Can't decide what to buy after going to a few shops.

Here is what you need to do

You have been going around to see what fits your hand so you should have a short list. Now make a call and find a range in your area that rents. Go there and buy a box of bullets and rent two or three or four and make your choice. Then buy it outright or put it on layaway.

I could have bought a plastic 9mm for the $300 that I payed and iyt would have been new....I hate plastic and for me it comes down to Isaac Newton and his for ever action there is an equal and opposite reaction and F=MA and of couse Bluebonnet Spearman as I too like a gun with some heft.
 
The 9mm which fits my hand the best is an S&W model 3913, one of the many Smiths they should never have discontinued. Lightweight, single stack, 8 round magazine . You can find them on Gunbroker but not for the $325 I paid for mine. People who have one, tend to hang onto them.
 
People often s**t on the P07 because it's not a Glock, Sig, Smith, etc. Maybe others have had issues with CZ quality control, but I don't have any. I have one, and I shoot it better than any other 9mm I've shot. The frame bulge issue isn't a problem anymore with the newer models. There is one gripe about the P07 and other CZ models that is completely legit, though, and it's about how low the slide rides in the frame - it creates a situation where there is less real estate to grab when racking it. I don't find it to be a problem, but there are those who do. Only you can determine if this is an issue for you.
 
I understand you are looking for Striker Fired guns. A good budget minded gun is the Ruger SR9. I'm surprised no one has mentioned it yet. Ruger makes some good pistols for the money ($400).

There's also the Smith SD series but I had trouble with accuracy on mine. Enough to make me sell it, even after adjusting sites. But for what you pay it is a great "relative combat accuracy" home defense pistol. It wont shoot 2 inch groups or even 4 inch groups (mine didnt) but you can bet it will take down a threat. They can be had for $300 new or $225 used.

I also have been a fan of Springfield XD, but not necessarily their XDM. Have you looked at the regular XD? Around $500 new, maybe less and has GREAT ergonomics.

Smith M&P adds a safety and nice combat sights. The compact I believe holds as many rounds as the full size. I personally don't like the ergos but your hand is different.

Now for hammer fired guns you have more possibility. SP2022 was mentioned, that is on my short list. PX4 Storm is another great choice. Both of those guns are about neck and neck for reliability and accuracy. I wouldn't trade my px4 for an sp2022, but I would buy one to put along side it :-)

92fs is also a classic and can be had at $500 if you look carefully. Another one of those "pry from my cold, dead hands" guns. Also, don't forget to look into police surplus trade ins. Those are the best deals going.
 
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I'm with 9mmskeeter. The SD9 is a good option and worth considering. I have checked them out at my local shop and they really felt good in the hand. I might get one some day but my eye in on the Walther PPQ because of it's lefty features.
 
The Ruger is a good pistol, but I am just not a fan of all the redundant safeties.

Mag disconnect and a thumb safety... I would rather choose a different striker pistol. But they are a good option if those do not bother you.
 
Maddnotez said:
Anyway I went to a few shops to see a few guns and I held quite a few. What I like now after seeing them in person are the FN-9 and surprisingly the EAA Witness. The Witness felt GREAT in my hands but the FN was pretty nice too.

No one had the CZ-p01 but that seems nice as well. Also really wanted to hold the PPX but no one had it in stock. With the price point and free goodies the PPX seemed like a great bargain.

I want something with night sights or the ability to add them if possible.

Looking at FN9, EAA Witness, PPX and CZ p01. Not exactly apples vs apples but it is what it is. Fwiw the Witness is in the lead because of the price, looks and great grip feel. Unable to shoot all of these so I have to go off feel, looks and opinions to base my decision.
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How close is the feel of the FNS-9 to the EAA Witness?

I'm tempted to say just go for the Witness because of the ergonomics, but after an admittedly quick Google search, I can't seem to find night sights for it. It's a tough choice - if the Witness really feels that good to you, then I'd say that's the right gun, but night sights are also pretty darned useful.

KY Gun Co sells the FNS-9 with night sights for $535 (and the baseline model for just $452). That might be the best available choice, but I really believe in finding the gun that just feels right, and for you, that sounds like it's the Witness. I don't have any personal experience with it, but the reputation is excellent.

It's really too bad you couldn't get your hands on the P-01 or P-07, because the ergonomics should be very similar to the Witness (which is actually a clone of the CZ-75B, which never got patent protection in the west). I'll leave it to someone who has more experience with both the CZ and the Witness to compare them, but I don't recommend ever buying a gun without feeling it. Even if they're mechanical clones, the ergonomics could be just different enough that one is a better match than the other.

I'm not sure why anyone would direct you away from the P-07, because that's a fine weapon in its own right.
 
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Looking to buy a 9mm for home defense and range mainly. Will also carry concealed from time to time. I do not want a sub compact, something mid sized is best.

I made the XDM thread and after seeing some replies I really wanted the VP9.
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I'm now thinking the vp9 is a little too pricey for me but I've also ruled out the XDM due to it being pretty damn heavy.
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What is your budget? Bear in mind that you will need to buy extra magazines, a holster (and probably a belt), and ammo. Lots of ammo. And a basic instructional class.

