hooligan

I'm planning on buying a .40 cal when I get home in a few months but I cant decide what I want. I know I wont be able to fully decide until I can get in and get some hands on to see how they feel in my hand but I want to narrow it down a little. My 2 favorites at this point are the XD(M) and Sig SP2022 also been looking at the M&P40, Glock 22/23, and Ruger SR40. Ill be using it mostly for recreational shooting and concealed carry. Anybody have any experience good or bad with any of these guns?

Teacher Todd

Hooligan, where you coming home from? I don't have any experience with those guns, but wanted to let you know that once you decide on what you want, email me and the prices you are finding and I will see if I can find them cheaper for you or will let you know if it is a good deal. I am a dealer over in prineville.

bigggbbruce

H&K USP 40 is an awesome pistol... little pricey... but they make some quality guns...

hooligan

I'm in Iraq with the National Guard 3/116th CAV. Do you have a store in Prineville? I grew up in Prineville and most of my family is there.

Inglewood

You beat me to it. I wouldn't trade my USP .40 for anything.

hooligan

I do like the H&K USP .40 but its a little more than I'm wanting to spend.

boomer1

I have had a Ruger SR40 since November. During that time, I have put about 1000 rounds downrange, with no problems, issues... nada...zilch.... it just works. It is a sweet pistol. I think that Ruger hit a home run with this model.

Be safe,

boomer

deadshot2

When I see "recreational shooting" I always advise that the person get something that is designed to shoot lots and lots of rounds. Some pistols make good concealment firearms but shooting more a few rounds can be both uncomfortable and hard on the pistol. There are many pistols out there that are both comfortable in the hand and extremely durable. There are also some that are good at one but not the other.

I would find a range that rents handguns and shoot a variety before I spent any money on one. Find one that fits both needs based on your experience. In the end you won't be sorry.

philster

H&K makes truly great guns. But they provide awful service if something goes wrong. The company is geared towards servicing institutions (armies, police forces, etc.) not individuals. Will something go wrong with the gun? No more likely than with a Sig or Glock. Like I said, great guns! But if you do need something, it's something to consider.

My last purchase was an S&W M&P9. Great gun in every way. Steel sights, not plastic. It's probably the first major production gun that was designed for the .40 The other calibers came after.

One last thing. From my perspective carry guns and recreational guns are two different things. Subcompact glocks, and the smallest M&P are still bricks. Lay something like one of the really small 9mm Kahrs next to them. I'm 6'3" so I have room to play with. I can hide a small ham under a jacket.

chameleon

I've owned several xd/xdms and still own an xdm40 4.5. When you get back to redmond hit me up and we can meet up if you want to put some rounds downrange. I love mine and have easily put a thousand rounds through her without a single issue.

deadshot2

I'm 4" shorter and used to carry an S&W 686 with 6" bbl in a shoulder holster There was just something about knowing that I had a gun with me that was more than adequate, at least for the first 6 rounds.

philster

I hear you. Some of us have no problem pulling off a "real" gun. Others buy a "compact" or a Judge and end up never carrying it. I have no problem with my full size M&P. I know a guy, born and raised in Yakima, who never served or spent a day as a LEO, and he's carried a 5 inch 1911 eveyday since day one. You can tell the ones who can/will. They never say words like "hot weather"/summer holster They just dress around their gun Hardest part is explaining to a date why you have washers sown into the lining of all your jackets on the right hand side... "baby... I got something to tell you..."

deadshot2

I never used washers, just kept a few spare rounds there. Also had some on the other side to make everything hang even.

hooligan

Thats part of what I was hoping to find out, I've heard that .40 cal can be pretty hard on the frame

hooligan

I havent had a chance to shoot one yet but it gets good reviews everywhere

hooligan

recreational shooting is top priority and hell I've been carrying an M249 saw for almost a year now I dont think a pistol will be a problem!

philster

That was my point about the S&W M&P 40. The gun was designed from the ground up as a 40 cal. The nine was an afterthought. Also you can buy a 9mm conversion barrel to save money on ammo for practice. It only goes one way though. You can't buy a conversion barrel for the 9 to make it a 40.

