Choosing 40sw
- Thread starter Jericho1911
- Start date
I have experience with the CZ and the XD.
Hard for me to pick a best one....the CZ is very accurate. Some people view it as a DA/SA, but I think of it more as an SA with second strike capability. It will shoot with most good 1911's in stock form. If the trigger were better, it might beat them. In the end, it has great accuracy, good ergos and good safety function.
The XD-40 seems under represented here, but it is a great handgun. It is safe, has standard accuracy and has great ergos.
Hard for me to pick a best one....the CZ is very accurate. Some people view it as a DA/SA, but I think of it more as an SA with second strike capability. It will shoot with most good 1911's in stock form. If the trigger were better, it might beat them. In the end, it has great accuracy, good ergos and good safety function.
The XD-40 seems under represented here, but it is a great handgun. It is safe, has standard accuracy and has great ergos.
It really depends on the type of action you want?
I would go with a FN FNS-40 from Palmetto State Armory they are on closeout for $360, that is a lot of gun for a small price.
I also voted for the Sig 229, I have one in 357Sig and with the short reset kit is a winner and a pleasure to shoot and carry.
I would go with a FN FNS-40 from Palmetto State Armory they are on closeout for $360, that is a lot of gun for a small price.
I also voted for the Sig 229, I have one in 357Sig and with the short reset kit is a winner and a pleasure to shoot and carry.
I voted for the SIG-Sauer P229/P320.
Truth told, I have experience with only a few of the .40 cal pistols on your list, so take that into account.
I own a SIG P229. That pistol was designed for that round specifically and it handles the recoil of the cartridge extremely well.
I have a P320 full-size and a P320 compact, but the full-size is chambered in .45 ACP and the compact in 9 mm Luger. I did shoot a full-size P320 chambered in .40 S&W and I found that it too handled the recoil very well and was amazingly accurate. Based on my experience with my P320 compact, I strongly suspect it would do fine chambered in .40 as well.
I have shot an FN FNS .40. I only shot one magazine through it at a range where I traded guns with the guy next to me. I thought it shot quite well, but it was not as comfortable in my hand as the P320 and the trigger was not as good. I would agree that $360 for that pistol is a hell of a good deal if you are on a budget, however.
I am sure I have shot a Glock chambered in .40 sometime, somewhere, but I don't much care for Glocks so it was not a memorable occasion.
If you are looking for a striker-fired polymer-framed pistol, I would go with the P320. For a TDA all-metal pistol, the P229 is hard to beat unless you want a mechanical safety.
Forty caliber S&W is not my first choice of chambering in a sub-compact pistol like a Shield due to its recoil characteristics and the limited magazine capacity.
Truth told, I have experience with only a few of the .40 cal pistols on your list, so take that into account.
I own a SIG P229. That pistol was designed for that round specifically and it handles the recoil of the cartridge extremely well.
I have a P320 full-size and a P320 compact, but the full-size is chambered in .45 ACP and the compact in 9 mm Luger. I did shoot a full-size P320 chambered in .40 S&W and I found that it too handled the recoil very well and was amazingly accurate. Based on my experience with my P320 compact, I strongly suspect it would do fine chambered in .40 as well.
I have shot an FN FNS .40. I only shot one magazine through it at a range where I traded guns with the guy next to me. I thought it shot quite well, but it was not as comfortable in my hand as the P320 and the trigger was not as good. I would agree that $360 for that pistol is a hell of a good deal if you are on a budget, however.
I am sure I have shot a Glock chambered in .40 sometime, somewhere, but I don't much care for Glocks so it was not a memorable occasion.
If you are looking for a striker-fired polymer-framed pistol, I would go with the P320. For a TDA all-metal pistol, the P229 is hard to beat unless you want a mechanical safety.
Forty caliber S&W is not my first choice of chambering in a sub-compact pistol like a Shield due to its recoil characteristics and the limited magazine capacity.
dogtown tom
New member
Are you LE?
If not, what the heck is "special details"?
Another Glock 23 and get a 32 (357 Sig) barrel vote.
I have a 23 with 32 (357 Sig) barrel, I use 32 magazines with the 357 Sig barrel, or 23 magazines with 357 followers.
Versatile combination and works 100% either way.
180 gr. 40 S&W has a slightly higher POI than 125 gr. 357 Sig, even at 6 yards.
I have a 23 with 32 (357 Sig) barrel, I use 32 magazines with the 357 Sig barrel, or 23 magazines with 357 followers.
Versatile combination and works 100% either way.
180 gr. 40 S&W has a slightly higher POI than 125 gr. 357 Sig, even at 6 yards.
