.40 S&W, pistol, talk me out of it.

[rx7sig]

... My K9 is my favorite Kahr, and I own several including a T9, but the K9 is king. If I bought a K40 I could use the same holsters.

So.. what do you guys & gals think? Buy a K40? Some other .40? OR let it slide as the mistaken fantasy of an old man, who doesn't realize .40 is dead.

I purchased a K9 new in 2018. I CC it a lot. It is a very nice pistol. The fact that it handles 124 gr. +P HP ammo (almost always Speer GDLE) so extremely well--effortlessly, in fact--makes me lust for a K40, too. I wouldn't hesitate to purchase a new K40! (It's too bad that there isn't a 357SIG bbl for the K40, though.)

rx7sig

[kenemoore]

Picked up the new 1911 in .40SW yesterday. Did not realize it was a bull barrel with a "reverse" plug. What a bear to take down, almost too much for an old man. It's got a full length guide rod. You have to fully depress the 20# spring with your fingers and then insert a straightened out paper clip, to remove the recoil spring. Not a fan. I must say the barrel is about twice as thick as my .45ACP 1911's. Sure hope it runs good.

[Bawanna]

Those are kind of a pain. Not sure on that one but you might be able to swap to a GI style guide rod and a standard guide rod plug. Wait if it's a bull barrel with no bushing up front then the swap I don't think would work.

[kenemoore]

Well...On hind site, wish I had of waited a bit. I took the .40 1911 to the range this last Thursday, and it ran like a sewing machine. (one of my dad's sayings). Recoil was kinda like shooting 38 super. Any how.
A forum member (iWander) sent me a PM to a vendor selling a K40 ( https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperst....cfm/ID/288802) brand new for only 419.00, I could not pass it up, the used ones on gunbroker were going for north of 500.00. I ordered it last Sunday, and they shipped it on Wednesday, it arrived at my LGS this morning, and I just picked it up. Big Shout Out to iWander. When I bought it, the status went to out of stock, so they only had one. Any how, I have been doing business with the LGS for many years, and knew he had (3) K40-6 magazines. They were listed at 35.95 each, kinda of steep. I told them I knew they had those mags for at least 10 years, what was their best price, the said 30.00 plus tax, I countered two for 60.00 out the door. He counterd with all 3 for 100, which I declined. They took my offer for 2, so I have 3 6-round and 1-7round mags for it. Will shoot it sometime next month.
Being a .40 newbie, I bought 500 rounds of 180 grn, PMC, and some 180 grn Hornady defensive ammo. But I see 165grn offered. I assumed that the 165 was like 9mm magnum, and the 180 kind of like .45 Magnum. Am I wrong?

[berettabone]

Well...On hind site, wish I had of waited a bit. I took the .40 1911 to the range this last Thursday, and it ran like a sewing machine. (one of my dad's sayings). Recoil was kinda like shooting 38 super. Any how.
A forum member (iWander) sent me a PM to a vendor selling a K40 ( https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperst....cfm/ID/288802) brand new for only 419.00, I could not pass it up, the used ones on gunbroker were going for north of 500.00. I ordered it last Sunday, and they shipped it on Wednesday, it arrived at my LGS this morning, and I just picked it up. Big Shout Out to iWander. When I bought it, the status went to out of stock, so they only had one. Any how, I have been doing business with the LGS for many years, and knew he had (3) K40-6 magazines. They were listed at 35.95 each, kinda of steep. I told them I knew they had those mags for at least 10 years, what was their best price, the said 30.00 plus tax, I countered two for 60.00 out the door. He counterd with all 3 for 100, which I declined. They took my offer for 2, so I have 3 6-round and 1-7round mags for it. Will shoot it sometime next month.
Being a .40 newbie, I bought 500 rounds of 180 grn, PMC, and some 180 grn Hornady defensive ammo. But I see 165grn offered. I assumed that the 165 was like 9mm magnum, and the 180 kind of like .45 Magnum. Am I wrong?

I don't know about "wrong" but there isn't much negligible difference between 165 and 180 gr. as far as recoil. 165 gr. is a bit faster. I've never shot 9mm magnum but .45 is always more of a push, whereas .40 more of a snap. 180 gr. is a normal .40 weight. I usually shoot the 180 gr. in FMJ but go to the faster 165 gr. for defensive purposes. I do also keep some 155 gr.

[Bawanna]

When I used to carry 40 I usually went with the 165gr as well. Definitely more snap than push like the 45.

[iWander]

You're very welcome Ken! Wish they'd had two, but I'm glad you got it. Let us know how it goes shooting it!

We always carried 165gr in our Sigs and never had issues. The 165 Gold Dot is one of the standards in SD 40s.

I know where you can pick up more mags for the K40 for $25.

[dao]

On your 1911 Ken, can't you lock the slide back with the lever and then insert the paperclip? Or are you talking about breaking the rod and spring down completely for cleaning and lube?

[kenemoore]

Yes, with the slide locked you can insert your paper clip. But...being a little bit anal retentive, I want to clean the spring and rod, that is a bear to do.

[kenemoore]

BTW, the new K40, has the old style slide stop, guess it has been sitting on the shelf awhile. Matches my K9, and also my preferred version. I think it is more robust than the new style.