.40 -- I took the plunge!! Thanks SFRC!

M

Meroh

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Well, I came upon some .40 brass a while back and thought might as well keep it as I like my 9mm and I like my .45; I would likely like .40 too. Over time, it kept trickling in, then two weeks ago I bought a second container full of .45 range brass from an estate that a local dealer was clearing out. The first one I got at a great price hand had over 1000 pieces of brass. The second one, there was less than 50 .45 hulls on top, and over 1000 in a bag underneath. I started looking....

I presently have 2 Norinco pistols; 9mm and .45, and two rifles; all of which are reliable shooters ( the pistols did require a lot of tuning and polishing, but am an engineer who does a lot of tool, die and mold work and love tinkering). My 9 is a NZ85; my .45 is a 5" 1911A1, so since I don't have a Sig type pistol, I was looking for a NP58.

I noticed over the last few months that dealers were becoming sold out, and more that were left were being discounted to varying degrees. Lately, I noticed that discounts were becoming deeper, and SFRC and a few others were offering theirs for $339.00.

Fast forward to Friday, and I opened and email from SFRC announcing their Family Day sail (another 14%). I ran it by the wife yesterday, and she told me to buy it NOW! Not to defy her, I did just that!

All in, free shipping and HST $338.05.

Now I wait!!!

If anyone wants to venture into the realm of .40 cal; this is a great entry level way to do it; and they have more of them too!

Now, I have to buy dies and bullets!!

NP58.jpg
 
I’d be looking forward to initial and hopefully long term range reports on your new NP58. I had one, acquired through a trade package 9 years ago, took it to the range once and sold it. I was deeply impressed by its accuracy though. Hit the Bullseye on my first shot with it, and the follow up shots were almost touching. Reason I sold it was that it had only one magazine. Couldn’t find a Nork mag and I didn’t want to pay 50 bucks for an original Sig-Sauer mag. Dumb decision I know.

Acquired a Ruger P91 shortly after and my first shot also hit the bullseye. What’s going on with this caliber? Why is it so accurate...it’s not supposed to be...what with the nasty recoil. Could be my P91 is a perfect example of its type. Slide to frame fit is the tightest among my 4 P-series pistols and tighter than even my custom Roger Kotanko Norkie 1911. It’s DA/SA trigger pull is very long, very stiff but smooth on DA, and a super crisp 4-5 lbs (estimated) on SA. Not exactly a target trigger, but it works for me.

Fast forward 6 years. The FBI has condemned the .40, and Glock 22 prices were dropping. FNS40 prices were even lower. Since I had just purchased an FNS9, and prefer its ergos way better than my Glock 17, I went for the FNS40L. Two of them appeared on the EE at irresistible prices and both arrived at the post office on the same day. Went straight to the range from the post office.

Guess what, the first shot on both pistols were....you guessed it...bullseye! 2-inch 10-shot groups at 15 meters, though a little low and to the left, still impressed me. Double taps were slower than on my FNS9L, but with its accuracy, why do I need to DT?

I ordered some Berry’s 180 grain Hybrid Hollow Points from John Parsons at Custom Reloading and loaded up some test rounds over 7.0 and 7.3 grains Longshot. Hope to go to the range this week.
 
easyrider604 said:
I’d be looking forward to initial and hopefully long term range reports on your new NP58. I had one, acquired through a trade package 9 years ago, took it to the range once and sold it. I was deeply impressed by its accuracy though. Hit the Bullseye on my first shot with it, and the follow up shots were almost touching. Reason I sold it was that it had only one magazine. Couldn’t find a Nork mag and I didn’t want to pay 50 bucks for an original Sig-Sauer mag. Dumb decision I know.

Acquired a Ruger P91 shortly after and my first shot also hit the bullseye. What’s going on with this caliber? Why is it so accurate...it’s not supposed to be...what with the nasty recoil. Could be my P91 is a perfect example of its type. Slide to frame fit is the tightest among my 4 P-series pistols and tighter than even my custom Roger Kotanko Norkie 1911. It’s DA/SA trigger pull is very long, very stiff but smooth on DA, and a super crisp 4-5 lbs (estimated) on SA. Not exactly a target trigger, but it works for me.

Fast forward 6 years. The FBI has condemned the .40, and Glock 22 prices were dropping. FNS40 prices were even lower. Since I had just purchased an FNS9, and prefer its ergos way better than my Glock 17, I went for the FNS40L. Two of them appeared on the EE at irresistible prices and both arrived at the post office on the same day. Went straight to the range from the post office.

Guess what, the first shot on both pistols were....you guessed it...bullseye! 2-inch 10-shot groups at 15 meters, though a little low and to the left, still impressed me. Double taps were slower than on my FNS9L, but with its accuracy, why do I need to DT?

I ordered some Berry’s 180 grain Hybrid Hollow Points from John Parsons at Custom Reloading and loaded up some test rounds over 7.0 and 7.3 grains Longshot. Hope to go to the range this week.
Click to expand...

Impressive testimony to the 40!

When I was looking for a 9 I knew that I would be starting out with a Norinco, I handled an NP226 but was unable to find a NZ85B to handle, so I looked at a CZ. The CZ fit me better, so I located and ordered a NZ85; great gun and a good shooter. Having a 1911, the logical choice for me since I have had good luck with Norinco, was to go with the NP58. I am confident that it will work just fine, but also that it may need a bit of fine tuning like both the NZ and the 1911 did.

