Shot my first .40 and now i want one, but don't know if i should skip and go .45

Queen Bee

Queen Bee

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Went out with 2 great friends, and shot my new LCP, it shot great, hitting the bullseye first shot, and 4 shots within an inch, they both had looks of OMG what did she just do LOL .target at 7yards i think . it was at outdoors . awesome shooter minus the little trigger bite. but still nice.

one of my friends brought his HK P2000sk in .40 with him. at first i was thinking this is going to want to fly up more than the .45 which ive heard all the internet talk about saying how the .40 recoils more than the .45,

Shot it , and its like a 9mm +p+, not bad at all.. im guessing partly due to the nice recoil system the hk's have vs say a single spring setup glock 3rd gen's have.

thinking about it though , since im already in bed with the 9's for eternity , should i pick up a .40?or stay with +P 9mm HST? is there that much difference in bullet?

glocks - probably not in the .40, since the i don't like the 4th gen's but they do have the better recoil spring setup with the dual vs the older single spring? Maybe a

xd compact or subcompact, not feeling the XDM's grip.
or maybe a HK P2000? any other ideas?

Or should i gloss over the .40 in favor of a .45 in similar size? the XDS is out , or xd .45, etc?
 
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The only thing I will warn you about any generation of Glock 40 and any model, is the problem with "setback" if you chamber the same round more than a couple of times.

If you do decide to pick up a .40 Glock, never ever ever keep clearing the weapon and putting the cleared round back in the top of the magazine to be re-chambered. IMHO anymore than twice and that round becomes a range round, that is how it works in my world.

The multiple chambering of a .40 round is why the Glock 40's blow up from most studies on the subject.
 
Yeah I know what you mean. But I have mostly 9mm handguns and am going straight to the 45. I do want a G23 soon so I will end up having the best of both worlds but I say get whatever feels comfortable to you or just to have fun. The SR1911 is a sweet handgun but I do love the G23. I've only heard good things about the XDS so go for either of them. Or both!
 
In semi autos, recoil is a function of slide weight (in revolvers it's overall weight), bullet weight, bullet velocity, spring weight, and a bunch of other factors (coefficient of friction in the barrel, etc). In other words, asides from a handful of calibers specifically designed to be beasts, the caliber doesn't matter wrt recoil. For instance, walther PPKs in .380 are actually miserable to shoot in relation to .25 ACP versions and most locking .45s. Caliber isn't the only issue to determine recoil so don't use that as a proxy for whether or not you think you can shoot a particular gun. Shoot it and see first hand. Everything else doesn't matter.
 
I recently bought a SW 1911sc E series, and people were worried about the light weight of the scandium frame and it having too much recoil. To tell you the truth, I don't feel a difference between that .45 and my XD40
 
Ive owned and shot a Glock 23 and XDm 40, and MP 40c. One of my friends has a SR40c. Out of the four, the SR40c by far the best trigger and the least felt recoil. If I were buying a 40, that would be it and it's easy to get in MA for not a lot of money.
 
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You could always go 10mm and have the option of using light loads for target shooting and "hotter" loads when needed [wink]

Btw I recently shot a Glock 26 and 27 side by side, factory ammo, didn't notice a terrible increase in recoil with the .40, nothing unpleasant at least.

Smith and Wesson 3rd Gens are an abundant and affordable option as well, I've got one and it's a very soft shooter with 180 gr ammo. Kinda heavy though....
 
Mark from MA said:
Ive owned and shot a Glock 23 and XDm 40, and MP 40c. One of my friends has a SR40c. Out of the four, the SR40c by far the best trigger and the least felt recoil. If I were buying a 40, that would be it and it's easy to get in MA for not a lot of money.
Click to expand...

My SR9c does have an excellent trigger and the recoil is very manageable. I'm guessing the SR40c has the same trigger pull as the SR9c so I'd go with this. You can't go wrong with a Ruger.
 
Glockaholic said:
The only thing I will warn you about any generation of Glock 40 and any model, is the problem with "setback" if you chamber the same round more than a couple of times.

