photocosmo
Member
Opinions please;
1. What is the "best overall" S&W 9mm?
2. What is the "best overall" 9mm?
Thanx, 'coz.
1. What is the "best overall" S&W 9mm?
2. What is the "best overall" 9mm?
Thanx, 'coz.
2 Q
- Thread starter photocosmo
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Lost Lake
US Veteran
I don't have many 9mm's, but I really like the ones I have.
I like my M&P9c and my 3913. I'd like to check out a CS9 and see if it's smaller than I like or not.
I don't have a Shield, but those that do sure rave about them. I'd like for someone to compare the Shield to a CS9 and a 3913 and see which they like better.
I like my M&P9c and my 3913. I'd like to check out a CS9 and see if it's smaller than I like or not.
I don't have a Shield, but those that do sure rave about them. I'd like for someone to compare the Shield to a CS9 and a 3913 and see which they like better.
rbert0005
Member
!911 Pro Series, 952, and the list goes on and on.
Bob
Bob
OP
photocosmo
Member
I guess when I said overall, I meant overall/considering:
accuracy vs. size and weight
reliability and ease of maintenance
value
My own choices would include the 59xx series, 3913, and the M&P9/9c.
Worthy contenders from around the world would include the Baretta 92's,
HK USP9, Sig 226/239, Browning Hi-Powers, and what about FNH, Ruger, Walthers or...?
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Kavinsky
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Talk about a can of worms, how big are your hands?
if you have big hands you'll probably prefer the feel of a double stack magazine gun, you know something over about 10 rounds in capacity. small hands a single stack like the model 39 would probably fit you better
and what kind of use is this gun going to be used as? if its carry you might want to go with something like the alloy framed smith and wesson 669, range use only then maybe a steel frame like the 659 or the third gen equavalent which I believe is the 6509
small hands the 639 or the 539 which have steel frames, alloys would be the normal 39 I believe outside of the really early ones.
and BHP's while they last have always given hammer bite to whoever uses them and cost a fortune, hence why I went with a first gen Glock 17L over one of them with mutliple 17 round magazines for 200 bucks less than the BHP
and I would avoid military grade 92's given this piece of information if you want them to last:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-semi-auto-pistols/269085-4053-cracked-frames.html
post number 19, military grade is 5k rounds and no more which if you shoot alot can easily be racked up in maybe a year or two, so if a 92 is desired go for the brigadeer model or the 92 two which I believe have redesigned slides and internals to last longer than the old ones.
but recoil spring changes at 2k rounds should probably make those last far longer than the 5 K mark, along with using standard pressure loads as the +p's seem to kill everything they touch anyways and NATO rounds are already 200 FPS hotter than normal 9mm anyways.
and the M and P 9mm compact scored a very bad score with guntest magazine so I would avoid the compact ones.
walther wise I would go for the P5 and switch out the mag release on the bottom with that of the P38 so you can easily use all of those P38 mags floating around, doublestack wise a walther P88 wouldnt be a bad choice but they'll both be costly.
much more so than the smith and wesson 669 which averages in price for usually sub 450.
if you have big hands you'll probably prefer the feel of a double stack magazine gun, you know something over about 10 rounds in capacity. small hands a single stack like the model 39 would probably fit you better
and what kind of use is this gun going to be used as? if its carry you might want to go with something like the alloy framed smith and wesson 669, range use only then maybe a steel frame like the 659 or the third gen equavalent which I believe is the 6509
small hands the 639 or the 539 which have steel frames, alloys would be the normal 39 I believe outside of the really early ones.
and BHP's while they last have always given hammer bite to whoever uses them and cost a fortune, hence why I went with a first gen Glock 17L over one of them with mutliple 17 round magazines for 200 bucks less than the BHP
and I would avoid military grade 92's given this piece of information if you want them to last:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-semi-auto-pistols/269085-4053-cracked-frames.html
post number 19, military grade is 5k rounds and no more which if you shoot alot can easily be racked up in maybe a year or two, so if a 92 is desired go for the brigadeer model or the 92 two which I believe have redesigned slides and internals to last longer than the old ones.
but recoil spring changes at 2k rounds should probably make those last far longer than the 5 K mark, along with using standard pressure loads as the +p's seem to kill everything they touch anyways and NATO rounds are already 200 FPS hotter than normal 9mm anyways.
and the M and P 9mm compact scored a very bad score with guntest magazine so I would avoid the compact ones.
walther wise I would go for the P5 and switch out the mag release on the bottom with that of the P38 so you can easily use all of those P38 mags floating around, doublestack wise a walther P88 wouldnt be a bad choice but they'll both be costly.
much more so than the smith and wesson 669 which averages in price for usually sub 450.
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mag318
US Veteran
Simple answer is there is no best. What's your preference would be a better question, there are just to many good options in the world of firearms.
When I was a young man my first 9mm was a 1936 Mauser Luger, at the time I thought it was the best 9mm. Holding it was like shaking a good friends hand, and to this day that marvel of engineering is still one of my favorite 9mm's. Years go by and things change my first modern 9mm was a S&W Model 39 I bought in 1966, it still feels great in hand in 2012. Then Smith came out with their high capacity version the Model 59 and everyone had to have one. It goes on and on like that so again I reiterate "There is no best", only the one you prefer at the moment.
