When confusion takes over, it's almost always about a lack of focus on the intended use. Make a list of what you want to use the new blaster FOR, then match the action type/maker/model/caliber to the intended use(s). Personally, if you already have a nice .45 (and it sounds like you do), then there's probably not much you can do with a .40 that you can't already accomplish with the .45.

If you want a cheap-to-shoot range gun, then a 9mm is probably the best choice, based on ammo costs alone. I have owned several Beretta and Glock nines, and they are all as reliable as the sunrise, accurate (once you get some practice under your belt), and inexpensive to shoot (so you can afford to shoot enough to get REALLY good with it).

Another option might be to buy a Glock .40 and an aftermarket 9mm barrel and a few 9mm magazines, and have a larger caliber for more serious pursuits and a drop-in barrel for cheap practice (although the recoil impulse is higher with a .40, and you really should practice with what you carry for intimate familiarity -- IF you ever intend to carry it). I'm not a fan of the .40, but many folks are, and as long as you don't mind paying the higher per-shot cost, a Glock .40 will serve you well.

Not a fan of the XDs in 9mm or .40, so I'll let someone else do the selling on those.

Originally Posted by DJ

Not a fan of the XDs in 9mm or .40, so I'll let someone else do the selling on those.

I'll do the selling of the XD. I have the 4" .40 and IMO, it's a very good gun. I find it very comfortable in my hand, I like the safety features of the trigger & grip safeties, and find it accurate enough for my needs. But, I will say if you're torn between the Glock and the XD, shoot both. No two people are the same and some people find the Glock ergonomics more comfortable.

The 9mm will be cheaper to shoot, for sure. But if you do have your heart set on the .40 and get an XD, you can get a 9mm conversion barrel for it; provided you get the service model (I don't think there is a conversion for the XD-SC yet).

Let me point out that while U COULD use the conversion barrel at the range, I would put the pistol back to stock when at home if U wanna use it for defense purposes.

In a perfect world, conversions barrels work all the time - but this isn't necessarily the case. Sometimes there are occassional issues. Since the guy isn't probably aware of "conversions, I wanted to point this out....

Originally Posted by Hawkbizkit

well first I guess I should pick the caliber i want for my next pistol... but currently i have a Colt Gold Cup 45 that i love but i want something a bit smaller. My buddy has a Glock 22 which is fun but i think i should just go with the 9mm Beretta or Springfield XD. I'm so confused as to what route i wanna go next.

I presume you want this for CC? If you do, that new Beretta PX-4 is a fine pistol in .40cal. I have shot it and I liked it real well. If just want it for plinking and playing around go with the 9mm for cheaper ammo. I would get one myself but Beretta service is junk.
Good luck on your choice.

well thanks for the input.

i will be entering the police academy in the next 6-12 months and would like to practice alot since it's kind of a hobby and also something i will need down the road.

Cost of ammo isn't much of a deal to me since i still live with my parents and make enough to afford what i really want (if i can figure that out).

My other gun/make of choice has been the Walther P99 but i'm not sure how durable it is and if i should pick it over a glock/XD/beretta

Originally Posted by Hawkbizkit

My other gun/make of choice has been the Walther P99 but i'm not sure how durable it is ......

Uh oh... he said IT!!!!! There will be hell to pay from the Walther fans now

hey so far the only Walther i have shot was the 22 and it was a blast i kind of want one just to piss around with and i love the feel of it.

Originally Posted by DennyCrane

Uh oh... he said IT!!!!! There will be hell to pay from the Walther fans now

Im just gonna pretend I didnt read it.

And for whats it worth, I dunno what it is about the .40, but Im just not a fan of it. 9mm is much funner to shoot IMO.

I love shooting 9mm, but I'm not a fan of the .40SW. The only advantage to going with a .40SW is that you could put a .357Sig barrel in it.

