10 Fast & Furious .40 S&W Handguns

.40 S&W, 40 S&W, S&W, Beretta Px4 Storm Compact — Barrel: 3.27 inches
OA Length: 6.1 inches
Weight: 27.4 ounces (empty)
Grip: Polymer
Sights: Three-dot
Action: DA/SA
Finish: Matte black
Capacity: 10+1
MSRP: $650

.40 S&W, 40 S&W, S&W, kahr CT40 — Barrel: 4 inches
OA Length: 6.5 inches
Weight: 20.8 ounces
Grip: Polymer
Sights: White bar-dot
Action: DAO
Finish: Black frame, matte stainless slide
Capacity: 7+1
MSRP: $449

.40 S&W, 40 S&W, S&W, springfield EMP — Barrel: 3 inches
OA Length: 6.6 inches
Weight: 33 ounces (empty)
Grip: Cocobolo
Sights: Three-dot tritium
Action: SA
Finish: Black frame, stainless slide
Capacity: 8+1
MSRP: N/A

.40 S&W, 40 S&W, S&W, sig sauer P239 — Barrel: 3.6 inches
OA Length: 6.6 inches
Weight: 29.5 ounces (empty)
Grip: Polymer
Sights: Contrast
Action: DA/SA
Finish: Matte black
Capacity: 7+1
MSRP: $892-$1,120

.40 S&W, 40 S&W, S&W, s&w m&p shield — Barrel: 3.1 inches
OA Length: 6.1 inches
Weight: 19 ounces (empty)
Grip: Polymer
Sights: Three-dot
Action: Striker-fired
Finish: Matte black
Capacity: 6+1
MSRP: $449

.40 S&W, 40 S&W, S&W, glock 22 — Barrel: 4.49 inches
OA Length: 8.03 inches
Weight: 25.59 ounces
Grip: Polymer
Sights: Fixed
Action: Safe Action
Finish: Matte black
Capacity: 15+1
MSRP: N/A

.40 S&W, 40 S&W, S&W, heckler & koch p30 — Barrel: 3.85 inches
OA Length: 7.12 inches
Weight: 26.08 ounces (empty)
Grip: Polymer
Sights: Three-dot
Action: DA/SA
Finish: Matte black
Capacity: 10+1, 13+1
MSRP: $719

.40 S&W, 40 S&W, S&W, heckler & koch vp40 — Barrel: 4.09 inches
OA Length: 7.34 inches
Weight: 28.93 ounces (empty)
Grip: Polymer
Sights: Three-dot
Action: DA/SA
Finish: Matte black
Capacity: 10+1, 13+1
MSRP: $719

.40 S&W, 40 S&W, S&W, ruger sr40 — Barrel: 4.1 inches
OA Length: 7.5 inches
Weight: 27.25 ounces
Grip: Polymer
Sights: Adjustable three-dot
Action: Striker-fired
Finish: Matte black or stainless
Capacity: 15+1
MSRP: $529

.40 S&W, 40 S&W, S&W, smith & wesson m&p40 — Barrel: 4.25 inches
OA Length: 7.63 inches
Weight: 24.25 ounces (empty)
Grip: Polymer
Sights: Front ramp, Novak rear
Action: Striker-fired
Finish: Matte black
Capacity: 15+1
MSRP: $569

The .40 Smith & Wesson cartridge is a true success story. Part of the reason is that it’s a well-balanced compromise between the high cartridge capacity of the “Wonder Nines” and the reputed stopping power of the .45 ACP. Another part is the fact that .40-caliber firearms and ammo have increased in variety and improved steadily over the last 25 years.

The .40-caliber concept isn’t new. Eleven percent of Colt Single Action Army revolvers were chambered in .38-40. Sometime in the 1960s and ’70s, Bill Jordan, Elmer Keith and Skeeter Skelton brought the .40-caliber revolver concept back by calling for the development of a new revolver cartridge that fired a 180- to 200-grain bullet of approximately .40 caliber at about 1,100 fps.

As semi-autos became more popular, this “ideal” ballistic formula stimulated the development of pistol rounds like .40 Guns and Ammo, the .41 Action Express and the 10mm. In 1990, Smith & Wesson and Winchester cooperatively developed a .40 cartridge with a standard rim that could be fired in a 9mm platform. The idea caught on like wildfire after the appearance of the S&W Model 4006 and its 180-grain JHP cartridge with a velocity of 1,010 fps and 408 foot-pounds of muzzle energy.

The vast majority of .40 S&W guns used today for personal defense and law enforcement are semi-autos. The following is just a sample of some of the more popular .40-caliber pistols currently available. There are other well-made .40 S&W pistols on the market and they should not be overlooked just because they’re not listed in this article.

FOR MORE INFORMATION