I carried a G17 gen 2 on duty for the last 15 years I worked as a LEO. 34 is a shade bigger but since you're not looking for concealed carry I have only pro comments on the Glock. I now carry a G17 gen 4 for CCW retired. I'm a big guy I can pull it off. My 17 gen 2 has fired 10's of thousands of rounds in qualifications, hobby, competition and never had a FTF or FTE. What more can you want out of your weapon?

 

I would lean towards the Glock for the robust simplicity and reliability. Grip safeties and all that other nonsense is just unnecessary. And though it is very much a subjective criterion, I don't like how the Springfield pistols feel.

 

I'm partial to Walthers.

 

I would suggest going with the one that feels most natural and comfortable in your hand(s). Both are solidly performing, rated and reliable. A Glock does not do you full justice if your one of the minority percentage that does not like the angle of the grip or its grip angle affects your accuracy (yes yes yes I know this can be overcome with hours of range time and hundreds of $$$ in ammo practicing).

 

A Glock does not do you full justice if your one of the minority percentage that does not like the angle of the grip.

I thought I wanted a Glock but HATED the grip.

Went with a Ruger SR9C instead and absolutely love it. Comfortable grip, aims naturally, nice trigger pull, very obvious chamber loaded flag on top, and Ruger customer service is the best in the industry. Plus the grip can be instantly shortened for concealed carry with a 10 round mag or used for HD with the 17 round. I am female so that might be why I prefer this grip to the Glock (I really hated the Glock grip).

 

I use a H&K USP because I am not partial to Glock. Wife has a Sig P250 Compact that is also a very nice weapon. Both are 9mm.

 

+ 1 on the H&K USP9. I bought one the first year they became available. Easily the most accurate semi auto pistol I have ever shot. Carried it for duty for a couple years before my agency mandated the same service pistol for everyone. Never a FTF or a FTE. It's big but it makes a 9mm recoil like a .22.

 

P99? How long have you had it? How's the reliability? None of my friends have a P99 or SW99 haven't had the opportunity to shoot one.

 

The HK is badass and I like the sig 226, but both are out of the price range I'm looking at.

 

with the P226 police trade in's come in all of the time and are like $400 guns.... i've seen them go for as cheap as $300 at one point...

nothing wrong with buying a police trade in for the most part, if your going through a reputable company you should be pretty happy with the wear..

just an option if your really liking the p226...it just happens to be one of those that there's tons of them out there... same with the Beretta 92, another good all steel firearm that can be gotten very cheaply from police/military trade in's.

check into this route....


that said, i honestly would think that you would be doing yourself a major disservice by not looking into the CZ line of pistols, the CZ75 series is one hell of a shooter for the money imo, that would be my personal pick for a new gun, for the money....

that said, if all steel doesn't mean anything to you, then have a look at the glock, great poly gun for the cash and they have a popularity for a reason, it's just one of those things where me and glock grips and POA don't get along, same with alot of people really.. if it fits you and you shoot well with it then the glock would definitely be a top choice...just make sure you shoot it first..

recap:

new pistol:
full steel: CZ75 series
poly: Glock

used pistols
92f
p226

just some options for ya.

 

personally I perfer SIG 229 and 250 over glock or XD, but that is a personal choice. You cannot go wrong with a glock they are great pistols, I am just a bit more comfortable with SIGs.

 

Thanks for the input guys. Think I'm gonna go see what I can rent.

 

Hold them all in your grubby paws first. You'll be glad you did.

I didn't like the grip on the Glocks. I liked the Rugers and the Sigs, but couldn't afford one.

 

You can't go wrong with either the Glock or the Springfield. I gave each of my 3 daughters a Springfield XD Sub Compact 9mm fir Christmas this year. I went to the Glock Armor School and they are so simple, rugged and easy to work on, I almost wish I had gone with Glocks. But both are great guns.

By the way,

Howdy,

Welcome to the forum from the California Gold Country.


"Freedom is one of the noblest aspirations of the human spirit"
Ronald Reagan
January 21, 1985

 

Howdy and welcome from AZ

 

I have a 34 and my only gripe is the stock sites, although they are adjustable out of the box, I don't like them. I am replacing them with some trijicons I bought on sale and I will be a happy camper. Love the gun otherwise.

 

Both are good choices. I'm a glock fan, cost of items for them (mags, sights, holsters, ect) are less than the SA, although in 9mm the SA holds 19 rounds, with one in the pipe thats 20 rounds on hand. Nothing to sneeze at.

