FIRST GUN: SW99, PT145PRO, P99 ?

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vince24L

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So here i am first post about first handgun..
I know i want a compact gun that will be comfortable to carry and conceal.

I narrowed it down to:

1. SW99 COMPACT
2. P99
3. MILLENIUM PT 145 PRO

in that order right now. i really like the SW99.

Whats the difference between the sw99 and the p99?

ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED AS I AM A NEW TO HANDGUNS RIGHT NOW.
thanks..
 
I'd go with the PT145 Pro, I have one in 40 and it is awesome. I'm not a fan of the sigma series or S&W auto's in general, the P-99 is a lot more $$$. Its your call.
 
1st of all - Welcome!

As for which gun...I'd go w/ the Walther. From my limited experience, both the P99 & SW99 are VERY similar - maybe identical so my choice may just be a subjective one but to me the Walthers seem better finished....
 
Get the Walther P99 - IF it is an A/S trigger. The A/S trigger is sweet. They also make a compact P99. I have both the fullsize and the compact.

I also have a fullsize SW99 in 9mm. Got it last year for an awesome price during the closeout on the model - and it was back when I couldn't track down a new P99 A/S locally.

Last year, I shot the SW99 better than I did with a $!200 1911. But, now that I have the fullsize P99, I shoot that gun just a tiny, tiny bit better than the SW99.

The P99 is my fav gun. W/ it, I have quit sinking money into expensive 1911s, because I shoot it just as well when I use the single action pullon the A/S version.

Be aware that the SW99 is discontinued - they stopped making them at the end of last year, and it was replaced with the SW990L - pretty much the same as the P99 with the QA trigger.

Here is all 3 of my 99s :p

(I hard chromed all the slides)

chromewalther1.gif
 
Vince, what are the features that made you narrow it down to these three pistols?

1. SW99 COMPACT
2. P99
3. MILLENIUM PT 145 PRO
 
Suggestion:

I own a PT145 and love it. I could easily tell you to go buy that one, I am sure that each person that owns a gun loves "their" gun.

Try out each model at the gun shop and if possible at the range.
Which one feels best to you when you hold it?
Do you need an accessory rail?

Is this your first automatic pistol? Read up on proper grip techniques. I improved my groups significantly by changing my grip.
 
i really dont know too much yet and havent found a place around me where i can try them out. but from feel i love the feel of the p99 alot. the 145 is kinda wide feelings and a bit awkward but looks like a good bang for the buck from what i heard. but im leaning on the p99, whats the average used price of the p99 and whats the difference in the triggers? i want the a/s? why?
 
The P99 is the greatest 9mm pistol of all time in my book. The .40 is pretty damn snappy. I'll let my comments stop there about the Walther.


Now the PT145. Unlike a lot of people on here, I don't have a real problem with Taurus quality control. I can get past the crappy trigger on this gun. What I can't get past is the line of three control levers crammed into 1.5" along the slide. Is a manual safety necessary on a gun with a 12 lb trigger? How is any adult supposed to hit the slide release (in the middle) without fumbling with the saftey and takedown levers?

Not a bad gun, but an atrocious design ergonomically speaking.
 
I also like the Walther P99. However, if you are new to handguns, be careful with the AS trigger. It takes a very light short pull in single action (that's probably why a lot of us like it). Keep safe.
 
I have 2 Walthers and I love them. Zero problems and they shoot better than I can, if you know what I mean. Only go for the Walther if it is the Anti-Stress trigger, I would not get the Quick-Action trigger. I have not shot the other pistol in your list, but I know that I love my Walthers.
 
Walther P99 - the only way you'll find a gun that fits your hand better is if you commission someone to make custom grips for you. It just feels so right. :)
 
Vince - the A/S - a DA/SA trigger - The DA is pretty smooth - but it is the SA trigger that is so sweet and is so much fun to shoot at the range. It even has a long, 1st shot SA pull, if U don't like the heavier DA 1st pull. So, its almost "triple action."

The QA has a trigger kind of like a Glock or XD - every shot is the same. And, it has a pretty short pull. The problem is that the trigger is so heavy - thats why most people prefer the A/S model.

Be aware that a new P99 takes about 500-1000 rounds before the trigger smooths out. So, if U feel a new one and it feels kind of gritty as you pull the trigger, don't worry. They are all like that brand new.
 
so what if this place has used P99..how will i tell if its s/a or q/a since i never pulled the trigger on one before you know? any other way of telling if its a s/a or not?

