Favorite 9mm Pistol for Range Use and/or HD

[Tallball]

What's your favorite or preferred 9mm pistol for range use and/or HD?

Probably full-sized, but not necessarily.

Probably not for CC, but you might.

Reliable (for you), ergonomic (for you), accurate (for you).

See if you can pick just one.

I'm a revolver guy and was almost predisposed to not like 1911's. They didn't have a good reputation for reliability when I was growing up. Then I shot a few. Changed my mind in a hurry.

My 1911 in 9mm happens to be an Armscorp model sold under their Citadel label. There are lots of other 1911's in 9mm that could have made me happy. This is the one I happened to end up with.

I can't shoot any other centerfire semiautomatic pistol better than this one. Reliable. Ergonomics are excellent for me. Excellent crisp SA trigger. Nice sights and beavertail. Minimal recoil. Way more accurate than I am.

I have dogs and a shotgun for HD, but would feel almost as good with dogs and a 1911. It's my favorite centerfire range pistol and goes with me on most range trips.

Since I'm the OP, my runners-up are the CZ75 derivatives and the Sig P-series.

Nothing else has impressed me that much, and I've shot most of the common full-sized 9mm pistols.

What 9mm pistol do you like best for range use and/or HD, and why?

Citadel 1911 9mm

• Tallball
• Apr 6, 2019

 

[Terry G]

Range use sure, but with that 20 round capacity you have a good home defense gun too. This is just sooo accurate.

 

[SKILCZ]

Probably CZ 75 for range use. HD use varies.

 

[irving]

Glock 17 for both

 

[chicharrones]

I have a 9mm full size 1911, but the single stack mag capacity makes that gun a range only gun for me.

Any range/home defense pistol for me needs to have a double stack magazine. 14+1 and up. My CZ-75 PCR or Walther PDP Compact are useful in these roles since I don't have a full size 9mm pistola other than the 1911.

 

[Gork10]

Range use would be my MK3 custom Browning HP. When I got it, it was a basket case. Almost no finish, broken safety lever and sear. Now look and shoots great. Crisp 2.3 pound trigger pull. Don't use it for HD. Don't want it sitting in an evidence room if I need to use it. Have other guns for that.

 

[badkarmamib]

My Shadow 2 is nice at the range, but it would go down the road LONG before my Beretta M9.

 

[trackskippy]

The guns I shoot the most in practice at the range are models of the guns I carry, usually a Glock 17 or 47 and a 26.

The full-size guns carry just as easily as anything else on the belt, and are just easier to shoot well with, and the 26 carries in places they wont as a BUG, but handles and shoots like a full size, once you learn to tuck your pinkie under the mag, so its size is a bit of a misnomer.

I use the guns I carry for HD as well. If you always have it on, you always have it with you. No need to go look for it.

While the Glocks get most of my attention, I have and regularly shoot a bunch of other types and makes of handguns, mostly all full sized guns, and don't have any trouble shooting well with any of them, so it really wouldn't matter which one I chose to carry. They are all fun to shoot, too, and by doing so, it helps to keep you sharp with different things.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I interpret "range" to mean for fun/target, not necessarily SD training, so Id have to say BHP.

HD? G19.

 

[murf]

g19 for both

murf

 

[LiveLife]

What's your favorite or preferred 9mm pistol for range use and/or HD?

My favorite/preferred 9mm pistol for range use is Gen3 Glock 22 with 40-9mm conversion barrel. With conventional square cut land/sea rifling, no concern over shooting even lead bullets and greater accuracy than factory barrel (Around/sub 2" groups at 25 yards with KKM conversion barrel). With thicker chamber/barrel walls, less concern for shooting hot loads, even 9mm Major.

And with Advantage Arms 22LR slide kit, it's now my favorite/preferred 22LR pistol for range use that's more reliable than GSG/Sig 1911 22LR even with subsonic ammo like CCI SV.

For HD, 40S&W factory barrel goes back in. Best of three caliber world.

 

[Hillbilly Hydrographics]

I'm a revolver guy as well but I also love me some 1911 goodness. But it needs to be in the lords caliber and it's not 9mm maybe 10mm or 38 super just because it's cool and odd enough to get a pass. 1911 and 9mm should never be allowed in same conversation. Nows where I lose all my metal and revolver street cred. I've been really enjoying the hell out of my compact dagger g19 clone. I don't have tons of experience with more modern type plastic striker fired pistols. But this thing has been fun to build it out like I wanted and it makes me look like I can shoot. I've tryed the optic on it and just ain't a pistol optic guy. This pistol is also what I been keeping next to the bed because of mounted light and ease of use with more ammo capacity.

 

[UncleEd]

Beretta 92 FS or Beretta 92G, Every day, all day. If I shot more nowadays, I'd get a Wilson X9 double stack. Always loved the Berettas and Ernest Langdon and Bill Wilson confirmed my love affair. But I'd also love the Wilson 1911-ish X9 as I do like 1911s too in 9mm. (Side note, a devoted DA S&W Combat Masterpiece shooter as well.)

 

[argonn]

A real toss for me, Sig M11-A1 some days, other, Beretta 92XG.

 

[gc70]

My Colt Model O-1992 is a tremendously fun range gun, but my Beretta 92A1 is also fun at the range, particularly with a .22LR conversion kit, while being an excellent home defense gun.

 

[nettlle]

On my bed stand every night.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Hmm, hard call. The house gun is a G19, which has lived in its lockbox for several years; really not all that fond of Mr. Glock at the range, though the 44 felt pretty good the other week.
Carry is a BG2.0, which gets fired a good bit, even if its not a range favorite.
For home defense, something with an easy to control trigger, but not target gun light. Not crazy about weapons lights; realize you can splash the room with light, but the tendency is to point the light, and the gun.
Does a DA/SA make sense, for the certain trigger control?
Sorry, wasn't much help.
Moon

 

[red rick]

Range Dan Wesson Pointman 9 . If a 9mm for HD ( IF ) a Glock 34 , but it is a Remington 870 Police Magnum for HD and a Ruger GP-100 .357 magnum to back it up .

 

[nettlle]

I have a couple of PCR's. Double stack @ 15 rounds. These are very reliable.

 

[weisse52]

In 9mm it’s my Glock 34.4.

My HD has been an AR recently.

 

[LV Gun]

Range - S&W 929 PC
HD - Springfield XD 40

 

[9mmepiphany]

The 9mm that I usually take to the range and/or teach with is a tuned SIG 320 full sized with Pro Cut slide...very accurate with 147gr bullets, always reliable, and soft shooting

For HD I prefer something with a DA/SA trigger, which is usually my tuned SIG 226ST. A bit heavier, more accurate with 124gr factory loads, and with that extra margin of safety if I'm suddenly awaken

 

[Lo-Profile]

All ones I own and shoot the most often

My favorite range 9mm is a Dan Wesson Guardian
Sig Pro Series 2022
CZ P-07 or P-09 Nocturne
Ruger SR9E
Dan Wesson DWX Compact
Wilson Combat EDC X9 Experior or X9L

 

[bc1023]

Way too many to list. Just talking 1911’s, maybe this Wilson Combat Vicker’s Elite 9mm…

 

[5-SHOTS]

For range use, this one:


For home defense I'm currently using this setup:


Yeah, I'm not a snob pistol owner. For me, if it shoots good then it's good.