Contemplating a 9mm

How about a Beretta 92 Compact? I have both the 92FS and Compact and prefer the Compact.
Meets most of your requirements.
Smaller than its big brother, about the same size as the Sig 226. Takes its own 13 round mags which are priced in the $50 range.
Accepts the 92's 15 and 20 round mags.
Great looking, and gets you out of "the King of the Wundernines", on a technicallity.
Take Care
 
Hmm...

If I went into the Gun Store today, I'd probably walk out with a Beretta 92FS. See, they actually HAVE them at the shop. They're the best selling 9x19mm around here (though the biggest seller reamains 1911s). I might buy a Sig P226 if I had the money and there was one there. I know they make 20 round magazines for the Sig, I just haven't seen one for sale online.

I don't mind a big pistol. According to Michigan law, I have to get 8 hours of training before I can get a CCW anyway, and living out in the boondocks here in the UP, I have no idea where I can take a pistol course.
 
Last edited:
I cast my vote for the Beretta. Plenty of extras out there for it, verry accurate, and made good. If shootin +P+ ammo is somthing you are worried about, get one of those buffer block things(what are they called?), and get the Brigadier model. It is not harder to hide than a regular 92, and you will love the grips! ;)

I have a 96 Brigadier, and love it! You will not regret the purchase! :cool:
 
Ruger P95

I really love my Ruger P95. P89 standard capacity (15 rounds) are readily available. Just stay the heck away from USA mags. Barf.

Ruger P95 will handle any ammo you put through it. It has an ambi decocker and mag release!!!!!!! They drop free. It is boring reliable and quite accurate.
 
9mm

Dude; forget all the hype and spend an extra nickle or dime and rush out to your nearest gun shop and get a Beretta 92fs...they are good to look at, nice to the touch and shoot as good or better than most..I have the 92fs y2k and am amazed with its accuracy, take down is easy and ammo fairly cheap....go for it.
 
Update

The Sig P226 is back on the list of finalists. I've handled Sigs before and the quality is stunning.

I've decided I can live without 20 round magazines if need be. Especially since I can get Eagle 17 round Sig magazines from CDNN for $13.99. I'm not sure how well they work, but it's worth buying one to find out.

Now, the Sig P226 does not have ambi controls. But, since the only saftey is a decocker, it doesn't matter to me. (I mean, really, decocking isn't something you need to be able to do with one hand.)
 
The Beretta 92 meets your list of specs. As for needing a high mag capacity if you carry a semi auto I don't disagree but its not essential. There is no point in carrying a revolver other than the small 10 ounch titianium 38's. However many slim line auto's make sence for CCW. The CZ is also a good gun from what I hear. The Sig is a excellent gun too. The glock is even better but the mags are expensive.

PAT
 
Nightcrawler


Get factory mags don't waist your hard earned money on after market mags with the exception of meggar and they cost the same or more than factory mags. The magazine is the bread and butter of reliability on a semi auto and poor ones will give poor results. I have bought mags like the ones you speak and they only ended up frustrating me.
PAT
 
I have to disagree with you, and I'm sure many, many other TFLers will as well, that "revolvers are no good for carry". I wouldn't feel underarmed with six rounds of .357 magnum and maybe six more in a speedloader. For a DEFENSIVE weapon, that's more than you'll most likely ever need. If I HAD to be in a gunfight, and for some reason couldn't bring a long gun, then I'd want a 9mm with a whole friggin' bunch of 20 round magazines. I do plan on getting a revolver, except I prefer my revolvers big (thinking of Ruger Redhawk, or even a Vaquero) and as such it would be kind of large for CCW, in most cases, and heavy.

That said, I came to the decesion that I wanted a semiauto handgun with the highest capacity possible, and that lead me to 9mm. It's not out of any great need I feel that I want 15+ rounds, so much that I think its neat-o-torpeedo, if you will. Coolness factor plays big with me. Besides, "high-capacity assault pistols" make the Brady Bunch wet their little tighty-whiteys, and that's reason enough right there.

The only point of hesiation I have on the Beretta is its size. It's bigger than a Sig and bulkier than a 1911. On the other hand, I'd probably get a Kel-Tec 9mm for carry. Small, light, takes S&W 15 round magazines.

The Glock better than the Sig? Are you trying to start a feud or something? Let us hold our breath and hope the Swiss didn't hear. They're a bit more touchy on such matters than the Austrians. :)

Personally, I'd take a Sig 220 or 226 over a Glock 21, 17, 22, etc. any day of the week. The Glock's grip does NOT fit my hand, and I don't like the trigger. Just personal preferances, mind you, but I'm not going to spend $500 on a gun that I don't really like.
 
Last edited:
Finalists Updated

The list of finalists has been updated, given some consideration.

-Beretta 92F
-Sig P226
-MRI Baby Eagle
-Ruger P-Series

It will probably come down to what the gun shop has. That means it'll more likely be a Ruger or a Beretta. I really like the Baby Eagle (Jericho). Factory (not aftermarket) 16 round magazines are available from CDNN for about thirty bucks, and it had ambidextrious controls.

I remember TFLers voted Rugers as "the most bang for your buck" in handguns. They're very competitively priced and are very well built, as I understand it.

