Thread: Looking for .40 s&w reccomendation

There are tons of good .40s out there, even if you don't like Glocks. Beretta, SIG, HK, S&W, Springfield, CZ, Walther and others make high-quality .40 pistols. Best idea is to find a range that rents guns so you can try some on for size.

Soon JeffWard will be along to sing the praises of the XD, TOF will pop in to recommend the M&P, and Shipwreck will tell you the P99 is the best.

And someone will point out that I omitted Taurus.

Mike,
You omitted Taurus.

Stay away from XDs, your third one gets expensive...

Originally Posted by JeffWard

You omitted Taurus.

Am I psychic, or what?

But it was intentional.

Stay away from XDs, your third one gets expensive...

Slickest recommendation yet.

Don't forget about FN! Check out the FNP.40

www.fnhusa.com

Mike,

I am too new for you to know that I am right behind Jeff in the recommendation of an XD. Get the XD and don't look back!

Originally Posted by Mike Barham

There are tons of good .40s out there, even if you don't like Glocks. Beretta, SIG, HK, S&W, Springfield, CZ, Walther and others make high-quality .40 pistols. Best idea is to find a range that rents guns so you can try some on for size.

Soon JeffWard will be along to sing the praises of the XD, TOF will pop in to recommend the M&P, and Shipwreck will tell you the P99 is the best.

And someone will point out that I omitted Taurus.

You omitted Taurus.

The Glocks and Xd's are excellent Pistols they just don't fit my hand as well as the M&P. The variable grip size capability of the M&P is not something that should be overlooked when searching for a new Pistol. I am using the large grip but the beavertail and overall contour works best for this kid. My XD40 Tactical was an excellent pistol and quite accurate. It's fault was leaving my thumb nuckle bloody after 150 or so rounds. I understand a new model Ruger is now available with a modifiable grip. Look at all of them you can. Your mention of short thick fingers make me believe you need to try an M&P with the small grip installed and some other small grip guns. They all shoot straight at what you point them at.

Enjoy whatever you get

(cough) Beretta PX4 (cough)

Ok with just a visual inspection the FNP and PX4 appear to be in the ballpark of what I am looking for. Sorry the XD looks decidedly Glockish. Which Taurus? The Model 24/7-40BP-15?

M&P? Looks to be the priciest?

Assuming a 12 hour a day carry on some of these are there any you have/would find uncomfortable in a paddle holster?

Originally Posted by rahlquist

Ok with just a visual inspection the FNP and PX4 appear to be in the ballpark of what I am looking for. Sorry the XD looks decidedly Glockish. Which Taurus? The Model 24/7-40BP-15?

M&P? Looks to be the priciest?

Assuming a 12 hour a day carry on some of these are there any you have/would find uncomfortable in a paddle holster?

The following "is" comfortable.

Leather OWB Don Hume 721 series for example. Available with or without thumb break.

http://www.donhume.com/Products/ProductsList.cfm

You should give the XD a try. It's really not that much like a Glock at all, with its higher bore axis, different grip angle, shorter trigger reach, and different-feeling trigger. It's a good pistol, and is in some ways the anti-Glock.

Paddle holsters are generally quite comfortable, but be aware that they are the least concealable of OWB-type holsters.

Did Mike forget Taurus?
If you like the Beretta, get one. Taurus model 100(fixed sight) and model 101 (adjustable sight) are copies of the basic Beretta design. They have a slightly different safety set-up which alows for "Condition One" carry if you so desire.
If you're not against buying used, this guy has Beretta 96D (DAO) for $249.
http://www.summitgunbroker.com/1992006.html He gets a lot of police turn-ins. Generally holster wear, but not much use.
Good hunting.

I am also in the same market right about now. I've been looking for about a month or two, mostly at a lot of what has been mentioned so far. But as of now the Beretta Px4 is at the top of my list and will most likely be the one I get.

I love my H&K usp .40. You might want to try that one out too!

Sig P239
S&W M&P

Hi guys, I am new to the forum but thought I would put in my $0.02. As far as the XDs go, I hate them. From what I read they were not even designed by Springfield, but instead by some unknown manufacturer in Croatia. Not sure I want to trust my life to that engineering. Not to mention they feel bad to me and in any thing smaller then a .45, there seems to be part of the guide rod sticking out the front of the weapon. It looks too easy to hang on something to me. I was also not crazy about their triggers, although I admit that is an easy fix. I just can't see why so many people are crazy about a gun designed in what is practically a third world country.

