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Which 9mm to get...

MamaLiberty

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2006
Messages
894
Location
Newcastle, Wyoming, USA
The price of ammo has really cramped my style for a good while now, but it's also cramping my training opportunities. I plan to attend 4 day sest of classes in two different states next year, and I absolutely cannot afford to feed my .45 for 8 days of intensive training. I did one of those courses with the Ruger SP101 last time, and I'll never take another class with a revolver unless it is a revolvers ONLY class.

I also want to begin to train seriously with the 9mm because, at some point, I'll probably do more and more CC - so whatever I buy will be my CC gun as well.

At this point I'm thinking that the XD subcompact 9mm would be the best, since I love the XD and the operation/maintenance would be the same as for the .45 I've carried for so long. I also already have an excellent holster for it. :)

I don't have a lot of money, so the fancy stuff is out of the picture from the get go. But I'm very open to suggestions. Some real (maybe documented?) reasons to consider other guns would be welcome. Just because you love yours best won't influence me too much. <big grin>
 

simmonsjoe

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2009
Messages
1,661
Location
Mattaponi, Virginia, United States
Constant Carry

If your going to carry all the time, weight will be one of your biggest factors in the comfort department.

The lightest double stack 9's are Glock and Walther P99.

This needs to be weighed against the benefit the xD has, as it is some operation/trigger to what you have now.

Then again for CC understand all these, even in their compact/subcompact models are very bulky and difficult to CC all the time, in all weather. It can be done, just not comfortably or well.

Possibly you should consider a single stack 9 if constant CC is required. Kahr P9, Kel-tec PF9, Walther PPS are all good choices.

PS- I recently made the switch due to ammo cost and weight. Went from all steel 1911 to the Glock 19. I love it, am very happy so far, however the difference in triggers is going to take a lot of getting used to. If you go doublestack, the XD9compact might win out over its lighter competitors for the same trigger advantage.
 

zoom6zoom

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2006
Messages
1,694
Location
Dale City, VA, Virginia, USA
Glock. They don't break, jam, misfire, etc. They will eat crap ammo and never let you down. My 2 cents.
Never say never. I have never heard of any brand that never had a failure. It may just be me, but it seems I hear of more catastrophic failures with Glocks. Maybe it's because there are so many of them out there, and many in the hands of the inexperienced, but who knows. Just a few images found in a basic search.
glock21kb1sh.jpg

357kb.jpg
 
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SouthernBoy

Regular Member
Joined
May 12, 2007
Messages
5,837
Location
Western Prince William County, Virginia, USA
Never say never. I have never heard of any brand that never had a failure. It may just be me, but it seems I hear of more catastrophic failures with Glocks. Maybe it's because there are so many of them out there, and many in the hands of the inexperienced, but who knows. Just a few images found in a basic search.
glock21kb1sh.jpg

357kb.jpg

If I'm not mistaken, those photos of a destroyed Glock are due to bullet setback. Seems I've seen them before.
 

45acpForMe

Newbie
Joined
Nov 21, 2008
Messages
2,805
Location
Yorktown, Virginia, USA
<snip>I also want to begin to train seriously with the 9mm because, at some point, I'll probably do more and more CC - so whatever I buy will be my CC gun as well.

At this point I'm thinking that the XD subcompact 9mm would be the best, since I love the XD and the operation/maintenance would be the same as for the .45 I've carried for so long. I also already have an excellent holster for it. :) <snip>

Since you already have an XD, keeping the same trigger feel, holster, and familiarity with it, I would say a XD subcompact is going to win. Price is great, performance is great, capacity is great so I don't see much else competing.

With that said, I shot my friends 9mm subcompact XD and liked it... but for me I like staying with 45acp and my Taurus PT145 is 10+1 and smaller than the XD. I layed my Taurus on top of his (really his wifes) XD and the taurus was noticeably smaller. So as far as CC is concerned the Taurus fits in my pocket with a pocket holster whereas the XD probably wouldn't. Many people don't like Taurus so I am not necessarily recommending it specifically but HOW you will CC will affect your decision. I tried IWB and decided it is too uncomfortable for me. So pocket carry works best for me. One gun that I was really interested in was the Berreta PX4 storm subcompact. Of course it only comes in 9mm and 40 so I decided against it. It's size is nice, capacity and manufacturer reliability was a plus. I had considered it as a replacement for my Taurus but wanted to stay with 45acp.

Kahr makes a small gun in the PM9 which is lightweight and thin. It is fairly expensive though and has smaller capacity. If you were only doing CC with it I might recommend the Kahr for comfort and fit. Since you plan to do training with your new gun the XD capacity is a nice fit.

Good luck and enjoy!
 

ElW75

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2010
Messages
44
Location
Alexandria, Virginia, USA
Don't Count Out the M&P 9

I did a 2-day qual course with a Smith and Wesson M&P 9 and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 800 rounds through it over two days, not a single problem and I was putting it to the test. The 17 round mag was a bonus! My wife was taking the same course using a Glock 19 and had one FTE and one FTF, both of the weapons were used and we shot the same ammo. Take it for the cost of the advice, but I know my next purchase is going to be an M&P 9. I haven't shot the PPS 9, but I carry the PPS .40 every day and have put close to 1k rounds through it with no problems (other than the cost of the magazines $52 for a single-stack mag is highway robbery!)
 

MamaLiberty

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2006
Messages
894
Location
Newcastle, Wyoming, USA
Thanks, folks. :) I don't plan to CC a whole lot, since OC works much better for me - but there are times - and these classes make a 9 pretty much a necessity. I have a Hi-point 9, but the thing is much too painful to shoot.