Here's my short list though.
When I was a young man my first 9mm was a 1936 Mauser Luger, at the time I thought it was the best 9mm. Holding it was like shaking a good friends hand, and to this day that marvel of engineering is still one of my favorite 9mm's. Years go by and things change my first modern 9mm was a S&W Model 39 I bought in 1966, it still feels great in hand in 2012. Then Smith came out with their high capacity version the Model 59 and everyone had to have one. It goes on and on like that so again I reiterate "There is no best", only the one you prefer at the moment.
Here's my short list though.
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gunny4053
US Veteran
Best S&W 9mm.......my 6690 or the 3913
Best overall 9mm.... Sig P226 or the Sig P228
Nice to have options.
Best overall 9mm.... Sig P226 or the Sig P228
Nice to have options.
rck281
Member
I think the best 9mm is generally considered to be the SIG 210 - not the current P210 Legend but the original Swiss made one. Although, one could make a strong argument for the Korth 9mm.
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For me it depends on your criteria for determining which one is "best." Do you mean best accuracy, lightest weight, most reliable, easiest to service, best plinker, best duty gun, best concealed carry, pistol with highest resale value, most durable in terms of rounds fired before a failure, most durable in terms of finish, etc.?
I have to know your criteria for judging best before I can offer an opinion.
My answers for best S&W 9mm and best overall 9mm for the categories I listed:
Best accuracy: S&W 952; Swiss SIG P210
Lightest weight: S&W M&P9 Shield; Glock 26
Most reliable: S&W M&P9; Glock 17
Easiest to service: S&W M&P9; Glock 17
Best plinker: S&W M&P9; Glock 17
Best Duty gun: S&W M&P9; Glock 17
Best concealed carry (pocket holster): S&W Shield; Glock 26
Highest resale value: S&W M&P9; Swiss SIG P210
Most durable (rounds fired until failure): S&W M&P9; Glock 17
Most durable in terms of finish: S&W M&P9; Glock 17
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Kavinsky
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eh I dont know I think if he wanted to go for a good SAO 9mm (single action only, one weight trigger pull for better muscle memory but the hammer has to be back to fire the gun) a 9mm 1911 with a bevertail would be a better choice, probably a series 70 with a trigger job.
hell even with colt prices as they are it'd still be half the price of it for basically the same gun but its purely up to user preference and I am no fan of Sig Sauer.
and this is coming from someone who's half german saying that, walther however atleast put some effort into there guns look good and gave them a nice blued job, even the alloy framed ones usually have a nice finish outside of the military grade P1's.
uh mag318 what's the second gun there in your photos there? looks like some sort of performance center smith that I dont recognize, looks kinda nice actually.
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rck281
Member
The Swiss SIG P210 is not a Sig Sauer. It is a SIG Neuhausen. The P210 Legends are SIG Sauer. The Sig Neuhausen is in the same price range as a S&W 952 - expensive.
OP
photocosmo
Member
Now we're gettin somewhere! Thank you 18DAI for the most concise answer so far. Also thank you to everyone who has responded so far. The purpose of this question is not to aid in a pending purchase but rather to try and get some kind of general consensus. For instance; the M&P9 and 3913/39xx series come up a lot for S&W. The Sig 226 is always highly regarded and I've often heard disparaging comments about Barettas although many people seem very loyal to them. While the BHP is undoubtedly an icon I certainly know what hammerbite feels like and maybe the 952 is to specialized to really be in the best "all-round" catagory. I guess I've always overlooked or underestimated a Glock but thousands of LEOs stake they're lives on them everyday. And is there no love for the USP9? The Walther is an interesting choice and I guess I owe it to myself to try one.
At any rate I thank you all for playing along!
'coz
At any rate I thank you all for playing along!
'coz
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Sebago Son
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Of all the S&W 9mm's I like the 39-2, but I carry a 908s/910s hybrid.
The SiG 226 and Glock 17 or 19 are good guns for sure, but I think that the most elegant 9mm pistol is the Browning P-35 High Power.
The SiG 226 and Glock 17 or 19 are good guns for sure, but I think that the most elegant 9mm pistol is the Browning P-35 High Power.
mag318
US Veteran
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squidsix
Member
Overall? If I had to have ONE 9mm S&W?
39-2.
39-2.
At present time I own an even dozen 9mm automatics. I have owned
a couple of different S&Ws but do not currently own one. Nuff said.
As to question 2; The best old school single action, Browning High
Power. Best full size double action, Beretta 92fs. Best lightweight
compact, Glock 19 or 26 more compact. Best overall considering
your criteria of weight, cost , reliability, maintainence, Glock 19.
a couple of different S&Ws but do not currently own one. Nuff said.
As to question 2; The best old school single action, Browning High
Power. Best full size double action, Beretta 92fs. Best lightweight
compact, Glock 19 or 26 more compact. Best overall considering
your criteria of weight, cost , reliability, maintainence, Glock 19.
