Purchasing 9mm - what do you shoot and why?

4n2t0 said:
Shooting a .22 won't help with flinch mitigation unless you see it as dry fire with ammo, in which case I don't need the .22, I would just dry fire.
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I agree with this statement. Also, the OP asked about which 9mm. He also made no mention of budget. And I’ll finally add, the smith & wesson sdve9 might be ugly and inexpensive, but is not junk. It would be a fine venture into a plastic striker fired handgun.
 
My background is precision target shooting, high end bullseye pistols and besides owning a Jericho 941 I’ve avoided buying 9mm. But this past week I shot a CZ Shadow 2 and was impressed. Not a great trigger by target pistols standards ( ie Hammerli 208, Pardini, Walther GSP) but it’s a darn good trigger for its intended purposes. I own a Pardini GT45 and for the money I’d likely buy CZ Shadow 2 rather than a Pardini GT9 and use the savings for ammo.

I’ll be forthcoming l,I’m toying with the idea of buying a Sig210A but the CZ Shadow 2 really impressed me to the point I may buy one. The 320x5 legion is something I’d like to try.
 
The past several years, I’m at the range every week, for at least 48 weeks/year, helping shooters. I can only report on my experience working with them. Many people will benefit from starting with a .22, whether people want to believe me or not.

The SD9VE is definitely not a fine venture into a plastic gun. Go with almost anything else instead. I’ve seen new shooters struggle with it, then they try to justify their purchase from some ego thing. Frustrated wives/girlfriends preferring to sit out shooting, instead of being at the bench with smiles on their faces. When I give them one of my guns, they are happy and excited to shoot.
 
There's always the advocates in the "9mm thread" who recommend getting a .22
Unless you genuinely enjoy shooting .22, do yourself a favor and skip it IMO

I would however recommend buying what you really want instead of settling for something cheaper
Eventually the novelty of the cheaper gun will wear off and you'll just wish you saved enough to get the better one you have you eyes on

Comparing each gun will be very subjective for each person
Some people prefer the HK style mag release, others like traditional button release
Everyone's hand is different so size, grip angle, grip texture, whether there's finger grooves or not, will all be different for everybody
Personally, I like Glocks. They fit my hand pretty well, decent balance, I can reach all the controls without shifting my grip, good aftermarket support, I like striker fired guns as opposed to hammer fired
I like the Glock grip angle (shocking, I know). I'm not at all a 1911 guy, since I shoot Lugers which is closer to the Glock grip angle so the 1911 angle makes the muzzle point down for me.
 
My first 9mm was a CZ SP01 Tactical, and I love it. But from there I went to polymer frames. The Glock RTF2 is my favorite for the rough texture, and the mags I can use in my pistol calibre carbines which is a huge plus. Bought my wife a Walther PPQ M2 Navy and picked myself up a Smith and Wesson M&P 9 M2.0 recently and I am able to shoot better than my Glocks with both of those. They just seem to fit my hands better. And the M&P grip just feels amazing. I recommend getting your hands on those last two to see how they feel for you.
 
Brian James said:
My background is precision target shooting, high end bullseye pistols and besides owning a Jericho 941 I’ve avoided buying 9mm. But this past week I shot a CZ Shadow 2 and was impressed. Not a great trigger by target pistols standards ( ie Hammerli 208, Pardini, Walther GSP) but it’s a darn good trigger for its intended purposes. I own a Pardini GT45 and for the money I’d likely buy CZ Shadow 2 rather than a Pardini GT9 and use the savings for ammo.

I’ll be forthcoming l,I’m toying with the idea of buying a Sig210A but the CZ Shadow 2 really impressed me to the point I may buy one. The 320x5 legion is something I’d like to try.
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Based on this response, competing in a specific division in IPSC or IDPA isn't a priority and with your experience I would recommend you at least take a look at a CZ Tactical Sport in 9mm. They are absolute tack drivers with a great single action trigger. They are not a real popular seller in 9mm as for Competion it would be in Standard division so most want it in .40 for Major scoring.
 
To provide a budget, I’m a firm believer that you get what you pay for. I would say a max budget would take me to $1250.00. With that said I’m known to find something I really love and it warrants a larger budget view changes. I do appreciate everyone’s comments. I have made a list of guns that I plan on holding & hope to fire before making a decision.
 
