New 9mm search advice.

Status
Not open for further replies.
Centurian - Good luck with your search up here in Maine! The only thing you can really do up here is go to as many stores as you can and handle them.

In my search for the same sort of thing, I narrowed it down to two - a commander size 1911 in 9mm, and the CZ75 compact or a variant thereof. (The Canik C100 is getting wicked reviews.)

Good luck!

And remember to check Uncle Henry's.
 
Definitely give the CZ's a fair chance, but I'd recommend the Walther P99AS. Can easily be had for less than $600 with a bit of shopping.

Outstanding ergos, changeable backstraps on the grip for different hand sizes, and an excellent trigger out-of-box.
 
Centurian22 said:
DavidE: why the dislike of DA/SA?
Click to expand...

Since you state the gun is ALSO for your wife who doesn't "feel ready to carry yet," I surmise that she's not really into guns.

The problem with DA/SA systems is that it requires the shooter to do something (decock) to render the gun safe after shots are fired, but there's still ammo in the gun. THEN, on many designs, the shooter is required to do another thing (un-decock) to allow the shooter to fire again, should it become necessary. The Sigs remove the second required act, but not the first.

Likewise, SA guns that require cocked and locked carry are poor choices for folks not really into guns. They require the safety to be taken off prior to the shot (but not too soon!) and require the safety to be reengaged to make it safe.

Taking off safeties at speed, decocking, un-decocking, etc, are not instinctive acts.

Now, both of these action types can be mastered, but it takes a bit of dedication to do so.

If your wife IS into guns and/or excited about learning how to shoot, then disregard the above.

But if she's not, a DAO or typical striker fired gun (since I presume a revolver is out) would be better choices.
 
I have a Ruger sr9 full size and absolutely love it. Super accurate, very thin, easy to carry, and great reliability. I also have the beretta Px4 storm in full size, but it is 40 cal, however, I love the storm as well. If I had to vote for one, it would be the Ruger. You wouldn't regret that purchase. iMHO.
 
Ruger SR9C...2mags, 10 & 17 rounds...GREAT carry handgun, and great shooter! :)
 
Update:
Kahr CW9 is out, only 7rds of 9mm... No. Really liking the CZ 75b so far, excuse the noob question but what keeps it from being a 1911? It appears similar in most ways to me. Ruger sr9 seems good as well. My brother in law has a M&P9, I like it ok, not overly exited about it but couldn't say why, just a feel thing. The Walther P99 seems to be a possibility but appears to run more expensive than many of the other options with no clean benefit in return for the higher price. M&P shield is out for capacity reasons as well. I guess I should have clarified definitely NO less than 10+1 really prefer to stay over 15.

As for concealing, I'm 6'1" 210lbs, thus far not a fan of IWB, generally carry OWB but would consider shoulder holster. Maine allows open carry, not that I plan to, however this grants me the luxury of not be slapped with "felony brandishing" or any such nonsense if I do print or my jacket flies open. The full grip requirement, and wife's preference for a 'big gun' in her words, are more important. When she conceal carries its likely to be in a purse or potentially jacket pocket if the gun would allow. When we put hands on some guns we'll see if she likes any of the compact models with a full grip.

The wife enjoys shooting but I wouldn't say she is "into guns" certainly not the way 98% of us on here are. But she understands and is willing to train and perform the practice needed to be confident with her gun of choice. She will carry with one in the chamber, hammer down safety on. This is her personal choice / blend of quick enough and still safe. This leads me to prefer something DA/SA or striker fired as, in my opinion, all I want to (or want her to) have to accomplish is draw and turn the safety off. I'm sure we will refine and narrow this down as we handle and learn together.

Tigeroldlone: I'll check those out, however as I've never heard of them I'm cautious.

Dryft, I frequently scour Uncle Henry's but the wife really wants new. She is cautious of 'buying someone else's problems'.

The CZ 75 and Ruger SR9 seem to have the popular vote lead at the moment. We have a .22 that we use but the option of a .22 conversion is appealing for cheap practice on the exact same platform.

Thanks to all for the input and information, keep it coming.
 
There's a gun show in Augusta on the nineteenth and twentieth - I believe at the Civic Center.

I know I will be there!

Definitely something worth attending, if possible.
 
Ruger SR9 is a good choice if you can find one. The simplicity of most striker fired guns is great. The trigger pull is consistent from shot to shot, isn't so light that you need a safety to carry it, but its not so heavy that your accuracy goes to heck.