Anyway, forgot to mention that I'm 5 ft. tall and any sort of CC on body is difficult unless I have a coat or heavy shirt on. I'm very used to the weight of the .45 so that's not a problem. The sub compact XD 9 is quite a bit more snappy than my .45, but not a deal breaker. And I'd live with lower capacity in a CC gun - just carry extra mags.

I always chuckle at the Glock folks. Would love to pick up one someday and be able to reach the trigger (strong hands but short fingers). So far I've never handled one I could shoot. Single stack/double stack seems to have nothing to do with it. My friend has a gorgeous 1911 .45 and I can't reach the trigger at all. No idea why I can shoot the XD line with no problems.

So, just have to save my pennies and get something fairly soon. I want to practice with it on my own as much as possible before the classes start.
 

petrophase

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Apr 1, 2009
Messages
300
Location
Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
I've had several XD9s and I've liked them all. Upon close examination and comparison to Glocks the XDs seem to better made/designed in every way (fit and finish, recoil spring, rail design, trigger, etc) except for the finish on the slide. I've had a XD9SC and it was great! Accurate, comfortable, somewhat compact, affordable. Full disclosure, however, I sold my XDs and got a Sig p229 in 9mm, with the beavertail, short reset and the short trigger. I think the Sig is a better gun, but it's expensive, so I won't recommend it. I would not feel bad at all if I still had my XDs.
 
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kwikrnu

Banned
Joined
May 14, 2008
Messages
1,956
Location
Brentwood, Tennessee
You asked for a recommendation.

cz-52 or tt-33 in 7.62x25.

reasons:
1. inexpensive.
2. with c&r you can have it shipped direct
3. high velocity, you'd have to use +p+ 9mm to match the low end of the 7.62x25
4. $0.10 per round surplus readily available
 

jpm84092

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2010
Messages
1,066
Location
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
A suggestion for you

I own four firearms made by Taurus and have had good luck with them all. Two are revolvers chambered in .44 Magnum so they are not applicable to this discussion. The other two are the Taurus PT-111 PRO (12 + 1) chambered in 9mm and the Taurus PT-145 PRO chambered in .45 ACP. (10 + 1)

Both were purchased recently for under $400 next door to you in Utah. (Cabela's dot com has 9mm for $9.99 per box of 50) Both fit nicely in the same holsters.

I am mentioning these two candidates not because I like them (I do), but because your post said cost is an issue.
 

MamaLiberty

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2006
Messages
894
Location
Newcastle, Wyoming, USA
You asked for a recommendation.

cz-52 or tt-33 in 7.62x25.

Thanks! I looked at both of them via Gun Reports. The mag release of the cz is like the Ruger .22 pistol, and not acceptable for any sort of carry as far as I'm concerned. The tt-33 has a lanyard loop on the bottom, which would also make fast reloading a challenge.

Neither one is apt to be available here in rural Wyoming in any case. I don't buy papered guns, so that lets out finding one on line. Very interesting history on both of them, however. :)
 

RussP

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 2, 2006
Messages
393
Location
Central Virginia
...At this point I'm thinking that the XD subcompact 9mm would be the best, since I love the XD and the operation/maintenance would be the same as for the .45 I've carried for so long. I also already have an excellent holster for it. :)
Right there is the best argument to stay with the same platform, the XD.

Until you find fault with it, or you have the discretionary income to experiment, stick with what works for you.

I wish I'd tried GLOCKs first. I went through CZs, SIGs, Walthers before I shot a G19.
 

SouthernBoy

Regular Member
Joined
May 12, 2007
Messages
5,837
Location
Western Prince William County, Virginia, USA
Right there is the best argument to stay with the same platform, the XD.

Until you find fault with it, or you have the discretionary income to experiment, stick with what works for you.

I wish I'd tried GLOCKs first. I went through CZs, SIGs, Walthers before I shot a G19.

This is very common. It seems that gun people are always searching for the "perfect gun" for whatever use to which it is to be put. Of course, there is no such thing. There are some which are better than others, but there is no perfect gun. So what do we do? We buy, keep for a while, then many times we sell it to make room for the next one we buy to begin the process all over again.

Oh well, perhaps we should think of this as aiding the economy - someone's that's for sure.
 

HongKongPhooey

New member
Joined
Aug 1, 2010
Messages
3
Location
Stratford, CT
Reload to heavy? Any gun will go boom.

So true. I have seen Ruger .357 Magnum go boom, or was it a Smith and Wesson..its was a very long time ago. I think I still have the cylinder lying around here someplace.
Does that mean all Ruger (or SW) .357 Magnums are bad and I should put them down every chance I get...nope
 

daddy4count

Regular Member
Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
513
Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
my favorite 9mm is still the Browning High Power... but could be coz I'm old skool

I just dig a pistol that puts the bullet exactly where you want it. Those suckers do that for me... they fit my style so well I almost don't need to use the sites.

;)

I played around with one on a motion target course, hit everything and looked like a rockstar first time out with the Browning. Smooth action, smooth trigger, very little muzzle flip. Heavy recoil spring, can be more difficult to rack the slide than other models... but daaaaaaaang I love the way they shoot.

I have also played with the .40SW version... not the same. Something about the HP in 9mm that just seems to fit together...
 

ZackL

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Messages
340
Location
Calhan, Co.
If you want to switch up platforms (I would personally just buy an XDm9 or XDsc9 if that's what you like - or I had the money lol) you could always give the Ruger SR9 a shot (no pun intended). I have a P95, but I have put a few rounds downrange with an SR9 and I LOVED it. With the reversible backstrap (flat or arched) it could keep it small enough to fit your hands and they sell a compact version. I don't know, just a thought. Oh and the 17 round mags work in the compact version too! (one 10 round compact and one 17 with grip extension is included, at least most of the time)
 
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