please help me pick my first striker fired pistol

K

Klein Helmer

New member
hello friends

i am in the market for my first striker fired pistol (probably compact or sub compact), and i'm hoping that i can make use of some of your great knowledge

here's my situation

i'm looking to get two new guns to carry: one j frame revolver with a shrouded hammer, and one striker fired semi automatic pistol

i went and got a Smith 642 yesterday, and now i am looking to fill the other slot

i would like to primarily carry one of the two in an outside the waistband holster, and in situations when i need a deeper concealment, i plan to leave that option at home, and carry the other either on an ankle rig or in my pocket

i am open to going either larger or smaller than the j frame for the semi auto; in the former case i would carry the semi auto on my waist, and in circumstances requiring deeper concealment placing the revolver on my ankle or in my pocket, and in the latter case i would carry the revolver on my waist, and carry the semi auto on my ankle or in my pocket

i would like to find something in 9mm for the semi auto, certainly if i go larger than the revolver, but if i decide to make the semi auto the smaller of the two, i think i might be open to something in 380 acp

i'm also looking for something on the higher end of the quality spectrum. the makers that appeal to me most are probably sig, springfield, and kimber. i've also read some good things about kahr and h&k, but i'm less familiar with these companies. i'm not particularly interested in a glock

thanks in advance, everyone!

hopefully we can come up with something good!
 
Hm.

Good .380 options
-Glock 42
-ruger lcp
-keltec p3AT
-sig 238 (hammer fired)
-bersa (hammer fired)

Good sub compact 9mm options
-glock 43/26
-M&P shield
-kahr pm9
-sig 229 (hammer fired)
-H&K p2000 (hammer fired)
-xds 3.3
-CZ rami (hammer fired)
-Kel tec pf9

Good compact 9mm options
-glock 19
-M&PC
-ruger sr9c
-Walther PPS
-FN FNS compact
-CZ P07 (hammer fired)
-CZ 75 compact (hammer fired)
-xdm 4.0
-sig 229 (hammer fired)
-sig P320 compact
-H&K USP compact (hammer fired)

Full size options if you like more capacity, grip surface, barrel length, sight radius
-Glock 17
-M&P9
-Xdm
-FN FNS
-Walther PPQ
-Walther P99
-Ruger SR9
-Sig P320/P250
-Sig 226 (hammer fired)
-Sig SP2022 (hammer fired)
-CZ 75/P01/Sp01/P09 (hammer fired)
-H&K USP(hammer fired)
-H&K P30 (hammer fired)
-H&K VP9
-steyr M9
-Springfield loaded champion 9mm (hammer fired)


These are some proven guns that i can think of off the top of my head.

I would pick whatever feels best in your hand, followed by trigger feel and size considerations. I carry a full size 5" barrel 1911 and love it. Comfortable, easily hidden even on my small frame.

Although stryker guns are simple and generally very reliable, hammer fired guns have the advantage of a nicer trigger (except maybe in walthers case. They have very very nice triggers for a striker fired gun), and some people just like a hammer they can have cocked or decocked.

With the right holster and garments, it can be easy to hide a full size pistol.
 
I will start off by saying i have carried and used Glocks all over the world. Worked with em..taught with em...trusted em in some tight spots.

That being said, im slowly being turned to the M&P line. I think Smith took a good idea and made it better. Grip angle, trigger improvements, Sights, magazines. All are better on the Smith...IMHO.
 
...so i'll probably choose something i can put in my front pocket
Click to expand...

Then you've greatly narrowed down your choices, especially in 9mm. SIG P938, Kahr PM9 / CM9, Ruger LC9, and Beretta Nano are the ones I think of immediately.

If you'd like to research this further, here's LINK to a website with a link to Bobo's Pocket Auto Comparison Chart.

It's still fairly relevant and quantifies the .380, 9mm, and .40 caliber pocket semi-auto sizes in a single PDF.
 
That being said, im slowly being turned to the M&P line. I think Smith took a good idea and made it better. Grip angle, trigger improvements, Sights, magazines. All are better on the Smith...IMHO.
Click to expand...

I prefer the M&P to the Glocks for the same reasons.

For the OP...get the to a range and try some, as many as you can.
 
Your 642 will fit in your front pocket on all but the tightest pants.

Also, the Kahr CM9 can also be easily carried in a pocket.

The G26 will do well in an IWB/AWB holster
 
I would highly recommend a Springfield XDs in 9mm or 45. Mine is the XDs45 with this Barsony IWB holster. I really like this holster and it is only $17.99 shipped. Made in the USA. I also often carry, in the summer, in my front pocket in cargo shorts. I use a Remora holster for this.

