I cannot recommend the PPQ enough. Try one.
I’d go with either of the HK’s personally, although I prefer the USP line, and in a different caliber.
Uh, maybe it has something to do with the fact that he already owns a Glock, and people here aren’t big on “collecting” different platforms just for the hell of it. Just a thought.
If you’re keeping the Glock 17, the obvious answer is a Gen 4 Glock 19. If you’re serious about self defense, stick with one platform and “master” it before you start throwing new stuff into the mix.
The HK P30 or P2000 are good options as well, although I’d apply the same logic and abandon the 17 if you go that route.
Have you considered the M&P 9 compact. IMO it’s one of the finest all around handguns. You can have 12 round mags for concealed carry and full size mags with X-grips for competition, range use, classes, and home defense.
I own the M&P 9c and the Shield. They’re both fine pistols and serve different purposes.
If you don’t like the M&P than an H&K, Walther, or Glock are all great choices. It doesn’t seem like you’re looking at anything that’s frowned upon by M4C.
I don’t have experience with the Glock (other than holding it) or extensive experience with the Walther (50 rounds through a rental PPQ 9mm at the range) but in my opinion the PPQ has the best ergonomics. The Walther PPQ, HK P30 or P2000 have the best ergos IMO.
I voted for the P2000 but a USPc would work as well and probably be cheaper.
I have never shot the PPQ but I have a P99QA which its based off of. My P99QA was the first gun I ever bought and its great for concealed carry.
Everyone needs at least 1 G19. I mean it’s almost like have a gallon of milk in the fridge, there needs to be one there at all times. :jester:
The P2000 is probably the most bulletproof of all those handguns. It is an excellent all around handgun.
The Smith and Wesson M&P is the best all around package given that it has top of the line ergonomics and a clean method of mounting laser grips. It does suffer from a sub-par trigger.
I would avoid Glocks these days. Heck, even if you go with a Gen 3 you are going to be buying spare parts from the geniuses that decided to make the Gen 4.
The PPQ wins the trigger pull and ergonomics contest–but it concerns me that Walther seems to lose nearly every contract that they compete for.
If you prefer DA/SA and like the SIGs you’ve shot, go that route. I’ve honestly lost count on how many rounds I’ve got through my P226 and it’s been the single most reliable firearm I’ve owned. In it’s the 15 years I’ve owned it (I bought it new), it’s had two stoppages; one magazine related (failure to lock back, not really a stoppage), one from the former girlfriend limp wristing the shit out of it. SIGs are not perfect, but if you can learn the trigger they are damn reliable and more accurate than you can be. Like any mechanical object they can fail, and there can be some bad one. But of the three SIGs I own and the two my father owns I have had zero problems.
I also have an M&P 9 which I enjoy as well. It has had no malfunctions whatsoever. I purchased it used with 120 rounds through it and have had no stoppages after an additional 1,500+ rounds through it. My only complaint was the indistinct reset on the trigger and the Apex kit I’ve installed took care of.
Finally, there’s the Glock. While not my personal favorite, I would not hesitate to throw one on my hip everyday. You already have the familiarity with it, so it’s also a good bet.
You can never go wrong with a G19. And since you already have a g17 you can use your 17 mags for both.
Of those listed my opinion would be for a P2000 or PPQ depending on what your preference is in regards to,trigger, grip, etc.
If you already have a Glock I don’t see the point in another in a different size, the size difference between the 17 and 19 is negligible, at least to me, I actually went from a 19 to a 17, better grip for me and carries the same(5’ 8" 180lbs AIWB). I’d say stick with the Glock you have and get a spare RSA, trigger springs and a striker assembly to keep on hand then slap on some new sights.
Personally I have a PPS as an everyday take it everywhere gun and a Glock 17 for everything else, HD, classes, shtf, whatever. As much as I’d like a P30, spending the money and investing in magazines etc for something I already have a solution for is tough.
There will always be various opinions regarding what the ideal handgun for defense or competition may be. Your preferences and experience will influence your ultimate choice.
In your poll, you listed the HK P2000 9mm pistol and the USP9mm. I selected the HK P2000 9mm between the two because it is more compact and the metal magazine provides for a slimmer grip and is more ergonomic. Also, I own an HK USP9 Compact 9mm and it is very similar to the P2000 and uses the same magazine. My pistol has been very reliable and is accurate.
I have owned several Glock pistols and currently have a 17 as well. The Glock has been a reliable and accurate sidearm. However, as others I too have concerns regarding recent production models.
If I were looking to purchase a new 9mm pistol for the stated uses which you listed it would be the HK. I believe either of the compact models; HK P30, P2000, or USP Compact 9mm models would be ideal.
