40 Caliber Decision

[PirateJim]

I can't speak to the Gen 4 G22, but I've had a Gen 2 model in 40 S&W for years. As suggested in my sig. I also have a 5" M&P Pro Series and a Shield in 40S&W. My personal perception is that the Glock falls between the full size M&P and the Shield in felt recoil.

Much more important in a decision between the two brands, in my opinion, is which of the two points more naturally for you. In my hands the Glocks always point high while the M&Ps just point more naturally.

For a quick test, grip the pistol in low ready position and, making sure you are pointing in a safe direction, pick a spot in the middle distance, close your eyes and point the pistol at it. Now open your eyes and see how the sights are aligned. As I said, for me doing that test, the Glocks always turn up needing me to adjust my wrist to bring the front sight down to the plane of the rear sights. At a critical moment, I'd just as soon not have to contend with that.

 

[B3500]

It comes down to which pistol's ergonomics and trigger do you like better. Recoil in these two full sized models are not greatly different as their weights are similar.

On genitron.com the 22 gen 4 weight is listed as 25.4 oz and the M&P is 27.45 oz. Their respective recoil is listed as 8.53 ft-lb and 7.88 ft-lb. Not much difference.

I don't find the 40 a big deal to shoot out of any full sized pistol. Of course reaction to felt recoil and impulse is a personal thing. If you can, try them both out.

If recoil is a big concern for you versus everything else, perhaps try the same pistol size in 9mm instead. For instance the recoil of the 9mm in a full size M&P is shown as 5.05 ft-lb which is around a 40% reduction.

 

[Ofc.JL]

Having shot both a lot, I find that the M&P seems to handle the recoil just a bit better for me. Due, I feel, to the better ergonomics of the M&P grip. The Gen4 Glocks are much better in that regard as well, than their Gen2 and Gen3 brothers, IMHO. I find the .40 a bit snappy anyway. I shot and carried 1911's for years before switching to the .40 as the dept required. So, it boils down to which ever you prefer, both are just fine as CQB pistols.

 

[Mark40]

I used to own a G-23. I now EDC an M&P 40c. I never shot them back to back, so take this with a grain of salt, but I think muzzle flip is slightly more manageable with the M&P.

 

[davemil9mm]

Why I have the M&P 40 FS

I picked the S&W for the reason that they designed the gun around the caliber-not the other way around. Off the top of my head I cannot recall another pistol that was born a .40SW. My Glock is a Gen4 G17. I like picking the nominal ("original") caliber whenever possible.

 

[gman51]

I had a Glock G27, Springfield XDM 3.8 compact .40, and an Ruger SR40c. The Ruger by far tamed/handled the 40 recoil the best of the three. I sold all but the Ruger. I am not saying the G27 or the XDM aren't good guns because they are. I just liked all aspects of the Ruger the best of the three and it was at least $150 less cost also.

 

[SmokelessPowder]

I have a Gen4 22 and don't really like it much. I much prefer my XDm and Sig 320. However, I do sort of like my Glock 23 and 27 and really like my 41.

The Sig 320 seems to eat up the 40 recoil the best.

 

[hardluk1]

Rent a p320 and see if it fits your needs . My p320 compact 40sw replaced a m&p 40 full size and glock don't stay in out house do to the grip angle !.

 

[Ofc.JL]

For those that don't know, the Gen4 Glock .40 cal pistols were redesigned as a true .40 handgun. Glock went back to the drawing board and had the engineers start fresh w/ the .40 cal cartridge. One of the biggest reasons that Glock does not publish(of course!) is the Gen2 and 3 .40 cal handguns just were not getting the "mileage" that the company wanted. It is even worse w/ the .357 cartridge in the Gen3 guns. High pressure cartridges just beat the Gen2 and 3 guns to death in fairly short order. Of course we are talking about Department issue, high round count guns. And this is not to say that any Glock is junk, as they are not. But Glock realized that the .40 platform needed to be strengthened, and that's why the Gen4 was born. That's also one of the reasons that Glock had recoil spring problems early on w/ the Gen4's. That has been ironed out as well. The Gen2's and Gen3's were indeed .40 cal handguns converted from the 9mm platform. If a person knows the history of Glock and the .40 cal cartridge, they will know how Glock beat S&W to the punch on offering a .40 cal pistol, before they did. And Glock did it off of the 9mm pistols. It worked, but in the long run, Glock had to fix the longevity problems running a .40 cal handgun out of a 9mm pistol. I own a Gen4 23 and like it alot. I also own M&P's and like them as well. So it's just up to what you prefer. Good Luck.