everydefense
Member
I'm in the PCR-loving club, too
Please recommend a 9mm pistol . thanks.
- Thread starter efeng9622
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OP
OP
efeng9622
Member
Hi! I just placed a order for S & W 915 9mm $ 325.00 . I had one several years ago and sold it because it was worn too much , but now i take another back and hopefully I still like it . but this gun for CCW is a little bit heavy. Thanks.
DA/SA 9mm current production options are few. The new XD has DA/SA, the Bersa Thunder 9UC and 9HC are good DA/SA alloy framed guns. Used, there's the Ruger P85/89/93/94/95 are all good DA/SA 9mm guns. There's the S&W 3913 at a higher price point, or the CS9.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I'm not sure why you jumped on ordering a discontinued pistol you admit might be too heavy for carry. There are plenty of good and current offerings that might be more to your liking.
A firing pin safety physically blocks any forward travel of the firing pin. This should prevent anything happening unless the trigger is physically pulled regardless of the pistol being dropped and type of sear.
R_P_K
Member
Check out the TriStar C-100. Compact DA/SA alloy frame 15 rounds, cz clone. Around $350. Great reviews. MAC on YouTube reviewed it. I don't own one but the c-100 in tungsten gray is very appealing to me.
JTQ
Member
I agree. Parts are going to be tough to come by. I have a 4506, so I'm familiar.
Parts aren't that much of an issue, unless someone is shooting a gun for 50,000 rounds a year or more - which goes to demonstrate how much you have to shoot a gun to need spare parts. Most guns are rarely shot a few thousand rounds a year, and dividing that into the round count to get to a mean failure results in ten years or more in service life. Which is exactly what we see with PD guns - more than a decade before the average gun in the "fleet" becomes a maintenance headache.
As for weight for carry, it's a lot like trigger pull - shooters make more of it lately than they need to. We've been carrying all metal handguns for over 150 years, and it's only been and issue dragged up since polymer was refined to be used in frames. Once that took off then gunwriters and flippers have been talking it up. On a LEO's belt a lighter gun seems to be a good thing, but then we stuff a double stack magazine in it and the overall weight quickly approaches that of a single stack all metal gun.
My 4566TSW weighs less loaded than some polymer full size double stack duty guns. Is that a fair comparison? Yes - because even tho we are talking about a gun with 4" barrel vs 5" barrel, it's a gun meant for individual protection - not competition range fire. It demonstrates the other side of how guns have been reduced in weight - shorter barrels shorter magazines. It was the first thing done to revolvers when carry was analyzed - barrels were shortened from 6, to 4, to 3 to 2 1/2 inches. The whole class of detective snubbies was the result.
In the S&W line up it resulted in the Lady Smith and Chief's Specials, which is exactly what many do with their choices - go to the smallest barrel and shortest magazine they can comfortably operate.
Lots of us buy older firearms for carry from LEO trade in sales, and properly selected you can get a low round count gun with mostly carry wear. Cops qualify about once or twice a year, most don't shoot even monthly, and round counts are - happily - so low in service there are still years left before issues arise. So we buy them full well knowing that parts aren't going to be a problem, and that judicious selection means we don't buy an oversized hog leg for carry. We get the more compact guns - which were carried all day every day by guys just the same as us. That the department switched to polymer was more a financial choice of low cost bidder than total loadout carry weight with a full magazine.
As for weight for carry, it's a lot like trigger pull - shooters make more of it lately than they need to. We've been carrying all metal handguns for over 150 years, and it's only been and issue dragged up since polymer was refined to be used in frames. Once that took off then gunwriters and flippers have been talking it up. On a LEO's belt a lighter gun seems to be a good thing, but then we stuff a double stack magazine in it and the overall weight quickly approaches that of a single stack all metal gun.
My 4566TSW weighs less loaded than some polymer full size double stack duty guns. Is that a fair comparison? Yes - because even tho we are talking about a gun with 4" barrel vs 5" barrel, it's a gun meant for individual protection - not competition range fire. It demonstrates the other side of how guns have been reduced in weight - shorter barrels shorter magazines. It was the first thing done to revolvers when carry was analyzed - barrels were shortened from 6, to 4, to 3 to 2 1/2 inches. The whole class of detective snubbies was the result.
In the S&W line up it resulted in the Lady Smith and Chief's Specials, which is exactly what many do with their choices - go to the smallest barrel and shortest magazine they can comfortably operate.
Lots of us buy older firearms for carry from LEO trade in sales, and properly selected you can get a low round count gun with mostly carry wear. Cops qualify about once or twice a year, most don't shoot even monthly, and round counts are - happily - so low in service there are still years left before issues arise. So we buy them full well knowing that parts aren't going to be a problem, and that judicious selection means we don't buy an oversized hog leg for carry. We get the more compact guns - which were carried all day every day by guys just the same as us. That the department switched to polymer was more a financial choice of low cost bidder than total loadout carry weight with a full magazine.
