PPQ M1

If you want steel, I think the clear choice is the S&W 4006. $369.99

If you like polymer guns, there are three I can think of that are native to .40 S&W.

The HK USP.

The Steyr M-A1 or L-A1

The M&P. If you want something a bit different, the 5" Pro is a neat gun, as is the VTAC.

You should also try Ruger SR40C.  I have owned Glock 23/24/27/35, Walther 99 /40 QA/SA, CZ75B 40, XD40C.   The Ruger by far is the easiest to shoot and the recoil is very soft.  G27 and Walther P99/40 probably have the worst recoil- comparing to my G20/29 (10mm) ,even.

I own a CZ40 (no longer in production) that is a good shooter. A CZ75 in .40 might be fun.

HK USP or Sig P229

I chose the M&P40 which I love but my sister bought a Walther P99 and I was thoroughly impressed with it.  I would absolutely recommend a Walther, either a P99 or a PPQ....best underated guns on the market.

Ruger SR40

I absolutely love mine.

The SP-01 Tactical in .40



 

I bought a CZ P07 about a month and half back.

I never really "wanted" a .40 S&W but I bought this one with the idea of getting a 9MM barrel rechambered to .357 SIG.

But, this thing, with my 135 grain Nosler HP reloads (11 grains of Blue Dot) out shoots both my M&Ps (FS 9MM and FS .357 SIG), my Glock M31 and my 5.25" XDM in 9MM.

It is awesome.  I left the range yesterday and went straight to Green Tops to see if they had any P09s (the next size up in the polymer framed CZs), but they didn't, or I'd been bringing another new handgun home.

I wish I'd taken my son's Beretta 90-Two (but I didn't) as I believe the P07 is also out shooting that gun.

I'm not a huge .40 fan, but of the ones I've owned through the years, I can recommend, from my experience, the S&W 4053TSW & 4013TSW, Sig P229, Beretta 96 and the PX4.  Glocks just never fit my hand right and felt noticeably "whippier" in .40 to me than those listed above or the Glock 9mm versions (although the Gen4 might have improved both those issues).  I haven't owned, but have shot a bit, a buddy's Ruger P94.  It's blocky, ugly and doesn't feel comfortable in my hand, but he could use it as a hammer, it goes bang every time and is pretty darn accurate so it may be a good value at its price point if it fits you.  I love the HK P2000 in LEM (TGS), but I only have it in 9mm and .357Sig so I can't speak specifically as to the .40 version although the .357 and .40 should be substantially similar.  YMMV.  Good luck on your search.

40 caliber is the ONLY time I'll recommend a Sig...specifically, the SIG P229 DAK:  
Like the HK (and unlike the Glock originally), the P229 was designed for the .40sw. The slide is more massive than the Glock, which dampens recoil (but it's not as massive as the HK--which, in general, are too big to justify their capacity). The Sig 229 I shot was very nice--I'm really into the Glock trigger pull, but I did well with the DAK.
The only issues are (a) it is pretty big, and (b) from what I've heard, the finish sucks compared to glocks/HKs/other guns. The Glock 23 has the clear edge in carry-ability (size, weight and finish), though I think the heavier Sig handles the .40sw better when actually being shot.

How about it OP?  What did you decide?  We need closure!!!!!