OpUihCwl.jpg
 
Last edited:
Similar "action sequence" required for response greatly helps avoid screw UPS when you really need to be at your best. The 642 you simply draw and pull through double action. For that reason ( and a few dozen others) I suggest you get an actual honestly so SA/DA semi auto. You seem like you will spend money required to get good holsters. Something that carries weight comfortably. An 11 oz gun in a poorly made holster will be more uncomfortable than a 28 oz gun in a good holster. When firing the weapon, weight (within reason) is good. Steadies your hand, helps stay on target, less recovery time to sequential shots. You might consider .380/9x18 CZ 82/83 if smaller desired or 9mm CZ 75/variants if larger desired. I favor all steel slide and steel/aluminum alloy frame. The Sarsilmaz K2/45 is all steel, while the K2/9 has a poly frame. You might check it out as quality has good reviews and price is exceptional. The SIG is great but expensive. Bersa is less expensive , with a good reputation. All these guns have "second strike" ability just by pulling the trigger again, which has always been a desirable characteristic of actual Double Actions. Glocks,and some others like them use the slide action to do most of recock effort. Time out to manually work the slide can get you killed. The .357 generally is too much to handle in a snubbie for most anyone. Recovery after first shot usually slow. So I would expect you will use .38 in the 642. The .380 is quite close to the .38 in fp energy, though if I had to chose, I think I'd rather be hit with an ~92g .380 than the 130g .38 often used in snubbies. I carry a 13 shot CZ in 9x18 and feel it to be adequate. Good luck. Pat
 
another vote for XDS, which I think is the answer to Glock, but better. :D

However, when it comes down to it, the choice between that and the M&P version is going to be largely subjective, based on what I've heard about the M&P line. I wouldn't buy one, but I have a feeling those two are going to be equal, all things considered.

Go fondle them and see which one you like best.
 
I think any semi-auto you get should operate as close to your 642 as possible. To me, that means the semi-auto should have no manual safety and have a consistent trigger pull. It should be aim and shoot like your 642.

If you could rent some firearms, you might try a S&W Shield with no safety, a Glock 43, a Glock 26 and etc.

For me, it's easy to carry a 642 or 342, even in the hottest days of summer. It's easy to carry a G26 AIWB if it's cool enough to wear an undershirt but it's not fun without one.
 
Arguably, the best trigger in pistols is the Kahr. It's just 6 pounds, no more, and as short as a Glock's standard pull, no longer.

You can certainly find a lot more with higher poundage rates and longer pulls, try them out and compare. Internet discussions can inform but hands on works for the final decisions.

After a good trigger a slide hold open, to expedite reloads. And one designed to drop the slide to chamber is the preferred kind, although there are quite a few who claim the slide should be retracted as far as it can go and then released. Point being if you have a reliable thumb release for the slide and it works you are ahead when you need it. A gun that won't do that is less capable. It also avoids being forced to rack the slide every time you load a magazine. Small autos typically have less too hang on to and fewer grip enhancing serrations to help rack them. A working slide hold open negates all that.

A Browning link system barrel makes them a lot more shooter friendly. If you can get thru a box of fifty at the range and haven't damaged your trigger finger or became concerned the snappy recoils was too much, you get more practice. You become a more proficient shooter, and you are more confident it does the job. Some buy a harsh recoiling gun with the excuse it just sits in their pocket so what does it matter? Apparently complete unfamiliarity is ok with them.

Ignore brand, go put hands on the guns and pull triggers. Operate the slides. Load magazines. They aren't all the same and you will be determining what you prefer, which may be the exact opposite of what anyone recommends here. It will be your choice, tho, not a consensus opinion of others who can't possibly know your priorities or likes.
 
I recommend a smaller single stack striker fired 9mm pistol that is reliable, accurate, and which you can carry really well. I have the new Walther PPS M2 and I can recommend it highly, this is a small, thin compact pistol you can easily carry but you can shoot really well with it at the range.
 
My suggestion in order of size:

Ruger lcp
Smith and Wesson shield
Glock 19

Lcp is a great reliable tiny auto but shoots 380 which I am not a huge fan of but it serves a purpose. Smith and Wesson shield is my daily carry and I absolutely love it. I carried a Glock 19 for a long time and love it. If I could only have one semi it would be the Glock 19, carries decent but shoots like a full size!
 
Any Glock, what other pistol do you expect will get to over 500,000 rounds? Personally I am only at 180,000 on my old 2 pin G17.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top