Softest-shooting .40 S&W

[Harold Mayo]

While I've never really had much of a use for this round (I still think of it as a "newcomer"), I've recently been thinking that I would get at least one pistol chambered for it. I've had a Glock 23, Glock 22, Sig P229, and a BHP chambered in it and really didn't care for the recoil in any but the P229 (which was a soft-recoiling gun overall...very nice). I've been thinking of picking up another P229, probably a CPO gun, but there are some other offerings out there that weren't available when I messed with these other guns.

Specifically, what do you guys think of the S&W M&P in .40 S&W and the Springfield XD in the same caliber (and the different permutations of each gun)? I have heard that the M&P was actually originally designed around the round and that the 9mm version came from that rather than the other way around, as was the case with Glocks, and so the M&P handles the .40 a little better. I didn't like the recoil of the G23 I had. The G22 was ok but still not to my liking and a friend has actually had the breech face crack in his (Glock took care of him but the fact that it happened to someone I know rather than an anonymous internet guy is significant to me).

Any 1st hand experience with most or all of the above?

 

[AlexM105]

Try out the USP40.

 

[stevereno1]

You think of the .40 as a "newcommer"? Wow! Almost every police dapartment in the entire country has adopted the .40 s&w as their official sidearm caliber. The Glock-22 is about as tame as it gets in regards to "kick". The S&W m&p 40 is slowly gaining market share in the law-enforcement community, and by all reports that I have heard, is an equal, or better pistol than the Glock. Personally, I despise internal gun locks like the ones on all S&W handguns, and the jury is still out on the reliability of the S&W m&p pistols, but like them or hate them, Glock pistols have been proven to be the most reliable semi-autos ever made. My three cents.

 

[jdc1244]

The CZ 75 B is a joy to use in .40 S&W; I don’t know what you consider ‘soft’ but the recoil is very manageable with this excellent platform. Mine allows me to make nice groups and it’s been 100 percent reliable, like all my CZs.

 

[possum]

i agree the h&k usp .40 are nice and among the nicest. the glock is out for me as i don't like them in any claiber other than 9mm. i have great luck with the xd line, it is pretty soft shooting to me, i have no issues. and if you reload you can really get loads, that recoil very little, and makes shooting that much more fun. alot of people complain about the muzzle flip of the .40 but i haven't had this trouble with .40 handguns.

 

[wally]

Witness Elite Match. CZ 75B is a good second. The steel frames really soak up the recoil. My Armscor 1911-A2 P16 clone is also a soft shooter for a .40S&W, the tapered bull barrel helps.

If you reload 5.2gr Unique and a 180gr hard cast bullet is a joy to shoot with 10yard POA/POI close enough to the premium SD ammo to not worry about it.

--wally.

 

[Lonestar49]

Beretta Px4 40 vs Sig P229 40.. the winner is

...

3150 flawless rounds of 180gr with a Sig P229/40

Far better than I had imagined after 6450 flawless rounds with my Beretta Px4 40, until it developed trigger sting and sent it back to Beretta, as to their request, and after a 2 month wait, received an email from them saying, "yep, it does have trigger sting, do not know why, sending you a new Px4 40.."

3 months later, no gun, so I bought my first Sig P229/40 used, and knew from the very first shots, it was the_winner, especially with faster follow-up shots with more accuracy, as the all metal gun, being slightly heavier, absorbs more of the recoil and returns on target with much more natural balance than the Px4 did.

6 months later, and counting, waiting still, for my new Px4, I now own 2 P229/40's, as they are that good.. and believe in having back-ups, thanks to BUSA's ongoing BS and stall tactics in regards to CS and care..

By the time Beretta sends me my new gun, I will own 3 P229/40's, as the 40caliber is my main ccw, HD/SD gun and caliber of choice..


Ls

 

[kmrcstintn]

I recently got a Spinger XD 40 subcompact; thought that it was going to buck & snort pretty hard with the shorter barrel and shortened grip, but the captured dual recoil spring assembly does wonders for recoil absorption

 

[lechiffre]

beretta cougar

 

[makarovnik]

The heavier the better (the pistol not the recoil).

 

[MAKster]

The Sig 229 is an excellent choice for a 40. The weight of the all metal guns helps a lot to absorb recoil. I had a Glock 23 and felt it was too light.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

A soft-shooting .40 S&W is a little oxymoronic but recoil will always be lessened in a larger, preferably steel-framed gun.

Although pricey, the original gun for this cartridge - the S&W 4006, in TSW form - is still around, as are plenty of used non-TSWs.

 

[Disaster]

There are a few factors to consider in perceived recoil.

1. Weight...the greater the weight the less the recoil.
2. Bore axis...the lower the bore axis the less the rotational forces...less muzzle flip.
3. Recoil timing...the better a gun spaces out the recoil effects the less "sharp" it will feel.

Given these criteria, there are several guns that do a better job.

Heavy guns like metal Sigs or CZ's will have a bit less perceived recoil.

