9mm...New or Preowned...which???

I'll start off by saying: polymer framed pistols have been proven to be as reliable as metal framed pistols. That is a fact. That being said, I don't think they are any more reliable, and their main selling point, light weight, doesn't do much for me. If you are going to buy new, almost any of the big manufactures are a pretty safe bet these days. People that buy Glock, S&W, Ruger, Sig Sauer, FNH, Springfield Armory, Beretta, CZ, HK, etc. don't seem to have issues. Sure, a lemon can also through occasionally, but it's uncommon. Some brands like CZ still make all steel pistols as well, if you are looking for that sort of thing.

If you like some of the older designs, and they are reliable, there's nothing wrong with saving some money and going with one of those. The questions I have about discontinued guns are: why aren't they making them anymore, and can I find parts? If it were me, I would pick a classic that is still being made, (West German Sig, Browning Hi Powe) because then I know it's still a viable design and I can get replacement parts. That's just my thinking.

If it was my money, I would go to a gun shop and hold every gun they have. See what fits and what doesn't. The market is flooded with full size 9mm pistols to the point that some brand new pistols that used to go for $600 are selling for $400. That's almost too good to pass up on.

In addition to the used gun option (I like the old Smith & Wesson autos, too) there are still some manufacturers making non-polymer 9mm pistols, large and small, it just depends how much you want to pay. You can still get a brand new Browning Hi Power, but it would cost you about double the price of an affordable plastic gun. Sig, Beretta and others still make full-size all-metal guns that aren't too pricey. Kahr still makes the all-metal K series if you want a compact gun. I think it just depends on whether you want a gun to carry and shoot a lot that will likely get beat up or a collector's item that you will take good care of and pass on to your kids.

I have the Ruger SR9 and it is an excellent pistol, equal to any other combat/SD pistol on the market.
I also have steel and aluminum framed 9s from other makers that are as good as anything on the market.
S&W 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gen autos are very reliable pistols. They are as reliable as any pistol ever made.
3rd gen Smiths will cycle/chamber empty brass from the magazine.
They were designed to be cop guns and to be reliable to a fault with the care given by average cops (almost no care).
My early 5906 was a cop trade in. It was nearly bone dry and horribly filthy when I got it.
Powder fouling was/is caked on. So bad that soaking it in powder solvent for 4 days has not loosened it. It will require some vigorous scrubbing to get it clean.
However, it was still completely reliable.
My early 6906 was issued to a detective and was a lot cleaner than the 5906.
It cleaned up with nothing more than powder solvent and swabs.
Both are very early models. They have the square trigger guard dating from the 1988/1991 period. They were traded in last year. They were issued/carried for many years, yet are in fantastic condition (mechanically perfect. finish has holster wear).
Excellent pistols.
I also have a 5946 that was a cop trade in from the same department that is a later model and does not appear to have been issued or fired before it was traded in.
Either that, or it was lubed with some perfect lube that prevents any signs of ever being fired. It doesn't even show signs of having a round chambered ever.
It's perfect, too. But, it's new, so it's not such a fair comparison.

There are many makers of excellent pistols.
The main things are finding one of them that you can afford which has the features you want and feels right in your hands.

Some plastic framed pistols are as reliable and possibly as durable as steel and aluminum frames, some are not.
The torture tests that were done to a group of Sig 220s made me cringe.
However, the Sig stood up to every bit of it, when no plastic framed pistol made would,

One website has what they call torture tests of several different pistols, including Glock, Springfield 1911, S&W M&P, H&K, etc.
All of the guns were extremely reliable for 60,000 rounds (or more) before having any parts breakage.
However, the tests they perform are not torture tests. They are longevity tests that consist of shooting a helluva lot of ammo through them until they poop the bed.
That is not torture. That is usage. High usage, but not torture.
The abuse heaped upon a group of Sig 220s in their torture tests was an actual torture test.,
Submitting a pistol to explosions, long-fall drops onto rock surfaces, running over them repeatedly with huge heavy equipment, both in dirt, on rock surfaces, and between two rock surfaces (as well as dead steering the equipment on top of them-grinding them between two layers of rock) is serious torture. It's beyond any abuse you could expect a gun to survive. Yet the Sig survived.

