What's Your favorite .40?

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itchy1

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The .40 seems to be somewhat of a polarizing caliber. Some feel that its too snappy or even uneccesary while others enthusiastically tout its merits. I already have several 9s and 45s so I just want one because I really enjoy variety. This will be a range/plinking gun--do not plan on carrying it at this point.

All of my current handguns are steel or steel/aluminum. I guess I'm just old school and never warmed up to polymer. Perhaps I'm missing out? School me on why you love your .40.
 
Glock 23. It's one of four I have and it's easy to shoot accurately, feels great in my hand, points naturally and since I handload I can shoot all I want and have minimal concerns about cost. I shoot my own hard cast (in either the OEM or Lone Wolf barrel) and I can shoot it pretty much at the same cost as bulk .22LR. "Snappiness" of the round is a non problem since my current favorite wheel gun is a 454 Casull.
 
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I like my .40's in a full size steel gun.

Browning High Powers in .40:

pairofbhps.jpg

Witness Elite Match in .40:

WitnessMatch1.jpg

Although I have a holster to fit the Witness I never actually carry it, it's just for shooting IDPA or 3 gun. It's much too big and the trigger is 2.5 pounds. Full size steel pistols tame the .40 down really well. I don't mind plastic pistols either, I have a Springfield XD and an XDM in 9mm.
 
Well I was going to post pic.'s like the cool kids have been doing but photobucket & I don't seem to be getting along today.

I have a XD-40 & a Ruger P94 in .40. They are both good guns. I tend to shoot the XD better because of its consistent trigger pull. If you like DA/SA the alloy framed Ruger might be something you would be interested in although they are out of production now.

I haven't shot some of the guns posted but the Glock 23 is really nice due to it's low bore axis in my opinion. Of course the recoil is more straight back into your hand than either of my pistols. It does however have less muzzle flip than they do.
 
Mike J said:
Well I was going to post pic.'s like the cool kids have been doing but photobucket & I don't seem to be getting along today.

I have a XD-40 & a Ruger P94 in .40. They are both good guns. I tend to shoot the XD better because of its consistent trigger pull. If you like DA/SA the alloy framed Ruger might be something you would be interested in although they are out of production now.

I haven't shot some of the guns posted but the Glock 23 is really nice due to it's low bore axis in my opinion. Of course the recoil is more straight back into your hand than either of my pistols. It does however have less muzzle flip than they do.
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Same for me; attachments worked as usual.
 
Why do I love my .40? Because it's versatile.

I can go as low as 125 grain (4.5" bbl - 1445fps)

And up to 200 grain (4.5" bbl - 1106fps)

I recommend you go rent a few pistols and see which you like. I'm partial to a Glocks, but there are other good polymers out there.

For range work I'd recommend a Glock 23, 22 or 35.

Good luck.
 
I've got two 40's a SIG 229 and a Ruger SR40c love'em both, and they're great shooters too. If it's a range gun your looking for you may want to look at the full size SR40 or even the SIG 226. I just prefer the compact variety. Also the glocks are good too, just not my cup of tea.
 
I've got two .40s, an HK USP 40 and a Smith & Wesson Model 4006 (arguably, the "original"). My pick is the Third Generation Smith. The all steel chassis and slide helps tame the .40's snappiness" and no one makes a more reliable semi-auto than this line of Smith pistols.
 
I own several .40s (carry one daily).

My fav of the bunch is my CZ75 SA. Just about have to miss on purpose to miss with it.

CZ75BSA_40_cocobolo.jpg
 
Over the years, I've owned quite a few .40S&W handguns and still own five. I like this caliber very much and have carried it for a number of years, though lately I have been carrying my M&P 9 Pro Series.

The best .40's I have owned have been, in no particular order, the Browning Hi-Power Mark III-S, and the M&P 40 in terms of comfort and just generally shootability. I think the M&P 40 has an edge here because of its balance and grip feel.
 
Walther PPS, Springfield XD, 1911

except in 9x19, 9x19, and .45acp

I'm extremely disinterested in the fo-tay, the only good things about it:
1] I can get overengineered guns in 9x19 that are also built to handle .40
2] .40 isn't an antique chambering, so factory ammo isn't nerfed for grandpa's trophy Luger or grandma's 1912-production 1911 ... this is a benefit of most newer loads for the non-reloader
 
My favorite .40 is the FNP in the picture with my Kimber Custom II (also a great gun, by the way). Love the FN, accurate, ergonomic, inexpensive, only ever had one problem with it, and FNH's CS got me squared away. The FNH line is the dark horse of polymer autoloaders. Get one, and don't look back!
 

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Sig p239/40 1st gen was my primary carry gun for near 10 years and a
SW40VE is still the house gun and a class demo gun. after all, you can not teach a CCW
class without at least one glock (like) gun.
 
My old Canadian made Para Ordnance P-16. Absolutely 100% reliable and very, very accurate. Load it on Monday and shoot it all week-well, sort of.

Night sights and matte hard chrome have been added by the previous owner.
 
I've three. A Sig -229, a Sig-P239 and a Kahr PM-40. I bought the P-239 to replace the Kahr as I didn't care for the DAO action of the Kahr. I prefer the DA/SA of the Sigs.
I admit that I had the Kahr Mag-n-ported to tame the .40 in it as it was quite snappy IMHO.
 
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