Open to suggestions...

Status
Not open for further replies.
2

2steppin

Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2009
Messages
9
Location
MO
I am researching for a future purchase. I am looking for something that I can carry and use for home defense. LGS has a rental wall. I am totally new to auto and am looking for suggestions that I can look at renting to see which is best for me. I am leaning towards 9mm because of the price of ammo. I have looked at some review videos on YouTube for a couple like the S&W M&P Shield and Glock 17. Price range would be in the neighborhood of between $400-500.

Anyone have suggestions for things to add to the research/possible rental list??

Thanks everyone. Mods, please feel free to move this thread if necessary.
 
9mm is a great choice. You will be glad when you're buying bulk ammo that you bought a 9mm.

XD9s are a great also and cheap. They go for $400 these days. I've shot most of the really popular 9mms, and ive owned most of them. Shoot them all and decide. The top 5 most popular are probably ...

glock 19/17
m&p 9
XD9
sig 226
beretta 92

But I'll tell you what. I sold all of my other 9mms and now I own 5 CZs in 9mm. They aren't as well know or popular, but that's changing. They are incredibly popular in the competition crowd lately, and the secret is out: they are bad ass.

I believe they are far and above the finest 9MM on the planet. You can buy a cz 75B or 75b SA for $499. Do yourself a favor and try out a CZ 75b or if you can swing $100 more, the CZ SP01. Some of my CZs with my SR1911.


3equnajy.jpg
 
una9aty2.jpg

They are simply the most ergonomic, accurate, and sweet shooting factory pistols I've shot. The control placement is excellent and they feel great in the hand. With drop in parts they can have excellent excellent single action triggers. Out the box they are pretty sweet already.

A lot of people are going to recommend you a glock, M&P, or an XD .. those are great guns, I liked my glock 17 and my XD9. But I LOVE my CZs. And those people ... Probably haven't run enough rounds through a CZ yet. ;)
 
For home defense they would be great, for carry they are pretty heavy, even the compact sizes. Good luck on your future purchase !
 
Go to a range that rents, or a gunstore with a range so you can try before you buy
what you like
what you shoot best

well that's up to you (and how you do stuff)
my suggestion, find what's best for YOU, I know what I like, doesn't mean it's for you.
 
Shadow 7D said:
Go to a range that rents, or a gunstore with a range so you can try before you buy
what you like
what you shoot best

well that's up to you (and how you do stuff)
my suggestion, find what's best for YOU, I know what I like, doesn't mean it's for you.
Click to expand...
Will do for sure. That is my plan. Definitely a student of the what works best for you school of thought.

Thanks for the reply.
 
The 9MM is a great choice and there are a ton of fine choices out there. Your best bet would be to handle as many as you can in your price range and then try to rent and shoot the ones that appeal to you.

Now having said that I don't know your experience in firing handguns. If not much I would suggest first trying to get some professional training that many local ranges offer at affordable prices that can help you with tips like stance, grip, and trigger control and demonstarting the difference between the various trigger action types such as DA/SA hammer fired and striker fired such as a Glock and safety option. Once you knwo those basics you will have a better idea on selecting a pistol that fits ou well and works well for you.

While there are a lot of fine pistols in your pistol price range I would suggest if possible to also look at some more expensive pistols if your budget allows it as over the long term for most shooters the actual investment in the pistol will be a small part of shooting costs and a couple etxra hundered dollars over a period of years is insignificant if that means getting the pistol you really want and shoot the best rather than what is simply good enough.

I have tried practically every widely available pistol out there and my very top choice are SIGs such as the incredible SIG P226 though it is a bit big and heavy for carry. Closer to your price range I HIGHLY recommend the Walther PPQ or the SIG SP2022 that is well within your budget. The Glock 19 is also a very fine choice and one of the most awesome all around pistols ever with tons of accessories available for it. I own all these and have a personal preference for pistols with no external safety.

Good luck in your quest!
 
Last edited:
I would suggest looking at the Beretta PX4. Think it's one of the best pistols you can get for less than $500.
 
Try to keep the barrel length 4" or longer. The smaller guns are harder to shoot.
A lot of people like the s&w m&p and the sig 226.

And I missed the part about carrying sorry.
 
Last edited:
Clarify: you want a full size pistol or a small one? There is a significant difference in size between a 17 and a shield.
 
Try a Ruger SR9, also. I've put around 500 rounds through mine, with no failures of any kind. It's also a very comfortable gun to shoot.
I love the CZ75, but it's not a gun for someone with smallish hands or fingers.
 
