The most durable/reliable 9mm that money can buy???

Status
Not open for further replies.
i don't think any 9mm has proved itself like the beretta 92fs, the current sidearm of the us armed forces. they don't even look half bad if you get shiny one with wood grips.
 
At this point, it is a bit like 4-banger family sedans: there's a fair amount of concensus on how to build one that works, and they all look pretty similar when you squint at them.

Originally Posted by StarDust1
The best 9mm pistol you can lay your hands on is the Glock-17(G-17)! I'll rank the top five in order,
1. G-17
2. G-19(compact version of the G-17)
3. Beretta 92FS or M9
4. CZ-75PO1 (for the money, simply superb)
5. Sig Sauer P226
There's other good choices too, but these are IMO the best for the money spent....
Click to expand...

Fold the G19 into the 17/glock family in general, and then add the xd and 3rd gen S&Ws, and I have no quarrel with this list... again, YMMV.
 
What the heck, I'll opine:

(1) BHP. If money is no object, find a really nice Belgium-made. It's a piece of firearms history and a "legendary" pistol for good reason.

(2) S&W 5904. I really like this sleeper. If you're patient, you can find police-trades that are "as new".

(3) Beretta 92FS. A tad large for a CCW, but a classic. Typically a benchmark of reliability and easy to learn to shoot accurately.

(4) Your Dad sounds like my kind of guy. I vote for more University Professors like Him. In fact, I recommend him for Department Chair... even Dean... :D

Les
 
Last edited:
Durable and reliable...

I would not consider any gun with an aluminum frame to be extremely durable. Polymer and Steel frames are more durbale than aluminum framed handguns.

I would look into a Polymer offering or a Steel offering.

I would also look for something with a fully supported barrel.

HK USP, XD or XDm, M&P, CZ?

If I had to choose an aluminum-framed gun, it would be one with a recoil buffer (Beretta 90two or Beretta 92a1 - the newest Beretta)
 
Last edited:
I shoot 17 (as of now) pistols the hands down only pure shtf weapon is the SIG P226, shoots better than all, but my 1911s. But unlike the SA 1911 I trust this pistol under all adverse conditions or situations. Its so ugly its beautiful, but its real beauty is in its function, reliability and accuracy. I recommend night sights on whatever you get. Beretta 92fs, Glock G17, FNP 9, H&K USP 9mm my choices in order. INXA on XD and M&P.
 
id usually say get a glock in this situation
but since you are getting it free id take a higher end model like a high power ir even a korth
 
There is NO WAY I would buy into the Glock being the 'most reliable handgun'... but it is darn reliable....
Click to expand...
100,000-Round 9mm Torture Test
By Chuck Taylor

On four occasions since 1990, I've written articles about a continuing evaluation I've been conducting to ascertain the longevity of the Glock Model 17 9mm pistol. The first of these, appearing in the February, 1993, issue of Combat Handguns, contained my findings as to the weapon's performance and durability after 33,000 rounds fired. At this juncture, I stated:

"I carried it in the rain, snow, dust and mud. I carried it when the temperatures were over 100 degrees and when they were 40 below.

"I presented the gun more than 10,000 times from it's plastic slide holster, speed loaded it 2,000 times, performed over 5,000 tactical loads, shot it weak-handed in excess of 2,500 times and field-stripped it 250 times.

"From the beginning, I resolved to grind it into the dirt, abuse it like no gun I ever had."

"Why? To find out the truth about Glocks, for once and for all...

"And I succeeded in doing just that. In a 30-month period, I fired 33,000 rounds, all factory loads, of every imaginable type made–– and it ate them all, almost without a single malfunction. I say 'almost' because on the 32,994th round, I finally had one–– a failure to feed! And this in spite of the fact that I cleaned the gun every 10,000 rounds whether it need it or not!

"100 rounds short of the 5,000th shot, both factory-provided magazines ceased to hold the slide open after the last shot, although they both continued to function normally otherwise. At round number 11,000 a second set did the same and was replaced by another.

"By the 500th holster presentation, the left side of the front site was so badly worn that a proper site picture was no longer possible. It was subsequently replaced with a steel version.

