If you are here, you probably have decided to buy the best .40 cal pistol. In this article, we have discussed the best 40 cal pistols available in the market. Finalizing a pistol to keep at home or to carry for self-defense is, well, an important decision.
With so many alternatives available out in the market with various features and capacities, you might find deciding on one somewhat hard. So let’s help you out here.
But well, note that this review is strictly based on our research and experience. The preference, choice, and comfort may vary from person to person.
Top .40 Cal Pistol For The Money Comparison
| PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
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Top pick |
Smith & Wesson M&P Shield M2.0
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Beretta PX4 Storm Compact
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Walther PPQ M2
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Check out the best suppressor reviews and buying guides to buy.
Top 10 Best 40 Cal Pistol Review
Here are some of the best .40 cal tactical pistol to help you shortlist.
1. Walther PPQ Q4 TAC M2 Semi-Auto Pistol
If you loved the original PPQ pistol, then you’re going to love the Q4 TAC without a doubt, or maybe more than the original. It has all the features of the original in a more upgraded version. Here’s why.
You’re getting the same features such as interchangeable back-straps for accommodating a larger crowd. For ease of use, you have the push-button reverse magazine release system and ambidextrous slide stop.
Furthermore, in the trigger part, it has the same Picatinny rail and a ready trigger as well as the loaded mag indicator.
As for the barrel, it’s a 4.6-inch threaded one for using suppressors. If you want to put on baseplates then you have the option to do that thanks to the milled slide. This new Q4 TAC feels smooth and as accurate as ever. You’ll know when you try it out.
The pistol has three safety systems; first, you have the trigger safety and two safeties internally. Quick Defense Trigger, as Walther calls the trigger safety of this pistol is tested and proven in the field.
Keep in mind that this one doesn’t have any magazine disconnect safety and it will fire with the magazine withdrawn. There are no sights on the stock unit even though it’s named as suppressor ready.
PROS
CONS
2. Smith & Wesson M&P40 Semi-Auto Pistol
A gun that is favored by many officials is this 40 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol. They produced a whole set of sizes and calibers of this that can rival any polymer pistol available on the market. What are the rights and wrongs of this gun?
One of the first things you’ll love is the accessories that come with it. You’ll get two large magazines, night sights, a carrying case, and three palm-swell panels that can be interchanged to accommodate different sizes of hands. One size fits all theory doesn’t cut it anymore.
The gun is very smooth, registers trigger correctly most of the time. This is best 40 s&w pistol rated the trigger pull at 6.5lbs which can stress the hand muscles a bit but you’ll get used to it. It’s a user-friendly gun without a doubt.
It has a side-release system on both sides that means it can be used with both hands single-handedly. And the trigger system prevents misfiring even if you drop it from a height.
One thing we didn’t like is the unnecessary beaver tail on the back of the slide. It creates a handling issue that could have been avoided. Other than that it’s a solid one and one of the most compact 40 caliber pistols.
PROS
CONS
3. GLOCK G27 Subcompact Semi-Auto Pistol
If you’re an avid fan of the Subcompact pistols then don’t pass up this Glock G27 pistol. It can easily be put in the top ten rated 40 caliber pistols list and anyone who used it would not oppose it. But it has its downs.
Keeping it on the waist is comfortable as it won’t press on your abdomen. You won’t even feel it but it’s there. Hence, it’s easy to recommend as a concealed carry 40 cal pistol.
Housed in a corrosion-resistant strong polymer frame, the cold-hammered steel slide and the high tech Jenifer 64HRC coated barrel give it highly durable build quality. With the rounded profiles, it’s very easy to do maintenance and long-lasting precision.
It features a safe action trigger system that prevents misfiring and the firing pin lock is deactivated automatically each time you engage the trigger.
One main complaint would be that gripping the pistol without the pinky grip mag extension is hard. You can do away with it but it’s not ideal. So keep it in mind. But this doesn’t take away the fact it’s one of the best 40 handguns.
PROS
CONS
4. Smith & Wesson M&P Shield M2.0 Compact Semi-Auto Pistol
Smith & Wesson improved over the years thanks to its competition from Austria. The previous M&P series was a winner but this new one goes past it as a compact, accurate and user-friendly weapon. It could very well be the most accurate 40mm handgun, but accuracy mostly lies with the shooter.
Just like its predecessor, it comes with the 3 interchangeable palm-swells allowing the unit to be used by a wide range of users. One fits all is an old way of doing things as customization is getting the attention. You’re getting two mags; one is flush and the other one is extended.
S&W added a spring-loaded detent along with the side-release lever to prevent auto-forwarding. The trigger feels lighter but has a noticeable tactile and audible feedback. How does it shoot? Well, it was one of the most stable-shooting experiences.
If you want an easily concealed weapon, this M2.0 can be a great option. The users haven’t complained at all about its size as it rests quietly on your waist holster without causing a fuss around your abdomen.
