What would you choose?

[Nervouswater]

New to the forum here, but have been reading with interest for many years. I'm completely stuck trying to figure out my next rilfe and pistol purchase and looking for some good input. Here is my scenario:

• I currently own a Ruger LCP and Springfield xds9 for concealed carry, and I am happy with both of them. I carry the xds 90% of the time for reference.
• I am selling my .45 XDM with the intention of consolidating down to three calibers for stockpiling which are .22, 5.56/.223, and 9mm.
• The only 5.56 platform I own at the moment is a Mossberg Varmint heavy barrel that is bolt action, but accepts standard AR mags.

I know that I want to get a larger 9mm pistol with the intention of using it for range, home defense, and in the woods (I live in the mountains of Colorado.) Because of the woods usage, I want a reliable platform that will work well with +p loads such as the NATO 124 grain rounds or Underwood's XTP. The options I am considering there are the Glock 17 or 34, CZ P-09 or p-07, Springfield XD mod 2 tactical, or the wildcards are either a Rex Zero or Canik. Striker vs da/sa isn't a huge deal to me. I was set on the Glock platform but am hesitant now because of the BTF issues on the Gen 4 and I don't want to have to buy new springs, new extractors, etc right out of the box.

The next consideration is which rifle/carbine caliber under $700. The primary use for this platform will be home defense, range, and WROL scenarios. I'm pretty set that if I go 5.56, I will go with a Smith and Wesson M&P 15 Sport II, but my other thought is that because I already own so much 9mm ammo and have a 5.56 rifle (albeit a bolt action), that I may be better served getting a 9mm carbine. If I go with the Glock pistol, it would be very tempting to get the JRC takedown so that it would fit in a standard backpack and take the same mags. If I don't get a Glock pistol, I would be tempted to look at the Beretta CX Storm.

For any longer range shooting, I would use my scoped heavy barrel 5.56, so I would envision this weapon being used for ranges within 200 yards.

Thanks in advance for the input!

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Welcome!

I would choose the CZ P09

Just a tip for future posts, if you are looking for opinions on different model pistols, it helps to list them out:
CZ P09 or P07
Glock 17 or 34
etc...

Helps us understand the ones you are considering.

Good luck!

 

[bassjam]

If you're really wanting to do a 9mm carbine, I'd do a Glock handgun and a Sub-2000 that accepts Glock mags.

Otherwise, there's a million possibilities. Personally I'd probably just get the M&P Sport and a CZ handgun (actually, that's exactly what I did do) but you need to find out which handgun fits you the best.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

The M&P Sport II is really nice and if I was buying a low cost assembled AR it would be at the top of my list. You might also want to look at PSA as pinning an upper to a lower isn't a big deal and something you'll be doing anyway when you clean it. They have a ton of different configurations and their prices for decent stuff is usually really good especially if you follow the daily sales.

As for your pistol list, is there a reason the M&Ps aren't on it? I too have an XDs and love it but mine's a 45. I've been oggling the M&P M2.0 since they came out and have pretty much decided on the 5" as I'm looking to try competition and I already have the XDs and a small 9mm for conceal carry.

Going the Glock route makes sense if you want a carbine that uses Glock mags. I'm not fond of the grip angle and like the M&Ps so much more so I'm really frustrated that there aren't any (or more than an oddball or two) 9mm carbines that use the M&P magazines.

 

[JONWILL]

I am a huge CZ fan. I have a P-09 and P-07. They are both great guns. Magazines are kind of pricey but are durable. If you look on Auctiom sites you can find them for under $400
Glock is also a good choice.

5.56 rifle. I would go with the S&W Look at YouTube. Iraq vet did a meltdown on the S&W. Stood up to close to 800 rounds full auto. Basically non stop firing except to change magazines

I personally have a couple of Palmetto State AR’s I assembled from kits. Under $400 and they run great.

AR’s are as cheap as they have ever been. This is the time to get them

 

[ATLDave]

The exponential increase in the use of pistol caliber carbines in competition right now (USPSA and 3/2 Gun and Steel Challenge and...) is driving a ton of innovation on 9mm AR's right now. But it's still early days in terms of having truly reliable, truly safe 9mm AR's that perform well, are durable, and don't cost a lot more than a .223/5.56 AR of equivalent quality/reliability. My non-expert advice would be to hold off for a year or two on a 9mm AR unless you have an immediate need or don't mind troubleshooting/tinkering. I suspect that in another couple of years, as more major big-box-carried manufacturers get into the 9mm AR game, you will be able to get more gun for less money.

In contrast, the 5.56 AR is very mature and prices are super low. If you think you will ever want one, that's not a purchase to delay (finances permitting).