I wanted either a Shadow 2, Walther PPQ Q5, or a Canik TP9SFX. I ended up buying a Shadow 2 optics ready when they went on sale. From what I have read of reviews, all 3 are pretty decent pistols
 
edgy said:
Lol, I honestly don't know your background, but jimbo14 coaches master class IDPA and IPSC shooters,,,I'm going to take his word on this :)
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If a coach told me that the small pop of a .22 would help my flinch when shooting centerfire than I would find another coach but that's just me :). If shooting a .22 is meant to replicate dry fire than I totally agree but again I would just dry fire or use the ball and dummy drill. Doubling up on ear protection will do much more for flinch mitigation than a .22 ever will but that's just my .02 (it's probably not even worth that much, lol)

P.S. Him and I have already agreed to disagree, I'm sure he doesn't need your moral support on this one
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Beretta APX. I own 2 combat models, optics ready, 125mm threaded barrel. Competition firing pin, Heavy duty guide rod/spring assembly. Level shooting, crisp trigger, with the option for a muzzle break which I also run.

http. ://www.beretta.com/en-us/apx-striker/

http ://www.beretta.com/en/apx/


https://alflahertys.com/beretta-apx-striker-fired-handgun-9mm-with-backstraps/

https://alflahertys.com/beretta-handgun-apx-fde-9mm-pw32121315341/

https://alflahertys.com/beretta-handgun-apx-rdo-9mm-jaxf92070/





The addition of the new APX semiautomatic pistol completes the full size pistol portfolio and makes Beretta one of the few manufacturers to offer full size polymer and metallic framed handguns in both hammer and striker fired operating systems.

Designed specifically for military and law enforcement operators, the APX has been put through extensive testing and evaluation at the professional end user level. The result is a pistol that delivers superior performance in durability and reliability, ergonomics, trigger, and modularity. Utilizing a removable, serialized chassis frame, the APX can be easily modified with replaceable grip frame housings and is simple to disassemble and maintain.

Each APX comes with 3 interchangeable back straps so users can best fit their hands and preferences. The APX’s aggressive full length slide serrations make slide manipulations easy under any conditions. To accommodate right or left-handed use, the APX’s magazine release button can be easily reversed, and the slide stop is ambidextrous.

The APX’s trigger breaks at 6lbs and has a clear tactile and audible very short reset. The APX truly is the ultimate striker fired pistol from Beretta.
 
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Another reason why I chose/purchased the APX over other striker fired pistols was the full length rails that the slide rides on, unlike others that just have 4 small pads fore and aft.

https://youtu.be/EG7Q8Nw_1VY

Out of the striker fired HG's I was interested in (P320RX, GLOCK19MOS, FN509TAC, APXRDO/COMBAT) there were a few prerequisites, duty FA, ambi controls everything, finger grooves, weight, ease of takedown/maintenance, not looking like a piece of LEGO, and how it felt in my hand.

The APX won overall for me. The only small bit pick on the APX RDO/COMBAT no suppressor height sights, but not a deal breaker.
 
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If I was doing it again, I would have bought a CZ75 or 85, but I cheaped out and got a Norinco NZ85B. Problem is that it shoots so well, has such a nice single/double action trigger pull, and is stupid accurate. The only complaint I had with it was the poor Nork grips. I got a pair of CZ75 take-offs (rubber over molded) Nork uses bigger screws, so I had to drill them out, but they were a perfect fit. Presently have no reason to upgrade.

I have an all steel, full sized Jericho in .40 S & W; another CZ clone. Decocker took a bit of getting used to, fit and finish is great, function is 100%, and very accurate as well. Better SA/DA trigger than the CZs I have shot right out of the box. If I had bought the Jericho first, I likely would have bought the same pistol in 9 mm.
 
You are correct, and unlike most I take my FA to the USA where they allow those freedoms, not like in Canada where they "suppress" them.:)
 
4n2t0 said:
If a coach told me that the small pop of a .22 would help my flinch when shooting centerfire than I would find another coach but that's just me :). If shooting a .22 is meant to replicate dry fire than I totally agree but again I would just dry fire or use the ball and dummy drill. Doubling up on ear protection will do much more for flinch mitigation than a .22 ever will but that's just my .02 (it's probably not even worth that much, lol)

P.S. Him and I have already agreed to disagree, I'm sure he doesn't need your moral support on this one
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Except, for me, every time I shoot a couple rounds of .22 bullseye, I shoot better with my CF pistols. Fact for me.
 
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