Author Topic: Father looking for a 9mm Pistol, need your reviews (Read 3387 times)

mkgeorgetown · « **on:** March 20, 2009, 03:27:05 PM »

Hi all,

mkgeorgetown · « **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2009, 03:28:43 PM »

Woops, hit enter by mistake.

Father is looking for a moderate priced 9mm pistol. I understand this isn't most likely the proper place for this, but all I know some of you have to own some and would like your opinions on different models, pros and cons. Thanks!

Mark

quickdtoo · « **Reply #2 on:** March 20, 2009, 03:46:07 PM »

I chose a Kel-Tec PF9 cuz it's small and very light, I spend more time carrying it that I do shooting, so that's important to me, for personal defense it's a good shooter too.

Tim

mccleese · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2009, 03:56:54 PM »

I'm a big fan of Glock 9mms. I REALLY like my 19. What will it be used for?

lcdrdanr · « **Reply #4 on:** March 20, 2009, 03:58:32 PM »

First, define what you want the 9mm for. Different guns will be better suited to different tasks without taking into account different preferences in looks, feel, price, etc..

For Range, Target and general plinking. I happen to like Browning High Power

For Home defense I happen to like Ruger P-Series

For Concealed carry- I happen to like Kel-Tec

But I can't really afford Brownings, have a hard time concealing Rugers, and don't feel either a KelTec P11 or PF9 is ideal for a lot of range time/target work.

For carry a lot, shoot a little, the P11 is hard to beat although the PF9 is thinner and lighter. I've seldom had a misfire with any Ruger I own, their like Timex watches used to be (they just keep on ticking) but the Browning has an edge on accuracy.

And, that's just 9mm. Now, if you want to debate concealed carry of a .40 S&W or home defense in a .45ACP, the whole thread gets a lot longer.

Dan R

Biohazard Monk · « **Reply #5 on:** March 20, 2009, 04:01:00 PM »

The smith and wesson's M&P 9mm full size or compact. check with the local gun stores, they usually have a rebate of two free mags or a $50 check.

*Rebate may take a while to recieve, mine was turned in 1/3/09 and I am still waiting...

c1skout · « **Reply #6 on:** March 20, 2009, 04:10:57 PM »

+1 more for the Kel-Tec products. American made and customer support that is second to none. My 3at and my brothers P11 both have thousands of rounds through them. If you want to spend more money don't neglect to check out the Kahrs. There are also lots of walther p1's out there right now on the surplus market. I'd say handle or shoot as many different designs as possible before buying, there sure are no lack of choices.

mkgeorgetown · « **Reply #7 on:** March 20, 2009, 04:13:22 PM »

Thanks all. It will mainly be for home defense, I don't believe he will ever carry, but he did talk about getting his concealed carry so hard to tell. I have a Sig P220 (45 auto) which I love. He likes 9mm, less recoil and cheaper to shoot. Anyway I have never shot, but am intriqued by the Glock 19. How is the trigger? I hear it takes some getting used to. McCleese are you from KY?

gatersb · « **Reply #8 on:** March 20, 2009, 04:13:36 PM »

Springfield xd m 9mm 19+1 round capacity

mccleese · « **Reply #9 on:** March 20, 2009, 04:38:31 PM »

The Glocks shot funny to me till I shot the 19. That gun is like a laser. 15+1 and able to conceal or big enough to just shoot. I have big hands but it works great for me. I shoot lots of SA revolvers and a 1911 but have no problem with the Glock. That line was designed around the 9mm. I'm not from KY but my family is. Maysville area.

canon6 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 20, 2009, 05:25:11 PM »

Ad me to the KelTec users.I have both PF9 and P11's(as well as SU16,Sub2K) they are priced right and have a lifetime guarantee, and KT customer service is top rate.hth Doug

Mikey · « **Reply #11 on:** March 21, 2009, 12:55:45 AM »

Home defense? Possible carry? There are tons of used 9mms on the web or in the Shotgun News. You can get a used Walther P-38/P1 West German police pistol for a couple of hundred dollars and they function just as well as one could ask. There are many police trade-ins that would also work for your dad.

Don't know where you are from but a firearm used in a defensive situation is almost always confiscated by the police and may be permanently marked (read the finish is permanently disfigured or scarred) for evidence. It may not be returned to you or you may get it back rusted or filthy. If you want to spend a lot of $ on a new gun that is just going to sit in a drawer or get ouo to the range once in a while for some plinking fun go ahead, but do you really want to spend that amount of $ as a unnecessary expense?