My top 3 suggestions in 9mm are:

M&P9compact - you can CC with the compact mag and use the full size 17rd mag for HD.
Glock19 - easier to conceal than the Glock17 and you can still use the 17rd mags (or 33rd mag if you feel the need :D).
XD9subcompact - same above, but a little less capacity.

I would also recommend the XDM9 compact (3.8inch barrel) but it's a bit above your $500 price range. It carries 13rds in the compact mag, and 19+1 on the full size mag. That is some firepower for a 9mm pistol!
 
A couple of guns you might also want to consider are the Ruger SR9c and the Glock 19. Smaller than a full size service model, either one would make for a decent choice as to doing double duty with home defense and concealed carry.
 
sigarms228 said:
The 9MM is a great choice and there are a ton of fine choices out there. Your best bet would be to handle as many as you can in your price range and then try to rent and shoot the ones that appeal to you.

Now having said that I don't know your experience in firing handguns. If not much I would suggest first trying to get some professional training that many local ranges offer at affordable prices that can help you with tips like stance, grip, and trigger control and demonstarting the difference between the various trigger action types such as DA/SA hammer fired and striker fired such as a Glock and safety option. Once you knwo those basics you will have a better idea on selecting a pistol that fits ou well and works well for you.

While there are a lot of fine pistols in your pistol price range I would suggest if possible to also look at some more expensive pistols if your budget allows it as over the long term for most shooters the actual investment in the pistol will be a small part of shooting costs and a couple etxra hundered dollars over a period of years is insignificant if that means getting the pistol you really want and shoot the best rather than what is simply good enough.

I have tried practically every widely available pistol out there and my very top choice are SIGs such as the incredible SIG P226 though it is a bit big and heavy for carry. Closer to your price range I HIGHLY recommend the Walther PPQ or the SIG SP2022 that is well within your budget. The Glock 19 is also a very fine choice and one of the most awesome all around pistols ever with tons of accessories available for it. I own all these and have a personal preference for pistols with no external safety.

Good luck in your quest!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply. This is definitely going to give me more information to further my research and potential rental options.
 
TimboKhan said:
Clarify: you want a full size pistol or a small one? There is a significant difference in size between a 17 and a shield.
Click to expand...
Good point. I held a Glock at the LGS (don't remember which one) that seemed small as far as hand feel, so my guess is that this was one of the smaller compact models. I was then offered a larger one which I think was the G17 that felt better. At this point I think I am just looking for suggestions that I may want to add to my rental list to see which fits for me.

Thanks for the reply.
 
The OP is doing it the right way. A couple of things.

Most people don't want to conceal a full-size gun, they get the compact. But it can be done. The industry is trying to get everyone to have (at least) two versions of everything. I carry a full-size 1911, year-round.

Once you decide.....you are allowed to change your mind later. If you fall out of love with a gun, you don't have to pay it alimony when you get rid of it.

I just found a like-new XD-9 for my wife for $300, it's fantastic.

Don't be afraid to buy used. Especially with the modern polymer frames. I'm not saying it's impossible to damage one, but you have to get creative.
 
Another SR9c guy here. 1200 or so rounds of perfection except when using some of the cheap ammo with hard primers.

Great gun in that you give up little buying a compact. It comes with an extended 17 round mag you can pop in when turning out the lights at night, and is plenty accurate with the short barrel. But... there are several makes with the same personality. You gotta feel good about spending your dollars.

As much as I love my Ruger, I'm looking hard at hammer guns... CZ, Stoeger, Sig. Those I'm comfortable carrying without a safety. Striker fired, I am not.

Good luck!
 
Since you're new to autos does that mean that you're more familiar with revolvers?

If so, you might try the SIG-Sauer P250.
 
You'd do well to consider the Glock handguns.

They have 20 models of pistols to choose from, pistols in 9mm, .357 Sig, .40 S&W, 10mm Auto, and .45 ACP.
 
Thank you to everyone who has already posted. Everyone on these boards has been so helpful and quick to post info that will help me out. Keep the info flowing everyone! I do have limited experience with a revolver (.38 special).

Thanks everyone!
 
I carry a m&p 9c iwb almost every day. 12+1 capacity. Small but not tiny. 100% reliable so far. With that said, you are definately on the right track. Handle as many as you can. Every suggestion on here, including mine, is based entirely on personal opinion which has absolutely no bearing on what may or may not fit you. Good luck to you. For me, the hunt is half the fun.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top