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aaaaa
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Even better perhaps is the Springfield SA-35. While .40 S&W is attractive, it may be good to have a 9mm in that it is the most abundant ammo out there, so in emergency is more likely to be found.
Instead of striker fired 9mm
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Buzznrose
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Sure…maybe, maybe not. If we’ve learned anything from the ebbs and flows of the last few years, the folks who can buy ahead and put extra ammo away will always be less reliant to the fickle nature of our current culture.
Regardless what you have, you should have ammo set aside for those “emergencies’ rather than thinking the popular calibers would be available. If you didn’t follow 9MM or .22LR over the last 10 years, you should look into it.
Mosin77
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I agree. If I’ve learned anything from the last few panics, it’s that although odd or less desired calibers may stay on the shelf longer, what is ultimately available again soonest at reasonable prices is 9mm and .22lr. That said, in a true crisis guns will still be carried much, shot little, so get a small supply of defensive ammo now and don’t worry about it. Buying ammo in a panic is for that recreational range trip, ideally, not because you really need to lay in a supply all of a sudden.
Stay with 9mm or 45. I like 10mm, but for protection from 2 legged predators it is more gun than you need. I have one, but I only carry it if hiking/camping in bear country. I completely trust 9mm for everything else.
The only reason I'd get a 45 is if you want a 1911. To me a 1911 in any other cartridge just ain't right. But that's me.
The 40 S&W round is a little hotter on paper than 9mm, but LE have pretty much dumped 40 S&W for 9mm. In the real-world officers aren't seeing any difference in performance when they shoot bad guys between 357 mag, 357 SIG, 9mm, 40, or 45. The 9mm is doing the same thing; officers shoot it more accurately, it costs less and 9mm holds more rounds.
The gun you describe doesn't really exist and I don't understand the appeal of exposed hammer handguns. No long gun manufacturer has introduced a new rifle or shotgun design in nearly 150 years using an exposed hammer for good reasons. There are a lot of negatives to having the hammer exposed and the most reliable rifles (bolt actions), are striker fired. Most everything else has a concealed hammer. I don't understand why it took so long for striker fired handgun to become popular.
The closest thing you're going to find is a 1911 or a BHP, or similar clone.
Before you completely discount striker fired guns consider this. Most who don't like striker fired guns do so because they don't like the "Glock style" DAO trigger. But you don't have to buy a striker fired gun with a horrible trigger. There are several options now with much better triggers, and a 1911 style safety. Which is needed IMO with triggers that light and crisp. They are in reality a modern plastic 1911 style pistol. Best of both worlds IMO. Yea, it's plastic and not metal, but we're well into the 21st century. Try finding a wooden boat today, they are all plastic of one type or another.
The only reason I'd get a 45 is if you want a 1911. To me a 1911 in any other cartridge just ain't right. But that's me.
The 40 S&W round is a little hotter on paper than 9mm, but LE have pretty much dumped 40 S&W for 9mm. In the real-world officers aren't seeing any difference in performance when they shoot bad guys between 357 mag, 357 SIG, 9mm, 40, or 45. The 9mm is doing the same thing; officers shoot it more accurately, it costs less and 9mm holds more rounds.
The gun you describe doesn't really exist and I don't understand the appeal of exposed hammer handguns. No long gun manufacturer has introduced a new rifle or shotgun design in nearly 150 years using an exposed hammer for good reasons. There are a lot of negatives to having the hammer exposed and the most reliable rifles (bolt actions), are striker fired. Most everything else has a concealed hammer. I don't understand why it took so long for striker fired handgun to become popular.
The closest thing you're going to find is a 1911 or a BHP, or similar clone.
Before you completely discount striker fired guns consider this. Most who don't like striker fired guns do so because they don't like the "Glock style" DAO trigger. But you don't have to buy a striker fired gun with a horrible trigger. There are several options now with much better triggers, and a 1911 style safety. Which is needed IMO with triggers that light and crisp. They are in reality a modern plastic 1911 style pistol. Best of both worlds IMO. Yea, it's plastic and not metal, but we're well into the 21st century. Try finding a wooden boat today, they are all plastic of one type or another.
CapnMac
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That is pretty.
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I am kind of thinking the same thing, though I might have to consider the 1911 in 9mm or the BHP. An Officer's 1911 in 9 mm might work and not be sacrilegious to the original 1911 caliber (I'll hold to .45 ACP on full sized 1911s).
Maybe I need to take the SD9 VE out for another shoot to see how I like it now that I have fired a lot of guns. It certainly serves for home defense with two 16-round magazines. Further, the local GS said they would not even take it on trade is is just a low end gun and that I might get $200 for it on the side. Yeah, well, that makes it a keeper.
Still might be nice to get either an Officer's 1911 in 9 mm or .40 if I want to have one more ammo size to stock up on. Or it might be good to simply get another full size 1911 in .45.