"By round number 16,000, I could see steel through the finish–– but it never did rust, although it was exposed repeatedly to rain, snow, perspiration and even blood.

"The trigger pull, originally 5.5 pounds, got smoother and a bit lighter, but it never did double or demonstrate a glitch of any kind.

"And after all this, it still shoots into 3 inches at 25 meters, not much different than when it was new."

Impressed, to say the least, I was still determined to see the test though to the point where the gun failed. So, although the piece had passed the 33,000-round mark without significant negative results or breakage, I continued the test.

The months went by and the test continued. By the end of the summer, 1993, the gun had shot 50,000 rounds without a hitch. Among my additional observations published in Glock Auto pistols 1995, were these:

"And now, after 50,000 rounds, nothing has really changed. It still:

"Functions reliably. In fact, not a single additional stoppage has occurred.

"Prints inside the 9-ring of a 25-meter pistol target, exactly as it did when it was new.

"Shows no additional finish wear.

"Exhibits no bore corrosion.

"Clearly, the Glock M-17 is a heck of a pistol and, as a survival instrument, is well worthy of our consideration. It is well-designed, well-made and capable of surviving a wide variety of environmental conditions. It will feed the entire spectrum of bullet shapes and functions reliably with virtually all power levels of 9mm ammunition. In addition, it resists corrosion magnificently and its design causes minimal wear on working parts, giving it an unbelievable long service life.

"Ugly? Maybe, maybe not! It depends on what's important to you–– cosmetics, or function. Regardless, it's my opinion that the Glock 17 is not only a winner, but may well be the world's best 9mm pistol. Obviously, only time will tell, but in the meantime, I've got 25,000 more rounds of 9mm ammunition to run through it to find out."

25,000 more

And the test continued. By February, 1995, the 25,000 rounds were expended, bringing the total to an unbelievable 75,000! Yet, the gun was still going strong, showing no indications whatsoever of impending failure. I replaced nothing–– no springs, firing pins, connectors or any other parts. In fact, viewed from the broad perspective, the gun had actually outlived it's magazines–– six two-mag sets at that point.

Truthfully, I had run out of things to do to the gun. Short of running over it with a car or freezing it into a solid block of ice–– both which I regarded as silly, since they fail to mirror real-world conditions and therefore prove nothing–– I had repeatedly exposed the gun to everything. In the July, 1995, issue of Combat Handguns and Summer, 1995, issue of Glockster, I said:

"After more than 70,000 holster presentations, I can detect no additional finish wear from that which appeared by 20,000 presentations.

"The bore is still without corrosion or excessive wear; the piece still shoots inside the 9-ring of a 25-meter pistol target, using the offhand Weaver Stance. In fact, to determine if any deterioration of intrinsic accuracy had occurred, I fired it from 35 meters in a Ransom Rest–– the worst groups were 2 inches!

"As an example of its practical accuracy capability, I offer the following. With the test gun, I was able to perform the following:

1. "Reliably get center-hits on a 18 x 30-inch steel silhouette target at 75 meters, knocking down five such silhouettes in under ten seconds.
2. "Take a whitetail deer with a single shot behind the shoulder at a laser-measured 70 meters.

3. "Successfully pass the ASAA Handgun Combat Master test with it, presenting it from concealed carry, shooting a score of at least 383 out of a possible 400."

My other observations at that time included:

"Internal parts exhibited no real wear or deterioration.

"The polycarbonate frame, though it had at one spot worn smooth from holster contact, appeared intact and without discernible deterioration.

"After more than 50,000 speed loads and an equal number of tactical loads, the magazine well was scarred somewhat but still serviceable.

"While the 56,103rd round blew a primer, the gun was undamaged. The resulting stoppage, a Type 3 (Feedway) was quickly cleared and the weapon returned to service.

"The trigger remained at 5.1 pounds, a reduction from it's original poundage of only 0.4 pounds. It was still smooth and had a crisp let-off.

"It was discovered that magazine service life could be dramatically increased by loading only 15, rather than the rated 17, rounds of ammunition. If a 'Plus-Two' floorplate is utilized, then–– and only then–– should a full 17 rounds be loaded. This prevents the follower spring from being fully compressed, thus causing it to soften and finally 'set', as the expression goes.