I used to be a big Glock person and I do still like Glocks. However, I have recently started to really fall in love with Sigs. My next purchase will be for pleasure and to carry on duty at work. It is the Sig P226 SCT. They also make a P229 SCT that is slightly smaller.

I have to say that Germans certainly know how to make cars and firearms and you can't go wrong with a Sig.

Originally Posted by sbc_pd10

As far as the XDs go, I hate them. From what I read they were not even designed by Springfield, but instead by some unknown manufacturer in Croatia.

Hades has obvious frozen over, since I am about to mount a public defense of the XD. It is true that the XD was designed in Croatia, and first imported into the States as the HS2000. But it's not as if anything on the XD is startlingly new. The Croatians just mixed features of some good guns, including your beloved SIGs (look closely at the slide and barrel design).

Not sure I want to trust my life to that engineering.

People said the very same thing about a certain polymer Austrian pistol back in 1984. Where are they now?

The HS2000/XD has been around for about a decade now and has shown itself to be an excellent, extremely reliable design. Good engineering is good engineering, regardless of the ethnicity of the engineers.

there seems to be part of the guide rod sticking out the front of the weapon. It looks too easy to hang on something to me.

That standoff device on the guiderod is actually a minor advantage. If you are in an arms-length fight and have to press the muzzle of the pistol against your opponent, the XD's guiderod will keep the slide from being pushed out of battery (and thus not firing). A small advantage, but one that might be decisive under some circumstances.

I just can't see why so many people are crazy about a gun designed in what is practically a third world country.

I'll go out on a limb here and say: perhaps because it is very reliable, reasonably priced, and easy to shoot well for most people? In this age of globalization, I think most people are getting over the "not made here" syndrome. Most guys just don't care where the gun is made, since it works very well.

However, I have recently started to really fall in love with Sigs. My next purchase will be for pleasure and to carry on duty at work. It is the Sig P226 SCT. They also make a P229 SCT that is slightly smaller.

SIGs are good guns, too...especially if you like expensive crunchentickers.

Originally Posted by sbc_pd10

I just can't see why so many people are crazy about a gun designed in what is practically a third world country.

Does that really matter? Shakira was designed in a third world county. I got no problems with her

I'm a Sig lover too, but there are other quality manufacturers out there.

Originally Posted by scorpiusdeus

Does that really matter? Shakira was designed in a third world county. I got no problems with her

I'm a Sig lover too, but there are other quality manufacturers out there.

I am not saying that Sigs are the only quality manufacturerer out there. All I am saying is that I am do not like the XD and stated my reasons why. I knew there would be a few who would be offended by my comments but I gave my honest opinion. As far as comparing a Glock with an XD as some have done, to me there is no comparison. The Glock has been around so much longer and has been proven time and time again. There is a reason that 60% or more of LE in the US carry the Glock as a department issued weapon. This does not mean I may not change my mind 10 years from now, but for now my opinion of the XD stands. To be honest, even though I always regarded Sigs as quality firearms, I only recently began to really appreciate them and considered buying one. My opinion is that people evovle as shooters the more they handle firearms. With time comes changes in opinion but I seriously doubt my opinion of the XD will change anytime soon.

PS- Mike as far as the reliability of the XD is concerned..... I think I will reserve opinion on that for a couple years. My local gun shop were huge XD fans until I pointed out a few things about them and now they are not quite so popular there.

Originally Posted by sbc_pd10

PS- Mike as far as the reliability of the XD is concerned..... I think I will reserve opinion on that for a couple years. My local gun shop were huge XD fans until I pointed out a few things about them and now they are not quite so popular there.

I am glad you are so influential at the local gun shop. What "few things" are those? I am sure all the many people with very reliable XDs here on the baord would like to read about them. As well, those professional, national-level instructors like John Farnam and Mas Ayoob and others, who teach thousands of students and see dozens if not hundreds of XDs each year, will be very eager to hear about these supposed reliability issues.

Obviously, the XD hasn't been around as long as the Glock (a pistol I prefer to the XD, actually), but I think ten years of solid service is a pretty good start.