With the Glock you can get the 33 rounders, almost making this a moot point. I own a 34 and 35, I also feel the sights could be better, possibly just a switch to night sights would do the trick. Good luck!

 

I am a Glock fan who recently purchased an M&P9L because I love the ergonomics of it. The M&P has a few quirks the Glock doesn't (the trigger is bleh compared to the Glock, I hate the little disconnect lever in the magwell to disassemble the gun). I still like my Glocks because they are rock solid and stupid simple to work on, but the feel of the M&P is amazing.

Like nearly everyone else here has said, you really have to hold/try each one to figure out what works for you.

 

As a Sig fan I would have suggested the P226 but my friend just got a P320 in 9mm and it's awesome. That XD is great too.

 

Honestly, out of all the guns I would check out the XDm 4.5" in 9mm if that is in your price range. The 5" XD to me is a bit unwieldy but the 4.5" (M) is just right (again for me). I have over 10k rounds through my XDm 9 with somewhere in the range of 4 or 5 trips to Frontsight at 2 to 4 days each and the XDm has been a flawless shooter each time. I haven't run any other pistol that hard save the Glock with similar results.

I do own or have owned an XD 45, an XDm 9, and a few Glocks. Out of everything I shoot the XDm is my go-to gun for training without a doubt. The Glocks are fine shooters but something about the XD platform that just works for me especially with malfunction drills. The big round ambidextrous mag release is positive each time, on my Glock I had to add a Vickers release.

Also if you want to remove some of the classic XD trigger take-up and get a much crisper reset, you could check out the Powder River Precision trigger kit.

Good luck, you won't go wrong with either Glock or XD/XDm

 

Either one will do just fine. At the very least go and fondle both and see what points best in your hand as you close your eyes and pull it up. I really like to shoot a firearm before I buy if there is a range that will rent them. It is some of the best money spent when buying a gun.

 

If you search "best 9mm" on the internet you will find that the CZ75 SP-01 comes in at #1 on most of the top ten lists found. Might be worth a look. I only know this because I'm considering a new 9mm and have been looking around myself.

 

I got to fondle one of the CZ's at the Shot Show that was worked over by their pro shop. I can say I was in love the minute that thing hit my hand. It's impossible to even describe so I won't try

 

I think there was a well thought of Turkish copy of a p99, Canick?

 

I have a M&P 9mms in FDE. I love it. Holds 17+1 and shoots great for me. I do have VTac sights on it and the Apex flat tactical trigger. The trigger makes a huge difference. The stock trigger ain't nothing to write home about. Lol

 

I've always wanted to try that M&P VTAC. Holding it, it looks like transitioning from fiber to dot on the sight would be distracting. But, everyone I've spoken to who owns one loves it.

 

Another vote to look at the Sig P229, my 2 tone is now 8 years old, my favorite to shoot, so it gets lots of rounds through it---never falters.
The fit in my hands initially talked me into it--- NO REGRETS!!!!

 

I have to add my two cents. Just because.

I'm partial to Browning Hi Powers. You can pick up a gently used one for under $600.

I know, they're not real 'modern' but John Browning's designs can't be faulted even after years of 'safety' features.

Some gunsmith work and a few upgrades to suit your needs and they are superb pistols. And yes, I'm biased mainly because they are the only full sized double-stack 9mm that actually fits my smaller hand.

And nothing against Glocks or any of the other polymer framed pistols some of my best friends own them, they just don't point right for me.

 

Since your not worried about size, CZ SP-01 is the best 9mm (as far as I am concerned). I own the model with the safety. I also CC a CZ P-01 (it has a decocker). I own Smiths, Rugers, Glocks, Sigs, and many other popular models in 9mm and CZ is by far my favorite.

 

I have run most of the guns listed...most pretty good. I have a lot of time with Glock (old duty gun), HK USPC (current duty) and wife's P229 duty gun. I have about 15,000 rounds through my USPC alone in the last 2 years. But, after reading the great reviews and trying the HK VP9, I've switched to it, and I'm very happy with the change. I think the VP9 has without a doubt the best ergonomics of any pistol on the market...similar to the exceptional PPQ, but even better. And, the trigger is as good or better than the trigger on the PPQ. It has a great trigger guard mounted paddle mag release, which is quicker as you don’t have to adjust your grip at all). Bore axis to top of hand is lower than hammer fired guns. It has ambidextrous controls, low felt recoil, great steel mags which drop free quickly, and cost is not bad either. I’m using it to hopefully qualify on the Triple Nickel COF. Lots of great reviews out there with much more detail.


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