Originally Posted by Hawkbizkit

My other gun/make of choice has been the Walther P99 but i'm not sure how durable it is and if i should pick it over a glock/XD/beretta

I DID pick the P99 over Glock, XD, and Beretta . . . and HK USP, CZ, and Sig Saur. Now having said this, I didn't just look into those manufactures and then decide on the P99. I OWNED THEM, and then decided on the P99. I owned a Glock 19/22/30, XD .40SW, Beretta 92FS, HK USP45, CZ75B, and a Sig P229 in 40SW. After I bought the P99, the others hung around for a while and I slowly traded them off or sold them. Now the only handguns I own are Walther pistols and S&W revolvers and I have not regreated it one day.

And as for durability, I carry concealed everyday professionally. I am a executive protection professional and I have carried a Walther P99 9mm for the past five years. I train with my P99 minimum of once a week. I have thousands of rounds though mine with no degration of accuracy. I have had one stoppage in that time, and that was from a round with an extremely flared out casing mouth. I would not carry my P99 if I did not have complete trust in its function and reliablity. It is not just my life that I am responsible for.

Not only that, but I am in the process of switching my entire team over to the P99. My boss has already approved the P99, in fact he now carries one. It is Walther vs Glock and Glock is losing baddly. At present, six carry the P99 and four carry the Glock 19.

Originally Posted by jenglish

I DID pick the P99 over Glock, XD, and Beretta . . . and HK USP, CZ, and Sig Saur. Now having said this, I didn't just look into those manufactures and then decide on the P99. I OWNED THEM, and then decided on the P99. I owned a Glock 19/22/30, XD .40SW, Beretta 92FS, HK USP45, CZ75B, and a Sig P229 in 40SW. After I bought the P99, the others hung around for a while and I slowly traded them off or sold them. Now the only handguns I own are Walther pistols and S&W revolvers and I have not regreated it one day.

And as for durability, I carry concealed everyday professionally. I am a executive protection professional and I have carried a Walther P99 9mm for the past five years. I train with my P99 minimum of once a week. I have thousands of rounds though mine with no degration of accuracy. I have had one stoppage in that time, and that was from a round with an extremely flared out casing mouth. I would not carry my P99 if I did not have complete trust in its function and reliablity. It is not just my life that I am responsible for.

Not only that, but I am in the process of switching my entire team over to the P99. My boss has already approved the P99, in fact he now carries one. It is Walther vs Glock and Glock is losing baddly. At present, six carry the P99 and four carry the Glock 19.

That's what you call a ringing endorsement. You actually put your life on the line, not to mention those of your principals. To say that you put that much trust in your weapon is high praise, indeed.

And in 9mm, no less. That oughta put the caliber debate to rest once and for all. Bigger might be better, but 9mm seems to be enough.

To me, the 9mm is enough gun to handle anything as far as self-defense, or offense, for that matter. It's easy to shoot, and cheap.

That's enough right there to tip towards the 9mm. It's also enough to tip towards a Walther....

I plan on trying out the P99 and the XD tomorrow both in 9mm but i do love the Walther look and feel in my hand so it's a toss up... I might just get the P99 9mm and the XD .40 down the road.

Originally Posted by Hawkbizkit

well thanks for the input.

i will be entering the police academy in the next 6-12 months and would like to practice alot since it's kind of a hobby and also something i will need down the road.

Well, if you want to practice with the type of pistol you'll likely be carrying as a cop, then a Glock is what you want. At one point a few years ago, I believe 75%-80% of law enforcement agencies were using Glocks (probably a higher % now).

Originally Posted by Shipwreck

Let me point out that while U COULD use the conversion barrel at the range, I would put the pistol back to stock when at home if U wanna use it for defense purposes.

In a perfect world, conversions barrels work all the time - but this isn't necessarily the case. Sometimes there are occassional issues. Since the guy isn't probably aware of "conversions, I wanted to point this out....

An excellent point I should have made in my post. Thanks for clarifying it.