JTQ
Member
Where do you find magazines?
ArchAngelCD
Member.
And how does the OP know how many rounds were fired in that pistol? When were the springs last changed?
The 9mm shield is a fine pistol. The trigger on mine is very good (manuf this year), its been both accurate and reliable. I felt comfortable with this pistol right away. Also consider the compact if you don't need the ultra slim as 12rds is nicer than 8 at the range.
The shield is single action striker with no multi strike capability.
Extra bonuses are that the slide can be fully worked with manual safety engaged and the pistol can be field stripped without pulling the trigger if you so desire.
The Taurus pt111 g2 has multi strike capability, more like a da/sa type system.
The shield is single action striker with no multi strike capability.
Extra bonuses are that the slide can be fully worked with manual safety engaged and the pistol can be field stripped without pulling the trigger if you so desire.
The Taurus pt111 g2 has multi strike capability, more like a da/sa type system.
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Blkhrt13
Member
The 92s can be had for three bills if you want a full size.
I think you could hit the $350 price point with a Makarov or a Bersa Thunder, though that would mean 9x18mm or 9x17mm instead of 9x19mm... There is a 9mm Parabellum version of the Thunder, but it good for at least $400 typically.
lsudave
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- Feb 10, 2007
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- 1,042
3rd Gen S&W's are nice pistols, I have one and it's a reasonable deal for what you get.
The 915 takes the 3rd Gen 59xx parts and springs, Wolff sells them cheap. I've seen mags various places (CDNN, etc) for under $20, and I've seen various parts (barrels, etc) available at places like Midway. The 915 is basically an aluminum framed 5906 with a carbon steel slide, stainless barrel, and non-ambidextrous safety.
Unless you're competition shooting it a lot, it's going to be hard to wear one out. Metal framed pistols are not like cellphones, they are made to last a long time. That's why people can find 70+ yr old guns that just need a little TLC on the finish. If the caliber is available today, they shoot just as well as a brand new gun.
Captcurt
Member
Not really a conceal gun but the SAR's are a lot of gun for the money. I have sold several and have never had anything but praise from their owners.
Blkhrt13
Member
Say what? I haven't heard of that.
Blkhrt13
Member
I'm lusting and looking for a 3rd gen. I realized it ticks all my desired boxes. I need a 3913.
tactikel
Member
The Sheild is a fine CCW weapon. My wife bought one 2 years ago and loves it. I carried a .45 (too heavy, bulky) and bought a Shield for myself. Her trigger is gritty and heavy, my trigger is crisp and light. She gets the Apex duty and carry kit, I'm happy stock. Did S&W improve the trigger in the last 2 years?
Blkhrt13
Member
Likely they did change them up. They do that. Lately it's lawyer first till folks complain. Gives them .room to grow.
everydefense
Member
I've never owned one, but I've always admired from a distance. Those Smiths have some great lines.
CaptTripps
Member
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- May 21, 2015
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- 284
My girlfriend has a Kahr CT9, its about the size of a Commander style pistol, holds 8+1, is very thin, and it has a great double-action, cam assisted trigger, which is so smooth, its almost unbelievable. I have a Kahr CW45 but if I was looking for a 9mm, I might go with a Kahr P9. Thin, small, reliable, great trigger.
Jim NE
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- Feb 28, 2011
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- 1,888
If you can get a Ruger SR9c for under $350, that would be a great option. Or SR9, if concealability isn't required. I paid over 400 for my compact ("c") way back when, but since Ruger has introduced the American pistols, I believe the prices on SR's have come down. Bud's has the full sized Ruger SR9, new, for under $350.
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/2084_21_49_1815/products_id/72438
A while back, Ruger also made a budget version called the SR9E, and I see on gunbroker that they are even less money, but I don't know how - or if - they differ from the standard models, quality wise. Some other good options:
- The surplus Beretta 92s 9mm pistols are outstanding, and right around 300 bucks. I got one from Bud's.
- I've also had luck with the Taurus PT 111G2's and PT 809's. Not a problem with either. (I have two of each.)
I'm sure there are other great 9mm's in that price range, but I don't have direct experience with them.
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/2084_21_49_1815/products_id/72438
A while back, Ruger also made a budget version called the SR9E, and I see on gunbroker that they are even less money, but I don't know how - or if - they differ from the standard models, quality wise. Some other good options:
- The surplus Beretta 92s 9mm pistols are outstanding, and right around 300 bucks. I got one from Bud's.
- I've also had luck with the Taurus PT 111G2's and PT 809's. Not a problem with either. (I have two of each.)
I'm sure there are other great 9mm's in that price range, but I don't have direct experience with them.
Blkhrt13
Member
The Thunder pro. you had me excited I thought they were making a ppk clone in 9x19.
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