Is there a "best" .40cal pistol?

Really and truly, any of the current generation semi automatics will fit the bill. It all comes down to brand preference and how a certain pistol feels in your hand. They are all extremely reliable and durable.

For me it's the SIG229 with a Hogue grip. It feels solid and balanced in my hand, virtually no muzzle flip, and doggedly reliable. That said I wouldn’t feel short changed in any way if the H&K, Glock, S&W M&P or other current western manufacture pistol was my issued chunk.
Call it brand bias, but I’m glad my outfit forked over the extra cash above and beyond the Glock and S&W’s ect and got us the SIG. Gives me a warm fuzzy they went with the best for us.
 
I think I've owned or used pretty much every .40 S&W pistol going, probably quicker to make a list of the ones I haven't owned, er... CZ-75, although I've owned a Sphinx and a Tanfoglio in .40 S&W and the XD 40.

In fact let me make a list:

Beretta Cougar: banned here, I won't waste your time;
Beretta 96: very inaccurate, due to high slide velocity I think, I hear newer ones are better but mine was awful and so were others I tried around the same time;
Browning Hi-Power: hammer bite, difficult to #### other usual Hi-Power problems;
Glock 22: Yeah, it works, but plenty of recoil, and usual Glock problems like the plastic sights and the mushy trigger pull. I put 8,000 rounds through mine - zero jams;
H&K USP40: Never liked it, springy trigger pull, grip feels like a 2x4, very bulky, hated the magazine release, however, it was very accurate and reliable;
S&W Sigma: It was awful, to cut a long story short, I won't waste your time with the 4006 either, neither of these guns are made anymore;
SIG-Sauer P229: Yep, nice gun, can't really fault it, but the frame does wear out which is why they made the Sport model;
SIG-Sauer P226: I think the stainless framed model is probably the best .40 S&W pistol going at the moment;
SIG Pro: It works, very reliable, reasonably accurate, but the trigger pull is not as good as the P226;
Sphinx AT-2000: Not designed properly, simply doesn't work in .40 S&W, the 9mm model is fantastic though;
Springfield Armory P9: made by Tanfoglio but finished in the US, I really liked mine, I always regret selling it;
Steyr M40: Unreliable.
STI Eagle/Edge: the grip is just too large for my hand, and I have long fingers, if it fits your hand it's probably a good choice, mine is very accurate;
Tanfoglio/EAA Witness: Not a bad gun, but they usually need a trip to the gunsmith to get them working properly imx, I've owned two.
Walther P99: Mmm, my memory is rusty, but I didn't like it for some reason, I think it was the shape of the trigger that put me off and it has a really long pull, but they keep changing the design.

I've probably missed a few but that's what I recall.
 
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I sing with the chorus. How so? I do not see anything anything a 40 S&W can do that a good 9mm load cannot do just as well. With this said, my pick is the 40 S&W BHP. Why? It is the softest shooting 40 S&W that I have fired. Regards, Richard
 
Great responses, guys...keep 'em coming! :)
I agree with Cybershooter that the Glock .40's have "plenty of recoil"....both the G35 and G22 have more muzzle flip with factory .40 ammo than any other .40 cal pistol I've owned or "borrowed" at the range, with the possible exception of the P99.
The most accurate and soft shooting was my Vertec....very nice, but just too pretty to "damage" by actually using it. ;)
The P226 stainless is way too heavy for a practical pistol, imo....IAE, I already own a very nice P220 in .45ACP which satisfies my "gun snob" side.
I'm leaning towards another XD40, but am wary of Springfield's refusal to sell parts to "ordinary" XD owners.
I'm not really interested in a 1911 clone in .40cal....I owned a Para-Ord P16LTD and that turned me off both Para's and .40cal 1911's for ever.
 
richardoldfield said:
I sing with the chorus. How so? I do not see anything anything a 40 S&W can do that a good 9mm load cannot do just as well. With this said, my pick is the 40 S&W BHP. Why? It is the softest shooting 40 S&W that I have fired. Regards, Richard
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+1

The BHP is a surprisingly soft shooting .40 (must have something to do with the super stiff recoil and main springs). I like mine a lot.
 
cybershooters, thanks for your great response.. did you find that the P229 frame wears out from personal experience or from what you've heard? If so, at how many rounds?

Just wondering since I just bought one and am very excited about my first gun. Sig sounds like a winner from what I read and I hope I don't have any problems with it ! :rockOn:

I found a link here saying it shouldn't be a problem .. especially not with proper maintenance:

http://www.recguns.com/Sources/IIIC2q7.html

Thanks.

rob
 
I've have put thousands of rounds thru my 229. I can think of dozens of other officers who have done the same. I've never seen a 229 fail yet. Remeber the slide is machined fron a single billet of steel, and the 229 was designed around the .40S&W not the 9MM.

Said it before and I'll say it aagin. I'm glad my organization ponied up the money, with the help of our association which added $200.00 for each pistol and got the front runner of the competition the sig 229.

Most forces settle with Glock or S&W because of price, and though they are great pistols the SIG came in first in at least three independent competitions that I know of. (RCMP, Toronto PS, OPP).
 
Sigma's are still made for the el cheapo civy market in the US.

I'd come out to a S&D night Mike and try out the M&P in .40. you'll like it.
 
Six Star said:
The most accurate and soft shooting was my Vertec....very nice, but just too pretty to "damage" by actually using it. ;)
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I have heard that a lot from guys.

What I don't understand is, what is the point of owning a $1.2K to $3K gun if you don't ever use it because it might de-value it?

Kind of like an ultra hot girlfriend that is inches away from you in a skimpy outfit, but you never get to touch.

You can't take it with you.
 
I must say that the P226 in .40cal that I owned for a short time was a very nice pistol, both in "looks" (stainless slide) and shootability. It's the pistol I traded for the Vertec. :redface:

P226.jpg


I would be very tempted to buy another P226 in .40cal. :)
 
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Get a Sig 226R DAK
This gun has a lot of good features.
Put a laser and light combo on it ... it covers all the bases!
(only bettered by a S&W 327 TR8)
 
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