best 9mm mfr for service and parts

[firearm1296]

I am in the market for a 9mm to go along with the 357 mag I already own. What I'm wondering is people's thoughts on the top 3-5 manufacturers of 9mm in terms of ease of getting them serviced, number of aftermarket parts, ease of getting aftermarket parts and cost of aftermarket parts.

I guess another way to put this is what manufacturers have the best "serviceability" after the initial purchase.

Thanks.

 

[beeenbag]

I am gonna have to go with glock. They have great aftermarket support and the factory parts are readily available. Keep in mind also that you can detail strip them with nothing more than a punch.

 

[creeper1956]

Hello firearm1296. Your question is quite vague in that you've not narrowed it down to anything tighter than a 9mm auto. Unless someone owns a (very) broad selection of 9mm handguns, has had warranty issues with all of them and attempted to do some customizing... that's a tough question to answer fairly.

Based on civilian and LE sales, as well as the number of customizers on the net, "beeenbag" may be right in his belief that Glock is the "best" in the categories you've inquired about.

I've owned, among others, samples of all the guns listed below, but none ever had issues... so, from my purely subjective (if there's an objective one, I'd love to see it) perspective and in no particular order... Sig Sauer, Glock, S&W, CZ, Kahr and Springfield Armory all have good reps for service. As to the aftermarket... Glock, CZ, and Springfield Armory have, perhaps, more accessory support.

I own (mostly) 1911 pattern 9mm handguns... but I'm guessing that's not what you're interested in. The aftermarket is huge and after-sale service depends on the maker. Colt, Springfield Armory and Kimber are brands to consider.

Cheers,
C

 

[batmann]

I own the Glocks 17s cousin, a Glock 22 (.40 S&W) and it is awfully hard to beat a Glock for parts and extras. You can buy extra mags for somewhere around $20 as compared to many at around $30+ not to mention that the Glock is simple, light and reliable. All in all, a tough combo to beat.
I have never had to use their service so I can't speak on that, but the fact I HAVEN'T used it should tell you something.

 

[Naybor]

I've had very good customer service from Kel-Tec, altho the P-11 is not quite a "top of the line" weapon. Also, it's the only handgun I ever had to use customer service.

Another I would recommend is Ruger. My only handguns I now own, both revolver and semi-auto, are now Ruger. Others mentioned above are also very good to consider.

 

[NG VI]

I'd go Glock, mostly because it's the one pistol I've used that I feel truly at ease detail stripping and swapping parts out on, if it ever needed it or I felt like doing it.

It also takes about a minute.

Most of the very popular pistols will have great manufacturer support, some have better aftermarket support than others, and most will be plenty reliable and durable.

 

[tarosean]

Beretta

 

[dprice3844444]

i had 3 glocks,gen 2 26,2 gen 3 19c's. the new talo was bouncing shells off my head,plus the serated triggers on the 19's were tearing up my trigger finger after 100 rounds. sent them all back to glock.new extractor assembly on the 1,add ny trigger to the other 19.requested they replace the serated triggers on all 3.they did all requested and upgraded the 26 to the new recoil system,no charge under warranty.they even cleaned all 3.i will be looking to buy 6 more compensated glocks.they are wicked in tripple taps,very little muzzle flip compared to non comps.no flash detectable,as i qulify in low light conditions.

 

[Jed Carter]

I would have to say Glock for being at or near the best in all your categories. SIG had a 9 day round trip on a pistol I sent them and they paid shipping both ways. Getting SIG parts is another story...

 

[Pilot]

That wouldn't be the first parameter I'd use in choosing a gun. Guns from good manufacturers like CZ, FN, Browning, HK, Sig, Ruger, Beretta, S&W, Glock etc just don't break that often, if regularly maintained. They all have pretty good customer service.

 

[vba]

Glock or Beretta...

 

[Oldnoob]

Glock

 

[Kahr33556]

Glock for parts
Service ?????

 

[ny32182]

Glock first, M&P second in terms of parts availability, and since they are so "cookie cutter", the chances you will ever really NEED "service" are very small.

