Posted: 9/27/2010 4:45:52 PM EDT
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I will be purchasing my first handgun within the next couple of months, 9mm. So far my research has led me to consider four different pistols. From the list below, which would you suggest for my first and only handgun. Will be a general purpose, all around pistol. This is going to be the toughest buying decision I've had to make thus far. So many variables to consider.
- CZ-75B - Glock 19 Gen. 3 - FNP 9 - M&P |
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I will be purchasing my first handgun within the next couple of months, 9mm. So far my research has led me to consider four different pistols. From the list below, which would you suggest for my first and only handgun. This is going to be the toughest buying decision I've had to make thus far. So many variables to consider. - CZ-75B - Glock 19 Gen. 3 - FNP 9 - M&P Why would you get the FNP-9 over the FNX-9? |
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I will be purchasing my first handgun within the next couple of months, 9mm. So far my research has led me to consider four different pistols. From the list below, which would you suggest for my first and only handgun. This is going to be the toughest buying decision I've had to make thus far. So many variables to consider. - CZ-75B - Glock 19 Gen. 3 - FNP 9 - M&P Why would you get the FNP-9 over the FNX-9? It's mainly an aesthetic issue. The front cocking serrations on the FNX are ugly as shit and unnecessary. Also, I believe I read that the FNP has a better grip with more secure attachment of the backstrap. I would rather just stick with the first model. But I am thinking that the FN would be a better gun to get later on, not for my first. |
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I rather have my FNP then my mother's FNX. I have the tactical version so it is somewhat different.
Of the one's you mentioned I would recommend you get the M&P9. It has the best trigger in any striker fired handgun with the Apex DCAEK kit. Apex is not developing the RAM kit as well if you dislike the reset (which I love with the DCAEK) and it will only be around $20 and according to Randy Lee it will be installed in two minutes. |
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I will be purchasing my first handgun within the next couple of months, 9mm. So far my research has led me to consider four different pistols. From the list below, which would you suggest for my first and only handgun. This is going to be the toughest buying decision I've had to make thus far. So many variables to consider. - CZ-75B - Glock 19 Gen. 3 - FNP 9 - M&P Why would you get the FNP-9 over the FNX-9? It's mainly an aesthetic issue. The front cocking serrations on the FNX are ugly as shit and unnecessary. Also, I believe I read that the FNP has a better grip with more secure attachment of the backstrap. I would rather just stick with the first model. But I am thinking that the FN would be a better gun to get later on, not for my first. Front cocking serrations only bother me on a 1911. If you want to talk about ugly what about the FNP decocking lever. It's about the funkiest looking lever I've seen on any handgun. I don't think your going to have issues with the backstrap on either model. |
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in your research have you tried to handle the weapons listed?
i would try to find a gun rental range and see if you can put some time on them. You will spend some $$$ up front, but you wont have any surprises either. also, when it comes down to it, just buy one and see how you like it. If you dont, then sell/trade it for the next one and so forth. |
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in your research have you tried to handle the weapons listed? i would try to find a gun rental range and see if you can put some time on them. You will spend some $$$ up front, but you wont have any surprises either. also, when it comes down to it, just buy one and see how you like it. If you dont, then sell/trade it for the next one and so forth. Yes, I shot a Glock 19 and a M&P yesterday. I shot them both about the same overall. The M&P did feel a little better in my hand, but I don't hate the Glock ergonomics. I like the fact that you can get drop-in match barrels for the Glock and other parts are plentiful. I am pretty sure with the Apex parts you can get the M&P to have a nicer trigger. It's tough. |
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It's hard to go wrong with any of the guns you listed. I agree that your best bet is to try and handle/fire all of them before making a final decision. You may find that some of them point more naturally for you, have a grip that fits your hand better, etc. If they are all equal, then the decision can be made on aesthetics, or price, or whatever else is most important to you.
