Best .40 S&W Pistol

[Rutger]

Forget the good/better/best ammo threads. Lets settle on the fact that .40S&W is pretty damned good in applications where it is better than 9mm or .45ACP. So in those apps, what pistol is ideal for this round and why?

[Paulycracker]

I like .45 a bit better, but .40 is way better than 9mm. Anyhow, I'd suggest a Glock #1, then a USP #2. 1911's were not meant (excluding a few) to fire the non 45 stuff. I don't like Beretta's, and Sig's are alright in 40, but best in 9mm. I'd say go for a *gasp* Glock. Hard for me to say it, but that's what I'd do. Especially since the police use them too. I'd opt for the 23 since you can fit 22 and 23 mags in it. My 2c.

[535]

Want something in 40 cal? Get a 10mm. the S&W in .40 S&W stands for "short and weak"...

[DocYoung]

Best pistol for the 40 round? A Glock hands down. g23 or g22. Either work awesome and are well worth the money. I have the g23 which rocks. I also have the g17 which I like even more but you want to stick with the 40.

There are others out there, please research on your own. You'll come back to Glock.

[Survival Helper]

Glock or XD they are the ONLY two in .40 cal, everyone else is a copy

I unlike doc gave two, with different ergonomics, pick one of the two, and post pics

[535]

If you're REALLY gonna get a .40, go Glock it's a TRUE combat handgun, simple, tough and it's goes bang every time, but for a survival gun the three most common calibers of ammo in the US are 9mm, .38, .308, and .223.....And thats the ammo that will be the easiest to find.

[RevPaul]

I have a G-23, and a 96-G
I use the Glock as a carry, due too wieght.
I prefer the Berretta for it's accuracy.
Both have thier strong, and weak points, but I could not decide on only one firearm.

[Apocalypse Now]

Want something in 40 cal? Get a 10mm. the S&W in .40 S&W stands for "short and weak"...

This is a common misconception, If the .40 is wimpy,what does that say about the 9mm? From all of the ballistics that I have seen in gun magazines and internet blogs ,indicate that the .40 has very similar ballistics to a .45 . The .40 is quickly and widely becoming the caliber of choice for LE ,FBI and the military.


If you are on a tight budget; you can't beat the S&W Sigma ,priced at $300-$350. I have one and have found it to be light in weight,accurate,no FTF's ,and a joy to shoot.

For duty or conceal carry ; Glocks are the most holster friendly,lightest in weight,and have a proven history of reliabilty. Reasonably priced in the $500-$600 range. Negatives: many people do not like the grip size,grip angle and the "less than atractive" appearance of Glocks.

From here; it is totally subjective by every individual ,of which is "the best" on the market. Springfield Armory XD , S&W M&P , Glock , HK , Sig Sauer, Beretta 96 ,Kimber, ahhhhh my head is spinning.

[Freedom Slave]

Originally Posted by 535

Want something in 40 cal? Get a 10mm. the S&W in .40 S&W stands for "short and weak"...

Now how in the world can you say a .40 is short and weak...have you ever shot anyone with one? Have you ever been shot by one? I have seen (media) where people have survived a .357 through and through in the chest, and also the head. More times than not, if you get hit in the chest or head by anything from a 9mm up, if you're not dead, you are going to be dropped and seriously hurting.

[DocYoung]

Originally Posted by Survival Helper

I unlike doc gave two ...

I didnt know anyone else made a handgun ...

[DocYoung]

Originally Posted by 535

... the three most common calibers of ammo in the US are 9mm, .38, .308, and .223...

1 ... 2 ... 3 ... uuuummm yar ! Can we get a recount?







Sorry couldnt resist.

[spudgunsniper]

SIGs are killler, lova having a hammer to put my thumb on. and, if the navy seals use them, its good enough for me. Also, very hard to beat a GLOCK. either fits the bill perfectly, and is more a matter of personal preferance than quality, IMHO

[f8lranger4x4]

Glock all the way

[535]

Originally Posted by DocYoung

1 ... 2 ... 3 ... uuuummm yar ! Can we get a recount?







Sorry couldnt resist.

The addition of the .38 was a afterthought.....and
I had too much to drink last night...

And FYI the .40 S&W was developed from the 10mm, its simply a shortened 10mm case and a lighter bullet that carries less knock down force. The FBI selected the .40 S&W b/c the 9mm wasn't powerful for the FBI and the 10mm was too powerful for accountants w/ guns, hence the birth of the .40 S&W aka "Short and Weak." (in comparison to a full load 10mm)

[Apocalypse Now]

but for a survival gun the three most common calibers of ammo in the US are 9mm, .38, .308, and .223.....And thats the ammo that will be the easiest to find.
Reply With Quote

22LR is more popular than all four of those calibers combined for survival/hunting.

[535]

but it lacks knock down in self defense...

[Herd Sniper]

I've had a Glock 22C since the early 1990s and haven't had any problems with it at all. I love my 22C!! You can't do any better than a Glock 22C with night sights in my opinion. I've used this gun in the daylight, at night time, in the cold of an Illinois winter and in the wet of a downpour. To put it bluntly, I'm STILL trying to find something that will cause it to NOT shoot after over a dozen years. If I can't break it in, I normally break them down but not so with this Glock of mine. I love my Sig but my Glock is just too good a gun to not love too.

[Wintermute]

Running off of the request by the OP, I'm going to ignore the ammunition arguments (the rest of you probably should as well ).

My recommendation is the H&K USP .40 fullsize. I have one (in fact, the first pistol I purchased. It is SA/DA, safe hammer drop in order to keep a round in the chamber, extremely accurate (by that I mean 1.5" groupings at 30 feet), additionally I have put over 500,000 rounds through it on the original barrel and springs. The springs have finally started to go (I've ordered in replacement recoil and buffer springs already), the barrel is still perfect and so is the accuracy. You can get standard 10rd mags, 13rd mags, or with the jet funnel system, you can get 16rd mags. I have an Insight M6X light/laser mounted on mine which makes it great for home defense at night and fast target acquisition. If you get the tactical version with the threaded barrel, you can put a sound supressor on it and have fun shooting quietly.

For a concealed carry pistol, I would recommend the Walther PPS .40. This pistol is very accurate, controls recoil well, runs and runs. It doesn't have quite the reputation as the USP, however, not many pistols do, and it hasn't been around long enough to really build a reputation.

--Wintermute

[Duelist]

Sig Sauer. Made of steel, super reliable and better looking than a glock.

[lilc]

Originally Posted by DocYoung

Best pistol for the 40 round? A Glock hands down. g23 or g22. Either work awesome and are well worth the money. I have the g23 which rocks. I also have the g17 which I like even more but you want to stick with the 40.

There are others out there, please research on your own. You'll come back to Glock.

+1, Doc. Glock 23 FTW! I think the Model 23 is the best all-around Glock. It is a reall jack-of-all-trades and an excellent choice for when SHTF. With a Lone Wolf Conversion barrel and a magazine from a Glock 19, you can convert it to shoot 9mm in under a minute, too!