I currently own one gun a Night Guard 315 .38. I would like to buy an auto 9mm and have shot a couple of hundred rounds from an M&P9. I find that I am much more accurate firing the .38 revolver in DA with its short barrel than I am with the full size M&P. Maybe it is just that spongy trigger on the M&P that I can't get used to. I am thinking of moving away from a striker fired gun to one with a hammer. Does anyone have any thoughts on 9mm either SA/DA or DAO that would be a good choice?

Most any of the Smith 9's. I would suggest the 915 or 669.

S&W 5906 is a good choice, but I get better groups from my Beretta 92FS. Beretta also makes the 92 in a DAO with a surprisingly smooth trigger pull.

Taurus 709 Slim, my carry gun of choice, Shoo

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"Get Hammered By a Shooboy!!"

1911 in an Officers Model size.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I'd stick to the CZ-75/85 envelope or the Beretta M-92FS/M-9 offerings. Both will probably shoot the socks off of any S&W 9mm, and are well proven designs. I've found both to be very accurate and reliable. They are also very reasonably priced for quality guns. You can spend more, but don't get much more, if any.

The H-K USP is also a good one if you don't mind the plastic frame. It is the German Army pistol, and has passed some grueling trials. That always impresses me.

My son found the Beretta to be very reliable in Iraq, despite the fine sand there. He did say that it's important to use only Beretta or Mec-Gar magazines. Some other brands are junk.

Depends on what you want to do with it. Target/range, carry gun, home gun or all around?
There are so many brands and sizes you need to narrow down a primary use and what price range.
Polymer or metal frame?

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Still Running Against the Wind

I have this, one of many 9mm's I own, but it's a Smith. Model 659.



I also have a PX-4 Storm and a CZ-75B in the nmo-striker category.

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Proverbs 14:7

Glock 17, 19, or 26

I have a S&W 5946 that I thoroughly enjoy.

It only took about a dozen different 9mm's before I found the platform that was right for me.

3913 or 6906 hands down.

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Sure you did

Thanks to all for the replies. I'd be willing to spend more than the price of an M&P 9 for a good alternative. I now have a few models that I can research. One model I'd like to look at is the Sig Sauer 229. Does anyone have an opinion on that?
My use would be primarily recreational shooting at the range, home defense and occasional carry.

We carried Sig's as duty sidearms at the department I worked for. Both the P226 in 9mm and P228 in 40S&W. I was the principal firearms instructor so besides shooting thousands upon thousands of rounds through Sig's I seen millions of rounds fired by Sig's. I can only count a few cases of malfunctions and they were in the early days of the 40cal. era and those malfunctions were the fault of the ammunition being used. Some early Federal 40cal ammunition had case head separation causing the extractors to be plucked right out of the slide which would disable the gun. Other than that I think the Sig line of handguns are some of the finest and reliable handguns in the world. There are other fine weapons for sure but you will not be disappointed with the Sig.

Sigs are super. Very high quality, but usually a bit overpriced. I have a 226 that has never malfunctioned, but the 92fs still shoots tighter groups. My shooting buddies call it the garbage disposer because it shoots all the junk rounds that their Glocks and XD's hang up on. High primers, improper crimp, long rounds, doesn't matter. It eats 'em all.

Try one of the FN 9mm pistols made in SC. They generally work, aren't that expensive, and come with three mags and often a holster.

If you want a Sig P229, I'd suggest getting one with .357 Sig and .40 bbls, and then converting it to 9mm with an aftermarket barrel. They're a bit heavy for what they are in 9mm, but come into their own in .357 Sig or .40.

My favorite 9mm for shooting and carrying is my S&W 908 Compact. Its small, light, single stack (8+1), and accurate.

One of S&W's Economy Models

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C & L

I would go with the Beretta M9 aka 92FS.
It is a solid, reliable pistol, and you can get parts for it.
Every branch of the US military has their own manual for this pistol.
Holsters are easy to find too.
Surplus magazines are a real bargain, even the GI parkerized that don't work well in Iraq's dust. The do just fine here.

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Fuego

The Beretta PX4 has the best DAO trigger IMHO. Easy to shoot and accurate. Rotating barrel softens recoil also.

CZ or a CZ. several 75's to chose from. I would buy the CZ PO7 Duty if I didn't have several 9"s already. The regular 75 is one of the most copied guns ever and is a tack driver.

Springfield XDm

FNP now FNX

Browning

Sig, the plastic SP2022 is a steal, night sites standard

Here is a web site for guns $550 or under. A few I do not agree with but everyone's different.

