Looking for the best .40 pistols, We are here to help you out. Here at GunOfWar, You will find reviews related to all kinds of weapons including Assault Rifles, Pistols, Snipers, and their ammo.
In this article, we will be sharing you the best .40 pistols for you in 2020. These all pistols are tested, reviewed, and then included in this list based on reviews, opinions, and experiences of multiple .40 pistol owners.
Let’s dig into the list of these 10 most popular .40 pistols.
6 Best .40 Pistols To Buy In 2020
1. Glock 23 Gen 4 .40 S&W Pistol ‒ Pg2350203
The first and the most popular pistols when we talk about .40 pistols is the Glock 23 Gen S&W Pistol. There are multiple reasons behind placing this pistol on the top of the list.
Glock is one of the most reliable brands when it comes to pistols. You can expect some of the best high-quality pistols from Glock. The company is actively manufacturing firearms for about 40 years now.
They never compromised on the quality and the Glock 23 is one such example of the best .40 pistol. It looks quite simple and great. It has back-strap contours which give you a better grip. The tiny trigger on this .40 pistol gives it all the safety it requires.
The reversible magazine functions perfectly. On the side of the trigger, there are take-down levers that will engage and block the rearward path of the gun’s slide. You can also mount any tactical accessory with the accessory rail near the trigger guard.
It also has a tactical loaded-chamber indicator which positioned on the extractor. You can easily get it with the right-hand trigger finger.
Specifications Of Glock 23 .40 Pistol
- Caliber: .40 S&W.
- Action: Striker Fire.
- Capacity: 13.
- Overall Length: 7.28”.
- Barrel Length: 4.01”.
- Weight (oz): 23.65 unloaded.
- Height: 4.99-inch.
2. Sig Sauer P320 Nitron Full-Size best .40 Pistols
If you are looking for adaptable and compact handguns? then, The SIG Sauer P320 is going to be the perfect choice for you. It has everything the best .40 pistol requires.
It has a stainless-steel Fire Control Unit which will help you to swiftly interchange with different calibers. The barrel length is 4.7 inches. The complete length of the pistol is 8-inch and weighs 29.5 ounces.
It can hold up to ten rounds. You can see the picture above as well. Nitron Stainless-steel is used on the black side to protect the pistol from corrosion.
If you want to do low-light shooting then this pistol will surely help you. It features SIGLITE night sights which will help you shoot in the night or low light environment. It also has a triangular magazine release, takedown lever, and a slide release as well.
The pistol is ergonomic and reversible. Also, the trigger is made of steel and not a polymer. It will get a consistent trigger pull with the metal to metal contact.
It’s a perfect .40 pistol with all the features of a self-defense handgun.
Specifications Sig Sauer P320 .40 Pistol
- Series/Collection: P320 Nitron Full-Size.
- Type: Semi-Automatic.
- Action: Double.
- Capacity: 10.
- Caliber/Gauge: 40 S&W.
- Sight Radius: 6.6”.
- Sight: SIGLITE Night.
- Barrel Length: 4.7”.
- Length: 8”.
- Height: 5-1/2”.
- Width: 1.3”.
- Weight: 29.5 oz.
- Trigger Type: Striker.
- Grip Type: Modular Black Polymer.
- Slide: Black Nitron Stainless Steel.
- Finish: Stainless.
- Material: Stainless Steel.
- Size: Full-Size.
3. Walther PPQ M2 .40 S&W 5″ 2796104
The Walther PPQ M2 is one of the best .40 pistols available in the market. It has a 5-inch barrel which is more than enough to increase the muzzle velocity. The longer sight radius will help in better precision while shooting.
It has an ambidextrous slide stop, front, and rear slide serrations along with an ambidextrous magazine release button. The ergonomic grip and the 5.6-inch trigger pull are also some of the key features that you might like about it.
It also features a custom accessory rail and a checkered trigger guard. These are more than enough to make this pistol as one of the best among all the .40 pistols available today.
The perfect grip and the ergonomics of the PPQ M2 are also great. You will love this pistol once you have this in your hands.
The polymer frame is used to prevent the pistol from corrosion. It also makes it lightweight and durable in nature. It allows us to use interchangeable backstraps for comfortable hand fit.
You can also mount lasers and tactical lights with the help of its Picatinny frame. You will find an ambidextrous magazine release at the back of the trigger guard of this pistol. Though It does not have a manual safety option you can use the two drop safeties with the firing pin block for better safety while carrying this gun.
The best feature of this pistol is the “Quick Defense Trigger”, It is considered the best in the market. It has a 5-pound pull and a 0.1-inch trigger reset for accurate follow up shots in series.
Specifications Of Walther PPQ M2
- Caliber: .40 S&W.
- Action: Striker Fired.
- Magazine Capacity: 11.
- Barrel Length: 5”.
- Frame Finish: Black.
- Slide Finish: Black.
- Caliber or Gauge: .40 S&W.
- Pistol Optics Ready: No.
- Pistol Night Sights: No.
- Weight: 1.6 lbs with Empty Mag.
