Posting for a friend

[Gallows]

Hey everyone, as you can probably tell I'm posting this on behalf of a friend who cannot make up his mind about which handgun to pick up. So I figured why not start a thread and get some opinions. Hopefully you gentleman/ladies can help him out a bit.

So he is looking to spend between 400-600, This firearm will be used for concealed carry, He wants it to be a compact, it will also be used a lot at the range, and I imagine it will get a little bit of abuse along the way. Right now he has it narrowed down to three specific models the FNP 9, M&P 9, and the XD 9. The only thing he knows about any of these is whatever he read on the internet. He hasn't asked anyone with personal experiences, held, or shot any of these models.

Feel free to throw in any firearm you think he will like that will fit the budget.

Don't pull any punches. I want to hear it all the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Sorry if this is sort of scatter-brained in its presentation. I'm in a hurry to go pick up my blaster! Fingers crossed, they have had the damn thing forever.

[CSACANNONEER]

The one that fits HIS hand the best.

[-hanko]

The one that fits HIS hand the best.

You'll not get a better answer. Your friend needs to do his homework, unless he's purchasing the gun for you

-hanko

[thefinger]

If he wants a compact 9mm, just tell him to get a Glock 19. It's easy to carry, ultra-reliable, and a great range toy. Also he can probably find one in the low $400's pretty easily.

[evidens83]

This never ending question again eh

FWIW G19>M&P9>FNP9>XD9 in that order (IMHO)

[Gallows]

No not for me I have been eyeballing a Sig lately and I think I might ask her out here soon.

Well he has huge gorilla hands as I like to call them. So I'm not sure why he wants a compact? Different strokes for different folks. Maybe I'll just drag him into the gun shop with me today so he can start getting a feel for these.

You'll not get a better answer. Your friend needs to do his homework, unless he's purchasing the gun for you

-hanko

[Gallows]

Oh I mentioned he should just try out a Glock 17 or 19 but apparently they are ugly and boxy. His opinion not mine, I'll gladly forward any hate messages his way

Ok let me be a little specific. I'm not looking for a typical which one is better etc etc.

I just want some things you liked and didn't like about them. Or maybe throw him a suggestion for a different handgun to check out.
If you have any interesting range stories with one the above mentioned handguns, please share it!

[tbhracing]

The one that fits HIS hand the best.

This. And shot it at the range. I was going to say Glock 19, but the poster above nailed it.

[wu_dot_com]

for conceal carry, he will want something small and light. so by looking at all the polymer frame guns, thats a good start.
5-600 is the budget end of the spectrum. but if he want both a fantastic shooter and a comfortable carry that fit larger hands well, he should look no further than a USP compact. other than that, an M&P is the best second option as it meets most of his needs. adjustable back strap, budget price, etc.
if he wants more accuracy and care less about the actual weight, then perhaps he should take a look at the CZ P-01. that gun have almost the same accuracy potential as a full size CZ75 but in a compact, lightweight frame.

personally, i am a fan of full size metal pistol. so i would recommend, a CZ75 or SP-01, Beretta 92 FS, Sig P226, Browning/ FN high power.

[nn3453]

Oh I mentioned he should just try out a Glock 17 or 19 but apparently they are ugly and boxy.

From that opinion, he seems like a new shooter. It doesn't matter what he picks as his first. Any one of the big manufacturers will work. As he gets to understand and learn handgun shooting better, he will gravitate towards what works for him. Kind of like how a Civic, an Acura or a Camry are all good cars for a 16 yr old. He needs to get his basics down. He will end up selling or trading if he prefers something else later.

[Ducman]

G 19

[civilsnake]

If he's a new shooter altogether, he really won't know what "feels right" anyway. Tell him to pick whichever one is the least expensive and shoot it. After a while he can try out others and see if they feel better or worse in his hands.

For my money, out of those, it would be the FN.

[Gallows]

He isn't a new shooter and I broke his view on Glocks today. We just left a gunshop and he fell in love with a Glock 26.

[evidens83]

Oh I mentioned he should just try out a Glock 17 or 19 but apparently they are ugly and boxy.

Thats funny. Does he know what a XD looks like

[bsg]

G26 is a good gun imo; i owned one in the past and would like to have another.