The Official Gun Thread

[MSC-B14]

Went to the range on Tuesday to shoot my P22 and decided to try out a .40 cal. They only had a Springfield Armory XD40 so I shot that. I thought it had too much recoil. Not that I couldn't handle it, but I could put a whole clip from my P22 on target in the time it would take to place a couple shots from the .40 cal. Guy next to me had a S&W M&P 40 compact that he let me put a couple rounds through and I thought the grip was way too small on it...although it shot nice.

What caliber would be a better option? I was thinking a .380 or a 9mm instead. I had been set on a Sig Sauer in the .40 cal, but I don't think I like it. I really like the feel of my Walther...the PK380 seems like an option, but it has bad reviews like does my P22. I cleaned and oiled my gun after I went to the range last time and I didn't have a single problem this time.

[Black B15]

Originally Posted by MSC-B14

Went to the range on Tuesday to shoot my P22 and decided to try out a .40 cal. They only had a Springfield Armory XD40 so I shot that. I thought it had too much recoil. Not that I couldn't handle it, but I could put a whole clip from my P22 on target in the time it would take to place a couple shots from the .40 cal. Guy next to me had a S&W M&P 40 compact that he let me put a couple rounds through and I thought the grip was way too small on it...although it shot nice.

What caliber would be a better option? I was thinking a .380 or a 9mm instead. I had been set on a Sig Sauer in the .40 cal, but I don't think I like it. I really like the feel of my Walther...the PK380 seems like an option, but it has bad reviews like does my P22. I cleaned and oiled my gun after I went to the range last time and I didn't have a single problem this time.

Some guns just kick hard. I have never shot a Springfield or a S&W M&P, but I have shot several other handguns. I personally am in love with these little S&W semi auto's that I have. I have two, one is a 457 which is a .45 acp with a 7 round clip, the other is a 915 which is a 9mm with a 15 round clip.

Some people go out and spend $1000 or more on a good quality handgun, which is fine if you have the cash. I bought both used and I spent less than $500 for the .45 and less than $250 for the 9mm. BOTH have very manageable recoil and are quite accurate. Both eat up basically any kind of ammo I put in, FMJ, HP, etc...and have zero issues and let's face it....both are still Smith and Wesson. Even my wife could shoot this 9mm, probably one handed, without any recoil issues.

Alternatively, my father had an old kel-tec el-cheapo 9mm that he wanted me to clean up and test fire for him. I shot three rounds out of it and couldn't shoot anymore...for some reason that thing kicked like a mule and literally was hurting my wrists (I have had two wrist surgeries). That thing transferred most of the recoil into the shooters hand, whereas my Smith and Wesson's are quite manageable.

[cden1]

The .40 is a hard kicking handgun. Some even say that it kicks harder than a .45. I'm not sure why. Sounds to me that you would be happy with a 9mm. Recoil is relatively mild and practice ammo is cheap. With the right loads it's a very effective defence round. The Smith M and P is a good gun. The cops in town here are issued them and they are very satisfied. Buy Made in America!

[hatchnet]

I purchased a springfield armory XDM 9mm with a 4.5" barrel. I like how it shoots and the 19+1 capacity is nice. the accesories that come with it for the 550 or so you pay for it is a nice bonus aswell. the only issue i have with mine is the it shoots a little high for some strange reason. i have to aim about an inch low at 15 yards to hit where i want it to go.

[MSC-B14]

Hmm...maybe I will have to try one of the 9mm next time. I have shot lots of rifles and shotguns in the past, but only a handful of pistols which now includes a couple .22's, .357 mag and now the .40 cal.

Lol I didn't want to seem like I was a wuss or something, but I think anyone would have the same problem with it. It obviously wasn't .357 mag shooting which you won't expect to be able to rapid fire of any sort, but it wasn't easy either. I also shot it before I shot my .22 so it wasn't that I was comparing it to after I shot my recoiless .22

@cden...maybe it is the bullet size vs power in them. My deer rifle was a .35 cal Remington and my uncle thought it had a ton of kick and he was shooting a 30-06.

I will have to look around at some different ones. I don't want to spend a ton of money...any opinions on Rugers? They seem to have some less expensive 9mm.

[cden1]

Originally Posted by MSC-B14

Hmm...maybe I will have to try one of the 9mm next time. I have shot lots of rifles and shotguns in the past, but only a handful of pistols which now includes a couple .22's, .357 mag and now the .40 cal.