Will Beararms
New member
I've been a .40 fan since my first one, a 1993 Model Glock 22. Technically it was a Gen 2 configuration but if I understand correctly, the Glock .40's started life out in a frame considered Gen 2 for their 9mm line up. I truly regret selling that pistol.
I've owned two Gen 3 Glock 23's and one Gen 4 Glock 22. I currently carry one of the Gen 3 23's daily and it is a perfect blend of concealment, capacity and power. The Gen 4 Glock 22 is my favorite pistol and it's a joy to shoot. Without any blackstrap insert, it's smaller in dimension that the Gen 3 Glock 40's. It conceals well for it's size and if I could only have one pistol, the G4 22 would be it.
Make no mistake that in 20 years, the new 9mm Glocks the FBI just purchased will be replaced. The Generation 4 Glocks addressed and resolved all the issues that were associated with the .40 caliber round. While I have have had absolutely no issues with any Generation of the Gloco .40 some have. The recoil has been manageable to me on every Glock .40 I've owned and IMHO if someone can't handle the recoil of a Gen 4 Glock 22, they are not qualified to serve in the first place. The recoil is minimal.
The .40 is a violent round. It was designed to offer good power in a package that allows for above average capacity. It's done and is doing well this task. The .40
is not heavily dependent upon ammo selection as is the the 9mm. Any good JHP projectile in 165 or 180 grain will serve you well. This means you can walk in any store that sells ammo in America and pick up a .40 round that will work----Wal Mart, Joe's Country Store, Academy, Cabelas-----wherever.
I believe you would be well served with the Gen 4 Glock 22 or 23 or the Sig P239. I owned or own all three and they've been stellar. I own a Smith and Wesson M&P9 built in 2014 and it's a great weapon. I would not hesitate in getting the same pistol in .40 caliber.
The .40 is an outstanding caliber and still more powerful than the 9mm in most cases. From a prepping standpoint it makes sense to stock .40 in 180 grain FMJ over 9mm hardball which makes no sense at all in terms of stopping power.
I've owned two Gen 3 Glock 23's and one Gen 4 Glock 22. I currently carry one of the Gen 3 23's daily and it is a perfect blend of concealment, capacity and power. The Gen 4 Glock 22 is my favorite pistol and it's a joy to shoot. Without any blackstrap insert, it's smaller in dimension that the Gen 3 Glock 40's. It conceals well for it's size and if I could only have one pistol, the G4 22 would be it.
Make no mistake that in 20 years, the new 9mm Glocks the FBI just purchased will be replaced. The Generation 4 Glocks addressed and resolved all the issues that were associated with the .40 caliber round. While I have have had absolutely no issues with any Generation of the Gloco .40 some have. The recoil has been manageable to me on every Glock .40 I've owned and IMHO if someone can't handle the recoil of a Gen 4 Glock 22, they are not qualified to serve in the first place. The recoil is minimal.
The .40 is a violent round. It was designed to offer good power in a package that allows for above average capacity. It's done and is doing well this task. The .40
is not heavily dependent upon ammo selection as is the the 9mm. Any good JHP projectile in 165 or 180 grain will serve you well. This means you can walk in any store that sells ammo in America and pick up a .40 round that will work----Wal Mart, Joe's Country Store, Academy, Cabelas-----wherever.
I believe you would be well served with the Gen 4 Glock 22 or 23 or the Sig P239. I owned or own all three and they've been stellar. I own a Smith and Wesson M&P9 built in 2014 and it's a great weapon. I would not hesitate in getting the same pistol in .40 caliber.
The .40 is an outstanding caliber and still more powerful than the 9mm in most cases. From a prepping standpoint it makes sense to stock .40 in 180 grain FMJ over 9mm hardball which makes no sense at all in terms of stopping power.
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I have a Glock 22 Gen 4. I like it. I have no problems shooting the .40 S&W caliber. Perhaps I am not very recoil sensitive. I just never noticed it being much different than anything else.
I have a Storm Lake 9mm drop-in conversion barrel and some G17 mags so I can shoot 9mm from it when I choose to. No problems there either.
I have a Storm Lake 9mm drop-in conversion barrel and some G17 mags so I can shoot 9mm from it when I choose to. No problems there either.
Jericho1911
New member
Shot 2 diffetent 40s not on list
STEYR M40-A1 ...Fit like a glove. Shot well
But I haven't heard much about Steyr Pistols.
GLOCK 35 4TH GEN... Most excellent. But not for CCW. Shot remarkable.
