Need some opinions on my first 9mm

bojackson

bojackson

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Hey everyone!

I'm fairly new to the world of pistols. I've got a browning buckmark UFX in 22lr but I'm at the point now where i'm looking for something with a little more bang and 9mm seems like a great place to start. I've shot a number of pistols; glocks, m&ps, HK's, Sigs, SR9 etc etc. Did not like the HKP30. Glocks and M&P's were fine but wasn't blown away.

I'm not a fan of the polymer stuff. They're fun but I'm enjoying the look and feel of the steel framed ones more. I really liked the Sig P226.

Here are the ones I've got my eyes on:

Sig P226
CZ 75 or Shadow
STI Spartan IV (commander size in 9mm)
Beretta 92

They all feel great in my hand but I've only shot the Sig. To be honest I like to the look and feel of the STI the best. I love the 1911 look. Am I missing any other solid options out there? Are there reasons I should avoid any of the ones in my list? My budget is about $1000.

Thanks!
 
I had pretty much the same list when looking for my first 9mm (with the exception of the sparton) - the 92 fit my hand the best an that's what I went with - you can find them on the EE in the $600 range . good luck..
 
I think the Browning Hi Power is worth mentioning, otherwise, a very solid list, they are all very proven pistols. I absolutely concur about he look of the 1911's. I view them as a cut above the rest and am saving up for a quality 1911 in 45 acp. It almost feels sacrilegious to get a 1911 in anything but a .45
 
frogger said:
I had pretty much the same list when looking for my first 9mm (with the exception of the sparton) - the 92 fit my hand the best an that's what I went with - you can find them on the EE in the $600 range . good luck..
Click to expand...

Agreed. Sig P226 and Beretta 92 are two mainstays in my collection. Had a CZ75b and sold it.
 
Hi Power is classy, but has an utterly rubbish trigger out of the box that isn't trivial to fix up. Mine was a good 11 pound pull. Driving out the trigger pin requires the strength of Atlas, the hammer of Thor, and a jewelers precision.

1911 in 9mm continues to disappoint me. I just plain don't like the feel of the gun as it works. It's like 9 mice farting in sequence.

Beretta - didn't like the trigger. One of the worse aspects of its lineage.

CZ Shadow - if you want an all-steel gun, this should be on your shortest short list - Don't get a B model



That's my nutshell ;)
 
Mark-II said:
Hi Power is classy, but has an utterly rubbish trigger out of the box that isn't trivial to fix up. Mine was a good 11 pound pull. Driving out the trigger pin requires the strength of Atlas, the hammer of Thor, and a jewelers precision.

1911 in 9mm continues to disappoint me. I just plain don't like the feel of the gun as it works. It's like 9 mice farting in sequence.

Beretta - didn't like the trigger. One of the worse aspects of its lineage.

CZ Shadow - if you want an all-steel gun, this should be on your shortest short list - Don't get a B model



That's my nutshell ;)
Click to expand...

haha. I like the mice fart analogy.
 
Add in extra capacity for the P226 and Beretta 92 using 40cal mags... pretty cool. Sig triggers are awesome at 4.5 lbs SA and 92 triggers are long and stiff in DA, but are quite nice in SA.
 
I own 3 of the 4 you're considering.

Go with the Shadow, not the 75. Better trigger (if not the best) in the DA/SA family, tames recoil (such as it is) very nicely owing to it's all steel construction. Tighter tolerances mean it can be finicky with the type of ammo you feed it.

Sig's are inheritably accurate, wonderful craftsmanship, and will last longer than you. Higher bore axis might take some getting used to, and I got rid of the E2 grips as I found them too thin. The short reset trigger is an advantage if you know how to use it, ad the decocker on the frame is the best there is.

The Beretta has a nice sight radius with it's 4.9" barrel, looks like ### captured in metal and is just as reliable and well made as the Sig. The long DA pull is very easy to fix with a "D" spring swap which takes 2 seconds to drop in. Some people don't like it's thicker grip, but you can put on thinner grips to eliminate that.

Both the Beretta and the Sig are battle proven. They're considered "duty" guns, whereas the Shadow is more for competitions rather than having it in the field.

I love them all.
 
From an ergonomics level, between the p226, shadow, and 92fs i prefer the p226. Never handled the spartan so i cannot comment. i personally hate the slide release and thumb safety on my shadow. It's bulky, and it lowers my support hand grip. Just my opinion.
 
I would also look at the IWI Jericho 941.

Nice list by the way, you really can;t go wrong with any of those choices.
 
IWI Jericho 941. It's a knockoff on the CZ75. Slightly different look. I prefer the steel.
Aprox $700 Canadian last I looked.

here's mine.
20150114_001512.jpg
 
if it's up to me, it would be either p226 and/or cz75 shadow depending on what you want. p226 is all around gun, practical and field tested. shadow is a dominating competition toy. I have p226 and will buy shadow or shadowline
Beretta is just too ugly looking for me. For 1911, I have it in the 45ACP and won't want it in any other caliber as that's what it was designed for. maybe I am just too stubborn. :)


bojackson said:
Hey everyone!

I'm fairly new to the world of pistols. I've got a browning buckmark UFX in 22lr but I'm at the point now where i'm looking for something with a little more bang and 9mm seems like a great place to start. I've shot a number of pistols; glocks, m&ps, HK's, Sigs, SR9 etc etc. Did not like the HKP30. Glocks and M&P's were fine but wasn't blown away.

I'm not a fan of the polymer stuff. They're fun but I'm enjoying the look and feel of the steel framed ones more. I really liked the Sig P226.

Here are the ones I've got my eyes on:

Sig P226
CZ 75 or Shadow
STI Spartan IV (commander size in 9mm)
Beretta 92

They all feel great in my hand but I've only shot the Sig. To be honest I like to the look and feel of the STI the best. I love the 1911 look. Am I missing any other solid options out there? Are there reasons I should avoid any of the ones in my list? My budget is about $1000.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
 
bojackson said:
Here are the ones I've got my eyes on:

Sig P226
CZ 75 or Shadow
STI Spartan IV (commander size in 9mm)
Beretta 92
Click to expand...

All good guns. That's a good list to pick from, don't think you can make a mistake with whatever you choose. Personally, I sold all my 1911's, thought the single stack design was dated. Add in the Beretta and Sig's ability to run 40 cal mags and get a 13rd capacity, legally - and it narrows the choice a little (if that matters to you).

If you want the CZ, pay a little more and get the Shadow, it's much better than the plain CZ75.

Don't skimp, buy the nicest pistol you can afford as in the long run, ammunition will be your largest expense. Skimping and buying a pistol that you later will upgrade, causes you to lose resale value and taxes. Always buy the best you can afford at the beginning. I've found out the hard way.
 
Good list to choose from and hard to go wrong. I'd add my voice to the suggestion of a Browning Hi-Power but I think they are more of an "iconic gun to own because of the history" rather than a 1st purchase. I think probably the CZ or Sig would be the wise choice
 
Like them all.. Bough the sig first, then the shadow...wouldn't part with either....sti is high on my list, maybe next....and can see a beretta in my future......not keen on the tupaware version, but never shot one...sure to be happy with any one of them, try to handle all of them to see what fits
 
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