HELP - Springfield XD9 OR Walther P99?

[The Mighty Beagle]

I’m looking for a quality CCW gun that can double as a fun range toy for plinking and target shooting. It must be accurate enough to keep me interested in it for a long time.

I would like this to be the last auto I will ever have to buy, since I’m tired of buying and selling autos that just aren’t FUN to deal with like my revolvers are. I’m not planning on going into combat, so mostly I will only be shooting for the pure enjoyment aspect at paper targets and cans.

Also, the gun must be capable of doing some fast shooting with mild recoil/low muzzle flip (my wife is going to shoot it as well). I would like to be able to achieve at least 2†benched groups with it at 25 yds routinely. Most shooting will be done with Winchester White Box as that’s what’s cheap and available here.

We are going to put A LOT of rounds through this gun, so durability would be a plus.

How do the triggers compare on these two guns?

My wife loves the XD we looked at yesterday. I felt the grip was excellent, and liked the safety system. I think I could do some fast instinctive shooting with it.

So, would the XD leave me wanting more out of an auto? We have never held a Walther (none around here) but have heard more positive reviews of it than the XD. There must be a reason everyone loves the Walther.

Thanks!

 

[lunde]

The Walther P99 has the shortest and crispest trigger reset I have ever experienced. If you need to do some fast shooting, this is it.

 

[10-Ring]

The XD's I've rented have been great values & fun shooters. The triggrs tho have been inconsistent. THe XD 9 I've shot had a unusually long trigger pull while the XD 357 I've shot had a trigger of average pull. But if you're looking for a fast shooter, the triggers on the Walthers I've tried have been tough to beat.

Best bet might be t rent both & see which you and your wife prefer.
If I were shopping for one, I'd get the P99

 

[emann]

Wow another no-brainer, the XD of course!

 

[denfoote]

Didn't have to think about this one long!! Walther P99!!
Deutschland uber alles!!!!!

 

[762x51]

Two great guns and you can't go wrong with either. If I had to pick, I'd choose the P99. I shoot my buddys XD-9 all the time and love it.....but I love my P99 more.

 

[David S]

P99..................... to me the XD is still a bit too new...................

i like the looks of the XD subcompact tho.............but go with the walther.......

 

[The Mighty Beagle]

Well guys, ya talked me into a Walther ... I just have one nagging concern.

I was looking at a P99 pic and realized the darned thing has mild finger grooves on the frontstrap! Don't know why I never noticed before, but again I've never held one. Everyone says they're comfortable guns, but the wife and I both have fairly small hands that these grips almost never fit. They spread my fingers out as if I'm palming a basketball.

So how is the P99 with small-handed folks? In doing a bit more reading, I've seen some people lamenting the long trigger reach too.

Thanks again guys.

 

[mrt]

Wait a sec. I don't understand this talk about quick double taps etc...(all the trigger talk) I own a XD 40 that I like to shoot and when I shot the P99 I said "jeez this kicks a lot for a 9mm" the guy that owned it said the same thing. The gun is gone now....he sold it. It had a muzzle flip like my .40's I didn't like that for a wimpy 9mm. and the plastic grip felt like plastic while the XD feels solid no XDish (that's eXtreme Duty for those deprived individuals). It may be a light packer but not a quick shooter.... i.e. at smaller targets and more distance.
another thing about the XD is that it points real well for people...on the XD forum its common knowledge...
Not saying to get the XD cause I would probably buy something entirely different, but not between the two: XD vs. Walther.

 

[45R]

The business end of both guns are going to suck

Shoot the one that your the most comfortable and accurate with. Both guns have great features. Pick the one that you feel best comforms to your body.

I currently have a P99 and had a XD series pistol at one time. The Walther is still with me due to superior ergonomics, its a great pointer.


Head out to the range and spend more time with both of them.

The Walther has 3 trigger modes and a decocker.
The XD9 has a grip safety and the ability to hold more 9mm ammo through aftermarket mags. I dont recommend going this route because this modification can be unreliable for CCW.

Both guns should give you 2" groups benched with the right ammo.

 

[The Mighty Beagle]

Thanks MrT, that's the first time anyone's compared the muzzle flip aspect of the two guns. I really hate muzzle flip, so I may have to reconsider the XD.

45R, I sometimes wonder where the heck you guys live. Where are all these gun rental ranges I keep hearing about? I guess if I had access to the two guns, I wouldn't need to ask for help on a board like this. I simply don't know anyone who owns either of them and there are no rental places anywhere in this state for all I know, so trying before I buy really isn't an option.

 

[Will Beararms]

I will never buy anything made in Germany or owned by a German company ever again if I can help it. Let them sell their arms to Iraq. By all means get the XD.