One of my home defense handguns is the least expensive one I own. It is totally functional but if I use it I cannot expect the police to treat it as well as I have and may not get it back. Soooo, I don't mind losing a inexpensive handgun for a good cause but I would probably not like the expense of replaceing one a lot more expensive..... jmtcw.

PeterCartwright · « **Reply #12 on:** March 21, 2009, 01:23:07 AM »

If your dad likes the controls on your P220, you might keep your eyes open for a P226 CPO (Certified Previously Owned) gun. Sig goes through them to replace anything that needs help. I recently ran across a P226R (R= "railed") for $550. The gun was marked "Excellent" by Sig. I ordered it from a reputable dealer (Top Gun Supply) on line. When the gun arrived at my local FFL dealer's shop, I discovered the gun was virtually brand new. (CPO's have a one year warranty from Sig).

I also own an older P226 that had been beaten to death by a local PD. When I got the gun, it rattled like an overused Yugo. However, the gun shot like a million dollars! I bought it cheap, sent it into Sig for their Sig Service Plan and received back a much tighter, completely dependable shooter (with Sig Lite sights to boot).

Though the P226 is considered a "full size" gun, it's actually closer to "Commander" sized 1911's. Given a well designed holster (I like Milt Sparks Versa Max II for IWB and any quality "pancake" OWB) on a proper belt, it's not difficult to conceal, provided a person can wear some kind of cover garment.

If your dad would prefer a smaller platform, P239s (a single stack gun) are also available as a CPO.

PC

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 21, 2009, 02:34:52 AM »

I like my Sig P6 9mm. Great shooter, and I got it for $350 used. Shoots as good as any of my new guns.

Luckyducker · « **Reply #14 on:** March 21, 2009, 02:54:00 AM »

MK, I have shot a few 9mm pistols and by far the best I have found is a Colt 1911A1 that my S-I-L won't sell or trade me, LOL. The reason I favor it above the others I have shot, besides the overall quality of a Colt, is the single action trigger which breaks as clean as good rifle trigger. Some folks are not comfortable with a defense pistol left on "cocked and locked" which is the way to keep a 1911 on the ready for immediate emergency action. Honestly though, I think any 1911 clone of quality manufacture would shoot as well. It just turns into my Ford and your Chevy kind of thing, and I hate that sort of exchange and consider it a waste of time and energy. Just my two cents worth.

williamlayton · « **Reply #15 on:** March 21, 2009, 03:06:11 AM »

I did this.
Buds gunshop in KY has/had Colt Lightweight Commander super .38's for sale for 850 +-.
Good choice and good weight.
I like the one I got, or, will have---I always have a smith do a reliabilty parts change out. It is probably not needed, but, it is just my anal way.
Blessings

Brett · « **Reply #16 on:** March 21, 2009, 04:20:31 AM »

Quote from: lcdrdanr on March 20, 2009, 03:58:32 PM

First, define what you want the 9mm for. Different guns will be better suited to different tasks without taking into account different preferences in looks, feel, price, etc..

For Range, Target and general plinking. I happen to like Browning High Power

For Home defense I happen to like Ruger P-Series

For Concealed carry- I happen to like Kel-Tec

But I can't really afford Brownings, have a hard time concealing Rugers, and don't feel either a KelTec P11 or PF9 is ideal for a lot of range time/target work.

For carry a lot, shoot a little, the P11 is hard to beat although the PF9 is thinner and lighter. I've seldom had a misfire with any Ruger I own, their like Timex watches used to be (they just keep on ticking) but the Browning has an edge on accuracy.

And, that's just 9mm. Now, if you want to debate concealed carry of a .40 S&W or home defense in a .45ACP, the whole thread gets a lot longer.

Dan R

Dan and I are on the same page on this question.

Smilin' Jack · « **Reply #17 on:** March 21, 2009, 07:43:32 PM »

The BERSA pistols have a deserved reputation for quality, reliability, and accuracy- AND are inexpensive.

I have a Bersa Thunder .380 (9mm short) which is patterned after the Walther PPK but doesn't "jam", and has a straight "blow-back" action. I didn't know anything about Bersa when I bought it ... but I sure liked what I saw then - and it has served me very well for several years now.

Bersa also makes a very attractive BERSA THUNDER-9, (9mm)- which is patterned after the Walther P-88 C, that has a "locked breech" action. I have a Walther P-88 C (expensive) and it IS one my most "prized" possesions. The "C" stands for "compact" but as with both the Walther and Bersa versions- this 9mm pistol is of a comfortable and intermediate size.

I feel that the Bersa Thunder-9 is a "sleeper" out there and "many" just don't realize what a great 9mm pistol this is (regardless of its low price). Of course, "many" are riding the current waves of polymer-popularity and minaturization- and perhaps overlook some of the more traditional handguns.

