Best .40 Handgun - Key point: The .40 was originally developed to give law enforcement a more powerful pistol than the 9mm.
Times are always changing, and that certainly applies to the gun world. The current trend we see today is the revival of the 9mm at the expense of the .40 S&W.
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For example, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has recently switched from the .40 S&W to the 9mm Luger, specifically switching from the Glock 22 and 23 to the Glock 17 and 19. The military United States is strongly considering the change to . 40, but ultimately stuck with 9mm when they chose the SIG Sauer M17 as their new service weapon. And police departments across the country are trading in their .40 caliber pistols for 9mm.
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It's not hard to see why. Although the 9mm FMJ is a relatively weak manstopping round, today there are a number of highly effective self-defense hollow point loads available to civilians and law enforcement alike. As a result, the need for the .40 was greatly reduced, and furthermore, the 9mm pistols carried more ammunition and had a lighter recoil.
See, the whole reason the .40 was developed was to give law enforcement a more powerful pistol than the 9mm. Yes, .45 ACP does not exist, but the capacity of .45 pistols is also limited. This is why the 10mm was developed, but when the recoil created from the round was a little too much for some, it was shortened to the .40 S&W we have today.
The .40 S&W has served well for many years and will continue to do so for many more to come, but as discussed recently, moving to a round that suppresses the potential power has increased significantly and the reason for that is in a lighter and more manageable package. 'have seen the .40 pistol begin to be replaced by the 9mm.
But at the same time, this move away from .40 means that there is now an abundance of surplus .40 caliber pistols on the market, many of which are available at lower than average prices. And just because the .40 caliber itself isn't as popular as it used to be doesn't mean it isn't a viable choice for defense.
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In fact, .40 is the third most popular caliber today, after 9mm and .45 ACP, and is still very easy to find. For these reasons, a .40 caliber pistol is still the more practical option for self-defense or home defense, and again, the abundance of surplus guns and police exchanges mean you have a lot of choice at points. budget price.
What makes the Beretta Px4 Storm an amazing option for .40 is its capacity: 14 + 1 rounds in the full-size version and 12 + 1 in the Compact model, which is the same type of capacity that you would expected from a 9mm gun.
The Px4 also deserves a place on this list due to the fact that the rotating barrel design helps reduce the additional recoil generated from the heavier .40 caliber round. The gun is also safe to carry thanks to its double action trigger pull and manual slide safety, which also functions as a decocking lever like the Beretta 92 series.
The Px4 also has an ML-STD 1913 Picatinny Rail and gun back straps for different hand sizes.
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Want to know a .40 pistol that holds more bullets than the Beretta Compact Storm Px4? This is the most popular law enforcement pistol ever made: the Glock 22, which has a 15 + 1 round capacity.
The Glock 22 has ridden in the ranks of current US law enforcement officers more than any other pistol currently available, which is certainly a big claim to fame. The Gen 5 version was recently released, which has many improved features such as different ergonomics and a flared mag well for easier reloading.
The Glock 22 is basically the same as the Glock 17 in terms of dimensions, only it is chambered for .40 instead of 9mm. A smaller variant of the Glock 22 in .40 is called the Glock 23, which holds 13 + 1 bullets and is about the same size as a Glock 19.
The Heckler & Koch USP is a pistol designed entirely around the .40 caliber. This is in direct contrast to many other pistols on the market chambered in .40 that are built on a 9mm platform.
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Since .40 caliber is a high pressure round, this means that 9mm frames chambered in .40 will generally have a shorter service life than 9mm. But since the HK USP is built around the .40 caliber, it can withstand a few thousand more rounds before parts need to be replaced.
Beyond that, the USP HK is a full size duty pistol that holds 13+1 rounds of .40 in the magazine. The Compact variant, which is about the size of a Glock 19 and easier to conceal, holds 12 + 1 rounds.
The USP is a double action single action pistol with a frame mounted safety and decocking lever. The safety can be done without cocking the handgun, so the pistol can be carried cocked and locked like a 1911, and make your first shot a crisp, nice single action pull.
There are currently many surplus and law enforcement trade in SIG Sauer P226 and P229 pistols in .40 S&W floating around the market for only $300 to $400, which represents a truly incredible value. These pistols may be well worn on the outside, but on the inside they have been fired very little and are still in very good condition.
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Regardless of whether you're going for a surplus SIG or a new one, you're guaranteed a quality pistol regardless. The P226 and P229 hold 12 + 1 rounds with the factory magazine, while quality aftermarket Mec-Gar magazines will extend this capacity to 13 or 14 rounds.
The P226 and P229 are double action single action pistols without a manual safety. But there were also versions of them, popular with law enforcement, that only had a lighter double action pull. These are called DAK pistols, and are one of the most popular surplus options available for the budget price point.
Like the USP HK, the Smith & Wesson M&P is also built on a .40 caliber frame, which should provide a longer service life than other .40 pistols.
The full size M&P pistol holds 15 + 1 rounds when chambered in .40, providing equivalent firepower to the Glock 22. The Compact 2.0 model holds 13 + 1 rounds, and is slightly smaller for purposes concealed carry.
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The M&P has proven to be a very reliable striker-fired pistol, and has also found its way into the ranks of law enforcement officers across the United States. The 2.0 M&Ps also have very aggressive stippling on the grip, which is becoming a huge trend in the pistol world today.
Walther pistols like the P99 and PPQ are known for being some of the most ergonomic pistols on the market today. The P99 itself is a very unique proposition. Although it is a striker fired gun, it is a double action/single action pistol with a decocking lever.
The PPQ is a more traditional striker fired auto in that it only has a very light and crisp single action trigger, which is also widely regarded as one of the best triggers of any pistol money can buy today.
The P99 and PPQ also hold 11+1 or 12+1 rounds of .40, depending on the magazine you get. One thing to keep in mind is that they can be quick to chamber for the .40 round, so you need to be prepared for that and get a lot of practice so you can handle the recoil properly.
Beretta Px4 Storm 40 S&w 4in Black Pistol
Any of these .40 caliber pistols would be a good choice for home defense, concealed carry, self defense, or simple range use.
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