Okay pistol experts...if you had to buy a full-size, steel 9mm?

General Firearms Handguns - Semi Auto
1

Most of the guns I see talked about here are poly-framed, and that’s fine with me.

I’ve been happy with my Glock and would also buy an MP9 and not think twice about it.

But I am kind of shopping for someone else now…someone who would only accept an all-steel (maybe aluminum & steel) gun.

My immediate thought was an SP01 of some sort…but the recent thread on “why not CZs?” has me thinking twice.

And I see SIGs have apparently started to take a hit in the QC department as well.

A BHP would probably have all the same issues as a CZ, only worse.

A Tanfoglio…well, that’s out of my price range anyway, and my impression is that I’d be better off with a CZ.

I was kind of kicking around the idea of a S&W 59xx series…but shot a 5946 the other day and wow, didn’t care for that much.

I would consider a 9mm 1911, but STI is the first name that comes to mind and I haven’t seen a lot of positive STI talk here.

And I have known too many US servicemen to buy a Beretta.

At this point I think I’m getting past the obvious choices and I’m into the oddball stuff…somebody up here is talking about importing Bersa Thunder 9s but man, that feels like “out on a limb” country to me.

I feel like I’m running out of options…maybe the CZ is the best way to go with the limitations I have? I was actually starting to wonder if I could have the slide on an MP9 sandblasted to look more “steely” and sneak it past the person…but I think she would pick up on the plastic “feel” right away and be turned off of the gun.

So if you were forced to abandon poly-framed guns and you wanted a full-size 9mm handgun which would primarily be for defensive use, with no specific competition requirements, what would you go with? It is not a “first gun” kind of situation…this is for someone with a moderate amount of shooting time in - maybe five hundred to a thousand rounds a year on average, say - and ready access to regular pistol training.

2

HK P7! :smiley:

not sure if that’s exactly what you’re looking for… but they sure are sweet.

3

the hk usp is sweet, so are the beretta 92 and m9 models.

4

If you go through the gamut of metal-framed current production pistols and find them all wanting, perhaps it’s time to reconsider the purchase of a metal-framed pistol.

5

Too weird! No, I might consider that one…but it sure trips my weird meter.

I thought the USP was polymer framed though?

6

I would love to own a p7. Unfortunately they are too expensive for me to own and not use at this point.

7

I would check out one of the new E series Sig pistols for sure.

8

The CZ-75 SP-01 is a great shooting and feeling gun, however ive only put about 4k rnds through mine and it has held up great, typical maintenance and no malfunctions. We’ll see how it goes after about 10k rnds or so.

9

my apologies… i didn’t pay much attention to your requirements. todd made a good point… however, if you are dead set on a large METAL frame pistol… i would look into a beretta. i have been shooting beretta pistols for years and i love them. when you shoot one, there is just a feeling of refinement going on. with this being said… i don’t like to tell people what they should buy as far as actual firearms go and, rarely, will i ask others what i should buy. it’s what fits you best. i could tell you all day what firearm you should buy and what’s the best, but my statements would have no validation because i believe in shooter preference. i’m just saying: go shoot a beretta and see if you like it. :wink:

10

30 years ago I had a S&W 659, I don’t really feel like going back to the past, firearms have gotten so much better since then.

11

How about a used Sig? S&W TSW?

12

I love the Beretta, and after I did a little work and replaced some parts, my Kimber 1911 in 9mm runs great. I would not recommend the latter unless you are willing to fix something.

A used, West German Sig 228 or 226 is a very, very good option.

What makes you think that the BHP “would have the same issues as the CZ?”

13

Well, if it were a pistol for me, that is exactly what I would do…however the person I am shopping for is less flexible than I am on this point.

14

As I recall, the SIG P Series, like the Berettas all have alloy frames with the exception of the P220 Stainless and that isn’t a 9mm. The OP is looking for a steel framed 9mm, not sure why.

15

I will look into an older Sig, maybe.

I am far from an expert on pistol design…the BHP and the CZ75 always struck me as similar pistols but maybe that is a poor assessment?

16

I think alloy would be an acceptable alternative…the requirement is more aesthetic than anything else but since the gun would be a present I don’t feel I can impose my practical ideas on the recipient.

17

So if you were forced to abandon poly-framed guns and you wanted a full-size 9mm handgun which would primarily be for defensive use, with no specific competition requirements, what would you go with? It is not a “first gun” kind of situation…this is for someone with a moderate amount of shooting time in - maybe five hundred to a thousand rounds a year on average, say - and ready access to regular pistol training.

I’m no expert, but I have spent a night or two at a Holiday Inn.

I like the Browning Hi-Power/FN P35.

The HK P7 is a neat, well balanced and very unique pistol. It’s worth looking at just to say you did.

18

From a mechanical standpoint, they have little to nothing in common (that the two don’t share with many other handguns).

The biggest thing is appearance.

19

Well, I’m not going to pretend I knew that when I got up this morning. I guess I knew even less about the BHP than I thought. I have never shot one, frankly, and only handled them in the gun shop.

So I guess there is no reason to attribute similar problems to them after all.

20

beretta, taurus PT series(which I would take over the beretta based only on the safety) and the ruger p seires are all that come to my mind at the moment.