1marty · « **Reply #18 on:** April 01, 2009, 01:46:45 PM »

he needs to see which fits his hand best. The Browning hi power fits me perfectly but I had problems with other hand guns which just didn't mold into my hand.

Smokem · « **Reply #19 on:** April 06, 2009, 04:37:44 AM »

Quote from: gatersb on March 20, 2009, 04:13:36 PM

Springfield xd m 9mm 19+1 round capacity

This would be my choice, only in the ported version. I have fired many 9mm rounds through a friends and it just felt right in my hands. This going to be last handgun purchase...yeah right!

williamlayton · « **Reply #20 on:** April 06, 2009, 08:53:59 AM »

STI Trojan is a really nice Rosco in a 1911 set up.
Sig P239 is a comfortable piece.
Kimber makes some nice ones in a 1911.
Colt makes some nice ones.
Blessings

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #21 on:** April 06, 2009, 09:44:19 AM »

Browning High Power , the police/military one is med priced . Folks will say the trigger is bad , they are sorta right but to be honest i shoot it better than any other 9mm i have had includind a Colt 1911 in 9mm ( but not by much ) ( wish i still had that one ! )
I have yet to let someone shoot my p/m one and they not say the grip is the best they have ever tried on a factory stocked gun .

jgalar · « **Reply #22 on:** April 06, 2009, 10:58:33 AM »

CZ75 is my favorite.

Go to a range that rents firearms and try a few different guns out.

ihuntbucks · « **Reply #23 on:** April 06, 2009, 10:12:40 PM »

Another vote for the M&P 9 w/ ext. 22 + 1.........Rick

Empty Quiver · « **Reply #24 on:** April 07, 2009, 12:37:12 PM »

Get one of the P6s. Find one that is newer and it will feed hollow points, the older ones had issues. $350 gets you an excellent weapon that is light and handy enough to carry and heavy enough to be a stable shooter. As a plus the grip is such that a person with smallish hand can control it.

As the Sham Wow guy says "those Germans make great stuff". You won't be dissapointed, and if so it'll trade close to what you have in it.

skarke · « **Reply #25 on:** April 07, 2009, 11:21:49 PM »

I'm really surprised that it took over 20 posts to get to the cz 75/85. These are fine, accurate pistols with a reasonable price. Sigs are also great (really, there are tons of fine guns from lots of manufacturers).

The most reliably feeding and functioning pistol I have ever owned is a Ruger P89 with a trigger job. It functioned fine without the job, but had a Lawyer trigger.

I've had two P89s, and neither has EVER failed to feed (1000s and 1000s of rounds). They're just not very pretty.

Blackhawk44 · « **Reply #26 on:** April 09, 2009, 06:45:59 PM »

Newer version of the CZ = Armalite.

Hodr · « **Reply #27 on:** April 09, 2009, 08:10:41 PM »

I have a keltec p11, but that is because I looked at everything available that met my needs and then shot them at the range to make sure it was the one I wanted. I pought the one that handled best for me.

blindhari

Autorim · « **Reply #28 on:** April 10, 2009, 04:16:14 PM »

mkgeorgetown,

Let's start all over. I have read all of these posts and I don't believe your stated your father's age and physical condition. Allow me to speak to him. I am 69 - maybe close to your father's age. I have owned 1911's, S&W m39's, Kel-Tecs, Glocks - still have a M19 which is my favorite Glock. I have shot them all a lot. My night stand gun is currently the M&P9, but I recently purchased the XDm9 and it is probably going to replace the Smith.

Both have the bottom rail that allows attachment of the Streamlight which to me is a big deal - lights my property up right where I point it. The grasping grooves on the XDm slide are more agressive - easier to grip. Takedown is simpler on the XD. So - for a night stand gun with light either will work well. I would handle them and buy one of these.

As to the confiscation by police after you have used it defensively - chances are slim that you will ever use it, but you need one you like to shoot and will practice with regularly. If you shoot someone, the confiscation of a $600.00 gun is going to be your least concern if you are competent with it and it saves your life. I still work 5 days a week and shoot nearly every weekend. I shoot a lot because I enjoy it and want to be a competent shooter. A full size pistol is easier to shoot and handles recoil better - both of which increase my shooting pleasure.

Now - if you don't feel comfortable with the pistol and want a revolver - I would buy a 4 inch S&W Model 10 with heavy barrel. Simple, safe and easy to shoot well - got couple of those too.

Hope this helps.

roger460xvr · « **Reply #29 on:** May 09, 2009, 01:36:25 AM »

tHE NEW Taurus pt-809