9mm - what should I look at?
- Thread starter RC5129
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HenryTheNoodle
New member
Very broad question. Have you shot a handgun before? I'd recommend you start at a range and shoot a dozen popular models so you can figure out what you want. My favorite may not be yours.
Well, you seem to have settled on caliber - which is a start - but there is a whole lot more you need to consider.
Do you want an all-metal framed or polymer framed gun? Metal framed guns tend to be heavier but (all things being equal which they never are) will tend to have more manageable recoil with less muzzle flip. Polymer framed guns (Glock, M&P, PPQ, etc) tend to be lighter and less expensive.
Do you want a single or double stack magazine?
What type of action do you prefer? Single action? Double Action only? Double/Single action? Striker fired?
Do you want a shorter or longer barrel?
What I would actually recommend is go to a local shooting range that rents firearms and pick out 3 or 4 (or more) of different types and configurations and try them out. Then buy what you liked best.
Do you want an all-metal framed or polymer framed gun? Metal framed guns tend to be heavier but (all things being equal which they never are) will tend to have more manageable recoil with less muzzle flip. Polymer framed guns (Glock, M&P, PPQ, etc) tend to be lighter and less expensive.
Do you want a single or double stack magazine?
What type of action do you prefer? Single action? Double Action only? Double/Single action? Striker fired?
Do you want a shorter or longer barrel?
What I would actually recommend is go to a local shooting range that rents firearms and pick out 3 or 4 (or more) of different types and configurations and try them out. Then buy what you liked best.
I need to understand what type of target shooting? Bench rest bulls-eye? Tactical? And full size means different things as well. Typically a longer barrel 5" 6" will do better because of the sight radius. I do pistol target shooting at 200 yards with a t/c with a 14" barrel, scope and bi-pod. I consider this to be a full size pistol. With the advent of the AR pistols this is a game changer as well. There are a lot of 9mm options think uzi...
So if you can narrow the field some it would help us give you a better answer.
Glock would NOT be on my list as a target pistol. It is a great pistol just not what I would consider target grade.
There's *lots* of 9mm 'range' guns out there.
If you just want a couple of suggestions:
CZ-Colonel Jeff Cooper liked the 75 series..
http://cz-usa.com/product-category/handguns/competition-handguns/
If you think you might like a 1911 style handgun (although it's almost blasphemous to suggest the 1911 in any other caliber than .45 ACP) Springfield Armory offers its 'Range Officer' model in 9mm. You can look at both the '1911 Range Officer Model' and the '1911 Range Officer Champion Model' but I prefer the regular one to the 'Champion'. The Champion model is NOT a full sized 1911 and has combat sights instead of the really nice adjustable sights on the regular model.
http://www.springfield-armory.com/1911-series/
If you just want a couple of suggestions:
CZ-Colonel Jeff Cooper liked the 75 series..
http://cz-usa.com/product-category/handguns/competition-handguns/
If you think you might like a 1911 style handgun (although it's almost blasphemous to suggest the 1911 in any other caliber than .45 ACP) Springfield Armory offers its 'Range Officer' model in 9mm. You can look at both the '1911 Range Officer Model' and the '1911 Range Officer Champion Model' but I prefer the regular one to the 'Champion'. The Champion model is NOT a full sized 1911 and has combat sights instead of the really nice adjustable sights on the regular model.
http://www.springfield-armory.com/1911-series/
Limnophile
New member
Get a metal-framed gun. You're not going to carry it, and the extra weight will make it shoot a bit softer.
Get a single-action gun. A SA trigger is what you want for target shooting.
Look at the Colt 1911, Browning Hi-Power, CZ 75, or their clones. I think these are the three most cloned semiauto pistols in history. The 1911 and BHP are both SA-only guns, and the CZ is available in SA-only.
Get a single-action gun. A SA trigger is what you want for target shooting.
Look at the Colt 1911, Browning Hi-Power, CZ 75, or their clones. I think these are the three most cloned semiauto pistols in history. The 1911 and BHP are both SA-only guns, and the CZ is available in SA-only.
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Cheapshooter
New member
I would add a Beretta 92fs to the list
If you want to go with the Tupperware (polymer frame) guns also look at the Springfield Armory XD line.
Keep in mind that most likely the guy at the shop, recommending a gun he doesn't have in stock, and says he can't get is recommending his personal favorite. Not necessarily the best choice for you.
If you can find a range that rents guns the time, and cost involved would most likely be well worth it.
Maybe give us a price range you are thinking of.
For a range gun used for target I would suggest a Tanfoglio Match Elite. Nice single action version of a CZ 75 clone. All steel and very accurate. Only caveat is in the event you MAY need service. There are a few good reports about EAA service but a lot of bad ones that I've read. I didn't let it influence my choice and went ahead and bought a full sized Witness steel 10mm. No problems for me. CZ has similar target guns but you will pay much more.
In 9mm you have a wide choice of some of the best firearms available today.
I assume that you are newer to shooting and that you are looking to improve your handgun shooting in general.
(You wouldn't have to ask the question if otherwise.)
Go to a gun show, store or range and examine a few. Pick them up and hold them. One that feels good in your hand is a good place to start.
