Well, mine's 9mm and relatively tame. I'd expect the .40 to be a bit sharper, but since it's a steel framed handgun, not nearly as stout as a polymer handgun. ( my .40 cal P99 is a bit snappy.) It's no cannon. You'll do fine.

I have a 40 cal. hi-power, it's a pussy cat. I always use it when I re-up my concealed carry license. It's very accurate and it loves the really light weight bullets (135s). Be wary of the safety though, once they break in they are relatively easy to inadvertantly disengage, and as you know, thats all there is... no grip safety, no trigger device, etc.

From what I've heard, the .40s have a pretty heavy hammer spring to dampen the recoil-

Originally Posted by the.batman

From what I've heard, the .40s have a pretty heavy hammer spring to dampen the recoil-

Hammer spring or recoil spring?

I think you may be referring to the recoil spring as it is a little longer and heavier than the one in the 9's.

I think he means recoil spring.

The heft of the all steel HP will make the .40 recoil easily managable.

He could mean the hammer spring. They are heavy to slow the slide down the slide when it recocks the hammer. The heavier spring slows the slide down with resistance. I don't know if it makes for less recoil (the energy goes into the frame as opposed to being used by the slide action) but it keeps the frame from being battered. I've read that those who put in weaker hammer springs to make racking easier open the frame to more battering during recoil.

Originally Posted by larryh1108

He could mean the hammer spring. They are heavy to slow the slide down the slide when it recocks the hammer. The heavier spring slows the slide down with resistance. I don't know if it makes for less recoil (the energy goes into the frame as opposed to being used by the slide action) but it keeps the frame from being battered. I've read that those who put in weaker hammer springs to make racking easier open the frame to more battering during recoil.

The recoil spring for the 40S&W is 20lbs vs thw 17lb spring in the 9mm.

The hammer spring is 32lbs fof both calibers.