What 9mm would you go for?

[sidox]

Lately I've been thinking about buying a new gun in 9mm for plinking cuz the ammo is so cheap. Anyways I have a bunch of guns I've been contemplating and I wanted some input..

1) HK Usp compact.. i shot this the other day and it was awesome.. Only problem is its pretty pricey...

2) Glock 19

3) Springfield 1911 9mm

4) Ruger p89 or 95

5) Smith and Wesson 910

6) Browning Hi power

Those are basically the guns that I would be interested in buying. Your probably wondering why I excluded the Sig 226/9 but I shot one at the range the other day, granted it was rented but the thing jammed on me 4 times out of 20 rounds... Im open to suggestions if i missed a gun that u like... Thanx!!!

[Mountaineer]

Sidox, I have 11 pistols in 9mm, and 1 carbine in 9mm. Most of the ones you've listed I have or have had at one time or another. I really like the Browning Hi Power, and one pistol you didn't mention, the CZ 75B.

[klmhq]

I'm assuming you want a full-size pistol, then I would definately encourage you to check out the CZ 75B or 75BD (if you lie a decocker). I own two and my dad is up to 7 or 8 CZs now.

You probably won't be able to try one out because they are still the best kept secret in modern handguns.

If you want something a little more interesting (and/or smaller) check out the CZ P-01 with its integral light/laser mount. I also hear good things about the RAMI, but it's too small for me.

What's to like about CZs? 1) They don't misfeed or fail to eject. I've had one failure in 1200 rounds. It was a clean strike, but the primer failed. 2) You can pick them up pretty inexpensively (about $430 for a new P-01). 3) They are sighted by the factory for 25 yds. 4) They are the weapon of the Chezch National Police and those guys have some pretty high standards.

Just something to consider.

[TMan]

Okay, you said "plinking", but do you really mean target shooting? If so, then you need to think a little about the trigger, and the amount of pressure needed to cause it to fire.

From the factory, my Browning High Power had a 7 lb trigger. With some work, I've gotten it down to 5 lb, and it has a clean break.

I also have a CZ75, and I don't like the gritty feeling of its trigger. You can feel it moving before it breaks (after getting rid of the take-up of course). I also don't like the triggers on Glocks for any kind of target shooting. Note the word "I". There are a lot of people that shoot well with them.

Personally, from your list, I would choose the Springfield 1911 because it is a 1911 and there are a lot of things you can do with it. I was going to buy one, but I got talked out of it and ended up ordering a Kimber.

Back to my original question: how are you going to use it? If it is a defensive pistol, the rules are different than they are for a target pistol.

If money isn't an object, than I would highly recommend the Sig 226 Sport. I know you had a bad experience with a rental, but I had a bad experience with a Springfield Armory rental, and I know it was because the thing just hadn't been cleaned nor properly maintained. I've never had a failure of anykind with the Sig 226 Sport.

I too am a 9 mm fan because of the low cost of the ammo. Also in a heavy gun like the Sig Sport, you don't notice any recoil, and it consequently doesn't tire you out i.e. you can shoot more rounds before your accuracy starts to suffer. Oh, almost forgot - 9mm goes on sale too.

Given any thought to revolvers with .38 Specials? When I started shooting handguns it was only with semi-automatics. I just couldn't understand why anyone would ever still want to shoot revolvers. Hmmm, don't seem to shoot those semi-automatics much anymore. My favorite revolver: the Beretta Stampede chambered in .357 Magnum. I shoot better with it than I do with anything other than the S&W 41, which is a .22LR.

Oh, if money is an object, I have just one word to say: "Ruger".

[sidox]

Basically I want the gun to target shoot and to keep at home with 2 clips full of 115 gr corbons.. Money is an object though, the most I'd like to spend would be $700

So basically I need something thats got the accuracy to target shoot and be reliable for defense.

Im not a big revolver fan, although I have shot .38 specials plenty of times...

Does anyone have an opinion on the Ruger P89?

[TBT]

I have no expx. with the P89 but I have had a lot with the P944 and several others and am of the opinion that Ruger makes on hell of a gun, but not the most accurate.

You should be able to pick up the SA 1911 in the 9mm for under or close to $700.

Amazing accuracy, the least recoil I have ever felt from the 9mm round, looks that kill, and the warranty to go with it. That would be my choice. Heck, it was my choice.

[TMan]

Hey TBT, I'd forgotten who told me about the 9mm 1911. I was able to order a 5" Stainless from a distributor in NY. I suspect that it is going to be another one that Kimber is discontinuing. I'm getting it for 809 vs. 689 for the Springfield.

I do agree with you about Ruger. I only have the P90, but I love it. I've never been all that accurate with it, but I know it is me not the gun. One range officer shot a magazine and put them all in the center X. The accuracy problem is not with the gun.

I think it was last year in the OnTarget magazine that Massad Ayoob wrote about the Ruger P90, which his police department carries and how accurate it is. I've not seen any "Gun Tests" on the 9mm, so I can't speak for it, but I wouldn't hesistate to by a 9mm Ruger.

[Misfit]

I think you should really take a hard look at the CZ-75b. You mentioned that cost is an issue, and CZ's are some of the best bargains around. They are by no means a "cheap" gun, and the quality of them are excellent, even if the overall polish isn't quite up to Sig Sauer standards.

As far as shootability, my CZ-75b will forever hold a place in my heart because I shot better with this gun better than any other with the same amount of round put through. I have eventually mastered my .45 1911 clone, but it took me longer to accurately point and aim with it than with the CZ.

