Toughest Striker Fired 9mm

Great advice and tremendous expertise.....

For those who own both or have experience, how does the S&W M&P9 (FS) stack up to a Glock 19?. Especially in the grip?.....Thanks, JJ
 
As mentioned, Glock and HK both have a knack for showing up on torture tests. In terms of striker fired pistols and durability, I think Glock stands out. The M&P line are nice as well, but it really boils down to personal preference. Try to compare the two in person, as either choice will more than likely out last you with a bit of TLC.
 
My Sigma! 1 pull on that trigger and it will make you a believer, 1 Tough SOB!:eek:
On a serious note, my PX4 storm had a very firm, nice synthetic frame.
 
Having the TOUGHEST gun gives you "bragging" rights -- if anyone will listen to you bragging. But that's a bit like being rich enough to have a car capable of 250 mph but NO PLACE where you can drive it at that speed.

Most guns will be far tougher than their owners or the conditions in which they are used. And unless you have a gun that has a reputation for unreliability, and most of us know which guns fall into that class, it's arguably a non-issue.
 
There is a competitive shooter on the S&W forum who has near 100,000 rounds through a single M&P...

So the M&P is tough.

Most of the modern polymer pistols from the big names, will be long lasting.


I have smaller hands and like the g17 gen 4 better than the 19 gen 4... The finger groves line up better on the 17. Undercutting the trigger guard on my 19 has helped a good deal at improving the alignment of the finger grooves for me.

The H&K VP9 is a nice pistol, I really like mine. Decent trigger too. It's my second favorite striker pistol I own.

The Sig 320 is also nice, I like mine, nice trigger and a good choice. I just like the VP9 better.

The PPQ has a great trigger, probably the best out of box striker pistol available.

My favorite striker pistol is my M&P with Apex kit... Awesome trigger and ergos. If I didn't have the apex trigger the VP9 would be my favorite.
 
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Quote from marine6680

"Most of the polymer pistols from the big names, will be long lasting"

Does this include Ruger? No one has mentioned the SR9/9E pistol. Most shooters seem to like the handling, I guess the "toughness" might be subject.
 
The Ruger should be fine... Ruger has a reputation of over building their firearms.

Most don't mention them because of the myriad of extraneous safeties in them... Many don't like that and don't have desire for one. So they don't bring them up.

I hear they are good shooters though.
 
What is your definition of "toughest"?

# or rounds through it before it no longer works? Durability of finish? 100% reliability? Longest period between cleanings?

"Tough" means something different to every individual.

Just what are you going to use the pistol for? Strictly range work and large quantities of cartridges through it? Hunting - all different weather conditions but fewer rounds? A person carry piece for combat conditions?

Everyone will have their own opinion of what one is the toughest based on their own definitions. My Smith & Wesson M & P revolver could be defined as "tough". It's been going since 1952 - the year I was born. It still fires, is tight, accurate and dependable. But "tough"? Probably not if exposed to constant dirt and rain.

Striker fired versus hammer fired? Again . . . a "personal thing". I've owned many guns over the last 50 + years - more revolvers than semi-autos but I am not unfamiliar with semi-autos. Currently, I just have a SR9 and recently bought a Smith Shield - both striker fired. They both go "bang" when the trigger is pulled. Ask the next guy and he'll tell you that both are a piece of junk and the only one to get is a Glock . . or a 1911 platform . . or a Sig . . or a Kimber.

A person can run a "torture test" on any handgun and eventually, it will fail for one reason or another . . . and every tests performed by different individuals will be just that . . different.

I could take either my SR9 or Shield, throw it under the track of a bulldozer and if it shoots after that, I could pronounce it "tough" . . . but is it realistic since that is not "normal usage"?

I think you will also get a variety of answers based on the age and experiences of those responding. I have to believe that the majority of the respondents here are younger based on the number of "Block" replies. (And I'm not anti-Glock) But ask somebody who served in WWII and the answer would be much different. It would probably be the 1911 or 1911A1 - it served through all types of weather conditions it was subjected to including the sub-zero temperatures of winter combat in Europe as well as the hot, humid and wet conditions of combat service in the South Pacific.

