Looking into a handgun

C

CALAMBE

Inactive
I am currently looking into a handgun. I have an idea of what I would like. Glock 17 or Beretta 92FS or an M1911. Please feel free to put your opinions of each. Or put a better option.
Please do not let this break down into a Glock sucks thread. No fanboys just facts.

The main purpose of the firearm would be EDC/CCW. Yes, you can carry a full sized handgun for CCW use.:cool:
 
I have a Glock 17. I could never make it my EDC. However, I have carried it in a my Jeep and my gym bag. I'm not comfortable with a number of things about the Glock. I don't like the safety, or lack thereof. I am also not very accurate with it, but certainly accurate enough out to 30 feet. I do like the Glock's capacity and its durability.

Without knowing what you are really looking for, it's hard to make any recommendation. Caliber? Capacity? Weight? Size? Trigger action? Safety preferences?
 
Hello and welcome to the forum! I have owned many makes and models in search of my "perfect" gun. In the end I found that Glocks work for me. They aren't the most comfortable or "purdy" gun out there, but they have never given me any issues and I have confidence when I shoot them. I'm sure any of these pistols you listed will serve you well so give them a try at a range that rents them. Best of luck in your search!
 
Caliber: 9mm or .45ACp
Size: Full size
Safety: I would like an external safety. I have heard many Glock horror stories.

I have also looked into S&W M&P with the external safety and those seem like good options.
I want to keep price at about $700 or lower if possible. In the future I would also like to get a revolver for backup. Like the saying goes "You have one, count it as none, if you have two, count it as one".
 
Well, I think they are all rather large for EDC but if you don't, that's fine.

My 2 cents:

Beretta 92FS/M9: excellent full-size 9mm pistol. I own one. Very reliable. Major drawbacks in my mind are the inability to change the front sight and the thickness of the grip. The grip thickness renders the reach to the trigger in DA mode difficult for anyone who does not have at least average size male hands. Very good ammo capacity with 18rd flush-fit magazines and slightly extended 20rd "plus two" magazines available from Mec Gar. Good availability of aftermarket parts.

Any DA/SA pistol will require the shooter to master the transition between the longer, heavier first (DA) trigger pull and the subsequent shorter, lighter SA trigger pulls. I find that strings of SA shots can generally be shot faster with a DA/SA pistol than with all but the best striker-fired pistols.

Many criticize the slide-mounted safety/decocker lever and are concerned that the safety might be accidentally engaged while racking the slide to clear a malfunction. That has never happened to me but I use the lever basically as a decocker and put a Wilson Combat single-sided low-profile safety lever on my pistol. I would feel perfectly comfortable carrying a DA/SA pistol like the 92 with a round chambered, hammer down, off safe. If it is safe to carry a striker-fired pistol like the Glock with a round chambered, it is certainly safe to carry a DA/SA pistol decocked off-safe.

Model 1911 A1: Excellent pistol. Some have reliability issues or are fussy feeding JHP ammo. Thinner to carry than the Beretta. Magazine capacity limited with single stack mags, especially. Excellent and consistent single action trigger on most models. Tons of aftermarket parts available.

I know that many are comfortable carrying a single action pistol like the model 1911 with a round chambered, cocked and locked (safety on). Personally, I would not be comfortable doing so, so I would not consider using mine for EDC.

Glock 17: I have shot a bunch but never owned one. Excellent reliability record and tons of aftermarket support. Acceptable trigger. Most Glocks I have shot have stock triggers that are rather spongy and feel more like a very high quality toy than a pistol, but they function well enough and are very easily modified.

Simple manual of arms and consistent trigger action. Polymer frame makes it lighter to carry. Slide is very "clean" lacking a safety or decocker lever and having an unobtrusive slide stop lever and take down levers. No external manual safety available stock, although they can be added by a smith.

I respect Glocks for their reliability record, aftermarket support, and simplicity of design. I hate the non-standard grip angle and I find the blocky grips uncomfortable. The finger grooves don't quite line up with my fingers. The Gen 4 model is a bit more comfortable, but some Gen 4 pistols have had erratic ejection and other issues. The stock plastic Glock sights are pretty crappy. I can shoot Glocks acceptably well despite the fact that I find them uncomfortable, but why should I not buy a pistol that is comfortable and does not require me to "learn" a different grip angle?

I own a striker-fired pistol, but not a Glock. I own a SIG Sauer P320 which I find much more comfortable. I am not comfortable with the idea of using a striker-fired pistol for EDC especially inside the waistband. If I were to buy a Glock for that purpose, I would install the Glock "Gadget" which would provide some additional safety against accidental discharges while rehostering.

In terms of caliber selection, I go with either 9mm Luger or .40 S&W in a carry piece and either .40 S&W or .45 ACP (usually the latter) for a home defense weapon.
 
Since I like 9mm more than .45 (just personal preference), I tend to recommend 9mm's.

For carry, especially every day carry, I would look at polymer frames. I also like an external safety, or at least a decocker and double action / single action type pistols. So, the guns I would be looking at would be the following (in no particular order)

1. CZ SP01 9mm Tactical
2. Grand Power K100
3. Sig P229 (9mm) - might have to go used on this to fit in price range
4. Ruger SR9 (more like a glock with external safety)
 
Is there a range near you that will rent pistols, so that you can see what you like?

Since you want a full size gun for carrying, I would lean towards one with a polymer frame. M&Ps, FNS-9s and XDs are all available with external safeties. Also I don't know if Beretta still makes them, but look into a Beretta 90-2. I believe its about the same size as the 92FS, but with a polymer frame.
 
have you taken a look at the cz line of handguns? I don't have any experience with them personally but I have heard amazing things about them and just from picking a few up at a gun shop, I don't think you would be disappointed. They have models within your price range that also have all the features you are wanting.

