Greatest 9mm Ever Made

LVSteve · Mar 11, 2024

BB57 said:
The problem with that non-endorsement of the Hi Power is that it’s a case study of one. I also wonder how old and well used that British Army Hi Power was when he came across it. The major reason they replaced their Hi Powers was that they were WWII vintage pistols that were worn out.

The choice of a Glock as a replacement was unfortunate but not all that surprising, especially from a per unit cost perspective.

In contrast to your experience I have fired and own a large number of reportedly superior pistols and often find myself thinking “I prefer the Hi Power”. Then, it’s usually a matter of size, but that’s a concealed carry issue that doesn’t apply to a duty pistol.

From what I gathered, it wasn't a single weapon test. It was an analysis of where and tear on both types of weapon, and the HP came in second. I believe this took place in the 80s. Exactly what unit my source served in he never said, but if eating snakes was part of their repertoire, I wouldn't be all that surprised.

LVSteve · Mar 11, 2024

Xfuzz said:
Based on the history, the feel, fit...
I will go with this. 1973 "C" series.

I can't deal with those blocky grips on any gun. They're bad enough on the Hi Power, and I really detest them on the Beretta 92.

.455_Hunter · Mar 11, 2024

Lots of good candidates (in alphabetically order)...

Beretta 92 series
Browning HP
CZ-75 series
Sig P22X series
S&W 39/59/69 series

The only polystriker is would potentially include is the Walther P99AS. Glock and other similar safetyless designs with partially or fully energized firing systems need not apply.

The Ruger P-series, while good and perfectly serviceable, I don't think are a top shelf contender in 9mm.

Echo40 · Mar 11, 2024

Personally, I think that the best 9mm Pistol ever made is the Beretta 92 Series, with my preference being towards the Taurus PT92 due to the frame-mounted safety.

Beretta was really onto something when they designed this pistol. Granted that it draws a fair bit of inspiration from the Walther P-38, but in my opinion Beretta took the design a step further and just made a fantastic pistol.

Some will argue that the 92 Series pistols are too big and too heavy for 9mm, but personally I think that the size/weight are more of a pro than a con because it makes the gun easy for practically anybody to shoot.
Frankly, I feel that the US Army's decision to adopt the SIG P320 as their new sidearm over upgrading to the Beretta M9A3 was a mistake. Not only would they have saved money, but they wouldn't have had to deal with the teething issues of the SIG.

.455_Hunter · Mar 11, 2024

Echo40 said:
Personally, I think that the best 9mm Pistol ever made is the Beretta 92 Series, with my preference being towards the Taurus PT92 due to the frame-mounted safety.

Beretta was really onto something when they designed this pistol. Granted that it draws a fair bit of inspiration from the Walther P-38, but in my opinion Beretta took the design a step further and just make a fantastic pistol.

Some will argue that the 92 Series pistols are too big and too heavy for 9mm, but personally I think that the size/weight are more of a pro than a con because it makes the gun easy for practically anybody to shoot.
Frankly, I feel that the US Army's decision to adopt the SIG P320 as their new sidearm over upgrading to the Beretta M9A3 was a mistake. Not only would they have saved money, but they wouldn't have had to deal with the teething issues of the SIG.

Yup- The P320/M17/M18 is a pathetic joke. The M9A3/A4, P226 or even a tweaked SP2022 would have been great choices.

hittman77 · Mar 11, 2024

What the heck I’ll throw my choices out here …..

CZ-75
Glock 19x
Ruger SR1911 Lightweight Commander
Ruger Speed Six

sceva · Mar 11, 2024

91B40 said:
Well, since this IS a Smith & Wesson forum, how about the S&W Model 39-2? Fits my hand better than any other 9mm and mine never malfunctioned. Yeah, it is only a single-stack.

Maybe a single stack but it still holds more than the revolvers we all like.

Old Corp · Mar 11, 2024

This has been fun reading, especially as I am a BHP fan and somehow have accumulated far too many 9mm's - it's all kinda blurry - not sure how it happened....

But - they all have a place.......
Small to large.....

Kahr PM9 (bought in the 90's when it was about the ONLY 'tiny 9')
S&W M&P Compact 9mm
Glock G19 (a refurbed-at-Glock LE trade-in)
H&K PSP/P7 (most accurate 9mm I've ever encountered)
S&W M39
FEG HP clone
Browning HP, c.1988
Taurus PT92, satin nickle with frame mounted safety
RIA M1911 GI .38 Super - can drop in my 9mm barrel and mag and voila! - it's a 9mm. Great shooter and range gun.

koz5614 · Mar 11, 2024

Another vote for the P7M13

Michaelp57 · Mar 11, 2024

Facts

Echo40 said:
Personally, I think that the best 9mm Pistol ever made is the Beretta 92 Series, with my preference being towards the Taurus PT92 due to the frame-mounted safety.

