What to buy? New 9mm semi-auto

Two recommendations.

Taurus PT 92/99

The first is the Taurus PT92 AR stainless. Unlike the two-tone Beretta stainless 92, the Taurus has both a cocked-and-lock safety and a hammer drop safety. As a revolver fan, I'm hugely unimpressed with Taurus' wheelguns. But I've followed their line of Beretta clones since the early 90s. At first they were not as nicely finished nor were they as accurate as the Berettas; however, they were as reliable. Over the past several years, it's accuracy and features have improved to the point I have no qualms about recommending them.

The PT 99 has adjustable sights.

I prefer the Macgar 20-round magazines. Mine shoots like a dream.



S&W Autos

My absolute favorite 9mm is the S&W 5906. No longer made, they are of stainless steel construction. Mine has adjustable sights, also takes Mecgar 20-round magazines (recommended). The older 659 is just as good, as is the 639 and the 3906. Smith had some real problems with the 39/59s, so I would avoid those. Also, they can go off if dropped on their muzzles or hammers. The second and third generation pistols are the way to go.



S&W 659 2nd Gen



S&W 5906 3rd Gen



S&W 3906 10-shot
 
We have similar tastes in Smith & Wesson pistols! :D But I believe this is a wee-bit unfair:
Smith had some real problems with the 39/59s, so I would avoid those.
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Smith & Wesson built, sold & shipped roughly 347,000 of the Model 39/39-2 pistol, and they did this to a mostly American market -- all of it before 1983. If you could sell a hundred 9mm pistols in the year 1970 you should have been made King. :eek: Yes, a large part of that (large!) number was to police agencies, but the 39/59 is the pistol that spawned the end of the revolver in American law enforcement. To simply and quickly write it off with "they had problems" is not only unfair to the pistol and to history, it might keep someone reading this discussion from snagging an old, used, well-worn formerly-issued Model 39-2. And that would be a travesty.

I have two of the 39-2 pistols, both from the mid-1970's. One is nearly mint and just gorgeous and the other one looks like it fought a war with very little help. The beat-up one is the one I shoot more, but both of them are phenomenal handguns.

Your warning about them not being "drop-safe" is valid. I definitely don't want to drop -ANY- of my handguns, but 1st Gen S&W's especially.
 
Beretta M9(or varient, 92, etc) would be my recommendation. Meets your criteria, sweet shooter, fun a the range, good for home defense, and plenty of accessories around for it.

I like them and that is what I would get again .:)
 
I vote for . . .

I'll throw in my vote for a Beretta 92. I really like mine. Wonderful trigger. And you can get 18 round magazines that do not extend beyond the bottom of the handle! You can get a 30 round mag that does extend, obviously, and is just a hoot to shoot.

Live well, be safe
Prof Young
 
To simply and quickly write it off with "they had problems" is not only unfair to the pistol and to history, it might keep someone reading this discussion from snagging an old, used, well-worn formerly-issued Model 39-2. And that would be a travesty.
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In 1979, a gun magazine published an article on why a fifty-dollar Raven .25acp pistol was better than a $220 S&W 59. I also remember how bad the reputation of the 59/39 was at the time because I really wanted a 59 -- a nice nickel-plated one. "Smith makes great revolvers," I was told back then, "But its autos are horrible." (I was told this by gun dealers in Provo, Utah, and subsequently in Paducah, Kentucky.) A police trainer friend of mine in Kentucky called them junk.

Having said that, S&W did find a way of fixing them by early 1981. But the reputation of the guns by then was too marred. As soon as the 559 appeared, I got one. The thing has never jammed. Also got an Italian Beretta 92 and was amazed that it never jammed. (I'd never shot an auto that NEVER jammed.) So if you can get a S&W 59/39 that works, it should work flawlessly, and you can't knock that. But I'd shoot it before making it a safe queen. I also like the 659 so much that I'd take one of those before getting a 59 or 39. But then, I'm not a collector. I'd still like to have one of those nickel ones, though. :D

And I suspect S&W would still fix a 39/59 that didn't work!




Almost half way down on
the left, you'll see the article
featured.




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I still have that very magazine, Cold Steel (in addition to hundreds of other gun magazines stored in my attic :o). And I still swear by Smith & Wesson autos, especially Third Generation iterations. :p
 
I have Stoegers in 9mm and .40 and they are very good guns. Also, take a look at the SAR ST10. It's a Turkish duty gun, very well made and shoots well. Has a rail for a light/laser. Very good value for the money. I also liked my Taurus PT92 a lot; unfortunately it was stolen. Any of these are great value choices and were reliable for me.
 
I have a S&W 659 and a CZ 75B. The 75B is a more refined gun; trigger is far superior to the 659 even with a bit of camming; grip is slimmer and fits better; sights are less obtrusive. But, I still and shoot like my 659. It is accurate, rugged, durable - a rock solid 9mm. I've had mine since 1989 when I traded a repaired Taurus PT99 for it. The 659 never jams....never not even once. It's every bit as reliable and rugged as my Glock 17, just heavier and a bit bulkier.
 
Quote:
Smith had some real problems with the 39/59s, so I would avoid those.

Quote: "We have similar tastes in Smith & Wesson pistols! But I believe this is a wee-bit unfair:


I agree, I have a few of the S&W 39-2 pistols and have never had an issue. The key is to buy the later production models. Mine have firing pin blocks and have proven safe as EDC for me and other relatives. Great shooting guns with good triggers, SA or DA. I never really cared for the Model 59s but that is just my preference.
 
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