It seems it doesn’t have any noticeable negative points to it. And the beavertail is gone for good! Can we dub it as the best budget 40 cal pistols? You bet we can.
PROS
CONS
5. Beretta PX4 Storm Compact Semi-Auto Pistol
Who doesn’t know Beretta? It’s the oldest arms maker that’s still active today, and they have infused their experience in the production of arms very well. As it happens, it’s one of the best rated 40 caliber pistols on the market as of right now.
It’s a hybrid like most modern handguns with a polymer frame housing many steel parts allowing the unit to be lighter while being stronger. The trapezoidal side profile makes the case for an easily concealable handgun justifying its compact name.
But the grip on this PX4 is tall enough for an average user to hold it and keep it stable during firing. The interchangeable back-straps give it more customizing ability allowing for different users to wield it. It’s the modern days when customizing improves the experience.
The handle is ambidextrous meaning it’s suited to both left and right-handed people with side lock and safety on both sides and a much appreciated reversible magazine release system. And it comes with 2 high capacity magazines.
What’s not to like about it? Nothing. But you have to learn using the double-action trigger as the first trigger is much slower and needs stronger pressure for release than the second subsequent action.
PROS
CONS
6. KAHR ARMS CW40 3.6 IN 40
A brand is a brand, and for a reason. Kahr Arms is best at designing and producing the sleek, slim-design guns. When you decide to get a Kahr Arms Pistol, you can have a rough idea of the quality.
This one from Kahr is a small handy pistol that you’d probably end up loving. When you want a pistol that’s easy and smooth to carry around, we bet this is one of the best.
Anyway, don’t let its small structure fool you. This metallic Kahr Arms pistol offers a decent enough performance with a great grip and a pretty solid trigger.
Its sturdiness is another factor that steals away the heart. Plus, any average person would love the metallic look coming with that stainless steel finish! This is one of the smallest .40 cal pistols.
Key Features
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7. FN – FNX-40 4IN 40 S&W
FN is more or less a gun designer and manufacturer that an average gun enthusiast would love. The brand holds a solid reputation for building weapons that stood the test of time as well as of battles.
While FNX 40 is no hard battle weapon, we can expect that reputable quality from this little pistol. FN FNX 40 .40 cal pistol is a big package of features that users tend to end up loving. The pistol is designed for a strain-free, easy and convenient use.
In addition to having a strong and durable construction, it comes with ambidextrous controls or features and safety Let’s see some of the features that make FN FNX 40 the best 40 cal pistol for small hands.
Key Features
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8. GLOCK – G22 4.49IN 40 S&W
There are various factors and features that makes Glock G22 stand out from the crowd of pistols available in the market. The pistol offers some of the smoothest performance.
Lightweight and compact, Glock G22 is designed to be the best. Glock has, moreover, given particular attention to the safety factor with G22 .40 Cal pistol.
Compared to the magazine capacity of many pistols of this size and range, Glock’s G22 .40 cal pistol is a winner.
The capacity, in fact, is one of the major plus points of this Glock gun, making it one of the best-rated 40 cal pistol under 600.
40 cal pistol for money! After all, who wouldn’t love a tiny pistol that can fit within a palm and of this capacity?
Key Features
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9. CZ USA – CZ P09 DUTY 4.53IN 40
The CZ USA – CZ P09 comes with a full-size polymer frame. CZ P09 pistols featuring Omega triggers are much simpler and straightforward.
You don’t need a lot of experience to handle this system and no doubt, it is easier to disassemble. The standard system will be suitable only for those who are planning to do a lot of aftermarket internal work.
The CZ USA – CZ P09 a full-size polymer frame offering, boasting an impressive 19+1 (9mm) capacity in its flush-fitting magazine.
Modern polymers are stronger than steel. Although most of the guns come with the traditional metal frames, P09 is made of modern polymer frames. They are much advantageous due to a number of reasons.
Key Features
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10. SPRINGFIELD ARMORY – XD MOD.2 4IN
Known for the most compact firearms, SPRINGFIELD ARMORY – XD MOD.2 is one of the best and finest compact form firearms.
A pretty popular gun that is most preferred by individuals to hold it for safety and security on a daily basis. It has recently undergone loads of changes in a quite short span of time.
Key Features
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What is the most accurate best 40 cal pistol?
There are many pistols of .40 caliber available in the market, but few provide the required accuracy. One of the most accurate pistols in this caliber is the Sig Sauer Nitron P320. This is a partly automated pistol containing a magazine with a capacity of about 10 rounds.
The machine weighs about 30 ounces and measures to about 8 inches, barrel about 5 inches. And the barrel is made of steel instead of polymer, which makes the trigger smooth via contact with the same material. This, along with a short reset, raises the accuracy.