 

[Sam1911]

Glock, S&W's M&P at the top of the heap. After that, probably about all even. Springfield's xD/xDM line is also getting moderately well supported by the aftermarket.

If you really want aftermarket support (i.e. customization and "go-fast" parts) gotta look at what's popular in the winner's circles of competition right now. So, Glock & S&W.

 

[777TRUTH]

ease of getting them serviced, number of aftermarket parts, ease of getting aftermarket parts

Let me say Glock is not my cup of tea, but they are hard to beat for the criteria you listed.

Springfield XD line would be a close second IMO.

 

[hentown]

No manufacturer can compete with Glock, for the parameters set by the OP....NOBODY!

 

[Sam1911]

No manufacturer can compete with Glock, for the parameters set by the OP....NOBODY!

I'd say that's a very accurate assessment. Many others are supported, and one or two (S&W M&P and to a slightly lesser degree the xD/xDM) are very well represented, but Glock just dominates based on the given criteria.

 

[triplebike]

Hi Point is definitely # 1 when it comes to customer service.

Ruger is outstanding , as is Smith & Wesson.

 

[Teachu2]

Glocks take all the accomplishment out of improving a semi-auto pistol. Want a lighter, crisper trigger? Get a drop-in Ghost trigger connector and a spring, then sit in front of your computer with a 3/32 punch and a cold drink while you follow a Ghost YouTube video through a 15 minute job. Want to shoot flying ashtray hollowpoints? Forget about cutting/polishing ramps, lowering ejection ports, or any other old-school stuff - just load your magazines (which work fine from the factory, BTW) and shoot anything you want.

It's just sad. I spent less on my G21 and the Ghost trigger connector than I did on modding my last carry 1911. My G30 and G34 are completely stock. None of them has ever had a FTE, FTF, FTAnything - and they are all as accurate as I could want. Can't seem to get them dirty enough to affect reliability, either - I'm still trying....

I'm told that Glock's CS is excellent, but I have no first-hand experience. I have yet to need CS.

Go to Ebay and do a search - lots of vendors selling stuff for Glocks. S&W has a good rep (I have a M&P 9c that's been flawless) and good aftermarket support. Ruger does, too. I wish my Sig SP2022 had the same, but it doesn't.

If I had to pick up a brand-new 9mm to defend my life with, it would be a Glock. The others are good to great guns, but Glock has been doing it well far longer than the others - and that inspires confidence. I'll take every advantage I can get.

 

[CZ57]

Springfield Armory XD and XDm pistols are very well supported by the aftermarket with a number of vendors advertising at www.xdtalk.com for instance, I have a "Don's" solid SS guide rod and a Powder River Precision "Match" trigger kit in my XDm 4.5 .45 ACP. Powder River and Springer precision offer a lot of custom parts as well as a number of custom features they do to XD/XDm pistols.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Glock

 

[chieftain]

if one plans properly, getting parts should not be a problem.

Get a full set of small parts and springs for what ever gun you carry for serious social purposes. The best part is to have them in your personal stock long before any need to be used. Of course it goes without saying, know how to maintain, build and tweak your fighting weapons.

That way if you are away on a multi week trip/hunt or in a competition and your weapon should have problems, you already have the parts with you to repair the weapon. It doesn't matter how available parts are if you have to take a break from a hunt or trip to go and find parts in area's that you are not familiar with.

Beretta has a full parts kit to buy for the 92 series. I own a bunch of Berettas but have never carried them for fighting, not my choice. But having the kit available is definitly my idea of customer service.

I did this when i carried Back when I carried 1911's, SIG's, Glocks, HK's, and Now Walthers. I started doing this in the late 70's. And for my fighiting weapon I also have a duplicate weapon ready to go. Planned redundency.

"One is none, two is one, etc."

The only major company that I could not get unique parts for reliably was for the Springfield XDm 9mm. It took me over two years to get replacement magazine springs. (Please, it is the 9mm only that uses a very unique spring, or did) This caused me to lose all interest in the XD family. Poor customer service.

Last I looked you still can't get that spring from Springfield, but some after market shops carry it now.

Go figure.

Fred