.40 Caliber Pistol - Key Point: The .40 was designed to give law enforcement a more powerful handgun than the 9mm.
Times are always changing and that is certainly the case in the world of weapons. The current trend we are seeing now is the resurgence of the 9mm at the expense of the .40 S&W.
.40 Caliber Pistol
For example, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently switched from the .40 S&W to the 9mm Luger, specifically moving from the Glock 22 and 23 to the Glock 17 and 19. The U.S. military was strongly considering moving to the .40, but eventually stuck with the 9mm when they chose the SIG Sauer M17 as their new service weapon. And police departments across the country are trading their .40 caliber handguns for 9mm.
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It's not hard to see why. While the 9mm FMJ is a fairly weak stopping round, there are a wide variety of highly effective self-defense rounds available to civilians and law enforcement today. As a result, the need for the .40 has been greatly reduced, plus 9mm pistols carry more bullets and have a lighter recoil.
You see, the whole reason the .40 was developed was to give law enforcement officers a more powerful handgun than the 9mm. Yes, there was no .45 ACP, but .45 pistols also had a very limited capacity. So the 10mm was developed, but when the recoil of the round was too much for some, it was shortened to the .40 S&W we have today.
The .40 S&W has served us well for many years and will continue to do so in the future, but as just discussed, the transition to a round stopping power potential has increased significantly, and why in a lighter and more manageable package have we seen the . 40 pistols are starting to be replaced by 9mm.
But at the same time, this shift away from .40 means that there are many .40 caliber pistols on the market today, many of which are available at below average prices. And just because the .40 caliber itself isn't as popular as it once was doesn't mean it's not 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 handgun is still a more than viable option for self-defense or home defense, and again, the oversized guns and cops mean you have plenty of options for a low price.
What makes the Beretta Px4 Storm an impressive option in .40 is its capacity: 14+1 rounds in the full-sized version and 12+1 rounds in the compact, which is the same capacity you'd expect from a 9mm. gun.
The Px4 also deserves a spot on this list because its rotating barrel design helps reduce the extra recoil of a heavier .40 caliber bullet. The gun is also safe to carry thanks to the double-action trigger and manual slide safety, which doubles as a release lever like the Beretta 92 series.
The Px4 also has an ML-STD 1913 Picatinny Rail and pistol straps for different hand sizes.
S&w Vs. 9mm
Want to know a .40 pistol that holds even more bullets than the Beretta Px4 Storm Compact? It is the most popular law enforcement pistol ever made: the Glock 22, with a capacity of 15+1 rounds.
The Glock 22 has been in the wallets of more current law enforcement officers in the United States than any other handgun currently available, which is certainly a major claim to fame. A Gen 5 version was recently released, which has some improved features such as different ergonomics and flared magazines for easier reloading.
Basically, the Glock 22 is identical in dimensions to the Glock 17, only chambered in .40 instead of 9mm. A smaller variant of the Glock 22 in .40 is called the Glock 23, which contains a 13+1 cartridge and is the same size as the Glock 19.
The Heckler & Koch USP is a pistol designed entirely for the .40 caliber. This is in stark contrast to many other .40 chambered pistols on the market that are built on the 9mm platform.
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Since the .40 caliber is a high pressure round, this means that 9mm frames chambered in .40 have a shorter life than the 9mm. But since the HK USP is made in about .40 caliber, it can last several thousand rounds before needing parts replacement.
In addition, the HK USP is a full-size pistol with a 13+1 cartridge chambered in .40. The compact, which is about the same size as a Glock 19 and much easier to conceal, can hold 12+1 cartridges.
The USP is a double-action single-action pistol with a frame-mounted safety and release lever. The safety can be engaged without disassembling the gun, so the gun can be carried cocked and locked just like a 1911 and turns your first shot into a nice crisp single action.
Currently there are many surplus and law enforcement trade SIG Sauer P226 and P229 handguns in .40 S&W floating around the market for as little as $300 to $400, a truly incredible value. These pistols may be well worn on the outside, but inside they have been fired very little and are still in great condition.
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Whether you want to use SIG surplus or new, you are sure to get a quality gun either way. Both the P226 and P229 can hold 12+1 rounds with the factory magazine, while aftermarket-grade Mec-Gar cartridges increase that capacity to 13 or 14 rounds.
The P226 and P229 are double-action single-action pistols that do not have a manual safety. But there are also versions popular with law enforcement that had a lighter double action. They are called DAK guns and are one of the most popular surplus options at a budget price.
Like the HK USP, the Smith & Wesson M&P is built on a .40 caliber frame, which should give it longer life than other .40 pistols.
The full-sized M&P pistol holds 15+1 rounds when loaded in .40, providing Glock 22-equivalent firepower. The Compact 2.0 has a 13+1 load and is slightly smaller for concealed carrying capacity.
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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 purses of law enforcement officers across the United States. The 2.0 M&P also has a very aggressive grip, which is becoming a big trend in pistols in today's world.
Walther pistols such as 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. Despite being a striker-fired pistol, it is a double/single-action pistol with a release lever.
The PPQ is a more traditional striker fired machine as it has a very light and crisp single action trigger that is also widely regarded as one of the best handguns on sale today.
The P99 and PPQ also have 11+1 or 12+1 rounds in .40 depending on the magazine purchased. One thing to note is that they can be quite unforgiving when loaded in .40 so you need to be prepared for that and get plenty of training to properly control the recoil.
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Any of these .40 caliber handguns would be a good choice for home defense, concealed carry, self-defense or just everyday use.
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