ALSO: if my local shop cant seem to get p99 s/a for some reason is there a site that i can get them from, if so which site, and is there a ton of steps i have to go through to get a gun off the internet thru the mail.

excuse the spelling.
 
Vince, you said
from feel i love the feel of the p99 alot. the 145 is kinda wide feelings and a bit awkward but looks like a good bang for the buck from what i heard.
Click to expand...
That tells me you should go with the Walther P99 or S&W 99. It doesn't matter if the gun is expensive or inexpensive, it must be reliable, and it must fit your hand. If a gun doesn't fit your hand it will be uncomfortable to shoot and it will be difficult for you to be accurate with it. You might also take a trip back to the gun store and see if you can find other pistols that fit you well to give you more options for comparison. Here's a great article on gun fit: http://www.corneredcat.com/FirstGun/TryOnGun.htm
 
this gun in perticular is not just for rightys right? b/c im left handed...also what do leftys do when the safety is on the wrong side for them?
 
this gun in perticular is not just for rightys right? b/c im left handed...also what do leftys do when the safety is on the wrong side for them?
Click to expand...
Some pistols have ambi safeties, and some can convert to/are available with a LH only safety (HK USP comes to mind). Some lefties also learn to use their trigger finger to operate some controls like mag. releases. Those are some other things you'll have to look into.
 
vince24L,

Welcome to THR!

I wouldn't buy a gun yet if I were you. Darn it, there are so many variables in this whole gun buying process, I'd go about it a different way.

For starters may I suggest reading these :
http://www.corneredcat.com/FirstGun/TryOnGun.htm
http://www.corneredcat.com/FirstGun/WhichForMe.htm
http://www.corneredcat.com/Poetry/Advice.htm

Now to mirror what the author above shares, and she is a well respected member of THR btw; I suggest if you have not taken a safety class - do so. Many have a variety of guns they will discuss, and often times students handle and learn the different nuances.

If at a range, or range trip arranged, this is even better. More guns to handle and to actually shoot.

Gun fit is important, gun fit encompasses a LOT of things.

I am all for folks getting new guns, I just care about folks being safe, getting off on the right foot and having fun.

Oh , that author? We agree to disagree, and that is fine.

If you were to be local to me, I'd have you shooting a .22 Revolver, then medium frame dedicated .38spl, before we went to .22 semis, then a 9mm semi. I don't do .40 cal, so next up would have been a 1911.

It is all good, we all want to accomplish the common goal around here, just some of us are older, dumb guys, hard-headed, and we agree to disagree is all. :D
 
I've got to agree with SM and ugaarguy in that if it doesn't fit You it won't perform well for you.

When a friend asks about handguns, "I've heard the 1911 is the best gun out there. Which one should I get?", I tell them that there are a bunch of "best" guns out there. We get all the gunnies in our group together and put a representatie of every family of handguns out for them to pick up and feel how they point. If they can pick a gun up properly and point it at the target and the sights line up almost on their own then they've found a type of gun that fits them and will be easy to aim. Then it's a question of what caliber and full size vs compact in whichever particular model in that family.

A buddy of mine points a 1911 naturally. Her husband points CZs. After a little research she picked a Kimber ProCarry II in 9mm. He picked a 9mm TZ 75 compact, but just this afternoon fell in love with a 10 mm TZ 75 . She just discovered the Springfield XD point like the 1911 for her. Another friend points Glocks. A smaller friend points and shoots the Paraordinance P13 in .45 best and she weighs 110 lb soaking wet!

So, if the P99 points naturally for you and when you pick it up and you don't have to adjust your grip or move your wrist up/down even a skoonch to have the sights pop right into alignment then that's the gun for you. But if it doesn't fall right into place try some others and see if they don't fit you better. If you find the right gun regardless of what anyone says is "best" then it will be best for you.

BTW the CZs have ambi controls and XDs are ambi also.
 
PT145

Can't speak for the other two, but my PT145 has been drop dead reliable. Even dumped it in the dirt when I rolled my jeep on it's side. Was not pleased, but saw it as an opportunity for a dirt test. It passed, fired round after round without so much as a puff of breath to blow it off.

Someone dumping a kimber for a taurus, that's a testament to their focus on reliability.

jeepmor
 
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