What's the ultimate semi-auto 9mm?

[River Jack]

I've decided to try to keep my sidearms to two calibers (.22lr and 9mm). At this time I just don't feel I need anything bigger (or more expensive to shoot) than a 9mm. My question now is what is your opinion on which make/model duty sized (4-5") semi-auto do you consider to be the best? I know 1911s are usually .45 acp. Are there any make/models that are awesome in 9mm? Anything else I should consider? Thanks. RJ

[ohsmily]

The best one is the one you shoot best with. There is no ultimate, widely accepted *best* 9mm. There are however, some crappy guns out there. If you go with a gun from the list below, you will have a high quality good gun (I hesitate to put the Ruger p-89 on there, but the fact is, it is a well-built, reliable 9mm pistol, albeit REALLY ugly). Go rent some guns.

Sig, Glock, Springfield XD, HK USP, HK P2000, Beretta 92, Ruger p89, CZ-75, 1911 in 9mm. Any of these pistols will be high quality, accurate combat-type guns. The question is, which do you like best and does it fit your budget. Go try them out.

[River Jack]

Thanks for the reply. I pretty much already know that the best gun for any one person is the one that works best for that one person, and that everyong is different. However, I was hoping to get some recommendations from people who love one particular make/model over the other and hear why. I was also interested in hearing if one 1911 9mm was considered to be superior to another, as in general this is not the primary caliber for 1911s. And, if any absolutely such, I'd like to know that as well. Thanks again.

[dasmi]

CZ 75B, or one of its variants. Love that platform.

[BHPFan]

While all the pistols mentioned by ohsmily are highly recommended, I'll take the Glock. Any of their 9mm models will do fine, but my preference is the G19, it is as concealable as the smaller G26 and as accurate as the standard G17.

I vouch for Glocks in that you can get the Advantage Arms 22LR Conversion upper receivers to shoot from the same platform.

Besides being affordable, you can find parts for it a lot cheaper and more available than the other listed brands.

While a lot of people likes the Glock in bigger calibers, I trust more and believe that the 9mm Glocks are the best of the bunch, but that is another story.

[gose]

Depends on what you're going to use it for.
For bulls-eye/ppc-type competition, I use my SIG210s and the only other 9mm handgun I'd consider for this would be a Pardini GT. Some people like their X5/X6s and 9mm 1911s, but I've never been able to find anything that is as accurate and fits me as well as the 210s.
For plinking, or more action-style competitions, I use my GLOCKs or CZ SP01, since accuracy isn't really as important here.

[maschronic]

beretta 92 is a great 9mm handgun. i have owned one for over 15 years and it never fails on me!!! it eats anything type of ammo i throw in there. easy maintance. shoots good!!! i think the hand gun FTE couple of times. this was due to bad/really dirty ammo. but the gun never had any issues!!!

i own 1911'ssss and love them!!! i love 45 acp round!! i will say this. i have never fired a 1911 9mm handgun though.

my vote for your question is beretta 92.

[roor1200]

+1 for the glock 17 or 19. completely reliable (never FTF, FTE for me). i didnt like them before owning one ( G19 ). but now that i do have one, i love it! very simple in design, easy to clean, and a breeze to shoot! with night sights to help better aid your visual target, thats all you'll need and a bunch of ammo of course!

[aca72]

Another vote for the GLOCK 17/19.

If you don't like GLOCKs, go with the following...

SIG Sauer P226/P228
Beretta 92FS/M9/M9A1
HK USP/USP Compact/P2000
Walther P99/P99AS

[tacticalcity]

For me it is all about the type of the trigger and how it functions.

Most people, even cops, never master their trigger pulls and get two distinct groupings. One that is too high and one that is too low. That is because Double/Single action tiggers have to pulls. One hard one when on double action (hammer lowered), then one short easy one when on single action (hammer cocked). So one grouping is high and one grouping is low.

Target shooters need not make comments here, you cheat and put your gun on single action right away...which does not happen in the real world. When you're taking incoming fire you don't have time to remember to pull the hammer back.

What you want is a trigger pull that is exactly the same every single time. Two handguns out their have internal triggers that are "half cocked" and have the same trigger pull everysingle time. This results in once distinct grouping when firing a controlled pair (mistakenly referred to as a double tap by some).

Many people argue that Double Action Only handguns do the same thing. They usually come with a trigger pull that is twice as hard and thus more difficult to master.


#1) Walther P99 QA 9mm: Best feeling handgun with a reliable trigger that offers the same trigger pull every single time.

#2) The Glock 17 9mm. Same deal with the tigger pull. Is much more proven than the Walther QA. However, it is not nearly as comfortable in your hand. Shorter models like the Glock 19 feel even worse.

All the other 9mm that I know of have issues with their triggers. They are either Double/Single action or Double Action Only. The above two are by far the best out of the box options for 9mm self defense handguns.

High end 1911's have a safety that allow you to carry them with the hammer cocked to the rear. When you draw the handgun from the holster you flip off the safety and use only the single action trigger pull. This is how they get around the double/single action problem. As far as I know they are the only handgun out their that does not have a decocking mechanism in their safety so they are the only ones that work that way. Plus they are usually .45ACP and you asked about 9mms.

Now, lets wait for some target shooter to call me liar. ;-)

There are plenty of schools of thought that disagree with me. Most people who buy into them do not carry for self-defense and most do not train the way I do.

I am of the belief that 99% of police officers are incompetent with their firearms...because when a governmental body is providing the training politics, beurocracy and the cost are considered to be more important that the effectiveness of the training. When you pay for it yourself, and spend top dollar. You get much better training. When they shoot side by side with me and those of my school of thought they usually shoot much more poorly, and often struggle with basic handling skills. It is really scary actually. You would think the opposite would be true. You would hope and pray the opposite would be true.

Front Sight and BlackWater will teach you to shoot right...and they will tell you exactly what I told you above. If you're relying on your department training...God help you should the worste case scenerio happen.

I have seen officers chase down armed suspects only to discover they did not have a round in the chamber, and I have seen officers who did not know how to unload both their 870 shotguns or AR15s because the last time they touched them was when the qualified with them. Usually when I train with police officers I get muzzeled all day long, and if somebody is going to have an accidental discharge, it will be them. Very scary stuff.

And yes, I am very opinionated on this issue. Had too many close calls almost getting shot by idiots who are supposed to know better...all of them law enforcement. ;-)

[OutlawDon]

I'd love to pick up a Sig Sauer X-Five. Hard to define best since it's a situational and subjective question, but I love this gun.

http://www.sigsauer.com/Products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=38&productid=143

[Ech0Sierra]

+1 on the Beretta 92, sadly Beretta is slowly transitioning to their 90-TWO tupperware.

[krby]

High end 1911's have a safety that allow you to carry them with the hammer cocked to the rear.

AFAIK, All (not just high end) 1911's have a thumb safety and are single action only.

[WINGEDSWORD]

Best 9mm

They are hard to find, but if you can find one, a Colt Government or Combat Commander in 9MM is an excellent pistol. I have shot Berrettas, Glocks and Sigs. All are good guns, but the 1911 platform feels best,to me. Springfield Armory also has a 1911 type in 9 MM

[cmaynes]

The HK USP allows "cocked and locked" carry as well- the Variant one also has the safety function as a decocker- It is a nice weapon...


Charles Maynes