Recommend a .40 S&W handgun

[timmy]

I have been looking for a nice .40 S&W handgun for home defense use. I plan on use 135 or 150 grain jacketed hollowpoint. Was at the local brick and mortar gun shop the other day and they recommended the Springfield XD and XDm line.

The others they had that I was also interested in were the

Beretta Px4 Storm
GLOCK 22
Smith & Wesson M&P .40
Springfield EMP - based off the 1911
Springfield XD/m line
Walther PPS 40

Right now the EMP and the Walther are basically ruled out for me since it is limited to 9+1 and 7+1 respectively. Would like to have at least 14+1 so the Sprinfield XD is out but the XDm is still in along with the Beretta, glock, S&W. I am already sure the die hard Glock fans will vote for the 22. I am looking for input on the other handguns on the list. Does anyone here own one of them and are they reliable?

 

[13ALPHA]

I was about to say what I have, then I read your disclaimer about Glocks, I have the subcompact though, and love it. I can't speak for any other 40S&W, is there a reason you are limiting your choices to that caliber? The 40SW in a subcompact frame is harder to control than my 44mag. Not saying that's a reason to turn away, just an observation.

My college roommate had an XD that he loved and I shot quite a few times, I liked it a lot. It felt a little like a Glock, but I prefered it. When comparing the Glocks and XD, etc, in terms of reliability, they are all very close. Assuming you keep it mostly clean and feed them the same ammo, you're talking which one needs more mud in it to jam, they are all very reliable.

 

[Leche]

I love my Springfield XD with 4 inch barrel. California only allows criminals to have hi-cap magazines, but I believe you can get at least a 12 round mag with one in the pipe. The weapon is easy to maintain and I have never experienced a jam even with low quality ammo. The price point is excellent too. If your willing to spend a bit more though I would definitely get an HK.

 

[13ALPHA]

I love my Springfield XD with 4 inch barrel. California only allows criminals to have hi-cap magazines, but I believe you can get at least a 12 round mag with one in the pipe. The weapon is easy to maintain and I have never experienced a jam even with low quality ammo. The price point is excellent too. If your willing to spend a bit more though I would definitely get an HK.

Quite a bit more! I used to have a USP45T, and man it was awesome, but the grip was so big, I just felt like I was holding a beer can instead of a grip, not too mention the decocker scared me when it slammed down. But it was very preicse, high quality.

 

[timmy]

California only allows criminals to have hi-cap magazines, but I believe you can get at least a 12 round mag with one in the pipe. The weapon is easy to maintain and I have never experienced a jam even with low quality ammo. The price point is excellent too. If your willing to spend a bit more though I would definitely get an HK.

Ah good old California. I am sure 12 or less rounds would do the job especially if you practice, practice, practice. I just think since the state I live in allows higher capacities I would like the comfort of knowing I have those extra rounds . I have been looking at HK and also Sig as alternatives also they just did not have either at the store for me to pick up and feel in my hands.

 

[timmy]

I was about to say what I have, then I read your disclaimer about Glocks, I have the subcompact though, and love it. I can't speak for any other 40S&W, is there a reason you are limiting your choices to that caliber? The 40SW in a subcompact frame is harder to control than my 44mag. Not saying that's a reason to turn away, just an observation.

My college roommate had an XD that he loved and I shot quite a few times, I liked it a lot. It felt a little like a Glock, but I prefered it. When comparing the Glocks and XD, etc, in terms of reliability, they are all very close. Assuming you keep it mostly clean and feed them the same ammo, you're talking which one needs more mud in it to jam, they are all very reliable.

I have nothing against Glocks and will probably end up coming down to the Glock and the Springfield as they both felt good in my hand.

 

[flycbyrd]

glock 27, its a great size 40 s&w, easy to conceal
accepts all the 40 s&w mags by glock. oh yea and
night sights i have this gun under my bed in arms reach
if you have a smaller hand you will love it even more.
check it out see if you like it

 

[CookieMan]

EDIT: Ignore me and my not reading a whole post. What a schlub I am.
Here's my recommendation. Take it as you wish, being that I've only shot three .40's. The Springfield XD sub-compact, S&W Sigma .40, and the Taurus PT101. Of the three, I prefer the hammer-fired PT101. There's just something about a striker fired pistol I can't get through my head. I'm constantly throwing rounds way off the paper with them. Yes, with the XD you can swap out a few springs and do a couple tricks to the trigger to make it shoot more like a hammer-fired gun, but it still lacks...something. My vote would be for a pt 101. They're solid guns and they handle the higher powered hollow points just fine.

 

[boomer56]

Hokay...

I have an XD in 9mm, which isn't quite the same, but it's proven extremely reliable. The trigger is long and mushy, but if you can get used to that, it's a reliable weapon.

The real reason I've waded into this thread is that my next handgun is going to be a Stoeger Cougar in .40. It's the same gun Beretta used to make, literally manufactured on the same machines, at substantial discount. I've always liked the design, the rotary barrel seems like a solid concept, and NATO says it works.

I guess, something else to consider.

Best,

Boomer

 

[flycbyrd]

oh yea keep it mind if you have never shot this kind of pistol,
double action semi-auto, esp in 40 s&w in a sub comp frame,
you may not be very accurate at first, but with practice you
will get there, the amount of practice depends on the shooter also

 

[timmy]

They also had a Stoeger Cougar in .40 there to look at, Great looking firearm. And I like the fact that their parent company is Benelli. Have a Benelli super nova great build quality. The only thing keeping me from considering the Cougar was the limited magazine capacity.