I was set on a striker fired gun but now I'm somewhat open to others. I still think I'd prefer the same trigger pull every time but understand da/sa may be safer? Idk.
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Striker vs. hammer, doesn't matter. Does. Not. Matter.

Neither, IMHO, does height of the bore axis.

Anyway I went to a few shops to see a few guns and I held quite a few. What I like now after seeing them in person are the FN-9 and surprisingly the EAA Witness. The Witness felt GREAT in my hands but the FN was pretty nice too.
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"Feels good in the hand" is nice. Can you reach, and operate, the controls? Are the controls easy to operate, or does the ergonomics of the gun fight you?

I want something with night sights or the ability to add them if possible.
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trivial. Figure another $100 on your budget. Trijicon, Meprolight, whatever, pick one.


Wanted some feedback and opinions.

Looking at FN9, EAA Witness, PPX and CZ p01. Not exactly apples vs apples but it is what it is. Fwiw the Witness is in the lead because of the price, looks and great grip feel. Unable to shoot all of these so I have to go off feel, looks and opinions to base my decision.
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"9mm service pistol" is, like, the most crowded market niche. Period. Lots and lots and lots of good options.

Buy a Glock 19, and be done with it

(, assuming the finger grooves fit you (see above comments about ergnomics).)

Then go take a basic class, and learn the non-obvious details about grip and stance and trigger control and use of sights that might make you a decent shooter that can hit what he shoots at. Then go run a thousands round through it, enough that you could have bought another Glock with that money.

Only then, only then, contemplate customizations.
 
Maddnotez said:
Looking to buy a 9mm for home defense and range mainly. Will also carry concealed from time to time. I do not want a sub compact, something mid sized is best.
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About two and a half years ago, I was also searching for a polymer 9mm, in the compact class. Large enough to shoot well, small enough to carry well. Long story short, my list included: Glock 19, S&W SV9E, S&W M&P9c, something in the XD line, CZ P07 Duty. The linked thread added a few models to my list, and helped me eliminate others.

I wound up with the Glock 19. I'm very happy with it . . . in spite of myself.

Maddnotez said:
. . . .Anyway I went to a few shops to see a few guns and I held quite a few. What I like now after seeing them in person are the FN-9 and surprisingly the EAA Witness. The Witness felt GREAT in my hands but the FN was pretty nice too.
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Good start. The folks around here can give you all the statistics you could ever want about a pistol, and then some, but none of us can tell you if you'll like how a gun feels in your hand.

Maddnotez said:
. . . .I want something with night sights or the ability to add them if possible.
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That's every pistol. Maybe you can do it yourself, or maybe you'll have to pay a gunsmith, but they can be added.
 
Thanks

Thanks for the overwhelming info and number of replies.

I went to a different range today and while they unfortunately didn't have the sig 2022 or 320 to see they did have the VP9.

I could see the quality in that gun. It felt perfect, as if it belonged in my hand and the sights were pretty awesome.

I ended up paying half of it off through impact guns with their layaway program and should have it paid off within a month.

Pretty excited and can't wait.
 
Maddnotez said:
I could see the quality in that gun. It felt perfect, as if it belonged in my hand and the sights were pretty awesome.

I ended up paying half of it off through impact guns with their layaway program and should have it paid off within a month.
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Awesome! Don't forget to come back with a range report.
 
Outstanding. I have the VP9 also and it is a terrific pistol. You will love it. :cool:

In my life experiences I had often regretted not spending more to get what I actually wanted in the first place. Luckily I learned that at a pretty young age.
 
Another vote for Smith and Wesson M&P with safety, Sig Sauer M11-A1 or the world famous Browning Hi power. Although Hi power owners are usually a small group of loyal followers.
 
I really like the Smith M&P9C as an all around gun. Easy to shoot, will work with full size mags, and can be concealed with little difficulty.
 
I realise that the gun has now been chosen but wanted to underline that this...

"Feels good in the hand" is nice. Can you reach, and operate, the controls? Are the controls easy to operate, or does the ergonomics of the gun fight you?
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...is great advice.

I bought a G19 3rd gen at first. Very happy with the performance but the angle did not suit. I then bought a CZ SP-01. Again great performance, very pointable and feels superb but one learns through experience and some things are not quite as I'd like.

The grip is just wide enough to mean I need to readjust my grip for the slide release the tiniest amount but that is still something that I'd prefer were not the case. I have also moved the mag release around to the strong side because that too I could not reach.

These were just not things I had considered because they'd never been an issue with the Glock.

We live and learn: if there is a next time, I'll know to check more.
 
I own both a gen 3 Glock 17 and a CZ75 P01 and like both for different reasons. When looking for a compact 9 last year my first thought was the Glock G19 and its a nice gun and can see why it has lots of happy followers. But the second I wrapped my hands around the CZ I was done. Like others have said the P01 is a metal gun and is heavier but the compact size makes it manageable to carry and its a tack driver. But it is DA/SA hammer fire and takes some getting used to compared to the striker fires out there.

I like the ergonomics and the accuracy of the CZ and its solid feel while the Glock offers its typical simplicity and ease of use. Oh and any concerns about CZ reliability are bogus as my gun has performed flawlessly. Same for the Glock too.
 
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