Help a noob pick a 9mm

[n00b]

So far I have shot XD 9mm Tactical, S&W M&P 9mm, Taurus PT-92

I'm planning to shoot the SIG P226, a Glock, and perhaps an H&K P2000

Here is my issue...

The XD was nice, but I'm not all about the butt safety

The S&W was even better, but it has no mechanical safety

The Taurus was fine, but the others were better shooters to me.

I also hear the Glocks do not have a mechanical safety of any type either?

What I would like is a full sized 9mm with a mechanical safety, and a 5" barrel. What are my options?

EDIT: I'm changing the scope of my post a little. Does Anyone have a CZ-75b they would mind letting me shoot?

 

[Inigoes]

FNP or FNX?

 

[joppaj]

I also hear the Glocks do not have a mechanical safety of any type either?

What I would like is a full sized 9mm with a mechanical safety, and a 5" barrel. What are my options?

The Glocks have 3 "mechanical" safties but none that you need to activly disengage as a seperate step. The Glock 17 is a top tier defensive pistol so please don't get hung up on that issue as you'd be doing yourself a great disservice to not at least try it.

 

[fivepointstar]

FNP or FNX?

if you're 100% stuck on having an external safety then

+1 for FNP

CZ75

Bersa Thunder 9

Beretta 92FS

 

[n00b]

FNP or FNX?

I have no idea what this means, and now must google.....

I'm not really "stuck" on an external safety, but I think it would make my wife feel better. She's not all about having a gun in the house anyway....

 

[mbz300sdl]

Here we go this tread is going to take a life of it's own.

Ok are you 100% on the 5in barrel or is something around 4.5 ok?

Beretta 92FS is 4.9in barrel.
Ruger P94 has a 4.2in but not available new anymore
CZ75 is a must try will get one myself someday 4.7in barrel
the Sig P226 of course but you have that listed

 

[Inigoes]

FN Herstal's Pistol line. The older model is the FNP, new out is the FNX

http://www.fnhusa.com/le/products/firearms/group.asp?gid=FNG001

 

[Russ D]

G17. nuff said.

 

[gentner8]

Check out the XDm 9 as well. It has a different feel than the standard XD. I had narrowed it down to the XDm and the M&P pro, and settled on the M&P. It felt better in my hand, and I was more accurate with it when shooting them for the first time. But like everything else, its what fits YOU better. Good luck on your purchase!

 

[n00b]

Here we go this tread is going to take a life of it's own.

Ok are you 100% on the 5in barrel or is something around 4.5 ok?

Beretta 92FS is 4.9in barrel.
Ruger P94 has a 4.2in but not available new anymore
CZ75 is a must try will get one myself someday 4.7in barrel
the Sig P226 of course but you have that listed

I have been told the longer barrel increases accuracy.....

Does that extra .5 inch make a difference?

 

[joppaj]

I have been told the longer barrel increases accuracy.....

Does that extra .5 inch make a difference?

While a longer barrel does usually translate to greater accuracy, it's probably irrelevant at self defense differences.

 

[eruby]

The XD was nice, but I'm not all about the butt safety

She's not all about having a gun in the house anyway....

Does the term "not all about" mean 'does not like'? I realize I'm a geezer by not knowing this.

The Bersa 9 and Glock (17 or 19) are excellent choices. I would try to show my wife not having an external safety isn't a big deal and would lean toward the Glock 17/19.

 

[fivepointstar]

I have been told the longer barrel increases accuracy.....

Does that extra .5 inch make a difference?

IMO accuracy is in the shooter. 1/2" won't make a big difference @ 25 yrds. now 4.5" vs 3" makes a difference @ 25yrd to me at least.

 

[hairba111]

1911, close thread

 

[jersey]

have and xd-9 great gun. if I'm not mistaken the glock has a saftey in the trigger. also looking at a sig 226 myself.

 

[fivepointstar]

Does the term "not all about" mean 'does not like'? I realize I'm a geezer by not knowing this.

The Bersa 9 and Glock (17 or 19) are excellent choices. I would try to show my wife not having an external safety isn't a big deal and would lean toward the Glock 17/19.

I have to agree with this statement. I'm not going debate with those who prefer an external safety....thats why its called "prefer" everyone is different. BUT I've only trained with guns with no safeties.....S&W revolvers, SIGs, and Glocks. These are 3 very succesful fireams with no external safety and used by Millitary and LEO's all over the world.

It comes down to training with your firearm IMO.

 

[n00b]

Does the term "not all about" mean 'does not like'? I realize I'm a geezer by not knowing this.

The Bersa 9 and Glock (17 or 19) are excellent choices. I would try to show my wife not having an external safety isn't a big deal and would lean toward the Glock 17/19.

Sorry for the whippersnapper speak.....

What I mean is, I would prefer not to have the butt safety if I can avoid it, just like my wife would prefer for me not to have a gun in the house.

In both cases, if there is no other way, we'll just have to get over it.

If I can't find a better shooter than the XD, I'll get over the butt safety.
If my wife wants me to have a hobby to relieve stress so I don't self destruct, than she'll get over me having a gun

 

[mbz300sdl]

Does the term "not all about" mean 'does not like'? I realize I'm a geezer by not knowing this.

The Bersa 9 and Glock (17 or 19) are excellent choices. I would try to show my wife not having an external safety isn't a big deal and would lean toward the Glock 17/19.

Yes it does

have and xd-9 great gun. if I'm not mistaken the glock has a saftey in the trigger. also looking at a sig 226 myself.

Hafer's has one

 

[bandit7784]

92fs... by far my favorite 9mm too shoot!

 

[fivepointstar]

Sorry for the whippersnapper speak.....

What I mean is, I would prefer not to have the butt safety if I can avoid it, just like my wife would prefer for me not to have a gun in the house.

In both cases, if there is no other way, we'll just have to get over it.

If I can't find a better shooter than the XD, I'll get over the butt safety.
If my wife wants me to have a hobby to relieve stress so I don't self destruct, than she'll get over me having a gun

Would she consider a pump shotgun.

if she worried about safeties you can always carry shells in the tube and safety on.

I still think it goes back to training. she an attend an NRA first pistol or First Rifle so she understands firearms safety better.