I carry a smith and wesson shield or a glock 19 daily and have a glock 34 for the range but I am saving for a cz... I may even buy one without shooting one first:eek: I just like the way they feel that much!
 
I'm a big fan of 1911s. If you want a reasonable price one look at the Ruger SR1911 in either the full size or commander. Very nice guns for the price.

Agree with Brando that the CZ line offers some very good handguns. Well made and reliable.
 
For durability, hands down the Glock. My old 2 pin G17 just turned 180,000 rounds. I've never seen any Beretta or 1911 go that long, and I shot 1911's from 67 to 92. The G17 is not too big to carry either. I run a Alabama Hooker appendix holster.
 
All your choices are fine pistols. A lot depends on if you want hammer fired or striker fired and the weight savings of a poly frame or not for CCW as I do.

My personal preferences go towards compact pistols like my Glock 19 and Walther PPQ but I also CCW larger pistols like my HK VP9 and HK P30LS which I also highly recommend. Lots of great choices available these days.
 
I have all three guns you mentioned, but do not even consider carrying either one. But of the three you mention I would go with the Glock because of the weight difference. Better yet, I would go with a G19 or even better a 26 for a more convenient size.


(Edited bevause I first missed the mention of a 1911)
 
Last edited:
I like 1911 but not for CC. Too heavy/big for 8 rounds and C&L still makes me feel uneasy.
M9 - good gun but I do not like the safety/decock on the slide. Again, too big for CC.
Glock 17 - you said you want external safety. So, forget Glock and go with the S&W M&P.
=========================
Yes. You can CC a full size pistol but it will not be as comfortable/easy as with a subcompact pistol.
I started CC with a full size/compact pistol and found it to be too uncomfortable for EDC. Now I CC a DAO sub-compact single stack (no external safety).
 
Last edited:
I also prefer 9mm to 45, due to higher capacity in the same space, lower recoil, faster follow up, and cheaper practice.


An external manual safety used properly, will not prevent any NDs when the pistol is in your hand ready to fire, or during the draw from the holster. More so when the trigger pull is short like a 1911... It could be argued that a long heavy trigger could prevent some (not all) NDs... But not a manual safety, as current doctrine has the shooter disable the safety as part of the draw.

A safety will not prevent (on a properly designed system like the Glock trigger) NDs while the pistol is holstered in a well designed holster. Mostly because it's pretty much physically impossible, barring several simultaneous malfunctions and parts breakage, for a Glock pistol to discharge for any reason other than a pull of the trigger.

What a safety can do, is help prevent NDs when doing administrative tasks like holstering the pistol. But it is highly contingent on the shooter properly use the safety.


All the pistols listed are good guns, of the three, I would choose the Glock for carry.

Given a choice, I would choose my M&P9 or VP9 for carry, as I like them better, due to subjective reasons like ergonomics and trigger feel.
 
I have two of the three.

I wouldn’t consider my 92FS for CCW; just too bulky for me.

I have carried the full-size 1911 without problems and I am partial to the 1911 anyway.

I now carry (and am recommending) another option: A 1911-style Para Ordnance LDA Carry in .45ACP. (I believe the new owners are still making/marketing them. I also have one in 9mm, but don’t like it as well and will likely trade it away someday).

The .45 LDA is quite accurate, particularly for a 3.5” bbl.

While the LDA trigger is not as clean and crisp as a single-action 1911, I have learned to use it and like it. It is easy to carry and conceal. Only downsides are 1) relatively limited capacity and 2) notoriously fragile finish, if that’s important to you in an alloy/stainless gun.
 
"...for backup..." If you ever get into a situation where a back up firearm is required, you bitten off more than you can chew. Also means that whatever pistol you opt for(that must fit your hand first and foremost) wasn't any good.
Calibre and brand don't matter much as long as the thing fits your hand and you can shoot it well enough. You have to remember that any pistol will be carried a lot and shot little, except for when you do your regular practice with the ammo you carry. Weight matters. So does the belt and holster you use.
Best to go to a shop where you can try 'em on for size and shoot 'em if possible.
"...prevent any NDs..." The 'N' stands for Negligent. As in operator failure. The prevention is training.
A long heavy trigger usually means poor shot placement too.
 
As others have said, I would take a look at the CZ line. They have plenty of options that pretty much all fall within your price range, and are all considered to be extremely reliable. Nearly all of their handguns are considered to be full size, even when talking about their "compact" versions (except the RAMI 2075).

True Full-Size, all steel, 9mm (CZ SP-01, 75B, 85B)
True Full-Size, all steel, 45 (CZ 97B)
Slightly Smaller Full-Size, all metal, 9mm (CZ 75 Compact, P-01(alloy frame)

True Full-Size, polymer, 9mm (CZ SP-01 Phantom, P-09)
Slightly smaller Full-Size, polymer, 9mm (CZ P-07)

Now, for EDC, I would certainly be looking at the somewhat smaller, polymer or alloy framed options. If you can find one, the SP-01 Phantom would probably be my top choice, followed by the P-07, then the P-01. The P-07 is the only one of these options with an actual manual safety (which can be switched to a decocker), while the other two have decockers.

I would also take a look at the Sig Sauer SP2022 or P229 (foremost is polymer and much cheaper, latter is alloy, but overall very similar guns)
 
If I were to buy a Glock for that purpose, I would install the Glock "Gadget" which would provide some additional safety against accidental discharges while rehostering.
question - what GADGET?
 
i have found that participating in IDPA, testing my and my pistols limitations, has really helped narrow down what kind of gun i want to carry everyday. you might find such an exercise useful too.

me? striker fired 9mm. lots of choices. Sig P320 works great for me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top