Keep eye out for a used .357 revolver. My shop has a couple Ruger SP101's right now, something like that or similar and you will be happy.
I have the S&W m&p in the full model. You can get it in .45, .40 or 9mm and if you but it on the .45 frame you can buy the barrels that will change out to the others. I personally love mine for the fact it's not that heavy and I shoot it well but we aren't legally allowed to carry a gun, even with a ccp here so it really doesn't matter unless you want to take the chance. ohhh and it's within that 500 range you were looking for brand new.
I have a glock in 10mm and with 200 grain bullets seem the ticket for hog hunting. downside of 10mm is cost of ammo. I reload so not an issue for me. 40 is still a real effective round, you'll have to decide if the increase in 10 mm over 40 is worth the expense. I'm at work so I'll check tonight and send a second note with the velocities I was getting with each. the benefit of an auto, as already mentioned, is slimmer profile and greater capacity. the benefit of a revolver is if you squeeze the trigger and the round is bad (a rare occurrence) then you can just squeeze a second time and the cylinder will rotate on a fresh cartridge. with a semi-auto you need to practice clearing drills where you jack the slide back if it doesn't fire or if you get a stove pipe on extraction. I prefer semi-autos for 90% of what I do but if I were in grizzly country I would go with a heavy caliber (at leaqst 44) revolver because of that added reliability. for what we have here in florida my 10mm or other pistols are plenty.
I'm conservative on my reloading so you will see loads hotter than these. But I get about 1000-1050 FPS with 200 grain in 10mm. 40 is about 150-200 FPS less. I've not chronographed factory loads so not sure what they will give you, though expect they are hotter. I saw a glock dealer today and he was talking about the long slide 10mm called the model 40 that comes with a 6 inch barrel. that would give more velocity than the normal 4.5 inch barrel plus a longer sight radius. if going with a 10mm might be something to consider. personally I've been a fan of shooting handguns fairly often if one's life might depend on them. so in that light, if you were my brother and were asking me what to do I would recommend you keep your 40, if it is reliable, and spend the money on bullets and practice often. If money was no object and you wanted to look at new guns I'd suggest shooting a 10mm and 357 and whatever else you want to look at, see how they compared to your 40, and go with what feels best to you...and practice shooting it fairly often. Good luck
If I could carry in Illinois while hunting I would carry a Ruger Alaskan in 44 mag. Good size and weight.
Nobody mentioned the .41 mag which is a great middle ground b/t the .357 and .44; but to the OPs original post Id'd stick with 10+ rounds of 180gr .40.
excellent point. 41 is a great cartridge and superior to the 10mm in both velocity and ability to shoot heavier bullets and the 357 in ability to shoot larger caliber, heavier bullets at similar velocities. would be great choice for self defense against critters.
Agree completely...not with the policy but in your point that its not legal everywhere. Some states I hunt its illegal to carry so I don't. However when legal I do.
