TexasCHLforum.com

Hello everyone,

I recently got my CHL in December and have been shooting IDPA since October, which is a ton of fun. I'm 6'3 180 lbs. My current EDC is a FS M&P9 which is also my competition gun. I really like the M&P line, but have been thinking about getting a new gun, something more compact for my EDC. Also the M&P 9 Pro for IDPA. The only issue I have with my FS M&P is sitting down, it's uncomfortable to sit while carrying it IWB. Beyond that I have no issue with it as an EDC. I've been thinking about getting the M&PC, but would like to go up in caliber probably 40 S&W something with a little more stopping power. I've shot a FS M&P 40 thought it was a little snappy, but manageable. Next time I go to the range I'd like to try out 40 S&W again.

Do y'all have any recommendations on a Make and Model in 40 S&W and why?

I also just graduated from U of H with a bull in Mechanical Engineering, started working for with a great company and decided to finally get an AR. Sadly I probably won't get it for 6+ months at the current production rates of firearms manufacturers. I got a Stag Arms 3G, so I can start working on my 3-Gun set-up for the future. The funny part I was working on a project in one of my senior electives and one the calculations for my project kept coming out to be "556". I got the sign, but at the wrong time .

Actually the M&P40 is one of the easiest shooting .40s out ther IMHO (other than heavy steel guns in 1911 pattern). If you thought .40 recoil was snappy in the M&P you're really going to dislike anything smaller. I had a Kahr PM40 for a while and hated that little palm beater (for multiple reasons). The Glock 27 with double recoil spring is about as small as I'd go in .40

Stick to 9mm and there are a lot of great guns that will be smaller, thinner, easier to carry than full size M&P and shoot just about as well ... Walther PPS, M&P Shield, Ruger LC9, etc

M&P .40 is supposedly one of the "softest" on the market, and by some accounts the best of breed in mass produced .40. Obviously like anything else, everyone has their opinions, so you'll get just as many answers...

Honestly though "stopping power" is urban legend... I'm sure with a ME degree, you had just as much physics (+ more) as us EE's, so surely if it had enough power in and of itself to "stop" someone, it would do just as much back to the shooter. Incapacitation has more to do with shot placement and psychological factors then anything else... (at least that's what experts I will defer to have said).

3 things terminate a personal defense encounter:

shot placement, Shot Placement, SHOT PLACEMENT

My EDC is a Springfield XD-40 and I love it. It shoots great and I've never had any issues with concealment.

A-R wrote: I had a Kahr PM40 for a while and hated that little palm beater (for multiple reasons).

I don't care for the PM40 either, but I now carry a Kahr P40 and love it. Just slighter larger, but MUCH more comfortable.

At one time, I was thinking along the lines of a compact .40. One trip to the rental range cured me of that idea. After I decided that a compact .40 wouldn't work, I still had half a box of range ammo left so I tried severa full sized .40 for fun. I must admit that I've fallen in love with the M&P .40 and have decided that it will be my next purchase. It fired almost as smooth as my 9mm. I'm just waiting on my Mrs to be fully on board with another gun purchase. It's a slow buttering up process...

I carry 9mm exclusively (gen3 glock 17-most days & Beretta Nano-for when I have to go ultra under the radar). I have no problems with carrying the glock iwb once I found the sweet spot. I'm 6', 200lbs & carry just behind my right hip bone with no problem. Although it did take a little repositioning to get it right.

Welcome to the forum & to the wornderful world of CHL!!!