Moreover, the pistol is also fitted with night sights, which enable you to shoot your target quite comfortably even in a low light environment, thus adding to the accuracy of the gun.
Other guns of the same caliber are also fairly accurate, such as the Walther M2 PPQ, Beretta, Springfield Armory are a few of them. These guns lack the night vision but come with their own advantageous features, and are sure to satisfy your need for accuracy.
Is .40 a good caliber?
This question has two answers, depending on your experience in shooting. If you are a newbie in the shooting range, then you don’t want to shoot this caliber first. Many beginners struggle with this caliber and ultimately get hit in the face with the butt of the gun during the recoil.
And this caliber uses wider and heavier weapons that can easily tire you out at the shooting range. The wider butt is difficult to get a firm grip on, and the weight of the gun adds to the displeasure, not to mention the kick you get once you shoot.
However, once you have gained some experience with firearms, you will find the .40 caliber is quite good to work with. Users say that this caliber is fun to shoot with and accurate as well. The stopping power of the .40 caliber is great, owing to its mass and speed. This quality makes the caliber efficient to use by the American police.
.40 caliber uses bullets that are heavier and bigger and thus are imparted from the gun with higher energy. If you are using this caliber for personal protection, you can rely on it to stop the criminal in his tracks.
Is .40 cal stronger than 9mm?
Yes, .40 caliber is slightly more powerful than 9mm. The .40 caliber uses cartridges or bullets that weigh more and are given more energy when fired. And the 9mm cartridges, on the other hand, are lighter, smaller, and with pointed ends, leads to less damage to the target when fired.
Bullets of .40 caliber are not as pointy as 9mm bullets, and also are bigger in size. As a result, they can expand as they hit their target and cause more damage.Many guns can fire both 9mm and .40 caliber, but the specialized guns for .40 caliber are lighter than those of 9mm.
This allows the shooter to use it smoothly in spite of the larger recoil force. Due to the great energy of the .40 caliber, the stopping power of the bullets is also greater than that of the 9mm, making the .40 caliber stronger.
Is a .40 cal more powerful than a 45?
Which caliber is more powerful can be decided by considering which caliber causes the most damage. To answer the question in this regard, no, .40 caliber is not more powerful than a 45.
This is because the .40 caliber bullets are lighter than that of a 45 and have slightly less energy than the 45. Thus, the stopping power of a .40 caliber is less.
The force with which a .40 caliber hits the target is less and produce less damage than a 45. A 45, having higher energy, in contrast, has lower velocity. Despite that, a 45 is heavier and has more energy, and as physics says, it causes more harm to the target.
Factors to consider while selecting the best .40 handguns
Here are some main points/factors you can keep in mind while you hunt for your ideal safety gun:
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How should I find the good 40 caliber pistol ever made?
As we mentioned in the initial part, deciding on a safety pistol can be complicated. Comfort and preferences may change from person to person.
Hasting the decision would mean that you would probably end up spending several hundred dollars on a pistol that you might not be able to comfortably use.
Now, let’s give you a rough idea of selecting your ideal .40 pistol. There might be different points of view you can consider to decide on an arm.
For example, petite guns like that of Kahr Arms 3.6 inch one might not be the top recommendation for people who’d like to use or have practiced with heavier ones.
So it will be the case for those who have big palms. It might be just uncomfortable. However, it might be just fine for those who are looking for a small concealed carry.
Also, consider how exactly are you going to keep or use the gun. See whether you will be carrying it around as a safety gun or you are purchasing a pistol to leave at home.
In the former case, you might want to go for smaller, lightweight guns. Otherwise, if you’re buying one for house safety, you can consider even bulkier ones since you don’t have to unnecessarily carry it around.
The budget is yet another criterion. You consider the budget factor for just everything- so why not with pistols too! However, it’s better to not go for what looks like the ‘cheapest’. It’s a matter of your safety.
The list provided here has some of the top .40 cal pistols for the money. You can use it as a reference. See which of these have the features that you are looking to have in the one.
Based on it, try renting out the pistols that somewhat seems like what you prefer.
You can finalize the one which practically seems the best and the most comfortable. This way you will be able to find the one that is best for you without wasting hundreds of dollars.
In this context, note that those who have practiced with and are used to low caliber pistols might, in some cases, feel uncomfortable using a .40 caliber pistol. Just keep it in mind, so you can judge accordingly.
Conclusion
Definitely, these 40 cal handgun reviews help you to pick the best pistol from here. We have taken time experimenting and reviewing various guns before finalizing this list of the best 40 cal handguns for the money. We hope this gives you an insight into the kind of guns and features you can consider and compare.
You probably can shortlist the best 40 cal hunting pistol and take the decision. Don’t rush, though. Take time analyzing the features you are looking for and then compare and decide!
Let us know your doubts and gun buying experience in the comment!