Though I won't be getting rid of my DA/SA guns, after having owned a few striker fired ones I seriously doubt I'll ever look at another DA/SA again. The "partially cocked" hammer fired guns though like the Beretta PX4 Storm C-model or the upcoming Walther PPX look fine. Same trigger behavior as a striker fired gun but with a bobbed hammer.
 
If she wants to carry one in the pipe, hammer down, safety on, the cz is out. Safety only engages on a cocked hammer.

Also I don't think there is a decocker with a safety.

I'd reccimend a decocker model gun so she isn't manually lowering the hammer.

But in my humble opinion, safeties get people killed.

useless signiture
 
If she wants to carry one in the pipe, hammer down, safety on, the cz is out. Safety only engages on a cocked hammer.
Click to expand...

Maybe I missed it, but why would she or anyone feel the need to carry a double action first shot pistol with the safety on? It is just like a revolver DA, and needs a long, first DA pull before going SA. As you note it has the flexibility to be carried cocked and locked, but many if not most carry at the half cock postion where it is designed, which gives a DA first trigger pull.

The decocker CZ's, decock to the half cock notch and also have no safety as they are also carried in DA first shot mode.
 
Pilot said:
Maybe I missed it, but why would she or anyone feel the need to carry a double action first shot pistol with the safety on? It is just like a revolver DA, and needs a long, first DA pull before going SA. As you note it has the flexibility to be carried cocked and locked, but many if not most carry at the half cock postion where it is designed, which gives a DA first trigger pull.

The decocker CZ's, decock to the half cock notch and also have no safety as they are also carried in DA first shot mode.
Click to expand...
This.

But, lets say she wants a heavier 9mm, manual safety, double stack, compact, hammer fired that allows for a loaded chamber, on safe, with the hammer down...all for under $600?

Canik 55 Stingray C. Problem solved.
 
Last edited:
The manual safety is really something that you and your wife need to think about. In the case of an emergency that requires a gun, it is one more thing to remember in that typical 2 seconds that you have before you are lost. Also, safetys have a bad habit of getting caught on clothing and hosters, meaning that they are in the wrong position when you need them. I have guns with a manual safety/decocker and Glocks. I really like shooting some of the guns with external hammer, external safety, and nice soft/light single action trigger. However, I would never depend on them enough to carry. Glock is my choice and the choice of many others. I highly recommend the Glock Gen4 9mm guns (26/19/17). There are lots for really good guns to choose from that have internal safeties,
 
As always I appreciate the input and I COMPLETELY agree with all above statements about the safety thing. I have tried and tried and ..... TRIED to get all of these points across to her but she just isn't budging on this one.

Fire_Moose: thanks for the heads up on the CZ! That is unfortunate as I have taken a liking to it. I'm hoping I might be able to use that fact (with one in my hand at a gun store) as a potential teaching tool. "See hunny, you can't even put the safety on unless its cocked. That's how safe it is all on its own in 'double action mode'" I can tell y'all right now that has a 98% failure expectation but who knows. If I can show her enough guns like this proving just how uncommon (and in most responsible gun owners mind completely unnecessary and bordering on unsafe for defensive purposes) the type she wants is, maybe she'll give a little.

Tcruse: in her words "I wouldn't own a Glock if it was the last *(colorful adjective)* gun on earth." I'm not quite that passionate about my distaste for them but I am not a fan on many levels. I tried to explain the internal safeties thing to her but her hang up is "But if you pull the trigger it goes bang" to which I reply "THAT'S the *(colorful adjective)* POINT!". Her reasoning is the "What if you tripped and fell and your finger slipped into the trigger guard and pulled the trigger" and she's worried about "what if we left it out by accident and one of our kids friends finds it (because our kids will be trained properly to leave it alone and come tell us)". Basically she's going to grasp onto that .0001% chance of what if and hold on for dear life. She takes pride in being the most stubborn person either of us knows.

She is also using the "I've been very supportive of your shooting hobby (which he absolutely has), this is the one thing that I'm asking for, please respect it." I wish there was a way that I could convince and explain to her the dangers of her 'requirement' and the completely safe alternatives.

Meanmrmustard: I'll check that one out but I'm again cautious where its not a name I recognize. If all else fails she will probably settle on / accept the M&P9. I'm going to fight my hardest to sway her just over the line to an XD9 instead but we'll see.
 
Canik makes Turkish CZ clones. They're top notch in all areas, and have some parts compatability with CZs. Check them out.
 
I know this a topic that has been rehashed ad infinitum on this board, but it seems like we're getting back to the same thing that always happens - this is a gun for HER, not anyone else. All of us who carry have very specific wants and needs in a carry pistol, why shouldn't she?

