Posted: 7/20/2008 4:49:14 PM EDT
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Hi guys, I currently have a Star 9mm, but not very happy with it. Thinking of getting another 9mm but would like to hear some of the sage wisdom of this group. What 9mm pistols have you had or have currently? If you traded one in, was it because some something you did not like about it? What do you have now? And are you happy with it? I am thinking of something that might be an S.A. and in a commander style. And if not to much to wish for, something in a double stack. I am going to do some research, but that knowledge will never match what you guys can bring to the table in practical knowledge. TIA Max |
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While it is always a good idea to ask opinions, we can't answer that question for you. Your best bet would be to find a range with as many different kinds of guns to rent (or better yet, as many friends/guns as you can get together as you can) and try them all out side by side. Things to look for: What feels best in your hand? Do the sights line up naturally for you? Which gun has the features you want? Other questions: What do you plan to do with the gun? What is the primary / secondary / etc. purpose? If you want a gun for 1) home defense, 2) competition 3) elephant hunting, you might be able to satisfy 1) and 2) with the same gun, but not 3). If you want something primarily for competition, the type of comp will help determine the type of gun. If you want something for plinking / range toy, that would double for home defense, get something that fits you well, and is 100% reliable. |
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I'd steer you toward a glock 19, or a pistol of similar size like an M&P. eta:  I would strongly suggest the glock 19, not only does it have more support than any of the other options, it can do ccw, competition, or casual shooting equally well. If I only had one pistol it would be a glock 19. |
I'd be more apt to suggest the same as Poly, but I might also add the FN 9mm. All three are known for their reliability and accuracy as well as simple to maintain. They are also all very affordable. If a Glock points naturaly for you, you really can't beat one with a stick. They're great pistols. Take GarrettJ and Kane's advice and hold/shoot as many as you can before you "pull the trigger" at the cash register. |
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i personally enjoy shooting my m&p 9. if you are near columbia or mexico sometime yell at me and you can try mine out to see if you like it. eta they just started selling the m&p spec ops model at buds guns. that is where i got my m&p 9. if you are looking for something that has a threaded barrel for after august 28th then i would look at that. 568 shipped i believe and comes with 3 17 rd mags. |
XD's are too tall, and the triggers aren't as nice as glocks. And while it does have a "grip safety" that the glock doesn't, I feel that is mearly to get the 1911 crowd in to polymer, it takes so little pressure to depress its like its not even there. but that's just my opinion  O and the grip angle crap! Thats nothing more than practice, mostly dry-fire, poor technique (as in poor no matter what pistol it is) is more to blame for bad shooting than the grip angle (at least that's what I've witnessed) |
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I'm partial to the CZ product line. I love my CZ 85 Combat, and my CZ 75 BD Police. I like a good Smith and Wesson 5906 as well. You couldn't go wrong with a Glock either. I have one of those as a Daily Carry Gun (model 36). I like the big .45 acp too. I like a lot of other handguns, but as most have noted. It is going to be up to you. Your choice, is just that. Your choice. DBAR |
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I have an XD9SC. Not a bad gun, very accurate, and I like the grip safety. I don't care for the grip itself, nor the tallness of the gun. It's very top heavy. The trigger isn't near as good as a Glock--shitty reset, but that's fixable for a few bucks. I love the Glock 17 or 19. Don't care for snubby though. Don't get the compensated "C" model either. I'm excited about the Steyr A1 models. The M9-A1 is only $329 from CDNN, but I want the smaller S9-A1. Cool gun, got to hold it at the NRA show in Louisville. Taurus makes some nice, small 9mm's for the money too. Just go to a gun shop, and handle a bunch of different models. Rack all this slides, operate all the mags drops, slide drops, etc. Try one hand and two hand grips--make sure the slide won't cut the web of your thumb & index finger. I had problems with some of these with certain Sigs, CZ's, Berettas, etc so they're off the list for me--not because they're a bad gun, they just didn't work for my hand. PICK THE ONES THAT FITS YOU THE BEST, then come back and we'll narrow it down. Don't forget to eval how it's going to fit IWB or wherever. Avoid lots of levers and such like on the older Berettas it's going to be a CCW. In the night stand only calls for bigger grips and more low light, "anti-fumble" stuff. |
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If you are looking for something that is double stacked in 9mm and single action then I would recommend a HK USP. I have one and love it. I traded off a G19 for it and am glad I did. My USP is SA/DA and hold 15+1. If there is one draw back for most people its the cost. They are expensive, however with HK releasing several new pistols the older USP is begining to drop in price. You can find a new one for about $600 or so, maybe cheaper if you shop around. used ones go for about $500. |
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I've owned or at least shot pretty much every 9mm handgun out there. If I was forced to own just one and use it to save the world a la Jack Bauer, it would have to be the Sig Sauer P226. My Glock comes close but that's only because its a longslide and very accurate. Of course, in a single action only and double stack, the Hi Power comes to mind. My Hi Power makes me happy inside. 