- Grips: non-slip, cross-directional.
- Magazines Included: two 11 round mags.
- Safety: Two drop safeties and firing pin block.
- Sights: 7.2″ radius Low profile three-dot polymer sights.
4. Springfield Armory XD .40 S&W Sub-Compact 3″ Pistol XD9802HC
Springfield Armory XD .40 pistol is one of the most compact .40 pistol which you can buy this year. It is a perfect pistol for concealed carry. It is the reason we have listed this in our list of best .40 pistols.
The textured front strap and back strap gives you a better grip on this pistol. Your fingers will easily find a way to fit for a better grip.
It is a short-barrel pistol with a double-stack magazine. Though, It feels more like a single stack pistol when your fire shots. It’s a flexible choice for everyone who is looking for a compact 40 cal pistol.
If you don’t know what double-stack means, Let us make this clear to you.
It means that the rounds are fitted into the magazine side by side. It is broader unlike the single stack pistols so it could hold more rounds. As it is always an advantage to hold more rounds in almost every situation. It is also one of the lightest handgun available.
You will get better accuracy with this pistol with it’s reduced muzzle rise. It has good ergonomics and you will understand this while holding and shooting with these handguns. You can also read about our guide on the best self-defense handguns.
Specifications Springfield Armory XD
- Weight: 26 (unloaded).
- Safety: Grip Safety.
- Action: Striker Fired.
- Sights: Steel Dovetail Front and Rear 3-Dot.
- Magazines Included: 2.
- Barrel Length: 3”.
- Slide Finish: Melanite.
- Caliber or Gauge: .40 S&W.
- Frame Finish: Black Polymer.
- Pistol Optics Ready: No.
- Magazine Capacity: 9 rounds.
- Pistol Night Sights: No.
5. Heckler Koch P30 V2 .40 S&W Pistol M734002
This handgun is designed especially for security professionals for better performance and safety. It comes up with a special grip frame along with the interchangeable lateral plates and backstrap.
It is a very versatile handgun available for every type of user. The ambidextrous controls include magazine release levers and dual slide releases.
Koch P30 also uses the HK Law Enforcement Modification(LEM) trigger system which gives the feature of a double-action hammer system and cocked striker. As a result, the shooter can pull the trigger constantly from the first to last rounds of firing.
With such a trigger system, You will feel safer while shooting. Also, it makes things simpler as well. Like reducing the chances of accidental firing. You can also re-cock the weapon by squeezing the trigger two or three times constantly.
It also comprises a Picatinny rail which allows you to mount laser aimers, lights, and other pistol accessories. The extractor of this pistol acts as a loaded chamber indicator. You can also acquire targets faster and accurately with the open-notch rear sight.
Specifications Of Heckler Koch P30
- Action: Double Action – Semi-Automatic.
- Weight: 1.63 lbs.
- Sights: Fixed.
- Safety: Lever on both sides of the frame.
- Magazines Included: 2.
- Magazine Capacity: 13 rounds.
- Caliber or Gauge: .40 S&W.
- Slide Finish: Nitro-Carburized steel.
- Pistol Optics Ready: No.
- Pistol Night Sights: No.
- Frame Finish: Corrosion-resistant polymer frame.
6. S&W M&P40 M2.0 COMPACT .40 S&W PISTOL
Last but not the least, Here is another best .40 pistol worth buying for you. It is the improved version of the M&P 2.0, as users complained about the trigger being “spongy”.
S&W considered the complaints of the users and launched this improved version. It is better, faster, more accurate, and has better recoil mitigation.
The grip texture is one of the highly known features of this M&P 2.0 handgun. It gives you a natural grip with an 18-degree sitting angle. The rough and aggressive texture is the reason behind the secure grip on this pistol.
This feature is common in handguns and we have mentioned this in the above pistols as well. i.e It has interchangeable backstraps. You can use any size of the backstrap you want like the small size, medium-size, or the large size inserts.
The upgrades also include the fourth insert as a medium-large grip. All the four backstraps have an aggressive texture and that’s why changing grip size is also easy. All you need to do is to rotate the holding post and base of the pistol. Once unlocked, you can change to your ideal size.
Specifications Of S&W M&P40
- Caliber: .40 Smith & Wesson.
- Action: Striker Fire.
- Weight: 25.3 ounces.
- Capacity: 13+1.
- Overall Length: 7.3”.
- Barrel Length: 4 inches.
- Barrel Finish: Black; Armornite Finish.
- Slide Material: Stainless Steel.
- Barrel Material: Stainless Steel.
- Frame: Polymer.
- Slide Finish: Black; Armornite Finish.
- Rear Sight: Steel- White Two Dot.
- Front Sight: Steel- White Dot.
Conclusion : Best .40 Pistols
These were all the best .40 pistols which you can buy this year. We have listed out all the available pistols along with the reviews.
If you ask us to choose us, We would like to choose the Glock 23 Gen 4 .40 Pistol.
It is our favorite and that’s why we have placed it at the top of the list. If you think we missed out something then do let us know about your favorite .40 pistol and we will include it on our list.