Mind if I ask how you came up with that list? Just curious if you considered any of the offerings from HK, SIG, or Beretta. They all make some fantastic 9mm pistols as well. |
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It's hard to go wrong with any of the guns you listed. I agree that your best bet is to try and handle/fire all of them before making a final decision. You may find that some of them point more naturally for you, have a grip that fits your hand better, etc. If they are all equal, then the decision can be made on aesthetics, or price, or whatever else is most important to you. Mind if I ask how you came up with that list? Just curious if you considered any of the offerings from HK, SIG, or Beretta. They all make some fantastic 9mm pistols as well. Berettas grip is too big. Sigs are out out of my price range. Unless you can recommend a Sig with good reviews in the $500-600 price range. Same with HKs, and right now I want something extremely reliable. So what led me to this list was reliability, simplicity, decent to good trigger, durability and price. |
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Sigs are out out of my price range. Unless you can recommend a Sig with good reviews in the $500-600 price range. Sig SP2022. Reliable, durable, and has a great DA pull. I don't know if they still do, but they used to come with night sights already installed. |
| Thanks to all who have contributed their thoughts so far. As of now I am strongly leaning towards the M&P. I have read about more QC issues with the M&P than the Glock but S&W customer service seems to handle those issues well. I am thinking M&P with the Apex DCAEK parts for my first handgun. Do you guys believe that the M&P is just as reliable as stock using the Apex parts? |
| while a 9 is a good choice for a first centerfire pistol, I beleive the best first handgun is a 22 rimfire- easy to practice a lot with for low cost and get the fundamentals down before moving to a centerfire. I also suggest getting invoved in bullseye pistol shooting- nothing forces you to master the fundamentals like bullseye- you can speed up and run and gun later.I find it is easier for someone who has the fundamentals down pat to speed up as opposed to a spray and pray speed demon to get more accurate |
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Quoted: Do you guys believe that the M&P is just as reliable as stock using the Apex parts?
They are just as reliable. You won't have anything breaking. As for the M&P having more issues that was when they first came out. Now the Glock Gen 4s are the one's with more issues. Now I just wait for the Glock fanboys who don't even own a Gen 4 to talk. |
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In 3rd GEN Glock we trust Quoted: Do you guys believe that the M&P is just as reliable as stock using the Apex parts?
They are just as reliable. You won't have anything breaking. As for the M&P having more issues that was when they first came out. Now the Glock Gen 4s are the one's with more issues. Now I just wait for the Glock fanboys who don't even own a Gen 4 to talk.  G19 and be done with it.
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75s of any type - including those made by CZ - are great guns. If you plan to carry your 75, there is an alloy-frame 75 called a P-01 and its made by CZ. Most other 75s have steel frames and are a bit heavy for carry (ie the Armalite AR-24 pistol - its a 75 too).
M&Ps have a lower bore axis. Do some combat shooting - either USPSA/'ipsc" or IDPA or even 3gun - you'll see why that matters. Great guns - BUT: Glock's magazine is THE most dirt/lint/weather resistant of any other pistol mag. I carry a G19. But I'b be OK with the compact M&P too. |
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75s of any type - including those made by CZ - are great guns. If you plan to carry your 75, there is an alloy-frame 75 called a P-01 and its made by CZ. Most other 75s have steel frames and are a bit heavy for carry (ie the Armalite AR-24 pistol - its a 75 too). M&Ps have a lower bore axis. Do some combat shooting - either USPSA/'ipsc" or IDPA or even 3gun - you'll see why that matters. Great guns - BUT: Glock's magazine is THE most dirt/lint/weather resistant of any other pistol mag. I carry a G19. But I'b be OK with the compact M&P too. Yea I really like the Glock mags. I wish the M&P had similar ones. |
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For my first handgun I wanted a carry gun, not a fighting gun, or a plinker-
I've only got to handle a g19 and it felt about the same to me as most glocks meh but it was an improvement over a g23- I got to shoot my buddys m&p9c that he carries when he's off duty and the trigger and grip felt better, with an apex the m&p9c should be leaps and bounds better, it will be my carry gun- not a fighting gun, I'm not worried about finding thigh rigs molded for lights, or aftermarket barrels. XS sights, iwb holster, and maybe some CTC grips are all I'm interested in- Just some thoughts to consider... |
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For my first handgun I wanted a carry gun, not a fighting gun, or a plinker- I've only got to handle a g19 and it felt about the same to me as most glocks meh but it was an improvement over a g23- I got to shoot my buddys m&p9c that he carries when he's off duty and the trigger and grip felt better, with an apex the m&p9c should be leaps and bounds better, it will be my carry gun- not a fighting gun, I'm not worried about finding thigh rigs molded for lights, or aftermarket barrels. XS sights, iwb holster, and maybe some CTC grips are all I'm interested in- Just some thoughts to consider... I am not necessarily looking for a carry gun right now, don't have my CHP yet anyways. This will be more of a range/training/HD gun. I was looking at the M&P9c as well. There is a good chance I will get one of those for CC later on if I like the M&PFS. |