 

[wanderinwalker]

No brainer. P-99, without hesitation. I have the P-990 (DAO, revolver like trigger), and really want a 99 (and a 1911, and a USP, and a....). Yes, it does have a little muzzle flip. Nothing you can't learn to control frankly. Nowhere near as bad a 1911 IMO, and you'd be surprised how fast and accurate you can go with one of those. The 99 has interchangeable backstraps. Mine has had the small strap in place since day one, and it feels great.

BTW, if you can handle the expense, there ARE legal 16 round Walther magazines in circulation for the 9mm. Just food for thought.

 

[denfoote]

With the P99, you get three different interchangable back straps, front sights, and the rear sights are click adjustable for windage. The gun can be made to fit any hand and shoot any ammo!! With the HS2000, you get what ever the Croat designers thought was good for you!!

 

[JimC]

Let's see...Croatia made vs. German quality?

It's a no brainer for me, the P99.

I know the XD gets a lot of good press but I have four P99s and it's hard for me not to recommend them.

I don't like or see the need for a grip safety either.

Like lunde said, the P99 has the shortest trigger reset that you will find. I have fired or owner DA/SA type handguns by all the major manufacturers. I think the DA/SA of the Walther P99 is the best.

And, you can still get standard capacity magazines [16 rounds] for the 9mmx19 P99s.

Besides, a P99 looks better than the XD. The XD looks like someone finally finished off a Glock!

 

[45R]

Mighty Beagle-
Could you believe that I live in the State called California? As brutal as our gun control is we have many ranges that rent guns.

One of the things you might want to consider about muzzle flip or recoil is that it is something percieved by the shooter.

Both guns are polymer but they also have a lower bore axis (barrel sits closer to your hand) so the muzzle flip between the two guns is really marginal. Ideally help with recoil and muzzle flip comes from weight.

The finger grooves in the P99 are great. You can use the smaller back strap to make the gun alot slimmer. Alot of ergonomics was engineered into this gun. I think at this point the best gun for you is the one the feels the most comfortable in your hand. See if a dealer will install the "small backstrap" for you and compare the way it points with the XD.

For CCW I'd go with the P99 for a true DA pull and decocker. The XD has the grip safety so either way your covered. Its will boil down to preference.

45R

 

[The Mighty Beagle]

Thanks for the input, 45R.

California eh? How ironic ... I'd LOVE to be able to go rent a gun now and then, but jeez, a state couldn't be much more anti.

I'll track down a P99 to look at. I'm thinking it wouldn't be too hard to unload it on the used market if I don't like the finger grooves.

I have no doubt the XD is an excellent firearm, I think I just feel safer carrying a more conventional DA/SA.

 

[David S]

i have yet to hold one but there is an XD 9mm compact coming out, and american handgunner magazine spoke rather highly of it. not very pretty.............besides, you have to have looks AND function right? just look at it...........aint it nice..........go ahead, be bold and get the one from Earls, so you wont have thos ugly S&W marks on it...

 

[akanotken]

I have small hands too ...

and I totally love the p99 feel. The groves have never bothered me a bit. Other guns with great grips include the high power/clones, the browning BDM, USPc, CZ etc.

BTW, I'm toying with picking up a XD in 40. I like the constant trigger pull and I like it's feel in the store (I've yet to shoot one). I'm hooked on the ambi mag release too.


Back to the p99. The trigger is remarkable. Reset is as short as all have said. Very fast on the double tap. You can drop in a glock fp spring to reduce the pull, makes a big difference on the DA pull, SA is mostly the same, but I have a few thousand rounds through mine. Would only do this for range fun/gun games. I don't have enough rounds since changing my spring to comment on reliability or light primer strikes.

 

[JimC]

I'm hooked on the ambi mag release too.

Which the P99 also has.

I don't know how many front sight inserts the XD comes with but Walther supplies four so elevation can be adjusted to any load available for either the 9mmx19 or the .40 S&W.

 

[45R]

Mighty Beagle-
Let us know what you decide on. Oh for 9mm dont't forget about Sig.

45R

 

[modifiedbrowning]

Another vote for the P99. The P99 is my carry piece and I currently own two. I will own three when I finally buy a Military version. I haven't shot an XD, but I HIGHLY recommend the P99.

 

[provalov]

Well, Beagle, you know my vote from another thread -- XD. My hands are relatively small as well, and the XD fits better than anything else I've shot. I was out shooting my XDs this week-end with my 13yo daughter. She handles the 9mm well, as do my 10 and 14 year-olds, although they prefer my Ruger 22/45 due to lack of recoil.

 

[mrt]

oh mighty Beagle

You may want to check out the latest april/may Guns and Ammo article between the XD 9mm and Glock. I hope you can find the magazine there.
...lots of torture tests...lots of rds shot...lots of kick a'.

Chuck Taylor tells it as it is...no bull.

 

[Wildalaska]

Walther P99

WildIboughtitbeforeGermansbecamejerksAlaska