Narrowed it down to
GLOCK 23 4TH GEN
SIG P320 COMPACT
BERETTA PX4 STORM
Will carry 165 grain Federal Hst
STEYR M40-A1 ...Fit like a glove. Shot well
But I haven't heard much about Steyr Pistols.
GLOCK 35 4TH GEN... Most excellent. But not for CCW. Shot remarkable.
Narrowed it down to
GLOCK 23 4TH GEN
SIG P320 COMPACT
BERETTA PX4 STORM
Will carry 165 grain Federal Hst
Kevin Rohrer
New member
You forgot the best choice for .40cal: the BHP. I love mine, carry it daily, and will never sell it.
Well, I haven't shot several of the guns in this poll, but here goes.
For a .40 carry gun, the M&P Shield is a great choice. These are excellent handguns with good triggers, accurate and reliable.
For a .40 duty/nightstand/range gun, the CZ75B is nothing short of terrific.
The Ruger SR40c is also an outstanding handgun -- it is one of my carry guns and I can absolutely recommend it.
For a .40 carry gun, the M&P Shield is a great choice. These are excellent handguns with good triggers, accurate and reliable.
For a .40 duty/nightstand/range gun, the CZ75B is nothing short of terrific.
The Ruger SR40c is also an outstanding handgun -- it is one of my carry guns and I can absolutely recommend it.
since you listed CCW... concealed carry... I voted for the Walter pps. However I think you need to look at he new Walther PPS M2. Here was my gun buying process that led me here.
I started with a Beretta 96 realized it was too large for me to comfortably carry. So I opted for the PX4 compact. (same size as Sig 229, good gun out of my $ range @ the time) Good for carry, but hard for me to conceal. I started noticing how many signs there were at businesses not wanting you to carry. So I knew open carry was going to be a pain. So I opted for deep conceal. After trying a few single stacks that were out at that time, I was not happy with the larger caliper options available (at the time). I jumped in with the Ruger LCP. I can pocket carry (DEEP conceal) the LCP and no one knows I have it. Its light and I 100% have it everywhere 24/7 except federal buildings.
So fast forward to now with the drama as of late, I want to step up to a more formidable carry gun that I can conceal. Single stacks have really boomed and options are out there finally. I like the .40 s&w, so after researching I have landed at wanting the Walther PPS m2 for myself.
Now let me say... folks love the XDs and the Glock 43 (9mm). I hate the grip angle of glocks. and I shot the XDs and hate the grip texture. My son just got the M&P shield in .40 as his first and only all around handgun. NO isses with it at all. The size of it is what lead me back to the idea of CC with a single stack. The fit and finish of the new pps M2 has me leaning to it. Good reviews on it so far. I plan to see if I can rent one. Worst case I will shoot my sons Shield to see what I think of the "single stack" platform in a .40 before I jump into the PPS M2.
FYI... Guns and ammo did a shoot out test on most of the single stacks out there (9mm). The Glock 43, Taurus 709 slim and the original pps were at the top. Zero malfunctions 1050 rounds...
http://www.gunsandammo.com/handguns/compacts/single-stack-9mm-shootout/
I started with a Beretta 96 realized it was too large for me to comfortably carry. So I opted for the PX4 compact. (same size as Sig 229, good gun out of my $ range @ the time) Good for carry, but hard for me to conceal. I started noticing how many signs there were at businesses not wanting you to carry. So I knew open carry was going to be a pain. So I opted for deep conceal. After trying a few single stacks that were out at that time, I was not happy with the larger caliper options available (at the time). I jumped in with the Ruger LCP. I can pocket carry (DEEP conceal) the LCP and no one knows I have it. Its light and I 100% have it everywhere 24/7 except federal buildings.
So fast forward to now with the drama as of late, I want to step up to a more formidable carry gun that I can conceal. Single stacks have really boomed and options are out there finally. I like the .40 s&w, so after researching I have landed at wanting the Walther PPS m2 for myself.
Now let me say... folks love the XDs and the Glock 43 (9mm). I hate the grip angle of glocks. and I shot the XDs and hate the grip texture. My son just got the M&P shield in .40 as his first and only all around handgun. NO isses with it at all. The size of it is what lead me back to the idea of CC with a single stack. The fit and finish of the new pps M2 has me leaning to it. Good reviews on it so far. I plan to see if I can rent one. Worst case I will shoot my sons Shield to see what I think of the "single stack" platform in a .40 before I jump into the PPS M2.
FYI... Guns and ammo did a shoot out test on most of the single stacks out there (9mm). The Glock 43, Taurus 709 slim and the original pps were at the top. Zero malfunctions 1050 rounds...
http://www.gunsandammo.com/handguns/compacts/single-stack-9mm-shootout/