One thing for sure, if the gang gets much traction on banning semi-autos (sales presumably) it will make for a big run on guns before it passes into law (only to be challenged). May as well get more guns now than wait for the rush
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chaim
Member
Your specific requirements don't leave many guns, and most have covered them.
Classic SIG P-series. These will have a decocker with no safety typically. They are a little large for carry, and a little heavy for alloy guns, but doable if you want to carry (for a small carry gun that is metal, not striker and has a decocker only, look for an out of production single stack P239).
CZ 75. I love my CZ 75B based guns, but a 75B has a 1911 style safety despite being DA/SA. If you want to use it with a DA first shot, you have to lower the hammer by hand. You will want to look for the CZ 75BD (full sized, steel), CZ PCR (compact service pistol, alloy), or CZ P01 (essentially a PCR with a rail) to get a decocker and no safety.
Beretta 92. It is hard to find the 92G (decocker only model), and they can be expensive. However, Beretta sells a conversion kit to make one of their standard decocker/safety models into a decocker only Beretta 92: https://www.beretta.com/en-us/gun-accessories/handguns/kits-parts/beretta-m9-92-96-g-conversion-kit/
Edit:
I re-read the OP, so you are OK with a safety if it is a 1911 style pistol...
If you want to replace your polymer and striker guns, if you want a carry gun, and you'd prefer a 1911, my first preference in that world would be a Springfield Armory EMP (I don't know how it would fare against my CZ PCR without the 1911 preference since I don't have one yet). You can get the smaller version (3" barrel, slightly shorter grip) with 9 round mags, or a slightly larger version (4" barrel) with 10 round mags. If you want a carry pistol that would be a strong contender.
Classic SIG P-series. These will have a decocker with no safety typically. They are a little large for carry, and a little heavy for alloy guns, but doable if you want to carry (for a small carry gun that is metal, not striker and has a decocker only, look for an out of production single stack P239).
CZ 75. I love my CZ 75B based guns, but a 75B has a 1911 style safety despite being DA/SA. If you want to use it with a DA first shot, you have to lower the hammer by hand. You will want to look for the CZ 75BD (full sized, steel), CZ PCR (compact service pistol, alloy), or CZ P01 (essentially a PCR with a rail) to get a decocker and no safety.
Beretta 92. It is hard to find the 92G (decocker only model), and they can be expensive. However, Beretta sells a conversion kit to make one of their standard decocker/safety models into a decocker only Beretta 92: https://www.beretta.com/en-us/gun-accessories/handguns/kits-parts/beretta-m9-92-96-g-conversion-kit/
Edit:
I re-read the OP, so you are OK with a safety if it is a 1911 style pistol...
If you want to replace your polymer and striker guns, if you want a carry gun, and you'd prefer a 1911, my first preference in that world would be a Springfield Armory EMP (I don't know how it would fare against my CZ PCR without the 1911 preference since I don't have one yet). You can get the smaller version (3" barrel, slightly shorter grip) with 9 round mags, or a slightly larger version (4" barrel) with 10 round mags. If you want a carry pistol that would be a strong contender.
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chaim
Member
Other calibers...
What do you currently own?
If all you have is 9mm and .45, then I can see two opposite ways of looking at it. Option 1, go 9mm or .45 on all future purchases in order to stock up on ammo and not need to stock up on so many calibers. Option 2, get a .40 and/or 10mm in order to have more flexibility and likely find ammo longer when the next ammo shortage comes around. I split the difference. I have autos in .45, .40 and 9mm (and I'll likely get a 10mm soon), I have some stocks of .45 and .40, but (other than my carry/home defense ammo) I mostly just buy a few boxes at a time. In 9mm, I have enough ammo on hand for semi-regular practice with some rationing when the next shortage comes (so long as it starts getting better after about a year or two).
As far as which is better, I believe they are about equal. Each has some advantages over the others, with no clear leader (other than some niche applications) IMO.
What do you currently own?
If all you have is 9mm and .45, then I can see two opposite ways of looking at it. Option 1, go 9mm or .45 on all future purchases in order to stock up on ammo and not need to stock up on so many calibers. Option 2, get a .40 and/or 10mm in order to have more flexibility and likely find ammo longer when the next ammo shortage comes around. I split the difference. I have autos in .45, .40 and 9mm (and I'll likely get a 10mm soon), I have some stocks of .45 and .40, but (other than my carry/home defense ammo) I mostly just buy a few boxes at a time. In 9mm, I have enough ammo on hand for semi-regular practice with some rationing when the next shortage comes (so long as it starts getting better after about a year or two).
As far as which is better, I believe they are about equal. Each has some advantages over the others, with no clear leader (other than some niche applications) IMO.
JTQ
Member
Unless you're specifically looking for a 92FS type 92G, the 92X, and everything offered by Wilson Combat or Langdon Tactical is available as a "G" model, decocker only.