Kavinsky
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still the same design though, atleast to my knowledge unless they changed something big on them outside of the way that people usually make steel pistols now usually.
with the USP I have handled a few and they felt like well, really sharp plastic that while grabable and shootabile was unplessant. Both 9mm and .40 versions, compact and full size regardless
Might be a better idea to look for one of the later ones like the P30 series or the HK 45 series in that regard although I have yet to see one of those in MA
The other walther next to the P5 and the P88 that might be worth looking into is the P99. Which comes in both 9mm and .40
Walther P99 Pistol - YouTube
and it did feel rather nice in hand and to shoot and is probably the cheapest of the walthers out there right now. but I would look for the earliest one in 9mm like in the above video as they redid the design in 2000 or 2002 to get rid of the squared trigger guard and it well it kind of ruined the lines for me.
but the P99 was was actually designed by some of the guys who worked on the glock and they somehow rigged it up to have the compactness of a striker design with the DA ability of a DA/SA if the gun doesnt go off with the first shot
the reason why glocks are sometimes kind of hated on I believe is because well in shooting nothing quite feels like a proper steel frame but the polymer certainly feels better to me than alloy, take that as it may and the P88 is steel framed, the full sized version atleast. the P5 is alloy.
that and Glock did everything they could to get there foot in the door in the police sidearm market and underbid smith and wesson. Which in some places under law they have to go for the one that has the lowest bid whether or not they like it.
but glocks are not infallible, the model 19 glock 9mm when it first hit the market had feeding problems according to the new york police department and feels like **** in the hand probably because it never fit mine well.
the glock 22 .40 which was rushed to market to beat the smith 4006 to it in .40 smith and wesson had unsupported chamber problems while the 4006 is bulletproof from most reports
if going for the 9mm glock, get a 17, the original is by far the best feeling of them. the 26 being a close second although I would avoid the finger groved 3rd gens if they dont fit your hand.
which they dont on mine, although the best 9mm I've ever shot is the walther P88, with the rare model 39 steel frame being a close second.
but also when it comes to semi autos if you heavily use them you do kind of need to keep track of how many general rounds you put through them as on some designs they start to show problems if the recoil springs arent changed every couple of K rounds, usually 2 to 5
a trade off with going for a semi auto over a revolver, revolvers are generally bulletproof as long as there not abused or have put ammo in them there not designed for. But they can wear out overtime and maybe need a few parts replaced eventually nonetheless as nothings sadly a 100% infallible.
but it takes alota rounds and all they replaced on this one was the ejector rod (the part on the end that the cartridges sit against that ejects them, not sure if ejector rod is the right term for it) on this one I believe along with one or two parts that see most of the action
.44 Magnum Model 29 8-inch (Close-up) - YouTube
but that also might be more people racking the slide on an empty chamber and letting it fly back into battery without easing it back in on a semi auto too. having the full force of the slide hit the end of the barrel damaging the metal of the barrel and the parts around it, as the bullet acts as the shock absorber in the semi auto design.
and the slide stop is only a slide stop, not a slide release otherwise unless it was designed to take that kind of abuse that can get worn down and damaged over time, not to mention wear off the bluing on it.
Also when decocking a gun dont let the hammer drop on the empty chamber or the firing pin block. On designs like the walther with its decocker by flipping the switch and having the hammer hit it as hard as a needed primer strike over many many years of doing that they can get damaged, crack and break over time.
which I had happen on the WW2 P38 with its old style decocker, but that baby was badly beaten and worn out at that time so I dont blame the gun or its design. Just be aware of it.
basically take note of the above rules of the semi auto design and maybe hold the magazine release button down to prevent wear on that part when slapping a magazine in and it should last you a lifetime regardless of what you choose for a 9mm, be it a semi auto or a revolver
and charter arms does make a 9mm revolver now and ruger blackhawks many years ago had 9mm conversion cylinders that you could buy or come with the gun. Not sure if they do that now.
ah thanks
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Badkarma 1
US Veteran
Best all around S&W 9mm for me is the 5946/5906, simple to use, mags are still around, and maybe heavy, but as a NYPD Sergeant once told me;"Makes a good sap, if yous drop the mag fryst!"
As for a good all-arounder over all...well that depends on what you want to do with it. My personal pick is the SIG P226! But honorable mention gies to the HK P2000, Ruger P89, Springfield EMP, and Smith 6900 series.
Yeah I didn't mention Glock, why you ask, had em, didn't work right for me, sold em all and am back to finding and shooting metal framed autos. If I want something convient for carry, and is lightweight the 6906/669 does it for me. Dale
As for a good all-arounder over all...well that depends on what you want to do with it. My personal pick is the SIG P226! But honorable mention gies to the HK P2000, Ruger P89, Springfield EMP, and Smith 6900 series.
Yeah I didn't mention Glock, why you ask, had em, didn't work right for me, sold em all and am back to finding and shooting metal framed autos. If I want something convient for carry, and is lightweight the 6906/669 does it for me. Dale
