Which 9mm semi-Auto should I buy?

There's a lot of love out there for the S&W 5906, I'll have to try one of them myself.

My choice would be CZ75b. Not expensive, reliable and accurate. Mine comes with me to the range every time.

An added benefit is the Kadet conversion. Swop the barrel and slide in 10-15 seconds and your shooting .22 LR.

I'd reccomend looking at a CZ85 combat, a witness elite match or a Rock Island 1911. They have the best triggers in your price range IMHO.

Barkey, we really need to know a few things before we can really make accurate recommendations. The big things are, first, do you want hammer or striker fired; and, second, do you prefer DA only, SA only, or DA/SA. Also of importance, do you have a preference of steel, aluminum, or plastic frame? Knowing those things will help us make recommendations, and not a list.


Historical Geekiness Below:

Beretta and Glock rule the 9 mm world as far as I can see. Everything else seems to be a copy of thereof!

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You may wish to research the HK VP 70, which was the first polymer frame, striker fired pistol. After that take a look at the Roth-Steyr M1907, and Browning designed FN Model 1910 because those were the first two striker fired pistols in the world. We then have to go back to 1893 and Hugo Borchardt's C-93 to find the origins of the detachable magazine box which is held in the pistol grip. Then we need to fast forward to the Colt M1910 (predecessor of the M1911) to find the tilt breech locking mechanism.

Glock 17 = Plastic frame FN Model 1910 with updated Roth-Steyr M1907 striker mechanism, and a modified Browning tilt breech locking mechanism. Just about every semi-auto pistol made after the early 1900s has borrowed Hugo Borchardt's magazine design & layout.

You could say that the Beretta 92 is just a 1911 with a modification to the tilt breech locking mechanism, and the hammer firing mechanism modified to allow DA and SA firing. I'm sure another arms historian can tell you what the first DA/SA pistol was.

The basis of all modern semi-auto pistols is almost as old as the metallic cartridge itself. We just re-blend, modify, apply to new material & manufacturing processes, and even outright copy some really old ideas.

Best trigger out of the box... under $1000 STI Trojan ($999), for under $700 STI Spartan ($628). Both are available in 9mm, both are 1911-A1 platform. 1911 with a 4-5lb triggers should out perform a similar priced CZ 75 SA, or Browning Hi Power. SIG P210, msrp $2100, S&W 952 msrp $2200, are as good as 9mm non 1911 get. From my experience with DA/SA and striker fired pistols (0 to 10, 10 being best) SIG P226 DA 4 SA 6, Beretta 92 FS DA 2, SA 4, CZ 75B DA 0, SA 3, S&W M&P 4 easily improved to a 6, Glock 3 very easily improved to a 7. one pf the best DA/Sa triggers I have experienced was on a CZ SP01 that had a CZ custom shop trigger DA 7 SA 8, cost around $1400. Get an STI 1911 in 9mm you will not be disapointed.

I'm thinking of purchasing a 9mm semi-auto for general target shooting.

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IMO the best range 9mm for the money. Accurate, good ergos, good trigger.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_82/products_id/411536718

1911 with a 4-5lb triggers should out perform a similar priced CZ 75 SA, or Browning Hi Power. SIG P210, msrp $2100, S&W 952 msrp $2200, are as good as 9mm non 1911 get.

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I would put this gun at $980:

http://czcustom.com/cz75shadowsablk.aspx

Against any similarly priced 1911 any day of the week and bet it beats it on trigger, accuracy, ergonomics, and reliablity. Unless you really have tiny hands and need a single stack gun I would take the CZ, guns tend to work the best in the caliber they were orginally designed for.

^^^^^^^^

That CZ would be my choice too.

ugaarguy said:

You could say that the Beretta 92 is just a 1911 with a modification to the tilt breech locking mechanism, and the hammer firing mechanism modified to allow DA and SA firing. I'm sure another arms historian can tell you what the first DA/SA pistol was.

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Beretta 92 borrows heavily from the Walther P-38 as well, which was one of the first DA/SA autos. The CZ 75 came out long before the Glock and about the same time as the Beretta 92, and it is much more similar to the Browning Hi-Power and SIG P210....hardly a copy of anything Beretta or Glock make.

For range work? You may not like it, but I'd be inclined to put my money into a better .22 and get more shooting for my ammo dollar.

As for a 9mm, you're looking at either a defense gun or a seriously accurate (read expensive) piece. Defense guns - pick your choice, they are all about the same when it comes to accuracy. If you want a real shooter, look for either a S&W 952 or a Sig P-210.

I see you're in southeastern VA, so you may not be near a Town Police Supply? (got one in Collinsville and Richmond).

Was just in there the other day and they had a number of XD essentials (service length and sub-compact) in 9mm and 40 for $399, and Springfield has their promotion for 3 free magazines and a double mag pouch included.

Not too shabby, but I don't know if the price is still good since their big fall sale ended Saturday?

If you're interested and are near 'em, might give 'em a call and check?

I own or have owned the following in 9mm.

Glock, Springfield XDM, Beretta, Bersa, Ruger, Taurus, CZ, HK, Sig and Walther PPQ.

The Walther PPQ is tied with the HK for accuracy but costs much less.
All the above were good pistols except the taurus.

If I had to choose just one it would be the Walther. Holds 15 +1, comes with 2 mags, VERY easy to take down, easy to conceal and the best trigger I have EVER seen on a non 1911. It has a 1/10th inch reset!!! Can be bought for around $550. AWESOME GUN!

Under $500, RIA 1911 9mm, they can be had under $400 http://centerfiresystems.com/AC-RI1911-9MM.aspx

S&W 5906 or Beretta 92, price edge goes to S&W and the accuracy edge to Beretta. Both are fun guns to shoot and great for the range and/or home defense if you chose to use them in that role as well as a pure fun gun.

BarkeyVA said:

Interestingly, I just got a call from my neighbor. He has a NIB Sig P226 that he bought several years ago but never fired it. He wants to sell it for $600

What do you think! Is this a good gun worth considering at that price or not?

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Considering they usually go for $750+ I would jump on it.

Sigs are solid choices, especially the P226. They have a great reputation and they're all around high quality guns. I have a buddy who recently bought a P229 E2 and I was very impressed with the fit and finish as well as the quality of the trigger out of the box. Since you're getting a NIB P226 in a $600 FTF transfer, I'd definitely say go for it.

You can get a CZ75B for a bit less, but the trigger out of the box wouldn't be nearly as nice as the Sig's. And while I would say that you can get a better trigger at the end of the day with a customized CZ75B, that's going to cost you more than $600. My advice, get the Sig and enjoy it.

While nothing made in quantities of cereal boxes is certain to work 100% the Glock is gold standard today. I would get Mod. 19. Why buy another brand that almost always works when one can get something that always works.

Congrats BarkeyVA! You made out darn good!!!

Great price on a great gun, I personally don't think you can go wrong with a German Sig. Have fun with it!

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It's hard to go wrong with a P226--especially at that price! If you really like it, there's lots of similar models in Sig's line...including a .22lr P226.

Congratulations are in order as it's hard to best P226.