40 s&w- which guns can handle it?

[Fat Boy]

I keep reading that the 40 s&w round is hard on guns, wears them out more quickly than other calibers, etc. could someone "rank" which makes, models are the toughest, from say strongest to weakest? Not every gun/model, obviously but as much as you would care to share.

I have also read that some models were designed or scaled around this caliber as opposed to ramping up a model in 9mm.

I am looking at an FN, and s&w m&p in the .40 right now. Possibly a Beretta Vertec also.

And in the case of the s&w m&p, does the compact model wear more quickly than the full sized version?

I know recoil is snappier, not an issue at this point.

Thank you

 

[PabloJ]

I would look at G23 though Ruger, S&W, Walther,...... make same guns with their names on them. There really isn't any difference among them. The FN is same except it has visible hammer the others mentioned have internal striker instead.

 

[Fremmer]

I think I'd focus on which model you shoot the best; I'd expect the full sized .40 version made by most manufacturers to be tough enough.

Check out used glocks and sig cpo 229's for a really good deal.

 

[WestKentucky]

Could be that many .40 are built on platforms designed for 9mm and made to work with the larger caliber. As others have said the big names should easily take the beating, but I would be skeptical of the 9mm framed guns and 40sw framed guns of the same weight. That tells me they likely just opened up barely enough to cram a bigger bullet through it and may not have properly redesigned. But then again the differences would be slight so they may be negligible. If the 9 is heavier for sure be cautios because they just made a bigger hole in the barrel fit...assuming the model---9mm predates the model---40sw

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

I keep reading that the 40 s&w round is hard on guns, wears them out more quickly than other calibers, etc. could someone "rank" which makes, models are the toughest, from say strongest to weakest? Not every gun/model, obviously but as much as you would care to share

Figure I'll get this in before it gets too much into the X vs. Y brand.

Even in a 40 caliber, among the top five or six brands you will likely never where the gun out. Even if for some reason it only last ten years and 100,000 rounds, the cost of replacing the gun with a new one is pretty near nothing compared to the money you spent on ammo, so get what you like and what fits and shoots well for you. If you can find a range that rents them, it might be the best way to find what you like and works best for you.

Note: The only way to rewrite parts of history the way it really happened is to go back in time and write it yourself.

 

[What Would You Say]

I have had a glock model 23 since the early '90's. Never a moments trouble. I'm a Colt SAA as well as other Colt models and USFA SA collector... I like my 1911's, but I feel the most secure with that 40 S&W caliber. When loaded with defensive ammo, it wreaks havoc much more noticeable than my other calibers. I am very pleased and one of the only guns that I have never traded. It's a necessary tool.

 

[RunninLate]

I have 4 40 caliber guns and really like the caliber for protection but just to go out an shoot a couple hundred rounds is not for me. At less, with the 40.

My oldest 40 is a S&W that Glock sued them for patent infringements. That gun came from a police armory. I have no idea how many rounds have been put through it but it is still as tight as my Glock, Springfield and Sig.

Point is that I do not think that you can really wear out a good brand gun and there is others that I would rather burn a lot of powder through.

 

[JTQ]

From an older Modern Service Weapons article by Hilton Yam.
http://modernserviceweapons.com/?p=171

the M&P was designed for the .40, with steel chassis for increased rigidity and none of the durability or function issues of the Glock 22.

However, from a newer article in the same source document
http://modernserviceweapons.com/?p=7556#more-7556

If you are shooting .40 because of departmental constraints, then the playing field has leveled out a bit with the production of the Gen4 Glock, which offers a purpose built dual recoil spring system which significantly softens the recoil and promotes greater longevity than the Gen3 guns. Function with attached weapon lights is also dramatically improved in the Gen4. Only 2 years ago, the clear choice in .40 was the M&P, but now users have the added option of the Gen4 Glock 22 or 23.

 

[Fiv3r]

I have an fns-40 that I love. My guess is that gun designed around the .40 is going to handle it just fine.
I think one of the gripes about the fnx-9 is that it feels like it's been milled down from a .40 gun, and I can see that.

I wholeheartedly recommend the fnh pistols. I don't think you'll wear it out anytime soon.

