kraynky
Member
Early last month some of you guys helped me decide on a new .40 caliber Smith. I had started out wanting something to take to the range, and watch over me while I sleep. I was leaning hard towards a 4006 when virgil617 brought the 4040PD to my attention. As destiny dictates, one popped up right away on the classified here, and I snagged it. Maybe paid more than I should, but brief research had convinced me that they don't come around everyday. I still believe that.
Just about a week before then I had finally found the 3913NL I wanted for years. Which although somewhat easier to find, still a bit difficult to find one so new. And just last week a new to me snubby. So I am one happy man!
About the time I got the two semi-autos in hand, Kentucky got hammered with two back to back record snowfalls. We got 12" -14" followed by 21" about ten days later. Needless to say, I didn't go out much. This past Sunday that changed.
Starting out with the 9mm, I shot maybe 60-70 rounds of some 124 gr. LRN I had loaded up a few years back. They were pretty mild loads and not really well liked by the 3913. They all fed and fired just fine, but I was a bit disapointed in the grouping. I was doing my shooting at 7 yards for the most part.
Then I ran 3-4 mags of some WWB 115 gr. FMJ through it, and finally about a half a box of some 115 gr. Silvertips I had on hand. Not even one hiccup along the way, even though they didn't always go where I thought I was looking.
The 3913 is a very sweet shooter, both double action and single action. I'm going to have this one a long time.
I also pulled out some .40 caliber handloads that I normally shoot in my FNX40, and I ran them through the 404PD. I forget the exact load, but they were 180 gr. SWC over AA#5, I think. I rolled through some 135 gr. Nosler JHP's and some old Eldorado 180 gr. Starfire ammo too. It also gobbled them all without fail. Then I found some it didn't like, at all. I had some other SWC .40 cal in 200 gr, which turned out to be a bit too long. The FNX will devour them, the 4040 wouldn't even take a full magazine. I mean I couldn't even get but maybe 3 in there before they wedged themselves into the mag. Had to bump them out and put 'em up.
I'm going to have to shoot both of them more to get more familiar, and finish breaking them in. The 3913 was practically brand new. The 4040PD was reported to have 300-400 rounds through it. (still new'ish) It's also definitely a keeper! I was completely surprised by the recoil, or I should more accurately say, the lack of. It could be because I was also shooting my new to me Model 36-7 in between the two autos. But really, it is very easy to handle.
I don't have all of the targets photographed, and the ammo wasn't really separated by targets either. This was just a "getting to know you" outing. What I know so far, is I like them both,..........uh, All Three, A Lot!
Just about a week before then I had finally found the 3913NL I wanted for years. Which although somewhat easier to find, still a bit difficult to find one so new. And just last week a new to me snubby. So I am one happy man!
About the time I got the two semi-autos in hand, Kentucky got hammered with two back to back record snowfalls. We got 12" -14" followed by 21" about ten days later. Needless to say, I didn't go out much. This past Sunday that changed.
Starting out with the 9mm, I shot maybe 60-70 rounds of some 124 gr. LRN I had loaded up a few years back. They were pretty mild loads and not really well liked by the 3913. They all fed and fired just fine, but I was a bit disapointed in the grouping. I was doing my shooting at 7 yards for the most part.
Then I ran 3-4 mags of some WWB 115 gr. FMJ through it, and finally about a half a box of some 115 gr. Silvertips I had on hand. Not even one hiccup along the way, even though they didn't always go where I thought I was looking.
The 3913 is a very sweet shooter, both double action and single action. I'm going to have this one a long time.I also pulled out some .40 caliber handloads that I normally shoot in my FNX40, and I ran them through the 404PD. I forget the exact load, but they were 180 gr. SWC over AA#5, I think. I rolled through some 135 gr. Nosler JHP's and some old Eldorado 180 gr. Starfire ammo too. It also gobbled them all without fail. Then I found some it didn't like, at all. I had some other SWC .40 cal in 200 gr, which turned out to be a bit too long. The FNX will devour them, the 4040 wouldn't even take a full magazine. I mean I couldn't even get but maybe 3 in there before they wedged themselves into the mag. Had to bump them out and put 'em up.
I'm going to have to shoot both of them more to get more familiar, and finish breaking them in. The 3913 was practically brand new. The 4040PD was reported to have 300-400 rounds through it. (still new'ish) It's also definitely a keeper! I was completely surprised by the recoil, or I should more accurately say, the lack of. It could be because I was also shooting my new to me Model 36-7 in between the two autos. But really, it is very easy to handle.
I don't have all of the targets photographed, and the ammo wasn't really separated by targets either. This was just a "getting to know you" outing. What I know so far, is I like them both,..........uh, All Three, A Lot!
I do like the Hogues on the .40 and am thinking about getting some for the 9mm. But I will look into the wood ones, and I would spend the extra for checkering. Smooth wood belongs on my single actions, that are supposed to slide around a bit in your hand. Thanks for the idea!