In the end . . "toughness" is in the eye of the beholder. If you are looking for a striker fired 9mm . . . research them, look at them, rent them and shoot them at a range . . then make up your mind as to what "you" want . . . not what somebody tells you that you "want" or which is the "best" and the "toughest". No two people's needs are the same. :)
 
Pretty much all moderns striker fired pistols from the major manufactures have proven to be reliable and durable - S&W, Springfield Armory, HK, Glock, Walther, SIG, FN, and Ruger come right to mind and I may have left out some others.

That said there are always going to be failures in a mass produced product and a $5 spring breaking can render a pistol useless.

The is no objective data available to prove any one make/model is head and shoulders better than the rest. Doing such would be a massive and VERY EXPENSIVE undertaking like the one the US military did when they selected the Beretta M9. I consider the You Tube torture tests to be largely entertainment.

IMHO it is far far more important for a shooter to choose a pistol that he/she will be most effective with in being able to hit the needed target under the circumstances expected.

For myself I choose the Walther PPQ and HK VP9 because I can shoot them the best compared to other options available including my Glock 19 that is now a safe queen. I also have extremely high confidence in both and am able to comfortably CCW my PPQ and VP9.

As always each individual shooter needs to determine what works best for them.
 
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Yes Sig, S&W, Springfield, Glock, F&N and Ruger are all plenty "tough". But as said if you are a Ruger fan the grip angle on the glock may not feel rite. I personaly like the Sringfield XD series. Give the XDm Mod.2 a look or the XDs if single stack fits you better.
 
There is ZERO discussion about which is toughest.
Google "Glock 21 torture test" for the quintessential handgun torture test of all time.

The 21 is a .45, but the only difference between it and the 9mm versions is parts dimensions. Find and read that test, and you'll know for yourself that there is ZERO discussion.
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As much as I like my own Gen4 Glock 21, I can't go along with the above statement. My HK45 is a better all around service pistol, but the G-21 is still the best pistol I have to shoot cheap "trash" aluminum & steel case ammo, it handles these types of ammo really well, but I wouldn't shoot out of any of the rest of my 45's on a dare!
 
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Thought you guys might like to know I went with the M&P9.

The pistol has a good rep and felt better than any in my hand except for the Ruger SR9s. And I have all the respect in the world for any Ruger but the Smith just seemed a little more solid and better built and the difference in price, which was about $50, seemed to justify the M&P. ....It's all subjective of course.

Made in the USA had a lot to do with it. I also prefer stainless but like it black.

Thanks to all for your expertise, it was really helpful...All the best, JJ
 
Fine choice, and a good a reason as any to make the decision. You'll love your M&P.. I used to have one, and regret selling it!!
 
Point is, Glocks have a different grip angle, and you'll have to overcome the difference before you can depend on it in a "serious social encounter."
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As a former Glock "grip angle" hater (and always 1911 lover) the "grip angle" thing is pretty easily remedied, just practice. Its not even the angle so much (IMO) but the palm swell that causes the gun to point high until you cant your wrist a bit.

For what it's worth the Gen 4 G19 I have seems to point every bit as naturally as my BHP or 1911's. My Gen 3's still take a little to get used to, but its easy to cope. No different than adjusting to a striker trigger vs SAO or SA/DA. Practice, practice, practice.

That said the Glock would be my call, they've been around for long enough and have been abused plenty over the years.
 
Others keep trying (and that's not a bad thing), but so far, nobody builds a Glock better than Glock. ;)
 
9x19 said:
Others keep trying (and that's not a bad thing), but so far, nobody builds a Glock better than Glock.
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Yes and no.

The new SR series of Rugers comes pretty close -- and have much better triggers. (The RUGERS DO have more parts, and that's one of the unique (and good) characteristic of the Glock design: relatively few parts.)

I like Glocks and have had a bunch, but only have a Glock 38 right now. I'm beginning to think that the S&W M&P (and M&P Pro) is starting to overtake them in the market -- and the new line of SIG striker-fired guns or the new H&K guns (like the VP9) might eat away at Glock's share of the market.

If only the Glock triggers were better. (I've used some of the after-market parts and they do make the trigger/action better, but they still don't seem as good as many other guns without modifications. I have an M&P Pro with some Apex parts that is simply outstanding.

As for the The grip angle: I'd argue that it's not that big a deal if you just use the sights. If your antagonist is close tnough to justify "point-shooting" the angle isn't likely to be an issue there, either.
 
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