As for the High Power. I hear of hammer bite and non-drop free magazines, and I wonder if it's worth the price I'd pay.
 
Last edited:
The Glock better than the Sig? Are you trying to start a feud or something? Let us hold our breath and hope the Swiss didn't hear. They're a bit more touchy on such matters than the Austrians


I used to be one of those that did not like glocks. I was a sig fan through and through. Then I tried a glock and I was an instant convert. The simple trigger has the shortest reset out there next to a 1911. IT is reliable and functions when its -40 below outside something most other DA autos will not do sigs included. The only advantage sig has is slow fire accuracy. I have owned my share of sigs up to 7 now I own 0. I sold them all slowly. They were fine pistols but after shooting and going through training they simply can't keep up with a glock in a combat situation. Their triggers have long resets and their top heavy which makes muzzle flip more pronounced. I have also owned 3 Beretta 92's one Courgar, one HK USP in 45, one Kimber, I have one Para P14. Their are others too. I have tried a variety and I know own more glocks than anyother semi auto. The reason more police use glocks than any other make is simply theyare better.
PAT
 
Beretta 92 for sure. The manual states that it can and will handle +P+ and sub machinegun ammo. What more could you need?

If it helps any, Beretta is the most pro-gun of all the major gun manufacturers today. They had their statement against gun control and smart gun technology on their site, but I can't find it. It's there somewhere.
 
Nightcrawler, prior to having my Hi Power worked on, I had the same problem with non-dropping mags. The smith removed the magazine safety, and the mags fell free from then on. It will now fire without the mag. As to the hammer bite, yes it does when you get a high grip. I have a commander hammer, and still get the bite every once in a while. No biggie.
I am throwing in my vote for your 92F. A real good 9mm.
 
I have two 9mms, a Ruger and a Beretta 92FS. Both guns are stone cold reliable...no failures ever, after lots of work.

The Beretta is beautifully made, and has the same feel as a Nikon camera. The trigger pull is pretty good, and Teddy Jacobson could make it better if necessary.

The Ruger is the ugliest gun I own, and feels like a cheap socket wrench. The trigger is deplorable, and a trigger job would have me putting way more money in this gun than appeals to me.

When I travel to foreign countries, the Ruger goes along, with a few hi-cap mags and several boxes of Hydra-Shoks.

The Beretta stays in port, in the gun safe; protected from salt spray, clumsy crew members or Federales with sticky fingers.

The Berettta is slightly more accurate, but neither gun was meant to be a target shooter.

I believe either gun will serve you, but why not get both?;)
 
This is just personal opinion, but I think you are making a big mistake if you are considering a full-sized 9mm and don't at least try a CZ-75/85. The Baby Eagle is just a CZ ripoff, and the Ruger is just a cruder gun for the same amount of money as a CZ.

That said, the pistol that seems to meet the largest number of your requirements is the HK USP9.
 
Having a non-drop free magazine is not necessarily a bad thing. I've carried the Glock 17 for many years and once you get in the habit of 'stripping' the empty magazine before reaching for the new one, your can change magazines in the same time period as any other gun.

Another point is that especially in law enforcement, you are taught to change magazines before the one in the gun is empty under some conditions. Once your in the habit of dropping the magazine on the ground, it's really hard to remember there are still bullets in it and it's a good idea to drop in into your pocket in case you may need them later.

So don't let the drop free magazine be the deciding factor on what gun you carry.
 
I'm very happy with my Beretta 92FS.
Mags are available everywhere.
Looks good.
Handles well.
Shoots accurately.
:eek:
 
>>> I used to be one of those that did not like glocks. I was a sig fan through and through. Then I tried a glock and I was an instant convert. The simple trigger has the shortest reset out there next to a 1911. IT is reliable and functions when its -40 below outside something most other DA autos will not do sigs included.

Military tests go to -65 - as if that matters.

>>> They were fine pistols but after shooting and going through training they simply can't keep up with a glock in a combat situation.

Yet our military special ops units use SIGs. I'll let them know....

>>>> Their triggers have long resets and their [sic] top heavy which makes muzzle flip more pronounced.

Ahh, my wife doesn't find this a problem?

>>>> I have tried a variety and I know own more glocks than any other semi auto. The reason more police use glocks than any other make is simply they are better.

Let me guess, you drive a Toyota Camry, or a Ford F150 pickup? Those are the the best-selling vehicles in their market segment, so they must be the best, right? But I thought Glocks were most popular with BMW onwers, because "Cops use them." For a PD to buy Glocks is one thing, but for private ownership, you have to deal with the fact that it is possibly the ugliest pistol ever made.
 
Yet our military special ops units use SIGs. I'll let them know....

Whe cares. They use a assortment of handguns from 1911's to Beretta's to sigs to HK's. Also who do you think uses handguns more as a group a seal team member who's sub gun is his primary weapon or a street cop like myself whos handgun is normally the weapon thats there when I need it. Glock sells more handguns because more people are aware that they are the best pistol going right now. A Toyota is also one of the best brands of cars they last forever and Ford makes great trucks with a very good record as well.

PAT
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top