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| +1 to Duke...if its not a Sig, or at least German in origin...well it fails in my book. I carry an HK USP in 9mm on duty everyday and its not a bad second place. If you need easy concealed carry, a Sig Sauer P229 is better option. I have one of those in .40S&W and I carry it concealed off-duty. |
. I've got the 226r in .40 and absolutely love it. It is by far my favorite pistola.
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There are a LOT of great choices out there for 9mm handguns. I like my full size USP, but I keep itchin to get a glock. Sigs are great too, but I feel that my USP has that niche filled. If I could do it over Id just start with a glock. Try a couple different things out, Im sure you could find someone to let you try just about anything youd like out of the members here. |
| I'm partial to the XD, I like them so much I bought 2, a 3" and a 4". I dont care for Glock. Id seriously look at the Sig P226 (single stack) German police turn ins that you can get for around $350 or so if cost is a factor. Cant go wrong with a $350 Sig. But my main vote goes for the XD. |
out the CZ line of pistols.
| The only experience with 9mm I have is with the M9 and have shot a Ruger a few times. I wasn't b big fan of the 9mm while in the service since we were stuck with using ball ammo but the Beretta pistols do shoot good. I have a Taurus 24/7 in .40 that I like (long trigger but not bad once you get used to it). Max, if you ever want to get rid of that Firestar let me know. |
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Cool: HL VP70Z Sig 210 Walther P38 Luger P08 Mauser C96 Hi-Point C9 (Just kidding.  )Functional/practical: Pretty much everything the other guys listed.
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Those are actually Sig P225s or P6s as they're marked in Europe. A Sig P226 was my first pistol, and I really like it so I'll have to say +4 for the Sig P226. I like my Sig P228 and the FNP9 I shot for the first time this weekend too though. |
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If you're in the St. Louis area, go to the Bull's Eye on Manchester. It'll be a bit pricey, but you can shoot a bunch of different weapons and find out which one suits you best. Just because something looks rockin', and everybody loves it, doesn't mean that it will work for you. Me personally, I know most people LOVE Glocks, but I find them to be really sloppy and I hate shooting them. I prefer a Sig Sauer, I think they have the smoothest action of any handgun I've fired. I also like the M&P line. That being said, take everything on the internet with a grain of salt. Don't go out and buy something without having fired it first. If you aren't in the St. Louis area, I'm sure you can find a good range that has a bunch of rentals. Happy shooting, and I'm sure you'll find something you love. |
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Thanks guys for all of the inputs. Seems that the majority love their P226. Will keep that in mind. But it is a dang DA/SA. But I did see a P226 XFive that is SA, but over 2K bucks. ouch! Still researching and have gotten two offers to meet at a range and try the two posters weapons. Which I gratefully have taken them up on their offers. Thanks guys. I am mean time researching all suggestions. And will definitely try before I buy. Much appreciate all input, to include the suggestions without a make and model mentioned. For those who didn't pick up on the commander type of weapon. If I remember correctly, the commander is a short barrel weapon. So, that rules out any kind of shooting competition shooting. More like self-defense. Thanks Max BTW MCCT is a good deal. Took the course Sunday |
Yeah, I like my P226. The DA/SA really doesn't bother me, but I know some people hate anything that isn't SAO. Anyway, while I haven't tried it myself, Sig does offer the DAK trigger system that is something of a compromise. I'd definitely try that trigger system before I bought one though. I just thought I'd mention it as something else to consider. http://www.sigsauer.com/Products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=7&productid=89
The P229 and the P228 (if you can find one) are very similar to the P226 but smaller. If you're looking for something that's not quite full size, you might want to look at those instead of the P226. I like my P228 an awful lot too. |
