9mm advise please

[CH47gunner]

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

 

[Frizzman]

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.

 

[29aholic]

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

 

[dinooch]

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.

 

[scooter123]

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.

 

[gasaman]

I like my 5943

 

[Rule3]

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

Nice choice in guns!

 

[cmort666]

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.

 

[tom turner]

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 . . .

 

[Ogandydancer]

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.

 

[doublesharp]

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

 

[Rule3]

Tom,

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

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

 

[highpower]

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.

 

[LoadedRound]

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

 

[BigBill]

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

 

[JaPes]

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?

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.

 

[ScottN]

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.

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.

 

[KSDeputy]

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.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

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

 

[James&theGiant1911]

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.