Beretta 92X https://www.beretta.com/en-us/beretta-92x-full-size/
Wilson Beretta 92G Centurion https://shopwilsoncombat.com/Berett...enturion-Tactical-9mm/productinfo/BER-92CT-9/
Langdon Tactical Beretta 92 https://langdontactical.com/products/guns/beretta-92-m9-series
The future may show the FS, safety/decocker version, become the less common model and the decocker only models more common.
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I like the idea of turning the safety into a decocker only. The Springfield EMP looks really nice and is compact.
One thing that puzzles me is most of the guns recommended in this thread have that funky looking squared trigger guard that I never cared for with Glocks. Some it even looks like older models had a rounded trigger guard but they updated it to squared off. Is Glock leading the style push for trigger guards? One more reason to prefer 1911s.
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In semi-auto I have the SD9VD 9mm, the 1911 .45 ACP and two .32 ACPs (P32 and Tomcat). In revolvers I have .22LR, .32 S&W, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and .45 Colt.
So I have a gap in semi-auto between 9mm and .45 and the 10mm/.40 S&W is supposed to split that gap. Sure seems like I "need" a .40.
Alas , if only Beretta made a big brother to the Tomcat. I love the tilt barrel and the ejectorless operation. Simplicity. Can field strip the Tomcat in 5 seconds, no springs to deal with as they are down in grip.
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If I read the OP right, we’re looking for a hammer-fired 9mm. That’s a big field, but my Long List would start with: (a) Commander 1911s; (b) CZs; (c) Hi Powers; and (d) Sigs.
(Then I’d look at price tags and be right back to looking at strikers.…)
(Then I’d look at price tags and be right back to looking at strikers.…)
Mosin77
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Your taste mirrors mine. As I understand it the ugly squared off triggerguard was a mid-80s innovation based on the hot tactical shooting hold of the time, wherein a finger was wrapped around the front of the guard for extra stability. So, the 1911, being a “traditional” choice and also designed in 1911, generally avoids this ugliness. The 1970s-80s designs all have it and many guns were updated in the 80s-90s to feature it. As the technique is now no longer fashionable some guns have gone back to the far more aesthetically pleasing rounded trigger, but a lot of them haven’t. I think the gun companies think a certain percentage of shooters still find them to look “modern” and “up-to-date.”
I’m currently jonesing for a Beretta PX4. Plastic, but it does have a hammer -and a round triggerguard.
sevt_chevelle
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Just bought a brand new CZ P01 for 540 bucks, what's a glock for go?
dickydalton
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I have a Para 3" Carry LDA that is nothing like you describe here. it is a lot smaller than my Colt Officers Model and has a Wonderful trigger. Also, there is no linkage under the thin grips at all, That was a Colt thing.
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Yeah, if only some of the plastics had a metal option. There was one listed here that I looked at, was available in plastic, aluminum, or steel. The Beretta PX4 does look good and, really, there is nothing terrible about plastic, presumably helps keep the price down.
Where the squared trigger guard would help is on mouse guns that you have little grip to hang on to (Seacamp LWS 32 was 1.5 fingers of grip!). Even for opening the slide on a Seacamp, a square trigger guard would help.
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Still like the AMT Backup .45 ACP, but they are reputed to be unreliable and field stripping is rather difficult. This was the guy, my former LEO neighbor has, that got me excited to find a .45 metal semi-auto. Full DAO.
trackskippy
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Old school W. German SIG P245. This one was DAO.
Not sure if they are still making the P220 "Compact", but it was the one that came later on that replaced it.
Not sure if they are still making the P220 "Compact", but it was the one that came later on that replaced it.
Mosin77
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The recoil on an AMT backup .380 isn’t pleasant. I can only imagine how the .45 is! The science of handgun ergonomics in the 1980s was definitely in its infancy compared to today.
No sacrilege, as 9mm 1911's have existed since 1949.
Having not bought a Glock in about 10 years, I couldn't tell you. But that seems like a pretty good deal on the P01.
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
Star and Radom were making 1911(ish) pistols in 9mm even earlier.
I've never owned a S&W SD9VE but I have shot one that belongs to a friend. In all honesty it was fine other than having somewhat of a heavy trigger pull. If I did own one I would spend some time on dry fire. I believe his has adequate accuracy for a service pistol & is reliable. I was just pulling my shots left because I wasn't used to the somewhat heavy trigger. When I was learning the Double Action trigger on my old Ruger P-series I spent 5 minutes a night dry firing with a dime balanced on the front sight. If you did that for about a week before shooting again it might make a big difference.
While not what you are asking for I have been carrying a M&P 2.0 Compact much like the pictures jmr40 posted above (only without the safety lever). I currently only have 2 hammer fired pistols. One is the old Ruger P-series, the other a 45 acp. 1911. I do like the 1911 but it is a bit large and heavy for every day carry.
MachIVshooter
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3rd Gen S&W 59xx/69xx/39xx, CZ-75 pattern gun, Beretta 92, Sig P22X.
