Recommendation based on experience?

Springfield XD series. Way better trigger than S&W or Glock.

Glock 19 - good midsized pistol that is easy to shoot on the range and small enough to be concealable. This would probably be my first recommendation for someone looking for a 9mm pistol. Trigger isn't great, but it is still good. My favorite part about the gun is the ease (and low cost) of replacing parts if needed. You can detail strip the whole thing with just one punch in about 30 seconds.

Sig 228/226 - much better triggers than the vast majority of striker fired guns, very reliable, but has 2 trigger functions to get used to (plus the transition) and high bore axis

HK P7 (M8 and M13) - a little spendy, but they are accurate, reliable, and overall great guns

My personal experience is that S&W's M&P 9mm is an extremely reliable gun with at least good accuracy. Some people have had contrary experiences, but that has been mine. And if you want an external safety, it has one, and it is located in a good spot and orientation for me, in that it allows a 1911-style grip with the thumb riding the safety.

Currently there are a large number of 9mm auto pistols available from many manufacturers ranging from 9mm versions of the 1911 to metal frame single action/double action pistols like Beretta 92s and Sig 226s to polymer frame, sticker fired pistols like the Glocks, Smith and Wesson M&Ps, Ruger SR9s, Walther PPQs, H&K VP9s and others from SIG, Springfield and FN. These are products of major pistol manufacturers and are of good/excellent quality. In this day and age, arguably there is no best 9mm, there are many equals.

The point of mentioning all the above is to make you and your friend realize that there are a huge number of choices and that he needs to handle/shoot as many as possible to find one he likes.

Some of my favorites: Walther PPQ, H&K VP9, Sig 320, Smith M&P and Armscor 1911.

I don't know how this question can be answered without knowing what he wants it to do. Its like telling someone what car to buy and you have no idea if they need to haul 5 kids around, do they need to save on gas while driving around all by themselves, do they need to tow a boat, do they want a nice car to go on dates with?

I don't know how anyone can make recommendations so I'll give you my meaningless recommendations.

Get an HK P7M8 - mine has worked flawlessly since 1985 and its really a marvel of engineering.

Get a Rohrbaugh R9 - mine disappears into a pocket and I can pocket carry even when wearing business slacks.

Get a CM9 - it is probably the least finicky pocket nine out there.

Get a Glock 17L - mine is a lot of fun to shoot at the range and its very accurate.

Get a Tec-9m - mine is a blast to shoot and people at the range will come over and ask you what the heck it is.

Get a SAR B6P - you can get them for 240 bucks and they're a good deal at that price - mine has functioned flawlessly with every kind of ammo I've fed it.

I'd choose a Glock 19. There are probably more options in a good 9mm pistol than anything else. There are some that look better, some cost a lot more, some less, but for the money you won't buy a more accurate, reliable trusted gun.

Magazines are everywhere and cheap as are holsters and in the rare chance you ever wear out a part Glock will replace it free for life.

I own 21 9mm semi auto pistols, from pocket rockets, to full size and a couple of super duper sized ones(Hi Point). The question is basically so broad as to be unanswerable.

I do not own a Glock.
The smallest 9mm I own is a Diamondback DB9. It fits in most pockets and is slightly smaller than the Ruger or Kel Tec pocket 9s.
Hi Point is the largest(or at least the most bulky). If he wants a night stand gun and has limited funds then a Hi Point is an excellent option.
The options for mid size guns is unlimited. Prices from $300 to infinity and beyond.
Full size, all steel guns like the CZ 75B are easy to shoot and generally more accurate than smaller guns.

What kind of house does he need?
What kind of coffee maker should he buy?

Full size - Springfield Armory XDM 4.5, CZ 75, Sig P226, Glock 17
Mid Size - Glock 19, Springfield XDM 3.8, CZ P07, CZ75 Compact
Compact - Ruger LC9S Pro, Glock 43 or 26, Springfield XDS 3.3 or 4.0

I'm probably leaving some out, but all of the above are quality guns. As previous members mentioned he needs to decide what he wants to do with it.

Heckler and Koch VP9.

Simple SFA action. Excellent out of the box trigger. At about 6# with a solid and audible reset. Reliable, accurate, and runs like a top.

Ambi controls for mag release and slide. Modular user configurable backstrap and side panels. Picatinny accessory rail.

Field strips without pulling the trigger or tools.

Bought mine for $599. I love it.

Full size:
If on a budget: CZ 75
If he has extra money: Sig P226

Mid:
CZ 75 Compact
Sig 229
Sig 239

Sub:
I don't like em much but...
Springfield XD or Glock 26

Too many good options out there to list. My favorites include:

Browning Hi Power
CZ75B
Glock 19

I also have an M&P9, but honestly, I'm not a fan at all.

If you are looking for a full size for shooting a Beretta 92. Then I would shoot both the Glock and the Springfield XD or XDM and see which feels better and is more accurate for the shooter. Any good range should have both available to shoot.