The Best Nines - Best 9mm Pistol Site handgun review test gun dealer auction

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Still Running Against the Wind

I'm rather partial to the SIG P226 and S&W 5946 for DA/SA and DAO pistols. The SIG is just scary accurate and very reliable! The Smith is also very reliable and accurate enough.
Since I've gotten back into shooting revolvers, I find that I'd my best work these days with the DAO Smith.
If you have a range nearby that rents pistols try a bunch of 'em and see what works for you. Dale

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"Long live the S&W 3rd. Gen.!"

Never fired a SIG - good reputation tho.

I bought this one recently - CZ75-P01 in 9mm. This is their compact model with an alloy frame making it lighter than the Compact or the P07, it also has the light rail for laser or light. Excellent ergonomics - the only other dbl. stack 9mm that fits as well is the Hi-Power.
Not a problem with it so far.

Bruce

My favorite 9mm pistol is the Browning Hi Power. I also have a Beretta 92FS and it has never had any malfunctions with many, many rounds fired over the years. It has a large grip and is pretty bulky and heavy if you are looking for a concealed carry pistol. My Glock 19 is also a great 9mm even though it is striker fired. I believe that you would like the M&P once you got used to the trigger.

If I HAD to carry a 9 it would be a Sig 229 or 225/P6

The Sig P239 in 9mm is outstanding in all respects. The Beretta M9 is a bit large but I've found mine to be 100% reliable like the Sig. The Sig is very easy to carry and very easy to shoot accurately.

My choice for carry is a 40 caliber Sig P239. Accuracy is simply stunning, back when I could still focus on handgun sights shooting a 2 inch group at 50 feet was easy, now it requires a bit of concentration.

As for it's reliability, in over 2000 rounds downrange I've only had one single failure, a dud primer on some Federal Champion from Walmart. Doesn't matter what I've fed it, it's shoots anything.

It's also my favorite semi to just shoot. Yeah, with the 40 it is a bit of a firm ride but it fits my hand perfectly and I would much rather drive an old Mustang GT than a Lincoln Town Car. So the fact it bucks a bit doesn't bother me one little bit.

BTW, I also have a 40 caliber P229 Elite Stainless. That one is a Lincoln Town Car. So smooth shooting it's a bit boring. Which is why it's only sent 600 flawless rounds downrange. However the slightly longer sight radius does allow a bit more accuracy in shooting, my best to date at 60 feet is 1.5 inches.

Granted, my guns are 40 calibers but I would expect similar performance from the 9mm versions. Meaning, they'll be plenty accurate, perfectly reliable, and a bit cheaper to shoot than the 40 caliber.

Now, one tip on the P239. The grip frame on this pistol has a flat front strap with sharp corners on it that will "bite" a bit. For about 20 bucks Hogue offers a finger grooved wrap around rubber grip that solves this problem totally. In addition, for me it improved the pointing characteristic to perfection and provides a distinct improvement in recoil management. IMO, this grip is a must have for the P239.

As for the P229, hand size should be taken into account when selecting a specific version. Sig recently introduced the E2 series to accomidate shooters with smaller hands. If your span from thumb tip to end of the little finger is less than 9 inches, you'll want to go with the E2 version. If it's 10 inches or more, you'll want the standard model. For those between 9 and 10 inches, either will work fine but the E2 will need to have the short reach trigger swapped out for the standard reach trigger.

BTW, older P226 and P229 pistols can be converted to the E2 grip for a fee, so if you find a used bargain and the grip is too large there is the option of having either converted to the smaller E2 grip. However, it's more involved than a simple grip change and currently is a factory only service.

I like my 5943

Nice choice in guns!

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Still Running Against the Wind

Browning Hi Power. A bunch of Israeli imports came in recently. I don't like double action autos, so the Browning is perfect for me.

I had one back when these things were new in the mid-90s. The Clinton high cap mag ban killed the gun, since it was then brand new on the market and without a ton of 15 round mags to "grandfather" in.

I always liked it because of the VERY slim profile, the very slim grip profile (probably the slimmest high cap 9mm ever) and a score of other features . . . including its double action revolver feeling trigger, as well as a conventional double action pistol selector switch.

I recently found another just like my first . . . the duo-tone "Practical" option (most were just flat black).



You CAN find 'em out there on the used market at fairly reasonable prices. Most have 10 round post ban mags but some have the original 15 round magazines.

Here's another shot of the Browning BDM I just bought. Virtually brand new, in the box with an original 15 rounder at a very good price.

If you love the Smith revolvers like I do, you might just also fall in love with the Browning BDM too! It fits in lots of holsters made for Browning Hi Powers and 1911 variants . . .

There is also Sig P6 AKA P225 that have a nice feel for a single stack and don't forget the S&W 5903 TSW double stack which feels really nice in my hand for a double stack.

I like this Ruger pair. P95 pistol and PC9 carbine. Mags are interchangeable.