 

[Nervouswater]

I had an M&P in the past and it was okay, but I've been turned off by some of their performances in torture tests (disqualified from Army consideration and MAC's gauntlet test specifically.) I could just be reading too much on the internet though...

 

[Nervouswater]

I had an M&P pistol in the past and it was okay, but I've been turned off by some of their performances in torture tests (disqualified from Army consideration and MAC's gauntlet test specifically.) I could just be reading too much on the internet though...

 

[JeffG]

Welcome! Have you shot any of these guns? Fit, trigger pull and grip angle will play as huge factors into your choice. None of the considerations you have presented are bad choices. People on this board are very knowledgeable and give good advice.

 

[jmr40]

Glock. I like the 19 better than the 17 or 34, but your preference.

The AR of your choice. There are so many options now, and so many of them good ones I'd have a hard time recommending one over another. A light weight AR carbine does everything a 9mm carbine does plus a lot more.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

Glock. I like the 19 better than the 17 or 34, but your preference.

The AR of your choice. There are so many options now, and so many of them good ones I'd have a hard time recommending one over another. A light weight AR carbine does everything a 9mm carbine does plus a lot more.

And what about 300 Blackout? My understanding is that one of the reasons for it was to have a hard hitting carbine caliber in the AR platform.

 

[Nervouswater]

Glock. I like the 19 better than the 17 or 34, but your preference.

The AR of your choice. There are so many options now, and so many of them good ones I'd have a hard time recommending one over another. A light weight AR carbine does everything a 9mm carbine does plus a lot more.

Have you had good luck with gen 4 Glocks?

 

[JeffG]

Have you had good luck with gen 4 Glocks?

Never a hitch. I never worked with a conversion carbine, though....

 

[Danoobie]

Of the ones you put out there, I would say consider the CZs or the Rex Zero, which apparently has rated very well.

 

[BSA1]

As someone who has no real need for a AR I am going to suggest you get a AR in 5.56. I don't think prices will ever get any lower enough to matter and world events could bring a quick end to the buyers market.

I built a budget AR last month for a grand total of $430.00. When I test fired it at 25 yards the first round was about 1/2" low from a new, clean barrel and the next four rounds were touching with 3 rounds going in the same hole. With accuracy like that I can't think of any reason not to buy or build your own budget AR.

9mm carbine sounds like a lot of fun but it is a niche gun to me. I would want mine to use the same magazines as my primary edc (Beretta 92 in my case). Plus the 223/5.56 is much more versatile and ammunition is easy to come by.

Also take advantage of sales and buy 10 30 round magazines.

As for handguns I am not a Glock fan. My edc is a Beretta 92FS and The Lady brought herself a S&W M&P 1.0 9mm earlier this year. Hers has been tricked out with APEX Duty Trigger Kit and TruGlo fiber optic sights. I brought 10 extra magazines for it. She really likes the gun and shoots it well. It is really nice to have a shooting partner that wants to go to the range.

p.s. You figured correctly that I like at least 10 magazines for each of my self-defense guns.

 

[bannockburn]

Not a big Glock fan only because it's not a good fit ergonomically with my smaller size hand. I much prefer something like the Browning Hi-Power, CZ 75, CZ P01, SIG P229, or Ruger SR9c. Would definitely get an AR in 5.56mm. as now is a great time to buy one with a wide selection to choose from along with some pretty low prices too.

 

[FL-NC]

I would go with the G-17. A great GP pistol, easier to carry than a 34. The 34 is more of a competition pistol (I use one for 3 gun), the 17 has much more flexibility. For a rifle, I would choose a AR like a S&W sport. A 9mm carbine is fun, but has limited use beyond home defense (literally- inside the home) and range toy. No remotely serious gun collection should be without at least 1 AR in 223, IMO.

 

[WestKentucky]

I would ditch the 3 caliber limitation and go for something more potent for the mid-range. Marlin 336 30-30 would be my pick for that slot, and if you really want to you can get the shorter barreled carbines very affordably. A lever gun is quick handling and fun, plus jumping up in power gives you the option to hunt larger game should you ever choose to do so. Along those lines though, if you would rather stick to military surplus ammo availability then you could consider a .308 in any of the bolt rifles out there...I think savage calls one a hog hunter and it is a nice one...

On full-size 9, shoot a Glock and see if it fits your hand, if it doesn’t consider any of the CZ pattern guns. The Witness was the cheapest CZ pattern last time I looked.

 

[WrongHanded]

I know that I want to get a larger 9mm pistol with the intention of using it for range, home defense, and in the woods (I live in the mountains of Colorado.) Because of the woods usage.....

Speaking as someone who frequently hikes RMNP and other sections of CO wilderness, I would strongly consider a larger caliber. Just my two cents of course, but I don't think 9mm is a terribly effective round again some of the larger native mammals.

So my suggestion is a GP100 with a 5 -6" barrel.

