9mm advise please

[19max99]

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?

 

[max]

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

 

[Rugskipper]

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.

 

[shooboy]

Taurus 709 Slim, my carry gun of choice, Shoo

 

[H Richard]

1911 in an Officers Model size.

 

[Texas Star]

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.

 

[Rule3]

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?

 

[bubbiesdad]

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.

 

[jimmyj]

Glock 17, 19, or 26

 

[Duke426]

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.

 

[ladder13]

3913 or 6906 hands down.

 

[19max99]

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.

 

[absolutevil]

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.

 

[Rugskipper]

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.

 

[GatorFarmer]

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.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

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

 

[Fuego]

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.

 

[Kanewpadle]

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

 

[Rule3]

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

 

[Badkarma 1]

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