 

[ScarLata]

Sig P229 & P226
Glock 23 Gen4
Steyr M40-A1 & L40-A1
H&K USP

 

[CDW4ME]

Glock 23, Kahr K40 (steel)

 

[Bovice]

Get the P229. Or better still, the P229 in full stainless.

All you gotta do is change recoil springs about every 4k.

 

[Strahley]

The Beretta/Stoeger Cougar was built as a .40 and later chambered for 9mm and .45

 

[OregonJohnny]

If you like the Beretta 90-series, and want a .40 S&W, I would go with a 96 Brigadier (had a slightly wider and heavier slide, with increased slide mass around the locking block area), or the 96A1. The 96A1 has an internal recoil buffer machined into the frame. The Brigadier models are getting harder and harder to find at a decent price, but the 96A1 is current production.

The standard 96 was discontinued about a year ago (or more). The Brigadier and the 96A1 were answers to the problem of the .40 S&W cartridge putting addition wear and tear on standard components that were originally designed for the 9mm. The added benefit of the Brigadier models is that the added mass in the slide helps reduce felt recoil and muzzle flip. Both the Brig and the A1 have dovetailed sights, too. Standard 92/96 guns do not.

 

[EdLaver]

Nobody is giving the Glock 22 any love, I think its the best full size .40 pistol on the market...my gen3 has been a beast with well over 3k rounds through it. All I did was change to a steel guide rod.

 

[gym]

You will wear out before the gun does. As long as it's a quality firearm, don't sweat it.

 

[mgmorden]

Amongst the big names I wouldn't worry about it. I do know that the M&P was designed for .40 and then scaled down to 9mm, whereas the Glock was designed for 9mm and then adapted to .40 later on, but even in that case enough LEO's use Glocks that its pretty easily proven that they are plenty durable enough.

I'm personally a bigger fan of 9mm but I do have a S&W SD40VE and a S&W SW99 in .40S&W and both work well for me.

 

[Dframe]

I'm shooting a tiny CW-40 Kahr. I have 2500 rounds through it so far, with ZERO malfunctions and NO indication of any unusual wear.

 

[burk]

I would take this a step further and argue that any of the quality 40's will be fine. The real question of durability in 40's comes with not to spec reloads and unsupported chambers. They go Kaboom, and despite the fact that the M & P was built around the .40 they are subject to the issues of oversized cartridges as much as the next guy. I've seen M & P's, HK's, Berettas, and Sigs go boom along with Glocks. Glock has more instances of it, but I suspect this is because of far more police use and the police habit of shooting purchased reloads for practice. The 23 was a fine gun with true to SAMI spec 40 rounds and is no more or less fragile than any other platform. The real issue corrected with the Gen4 was the the old 23's weaker spring which gave the gun some issues of failure with a weapons light attached to the front rail.

 

[powder]

Gen 4 G27 is insane with the double RSA. Crazy accurate.

 

[DaisyCutter]

I supply my person firearms for duty. I've used my gen-3 Glock 22 and Glock 27 for years. They both function flawless, even the Glock 22 with the weaponlight.

I did, over the years wear the mag release to the point it got mushy. I took it to Glockmeister once and he freshened it up for about $15.

 

[RussellC]

Agreed. Not saying it hasnt happened, but at 57 I have yet to see a worn out Glock.

Russellc

 

[<*(((><]

Find one that has a fully supported chamber, I know the full frame S&W M&P's do have a fully supported chamber as my brother owns one. It is easy to check if the guy at the gun counter will let you take the barrel out of the gun and drop an empty case in the chamber.

Just search google 'fully supported chamber' for pictures of different manufacturers. The Glocks are the biggest culprits because they are very generous in the ramp which in turn doesn't support the rear of the case and causes premature wear. One reason while I will never own a Glock .40 with a standard Glock barrel. Not knocking Glock they make great firearms but I want a fully supported chamber period. I don't know if all generation Glock's lack a fully supported chamber, but I know that they seem to own the copyright on what's referred to the "Glock Smiley".

And all of this talk about kabooms really is only a problem if you intend to reload or buy reloads. If your only buying factory new ammunition, I would tell you to consider a Glock.

 

[Blue Brick]

Ruger P91

 

[RunninLate]

Not sure I am following this completely. Here a few pictures of my S&W 40. Is this completely chambered?