My personal choice would be the P30 with the Da/Sa model or the USP Compact in the same configuration (variant 1). I really like the single action pull on the USP compact, so that is the model I would purchase. The parts and magazines for either model are also readily available. Finally, an HK will serve you well for many years and thousands of rounds, even with high pressure +P+ ammunition.
Someone recently asked me what handgun manufacturer I would select for an out of the box pistol for self-defense and my answer was HK. A testament to my opinion is the last two pistols I have purchased were both HK models.
Good luck in your search.
In our house right now we have a large number of “duty guns”. some are old, some are new. With the exception of a P239 that I sold to a partner a few years ago we just don’t get rid of handguns. We have SIG P Series, we have M&Ps, we have Glocks, we have HKs, there is even a 1911 and a S&W 4506 (the pinnacle of single stack all metal .45 handgun design, but I digress). I currently carry a USPc LEM with a 340PD as a BUG. Until recently I was carrying a P2000SK LEM with the USPc as both could share magazines. My wife carries an issued P228 or a M&Pc, depending.
She recently bought a P2000 LEM in 9mm. A sweet shooting pistol and she really likes the LEM trigger, as I do. She does find the mag release a bit on the short side (small hands) so I just ordered a set of HK45 mag release paddles for her P2000 and my USPc. Over the years I have become a big fan of HK handguns. In my experience, seeing both issued and personally owned duty guns they are a very well designed and durable handgun, you won’t go wrong with an HK. If you are a lefty or have one in the household the P2000 and the P30/P45 are truly ambidextrous pistols, having like controls on both sides of the pistol. The P30 is nice, but it is big, comparable to the full-size HK USP. The P2000 is slightly larger than a USPc, which in turn is slightly larger than a G19. If you go HK, do yourself a favor and get the LEM trigger. Once you learn to ride the reset on this particular trigger system it can be shot very fast.
Now, all of that said, if I were buying a handgun tomorrow I’d buy a Walther PPQ. It uses an ambi paddle magazine release like the HK, has a trigger more akin to the Glock and M&P and at the price they are sold, they are a steal.
The PPQ wins the trigger pull and ergonomics contest–but it concerns me that Walther seems to lose nearly every contract that they compete for.
Just this year, Walther won a contract for the Finnish Police, Border Guard, and Customs, for about 7,800 P99Q pistols. Walther also won a Dutch Police contract this year for around 43,000 P99Q pistols. The H&K P30 and Walther PPQ were also in the running to win the Dutch Police contract.
Out of the 16 Federal States in Germany, H&K supplies pistols to the police of 7 states, Walther supplies pistols to the police of 5 states, and Sig supplies pistols to the police of 4 states. The P99 is carried by the NRW police, the largest police force of the 16 states, to include more than 41,000 officers.
Considering that Walther competes directly against H&K and Sig, and still manages to win contracts, speaks highly of them IMO, considering the competition. Walther focuses more on small bore competition pistols and rifles, but they make defensive pistols that compete against products from some of the best defensive pistol manufacturers in the world.
P30 V1.
G19, Polls don’t lie
I think any on that list would serve you well, but I’d go with the HK P30 or the 2000.
Unless it is politics, sports, car reviews,…etc.
^^^^That’s funny.
G19, same trigger, more concealable, many parts interchangeable.
I’m unhappy with Glock at the moment because of the frequent brass to face and occasional stovepipe issue. I like the minimalism and simplicity of the basic design, but the need to invest money and time just to get a gun to work properly is bad. Glock’s inability or unwillingness to fix the problem, and their denial that there even is a problem (at least publicly), is not a good sign.
The M&P gets it right in other calibers, and it appears that the Shield may have gotten it right in a compact 9mm. Now if S&W can just resolve the accuracy issues with some of the full size 9mm guns… at least they seem to be moving in the right direction. Time will tell.
The Sig P229 is heavy and an older design and I’m not crazy about DA/SA. But you know what, it always works. Every time. I’ve never once had a misfire, never any BTF. No need to modify anything. Good ergonomics. It’s accurate, and I like the factory sights. Never thought I’d say this, but maybe I’ll just practice more with that trigger.
Or… it sounds like H&K’s work out of the box. I haven’t tried one yet. Buying an expensive gun isn’t any worse than spending for extras on top of one that starts out as less expensive, so it could happen.
Unfortunately the PPQ is not an easy option in California, not on the DOJ approved list so I haven’t even held one. If anyone here is set up to do a single shot exemption for the PPQ I haven’t found them yet.
Hopefully my frustrations will identify issues in advance so you can think about them before experiencing them fiirsthand, and decide what’s important or not for your own particular needs.