[5ontarget]

of the ones you listed..
on a budget, ruger, I have a P89 "special edition" shoots good, still own it, not planning on selling it. DA trigger needs work. SA has a long take up. reliable and very durable.

need to be like everyone else, and hollywood, G19. Never owned one, Glocks don't fit my hands/grip as nice as others. People that own them generally speak highly of them. My polymer gun is a Springfield XD.

spending more... HK, or Springer 1911 9mm.
1911 very customizable (is that a word?), get that sweet 1911 trigger, possible downside...capacity 9+1
HK very nice guns, as you mentioned, pricey, worth the cost? only you can decide that!

Browning, sorry no experience with it.

[TBT]

TMan said:

Hey TBT, I'd forgotten who told me about the 9mm 1911. I was able to order a 5" Stainless from a distributor in NY. I suspect that it is going to be another one that Kimber is discontinuing. I'm getting it for 809 vs. 689 for the Springfield.

I do agree with you about Ruger. I only have the P90, but I love it. I've never been all that accurate with it, but I know it is me not the gun. One range officer shot a magazine and put them all in the center X. The accuracy problem is not with the gun.

I think it was last year in the OnTarget magazine that Massad Ayoob wrote about the Ruger P90, which his police department carries and how accurate it is. I've not seen any "Gun Tests" on the 9mm, so I can't speak for it, but I wouldn't hesistate to by a 9mm Ruger.

That Kimber sounds like a nice buy man ... I might have to look into finding something like that.

[TBT]

5ontarget said:

My polymer gun is a Springfield XD.

This is a great gun. I have the 9mm Subcompact and am actually looking to trade it in today on a full size (I'm not into the 9mm for CCW so the compact doesn't do me any good really).

Easy strip, safe, accurate, always goes bang. And it is a Springer ... you gotta love that. All for around $450.

[Ricochet]

I have an XD-9 subcompact and it's really fun to shoot, but I also have an XD-40 Service model that I love as well. My son just got a 9mm Sig Pro (SP2009). It's a sweet shooter too. I think he paid about $550 for the Sig Pro and that was with the Sig Night Sights.

I think Ruger makes better wheel guns than they do semi-autos. If I got a 1911, that baby would be shootin' .45's.

[TBT]

Just got back ... switched the XD9 Sub for the XD9 5". haven't shot it yet, but if it's anything like the sub it will be better (longer barrel).

[TMan]

Ricochet said:

If I got a 1911, that baby would be shootin' .45's.

Well, if you don't mind paying more for the rounds, the .45 is okay. I just find that I don't shoot the .45's near as much as I shoot the 9mm. I think in the back of my mind that it is the cost factor. More than anything, I shoot .22LR. Where I buy ammo there isn't too much difference between the cost of 9mm and .357 Magnum, so I've started shooting that a lot lately too.

I think Ruger makes better wheel guns than they do semi-autos.

I assume you exclude the .22's. I don't think anyone makes a better .22 than Ruger's Mark II - especially if you factor in the price. It can be tricky to get the mainspring housing back in right, but not that bad once you understand what is going on. The Ruger GP100 revolver also requires you to read the manual too before taking it apart.

(I haven't shot a Sig Trailside, so don't include that in my above evaluation).

[Adam Dieffenbach]

p89. smooth like butta


(insert heart picture)


deef

[TMan]

TBT, the Kimber (Stainless Target II 9mm) finally came in today, and I picked it up. Won't get a chance to shoot it until next week, but got to dry-fire with snapcaps a little bit. Trigger is nice, but at 4.5 lbs on my scale. That is about a pound heavier than my S&W, which they advertise as the worlds most accurate 9mm. Well, I must confess, it really is good. Out of 50 rounds, I pulled two into the 9 ring. I don't expect the Kimber to be that good, but we shall see - I was amazed at the Sig 226 Sport; it far exceeded my expectation; perhaps the Kimber will too.

[TBT]

Nice Tman!

The 9mm in the 1911 frame is a work of art. What was the recoil like?

[TMan]

TBT said:

.... What was the recoil like?

Recoil? What recoil? I didn't notice any on either the Sig 226 Sport nor the S&W 952. I don't expect any with the Kimber either. Everything is relative, but compared to a Sig 232 (the .380), and a little Taurus in .38 Special, nothing seems to have much recoil. It is nice to be able to shoot somethings before buying one, and I had wanted a Stainless Sig232 for quite awhile. Then I shot a friends, and I don't want one anymore.

[TBT]

Oh you haven't shot the Kimber yet?

[TMan]

TBT said:

Oh you haven't shot the Kimber yet?

Okay, I put 100 rounds through it today. I had to do 2 clicks counter-clockwise on the elevation, but other than that, it is really a straight shooter. The only problem I had with it was that the slide only locked back after the last round a couple of times. For the most part, it didn't lock open. No big deal; the slide is a really tight fit (unlike my Ruger), so you kind of expect that sort of thing.

At one time I thought about getting the Kimber 22 because of the cheap ammo and lack of recoil. I'm glad I got this instead. It is much, much heavier than their 22, and even though it is 9mm I did not notice any recoil at all with it, and it didn't hurt my finger.

My friend shot it and thought it shot low, but it didn't when I shot it. I think it is because of the 4.5lb trigger pull. He has about 3lb on his Glock, which is what he had been shooting. I think I'll probably do a little work on the trigger to get it down to 3.5lb.

It is more enjoyable to shoot than my Wilson CQB just because it doesn't have the recoil of the .45 cartridge. It is a heck of a lot more enjoyable than the little Kimber for the same reason. Only thing is: I still can't believe the accuracy of that little Kimber. With such a short barrel, you wouldn't think that it would be so accurate.

I've got some fairly accurate handguns now. To bad my shooting sucks. My next project is new sear, and hammer along with new Hi-Viz sights for my Browning Hi-Power. My shooting with it has always been terrible.