Next gun thoughts.

[ddj8052]

I am looking into my next handgun purchased and was looking into the new S&W line. I currently own a Glock 23 and a Ruger GP-100. This gun is mainly being purchased so that I can take a Firearms class through my local Comunity College. Here is the class's criteria for guns for use in the class:

- 9mm
- Must be a TDA
- Must have a deccocker and saftey.
- No Polymer framed wepons
- Must hold at least 8 rounds.

I am looking into a relatvely inexpensive 9mm That fills these requirments. At the top of my list is the Smith 910s

http://www.smith-wesson.com/Products/Firearms/m910s.htm

any thoughts on this gun? Others I was considering are both the Tauraus 92's (Quetionable reliability) and the Beretta 92's (more than I want to spend on a 9mm). Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions.

 

[Penforhire]

Curious set of restrictions for a class. I sort of understand the decocker and safety requirements but what's up with "no polymer"?

 

[swingcatt]

Welp, since you must like Ruger to go with the GP100 and you obviously don't have anything against an ugly gun, why not the Ruger P series semi-autos. I have seen a lot of them come thru carry and basic pistol classes and they have been reliable and fairly accurate.

While it should meet all the requirements, I agree with pfh that those are some strange requirements. No polymer? WTH? I would expect that with a requirement like that they would just go on and state that it can only be a '70 Series 1911, too.

SC

 

[riverdog]

Curious set of restrictions for a class.

No 1911 pattern pistols,
No Glocks,
No Browning Hi-Powers,
Some Ruger P series semi-autos are polymer framed,
Sig P226 should work,
Beretta 92 should work.

The S&W you mentioned would be fine, you also might want to look for a good used Sig 226 or Beretta 92. Get a good deal and take the class. I don't own a single pistol that would qualify.

 

[Jiml3]

Just a suggestion, consider a CZ75 PCR. It's a compact holding
10 rounds and weighs appox. 26 oz. empty. It's made from an alloy so it's not plastic. Has a sweet TDA trigger and is priced around $425.00. You won't be disappointed.

Good Luck!

 

[ftstinyc]

9mm

The Taurus Pt 92 and Pt 99 are very reliable. I have a Beretta
92fs and the Taurus PT99. The Taurus is just as reliable as the
Beretta.

 

[ddj8052]

Thanks for all the replies. The Community College district set these requirements so I have no control over them. The class dates back to the 80's and obviously hasd not been updated. As to the Ruger and CZ suggestions, they simply do not feel good to me so they are pretty much out, but thanks for the suggestions. Keep them comming.

 

[BlkHawk73]

I am looking into a relatvely inexpensive 9mm

'Memba, you get what you pay for1

My suggestion...spend the $ and get a HK P7M8.

it's chambered in 9mm

the front of the grip fuctions essentially as the cocking mechanism and the safety.

Complete steel construction - no polymer.

8 round capacity

 

[swingcatt]

Duh! It just hit me! If they didn't specify "which" 9mm, go with a Makarov!!

SC

 

[Croyance]

Sig P226 should work,

SIGs have a decocker, but no safety.
The S&W 39 and 59 series fit. The 39 is known for eating any ammo. The 59 is a double stack version of the same.
FN HiPowers have an option of a TDA trigger. I'm not sure of the decocker/safety though.
If CZ-75's are out, I guess the EAA Witness is out also. I would have recommended the CZ-75 BD until that point.
A used Beretta 92 FS may be a way to go. It may cost a bit more that you want to spend, but it is a gun you could keep for a long time.

 

[David4516]

"Duh! It just hit me! If they didn't specify "which" 9mm, go with a Makarov!!"

You stole my line! The Makarov is an EXCELENT handgun, and they won't cost you an arm and an leg ($150). All steel, 8 + 1 capacity, the only thing is that it isn't a 9mm Luger, so I don't know if it would count. It's 9mm Makarov, also known as 9X18, it's pretty much the same as 9mm Luger, but the case is 1mm shorter, the bullet is slightly larger in diameter (0.365 of an inch vs 0.355 for the 9mm Luger), and the bullet itself is lighter. The 9mm Makarov is not as powerfull as 9mm Luger, but is better than .380 ACP...

 

[ddj8052]

OK guys, I guess I should get you all a little more info. This class is a P.O.S.T (CA- Police Officer Standardized Training) certified class. They basically teach you what you need to know to qualify at the academy plus, they help you train for more real world situations, assuming you are not going into law enforcement. The class provides fire arms for those that do not have them (old S&W model 59's I think, thus the rules, they want simillar guns to simplify thier traing.) it is just nicer to have your own. The class provides all your ammo (9mm luger and .38spls). It last about 3mo and you get to go shooting twice a week for that time. So it is a great deal. The way I look at it is I get to buy a 9mm which I would have purchased eventually and take the classs for less than most private classes. Plus I will shoot more than at most private classes. They also spend the first couple of weeks teaching basic marksmanship with S&W .38 revolvers. Well, I already have my GP-100 so that portion of the class is handled. I hope this clarifies the reason for taking the class and putting up with the rules. I hope this explains things better. Thanks for the help.

 

[Handy]

At $400, the Smiths aren't bad. Taurus 92 is another good option in a trouble free gun (a friend is going through the same type of class, he picked the PT92 and had no malfunctions. His classmates with Glocks did).

One problem my friend ran into was the availability of holsters. Since the Taurus fit Beretta holsters, that's what he used. The 910 will also be an easy fit. There were no CZ duty holsters, for instance (not that CZ makes a decocking gun with safety).

I saw a thread last month about a distributor selling Beretta 92Ms for $399! That's an 8 round 'compact'.

The safety requirement is a PITA.

If you want to go really cheap, find one of those excellent condition Walther P1s selling for $250. It's the original pistol of that type.

 

[Berg01]

I think the S&W 910 would work fine for your purpose; it is reliable, accurate, decent trigger & sights, and reasonably priced.

 

[chaim]

Given your needs I would say the S&W 910 (or if it was me I'd get the thinner 908) or Taurus PT92 would both probably work great for you. Both are supposed to be quite reliable and both should be accurate. Both are well made, nice guns that I have heard just about zero negative comments about them from actual owners. If you are in a part of CA where carry may be an option the 910 or 908 would probably be better (many people seem to have trouble carrying, or don't want to carry, full-sized autos). Another option to consider is one of the new compact 9mm Bersas/Firestorms. They seem to have a good rep, and I am very impressed w/ my Bersa in .380.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I'd look for a police trade Sig 226 or get the smith..

but honestly with those as my ONLY choices, I'd qualify with their weapons and buy my own later.

 

[swingcatt]

Looking thru CDNNs latest catalog, they had quite a few sidearms that would work.


SC