 

[timmy]

oh yea keep it mind if you have never shot this kind of pistol,
double action semi-auto, esp in 40 s&w in a sub comp frame,
you may not be very accurate at first, but with practice you
will get there, the amount of practice depends on the shooter also

Practice is needed with any firearm you own. All of the models I was looking at were what I would consider a standard frame size. The Sub compacts are just way too small for my hands to fit comfortably. So looking at least at a 4 in to 5 inch barrel. Having my pinky finger hang off the bottom of a weapon just does not feel right to me.

 

[flycbyrd]

Practice is needed with any firearm you own. All of the models I was looking at were what I would consider a standard frame size. The Sub compacts are just way too small for my hands to fit comfortably. So looking at least at a 4 in to 5 inch barrel. Having my pinky finger hang off the bottom of a weapon just does not feel right to me.

then you will def not like the baby glock 27
as i imagine our hands are the same size,
i can lay the gun in my hand as my hand is bigger,
its def a 3 finger gun which would require even more practice.
if you are wanting the best feeling gun i have ever put in my hand,
its a baby desert eagle imo.they quit making them
so they are hard to find and i was worried bout the
warranty and if i would have to get it serviced if they would
always have the parts thats why i didnt get that model style.
its a full frame pistol btw. its also known as a Jericho.
i think the xdm by springfield is gonna be your best choice,
but make sure you hold it before you buy it online or something
bc if it doesnt feel good then its not your gone, if it feels like it belongs in your hand , then it does...

 

[boomer56]

They also had a Stoeger Cougar in .40 there to look at, Great looking firearm. And I like the fact that their parent company is Benelli. Have a Benelli super nova great build quality. The only thing keeping me from considering the Cougar was the limited magazine capacity.

Sir, (I assume you are male, please correct me if in error), I don't know what potential uses you anticipate for your sidearm, but if 11+1 seems too limited, could I recommend you move to a place with fewer zombies?

I know it's popular to have half a box of ammo in your weapon at any one time, but really, if the caliber is appropriate, and you do your job behind the trigger, do we need that many backup rounds? The average use of handguns not on target ranges is at absurdly close range...can you really imagine needing more than three rounds to settle a situation taken to such a level?

For my money, I'd rather have fewer rounds behind a solid trigger, with a hammer, than more bullets behind a "closed striker system" that will probably work, but if it doesn't requires a slide rack. Obviously, that opinion doesn't carry much farther than my keyboard...but, well, I would like to think it matters.

Then again, if mine was a popular opinion, I guess certain Austrian gun makers would be less widely carried...

As before, interested to hear what you go with.

Best,

Boomer

 

[Uncle Erik]

I've also been eyeing several .40 handguns. I'm almost sold on the Glock 22, but want to try an XD. I might fork out the extra cash for a Sig or H&K USP. I have a Sig P6 and a USP .45 that I love, so it's tempting to stay with either brand.

Still, I like the Glocks quite a bit and would enjoy having one in the arsenal for some diversity.

I owned a .40 Sigma for a few years. It's a reasonably good firearm. Reliable and the price is terrific, but I didn't find it terribly accurate. This was over ten years ago, however, and I think S&W has made some improvements. I might pick up another Sigma just to have a gun to kick around and maybe leave in the car.

 

[Jim B.]

I wouldn't rule out the EMP and the Walther because of the 9+1 and 7+1 capacities. If you can't do whatever job you want to do with those capacities, then there is a problem.

 

[13ALPHA]

i wouldn't rule out the emp and the walther because of the 9+1 and 7+1 capacities. If you can't do whatever job you want to do with those capacities, then there is a problem.

+1

 

[Hreafn]

I have the XD in 40, my cop friends wish they could carry it. I have tried to make it misfire and jam i cant get it to misbehave. I do have the high cap mags but i agree with what was said here if you need more than 3 rounds you either need to hit the range more or move out of zombie town. What I love about the weapon is the loaded and cocked indicators. As far as glocks go they are a solid weapon platform I didnt like the way they fit in my hand. Thats what it really comes down to is how the weapon feels in your hand it is YOUR hide on the line.

 

[flycbyrd]

I have the XD in 40, my cop friends wish they could carry it. I have tried to make it misfire and jam i cant get it to misbehave. I do have the high cap mags but i agree with what was said here if you need more than 3 rounds you either need to hit the range more or move out of zombie town. What I love about the weapon is the loaded and cocked indicators. As far as glocks go they are a solid weapon platform I didnt like the way they fit in my hand. Thats what it really comes down to is how the weapon feels in your hand it is YOUR hide on the line.

exactly if it doesnt feel right in your hand its not for you
and if it does it was made for you. i would seriously consider
the Xd M, while the xd will be cheaper the Xd M is the updated
version of the xd and has a better handle, even more comfortable
then the old one...

 

[timmy]

I wouldn't rule out the EMP and the Walther because of the 9+1 and 7+1 capacities. If you can't do whatever job you want to do with those capacities, then there is a problem.

Live in a place with a lot of zombies and I mean a lot of zombies, think zombie land. you never know when you may need the extra capacity. Or maybe the real thing is I am lazy and do not want to reload magazines that often when buying a standard sized frame pistol.