best 9mm?

[donn12]

I have a few shotguns and am no stranger to hunting but I am looking for my first handgun. I will use this for target shooting to get up to speed with it but I primarily want one for self/family/property defense. I think a 9mm would be a good start for a first handgun but I can see myself adding a .45 and a revolver down the road. I will definitely get a safe so if you have any recommendations on a small one let me know. Thanks

Here is some of what I have found. From pics I am partial to the stainless steel models

1. CZ 75b: Haggle Price $490-$520
What a shooter. Nice trigger. Never a jam! Over 10,000 rounds and still going strong. The CZ 75b gets better the more you shoot it. After the first 1,000 rounds, it performs like a tuned competition pistol. The accuracy is amazing. Even die hard revolver guys shoot good with this gun. It points like a M1911 and handles like a Hi-Power. If you spend some time shooting the 75b, you will fall in love with it too. I don't think you can do better for under $900. Ditto for the CZ 85b. Could CZ better the 75b platform? Yes; see the awesome CZ SP-01 and SP-01 Tactical. The SP-01 can be bought for under $600 if you haggle!
CZ USA CZ 75b Review CZ 75b Overview Video
2. Baby Eagle 9915R: Haggle Price $530-$560
The MRI Baby Desert Eagle is all steel with a 4.52" barrel. Handles just like the CZ 75, but more solid. Very good shooter with a strong heavy feel to it. About 500 rounds for break-in. I love shooting this baby. The good trigger and solid feel makes this the ultimate double-tap pistol. It is as close to the perfect shooter as you can get. The MRI Baby Eagle is a good choice for combat competition. I would have ranked it above the CZ if the exterior finish was better. Overall quality is great. The Baby Eagle is built to last a lifetime. The Isralies sure know how to make fine firearms. Also known as the IWI Jericho 941. This is NOT a CZ clone! Note: MRI is importing them again!
Magnum Research Website
3. Beretta 92FS (M9): Haggle Price $560-$590
Great performance on the range. This is a man's pistol. A true warrior that replaced the 45 ACP 1911 service pistol. The Beretta M9 (or 92FS) is the most tested pistol since the M1911-A1. Used by the U.S. Military and thousands of poilce officers. Beretta 92 pistols with over 75,000 rounds have been reported. This solid designed pistol is what replaced so many police revolvers. Nothing shoots better than a well used Beretta 92FS. Allow about 300 rounds for break-in. Good long range pistol. I can hit the 50 yard gong over and over again. Easy to find magazines and holsters for this popular gun. The Italian made ones are tight! See the new 92-A1 with 1913 Picatinny rail.
Beretta USA Unofficial Beretta Site 92FS In Combat. WOW!

 

[Bird]

Asking which is the best 9mm is like asking which is the best tractor, best truck, best boat, etc.:laughing: There are a lot of good ones, some better than others, but mostly a matter of personal preference. The Dallas Police Department currently issues the Sig Sauer P226, and they have a list of approved guns for both officers and for retirees who wish to qualify on the police range. Unfortunately, I don't have a copy of that list, but I do know Sig Sauer, Baretta, Glock, and even Smith & Wesson are the ones all the officers I've met use.

Personally, I've always been more of a revolver fan, especially the S&W revolvers. I've had my two .38 specials for 47 years, never a misfire or jam, and never a repair needed, but now for target shooting as well as annual qualification, I shoot my Sig Sauer P229DAK. And until a couple of years ago I'd never heard of "Double Action Kellerman".:laughing:

 

[yooper1]

Of your 3 choices shown I would say the Beretta 92 is the better of the three for what you will being using it for.

But, no one can tell you which is better for you.

What I did when I sold guns and what a lot of FFL's will recommend, is to tell a customer to try a few out before they buy.

Find ranges that rent them. Or if friends have any, ask to try theirs.

Each gun will feel / fit one person's hand one way and another person's hand another way.

I have medium to large hands and my Glock 30 fits very well while my friend whom I shoot a lot with, cannot hold it well.

I also have the S&W M&P 45 C but literally cannot hit the broad side of a barn with it from 5 feet away. It just does not like me / my hands and my hands must not like it.

Each handgun has differences that you can feel and decide for yourself if it fits. The back straps can be thicker or thinner, be angled forward or straight up and down.

There is nothing worse than a handgun that does not "fit" the shooter


just my 2 cents

 

[JerryK]

I went thru the same process you are going thru now...and ended up buying a Glock 17. It is not stainless, but is as weatherproof a 9mm as you can find. It has no safety to fumble with.... you rack in the shell and she's ready to fire. It has a 'triger safety', which means... keep you finger away from the trigger and she won't fire... My second choice was the CZ 75B....but like the man says... you should fire them first. They are all excellent weapons. Good luck... Jerry

 

[edmartin]

I think a 9mm is an excellent choice. There's a ton of reliable choices from small to large frames, also available in many different finishes. An added plus is that ammo is cheap although I'd encourage you to save your brass in case you decide to reload or have a friend who does. At some point you may want to move up to a larger caliber such as a 45acp. Best advice is buy a bunch of ammo and find as many different makes and types to shoot and then go with what you can shoot and operate best. Once you have the gun then you get the fun of selecting a holster. Good Luck!

 

[houstonscott]

If you want the best clearly your down to two choices, FN or HK.

HS

 

[Dogballs]

9 mm is a good pick for a first handgun as recoil is minimal and ammo is cheaper than the bigger stuff.

Out of your choices I'd pick the Beretta, which is also the choice of a good portion of our military.

If it were me I'd take a look at the Springfield XDM and the Smith and Wesson M and P. The Sigs are very high quality pistols and a little more expensive than the rest. Glocks are solid and reliable at around $550 new.

Your best bet is to go to a gun shop where they really know pistols and handle all the different choices. Then pick the one that fits your hand the best.

 

[Soundguy]

as bird said.. asking what flavor gun is best is difficult.

a sigp226 in 9mm would be nice though..

for home defense.. i'd have a 12g pump shotgun, and a .45acp


soundguy

 

[Bird]

What I did when I sold guns and what a lot of FFL's will recommend, is to tell a customer to try a few out before they buy.

Find ranges that rent them. Or if friends have any, ask to try theirs.

I think that is the best advise, even though I didn't exactly do it myself.:laughing:

 

[dodge man]

I've fired a few different ones. I own a Ruger P89. They are pretty inexpensive and I've been happy with mine. The one I've fired and like the best was a Smith and Wesson. Of the choices you listed, I'd also buy the Berreta. My favorite is a Kimber in 45 ACP, it shoots better than me.

I've fired a lot of different automatics in handguns and rifles over the years, and they have all jammed at least once, except for one. Its a Ruger Ranch Rifle in 223 and it is the only one that hasn't jammed at least once. My point is, if its for self defense, I'd look at a wheel gun.