

CH

The 10mm has a 17lb recoil spring just like the 9mm and 40 at least through gen3 The slide mass is heavier though. Ive never had any issue running thousands of 40 through a stock 20. Ive kept plenty of parts and have am extractor/spring/plunger set aside for mine from the wear of the 40 round..... but still had no issue. Most of the cheap (relative) 10mm was actually loaded with 180 gr bullets at 1000-1100 fps. American eagle 180s run 1050 or so. The same as non +p hst 180s in .40 S&W. Ive chronoed plenty of 10mm under 1000 in my 29. Lol. The only decent ammo was Norma( 200 at 1200+) black talons and Silvertips (175 @1200 but ive never had them chrono near that). Ive actually been contemplating dragging my 29 back out and buying up all the new offerings like gold dots and such and seeing what we have today in 10mm. I just never warmed up to the size of the 20 (or 19 and 23). To some they are the best of both worlds. To me they give up a bit of recoil management and sight radius for a small amount of concealability, but not enough to be better than a 26 or 27. Lol.

I always found it funny when my buddies shooting 40 hst or 357 sig (our issued rounds) through their Glock or sig229 would bitch about the recoil from my Glock 20 shooting American eagle. Lol. The gun was heavier and the ammo no hotter than their 40 but they would let the gun flop all over.

My hunting Glock has a 22 lb spring and I have used up to 24lb. They won't cycle 40 reliably but may go 50/50.

 

[12Bravo20]

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The Star Firestar M40 is a nice compact pistol and not bad to shoot in 40S&W. I have had my Firestar M40 since 1997 and it hasn't let me down. They are in-between a compact 1911 and the micro 9mms such as the Sig P938 in overall size. The own side to any Star pistol is getting parts for them. And the M40 is only 6+1 with factory mags.

 

[Peakbagger46]

The Gen 4s we were issued before going to the wonder 9 were the finest Glocks ever made. Great texture, internals modified for longevity with the .40, and very soft shooting.

Edit, just saw Glocks aren’t a good fit for you. I’d look for a deal on a Sig.

 

[kevincallahan]

We were issued Glock 22 pistols for uniform. I was never a Glock fan, watched a guy next to me on the line who I knew to be a gun guy and kept his s….have one blow up in his hand. Sheriff immediately allowed personal weapons in 40 caliber be allowed for duty. Had to meet armorers okay. I did my research and bought a USP 40 and never looked back. Carried for last 15 years when in uniform and qualified 4 times a year, never had any issues. Buy quality one time and be done

 

[Ks5shooter]

Glock,Glock and Glock.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

I'd go for a full size CZ in 40 S&W. The steel frame helps tamp down the snappy recoil.

 

[bnolsen]

Some day quick searching shows that a 9mm barrel is available for glock 20 but there she up being mag lip issues, an 11lb spring is needed but the slide is still too heavy so the 115 gr loads won't cycle. Heavier loads stove pipe and there are slide lock back issues, etc. Just not worth it unless you like jam o matic range pistols.

 

[Babalouie]

Then I suggest M&P40 for "Ooooh, nice grip" feel.

I did Burwell trigger job and it shot very accurately until my sister shot it and snagged it for match shooting - http://www.burwellguns.com/misc/M&Ptriggerjob.pdf

Yes, this! I have the full size M&P and had burwell do a trigger job for Production class uspsa. Its a wonderful shooter. It was an early M&P with rust issue so also had the slide hard chromed, so now it also a really good looking gun that is my zombie/shtf firearm.

 

[Ignition Override]

While coming very close to buying another handgun...

..if a DAO Sig P229 in .40 had been available last night on Gunbroker ( but also...at a decent price), I would have clicked on a Buy Now.
No DAO 229s were available.

That's how much I like the glassy-smooth trigger and overall gun quality. A member of our club- instructor at a Memphis-area Police Academy carries such a 229 as a PDW (personal defense)

Today I chose to buy 500 rds. of .308 ammo instead of a gun which I can't find.

 

[golden]

Override,

You might try a SIG 229 DAK in SIG .357 and buy a .40 S&W barrel. I believe you can use all the other parts with maybe only a recoil spring swap. The DAK trigger is really nice. I bought one for $255.00 plus tax and shipping. It shoots well,.for the power of the SIG round.

Jim

 

[Bottom Gun]

The red box factory refurbished Sigs like this are some excellent values.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/939793090