Which first 9mm pistol for a beginner with 8 months experience

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Gawp

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Hi,

I'm finally able to legally buy/own a handgun in my home country (France, so it's not easy!).

The problem is: I could only try a few pistols at the shooting range because they don't have many and I don't know what to buy.

I just know that I want a 9mm pistol for regular target shooting at 15m-25m (roughly 15-25 yards).

At the shooting range I could try:
-Glock 17/19 Gen5
-Sig Sauer P320
-Sig Sauer P226 LDC
-CZ Shadow 1 (SP01)

I really dislike the Glocks: the trigger feels weird to me and also it's a very light gun, which I don't like because the recoil kicks a lot/is hard.

On the other hand, I like the CZ Shadow 1 very much: the trigger is very smooth/light and it's much heavier so the recoil feels much better.

In short, I'm looking for:
-A 9mm pistol
-Pretty "heavy"
-With a "smooth" trigger
-For target shooting
-Under $1500

Can you recommend me pistols like this?


Thanks a lot for your help!
 
I’m a big CZ fan. At your price range you have a wide range of models. The P09 is a great value for a range-target gun. I’m one of the strange ones that prefer the P series to the 75 based guns.
 
find one that fits your hand. I recently shot a Glock with an extended magazine release. I hated it. The release dug into my hand (south paw).

Given the choice of those guns, I'd go CZ first. Then Sig P226. CZ has the best trigger (IMO).
 
Have you rented all the firearms at this point? How did the Sig feel? The Shadow has a lot of positive internet vibe and is popular in tactical competitions.

If you like the Sig P320, you should look into the P320 X5. If you like the 226 (its heavier) that is a good DA/SA pistol. Many people cannot do the DA/SA thing or just shoot such in SA mode only.

If you want to stick with one of the four you noted I would shoot the Sig 226 as well as a comparison to the Shadow, and then go with the one that feels best to YOU. Every person is different and has a favorite.
 
I am primarily into Glock pistols, as I have 12. 3 are in chassis: IMI Kidon Pistol Conversion , CAA Gear Micro Roni Stabilizer and CAA Gear Micro Roni Stabilizer MCK with Glock 19 Gen 4.

However, for your purposes, I’d recommend a CZ 75 SP-01. It has the combination of weight, accuracy, great trigger, capacity, and multiple purposes for Self defense and competition.

I have a CZ 75 SP-01, Shadow 2, CZ 75 Tactical and CZ 75 Compact.

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CZ are some of the best pistols right out of the box.


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CZ pistols are good, if you like ti get it. I was going to suggest a 1911, maybe a Springfield Armory Range Officer but a CZ is good too.
 
4V50 Gary said:
Given the choice of those guns, I'd go CZ first. Then Sig P226. CZ has the best trigger (IMO).
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I agree.

I also agree with the suggestion that you rent as many guns as you can to try out before you decide where to spend $1,500. Of the pistols you've listed I think the CZ is a cinch for the top choice, but I notice that you haven't included any 1911s. The 1911 platform may not be to your liking, but a lot of people find them to fit the hand comfortably and to point to point of aim naturally, so it's something I think you should at least try.
 
A decent shooting 1911 in 9 mm is usually not in that price range.

STI is the only one I’d consider. But I don’t care for 1911s, much apart from what I have left: Mars Armament THUG Colt 1911 and Coonan 357 Magnum. I had Wilson, Ed Brown, Guncrafter, etc.


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If you can't use the pistol for self defense purposes the steel frame CZ makes a lot of sense as a range gun if it fits you well. If it can also be used for self defense I would prefer a metal frame pistol like the SIG P226 or even a poly frame HK like the P30L as I don't like the skinny slide grip area on CZs. Beretta 92FS may also be another pistol to look at. A CZ Shadow will not have a decocker so very important to be very careful decocking one if need be and pointing in a safe direction.

In 9MM I don't consider a Glock 17 or 19 to have a lot of recoil but if not gripping the pistol properly felt recoil can be more than otherwise but a considerably heavier pistol will also have less perceived recoil.
 
On the list you put out I really like the P226. It's a nice, big, heavy, comfortable gun. Put a hogue grip on it and you're going to be having a nice time at the range.

How much is a P226 legion these days?
 
I would rent every one of the guns you have access to at the range, including at least one of the Gen5 Glocks, perhaps the 17, so that you can confirm that what you think you like when you hold it in your hand, is what you like to shoot. You could learn to shoot any of the guns you list very well if you are willing & able to put in the time to train & practice with the one you select. Personally I’d also want to include a Beretta 92FS and also an HK P30 or USP with the ones you have available to rent, but you don’t have access to either one of those.
 
Heads CZ, tails Sig, flip a coin!
But you did say those are the guns available for you to try. So try away, have fun, and choose the one you had the most fun shooting.
 
Try as many as you can. My first 9mm was a Beretta PX-4 because it was very "natural" in fitting my hand. That one, with several of the others, come with multiple backstraps to adjust the fit.
 
I'm finally able to legally buy/own a handgun in my home country (France, so it's not easy!).
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With this in mind.
Although the suggestions of a 9MM 1911, Beretta 92, and PX-4 are certainly viable, with the mentioned difficulty of handgun ownership in your country I would stick to examples that are available to try. In your restricted situation buying something just on someone's suggestion could lead to many years of regret.
 
CZs appear to be used fairly often in competition here, and as Americans we can (and do!) have our pick of almost any firearm.

The most often seen 9mm pistols in production class competitions where I am are (most to least) Glock, Smith&Wesson M&P, Springfield XD, fewer CZs and SIGs and the occasional HK, Walther, Beretta or FN. ...and I'd say you almost never see more than one of each of the last 4
 
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