Low bore axis guns like the Steyr M40-A1 will have less muzzle flip.

Guns that space out the recoil, in particular, the HK designs with the recoil buffers will have less sharp recoil...which in particular, addresses one of the dislikes people have for the snappier .40 vs. the pushier .45.

 

[JBP55]

stevereno, All S&W guns do not have internal locks.

 

[Almond27]

I have a Smith and Wesson 4006 and find the recoil very manageable. It is an all stainless gun and handles it no probs I picked mine up for a good price too

 

[sadp40]

paraord p-16-40

full size goverment model. 16 rounds of .40 and a 5 inch barrel. soft doesn't really cover what she is. velvety would closer or silky...i love that lda trigger.

 

[SubSolar]

Sig 226 is the softest shooting .40 I've shot, particularly the ST model.

 

[AjayofCanada]

Stevereno what do you mean that all S&W autoloaders have the internal lock? I own a M&P and it didn't come with a internal lock of any kind, it is one of the options you can request if you like, my M&P only has one safety, the trigger safety just like a Glock. I have shot both the Glock and M&P, most people will say that the M&P just feels more ergonomic in the hand, and is easier to handle.

If you don't believe me go to the Gunblast website and read the review by Jeff Quinn, after shooting the M&P, he actually got rid of his CCW Glock and switched over to the M&P as his carry firearm.

 

[CaptPaul]

S&W

Both the M&P and XD are fine pistols. The recoil is minimal for the .40S&W in any well made pistol. In my mind it is not a whole lot different that a 9mm Parabellum. I recently aquired the M&P40. Mine is the LEO/MILITARY version with no internal lock or mag safety but i think they are available to the general public in the same configuration. I just couldn't bring my self to purchase the "Croation First Pistol" (The XD is actually a Croation pistol imported by Springfield). It is however a fine utility firearm.

I have put 500 rounds through my M&P and have had zero FTF/FTE. Ammo used was an even split of CCI Blazer (aluminum casings) and Winchester both FMJ. I believe the M&P to be a first rate utility handgun on par or better than GLOCK, FN, Springfield XD.

-Paul

 

[rbernie]

I have CZ, Sig, and S&W M&P pistols chambered in 40S&W. I have had XD and 1911-pattern pistols in 40S&W, as well. Of these, the Sig P226 is the softest shooter of them all. The M&P is noticably snappier than the rest (but it is also my EDC).

I tend to load 180gr to 950fps and that's quite comfortable in any of 'em.

 

[roc1]

Ditto on the CZ 75B in 40 cal.I love mine.The CZ is accurate in ever caliber I own which is about all of them.The XD is great I did own one in 40 I have 45acp Tactical now it is wonderful as well.
roc1

 

[azwizard]

Was out with a buddy who was shopping for a FN 5.7 at the Scottsdale gun club and was trying out some of the more expensive (fine) semi-autos to kill time. So long as you buy and use their ammo you can trade out guns as often as you want for your hours rental, cool.

Any way had been thinking of trying a .40 S&W again as it had been 10+ years since I'd shot one of them in a compact type gun and back then I'd been turned off by the really snappy recoil.

First I tried the SIG, Shot nice, not too bad of recoil but didn't really fit my hand well. Next up H&K USP, again shot really nice and noticeably less recoil ?? how since I was using the same ammo? Hmmm, potential here. I liked the look of the Expert and wanted to try that next but someone else had the range gun right then and I'd have to wait. Ok, Sales guy suggests the H&K P2000. Hold the phone, fit my hand like my colt woodsman and pointed so naturally I began to think I'm gonna be in trouble with Mamma if I shoot this thing. I should have put it down right then but I could feel the itch to squeeze the trigger and just had to try it out.....

Shot it and I was sold, It was ungodly accurate, tight little groups out as far as I could send the target, Mild perceived recoil. Never even tried the Expert as I shot up all the range ammo playing with the P2000. I did hold the Expert later and it was a lot heavier.

Consequently my new CCW came home with me and strangely enough Momma didn't even squawk about it, I think showing her the tiny little groups and my buddy's testimonial about how I agonized over the decision kept her quiet. But she also knew I was looking for a smaller gun to CC with as my current CCW had been a full size 1911.

People who shoot it are really surprised at how mild it shoots the .40 S&W and most like it. You need to be careful of the variant you pick up though I think mine is a 3, SA/DA/Decocker. It makes a difference in the quality of the trigger.

 

[benderx4]

I've shot a few, and my favorites are the HK USP40 and the Sig 229. Can't go wrong with either of these and that's a fact.

 

[Headless]

The P229 in .40S&W is a really light recoiling .40S&W. I'd go with it or - in my case, because it's manual of arms matches my other pistols - a S&W 4006.

 

[kle]

The softest shooting .40S&W-chambered gun I've shot is my H&K P7M10. That big, beefy slide and the steel frame really do soak up the recoil and spread its impulse out over a much longer period of time than my friend's Glock 23.