pistol decision - 9mm

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I dry fired the Ruger when it first came out. Horrible trigger. Not impressed with the S&W M&P's trigger either.

Spend some time on Grant Cunningham's website: www.grantcunningham.com

He's a clockmaker turned revolversmith, probably the best guy still alive for tuning Colt Pythons (Now THAT's a trigger that will spoil you!). He has a series of articles on what constitutes a good trigger that's a real eye opener.

For myself, I've got a glock with the 3.5 lb connector and the heavier NY1 trigger spring. Head and shoulders above any non-1911 autoloader I've tried.

Regards
John

 

[rubberduck]

I love shooting all types of handguns, but for concealed carry the glock is the only choice. Mine has stood up to years of sweat, dirt, rain, whatever gets thrown at it. It gets hit with an air nozzle every so often to clean it. These guns take abuse and neglect with a smile. Glocks are tools, not safe queens, and they are always ready to go bang. For self defense it can't be beat, no real external safeties to speak of. I've never been In the situation to have to use it, but if I do I don't want to need to remember anything. Jerk that sucker out and turn it on. I've shot many others that are nicer to shoot, but so far none have replaced my little Austrian buddy on the right hip.

 

[DrMoab]

I dry fired the Ruger when it first came out. Horrible trigger. Not impressed with the S&W M&P's trigger either.

Odd, for a double action gun my SR9c has one of the better triggers in my collection.

 

[Fireman78]

Springfield XDM 9mm is my all around carry gun. Of course guns are like religion and politics, everyone else has an opiion too, and there always right. I know everyone loves bigger caliber blah blah, but I've seen a bunch of 9mm wounds working the streets and those victims didn't like em, either, cause they were dead. I say have more plenitiful, cheaper ammo in a comfortable, reliable gun that you shoot well.

 

[BIGdaddy]

I just bought an SR9 and all I can say is every one of the haters who say they are clunky have obviously never picked one up. In fact it was so tight that it wouldn't shoot some lighter hand loads. It was just too tight. Factory ammo has never been an issue though.

I think a lot of people still associate a ruger semi-auto with the P-series pistols which are NOTABLY clunky.

The SR9 and SR40 are very shapely in comparison, for sure.

 

[BigAl]

Another vote for Glock, I bought one 2 months ago and love it. No safety, no hammer, no nonsense! Point and shoot I switched from a hammerless ultra light revolver.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56228&highlight=Glock

 

[evilfij]

Read this and you will know the answer if you ever plan on actually using the gun:

http://www.theprepared.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=90

 

[Corey]

I read that torture test on the Glock, one of the reasons I now own two of them.

 

[Klierslc]

Read this and you will know the answer if you ever plan on actually using the gun:

http://www.theprepared.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=90

Can't access that at work, but american rifleman did a 12k test on the SR9 when it came out. The only malfunction occured when their glove got caught in the slide. (the gun got too hot to hold without welding gloves...)

 

[UNI]

Just a thought, you might want to look at a Walther P99 40. It's what we use.​

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CODccz_Wqr0"]YouTube - Walther P99 Pistol[/ame]

 

[Brighton]

Springfield XDM 9mm is my all around carry gun. Of course guns are like religion and politics, everyone else has an opiion too, and there always right. I know everyone loves bigger caliber blah blah, but I've seen a bunch of 9mm wounds working the streets and those victims didn't like em, either, cause they were dead. I say have more plenitiful, cheaper ammo in a comfortable, reliable gun that you shoot well.

The Springfield XD 9mm is what I own. I love it. I trust it with my life. I have shot The S&W M+P and Ruger SR9 which are great too. I never liked the "feel" of the Glocks I've shot.

I would like to get a Kimber 1911 some day, pretty gun.

 

[FireGirl_Photo]

Glock, Glock, Glock.

I carry concealed and feel much better going into many photography assignments with my pistol close at hand. The Glock has been through rogh conditions (-40 degrees and blizzarding to 110 degrees and saltwater) and has always performed admirably.

Have fun!

 

[Metcalf]

My personal choice....

Very early Kimber Compact, steel slide steel frame. Its basically the same size as a Colt CCO ( shorter officers length frame ) with a longer barrel. The Kimber uses a 4" bull barrel, the CCO uses a 4.25" commander style barrel.

It had a factory adjustable rear sight and cut from Kimber. I would not have ordered it new this way, but I replaced the adjustable rear sight with one I modified slightly from Heine.

Though you can buy the Heine sight with a wider notch I didn't think it was worth the extra $25 or whatever. I just did it on the mill and cold blued it.

Pistol choice....

FOR ME, the 1911 platform is ergonomically the best. It just works well for me. It points well, controls are easy to reach and 'natural', etc. I don't shoot the 1911 because its 45 apc. I shoot 45 apc because that is the most common caliber for the 1911. I would shoot a 38 super, 9mm, or 40 without any problem. Its about shot placement for the most part, not the size of the hole.

If I was going to do it over again.....( ie my next toy )

I would buy a Smith and Wesson M&P in .40, in the 'standard' size, not compact. I just don't like the pinky pinch you get with most sub-compacts while changing mags. I have an idea for a bobtail version that I would like to try someday.

As mentioned, you can get a 9mm storm lake barrel for the 40 slide. You can also get a .357sig barrel that is extended and threaded. 357 sig uses 40 cal magazines. So with a drop in barrel and the correct mag you can shoot 9mm, 40, and 357sig. Dollar for Dollar that is GREAT in my opinion. The only thing that would make it better is a 22lr conversion ( which they don't make yet ).

Personally I think the S&W M&P combines the ergonomics of the 1911 with the reliability for a modern polymer pistol like a Glock/XD/Ruger/etc. You can get a version with or without a manual safety like a 1911. If you have both you might want to go WITH the safety for consistency. You can even get a trigger job from Bowie Tactical that makes the M&P trigger VERY close to the feel of a short single action 1911 trigger.

Just a few thoughts, good luck with your purchase.

 

[dcoy]

Glock 19, then shoot, shoot, shoot. Repeat weekly. :victory:

I'm in the same boat as the OP. I've been debating between the G17, 19 and XD9, but now leaning towards the G19. Only problem is I've been spending way too much $$$ on my Cruisers.

 

[BPMOU]

So what did the OP decide

I have had quite a few XD's, really like them, but when I was looking for a CCW weapon I shot a Glock 26 Gen 4, which fits my hand like a glove. Now I have sold and traded my other handguns and own the 26, a 19, and here shortly will be picking up the 17.

I have heard all of the junk about the Gen 4, but I have close to 600 rounds through the 26 and 19 of WWB, and the only thing that I have had happen is a FTF and it was definitly the round. It had a good center strike and did not go bang.

My big draw for the Glock is that I usually carry AIWB with a Dale Fricke Archangel with my 26 and I keep a mag or two for the 19 as backup.

I am noticing more and more "group" type of attacks, matter of fact had two or three of them in the last week here in Denver. I almost went with a Keltec PF9 for concealment, but with the stuff going on, I want as many rounds on tap as possible, and I don't buy into the caliber debate. Good quality hollow points like the Corbon and you are in business.

May I also recommend checking out warriortalk.com. It's totally changed the way I think about firearms and personal protection, it's also made my wallet a lot lighter

Good luck on your choice.