Full size semi auto handgun - 9mm, 40, or 45 ACP?

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goon

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What's your pick? I am planning to go with .40 for my new CZ-75 but I could still be swayed to 9mm.
I am going with the CZ-75 in .40 over others in that caliber because I feel that the materials and construction of the CZ-75 will be more durable against the force of the .40 S&W than most others in that caliber would be. Ergonomics and my experience with my first CZ-75 and other CZ guns that I have fired and owned also plays a part.
In a full sized gun, what caliber and weapon would be your choice and why?
 
Someone bring weenies. This will be a flame fest soon. :fire: :)

What would I pick in a full sized gun and why? What I did pick was a Ruger P90, in .45, for the silly reason that I was 45 at the time and this particular piece was available. I have not regretted it. The .45 is a good cartridge, easy to reload, and the P90 has been reliable (after some initial feeding issues were dealt with).
 
springfield

I just bought a springer xd in the 40, wow, cool have to shoot it to appricate it, then i found out for 145$ I can buy a barrel and convert it a 9mm for the fun of it. No spring replacement, and it even uses the same clips, so thats cool, and I can get the 357 sig if i was so inclined, but im not. I like the 40 for anything serious, the numbers of velocity and energy are great, when i step up i go to a 10mm. I just love that caliber.
 
1911. Parts are cheap. Even neato-whiz-bang stuff is inexpensive and plentiful. Anything short of a real pistolsmith part is pretty simple to install. It's relatively easy to conceal, it feels good in the hand, and it's accurate.

That, and everybody knows that .45 is the only cartridge a Real Man(tm) will carry. :neener:
 
10mm?

You could always go with a 10mm Tanfolgio Witness, holds 15 shots in 10mm and is full size. Their guns range from 300 dollars stock, to 1700 dollars Elite Match editions.
 
Full size? I went 45 acp & 9 mm. Did away w/ my 40's back in the great caliber consolidation of '96 :D Specifically, my fullsize guns are 1911's, USPs & a couple of 92fs' :cool:
 
a couple of 92fs'
Click to expand...
Oh yeah, forgot about that. 9mm is acceptable only in the dual-92 configuration, and then, only with wicked cool hollowpoints with some kind of inscription on the casing.

Other than that, it's a wussy round :p

Deer Hunter, you got a link for that 10mm?
 
We are obviously dealing with a bunch of professionals here...

:D
 
I can understand that point of view but I like mobility. I have been trying to simplify lately and I am thinking that I can get by with three handguns. I am thinking the Kahr will work for CCW, SIG for cheap 9mm shooting, CZ-75 for general HD work and to have something just a little heavier to carry while in the woods. A GP-100 may get added in at some point just to give some more versatility but in reality I don't need one of each.
Hence the question... ;)
 
Either a Beretta 92fs in 9mm or a Beretta 96 or Cougar in 40cal, because the quality is excellent and they function flawlessly with good ammo.
 
My choice: I normally carry a BHP in 9mm, occasionally a 1911 .45ACP.

My advice: Get what appeals to you. The CZ-75 in .40 sounds like a fine choice to me.
 
If it's going to be full size, I'd just as soon skip polymer. I know this cuts out the USP line, but oh well.

In 9x19, a Browning Hi-Power. I don't have experience with the CZ75's, but they are highly regarded on the forums.

In .40S&W, surprise, a Browning Hi-Power! Alternately, maybe a Sig P226.

In .45ACP, some kind of 5" 1911 single stack. Alot of the .45 grips are hard for me to get my small hands around. 1911 single stacks generally work better for me in that regard.

jmm
 
In full sized autos, you can't go wrong with the classic Sigs. If you want 9mm, 40, or 357 Sig, go with the P226 (or depending on hand size, the P229). If you want 45, go with the P220. Incredibly accurate and damn near never give you a malfunction. I've run close to 3000 rounds through my P226 and the ONLY FTF I've had have been five squib rounds due to poor reloading technique (mine, I had a measure run dry on me). :p

I've also heard good things about the sigpros, but don't have any personal experience with them. They're also available in 9mm, 357 Sig, or 40.
 
Of "full-sized" auto pistol calibers, I'm a huge fan of 9mm, .40 S&W, 10mm, .45ACP. I've found myself unable to pick just one, like many of my amigos in THR.
 
Goon,
The Cz-75 in .40 is a fine weapon. Anything someone recommends over the cz-75 in .40 is just a matter of personal preference. Along with the 1911, BHP, Sig p226, etc, the CZ-75 is one of the world's great weapons.

RE: .40 cal, it is simply one of the best self-defense calibers around. Although you can load a 9mm to perform very well, the cheapest bulk-pack .40 cal round will perform as well (probably better) as the most expensive best-performing 9mm round you can find. While .45 is probably the best, there is very little difference in .40 cal and .45 performance.

The best rationale for going 9mm instead of .40 cal would be the expense. 9mm is the cheapest centerfire ammo you can buy, and its available anywhere ammo is sold. While not as good as .40 cal as a self-defense round, I would not feel under-gunned carrying a magazine full of 147 gr +p 9mm rounds.

Anyway, you can't go wrong either way as I see it.
-David
 
I carried a 40 for 13+ years, and now carry a nine. I don't feel any less protected. I would also carry a 40 again without a qulam, as I still have more/better rounds than a 45....sorry, couldn't resist the reverse flamebait! For you 45 people, if I could afford a SiG P220, I would have a carry rig for it,too.
I must also agree, the CZ is always an excellent choice. Enjoy, and tell us how it shoots for you!
 
goon, you did not give enough information to get a really good answer. Given that you did specify a full-size gun, I will assume that you may not be planning full-time CCW, meaning that you are looking for a range gun, a competition gun, or a gun for non-CCW defense.

If you want a range gun to kill paper targets, any of the calibers will work. Pick the caliber you like (I personally like the feel of .45 in a 1911) or go with 9mm because it is cheap and you can shoot more.

If you want a competition gun, you will have to consider the rules of the particular game that you will play.

If you want a non-CCW defensive weapon... get a shotgun for the home-defense role!

As to what kind of gun, there are plenty of fine full-size guns on the market, with the CZ being one of them.
 
I would pick a Glock 17, 9mm, because I like Glocks and 9mm is cheap to shoot. If I had more money I'd probably go for .45 acp or 10mm because they are more fun to shoot; Glock 20, 21, or a 1911, or a Sig, or a Beretta, or... heck, I'm not picky, there are lots of great pistols out there. :D
 
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goon said:
I can understand that point of view but I like mobility. I have been trying to simplify lately and I am thinking that I can get by with three handguns. I am thinking the Kahr will work for CCW, SIG for cheap 9mm shooting, CZ-75 for general HD work and to have something just a little heavier to carry while in the woods. A GP-100 may get added in at some point just to give some more versatility but in reality I don't need one of each.
Hence the question... ;)
Click to expand...

I can appreciate that.

9mm:
A Browning/FN Hi Power, without having to even think about it.

40 S&W:
Again the Browning/FN Hi Power. The Springfield XD-40 a great, affordable pistol. Yes, it's a polymer gun but, so what?

45 ACP:
Sig 220. The new Springfield XD-45ACP would be worth looking into, it would save you 2-3 hundred bucks over the Sig.

I have many revolvers, the GP-100 would be a great woods gun with the proper holster. So would a 5 1/2" Redhawk in .44 mag.
 
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