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For my first handgun I wanted a carry gun, not a fighting gun, or a plinker- I've only got to handle a g19 and it felt about the same to me as most glocks meh but it was an improvement over a g23- I got to shoot my buddys m&p9c that he carries when he's off duty and the trigger and grip felt better, with an apex the m&p9c should be leaps and bounds better, it will be my carry gun- not a fighting gun, I'm not worried about finding thigh rigs molded for lights, or aftermarket barrels. XS sights, iwb holster, and maybe some CTC grips are all I'm interested in- Just some thoughts to consider... I'm a little confused. How did the 19 feel like an improvement over the 23? They have essentially the same frame. As to wanting a carry gun and not a fighting gun, you'd have no problem getting both out of the mid-sized Glocks. After all, they have the same magazine capacity as the M9, and as far as I know, few people have complained of the accuracy of the Glock. ETA - I shot a M&P40c a couple of weeks ago, and I thought the stock trigger was junk. There seemed to be a false friction point before the real one, and it just felt loose with a pretty long take up. I know there are decent after-market kits, but you should have to replace a trigger out the the factory on a handgun. |
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So now I am looking heavily at a CZ75B SA for my first handgun, beautiful looking gun. Pretty sure it's between a CZ and M&P at this point, pretty sure.... I am glad that you will decide for either one of those. I have one CZ 75B and an M&P9. I love both of them. I have around 14000 rounds on the CZ 75B and I've had no malfunctions of any kind. I've changed the recoil and trigger spring twice and the slide stop one. Just precautionary. I shoot the CZ better but I have around 10000 more rounds. The ergonomics on both are outstanding. You should get the one you get better. If I could do it again I would get both. If I could only get one, it would be the CZ. |
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So now I am looking heavily at a CZ75B SA for my first handgun, beautiful looking gun. Pretty sure it's between a CZ and M&P at this point, pretty sure.... I am glad that you will decide for either one of those. I have one CZ 75B and an M&P9. I love both of them. I have around 14000 rounds on the CZ 75B and I've had no malfunctions of any kind. I've changed the recoil and trigger spring twice and the slide stop one. Just precautionary. I shoot the CZ better but I have around 10000 more rounds. The ergonomics on both are outstanding. You should get the one you get better. If I could do it again I would get both. If I could only get one, it would be the CZ. Thanks for you input! Much appreciated. How does the finish look on your CZ after all those rounds? |
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I'm a little confused. How did the 19 feel like an improvement over the 23? They have essentially the same frame. As to wanting a carry gun and not a fighting gun, you'd have no problem getting both out of the mid-sized Glocks. After all, they have the same magazine capacity as the M9, and as far as I know, few people have complained of the accuracy of the Glock. ETA - I shot a M&P40c a couple of weeks ago, and I thought the stock trigger was junk. There seemed to be a false friction point before the real one, and it just felt loose with a pretty long take up. I know there are decent after-market kits, but you should have to replace a trigger out the the factory on a handgun. I might have gotten my glock model #s messed up on the 23, not sure- Re mid-sized glocks fitting both as a carry and fighting gun, I'm 5'9" 150lbs and I live in GA. Given my size and clothing limitations per the environment it would be pretty dang hard for a guy like me to conceal anything but a compact of anything- |
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I will be purchasing my first handgun within the next couple of months, 9mm. So far my research has led me to consider four different pistols. From the list below, which would you suggest for my first and only handgun. Will be a general purpose, all around pistol. This is going to be the toughest buying decision I've had to make thus far. So many variables to consider. - CZ-75B - Glock 19 Gen. 3 - FNP 9 - M&P I just picked my Sig SP2022 up today. I own a FNP-9 and it is very very similar to it. There being discontinued so there cheap right now... They come with night sights stock and 3 magazines like FNP's for under $500. In my opinion its Sigs best kept secret and has one of the best triggers ever on any polymer handgun I've ever owned or shot. Plus it has interchangable back straps like FN and MP SIG SP2022 should be a contender!!!! SW MP is also awesome! I almost bought a CZ but the Creek you hear and feel in the trigger in Double Action leaned me towards the SIG