Having been a shooting enthusiasts for over 30 years, my recommendations:

1. Buy a full or service sized gun even if you plan to conceal it.

2. Buy a gun that has exactly the same trigger pull on every shot.

3. Buy a gun that goes from intended carry condition to firing by only grabbing and pulling the trigger.

4. Buy a gun with a good magazine capacity (in 9mm so you can afford to shoot it a lot)

5. Buy a gun that is easy to strip and clean, and which requires little of this.

6. Put as much or more thought into the holster as the gun itself.

Its hard to beat a Glock 17 or 19 for robust reliability. They're not pretty but they plain work well. If you want a smaller handgun for concealed carry the Glock 26 is available. I have had a Glock 19 for 29 years and its been as reliable as a hammer.

For a full size gun the Beretta 92 the gun used by the US armed forces is a great pistol. A used surplus police pistol in 9mm are generally good reliable handguns thought they are not usually very "pretty" have lots of holster wear but they're a good less expensive alternative to a brand new gun.

If he wants something inexpensive, no more than $300 the Taurus PT111 G2 is a small and decent choice.

You can find Walther PPX's in 9mm for under $300 on line. Never shot one but the reviews have been very good and Walther is a top notch firearm manufacturer. It is a full size high capacity polymer handgun.

There are a ton of good 9MM pistols available.

Does you friend have any experience shooting pistols?? If not or minimal experience you might want to recommend an entry handgun training class that many local ranges provide for minimal cost. They cover first safety and then basics such as stance, grip, trigger control, and sight acquisition including range time. It is very difficult for someone to pick out a pistol that will work for them unless they have basic fundamentals down. The old "it feels good in the hand" does not really cut it IMO. Training classes also often have a variety of pistols for the user to try out or at least handle.

Then there are preferences in size and weight, metal frame or poly frame, striker fired versus hammer fired, and safety or no safety. Also what the user intends to use the firearm for - home defense, concealed carry, range shooting, or a combination of these.

IMO for most people who may not have a specific use in mind a compact pistol is probably a good bet. By compact pistol I mean when where the users hand fits the grip comfortably and the length of the pistol is in around the 7.2 inch range plus or minus a little.

My PERSONAL favorites in 9MM based on personal experience in what works best for me are the Walther PPQ, SIG SP2022, HK P30L, HK VP9, SIG P226, SIG P228, Walther PPS, and CZ SP01 Shadow.

Out of my favorites the ones I recommend the most for that "first" 9MM pistol purchase are the Walther PPQ, HK VP9, and the SIG SP2022. These are all what I consider compacts under $600 range and the SP2022 in the under $500 range. The also have changeable backstraps/grips to help tailor the pistol to the shooter.

I also own a Glock 19 but for me I prefer the Walther PPQ and HK VP9 over it by quite a bit but if a Glock 19 works for your friend or anyone else it is a good reliable compact pistol.

Good luck.

I second the Glock 15, I've never heard of a Glock 15 requiring more than one shot to put down an assailant.

Darkhorse said:

I have a friend who wants to buy a 9mm auto, but I only have experience with a few brands.

Can you recommend a particular brand / model based on your specific experience , not just on "it has a great reputation" or something vague like that?

I don't know if he plans to carry it; he doesn't have a permit so far.

Click to expand...

Based on experience, can you recommend a particular make and model of vehicle for my uses - without a clue as to what those uses might be?

There IS such a thing as an unanswerable question....

C0untZer0 said:

I second the Glock 15, I've never heard of a Glock 15 requiring more than one shot to put down an assailant.

Click to expand...

But ammo is hard to get!

Totally go with a Glock 7. A little on the expensive side, but its the only Glock ever imported from Germany, and the porcelain is a breeze to clean. A little toilet cleaner and you're all set. I mix in a little Hoppes #9 with Ty-D-Bol to clean mine, smells great, too.

Here's my opinion, Guns are tools and you need to have the right tools for the job. i will stick my list to Glock, for simplicity.

Open Carry: Glock-19, Glock-17, Glock-34
Conceal Carry: Glock-43, Glock-26, Glock-19
Duty weapon: Glock-19, Glock-17, Glock-34
Home Defense: Glock-43, Glock-26, Glock-19, Glock-17, Glock-34
Range weapon: Glock-43, Glock-26, Glock-19, Glock-17, Glock-34 (plus their variants)


as you can see the Glock-19 can be used in any situation do to it's balance of size and ammo.

TRY THIS LINK

https://us.glock.com/confidence/which-glock

1) Browning Hi-Power
2) CZ P01
3) SIG P229
4) Glock 17
5) Steyr M

I've introduced dozens of beginners to 9mm pistols. For ease-of-shooting they favor the Browning Hi-Power with Hogue rubber grips over the Glock, Sig, Ruger, or S&W.

That said, for practical use I agree with Spats and Telekinesis. I'd recommend beginners get a Glock 19.