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If you want a single action only 9mm your only choices are a 1911 in 9mm (rare/expensive) and the Browning Hi Power (not rare, just expensive). Everything else is DA/SA or striker fired. The DAK trigger isn't that great. At all. You know, 150 years ago in the days of the old west, nearly all handguns had to be cocked by hand each time they were fired. There were a few experimental double action revolvers, but 99% of what was out there were single action only revolvers which had to be cocked not only on the draw but on each subsequent shot as well. Despite the lack of formal firearms training or education, it seems pistol fighters of the civil war and "wild west" didn't blow their own heads off with any regularity due to this handicap. Yet in the modern day, SWAT officers with college degrees and thousands of hours of training each year aren't trusted enough to be issued guns which can be cocked after being drawn from the holster. Their bosses give them some type of striker fired design intended to replicate the feel of a double action revolver, or a semi-cocked DAO doohickey called a DAK or LEM or LDA or STD or whatever, because apparently if anyone tries to cock a DA/SA gun on the draw in the 21st century the gun will turn itself around and shoot its owner in the head for doing such an irresponsible thing. Somewhere, Billy the Kid is laughing his ass off.... |
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Well I got a chance to handle and dry fire a Walther PPS today. I know, not a SA and not a double stack. But for a DAO, trigger felt good, and points well for me. But hoping to handle and check out some more pistols. Not going to make any snap decisions when I am going to spend nearly 1K bucks. Found out that Star is no longer being imported. I asked the guy at the gun store if he would help me unload the Star. Thats when he told me about it being no longer imported. And he could not sleep at night if he sold it to someone. Looks like I got a expensive paper weight. 
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Check this out also. I have been a fan of CZs as long as I have seen the on the webs, but I havent gotten to shoot one, yet  www.theboxotruth.com/docs/edu76.htm |
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Hi Chumpmiester, Well I would be willing to part with it, but you need to know this pistol has a failure to extract and I would not use it for a reliable concealed weapon that your life might depend on it. If still interested we can work out a deal. P.S. I did a little mod on it. I put the rear sight on a mill and milled out a little slot so that I could put in a button head allen screw so I would have some windage adjustment. It is recessed in the area that the original screw was at. Max |
| CZ makes a single action CZ75, it's still on my list of impulse purchases, and the CZ pistols are built like a tank, were it nessisary to pistol whip someone with one of these, they arw more than adequite, (pistol whipping is sorta like the short version of butt stroking) ask Duke about the importance of this,:-) |
I posted a big review of the MSAR STG-556 in GD recently and immediately was attacked by a guy claiming to be a former Marine Corps line instructor, who informed me that my new $1500 rifle was a piece of shit because you can't buttstroke anyone with it. It took several pages of serious discussion before someone finally chimed in with the obvious joke about why this guy was so fascinated by the concept of "buttstroking..." P.S. The CZ series is underrated. If CMMG has another shoot sometime soon we will all have to let you try out our various and sundry 9mm handguns. Personally I'm of the opinion that its really difficult to find out what you like until you put it in your hand and start sending rounds downrange, which is one reason why I've bought and sold hundreds of firearms in the last ten years. |
I agree with Duke, you really need to see how it feels in the hand and shoot it before you can pick a gun. There have been some great suggestions so far which work well for others but only one of them may work for you. In 9mm, I like the following guns (favorites at the top) for all around use: 1. Sig P226 2. Sig P228 9mm (now the 229 in 9mm/.40/.357Sig 3. Glock 34 4. Glock 19 (26 for carry) 4. S&W M&P 9 (9C for carry) |
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True enough you really NEED to try the pistols and not go by others determination of what sucks and what doesn't... The SIG P226 is a fine pistol, the Glock 17/19/34/??? is equally fine. I used to be an Anti Glock, then I finally gave it a chance and it is a great reliable piece. It is as accurate as you can shoot. The much maligned Beretta 92 is a nice pistol as well. I shot one for years, and I still have a 96 which is the same pistol in 40 S&W... There are a couple companies that make 9mm 1911 clones. The Hk Pistols are fine as well. The XD is OK but I have shot better, such as the Glock... The Walther P99 is a good weapon. Bottom line is you need to Try before you buy, You might just be surprised... |
