Best 40S&W for CC

groundhog34 said:

Looking for suggestions on the best 40cal for CC. I want something the size of a Glock 43. Reliability is first, round count second, accuracy third in importance. Please do NOT denigrate, that word is not racist, 40cal or try to convince me 9mm is just as good. Just ideas on the best gun.

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Shield and glock 23 are my 40 cal choice.

My EDC is a Ruger SR40c. I absolutely love it.

I also have a S&W M&P40 Shield... but I prefer the Ruger... it is nearly the same size, just a hair "thicker", and holds 9+1 with the small mags vs 6 or 7+1 for the Shield.

GLOCK G23.4/.40.

Carried one for decades starting w/ the G23.2, and then upgraded to the G23.4.

Mostly carry a G36/.45 ACP now, because it's a little lighter/thinner/more comfortable to carry in a suede IWB holster.

...but that's not the G23.4's fault.




GR

300Whspr said:

My EDC is a Ruger SR40c. I absolutely love it.

I also have a S&W M&P40 Shield... but I prefer the Ruger... it is nearly the same size, just a hair "thicker", and holds 9+1 with the small mags vs 6 or 7+1 for the Shield.

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And now might be a ideal time to get the wonderful SR9C in 40c.

And really interested in the Grand Power.

Groundhog,

I will not suggest any gun. Just that you may want to rent whichever gun you are considering and try it out first. Recoil can be a problem in small guns.

Jim

I wouldnt say it is the Best, but if you want to get your feet wet in the small single stack .40s&w You can still find the Taurus Slim pt740 single stack .40s&w on GB new.. But man are they a handful and that's coming from someone that loves Shooting .40. It is doable though and you seem to get used to it.

BirminghamPistol still has them for Around $230 shipped or so. And I see other sellers with them for Under $200 new and used. These seem Hold close to their value if you decide the small framed .40 isn't for you and you want to turn around and sell it. I've ran the tar out of the 709 9mm I have. It's been trouble free for years. This style has supposedly been discontinued this year to make room for the new single stack 9 they have but I prefer this style over the new pt111 g2 style the new single compact is based around. .

My 2 cents.
I recommend the Shield. I have a Shield in 9mm and it carries and fits very well.

As far as comfort in shooting, I have an M&P 40 full size and regularly shoot 150-300 rounds in a session about 3-4 times a month and it's much more comfortable shooting 300 rounds of 40 in this than 50 rounds of 9 in the Shield. For SD and CCW, even with the added recoil of 40, it's not going to matter and the Shield 40 will serve you well.

Learn how to rack the slide by pushing with your trigger hand rather than pulling with your weak hand, remember that the slide lock is not a slide release and be sure to line up the recoil spring properly before reassembling the stripped gun and you'll have a great defensive gun that will conceal nicely.

Glock 27 Gen4, I pack one daily If you IWB or OWB it's a great choice but mostly I just carry it in my pocket in a Remora holster.

40 can be a handful due to its "snappiness", even in a full size handgun. I like my S&W shield, which is 9mm, but also available in 40.

I have a S&W Shield chambered in a 40 cal. I really like the gun, it has always gone bang, it isn't obnoxious, heavy, has a decent round count, the sights line up quick to my eyes (I replaced then with Fiber optic fire sights), it comes apart easily to clean and the mags feed well. All this said I don't like 40 cal that much, if I ever have to use it defensively I'm sure I won't complain about it but the recoil of it just isn't very nice, I can handle the recoil and shoot it well but I would much rather shoot a 9mm.

Given the OP’s criteria, it sounds like he’s looking for a Shield. It’s a proven design by a solid company with lots of accessories available for that particular model. Leather, sights, etc. I’ve shot both the 9mm and .40 version and, though I can tell the difference in recoil between the two, the .40 is very manageable. And good deals can be found on the .40 version these days.

Had a shield in .40 and hated the trigger. Sold it and wrote off the Shield from any further consideration. Wasn’t the newer model so I can’t say much on them.

I used an early m&p as well as one of the first shields (back when they were going for twice their value). The triggers are much better now. I still prefer the glock myself, but I'd look at them again if it's been a while

Really unless you want to spend twice as much for less warranty and bigger the Newer Shield is probably it. HJere is my old Calif version, was great for what it was

Definitely the Springfield XDM compact. It's good sized but concealable, and had standard 16 round mags and is close as you can get to 100% reliable

Otherwise Ruger src, great trigger and easier to conceal

p229 .. built for .40 S&W ... 29 oz absorbs recoil. 12 shots. This is an OWB but works fine in IWB and shoulder as well.




It's my EDC but I recently converted to 9mm.



In IWB as well:

You can get the 1.0 (older) version new S&W Shields in 9 and 40 for between $250-270 right now. $269 at Bass Pro/Cabelas for either caliber. Even some of the PC models are on sale. I opted for a PC 9 (older version) with night sights for $399. If you're concerned about the trigger on the standard Shield, the PC or 2.0 models have better triggers. In 9mm it's very comfortable shooting but I've never shot one in 40.

The only two guns I have any experience with, that come close to your requirements, are the P239 and P224. Both discontinued, but available used.

Glock 27
they are for sale everywhere
Get a used one for cheap

Got to agree on the Glock 27. Handles recoil nicely in a small package. Shield ok but buy apex trigger kit to go along with it. Got both but mostly carry FNX 40. Larger but still my preference.

I carried a M&P40c (before the 2.0 offering) for some time and found it was easy to conceal. 10-round flush base plates, I hadn't any use for the pinky extension. It now has a Storm Lake 357Sig barrel.
It's proven reliable and accurate in both .40S&W and 357 Sig.

They can be found for well under $400. CDNN currently has them for $340 NIB.

I like my Kahr P40. A used Sig P239 would be good if you prefer a gun with a hammer.

I have no experience with the multitude of striker fired guns other than the Glock 27, and I assume it's too fat if you want something G43 sized. Yes, I know the Kahr is striker fired, but the long trigger stroke is different from the typical Glock, xD or M&P trigger pull.

I have a Shield chambered in 40 S&W and I like everything about it, except it being a 40. It shoots good, has always worked, carries well and everything else it should do, I just don't like shooting the 40 round very much.