"The Trijicon (tritium) sights installed early in the test were still completely serviceable."

It looked like the test was over. The pistol had survived an incredible 75,000 rounds and was completely intact. I had my desired data-base–– the Glock M-17 was irrefutably a terrific pistol. In fact, I was so impressed that I concluded my article in Combat Handguns with this statement:

"Pretty, it ain't, especially after all it's been through. On the other hand, beauty is said to be in the eye of the beholder, and to me, the Glock is a tool, not an objet d'art. This being the case, we must view it differently–– function, not aesthetics, is the prime criteria. Viewed from this perspective, there can be no doubt that the Glock M-17 looks mighty good indeed."

Well, I just couldn't leave it alone. My curiosity about just how long the gun could survive continued to be intense. So, from my stores, I broke out an additional 25,000 rounds of assorted 9mm ammo and continued the test.

And now, the fall of 1995, after having fired a total of 100,000 rounds of virtually all kinds of ammunition...

Nothing has changed! The gun looks the same, feels the same, functions the same as it did before. I've done everything within reason to this gun. I've carried it all over the world, quite literally in every environmental condition known to man–– the steaming jungles of Latin America, the windblown deserts of the southwestern U.S., the 40-below zero tundra of Alaska in the winter.

And it worked–– every time. In fact, since I discovered that loading 15, rather than the rated 17, rounds into the magazine prevented the follower spring from softening, I haven't had a single malfunction. Both magazines used in this last 25,000 portion of my test remain strong and completely serviceable. And, by way of confirmation, I replaced the old springs in the magazines that failed during the test with new ones from Glock, and they, too, function perfectly.

I am especially impressed by the lack of apparent finish wear, even after over 100,000 holster presentations. The gun looks exactly as it did at 20,000! I've actually worn out several holsters, finally selecting the M-D Labs "Thunderbolt" (which I co designed with M-D honcho Kevin McClung) and matching mag carrier as the best. It's super-fast, yet secure and highly concealable, and being made of Kydex, it's by far the toughest rig now in existence.

The magazine well, although slightly scarred from in excess of 100,000 insertions, also remains entirely functional and looks much like it did in the early stages of the test.

Internal parts, too, look the same. I just can't find any discernible signs of deterioration. The piece shoots just as accurately as it did before and functions flawlessly.

So, in conclusion, the Model 17 9mm continues to defy wear, tear, corrosion and...well, me! I've thrown the whole book of tricks at this gun and yet, as this is written, it continues in service. Obviously, the Model 17 is a terrific handgun–– so terrific that I'd quite willingly bet my life on this one, even after all it's been through. What better recommendation can I give, eh?
Click to expand...
.....
 
Durable and reliable? Can't argue with SIG at all...I've never seen a single kaboom type incident with one and I've been an instructor both on active duty and off for more than 30 years, active in competition and carrying the same length of time.

Wish I could say this is a case of an owner bragging about his gun, but I can't. I've always been a bit too poor to go SIG.

I shoot 9m/m in the XD precursor (HS2K), in a Glock (27 with conversion barrel) and in a Kel-Tec PF9. I could not have afforded these handguns had I gone SIG, but my solution suited my needs and I have no complaints of any of these as they fit *my* needs.

Go SIG, and if I see you at the range some day, let me try a couple of shots to live vicariously?
 
1. CZ P01 or SP01
2. SIG P226
3. HK P30L
4. Browning High Power
5. Beretta 92FS/M9

Wouldn't see a GLOCK in my top 25, i'm just a non-kool-aid drinking HATER.

- ZI
 
You're not going to get a consensus - even from an individual - on one clear cut "MOST durable and reliable" 9mm. The truth is once you get into a certain class of guns they typically work, and work well. When function for a gun is typically 100% how does one "win" against others doing the same?

Heck my two 9mm's are the Ruger P95 and the SIG P6 - both are "budget" guns. Certainly not something you'd buy in a "cost is not an option" situation, but both have fired several hundred rounds (I probably have broken 1000 on the Ruger) with no issues. If I had unlimited budget to add another 9mm to my stable, other features besides reliability would take over (just for grins and giggles, if I was trying to stay sane with the price, and could get any 9mm I wanted right now, I'd probably get the nicest S&W M&P I could).

