I was wondering about something.I carry a 1911 for work,but in the summer months i have to wear some kind of covering garment.An over shirt 2 sizes to big etc...I use a strong side galco high ride hip holster.I am right handed by the way.In the winter this is no problem but in the summer when it's 90+ outside i am in no mood to wear any more clothing than i have to.The point i am trying to make is i need a smaller gun for carry.I don't care for the compact 1911 guns.I saw a sig 239 for $395.Is this a good price?It is much lighter and smaller than my 1911.But it is a 40 cal.My main question is this the 40 seems to have more of a snappier recoil than my 1911 does,and more noise also.Is the 40 a high presure round or something?I am sure i could handle a gun in this caliber well if i practice with it.What drew me to the sig 239 most was the one i saw had the best DA trigger i have ever felt.Is this typical of these guns?Is the 40 as good as the old 45ACP?Some say it is but is this acurate?I read that a LEO in Louisiana shot a man in the abdomen who was coming at him with a knife.He used a Sig 229 loaded with 135 gr. COR-BONS.It was reported while the wound was shallow it was extremly wide.The ME reportedly called the ammo company to ask what the hell kind of bullet this was.Does the 40 do well out of shorter barells?As the 239 has a shorter barrel than the 229Is the 40 a good replacement for the 45 ACP?Is there really a big diffrance in the wound made by a .40 cal bullet and a .45 cal bullet?I don't really know much about the 40.Does anyone have a prefered bullet weight in 40.I don't know if i feel comfortable with a 180 gr. bullet.It seems like it must be to slow to expand reliably.Would i be undergunned with the 40 as compared with the 45acp?Any help would be great.Thank You
40 VS 45 AUTO whats the deal??HELP!!!!!
- Thread starter 1911guy
- Start date
TEXAS LAWMAN
New member
Yah, it's hot in TEXAS also, so sometimes I make the 'mistake' of carrying a smaller (than my usual .45ACP) handgun.
The .40 is a higher pressure round than the .45 but the .45 is, of course, the larger slug. Bullet diameter is of some importance because larger bullets result in a larger wound channel. That being said, you shouldn't feel undergunned by carrying a .40. In my dept. most of the guys carrying the .40 use a 165gr bullet.
The shallow but wide wound sounds like the "victim" was grazed rather than shot straight on. The .40 is amassing a pretty impressive record in actual shootings.
The .40 is a higher pressure round than the .45 but the .45 is, of course, the larger slug. Bullet diameter is of some importance because larger bullets result in a larger wound channel. That being said, you shouldn't feel undergunned by carrying a .40. In my dept. most of the guys carrying the .40 use a 165gr bullet.
The shallow but wide wound sounds like the "victim" was grazed rather than shot straight on. The .40 is amassing a pretty impressive record in actual shootings.
I personaly like the 40 over the 45 because of greater fire power in the same size package. And the 155 to 165 full power loads are out standing defensive loads. they are in the mid 90% range of one shot stops. I personaly carry a Khar K40 covert For deep concealment in summer. The khar's trigger is by far the smoothest, lightest triger I've ever sqeezed. you should go to a gun rental, if you have one in your area and try one out. I think you'll be impressed. Remember that these rentals are hardly ever cleaned, so you can't judge everything on the rentals.
.40 is a fantastic stopper. The recoil is sharper (or snappier) than .45 (the latter seems quite mild to me, to be honest). Another good thing about 40 it's available in many different weights. From what I've read, I know that any good quality .40 HP between 135 and 165 gr will do the job intended.
My choice narrows down to a few: 135 gr HydroShock, 165 gr Cor-bon, or 165 gr Hornady.
For a very small gun for summer carry, try to look at Kahr MK40 -- it's the smallest .40 in the world, but it's quite easy to shoot with very little practice highly accurately
My choice narrows down to a few: 135 gr HydroShock, 165 gr Cor-bon, or 165 gr Hornady.
For a very small gun for summer carry, try to look at Kahr MK40 -- it's the smallest .40 in the world, but it's quite easy to shoot with very little practice highly accurately
If you want the .40 to be nearly as good as a .45, go & have a look at a Speer Gold Dot 180gr JHP.
The cavity is 95% of the frontal area!
From the folks that gave you the "Flying Ashtray"
------------------
"The Gun from Down Under !"
http://www.para1911fanclub.w3.to/
E-mail hotshot_2000@hotmail.com
Alternate E-mail
HS2000@ausi.com
The cavity is 95% of the frontal area!
From the folks that gave you the "Flying Ashtray"
------------------
"The Gun from Down Under !"
http://www.para1911fanclub.w3.to/
E-mail hotshot_2000@hotmail.com
Alternate E-mail
HS2000@ausi.com
I carry the 40 with a 155 grain bullet. But it is in a full size gun. During the summer I carry a springfield P9. I ususally wear a t-shirt. I too am in texas, and the 100+ weather tends to wear you down. But I use an inside the pants holster. Now I am not a small guy. 5'8" 220. So it hides just fine wearing an x-large t-shirt. I just make sure you can't see through it when I am covered in sweat. Perhapes that is something to look into. You will need a carry wardrobe then. I get a few pairs of pants one size larger to accomidate the gun.