Choose a major name brand. Beretta, CZ, Smith and Wesson, Glock, Sig, Colt, Kimber, Springfield. If you do this you won't go wrong. You will have others in the years to come.
I suggest the Sig P226 as a good place to start. It's used by the U.S. military and is well known internationally. Easy to shoot well and is a good gun to know.
The Beretta 92 is the standard service sidearm of the U.S. military and is a gun folks should know how to run.
If a Glock begin with the G19 which is an excellent all around size for learning on and is another gun folks should be able to handle.
Hope this helps.
tipoc
I assume that you are newer to shooting and that you are looking to improve your handgun shooting in general.
(You wouldn't have to ask the question if otherwise.)
Go to a gun show, store or range and examine a few. Pick them up and hold them. One that feels good in your hand is a good place to start.
Choose a major name brand. Beretta, CZ, Smith and Wesson, Glock, Sig, Colt, Kimber, Springfield. If you do this you won't go wrong. You will have others in the years to come.
I suggest the Sig P226 as a good place to start. It's used by the U.S. military and is well known internationally. Easy to shoot well and is a good gun to know.
The Beretta 92 is the standard service sidearm of the U.S. military and is a gun folks should know how to run.
If a Glock begin with the G19 which is an excellent all around size for learning on and is another gun folks should be able to handle.
Hope this helps.
tipoc
Go to your local store and feel them up. Then go to a range that rents them and shoot the top 3 that you liked. The one that feels the best and shoots the best is the one you buy. I like the feel of a Walther PPQ it has arguably the best trigger out of the box with the shortest reset. Taking a class on safety and a couple of lessons is a good idea IMHO. 
Mine will be the second vote here for the Tanfoglio Witness Elite Match. I have a handful of 9mm pistols and it runs circles around all of them and also distinguishes itself over my Springfield Loaded Stainless.
There are better 9mm pistols out there, but I would argue NOT at the price point of the Elite Match. They aren't these easiest pistols to find but you can bring one home (new) for around $700 these days. 4,500+ rounds through mine; it is amazing.
There are better 9mm pistols out there, but I would argue NOT at the price point of the Elite Match. They aren't these easiest pistols to find but you can bring one home (new) for around $700 these days. 4,500+ rounds through mine; it is amazing.
sigarms228
New member
There are lots and lots of fine choices. You really need to try and rent a bunch to see what you like.
A lot depends on your budget also. The Walther PPQ 5 inch barrel is really nice. I tried one recently but already have the M1 PPQ.
A lot depends on your budget also. The Walther PPQ 5 inch barrel is really nice. I tried one recently but already have the M1 PPQ.
Cosmodragoon
New member
There is a lot of good advice here. Knowing more about your handgun experience certainly would help. In general, here are my two cents:
If this is primarily a range gun, go with steel. Yes, polymer guns are lighter and easier to carry. Yes, you should develop proficiency with whatever gun you normally carry. At the range, steel guns just tend to take the recoil better. That's not a matter of whether you or anyone else can handle recoil, but that recoil impedes both accuracy and fun.
Single action guns are fun because they give you consistent, light trigger pulls. Lighter trigger pulls contribute to greater accuracy and fun. SA/DA guns make the trigger pull on your first shot heavy/long as a matter of safety, then make all your follow-up shots single action. Most SA/DA guns can be manually cocked for single-action shooting so don't rule them out. Glocks and some other striker-fired guns aren't really SA but still give you consistently light trigger pulls. The only thing I'd avoid is DAO, or "double action only" guns where the trigger is designed to be safer (supposedly) for concealed carry. Of course, you'll definitely want to build familiarity with whatever type you have in your carry gun so it is nice to match them. Here is where SA/DA really shines. At least for me, it offers the best of both worlds and I've standardized all but one of my semi-automatics in SA/DA.
If this is primarily a range gun, go with steel. Yes, polymer guns are lighter and easier to carry. Yes, you should develop proficiency with whatever gun you normally carry. At the range, steel guns just tend to take the recoil better. That's not a matter of whether you or anyone else can handle recoil, but that recoil impedes both accuracy and fun.
Single action guns are fun because they give you consistent, light trigger pulls. Lighter trigger pulls contribute to greater accuracy and fun. SA/DA guns make the trigger pull on your first shot heavy/long as a matter of safety, then make all your follow-up shots single action. Most SA/DA guns can be manually cocked for single-action shooting so don't rule them out. Glocks and some other striker-fired guns aren't really SA but still give you consistently light trigger pulls. The only thing I'd avoid is DAO, or "double action only" guns where the trigger is designed to be safer (supposedly) for concealed carry. Of course, you'll definitely want to build familiarity with whatever type you have in your carry gun so it is nice to match them. Here is where SA/DA really shines. At least for me, it offers the best of both worlds and I've standardized all but one of my semi-automatics in SA/DA.
You've been given recommendations that range in price, very roughly, by a factor of 2 to nearly 3. Is price a factor, and why did you select 9mm? Cost, capacity, availability, perception of recoil? I'm not trying to change your mind on that choice--just understand if it was for any particular reason that may also drive firearm choice.
Brotherbadger
New member
There's a lot of questions that need to be answered before anybody can seriously suggest a gun(cost, mag capacity and striker fired , DA/SA, ect). What you really need to do is take a bunch out and see how they feel.