Full Size 9mm for Home Defense ?'s

boatbum101

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Full Size 9mm Pistols for Home Defense
As stated these will be for inside the home self defense . For CCW one might arguably want a smaller gun . As of now I've 4 .357 mags in that role that I wish to replace . If you've ever had the need to cut loose with a .357 indoors you get my point . Rest of the uninvited guest greeters will be 1911's in 45acp .
My criteria is full size , 9mm +p capable , visible good sights , a decent trigger & it must fit my hand & not a 1911. Subjective as most things are about a handgun . Not crazy about DA/SA nor do Glocks fit my hand . What I've found so far :
1) Walther PPQ M2 5” upgraded Dawson sights , damn good trigger for striker gun .
2) Canik TP9SF Elite 4.5” , Warne Tactical sights , even nicer trigger than Walther . Have heard these have problems with breaking firing pins , plus they're imported by Century .
3) HK VP9 4 or 5” . Haven't had the chance to check one of these out yet , but have heard they're nice .
4) Steyr L or M9 , again aint had my mitts on one either . Low bore axis , different sights for sure . Have heard grip is like trying to hold a 2 X 4 .
I'm sure there's other choices , but I don't want to have to do action work , replace sights etc. to get what I want . Any suggestions ?
 
Some of my favorites that fit your criteria
PPQ non M2
M&P 2.0 NTS
CZ P-10 F
SIG P320
 
Since it's going to be a home-defense gun and not necessarily a carry gun, the Sig 320 XFive is super nice, and the M17 also fits your requirements (this is a sweet shooter IMHO). Also, the 2.0 M&P is excellent, but if you don't want to change your sights you are limited to the Tru-glo TFX sights, 4.25" model right now.
 
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I have a Tristar C100 (made by Canik) and it is a genuinely great pistol. It was my bedside pistol for a while, but lately I've been buying up some of the .40s folks are giving away right now - $385 for a H&K USP Compact is hard to pass up, and I paid under $300 for a SIG P226. The P226 is taking over bedside for the Canik.

Anyway, my point is I vote for the Canik. I don't even like striker fired guns and I'll likely end up with a TP9SF at some point.

The gun I'd recommend that isn't on the list is the king of all 9mms - the Browning Hi Power. My #2 would be a CZ75 (or the Tristar C100!) - I know you said no DA/SA, but it can be carried cocked and locked so DA/SA operation isn't a requirement.
 
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Hold off on the H&K VP9 and get the -B version, which has an American magazine release, thus fixing the VP's biggest flaw.

Or grab a 9mm 1911 if you can't have a Glock 17 or 34.
 
I edited down your post to the essential information.

My criteria is:

  • will be for inside the home self defense
  • full size
  • 9mm +p capable
  • visible good sights
  • a decent trigger
  • it must fit my hand (nor do Glocks fit my hand)
  • not a 1911.
  • Not DA/SA .


What I've found so far :
1) Walther PPQ M2 5” upgraded Dawson sights
2) Canik TP9SF Elite 4.5” , Warne Tactical sights
3) HK VP9 4 or 5”.
4) Steyr L or M9 ,

Any suggestions ?

I've owned 3 of the 4 pistols on your list.

Canik TP9SF = Sold off because I owned a HK VP9. Triggers on both were excellent. Canik held more rounds in it's standard capacity magazine.

HK VP9 = Sold off because I still shot a Glock 17/19 better. I learned to shoot semi-auto pistol using a Glock 19. Excellent trigger. Excellent design and engineering went into the grip & customizable grip panels. Cocking ears on the rear of the slide are nice.

Styer M9 = Sold off because I never shot it often and it was another polymer framed, striker fired handgun. The grip is quite comfortable. The grip angle and grip radius allow for a very low bore axis. The trapezoidal sights worked well. The slide is quite wide for a 9mm. It's as wide as a Glock 20/21.

I have shot a Walther PPQ M2. I liked it, just not enough to buy it. Out of the 4 mentioned, I'd rank trigger in order of preference:

1. Walther PPQ M2.
2. HK VP9.
3. Canik.
4. Styer.

I have medium sized hands. For contextual reference to qualify my opinion, the only reason I can shoot a full size Glock chambered in 9mm, .40 S&W, .357 Sig, .45 GAP is because I learned to shoot semi auto on that size frame. I shoot the Gen4 and Gen5 without any backstraps. Otherwise the full size pistol grip that feels overall the best in my hands is a CZ75. Of the 4 you mentioned, I'd rank grip in order of preference:

1. HK VP9
2. Walther PPQ M2
3. Styer.
4. Canik.

Of the 4 you listed I'd knock the Styer and Canik out of the running. Neither the Styer or Canik are at the level of an HK VP9 or Walther PPQ M2, nor do the Styer or Canik enjoy as much after market sight support as the HK VP9 or Walther PPQ M2.

If you have medium sized hands go for the HK VP9 because the grip is more customizable. If hand size isn't a factor, go for the Walther PPQ M2 because it has a slightly better trigger. Handling, controls, perceived recoil are a wash between the two.

If you're willing to look outside the 4 listed, I'd suggest checking out a S&W M&P 2.0 and oddly enough a Ruger SR9.
 
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I'm just gonna throw this out there: Sig P250. 9mm; has optional night sights; can shoot +P; DAO trigger, so it's like a revolver's trigger (I haven't had a chance to try one, but revolver fans seem to like it).

A couple of downsides: 1) 1st generation guns weren't very reliable, but from what I've read the 2nd generation guns got the bugs worked out; 2) they're no longer in production, which means they may be harder to find.
 
I'm just gonna throw this out there: Sig P250. 9mm; has optional night sights; can shoot +P; DAO trigger, so it's like a revolver's trigger (I haven't had a chance to try one, but revolver fans seem to like it).

A couple of downsides: 1) 1st generation guns weren't very reliable, but from what I've read the 2nd generation guns got the bugs worked out; 2) they're no longer in production, which means they may be harder to find.

And they use the same interchangeable frames as a P320, so you can easily mod it to be full size or compact.
 
I’ve got a full sized 9mm m&p 2.0 for house duty. The trigger is nice, 17+1 is a lot of bullets. The wife can handle it also. It’s a great shooter.
Good luck,
David.
 
The Canik is in my night stand with 2 20 round magazines. It takes turns with my M&P9.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
M&P 9L, the 5" Canik or the 5" Walther would be among my first choices. I own a Steyr M9 (one of the originals from the early 2000s) and I shoot it very well. Any of the recent Ruger polymer guns will likely work for you, although some say the rear of the frame on the American interferes with their grip.
 
A forum member posted a photo of his CZ 75 type pistol, with a silencer and 18 round mag. Seems good for that use.
 
The newer Glock pistols such as the 17 Gen 5 or the G45 without the finger groves may fit your hand better.

The CZ 75 can be found in single action only. The EAA Witness Elite Match is a full size all metal gun in single action with a grip like the CZ. Fine gun.

Ruger’s Security 9 is a good gun at a great price. And then there is Springfield XD series which also a good gun.
 
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