Best 9mm Pistol for Self Defense?

Three of the four on your list a good to go regardless of what you might read. Your concern about limp wristing isn't something to be concerned about.

The fourth, gLoCk, depending on the Gen you plan to purchase. The gLoCk Gen IV pistols have been hit and miss and have had a lot of issues, some resolved, some not so much. Some have sworn them off, while others make excuses for them. Regardless, the issues are real and that among other things would steer me away from gLoCk were I in your shoes.

Now to the rest of you, don't start lining up to defend gLoCk based on my post. Post your own answers to his question and be done with it. I'll not be getting into any arguments over gLoCk with anyone.

The Glock would be reliable if you prefer a striker fired pistol.

Know nothing about the USP.

The HP s a great gun and is not a 1911. They have been around for years. The HP is single action only and has a safety.

Where are all the reports about the CZ frame cracking? I have never seen them. I have had numerous CZ's over the years and have never had any frame issues. Currently have a PCR and a P01 and both are excellent pistols. Many CZ's out there with tens of thousands of rounds through them. They are reliable. The CZ is DA/SA with a safety. To decocker if you prefer.

If it was me, I would narrow it down to the CZ and HP. The CZ will be about $200+ cheaper than the HP.

Get the HK P-30 and be done with it.

Btw, you can safely fire +P in a newer HiPower with the cast frame, which was developed for .40 S&W versions. They are easily identified by the serrations on the bottom of the frame at the grip. It's not recommended to shoot +P in the forged frame guns.

I love the 75. My dad has one, it fits perfect in my hand, it's great ergonomics, and shoots great. Haven't had experience with the others, but I would suggest renting the three and side by side comparing with rounds fired. I would also consider the 40 cal CZ.

Having shot all of the guns on that list, if I had to buy one it would be the CZ. BUT.

What I (or anyone here) would buy doesn't matter. They are all great, but they may not be great for your hands. Go hold them, shoot them, and choose the one that works best for you. Hold as many as you can-not just those on your list-you may find something else like a Beretta 92 fits your hand perfectly.

The only reports I've seen of CZ75 frame cracking was was with non-B (early) models. Do you have a reference?

I have a Cz 75, a glock 17, and a hi power and if I was to pick one the CZ leads by a long shot. Ive had 4 cz's and never had any problems with the frames or heard of any cracking.

The problems I have with the glock are the same as you I don't fell that limp wristing is a acceptable reason for a gun to fail and tho under normal operations it won't happen the gun does seem easier to induce it than others. Another thing that really bothers me is the poor extractor tension if I was going to carry the gun I would have to get a apex extractor.

The hi power is a good gun with a little work. Mine had a horrible trigger to start with but after removing the mag safety, lowering the hammer hooks, and polishing things up the trigger is heavy but nice. Only thing I still don't like about it is the safety.

The Cz is my favorite gun. With a little work these guns can have amazing triggers and there accuracy is outstanding. Only down side I can think of is the triggers can be a little gritty to start with.

Have you shot any of them, if not you really need to. Unless you shoot them you won't know how they handle for you.
Like most people don't like how Glocks feel in their hands or the grip angle, me I can just "throw" my G19 up with my eyes closed and the sights will be perfectly lined up because I have trained so much with it.
I'd say any are a good choice if you can get proper trigger reach and you can reach all of the controls.

No doubt that right now it would be a Springfield 5" Tactical loaded with 17 rounds of Hornady Crictical Duty 134 P+. Surely I can't miss that many times.

I would probably go with a Browning Hi-Power as my first choice. The gun fits my hand size perfectly and my particular gun has had a great trigger right out of the box. The Hi-Power is a very comfortable pistol to shoot and comes up on target very quickly, almost instinctively for me.

For the average shooter, they all should be reliable and durable enough.

You need to figure out which one you want to use. I'm a 1911 guy. I have no problem with a single action pistol. Some people are completely freaked out by carrying a gun with the hammer cocked and the safety on. If you have a problem with cocked and locked, or as it is known Condition 1, maybe the Hi-Power isn't for you.

On the other hand, I don't care for manually lowering the hammer on a live round. That's what you'd need to do with the CZ75B if you want to use it as a DA/SA gun. That's not for me. For me at least, the CZ75B's trigger and thumb safety are a bit of a reach. While I may like the CZ75B SA or one of decocker models, the regular "B" model is not for me.

The H&K USP has a somewhat unique thumb safety/decocker and mag release. If you like those features it would be a good choice. I've seen a Hilton Yam comment on the H&K 45 where he locked up the gun during a string of fire by inadvertently pushing the decocker down. Depending on your hand size and grip technique, that may not be a problem for you.