Used or new? I've bought both and been satisfied.
There is nothing wrong with a good used pistol.
There is also nothing wrong with a new pistol with factory warranty.
A Ruger SP101 is also a very good choice. It depends on your intended usage.

Bud's gun shop and lots of other places have various police trade-ins. My father-in-law got a police trade-in Beretta from Palmetto Armory for... I think it was $259. It functions perfectly. J&G usually has a lot of stuff like that, too.

I got a used Browning High Power clone (made by FEG in Hungary) for $200 around 25 years ago and it has never given me any problems. You still see them on GunBroker very often. If you take your time you can still get one for not much more than that.

There are lots of terrific new pistols out there. Or you could go for used ones and get several for the same amount of money. It's win win!

My favorite big steel 9mm is my CZ75 clone. It is surplus from Israel (made in Italy by Tanfoglio). I "overpaid" and gave $300 for it, but you can find them cheaper. My FiL passed one up on GB the other day that ended up going for $215.

I hope you find a great pistol and enjoy the heck out of it. I prefer the steel ones, too.

I also had an FEG PJK-9HP. I wish I'd never sold it. It cycled everything and had a better polish and blue than an FN HP.

Also consider the 9mm chambered 1911s available from Rock Island Armory. They range from a basic GI gun through several levels of increasing features such as better sights, ambi safeties etc.. Great fun guns and very reliable in my experience and at very reasonable prices.

As far as polymer framed guns the Ruger SR 9E may be the best bargain out there.

My Ruger SR9 cost $100 less than my buddy's Taurus 845.
I like his 845 well enough, but I'd much rather have my Ruger, or a Ruger SR45.

Might as well just get one of each. You probably will eventually anyway..that's just the way it is with guns. I love my beautiful, old Belgian Browning as much as I love my Glock 26, for very different reasons. My 1911 has the best trigger of any gun I own, and my Star BKM is thin and light and easy to carry.
Get 'em all!

Here's an interesting option...Italian Police trade-in Beretta 92S for $260!

http://palmettostatearmory.com/inde.../s/beretta-92s-italian-police-trade-in-s-9mm/

One website has what they call torture tests of several different pistols, including Glock, Springfield 1911, S&W M&P, H&K, etc.
All of the guns were extremely reliable for 60,000 rounds (or more) before having any parts breakage.
However, the tests they perform are not torture tests. They are longevity tests that consist of shooting a helluva lot of ammo through them until they poop the bed.
That is not torture. That is usage. High usage, but not torture.
The abuse heaped upon a group of Sig 220s in their torture tests was an actual torture test.,
Submitting a pistol to explosions, long-fall drops onto rock surfaces, running over them repeatedly with huge heavy equipment, both in dirt, on rock surfaces, and between two rock surfaces (as well as dead steering the equipment on top of them-grinding them between two layers of rock) is serious torture. It's beyond any abuse you could expect a gun to survive. Yet the Sig survived.

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so tell me which of these scenarios is actually liable to happen to your average gun owner???

.

We all have our favorites but if the budget is good and if you like the High Power and the look and feel, but are uncertain of how to pick a good one. I would get a CZ75b. For about $500 you can get a great gun that will last a long time, feels great in the hand and shoots well and as reliably as anything.
There are lots of other good ones but the CZ75b is a no risk, no brainer.
9 fingers

Can't really go wrong with either new technology (polymer frame), or old school design and manufacture (steel frame). Mind you something like the S&W Model 39 had an aluminum frame, as does a Colt Commander, but their design and manufacture was quite awhile back and that was considered high tech in those days. In an all steel gun, something like the Browning Hi-Power is an excellent way to go.

I would have a lot of confidence buying a used revolver, just because I can check it out pretty well. A pistol is a different animal, and I would not buy a used one that I couldn't test Fire first.

CZ75b

IWAC said:

When I buy one, I want to pass it on to one of my grandkids, so he or she can in turn, gift it to one of theirs.

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I personally don't think any of the modern polymer handguns qualify as a family heirloom. My dad gave me a Colt revolver, and it will go to one of my kids. Nothing like a quality old revolver that's been in the family for nearly a century.

If it were me and I wanted a semi-auto 9mm for this purpose I might trend toward a Sig, one of the 9mm 1911's or as others have said a CZ75.