best 9mm

[Sam]

Go to a range and see what you like and shoot well with. For beginners, Glock 17/19, and M&P9/9c are good places to start. H&Ks are a reliable choice as well.

Todd's M&P, Glock and P30 long term reliability testing:

M&P9:

http://pistol-training.com/archives/category/range-reports/mp-monday

Gen 4 Glock 17:

http://pistol-training.com/archives/category/range-reports/gen4-friday

P30:

http://pistol-training.com/archives/category/range-reports/p30-thursday

[hefedehefe]

FNP9

[Shooters Sight]

The best 9mm or any gun will really depend on you. I was on the same boat a couple of months back, when I was buying my first gun. It took me a while to decide on which one to buy.

Here are somethings to consider when buying a gun...
1. Purpose of the gun being purchased (Home protection, Competition, etc.)
2. Comfort - Are you comfortable holding/firing the gun?
3. Price - How much are you willing to spend on a gun?

These are some of the things I was considering when I was looking for my first handgun. I ended up buying a Sig P226 X5 since I like the weight, angle and size of the Grip, very comfortable in my opinion!

For the mean time, while I'm still waiting to get my sig (3-4 months wait) I bought a S&W M&P for the same reason, comfort and price.

Good luck with your decision! Cheers!

SS

[DCF]

What's your budget? Any money left for magazines, ammo, cleaning products, gears, etc? I have found that a gun is just the first of many steps into this money pit. Don't go all out looking for "the best" gun in the world and then realize there is not much cash left for anything else.

[hyperion.excal]

SIG Sp2022

or if you have money go for SIG P226 cant go wrong with sigs.

[hefedehefe]

You can go wrong with any gun. My brand new Sig is back at the factory

[goldengate]

Before you drop the money for an HK, might want look into the Walther PPQ or P99.

[battleship]

hefedehefe - whats up with your Sig, just curious why it had to go back to the factory?

What model is it?

[hefedehefe]

Sig Pro 2022ns .40 Cal. It has FTE issues. They told me it needed to be "broken" in(my XD's, HP22's,MPA930, GSG 1911, Sigma, and SR22 pistol never needed that, but whatever) so I figured whatever right? So I put over 500 rounds through it and it still had the same issue. It doesn't extract the round and tries loading one right behind the empty on the 6th through 9th rounds. I thought it could possible be the mags , so I tested them. But the pistol would work sometimes and fails sometimes with the same magazines. I don't know yet what is wrong with it, but I hope it gets fixed. I always wanted a Sig, so I have been really disappointed so far. Hopefully it works out because I really like the gun

[TDL2024]

I have no problems with my SP2022 (but it's 9mm) so I'd have recommended checking that out. Friend has a P226 and they are obviously a little more robust feeling but shot the same during my limited experience with it.

I love both my friends USP's (HK) if you can swing the money for that.

Whatever you get try to shoot beforehand so you know you're happy with it.

[23 Blast]

Asking what's the best 9mm is like asking what's the best compact 4-cylinder sedan. Everyone has their opinion, but the reality is that they're all pretty good, reliable, and solid. I've owned many 9mm pistols (well, not many, but enough to know which I like and which I dislike) so I'll give you my own personal reviews on them.

CZ-75b - My first 9mm, I love it. Very accurate, very reliable, rock solid. At the time, inexpensive, too.

CZ75 SP-01: Love this one even more - it's heavier because of the full rail, but shoots wonderfully and is equally reliable.

CZ P-01: Compact version, equally reliable, but I'm not as accurate with it due to shorter sight radius and lighter weight (and because its a recent acquisition and I don't have as much trigger time)

Walther P-1: I like this one a lot. This is the post-war version of the P-38 with an aluminum frame instead of a steel one. Mine was nearly new, it is remarkably accurate and is supremely reliable as well. Downside is it's just an 8-round mag.

Beretta 92fs: Sold this one because I couldn't hit a barn door with it. Just the ergos didn't agree with me, I guess. Still, it's a very nice gun, with a smoooooooth action. Also quite big for being just a 9mm.

Glock 34: I've had two of these, the one I have now is hard chromed and I keep it because it's unique and I like its look rather than because its my favorite to shoot (although it does that very nicely). I have a love-hate relationship with Glock. I love how they're simple, reliable, easy to shoot and easy to clean, but hate their ergos, hate their ugly-*** look, hate their fanboi nation. Still - even though I try my best not to like them, they just seem to work well for me. I don't shoot my G34 as well as I shoot my CZ SP-01, but I think that's more a function of trigger time than anything intrinsic in the guns themselves.

Glock 19: Had one, sold it off, replaced with a Glock 30sf (.45ACP instead of 9mm). I will probably eventually replace the G19 I sold. It's a great, great, great gun all around. Just the perfect size for a 9mm. Not too big or long (even though the G34 I have is basically the same size as a 1911), not too small where it's hard to grip comfortably. Very accurate and of course, Glock reliability.

Never shot a Sig in 9mm, so I can't say anything about that. Did have a P220 in .45, but just wasn't for me.

[Ventura_Yak'r]

I recommend you go to a range and try as many guns as you can then pick what you like.

What he said....

[Oldnoob]

Since your thread title list as "best 9", here is what I consider best, factory stock 9mm.

Sig X-Five L1
S&W 952
CZ 75 Champion

And here is my classic "best 9" list, they might not be able to compete with newest prodoction but still holds a spot in my heart.

Browning Hi Power
Walther P88
Sig 210

[Lead Waster]

I like the CZ-75 line. I have the SA and the SP-01.

The SP-01 is more flexible, if you decide to do competitions. But also, it's DA/SA and if you (carefully!) decock it, you can carry it cocked and locked with the safety on.

But I don't have a million guns to compare it to. The ergos are nice (though I wish the thumb safety fell under my thumb more like a 1911). After getting the SP-01, I have no need to buy any other 9mm.


Bottom line (as with ALL of the "which should I get" threads is that you need to go rent them all, shoot them all, then buy the one that hits the X more often than the others). Don't rent ones with actions you don't want (ie; don't waste time on an SA only if you feel you want DA/SA)

[NeenachGuy]

Lots of good suggestions in this thread. Just get something you enjoy shooting, and start thinking about your second+ purchases and how to save up for them.