I'm not much of a Glock fan, but they are pretty simple to use. Despite all the criticism of the newer versions, Glock is a solid company and they will figure out or fix any problem you would have. If they fit your hand, a Glock would be a good choice.

I've owned the Hi-Power and own the CZ75 pre-B. I shouldn't have sold the Hi-Power, but that's life. The CZ was an 'updated' Hi-Power. I wanted the DA option when I went to replace the Hi-Power and CZ had it. I honestly had never heard of CZ at that time, but it fit my hand - which you will often hear - perfectly. The trigger pull was also perfect. There are stories of the Hi-power in 9mm & 40 with frame problems, Beretta 92 early military with same, and early CZs in 40 with problems. Cruise the websites and you see S&Ws, Rugers CZs et al are all blowing up or falling apart as you take it out of the box. A SMALL number do have some sort of problem and the factories are (usually) ready to fix them. If the famed Glock feels great in your hand and not like the fabled brick, try one at a rental range or from a friend who has h one. The only thing wrong with my 29 year old CZ is the military sights and my ageing eyes. The CZ was made behind the Iron Curtain and freedom hasn't hurt it. It is a military arm and countries throughout Europe use them. Also Glocks, Sigs and who knows what else. I've no experience with any HK. Best of luck in your choice.

Of that list, and with the caveat that you really do need to pick what you like best and with the further caveat that I have trigger time on all of those, I would probably choose the Glock. All are great guns, I just happen to like the glock better. The hi - power is probably my sentimental favorite of that list, but they don't fit my hands all that well as is true of the cz. I just plain don't like the HK all that much personally, but they are fantastic guns generally. Since you specified gen 3, I would go that route. I did not have good luck with the gen 4 model 19 I had.

I think you are over thinking it.

All you listed are high quality and reliable guns. Pick the one that feels and shoots best in your hands.

I own a couple of CZ's and never had an issue with the frame, my wife and 13 year old daughter shoot Glocks with no limp wristing issues.

IMO, the CZ tops your list. I have a 75B, and it is my favorite 9mm handgun of all time (and I've been around a long time). Try them all and see which feels right.

You should definitely consider the Walther PPQ M2.

It has the best trigger and their quality iis second to none.

Hmm... Glocks are prone to limp-wristing? It's news to me. I have a G26 that has never failed in any way, including shooting one-handed with my weak hand, which is about as "limp" as it gets. That's just my experience.

You asked for the best 9mm. Then I would rather recommend the G34 than the G19 for a starter. The only thing I would change on a Glock is I would like it to have a manual safety. The the guys that don't want this on a Glock, just ignore it. It wont come in the way if you ignore it.
Don't know if this is a home defense gun or will it be carried? Then the G34 might be the wrong choice

Glock 26 or HK P7 ...OR SOMETHING ELSE. Man up, get some stones, and find what you shoot best. (Sorry, not the best THR form).

We all have our biased opinions. I can't stand USPs because of all the ones I saw fail at the range I worked at, but that was 13 years ago. I don't like Glocks for the trigger mechanism and the way it fits my hand, but I shoot Expert or Distinguished Expert every year at work with one. I don't like the Hi Power simply because it's a single action design, and i prefer DA. I prefer CZ due to the ergonomics, accuracy and excellent realibilty - never heard of multiple frame cracks. I once held a Glock 17 that had just snapped it's slide under the ejection port. No internet myth, was there.
BUT, all that aside, this is the gun you're going to bet YOUR life on, not ours. Get thee to a rental range if you can, and start by simply picking them up and holding them naturally. If it feels like a brick, it's probably going to act like one. Find the ones that fit and test fire them. The money you spend here is not a waste at all, trust me. When you find one that fits and is accurate, reliable, and dependable, ignore the auto-haters who fixate on the brand name, buy it and roll on.

What about the Sig 226? Sig 229? S&W M&P? Whole lot of good choices out there. I never put a lot of thought into the M&P until I actually shot one. Fantastic platform. Simple, reliable, accurate. Much like my glocks. Do yourself a favor...shoot them all BEFORE you decide.

These days most pistols are completely functional. It really does not matter which one you choose or what we all think. Go to a range that has the guns you are considering or get your buddies to loan you the ones on your list. Shoot each and see what feels best for you and what you hit best with. Then buy that one and forget what we all think about your choice. At last count I have about 20 pistols and revolvers and I am not sure that any of those are right for you even though some are on your list. Pick one up and see what feels right for you. Like a nice wine.... it's what you like not what the magazines tell you to buy. JMHO

Water-Man said:

You should definitely consider the Walther PPQ M2.

It has the best trigger and their quality iis second to none.

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Well said. Walther doesn't get the recognition it deserves.