Most durable and dependable all steel 9mm?

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I own some of the guns mentioned (HiPower, 5906 & CZ85B)

If I had to pick the one that would last the longest, it would be the S&W. Built like a tank and stainless steel.

The other guns are very nice too, but given enough ammo, your kids might be able to shoot out the HiPower and your grandkids might finish off the CZ. The 5906 will be around forever.
 
The only one I have experience with is the Star Firestar M43. In like new condition and a serial number above 2,000,000 it's a solid buy. The hi-power seems awfully sweet. But my money is gone.
 
Hmmmm.
1. Ruger P-series 9mm. Massively overbuilt pistols. I know believe the major parts of these pistols can be broke by normal use. I've never seen or heard of it.

2. CZ-75B. Another real solid overbuilt pistol. Tough gun! Not hard to find shooters with over a 100,000 rounds on their gun.

3. Browning Hi Power. My personal favorite. A solid rugged design with good engineering. The MkIII increase the durability even more.
Note: I know this is the internet and most posts are people repeating what they have read, but even still I would LOVE if half the people who talked down the BHP actually owned one. I've have seen and heard of very very few issues with this gun, and practically NO issues with the MkIIIs that have been out for nearly twenty years now. I am getting a little tired of hearing of "issues" from people whose father's friends cousin had. It is becoming one of those "everybody knows" things like KB'ing Glocks.

Additional:
What are you going top use this gun for? High volume shooting for comps? Self Defense? Home Defense? Going to carry it? These are all important questions when picking a handgun. The average shooter won't wear out a gun with a 30,000 round lifespan so long-term durability is not an issue.
 
My Browning Hi-Power Mk. III, purchased new in 1985, has got to be my most reliable, durable, and accurate 9mm. MyGlock Model 17 comes in at a very close second.
 
Forgot to add - if you are looking at compact guns, the steel Kahrs may be a wise choice.

I also have a 1st Gen E9 (economy version of the K9) that is all steel and has proven quite durable. It's hard to believe anyone would ever wear out this little single stack 9mm. A stainless K series would be even better.
 
I would have to go with a Sig, or a Sig.

If neither of those work out for you, I'd try a Sig.

(yes, I drank the kool aid)
 
Unless I am mistaken nobody mentioned the Colt Government model and Commander in 9mm. Not common but they were made and quite durable.

Sig 210, I have one of the Danish surplus ones that the late Joe Bonar at Novak's modified and it is impressive.

Other votes, CZ 75 family, especially the CZ 75 SP01 and the more recent Browning High Powers...the early ones had softer internal parts.
 
If I may be permitted to ask a related question...

Is it really known that polymer frames will hold up over the course of (say) 100 years? Especially with exposure to sunlight?

Sure, Glock, M&P, HK etc. make reliable guns, but I'm still not convinced of their durability over a really long time, especially if they are carried and exposed to sunlight. UV exposure, over time, usually does bad things to polymers...
 
The intended use of this pistol will be some conceiled carry and target shooting. I don't necessarily like the feel and long term durability of polymer pistols. In 45 I have a tool steel cqb elite and am looking for a steel 9mm to compliment. I like the fact that steel will last a long time and take a lot of abuse.
 
Sig P226 is not steel. It is aluminum. Two people said it before me but people keep nominating it.

I would say a HiPower MkIII with cast frame. It was designed for .40 so shooting 9mm it should last for a long time.
 
Anyone mention a Star Mod 30? In a previous life, it was a '51 Buick. A Norinco 213 (TT33 clone in 9MM) is no delicate flower, either. The Norinco is a slender single stack so it'll conceal pretty well. On the other hand, the Star is definitely a brick. You can get 'em both for $500 total if you look around.

Here it is, the tank itself, the Star Mod 30MI:

StarMod30MIleft01.jpg
 
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RSILVERS asserted "Sig P226 is not steel. It is aluminum. Two people said it before me but people keep nominating it."

Uh. Sig has been making steel framed 226's, 229's, 220's for a few years now. I suggested the 226ST. What do you think the "ST" stands for?
 
Firestar M43?? I've been carrying it sense 1992. I've only replaced the extractor a year ago because it had a chip in it, but it was still running...
 
Browning HP for single action.
SW 5906 HiCap love
SW 3906 or 2nd Gen 639 single stack very concealable
SIG P210 The BMW of 9MM's
HK P7PSP for something different
 
I would say a HiPower MkIII with cast frame. It was designed for .40 so shooting 9mm it should last for a long time.
Click to expand...

This is what my high round count Hi-Power is... the frame itself is holding up nicely; but the smaller parts (recoil spring guide, ejector, firing pin retaining plate, slide stop, grip screws, etc.) have all cracked or broken completely.

Since I don't have any other Hi-Powers up to the 14k mark where things started breaking on this one, I can't say if that is typical. Part of me wonders if having a Roguard/NP3 finish applied affected anything since all of the parts that broke were NP3-coated (of course, only the small internal parts likely to break had the NP3 coating applied, so could go either way).
 
QR:

This is a poor question on its face. The overwhelming majority of pistols made today are built to take more than the average shooter is going to out down range in a lifetime.

It does not matter if a pistol will loosen up after 20,000+ round because most people are not going to put that many rounds down range. At todays prices that is $3400+ worth of ammo. Less than 10% of the member here, who are the top 5% of gun owners in terms of round counts, are ever putting that many rounds through one gun.

To me the most important part of choosing a gun is does it fit your hand. It does me no good to own a durable CZ 75B if it does not fit my hand.

In the end fit in the hand is the most important thing. There are soo many good pistols out there durability is not my one of my major considerations.
 
I'll put in yet another vote for the S&W 659/5906's. I've got a 659 with almost 30k rounds through it - not a single part has been replaced (no springs, nothing at all) and i've had only 2 FTF with it; both in the same box of dirty remington ammo, and 12k+ rounds through it since then without an issue..i think it's safe to say it was the ammo's fault. Considering that CDNN has 5906's and 6906's insanely cheap (under 400 new!?!?) i don't think you can go wrong.

The slide is a bit looser in it's rails than it was when i got it... but it functions flawlessly and is still perfectly accurate. I've shot 800 rounds in a row in one sitting through that gun without cleaning and without issue... i think people underestimate S&W all steel pistols...and to think, the 659 is over 20 years old. Newer isn't always better.
 
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