Gonna try plastic

Redcoat3340

Redcoat3340

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Next week at the range I'm going to rent a plastic gun in 9mm. As all I've shot for the past two years are 39's, 59's, Taurus pt99 and CZ's I know I'm in for a bit of a change.

Anyone recommend what I should try? M&P full size? Glock? Something else. I figure I ought to give the new technology a try and I'm wondering what would be the least transitional from all metal to polymer; DA/SA to striker fire; Smith triggers to the triggers with the little do-dads in the middle.

At present I have no plans to buy one, but who knows. Might be time to enter the twenty-first century, pistol-wise.
 
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Try several brands of striker fired pistols. There quite a few good ones. Save the M&P and Glock until last as they are the two top guys right now. Give them your attention and they will not disappoint. Both are great guns. At the end they will both say "pick me"! Have fun.
 
Try the Glock first. I personally think the 19/23 feels the best in the hands. It's the one that all others will be compared to, so that way you can establish a baseline for your comparisons.

You don't actually say what you want one for, though. Carry? Range fun?
 
If possible try the Walther P99AS, one of if not the best plastic pistols out there IMO. It has a great DA/SA trigger and the reset is amazing! (Like .1")
 
Agree with Glock 19. Glocks have a reputation for very good stock triggers so you'll get a fair sample of striker fire feel.
It's instructive to field strip the gun if possible. You'll see why the gun is a marvel of engineering.
Disclosure, I own a Glock 29.
 
PLEASE, PLEASE give the Glock 19 a chance. It is the best pistol out there (now I'll be beaten).

One bit of advice, since you never fired a Glock before. After first (second, third, etc., etc., etc.) shot only release they tricker so fare back untill you hear and feel a "click" then put force/pull on the tricker again. The second, third, etc., etc., etc. shot will be almost like a SA trickerpull. If you release the trickerpull beyond the "click" you start all over again with tricker "take-up" etc. and you'll come to the wrong conclusion that the tricker on a Glock sucks. It doesn't!
 
I would try:

Glock 19 - One of the best striker fired pistols out there.

Look for: 'Glock grip angle'. Consistent 5 lb pull. Slide bite. (Keep your hand under the slide on a Glock when it cycles. Ask me how I know. :) ). Great value. Seemingly perfect size vs. mag capacity. Squeeze = bang.


M&P Full Size - Good value and performance.

Look for - Gritty 6-7 lb trigger pull (until break in). Awkward (IMHO) hooked trigger. Good ergonomics. Swappable backstraps. Field strip without pulling the trigger. Amibi controls. Squeeze = bang.


I do not have experience with them, but these two would be of interest to me if I were looking at striker fired pistols now:

H&K VP9

FNH FNS9

I ended up buying an M&P last year. I did not like the Glock grip angle. Is the M&P perfect? No. I put in Apex DCAEK and Poly trigger, Trigicon HD sights and an LF Arms mag release. But I really do enjoy shooting it.
 
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I had a M&P9c and liked how it shot.

As others have said, try a bunch of different ones. If the Walther CPP is available (I don't know if they are released for sale yet) try one of those as well. I held one at the NRA show in April and was favorably impressed. If they ever decide to get them MA approved, I might even buy one.
 
petepeterson said:
Try the Glock first. I personally think the 19/23 feels the best in the hands. It's the one that all others will be compared to, so that way you can establish a baseline for your comparisons.

You don't actually say what you want one for, though. Carry? Range fun?
Click to expand...

Also wanted to add:

I was in the same frame of mind as far as stepping into modern times. My girlfriend had a Shield, but it wouldn't run right for her, so she bought a Glock 19. It's a great gun, but as mentioned above, the grip angle is wrong for me. I have to force the muzzle down to line up the sights.

I tried to carry the Shield for a few weeks. It's light, handy, and I shot it well. But in the end, I can't get comfortable carrying a striker-fired pistol IWB. I know it's mental, but it seems real enough to me. There's no shame in sticking with your metal, DA autos if they work for you. Besides, the 90's weren't that long ago! It's not like you're toting something designed in 1911...
 
I saw a used Shield 9mm yesterday at the gun show for $289 with one mag. I was really tempted and went back 2 times to handle it. I left without it though. Good luck with your experiment.
 
I own a shield40, and a glock 27....
The glock is surgical, the shield sleeps in my bed, both are a dream to shoot, for my 27 I have lone wolf conversion barrel and a glock 26 magazine, this allows me to shoot 9mm out of my glock so much fun easier on the wife also, the 40 hurts her hand,,,,,,, my next purchase next week is between a glock 26, 19 or im leaning towards a shield9
 
No advice, just my experience: I had a Glock 19, second generation.

I wish I still had it. It and a second-gen G22 were superb pistols.

If I had money for guns in retirement I'd grab a G19 in a skinny minute.
 
I swore off plastic guns years ago for esthetic and philosophical reasons. But I've owned some and shot more, and I have to say I find the G19 awfully tempting sometimes.
 
petepeterson said:
Try the Glock first. I personally think the 19/23 feels the best in the hands. It's the one that all others will be compared to, so that way you can establish a baseline for your comparisons.

You don't actually say what you want one for, though. Carry? Range fun?
Click to expand...

I do like the M & P pistol, but currently own and "carry" a Glock Model 23. All of the local LEO guys that I deal with, in this area, are issued either Model 22's or 23's, so I stock many of the OEM, and quite a few aftermarket parts, for the Glocks. I think either the M & P or Glock, are a bit better than those pistols made in Croatia, but YMMV. :D

 
Rustyt1953 nailed it...shoot a few for yourself and go with what appeals to you. I prefer to support American manufacturing so I have M&P's but that's just me.
 
Be sure to Shoot the Glock, don't just hold it. They "feel" wrong initially, but your hand will know what do do when you shoot them.
 
I'll have to admit up front that I'm not a fan at all of the Glock. Of any model. Don't like the grip angle; don't like the hype.

That being said I'd take one if someone gifted one to me (but then probably sell it!)

For me, I like alloy frame and steel frame guns, and highly prefer DA/SA and hammers.

But for polymer guns- these area favorites:

For CCW: Walther PPS in 9mm or .40S&W
Full size first choice: FNH FNP and FNX (or Browning Pro-9 and Pro-40 variants)
Second choice full-size: H&K models
Other full size: S&W M&P and certain Springfields
And other Walther and Beretta models.
 
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