40 Caliber Pistols - Main point: The .40 was developed from the start to give the police a more powerful handgun than the 9mm.

Times are always changing, and that is certainly the case in the gun world. The current trend we are seeing is a resurgence of the 9mm at the expense of the .40 S&W.

40 Caliber Pistols

40 Caliber Pistols

For example, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) 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. but ultimately 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 pistols for 9mm.

Cmmg Banshee 300 Mkgs .40 S&w Ar Pistol, Cerakote Bronze

It's not hard to see why. Although the 9mm FMJ is a fairly weak man-stopping round, there is an abundance of highly effective self-defense hollowpoint loads available today for both civilians and law enforcement. As a result, the need for the .40 is greatly reduced, and in addition, 9mm pistols carry more bullets and have lighter recoil.

You see, the whole reason the .40 was created was to give the police a more powerful handgun than the 9mm. Yes, the .45 ACP was out, but the .45 pistols were also very limited in capacity. This is why the 10mm was developed, but when the recoil caused by the bolt was a bit much for some, it was shortened to the .40 S&W we have today.

The .40 S&W has performed well for many years and will continue to do so for many more, but as just discussed, the move to a round with stopping power potential is greatly increased and in a lighter and more controllable package. why have we seen .40 pistols start to be replaced by 9mm?

But at the same time, this shift away from .40 means that there is an overabundance of .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, that doesn't mean it isn't a viable option for defense.

Mm, .45 Auto, Or .40 S&w: Which Handgun Has The Most Stopping Power?

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, the .40 caliber pistol remains a more than viable option for self-defense or home defense, and again, the abundance of surplus firearms and police exchanges means you have plenty of options at budget prices.

What makes the Beretta Px4 Storm an impressive option for the .40 is its capacity; 14+1 rounds in the full-size version and 12+1 in the compact model, which is the same capacity you'd expect from a 9mm. gun

The Px4 also deserves a spot on this list because the rotating barrel design helps reduce the extra recoil caused by the heavier .40 caliber. The pistol is also safe to carry thanks to its double-action trigger pull and manual slide safety, which also doubles as a decocking lever like the Beretta 92 series.

40 Caliber Pistols

The Px4 also comes with an ML-STD 1913 Picatinny Rail and pistol grip straps for a variety of hand sizes.

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Want to know a .40 pistol that holds more ammo than the Beretta Px4 Storm Compact? This is the most popular police pistol ever produced, the Glock 22, which has a 15+1 round capacity.

The Glock 22 has traveled with more current US law enforcement handguns than any other handgun currently available, which is certainly a credit. A Gen 5 version was recently released which has some improved features such as different ergonomics and a flared magnet to make reloading easier.

Basically, the Glock 22 is identical in dimensions to the Glock 17, only it is chambered for .40 instead of 9mm. A smaller version of the Glock 22 in .40 called the Glock 23 holds 13+1 rounds and is equivalent in size to the 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 that are built on the 9mm platform.

Springfield Armory Xd .40 S&w Pistol Essential Package

Since the .40 caliber is a high pressure round, this means that 9mm rounds chambered in .40 will generally have a shorter life than the 9mm. But since the HK USP was built around the .40 caliber, it will be able to withstand a few thousand more rounds before needing to replace parts.

Beyond that, the HK USP is a full-size pistol that holds 13+1 rounds of .40 in the magazine. The compact version, about the same size as a Glock 19 and much easier to conceal, holds 12+1 rounds.

The USP is a double-action single-action pistol with a frame-mounted safety and detachable lever. The safety can be engaged without cocking the gun, so the gun can be carried and locked just like a 1911 and make your first shot a nice and crisp single pull.

40 Caliber Pistols

Right now there are many surplus and law enforcement trade-in SIG Sauer P226 and P229 pistols in .40 S&W floating around on the market for only $300 to $400, which represents a truly incredible value. These guns may be well worn on the outside, but on the inside they have been fired very little and are still in really great condition.

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Whether you go with a surplus SIG or a new one, you're definitely getting a quality gun regardless. Both the P226 and P229 hold 12+1 rounds with the factory magazine, while aftermarket quality Mec-Gar magazines expand this 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 of them popular with law enforcement that had a lighter double action, just pull. They are called DAK pistols and they are one of the most popular plus options available at a budget price.

Like the HK USP, the Smith & Wesson M&P is chambered in .40 caliber, which should last longer than other .40 pistols.

A full-size M&P pistol holds 15+1 rounds when chambered in .40, giving it equivalent firepower to a Glock 22. The Compact 2.0 model holds 13+1 rounds and is slightly smaller for concealed carry purposes.

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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 holsters of law enforcement officers across the United States. 2.0 M&Ps also have a very aggressive dot on the grip, which is becoming a big trend in handguns in the modern world.

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. Despite being a striker-fired pistol, it is a double-action/single-action pistol with a disarming lever.

The PPQ is a more traditional striker-fired machine in that it has a very light and crisp single trigger, which is also widely considered one of the best triggers of any pistol you can buy today.

40 Caliber Pistols

The P99 and PPQ also hold either 11+1 or 12+1 .40 rounds depending on the magazine you get. It's worth noting that they can be quite fast for a .40 round, so you'll need to be prepared for that and get plenty of training to handle the recoil properly.

Taurus G2c Compact .40 S&w Pistol, Blk

Any of these .40 caliber pistols would be a good choice for home defense, concealed carry, self defense, or just casual long range use. Times are always changing, and that is certainly the case in the gun world. The current trend we are seeing is a resurgence of the 9mm at the expense of the .40 S&W.

For example, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) 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. but ultimately 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 pistols for 9mm.

It's not hard to see why. Although the 9mm FMJ is a fairly weak man-stopping round, there is an abundance of highly effective self-defense hollowpoint loads available today for both civilians and law enforcement. As a result, the need for the .40 is greatly reduced, and in addition, the 9mm pistols carry more bullets and have;

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