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God spelled backwards is dog.

Tom,

That BDM is awesome, got to find one of those!

I have the Practical . It's a tack driver.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I carried a 6906 for several years and always had good luck with that little 9. They can still be found for really reasonable prices.

I'm a big Sig fan. I think you would be well served with a P228,P229 or P226.

Hands down reliable, dependable, the CZ75 / CZ85 with its DA first shot.

What is your price range? I've owned several pistols over the years, and these are the ones that come to mind. My opinions so take it for what it's worth.

Best Striker Fire: H&K VP9. Customizable back and side panels. Trigger is good to go right out of the box.

Best SAO Hammer Fire: 1911 9mm. I grudgingly concede that a good 1911 trigger is better than other semi auto trigger.

Best DAO Hammer Fire: If you're a revolver person, you'll like the Sig P250. It has the smoothest DAO trigger period. Smooth, no stacking, predictable break point.

Best DA/SA Hammer Fire: This one is hard. Since you're asking the trigger to do double duty as DA and SA, it's never going to be as great as a striker, SAO, or DAO gun. The two that come to mind that deserve a look are the Beretta 90-series and the CZ 75 series.

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-John

Another vote for the P250 if you want a semi auto with a longer, smooth DAO trigger pull. It is not too heavy either...somewhere in the the 6.5 - 7 lbs range usually.

I was trained on DA/SA pistols when my Sheriff's Office changed from .357 revolvers, to the new 645. As such that is mostly what I own in pistols. I have shot a DAO pistol, I don't like it. I regret selling some of my stainless revolvers, to buy semi-autos, wish I had them back. You will have to decide what type of gun to carry. I carry a CS 45.

I'm old school and can remember when the only semiauto pistols in the USA were either .22 LR or .45ACP PERIOD. Then the Wonder Nines came into being. It took years before I finally acquired a 9mm pistol, and now suddenly, I have more than just one:

Browning High Power
CZ-75B
H&K P-7 PSP
S&W M&P 9c

For a one size does all 9mm, the Browning HP, CZ-75, and H&K P-7 will work. The Browning and CZ-75 are full size guns, and the H&K requires dedicated thought if you're going to carry it for self defense. In fact, some experts have advocated that it should be your only semiauto, if you plan on carrying it for self defense. The M&P is designed for concealed carry, and it does a good job for that role. Accuracy for the Browning, CZ and H&K are about the same with the H&K having a slight edge in accuracy due to its fixed barrel, and low bore axis.

If I could only choose one 9mm pistol, it would be either the Browning High Power or the CZ-75. It would be hard to go wrong with either of them.

Best of luck,

Dave

I have several Sigs and a BHP.

The P228 is a Swiss Police gun, very used but a nice shooter.

I also have a SAS P229 in .357 sig. If you want an awesome shooter for what the Sig is suppose to be then the .357 Sig is the best. It is a necked down 40 cal. casing with a 9mm bullet. The main difference between the P228 vs the P229, is that the 228 is a stamped piece of metal lighter in the hand and feels better due to the lighter weight. The P229 is a solid forged piece or one piece metal and it is more solid feeling a little heavier.

Either one you go with can not be beat, wish the imported Swiss P228s were still around and available. They sold through very fast on the auction sites. Nice pieces, and for the price they were very obtainable considering new pieces sell for 900-1200 dollars.

Good luck with what ever you end up getting.

This in regards to the CZs. I have a CZ-85 and I don not think you can beat it for the money. I like the 3rd generation S&Ws but this has them beat.

Another vote for the CZ pistols. My CZ 75 is probably slightly more accurate than my Beretta 92FS, in a slightly more sleek design, with a steel frame. Same control layout as a 1911 or Hi Power, not as pricey, and feels fantastic in the hand.

How did a 5 year old thread come to life again?

I personally prefer a striker fire 9 mm, my go to is my Sig P 320 Compact, has never let me down.
But, in your case and want, I would recommend, any of the Smith Autos would do.

It seems a bunch of us are CZ fans

Sig P229. S&W makes nothing equal to it. Never did. Never will.

The opening list of threads if you enter the S&W Forum from it's default page:

http://smith-wessonforum.com///

...often lists old threads and sometimes folks post without realizing how old the thread is. I've done it myself a time or three.

I have a 3913 TSW that to me is about as good as the P229.

The only advantage is round count in magazine.

How a gun fits in your hand, including trigger reach is often overlooked by people but in my opinion very important.

While I would not fault many of the guns already listed, this the S&W forum and in my opinion a 3913, 3914, 3953, 3954 is hard to beat unless you want a "target" gun.

Just my opinion, but on this I am right. :-)

A 9mm Glock with NY trigger spring module.