 

[Nervouswater]

Speaking as someone who frequently hikes RMNP and other sections of CO wilderness, I would strongly consider a larger caliber. Just my two cents of course, but I don't think 9mm is a terribly effective round again some of the larger native mammals.

So my suggestion is a GP100 with a 5 -6" barrel.

Haven't you heard, guys are killing grizzlies now with 9mm's! https://www.americanhunter.org/arti...ishermen-from-raging-grizzly-with-9mm-pistol/

I hear you on the .357 for sure, but I feel pretty comfortable with 15-21 rounds (depending on which pistol I go with) of Underwood extreme penetrator. I can get the same type of penetration you would get with standard .357 rounds, but double taps and getting multiple shots on target in general would be much easier with the semi IMHO.

 

[Bfh_auto]

New to the forum here, but have been reading with interest for many years. I'm completely stuck trying to figure out my next rifle and pistol purchase and looking for some good input.
I got a chance to shoot a Canik and was very impressed. I also like the CZ. A pistol caliber carbine is a hoot. In a wrol situation being able to screw a suppressor on and having more fire power is better. Since I don't worry about that I would choose a Handgun that fits me and a carbine that takes the same mags. It is harder to shoot well with a firearm that doesn't naturally point where you want it to. You have an excellent bolt-gun.

 

[WrongHanded]

Haven't you heard, guys are killing grizzlies now with 9mm's! https://www.americanhunter.org/arti...ishermen-from-raging-grizzly-with-9mm-pistol/

I hear you on the .357 for sure, but I feel pretty comfortable with 15-21 rounds (depending on which pistol I go with) of Underwood extreme penetrator. I can get the same type of penetration you would get with standard .357 rounds, but double taps and getting multiple shots on target in general would be much easier with the semi IMHO.

I hadn't seen that article before, but I have been fortunate enough to see a grizzly run at me full tilt. I say fortunate because I was inside a van, and slid the door closed before it got to us, at which point it angled past the vehicle. Amazingly fast and powerful animals, but not a concern in CO as you know.

I suppose the knowledge of an experienced handgun hunter may be of benefit to the conversation. I see where you're coming from with the high capacity low recoil angle, I just don't have the same perspective. But having never had to shoot a large charging animal, I'm certainly no expert on the subject.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I hate answering these threads because no one ever listens but as a fellow Coloradan I'll through out some thoughts.

If you already have a striker fired pistol I'd stick with the striker fired platform but that's just me. If I was going to go TDA I'd go CZ

Colorado limits you to 15 rounds so for me I just don't see the point of a Glock 17.

I own an M&P 9 and a Glock 19. I like the 19 because it's a little smaller than the M&P (but you want full sized) and I can put it in my coat pocket when I take the dogs out. I also like the fact that Glock magazines are aboutN10 bucks cheaper than M&P magazines.

Last thing if you're anywhere near Colorado Springs check out Family Firearms on Maizeland and Academy. They'll give you a good deal

I hadn't seen that article before, but I have been fortunate enough to see a grizzly run at me full tilt. I say fortunate because I was inside a van, and slid the door closed before it got to us, at which point it angled past the vehicle. Amazingly fast and powerful animals, but not a concern in CO as you know.

There are starting to be reports in NW Colorado

 

[WrongHanded]

There are starting to be reports in NW Colorado

If you have any resources about Grizzly sightings in Colorado, could you post a link? I always suspected they, along with wolves, would migrate south without much notice. Seems like there's plenty of space in the Northern area of the State.

 

[Browning]

The brass to face issues of Glocks has been way overblown IMHO.

I'd also probably get a Glock 19 as opposed to a G17 unless you also intended on using it for competition (not a bad idea) just cause it's slightly easier to conceal and you can still use G17 mags with it if you wanted to. Even using its own mags it's still 15+1, not half bad.

If you were going to get into competition then I'd worry about getting a Glock 17 or 34.

As far as the AR vs XYZ 9mm carbine I'd get an AR just because it's in an actual rifle cartridge. AR mags and parts are also literally everywhere. Every single one of my friends has at least one, most own 2-5 and one overachiever owns 14. It's pretty much THE most common model in America.

Later on if you still want a 9mm carbine might I suggest a CZ Scorpion in either a carbine, a braced pistol or as an SBR. I have one (HD since my wife feels way more comfortable with this and as a range toy) and it's a lot of fun. The JRC makes a little more sense than the Beretta Storm. With the Beretta Storm while I like it much more than the JRC from an aesthetic, feel and just plain shooting-sense, but then you'd likely be forced to buy a gob of Beretta mags and from what you said you don't own a Beretta.

If that's the case then mag commonality isn't really part of the equation anyway and I like the CZ Scorpion a whole lot better than either one. Mags are $20 for the CZ too.