As such you need to look at some features you prefer.

Polymer, steel or alloy frame?

Hammer or striker fired?

If hammer, do you want single-action, double action, or double-action only?

Small for concealment or full sized?

Single stack magazine (thinner grips) or double stack (hold more rounds)?

Safety, decocker, or neither?

Do you need second-strike capability?

Target style sights or carry style?

Those are the questions to ask yourself. One you have the answers you can start to see what fits those requirements. There are pretty much 100% durable and reliable guns that fit all of them.
 
Take a look at Springfied Armory's XD or XDm line for ccw I have the xd9 sub compact 3 in barrel ,but they have a wide range of polymer pistols, service model's 4'' and tactical is 5''
 
There are so many decent 9mm pistols on the market, it's almost difficult to find a bad one -- and as good as the Brownings are, their design is a bit long in the tooth, and in the military trials, they were not top performers.

S&W started off with the 39/59 pistols, which had many problems. By the time they fixed them, the reputation of the guns was shot (excuse the pun). Their second generation models were superb and they did quite well in the tests, and the third generation also were winners. In the tests I saw, they failed once (malfunctioned) in an average of 952 rounds. The Beretta, however, with its horizontal feed and open extraction malfunctioned on an average of once every 2000 rounds. That was even better. The Colt .45 1911 washed out early and, honestly, I haven't seen many 1911s out of the box that have been flawlessly reliable. Then, with Beretta 92s coming apart and slides hitting military shooters in the face, I decided on going with the S&W 659 and 5906, both of which are outstanding guns. Also, the 645, which feeds just about anything you can fit in the magazine. All have stainless frames and function fine, even when limp-wristed.

Having said that, Sigs and Glocks and others are fine -- just pick one that appeals to you and then research it. Frequently you can see them demonstrated on YouTube.

I wouldn't trade my S&W 659 for any other 9mm I know of. But they're heavy and carrying it all the time would be a pain. But there are alloy frame models available.

I would love to have an INOX Beretta 92, but the price is prohibitive and they're hard to find. I also would seriously consider a Sig and a Springfield. If I could find a primo Browning HP, I might pick one up, but if an auto jams at all on a factory round, I'll pass on it. (I've seen a number of Kimber .45s jam at my local range, and for their price, why are they jamming? So don't let prices sway you!)

Let us know what you end up with.
 
Here is a thread that should help you rule out or in the HK P30. I and many others found on the HKPro forum have them and really, really like them. Durable....just read about them. Accurate.....again....and reliable.....no doubt. There are many other pistols out there that have the same or similar characteristics but for me...I like the HK.
http://hkpro.com/forum/showthread.php?t=104274
 
Hmmm-

Well, there is the remarkably rare Sigurd Oleffsen Rata IV,

Manufactured entirely by hand in Copenhagen, Denmark.

It is almost entirely unknown, except in the very highest

Circles of pistol connoisseurs, where it is known

As the "Unobtainigun."

For the simple reason that you may only own one if

You are related by blood to the paternal side of the family

Which dates from the early 900's.

Furthermore, these weapons are not sold, but passed

From father to son.

Therefore, there are no known examples in any collection

Nor will you find them, ever, for public sale.

isher
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

gifbohane
  • Locked
Most RELIABLE 9mm handgun?
2 3 4 5 6
Replies
139
Views
11K
9mmepiphany
9mmepiphany
B
  • Locked
Most reliable 9mm carry pistol?
2 3 4
Replies
95
Views
9K
ttheel
T
A
  • Locked
  • Poll
Cheap but reliable 9mm platform?
2 3 4
Replies
93
Views
5K
thefamcnaj
T
T
  • Locked
G26 the most reliable small 9mm?
2 3 4 5
Replies
114
Views
5K
Ben86
Ben86
P
  • Locked
Most reliable .22 auto pistol
2 3 4
Replies
87
Views
5K
searcher451
S
Back
Top