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I will be purchasing my first handgun within the next couple of months, 9mm. So far my research has led me to consider four different pistols. From the list below, which would you suggest for my first and only handgun. Will be a general purpose, all around pistol. This is going to be the toughest buying decision I've had to make thus far. So many variables to consider. - CZ-75B - Glock 19 Gen. 3 - FNP 9 - M&P I just picked my Sig SP2022 up today. I own a FNP-9 and it is very very similar to it. There being discontinued so there cheap right now... They come with night sights stock and 3 magazines like FNP's for under $500. In my opinion its Sigs best kept secret and has one of the best triggers ever on any polymer handgun I've ever owned or shot. Plus it has interchangable back straps like FN and MP SIG SP2022 should be a contender!!!! SW MP is also awesome! I almost bought a CZ but the Creek you hear and feel in the trigger in Double Action leaned me towards the SIG
http://i891.photobucket.com/albums/ac114/Thesquirrel1986/SP2022leftside.jpg Sig's best kept secret is the P250. ;) |
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I will be purchasing my first handgun within the next couple of months, 9mm. So far my research has led me to consider four different pistols. From the list below, which would you suggest for my first and only handgun. Will be a general purpose, all around pistol. This is going to be the toughest buying decision I've had to make thus far. So many variables to consider. - CZ-75B - Glock 19 Gen. 3 - FNP 9 - M&P I just picked my Sig SP2022 up today. I own a FNP-9 and it is very very similar to it. There being discontinued so there cheap right now... They come with night sights stock and 3 magazines like FNP's for under $500. In my opinion its Sigs best kept secret and has one of the best triggers ever on any polymer handgun I've ever owned or shot. Plus it has interchangable back straps like FN and MP SIG SP2022 should be a contender!!!! SW MP is also awesome! I almost bought a CZ but the Creek you hear and feel in the trigger in Double Action leaned me towards the SIG
http://i891.photobucket.com/albums/ac114/Thesquirrel1986/SP2022leftside.jpg I am intrigued by this Sig model. The only thing I am concerned about is the high bore axis, but I have read that it still has low recoil, probably attributed to its mass and weight. Do you know of any websites that offer a good price on this gun? Buds is OOS. |
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I haven't had any experience with the FN's but it seems like you have a decent list and will be well served by all of these weapons. The FN line has a decent reputation so I would include them with the other 3. Since all of the weapons are decent the decision comes down to what fits your hand the best, what has the best trigger and what gives you the most bang for your buck. Are the sights better on one model than another? Can you change the backstrap to fit your hand? Are you going to carry the gun (CCW) eventually and do you want the ligthtest, smallest pistol? Is it going to be a strictly home defense and range gun (in which case a heavier gun is an advantage)? What do they come with (mag pouches, holsters, etc)?
In an ideal world you could shoot all 4 before making your choice but that doesn't always work out. I suggest shooting what you can and see what works best for you. I believe you said this will be your only handgun. I don't know if you are married or have a live in girlfriend but if this is going to be a home defense gun for her then you might want to consider what works for the missus. Can she comfortably reach the trigger, is the grip too wide or too big, can she reach the controls, can she easily rack the slide? This list can go on and on. How simple are the 4 pistols? Are you going to be a shooter or is the gun going to sit in a drawer for 2 years until something goes bump in the night? When you are tired, scared, confused or have adrenalin pumping you will want the simplist tool available. The same can be said for the missus. This is especially true for those that don't shoot regularly. I keep a couple of guns for home defense in the same safe. For years MY home defense gun was a Browning Hi Power in .40 cal. It was a great gun but it truly sucked for my wife to use. The recoil spring was very heavy and she had a difficult time racking the slide. The serrations on the slide were also shallow and didn't offer a good grip. This was not a good gun for her so I kept another more suitable handgun ready for her use. That's just something to think about. Good luck to you. |
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Quoted: Do you guys believe that the M&P is just as reliable as stock using the Apex parts?
They are just as reliable. You won't have anything breaking. As for the M&P having more issues that was when they first came out. Now the Glock Gen 4s are the one's with more issues. Now I just wait for the Glock fanboys who don't even own a Gen 4 to talk. I prefer the M&P over the glock, but glock still makes the gen 3 pistols, which are about the most bullet proof handgun you can buy. The M&P fits my hand a little better, but glock is still a top notch pistol. |
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75s of any type - including those made by CZ - are great guns. If you plan to carry your 75, there is an alloy-frame 75 called a P-01 and its made by CZ. Most other 75s have steel frames and are a bit heavy for carry (ie the Armalite AR-24 pistol - its a 75 too). M&Ps have a lower bore axis. Do some combat shooting - either USPSA/'ipsc" or IDPA or even 3gun - you'll see why that matters. Great guns - BUT: Glock's magazine is THE most dirt/lint/weather resistant of any other pistol mag. I carry a G19. But I'b be OK with the compact M&P too. Yea I really like the Glock mags. I wish the M&P had similar ones. I like metal mags over polymer. Other than a few with worn out springs I have never had a problem with a glock mag but steel mags tend to be thinner and lighter in weight. |