GixxerPete

Those are all great guns and would all serve you well. They have all proven themselves as rugged & reliable, with the exception of the Ruger, which is the new kid on the block, but is looking to be a solid pistol. If you have a local range that rents, the best thing you could do is shoot all your contenders and see how they feel TO YOU. Which is most comfortable in your hand & points naturally? Which do you shoot well with?

I would trust my life to any of those guns you're looking at, so it really comes down to personal preference and what works best for you. You can't go wrong with any of the guns you're considering.

deadshot2

Another benefit to this method is that Ranges rarely rent out firearms that are not reliable and/or are prone to the frequent need for repair.

hooligan

Anybody know of any ranges in the Central Oregon area that rent guns?

Teacher Todd

Hooligan, thanks for your service to the country. When you get home and decide what you want to buy shoot me an email. I am happy to sell to our military men and women at my cost. I am a home based dealer. Let me know what you decide on and I will tell you my prices. Even if you don't buy from me I will help you get the best possible deal.

chameleon

Unfortunately we don't have any ranges in Central Oregon other than the Redmond rod and gun club and they don't rent guns as far as I know.

ironmike86

Go to the range and feel the gun is best bet. But fwiw I have a first Gen Glock 27 and 23
I've shot cases and case and the guns still look great. My G26 samething. I have a XD 40 good gun also. Not as long as the Glocks. Alot of ppl don't like the 40 kick but if you grip them right there it's anymore than my .45cal. Pretty much every gun you metiond I would like to have...or have :)

hooligan

For sure Ill have to talk with you when I get home. I'm a fan of supporting local small business so Ill definitely check out what you have.

hooligan

Yeah, I didn't think there were. I've never been to the Redmond rod and gun club range, how is it? I've always just gone out in the woods

mjn

It's hard to beat the quality of a Sig Sauer. I love my P229.

DerBarbarian

You have a nice selection of guns, I personally own an XD-9, put an easy 500 rounds through the XD-40 it's a good solid gun, never jammed nor misfired I have a Glock 22, it's also a good gun but There's quite a bit of snap I've noticed with the .40 caliber round and I personally don't like the feel of the glock as much as the XD or Walthers for that matter. USP's are one of those guns you either love or hate some people hate the grip and trigger others love it I personally love it. The problem as mentioned in the cost. As mentioned Sigs are AWESOME guns I would trust one with my life I've never had a problem with any of the sigs I've shot. On another note if you're mainly going to go plinking have you considered juust getting a 9mm? The bad guy will be just as dead with a 9mm as a .40 as long as you're shooting right. Another gun I would reccomend taking a gander at is the Walther P99 in .9mm or 40 those guns shoot like butter and they're in the $500 range and they're quality guns. I've never fired an M&P alot of old school S&W guys don't like their newer guns for various reason to which I don't know the full extent but from friends that have them they enjoy em If you were a little close I would say come up and I would let ya shoot the XD 40, Glock 22, XD 9 and P99 (assuming i have it by then) Any who that's my 2 cents..

chameleon

I havn't been there either. BLM land is free.I've driven by there a lot though and from what I've been told by a lot of people they pretty much just have a skeet range and do some .22 shoots.

Mikey

I have an H&K USP Compact 40 for sale right now....

Call me if you wanna see it.

hooligan

you have any pics? Its gonna be September before Im able to buy

Brianaintright

If' you're set on the .40 cal round, you might look for a CPO SIG. Great guns, reasonably priced (Usually about $550)

Personally, I have to carry a .40 at work but I'd rather carry a 9 or a .45 any day. The .40 has a snappier recoil than the other two calibers, doesn't really offer any better ballistics than the 9 with todays ammo and is more expensive to shoot so it costs more to train. We break a lot of Glock 22/23 pins, extractors and slide stops with the .40 and I never saw that when I ran G19's hard.

Why .40 cal?

hooligan

I've shot more .40 cal than anything else, just more familiar/comfortable with it I guess