Let me be up front. I prefer 45acp and 9mm pistols. With this said, I do own a TZ75 40 S&W conversion unit, a Glock 23 and 27, Browning MKIII, FN 49, CZ40B, and a Kahr40. I have shot a S&W 4003 and a 411. Of these I will rate the Browning MKIII the best, then the Glock 27, CZ40B, Glock 23, TZ75, S&W 4003, Kahr 40, FN 49, and last the S&W 411.
I just plain do not like the FN49 and yet it has never misfired or proved inaccurate. It just doesn't feel right to me. The S&W 411 was a rental gun and I couldn't hit the broad side of a large barn with it and neither could my shooting partner.
I am convinced the problem with my dislike of the 40 S&W cartridge is based on the 180gr bullets. I find the recoil to be equal to a 45acp 230 gr load. When I have fired lighter bullets the 40 S&W performance tends to improve. Why not shoot the lighter loads? Few shop in the Detroit area carry a variety of weights and the lighter loads are expensive.
Regards,
Richard