m9a3 vs shadow 2

[Glock702]

If it was up to you and you had the money for either one, which would you pick and why?

 

[BlueHeelerFl]

M9A3.

Mainly because I have a CX4 and want a M9/ 92 for magazine compatibility with my PCC.

Most reviews say its a great gun and seems to have a better trigger than a standard 92. The vertex grip would fit my hand really well.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Shadow 2, no contest.

It just suits me, and I already have a fancied up Beretta.

 

[Glock702]

Shadow 2, no contest.

It just suits me, and I already have s fancied up Betetta.

what color shadow 2 do you have? i like that shadow grey with the two tone grips. Hardly any recoil.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

what color shadow 2 do you have? i like that shadow grey with the two tone grips. Hardly any recoil.

I don't own a Shadow 2, I've just handled two of them. One was two tone urban grey and the other was black with the blue grip. Id planned on buying the black and blue one but a recent discontinuation of two different model guns I want to own has me shifting priorities. The Shadow 2 will be available for some time to come.

I've heard good things about the M9A3 but it doesn't do anything my Wilson Brig Tac won't.

 

[ATLDave]

Shadow 2, and it's not even close.

 

[Glock702]

Shadow 2, and it's not even close.

You can justify the price on anything, but both are very high quality made guns and it just comes down to a matter of preference. If the m9a3 had a $1200 price tag, you know there's people still buying it.

 

[Glock702]

I don't own a Shadow 2, I've just handled two of them. One was two tone urban grey and the other was black with the blue grip. Id planned on buying the black and blue one but a recent discontinuation of two different model guns I want to own has me shifting priorities. The Shadow 2 will be available for some time to come.

I've heard good things about the M9A3 but it doesn't do anything my Wilson Brig Tac won't.

yea I know exactly what you mean, I to hate when this happens. I could've purchased the shadow two pistols ago, but keep getting side tracked with other ventures. With $1200 there's a lot of nice pistols available.

 

[ATLDave]

I'm a big believer that competition is a great test laboratory for gear. It doesn't test cost, it doesn't test operation in mud and saltwater, and it doesn't test lightness/ease-of-carry. But it tests a lot of the other things that pistols can be good or bad at.

It's not an accident that there are probably somewhere between 20 and 100 CZ and CZ-ish guns (Tanfoglios) in the hands of serious competitive shooters for every M92/M9 thing. It's "preference," but it's preference based on performance and other tangible attributes.

The 92/9 design is still a cool design. I love the way they look. But the Shadow is better when it comes to measured performance of people using them.

 

[tarosean]

But the Shadow is better when it comes to measured performance of people using them.

Remind me, how many Championships did Ben win shooting a 92?

Course I would still pick the CZ.

 

[ATLDave]

Remind me, how many Championships did Ben win shooting a 92?

Enough to know he would be better served by switching to a Tanfoglio. Which he did, about 5 years ago.

 

[Glock702]

Remind me, how many Championships did Ben win shooting a 92?

Course I would still pick the CZ.

I have to agree, i've shot both. and I get tighter groupings with the shadow 2. The whole frame is solid. But aesthetically the m9a3 in the fde is beautiful. Triggers not bad too.

 

[JR24]

Prefer the Shadow 2 here.

 

[ess45]

Another vote for Shadow 2 ..........



With LOK grips.

 

[bannockburn]

Shadow 2 for me. Never cared for the Beretta grip size or shape though the straight back strap and thin grips do make the M9A3 more comfortable for me to use.

 

[golden]

I would go with the VERTEC just because I am familiar with the VERTEC BERETTA'S and like how they feel in my hand. Also, I am a BERETTA fan and shoot several of them.

 

[someguy2800]

I would pick any cz75 variant over a beretta. I really do not like the beretta.

 

[Old Dog]

Look, I like CZs ... I just don't like 'em with an accessory rail -- especially were I going to use the gun for competition only. The M9A3 in FDE is flat-out cool.