Lol I didn't want to seem like I was a wuss or something, but I think anyone would have the same problem with it. It obviously wasn't .357 mag shooting which you won't expect to be able to rapid fire of any sort, but it wasn't easy either. I also shot it before I shot my .22 so it wasn't that I was comparing it to after I shot my recoiless .22

@cden...maybe it is the bullet size vs power in them. My deer rifle was a .35 cal Remington and my uncle thought it had a ton of kick and he was shooting a 30-06.

I will have to look around at some different ones. I don't want to spend a ton of money...any opinions on Rugers? They seem to have some less expensive 9mm.

I still recommend the S and W. I had a Ruger 9mm and it was a jamamatic, but that is unusual from what I hear. I've never heard a bad word about the Smith.

[MSC-B14]

Now that I looked it seems like the .40 and .45 are pretty similar rounds. From what I read it seems that maybe the pistol frames are what makes the .40 seem to kick more. Since the .40 is in the polymer frames usually used for 9mm...compared to the bigger all metal .45 pistols. Not sure...there seems to be all kind of arguments between those.

I am going to try one of the 9mm pistols though and seems like I might go that route.

[hatchnet]

most 9mms like Glocks you can buy a conversion to make it a 40. usually its a slide and barrel and the mags are diff. 40s you just change the barrel and they can use .357 sig. as for 45 its not that the frame is metal they are made the same. its just the frame has a little more width to it. the extra weight comes from the rounds and the slide/ barrel.
just to give you an idea here is some comparisons of typical bullet specs. all are as close to the same grain as i could make it using Federal Hydro shock ammo.
caliber/ grain, muzzle vel, muzzle energy
9mm/ 124gr, 1120fps, 345 ftlbs
.357 sig/ 125gr, 1350 fps, 506 ftlbs
.40/ 135gr, 1200 fps, 432 ftlbs
.45/ 165gr, 1060 fps, 412 ftlbs

as you can see the .357 sig/ .40 are hotter rnds. more powder grains/ bullet grain weight. thats what gives you the kick. i didnt include the range info but they also drop less than the nines and way less than the .45s. but the recoil causes them to be less accurate due to how the handle than the others.
most prople i know like the .45s because of there stopping power, but if you look at the info the sigs would be the better round and thats what we supply to the air marshals. I prefer the 9 because it handles great, isnt as bulky/ heavy, and the ammo is cheaper. also to give you a heads up I work for CCI/ Speer ammo and we make alot of stuff for Federal.

[adc100]

Still looking for a S&W 442 or 642. The shelves are bare. I'll just hang on to my little .380 for now.

[cden1]

Living in MA, I'm not worried about additional gun control. We are the third most restrictive state after CA and NJ. What more can they do other than take our guns away? I will tell you that will never happen! As far as an AR ban, so what? Everyone who wants one already has one. At our range I would say that 75% of the shooters are using AR's. We built a new one hundred yard range and it is rare to see a bolt action. It's all AR's. This is all political feel good BS.

[adc100]

My brother was looking in Pittsburgh for a S@W airweight. He said the three dealers he normally goes to had about 2/3 of their entire sold out. They were not taking orders on airweights.

[cden1]

Originally Posted by adc100

My brother was looking in Pittsburgh for a S@W airweight. He said the three dealers he normally goes to had about 2/3 of their entire sold out. They were not taking orders on airweights.

This is all going to blow over by summer.

[cden1]

Since we already have the 10 round limit, Gov Deval wants to have a 7 round limit plus you are limited to buying one gun a month. Doucebag! Are flintlocks OK?

[adc100]

Originally Posted by cden1

This is all going to blow over by summer.

I agree

[cden1]

What bothers me is the lack of knowledge of guns and existing gun laws by those who are proposing new legislation. So many people I've spoken to or have seen quoted think that AR's are fully automatic "machine guns". They also think that anyone can just go buy a gun. I can't speak for other states but here in MA you need a permit to buy ANY gun. To get this permit requires taking a gun safety course and an FBI background check that takes from 6 months to a year. To buy a gun, in addition to form 4473, they do an instant background check plus VIDEOTAPE the transaction. I know this is not true in all states. What I think is reprehensible is that our Governor is using Sandy Hook to try and push through even more anti gun legislation. The 7 round requirement was not mentioned at his press conference but buried in a 44 page document. This state sucks. Within 5 to 10 years I'm out of here.