If she wants a safety, let her get a safety. If she wants it chambered in a caliber that is only available from one store on the third Thursday of the month, let her shoot that caliber. If she wants a pink frame and a iridescent purple slide, why not?

Point being, it's her gun. And if it doesn't work for her after a while do the same thing everyone else does: sell it and try again.

I would highly recommend she check out the website corneredcat.com - it's a very good site written by women for women who carry and want to protect themselves.

Good luck, and I hope she finds something she enjoys! And make sure she joins THR - I'd certainly enjoy hearing her opinions on her search.
 
Meanmrmustard: looks like a good fit to the desired specs. Now if only I can find one anywhere local to put hands on.

Dryft: thanks for steering this in a good direction. The wife and I are hoping to find a gun we both like (partially for financial reasons, and mostly because she doesn't want to have 'lots' of guns). I will see if she'll check out corneredcat, I had heard of it before but hadn't thought to point her towards it. I'll also pass on that her voice would like to be heard on here, though I don't know if she'll join, it's worth asking.
 
Centurian22 said:
Meanmrmustard: looks like a good fit to the desired specs. Now if only I can find one anywhere local to put hands on.

Dryft: thanks for steering this in a good direction. The wife and I are hoping to find a gun we both like (partially for financial reasons, and mostly because she doesn't want to have 'lots' of guns). I will see if she'll check out corneredcat, I had heard of it before but hadn't thought to point her towards it. I'll also pass on that her voice would like to be heard on here, though I don't know if she'll join, it's worth asking.
Click to expand...
Academy has the Canik pistols for sale for around $350 so if you've got one of their stores nearby that might be the way to go. I bought the C100 and it is definitely a quality piece in my opinion and well worth the price.

Lighter than a solid steel gun (aluminum frame), small enough to carry but large enough to get a good grip on, good trigger, and it has great ergonomics just like the CZ75B.

I have both the CZ75B and the Canik C100. Both have been amazingly reliable and are both very comfortable at the range. If the warranty makes a difference to you, the CZ has a 5 year and the Canik has a 1 year.

The Canik is a very high quality pistol with good fit and finish. The aluminum frame feels as light as polymer and surprisingly the recoil isn't bad compared to the steel framed CZ75B. One thing that you might like is that with the Canik, the safety can be engaged when the hammer is down, although there's no reason to because of the design being completely safe with the hammer down on a round, it is still an option.
 
The HK USP series enables DA carry at the half cock notch, or hammer fully down, WITH the safety engaged if she wants that. The HK USP or USPc (compact) are very nice pistols, but you'll be spending a bit more.
 
Kiln: thanks for the review and comparison. Unfortunately no Academy's in Maine. I wish they would buy out and take over Dick's SG as I will never walk through their door again.

Pilot: I do like HK's but from a quick glance online showing $750 and up for the USP (translating to $850 or $900 local I would guess) puts it above our budget. Definitely worth looking into if finances greatly improve but doubtful the wife would want to spend that much.
 
Anshering your actual question

Hi

I have a XDm 9mm, a PT92 9mm (waay too big fo CCW) and a High Point 9mm. I do not have a Taurus 9mm, but do have a Taurus 24/7 Pro 45 ACP. The Taurus 45 is actually a good size for CCW and I have found it to be incredibly reliable for the past 6 years. The XDm 3.8 9mm comes in a compact with a grip extension which gives you the best of both, range gun and CCW. I own around 11 various handguns and tend to buy what I like to shoot and carry. Beware of gun snobs. Try as many as possible and get what is right for you and your wife. My wife shoots also and is very proficient, she tends to prefer 2, 3, and 4" revolvers, and does very well with them. So, all of that to say (again) get what works for you and your wife.
 
She likes to self-sabotage. ("But what if this, this, that or that or this or this happened??? THEN what?")

Is she really on board with this idea?

The Ruger SR9 or 9c would be good choices. But I'm getting the sense that she needs HER gun whilst you get your own.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

D
  • Locked
  • Poll
Need suggestions for ladyfriend's 9mm
2
Replies
30
Views
1K
ugaarguy
ugaarguy
J
  • Locked
Ladies - need help for my wife : CC
Replies
13
Views
845
mljdeckard
mljdeckard
P
  • Locked
Fullsize 9mm for Small-handed person?
2 3
Replies
62
Views
8K
perdurabo93
P
T
  • Locked
Any Steyr Fans?
Replies
18
Views
1K
Phaedrus/69
Phaedrus/69
B
  • Locked
Input on CCW pistol
Replies
22
Views
886
ernunnos
E
Back
Top