If I were choosing between the two the OP put forth, and I was not going to shoot them in competition, I'd choose the Beretta.

I had the money, and I went with the Beretta. [But I still love my CZs]

 

[Coal Dragger]

I’d probably go for a Beretta, just not the M9A3. Instead I’d look at a 92 Elite LTT with the Langdon trigger work. Most every 92 I’ve ever shot has been quite accurate mechanically, and they shoot soft and he sights track pretty flat.

The CZ’s I’ve shot so far have all been let downs in the mechanical accuracy department. The last one was a P01 9mm suppressor ready pistol that was an utter dog with any 9mm ammo myself or the guns owner had on hand to try. Performance at 20 yards was completely unacceptable to me. The same range session I was running my HK VP9, and getting the normal very good accuracy with any ammo I had on hand. No exaggeration when I state that the polymer framed HK was shooting groups less than half the size of the CZ. My experience on a box stock CZ75 was also unimpressive.

There are a few things I will not tolerate in a pistol: poor mechanical accuracy, sights that can’t be made to hit POA=POI, and of course poor reliability. My background in competitive bullseye shooting has made me picky.

I have now sampled two CZ variants and been disappointed in both.

The Beretta 92 used to fail on the sights POA=POI because the front sight was integral to the slide. The Brigadier slide and Vertec slide have solved that issue. I’ve never encountered a 92 series gun that didn’t shoot acceptable groups, even beat up M9’s. The stock triggers are OK, and with trigger work can be very very nice.

Plus the 92 has a proper de-cocker, so if a person wanted to carry the pistol it’s a more viable option for safe administrative handling. Lighter too. I’ve watched a few reviews of guys carrying full size 92’s AIWB and the gun lends itself to that with a good holster. Not sure the CZ would be as good a candidate for that.

 

[Old Dog]

Most every 92 I’ve ever shot has been quite accurate mechanically, and they shoot soft and he sights track pretty flat.

I’ve never encountered a 92 series gun that didn’t shoot acceptable groups, even beat up M9’s.

Been my experience as well. My beater personal M9 is a tackdriver. Got lucky, I guess ... and that 92 Elite LTT is on my short list right now ...

 

[I6turbo]

I owned an excellent 92 SB for 33 years. I sold it several months ago because I much prefer shooting my CZs, to the point that the 92 SB never found its way out of the safe except just out of guilt on my part. I'd go for the CZ, no question.

 

[Morgo]

Shadow 2, and it's not even close.

+ 1 The above.

 

[giggitygiggity]

Shadow 2. Berettas are good guns and I like the M9A3 and it is excellent in its own regard, but the threaded barrel, Cerakote, and other improvements over the previous M9 variants are not unique to the Beretta nor do they set it a part from other pistols on the market. Between the M9A3 and the Shadow 2, the M9A3 is probably more practical for law enforcement and military whereas the Shadow 2 is better for the range, competition, and general enjoyment. The Shadow 2's custom-like slick slide, outstanding trigger, recoil impulse, and overall quality are sublime for a factory-produced pistol.

 

[Glock702]

Look, I like CZs ... I just don't like 'em with an accessory rail -- especially were I going to use the gun for competition only. The M9A3 in FDE is flat-out cool.

If I were choosing between the two the OP put forth, and I was not going to shoot them in competition, I'd choose the Beretta.

I had the money, and I went with the Beretta. [But I still love my CZs]

yes finally some Beretta fans.

 

[Glock702]

Shadow 2. Berettas are good guns and I like the M9A3 and it is excellent in its own regard, but the threaded barrel, Cerakote, and other improvements over the previous M9 variants are not unique to the Beretta nor do they set it a part from other pistols on the market. Between the M9A3 and the Shadow 2, the M9A3 is probably more practical for law enforcement and military whereas the Shadow 2 is better for the range, competition, and general enjoyment. The Shadow 2's custom-like slick slide, outstanding trigger, recoil impulse, and overall quality are sublime for a factory-produced pistol.

great answer