Full report will follow after it arrives on both performance and tuning pre-range.
 
Not one damm given as to what law enforcement or the fbi shoot..why on earth would that bother me....it’s a great caliber to shoot ...and will continue until there is none left or can no longer re-load..stick to your soft 9...lol
 
I've said it before and I'll say it again.

.45 ACP was "killed" by .38 Special, .38 Special by .357 Magnum, .357 Magnum by 9mm, 9mm by 10mm, 10mm by .40, .40 by .357 SIG, 357 SIG by .40, and .40 by 9mm.
 
hatman1793 said:
40 S&W is dead. Snappy recoil, better to go to 45acp. Plus many LE organizations are shunning 40 & moving towards 9mm. Like the FBI. Plus the new US Army cartridge continues to be 9mm.
40 brass is cheaper than 9mm.
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LEOs and the FBI have moved away from the 40 because they have to determine what caliber works best for all their personnel. The operative word is "all", which means individuals of all sizes, shapes, skill levels and aptitude . FBI agents are accountants and lawyers first before they are gunfighters, unless the FBI have have changed their employment criteria. Obviously, not all of their personnel are shooters or enthusiasts who will take the time and exert the effort to master the 40cal. The logical caliber choice will be the 9mm, with its generally manageable recoil. It just makes sense for LEOs and the FBI to go with the 9. Their choice does not make the 9mm better than the 40cal.

The US Army, while having a different purpose than LEO/FBI, has similar criteria plus its got NATO to contend with. 9mm is the default Western military pistol caliber.

Recreational shooters fortunately, have the option of choice of caliber. 9mm has become the caliber of choice for the vast majority of pistol shooters because of ammo cost and ease of recoil management. This is very evident at my club. But I will continue to shoot the 40 as I cast and reload for it, and can shoot it almost as well as the 9. Hypothetically, if given only one caliber to shoot it will be the 40.
 
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easyrider604 said:
.....9mm, with its generally manageable recoil...9mm...because of.....ease of recoil management....
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Recoil.? 9mm.? Shoots like a 22LR imho...

Perhaps as a range shooter I like to feel like I'm shooting something a little 'stronger'....so I'll stick with 45ACP and 10MM...
But certainly pleased your are happy with the .40 and do enjoy this wonderful hobby!
 
Given we are in Canada, I'm not too fussed by the 9, 40, 45 debate either. Not being a reloader, 9mm makes sense for high volume shooting. But with the general move away from 40, there are deals to be had with hardware for sure. There are some really nice 40s going for hundreds less than 9mm equivalents. I'd have no issues picking up another depending on the platform. Also doesn't look like 40 is going anywhere as long as it remains a common comp cartridge.
 
As long as IPSC/USPSA exist, 40 cal will be kept alive and kicking.
In a single stack/double stack 1911, it's a great round to shoot.
Bull barrel and 12# recoil spring, the recoil doesn't flip the front sight much if you're holding on to it.
 
hatman1793 said:
40 S&W is dead. Snappy recoil, better to go to 45acp. Plus many LE organizations are shunning 40 & moving towards 9mm. Like the FBI. Plus the new US Army cartridge continues to be 9mm.
40 brass is cheaper than 9mm.
Click to expand...

And other than 9mm, 40 makes up the majority of all action shooting major calibers. its not going anywhere
 
brit84 said:
And other than 9mm, 40 makes up the majority of all action shooting major calibers. its not going anywhere
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Yup. Still pretty popular down here. I don't feel undergunned with either but I still prefer 40sw.
 
easyrider604 said:
LEOs and the FBI have moved away from the 40 because they have to determine what caliber works best for all their personnel. The operative word is "all", which means individuals of all sizes, shapes, skill levels and aptitude . FBI agents are accountants and lawyers first before they are gunfighters, unless the FBI have have changed their employment criteria. Obviously, not all of their personnel are shooters or enthusiasts who will take the time and exert the effort to master the 40cal. The logical caliber choice will be the 9mm, with its generally manageable recoil. It just makes sense for LEOs and the FBI to go with the 9. Their choice does not make the 9mm better than the 40cal.

The US Army, while having a different purpose than LEO/FBI, has similar criteria plus its got NATO to contend with. 9mm is the default Western military pistol caliber.

Recreational shooters fortunately, have the option of choice of caliber. 9mm has become the caliber of choice for the vast majority of pistol shooters because of ammo cost and ease of recoil management. This is very evident at my club. But I will continue to shoot the 40 as I cast and reload for it, and can shoot it almost as well as the 9. Hypothetically, if given only one caliber to shoot it will be the 40.
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And it is, and has been NATOs choice for many years.
 
I like all three of the major calibers and have 1 pistol in each of them. My Tanfoglio is in 40 and it shoots Great. One thing I have noticed in comparing 40 loads is the dramatic difference in recoil between handloads and factory loaded ammo. I have made ammo that chrono's the same and has way less perceptible recoil IMO. Same goes with 9mm and 45acp from what I have seen. I quite like 40 and wont be getting rid of it anytime soon.....would even consider buying a second pistol in 40 as well.
 
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