polymer full size pistol dilema.....

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jhb

jhb

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being a browning hi-power and cz75 shooter...i had avoided plastic pisto,ls for awhile. recently i asked for advice on which to buy out of a group. in the end the glock 19 won out. part of the glock winning was i wanted to see if all the hype was true since i've never owned one before, and so far it appears the hype is true.

so now i want a full size plastic pistol...and i've been researching galore and i've come down to three that draw my attention the most.

in no particular order...

steyr m9a1

caracal f

m&p 9mm


this pistol is going to be used mainly for range use and shooting on a family farm property. if i can carry it cc, that's a plus and if it turns out to be the best home defense pistol ever...another plus.

i realize the m&p has accesories like holsters and such, and the other not so much if at all. i have held the m&p and it's quite nice.

where i live renting and shooting isn't so easy. the m&p can easily be done, if i drive a bit, but the steyr and caracal....not going to happen. these would be a order from my favorite local shop.

i'm a lefty shooter, but other than a demand for an ambi safety, if it applies to said pistol.... i work fine around right handed guns and always have.

so what's ya'lls take on these choices?

i think the m&p is going to win on this one by ya'lls votes/picks, but i have a weird like of the bubits designed pistols...which is why the caracal even made the cut list. it seems to be talked about as an improvement over the steyr, and the steyr seems to be talked about as an improvement over the glock. i know i really like my glock already, so i don't think i'll be disappointed in any of the choices, but i am stuck between these three...... thanks in advance for your insight and opinions....
 
You said that you already have a glock 19?

Of course, you should get what you like, but one obvious choice would be the glock 17. You could also look at the glock 34.
 
I'm an M&P guy, and would absolutely recommend one, but I also argue that the polymer pistols should be treated as a platform. By getting the Glock 17, you would already be familiar with the fit and function of the gun and also be able to use the same holsters and magazines(17 mags work in the 19).
 
the xdm...good question. i had to eliminate some obvious choices and this one was on the oriignal list. i guess i didn't see it bringing anything more to the table than the m&p, and i had to cut some out....so it went. i did play with one on my orginal polymer pistol quest, or part 1 of my new love with plastic, and i found it to be a fine pistol and the quality seemed there and i actually liked the grip safety, even though some poeple don't. basically i jsut had to cut some off the list and i like the looks of the other 3 better. maybe call it looks over function or form, for me.
 
Jon86, yes sir i did and the glock 19 was my very first plastic pistol i ever owned and i bought it maybe not more than a couple months ago or less. the 17 was on the short list, but i figured with my limited funds to spend, i wanted to try a different brand or else i'd never know firsthand whether something is as good as a glock or not. so i cut it off the list.

as for the 34, while i'm in the minority that think the 17 and 19's are good looking pistols in a modern kind of beauty....the 34 looks odd to me, and while the extra barrel length does impress me for my use with this gun....i think i'd prefer the m&p L, if i was going to go with a longer barrel.
 
but I also argue that the polymer pistols should be treated as a platform. By getting the Glock 17, you would already be familiar with the fit and function of the gun and also be able to use the same holsters and magazines(17 mags work in the 19).
Click to expand...

this is a very good point, and something i never even considered. i will have to ponder on that point you made. thank you, Sir, for passing that along to me.
 
Appreciate that something always has to fall off the list. I installed a Powder River trigger kit in my XDm to tighten up all the linkage. Made it perfect for me. I'd probably go with the M&P from the list you presented.
 
glock 22.....i'm not a big fan of the 40 s&w caliber. i have no problem with it and it's a fine round...i just prefer 9mmx19 to it. as for .357 sig....this round intrigues me i'll admit, but then i find myself thinking, i might as well go to .40s&w if i move up at all from 9mm....so it puts me back where i started. if i was to go 40 s&w, it wouldn't be a glock. i shot my friends and it was fine, but i'd rather have the m40 steyr which was built around the caliber, rather than upgraded from the 9mm like glock did. i appreciate your thoughts though.
 