Beretta was really onto something when they designed this pistol. Granted that it draws a fair bit of inspiration from the Walther P-38, but in my opinion Beretta took the design a step further and just make a fantastic pistol.

Some will argue that the 92 Series pistols are too big and too heavy for 9mm, but personally I think that the size/weight are more of a pro than a con because it makes the gun easy for practically anybody to shoot.
Frankly, I feel that the US Army's decision to adopt the SIG P320 as their new sidearm over upgrading to the Beretta M9A3 was a mistake. Not only would they have saved money, but they wouldn't have had to deal with the teething issues of the SIG.

I agree completely. I always tell people my m9a3 is a cheat code. It is more accurate than I ever will be, and as long as its lubed every now and again, itll eat anything that you can throw at it. In my experience with the 92s and 320s, it's amazing the military could make such an awful choice. The 320 is nice to shoot, but nowhere near as nice as the 92s, nor as accurate or fast.

That all said, I've never even seen one in person, let alone shot one, but the ppc 9mm have got to be even nicer to shoot. If a gun makes for a good competition gun, the same qualities usually make it a good combat gun(durable after 10s of thousands of rounds, quick, reliable, good ergonomics, etc.). Obviously that does not take into account the common lack of backup sights, nor possible ammo pickyness, but I would be difficult to convince that a ppc9 is all that ammo picky or lacks good iron sights.

wbraswell · Mar 11, 2024

I've got quite a few 9s. The Beretta is my least favorite of all of them. Just don't like the size, or feel of it. Plus, I'm not a fan of the decocker. If I'm going to carry a DA, it will be my CZ85 or my Jericho 941, cocked and locked. I love the BHP, and carried one in my vehicle for years, until vandals relieved me of it. My favorites are the Browning and 1911s, but then I carry a Glock 48, that's just a tool, but an excellent one.

Hair Trigger · Mar 11, 2024

Ματθιας;141948554 said:
I think the finest 9mm of all time is the, in all of its machined and mechanical goodness, P.08 Luger. It's, just, beautiful.

It is a handsome pistol, but I'd rather have a P-38 Walther.

BB57 · Mar 11, 2024

LVSteve said:
I can't deal with those blocky grips on any gun. They're bad enough on the Hi Power, and I really detest them on the Beretta 92.

Grips make or break a handgun when it comes to fine tuning the fit.

Uncle Mikes used to sell a set of Spegel designed rubber grips that are superb on the Hi Power:

They also sold a pair for the CZ-75, also exceptional.

Ultra thin grips, a short trigger and short reset trigger bar were all required to make the Beretta 92 Compact effective for me.

Glock grip adjustment? You can make that 2x4 feeling grip bigger but you can’t make it less bulky.

Mike SC Hunter · Mar 11, 2024

I have a P35 that I bought new in 1972 for $114.00. It still sleeps in it's original zippered case with Manual.. Don't shoot 9mm much anymore prefering calibers that start with 4......Still have it......Also have a 228-3906 and a Shield. Back when I squirrel hunted a lot that P35 rode on my hip. A big ol bo coon might turn up his nose at a 22LR. But a hard cast bullet from that 9mm would bring him to the ground.

Cal44 · Mar 11, 2024

How about the 3913nl or ls.

One of my favs

Mike SC Hunter · Mar 11, 2024

Go loo0k in any parking lot.......You'll see...Big cars-little cars-big trucks-little trucks......In every color of the rainbow........Thankfully we still have choices as to what suits us best.

vijonesjr · Mar 11, 2024

The "best" gun in any situation is the one you can draw the fastest with the best accuracy on the target. If there was only one best gun, they would not make any other.

LVSteve · Mar 11, 2024

BB57 said:
Grips make or break a handgun when it comes to fine tuning the fit.

Uncle Mikes used to sell a set of Spegel designed rubber grips that are superb on the Hi Power:

Funny you should mention those grips. I scored a set at fire sale price and put them on a FEG Hi Power clone. It improved it greatly over the standard square wood grips. Even so, while the gun shoots OK, but it doesn't stand out in any particular way over my other 9mm pistols.

biku324 · Mar 11, 2024

This one.

The Welrod MkI was used to assassinate Axis officers by British SOE, US OSS, and varied Resistance forces in Occupied Europe.

CZU · Mar 12, 2024

Yeah, High Powers..

..and CZ 75's

..and Sig 210's

..and Lugers

Greatest 9mm Ever Made

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