If you do decide to pick up a .40 Glock, never ever ever keep clearing the weapon and putting the cleared round back in the top of the magazine to be re-chambered. IMHO anymore than twice and that round becomes a range round, that is how it works in my world.

The multiple chambering of a .40 round is why the Glock 40's blow up from most studies on the subject.
Click to expand...

Great bit of advice. Thanks for that info.
 
Nothing wrong with .40 at all. I have an XD40 sc and a SIG P229 in .40 and I shoot them both as well as my 9mm handguns. Though, if given a choice of buying my first .40 or .45 I'd go with .45.
 
A lot of the recoil difference between a .45 and a .40 depends on the gun and the ammo used. I bet if you fire 10 different guns where half were .40 and the other half .45 you would not be able to tell which was which. I would personally just get a .45, but if you can afford it, get one of each and play around with them to see which you prefer.
 
Personally, I'd keep the 9's for carry and start an addiction to .45 1911's [smile]

At least that's what my plan is.
 
ColdDayInHell said:
I really want to shoot a 10mm but nobody I know has one. I'd end up loving it and buying one anyways. I am way too impulsive.
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Come on down to Andover Sportsman's club some time and you can try mine. I'll load up some "special" hand loads so you can feel the awesomeness of the 10mm! This offer is open to the OP or any one else who wants to check it out.
 
nah im all set on getting a 10mm handgun lol..

mostly just figuring what caliber to start on next. .40 seems great, but then again only shot a .40 through one gun. why not just head to .45 and make justifying an XDS that much more lol...

im going to have to head on over to AFS and rent a .40 and a .45 glock it seems and try them out.
 
QB...I've been waiting for this thread. You can't start and stop with 9mm!

I really like the Sig P229 in 40s&w. You can get a 9mm conversation barrel and some 9mm mags, and then you can try it in both calibers. If you'd like to try it out, let me know.

(Oh, and you'll end up with a .45 at some point regardless. If it's a 1911, you'll wonder why all triggers aren't as awesome as the 1911's.)
 
If you do a glock 40, i'd go with the 23, recoil is much less on that frame and I personally shot it more accurate. the 27 to me (yes i know many people will swear by it) just had too much muzzle flip for my liking, I carried and shot it often enough to get pretty good with it but in the end went with a glock 26 and 19 in 9mm (which i know you have QueenB) and glock 30 in 45. The Glock 30 is my favorite still. I am one to prefer 9mm or 45acp. the .40 is cool but not my cup of tea.

just my .02
 
I have no issues with 40 Cal. My S&W 4013 is a great little gun. Its the double stack model. The grip is big but not huge. I have smaller hands. Its easy to grab quickly and no fumbling for a positive grip. I knew nothing of the naysaying of 40 sw wjhen I tried and liked this model. Great carry gun.....for me anyway. In perspective I tried a semi auto sw in 9mm chief special the grip is to thin and even the lighter recoil I find myself regripping after a few rounds.
 
I own a glock 27 and 22. They both run perfectly. Every trip to the range I'll bring one of them (mostly my 27 as it's my carry gun). A 40 is a great option as it's got the high capacity magazine availability along with being a more powerful round than a 9mm. Of course personally wouldn't want to be shot with either :). I know you're a Glock fan so the 27, 23, and 22 are all amazing options. As for the 45 I'm buying a brand new Glock 30 in the next few months. I shot it the other day and fell in love. To be honest I haven't met a Glock yet I didn't love!
 
Glockaholic said:
The only thing I will warn you about any generation of Glock 40 and any model, is the problem with "setback" if you chamber the same round more than a couple of times.

If you do decide to pick up a .40 Glock, never ever ever keep clearing the weapon and putting the cleared round back in the top of the magazine to be re-chambered. IMHO anymore than twice and that round becomes a range round, that is how it works in my world.

The multiple chambering of a .40 round is why the Glock 40's blow up from most studies on the subject.
Click to expand...
While this is great advice, it's scarcely limited to .40 S&W. I experienced setback with 9mm HST rounds.

And while I'm at it, if you want to go .45 move up to a 1911. Non-1911 .45s are just silly.
 

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