If you're set on 9mm, give the Ruger SR9 some consideration. A buddy has one and loves his. And it has a great-feeling grip.
 
no rugers for me. i just do not like their designs. two brands i won't own are ruger and kimber. for very different reasons. call me odd or stupid, whatever...i just do not like rugers. thanks for the suggestions though.

i considered the walther p99, i was very tempted to keep in on the initial list, but it got cut early.

seems no one likes the steyr or caracal?
 
I am confused over the elimination of the XD as well..

I have never been a plastic gun kinda guy.. it's the traditionalist in me I guess...

However, when you tote one on your hip for sometimes 18-20 hours at a stretch, along with extra mags, Handcuffs, radio, and all the other stuff, after awhile, all that stuff get heavy and it can really start causing some very real lower back discomfort..

On the suggestion of all people, an orthopedic surgeon, I bought a Glock.. Nice pistol, but it just wasn't my cup of tea so to speak... so I went to what I considered a happy medium, a mixed Steel, Alum Alloy gun, the M-96 Beretta in .40.. I liked it.. it is still my primary CCW today...

However I had a chance to buy a super deal, 5 Springfields in the XD Series , LE packs, either 3 or 5(I forget) mags ea, plastic holster, mag loading tool, and hard case...at an average cost of about $260.00 per gun... I LEAPED on the deal... mixed, 40 and 45 calibers..

After shooting them, they are REALLY nice pistols.. Shot a hodge podge of mixed ammo through them.. No Problems... AT ALL... If I was going for a Poly Frame, XD's would be high on my list...
 
Cop Bob,

I traded a Smith M&P Mod. 58 41 Mag for my Beretta 96 Brigadeer. What a great pistol. Still treasure mine and shoot it often. $260 a piece for the XDs with all the Gear is amazing. Congrats!
 
I am confused over the elimination of the XD as well..
Click to expand...

it should be easy for me to give you a clear and precise answer, as to why, but i am finding it hard to. i found the xd to be a fine weapon and i do like that grip safety setup. i also like my glock 19...everything about it pretty much minus a few minor things. same goes for the m&p.....i think all three are fantastic weapons....i just do not need all three versions. i only need one more version...well want one more version, not need. i would call them all equals in many ways, and leave picking between them based on features and looks pretty much, and fitting one's hand.

in this case all three fit my hand fine, the grip angles and low bore stuff didn't affect me one way or the other, and trigger pull i've never been as picky about as allot of others are. i guess it boiled down to looks and i find the xd, not an ugly weapon by any means, but i prefer it the least of the 3. after all i think the steyr is a good looking pistol and the caracal as well, same with the glock 17 and 19's. all have a modern kinda of beauty, in my eyes. that should say allot, maybe my tastes in the cosmetics departments are "wrong". i don't know, but the xd calls me the least of the choices i put on my list. i know that doesn't really explain why it got taken off the list......but it is what it is......


However I had a chance to buy a super deal, 5 Springfields in the XD Series , LE packs, either 3 or 5(I forget) mags ea, plastic holster, mag loading tool, and hard case...at an average cost of about $260.00 per gun... I LEAPED on the deal... mixed, 40 and 45 calibers..
Click to expand...


if i could get a new xd at $260 bucks the answer would be easy, it would be the xd, but alas i have found no deal that sweet.....where i am....
 
If you don't have anything more powerful than 9mm, I'd get the M&P in either 40 or 45.
 
I too am not a polymer type person. But the other day I handled an FNX which I really liked and have seen good comments on the CZ SP01 Phantom.

Each have their own likes and dislikes, but if I were looking at polymer, those 2 would be what I would choose between.
 
I was a huge doubter of the S&W M&P when they first came out and their initial teething problems confirmed my beliefs. However having shot a number of recent ones...especially one's that have added the Apex Tactical action parts have convinced me that it ireally is an improvement over every other striker fired polymer pistol on the market.

What really sets it apart is the ergos to give it superior pointability and control of muzzle flip
 
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