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A 40 CALIBER QUESTION

2K views 27 replies 16 participants last post by  Double D 
#1 ·
What pistol would you recommend for a 40 caliber? I know that you can spend a lot of money, but what would be a good middle of the road gun? What your thoughts on the Ruger SR40c?
 
#3 ·
You both have good choices. I look for what fits the hand the most natural (grip/trigger) and narrow those down to control of rapid follow up shots. Then reliability rep as a deal breaker. Then make sure the holster I want actually exists. If I can't carry it the way I want, it will end up being a dust collector. Then check with a gunsmiths and ask their opinion and insight. Then call the manufacture tech support and see what kind of CS you can expect. Ask for the typical problems they see with the gun. There is always lemons so they do have a bell curve of issues.
 
#4 ·
While some here have no problem with owning a plastic gun, I do. All metal guns are virtually forever. They are tougher, stronger, and the metal in them does not degrade with time. Today's "Modern" plastic guns exits because they are much less expensive to produce. The machining time is minimal as the frames come out of the dies virtually complete with no machining required if done right. Metal guns get close the that if they are investment cast as Ruger has done for decades. If you want a throwaway gun then buy plastic. If you want a gun to pass to you heirs then buy an all metal gun.

I am not up on the pricing as of today after the election of Obama in 2011 but the best bang for your buck in the past has been the CZ line of all metal guns. The CZ 75B in 40S&W is what I have and it is superb for a tactical and personal protection use gun. It was the first gun I ever handled that fit my hand perfectly (a personal thing). It WAS the most gun for the least money. Today????

Just food for thought. Buy whatever suits you.

LDBennett
 
#6 ·
Everyone is entitled to their opinion but to call a weapon made in part with polymer material a "plastic gun" is akin to saying an individual wearing a Kevlar body armor vest is really just wearing a plastic tee shirt........ it may sound cute in a debate but just doesn't correlate.

I retired from the aviation field and over my years I saw the dependance on steel and aluminum being replaced by lighter and stronger materials such as Kevlar, polymers of all types, carbon fiber composites and other high strength "plastics". They all have their place in modern fabrication and if you look at weapons with polymer frames, the critical components are still made from steel, titanium and aluminum.

I looked up the CZ75B pistol you have, looks nice but I also noticed that even the Czechs are modernizing their factories and coming out with their own versions of aluminum frames and "plastic" guns, I think the CZ 75 Phantom is particularly striking in it's polymer frame!

Whatever floats our boats!
 
#5 ·
If you are looking for a carry gun, check out the XD 40 Subcompact. One benefit I really like is the 9 rd mag loaded, with the 12 rd mag in a mag holster.

Bottom line, pick the one that feels the best and you shoot the best. Rent several if you can.
 
#7 ·
Plastic (OK, Polymer) guns took over the bottom end of the market because the price to make a metal gun has gotten to be too expensive for an entry level potential gun owner. Guns like the CZ75 and CZ97, the 1911 (well almost all of them), the Browning Hi Power and several other all metal guns have survived the polymer invasion but look at their prices compared to most polymer guns. It is my opinion (and yes, yours may vary) that polymer guns are prevalent to keep prices down to where people can afford to buy a gun, any gun, in these financially depressed times.

Just because everything is going to plastics and polymers does not mean these items will last as long as metal guns made of quality steel and aluminum. I don't think I have ever owned something made of plastic that did not eventually get brittle and crack. I think it the nature of the beast (??). Reading the Wikipedia article on the degradation of polymers is enough to dissuade anyone thinking of a polymer gun. Whether is directly applies to gun polymers I have no idea and I don't want to find out the hard way.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymer_degradation

LDBennett
 
#8 ·
If I were to choose a poly gun it would be either a springfield xdm or a s&w m&p..
 
#12 ·
The 40S&W is my favorite SD ammo, so I have several polymer and steel handguns in that caliber. I also have the Ruger SR40c which has great ergonomics, but it also has a little snap to it in the 40s&W, but so does my P99. The steel handguns handle it much better.
 
#16 ·
don't have the PF9 (Father-in-Law has one), but do have the ruger LC9, Which is pretty close in size. Comparing to a Glock 26,27. The LC9 is about an inch shorter in length, but a little longer in height. It is much wider being that it's a double stack rather than a single stack like the LC9.
So comparing to a G-23, The width would be the same, be about the same height. but the length would be about 1.5" longer.
Because of the thinness of the LC9, it makes a great CCW. IMHO
 
#18 ·
I've never understood the fascination with the .40 S&W to be honest. I have a friend that loves the round, many people do, but to me it's just a hopped up 9mm.

No thanks, if I want a caliber that starts with 4, i'll stick with the .45.
 
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#22 ·
Another +1 for the glock 23. Been carrying one every day for a few years now. Accurate, reliable and no malfunctions to date. I'm not too big a dude so I only cc when I can wear my sweater or jacket. Summertime I pocket carry something small when I go to town. I put an extended slide release, 3.5lb trigger bar, some polishing to smooth the trigger pull, and some night sights.
 
#24 ·
I have a P250 in 9mm/.40S&W (exchangeable slide/barrel assembly). I like the pistol, myself. I don't particularly care for the DAO and I think that is part of the reason it flopped along with the Sig going from a steel gun to a plastic gun. They changed those two things at the same time and it was the formula for failure.

EDIT: My LGS has a couple of them that he can't seem to give away (his words).
 
#26 ·
The full-size steel Taurus, the one on the Beretta frame, handles the caliber easily. It is inexpensive. My LGS owner recommends the new plastic S&W for new .40 owners. He says he hasn't had any brought back to him. They are a bit smaller than the Taurus and are also inexpensive
 
#27 ·
I have sent at least 4 Ruger SR series pistols back to Ruger because the trigger bar wasn't making proper contact with the striker and wouldn't reset consistently after every shot, that being said I also vote for the Glock 23. I love mine and carry it everywhere, but Glock has good competition with the Springfield Armory XD/XDM series and the S&W- M&P/Shield series'. Springfield has a deal going on right now where you buy one of their pistols and send the proof of purchase in and they will send you I think it's 3 free magazines for your pistol. That deal only lasts til October 31st, 2014 though, just something to keep in mind :)
 
#28 ·
Yea, you get 3 extra magazines and a double mag pouch. I know because I bought a stainless target 1911 recently and sent in for the mags. Got them right away too...
 
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