Full size 9mm under $800?

[Olympus]

I'm looking for a new full size 9mm for range shooting and night stand duty, no concealing. I've got a budget of $800. I had the Canik TP9SA and it was the first polymer gun that I actually enjoyed shooting. The trigger was better than any other polymer gun I've shot. I just didn't like that it shot about 4" high so I ended up selling it.

So I'm looking for something with just as nice a trigger and high capacity. 15 rounds minimum and it would be better if there were aftermarket mags with higher capacity available. I do NOT want a M&P or XD, been there and didn't care for either. Had a P99QA and hated it. Had an SR9 and didn't care for it. Had a PX4 and it was so-so. Never owned a Glock, but they're so-so. I think the 17 looks fugly though. Had a P229 stainless elite and loved it, but it was very have and too thick feeling. Might have been worse with the thick rosewood grips it came with, but it was a gorgeous gun. And I was very impressed with the TP9SA aside from it shooting so high. A rail would be a plus.

Any recommendations?

 

[Analogkid]

Walther PPX. And $500 dollars left over worth of assorted ammo to run through it...

Fantastic trigger.

 

[HOOfan_1]

Did you try changing the sights on the TP9?

Walther PPQ, FN FNS/FNX, HK VP9, Beretta 92, CZ 75 are all good options though.

 

[Zendude]

The Bersa Pro 9mm meets your specifications.

 

[Olympus]

Did you try changing the sights on the TP9?

I'm not aware of any aftermarket sights for the TP9SA.

I'd rather put the money towards a gun. I have more than enough ammo already.

 

[DevsAdvocate]

* H&K VP9
* Walther PPQ M2
* Sig P320 Carry

 

[bannockburn]

Maybe a used Browning Hi-Power, a new CZ 75 or a CZ P09. All of them make for great range guns and typically have good triggers and sights. They should provide you with decent accuracy and are very comfortable to shoot.

 

[guyfromohio]

Pretty much anything you want for that price point. CZ, Glock, HK, Sig

 

[gglass]

If you like the trigger on the TP9-SA, then you should look at the real deal... The Walther PPQ.

It has the trigger you liked with the TP9-SA, but you will find that it shoots dead on POA right out of the box.

 

[chris in va]

No mention of the CZ SP-01?

 

[Olympus]

I forgot to include that I already had the SP01. It was alright. I didn't seem to shoot it as well as I expected though.

 

[jmr40]

Never owned a Glock, but they're so-so. I think the 17 looks fugly though.

You owe it to yourself to at least look at the G-19. I like that size far better than the 17 and feel I don't give up anything in accuracy. I carry with 15 round magazines with 17 round G-17 mags as spares. It also takes the factory 33 round mags which I like for ranges use.

The Ruger SR series look good too, but I've never owned one. I didn't care for XD or M&P either.

If you want to stay with traditional metal guns you can probably get a Sig 226 at your budget.

 

[jrdolall]

CZ-75B is a good gun for well under $800.

 

[Armor Snail]

I forgot to include that I already had the SP01. It was alright. I didn't seem to shoot it as well as I expected though.

I'm a huge CZ guy and while they are great guns even I can say they need some work to be made to be fantastic.

Great platform. Needs a little trigger work though IMO. I do have a '93 pre b transitional that has had close to 15k through it with still a stock configuration. That one is smooth.

The FPB design is a minor part.

Try an 85C or switch up to a Witness Elite Match. The revised FPB design in the Tanfoglios makes for a much nicer out of the box pull.

The Elite Match has a very nice SAO trigger ready to go.


If you want to dive more into the striker fired realm don't count out a Steyr. The new L9A1 is a great gun. Very nice trigger on those. Very comfy in the hand.

Good luck. Keep us posted.

 

[Snowdog]

The Steyr L9-A1 fits all but the aftermarket higher-capacity magazine preference. The standard magazine is 17 rounds however.
My M40 has a very nice trigger, but I understand the newer Steyrs have triggers even nicer.

They sell for $450 to $500. It's certainly on my radar, as is the Canik TP9 V2 whenever (if ever) they hit the market.

And yes, many consider modern Steyr pistols to be quite on the ugly side, but I quite like the aesthetics. Much of that "ugly" comes from the very low bore axis, which is a nice thing.

 

[Thompsoncustom]

You can get a cz 75 SAO with a comp hammer and better trigger for under 800. Mine had a 1.75lb trigger pull and next to zero pre and post travel when I got done with it.

 

[justin22885]

wont find a full size 9mm with more aftermarket accessories than the beretta M9, that would be my choice for a full size 9mm

 

[SigP229R]

HOOFan forgot about the Sig P6's you can find them used occasionally for around 450 if single stack is good for your needs and there is also one of the FN line he forgot it's the FNP9.

 

[pblanc]

The Beretta 92FS/M9 is my choice for a full-sized 9mm and it shoots well and is reliable. The Beretta factory magazines hold 15 rounds, but excellent flush-fit Mec-Gar mags hold 18 rds and the 20 rd Mec-Gar mags extend only slightly below the magazine well. Many 92FS owners lighten the trigger pull by swapping the stock mainspring for a reduced power spring, such as the factory Beretta spring for the "D" (DAO) model, which is cheap and easy to do. Wilson Combat now offers a range of high quality parts and modifications for the 90 series pistols as well.

But if you found the P229 too thick you might well find the grip of the Beretta too chunky as well. Also, the front sight is not dovetailed but machined into the slide so swapping it would require a gunsmith. The Beretta 92 FS is also a traditional double action pistol with a slide-mounted safety/decocker lever which does not appeal to everyone.

 

[Olympus]

HOOFan forgot about the Sig P6's you can find them used occasionally for around 450 if single stack is good for your needs and there is also one of the FN line he forgot it's the FNP9.

I've had several P6s and loved them. Just need more capacity and more affordable aftermarket mags.


I've never owned a 226, only the 229 Stainless Elite. I think it felt thicker because it had the rosewood grips which are thicker than their plastic and G10 grips.

 

[TfflHndn]

The PPQ is a great platform, and take a look at SAR's ST10 also. Has a rail, nicely finished, and shoots very well.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I forgot to include that I already had the SP01. It was alright. I didn't seem to shoot it as well as I expected though.

Your Canik shoots high and you weren't impressed with the CZ?!?! How about investing in shooting classes instead of a new gun!!!! I tease, I tease!!!

If you like the Canik, I'd just get a PPQ as mentioned above.
.... Or maybe 2 Ruger SR9s

 

[HOOfan_1]

there is also one of the FN line he forgot it's the FNP9.

They don't make them anymore. Parts are not easy to find for them either....I have an FNP-40 and kind of wish I had gotten the FNX instead.

 

[Olympus]

I was impressed with the feel of the CZ, but I didn't group as well as I expected with it. Everyone talked about how accurate they are, but I couldn't get any better groups with it offhand than I can with other guns. I just expected more from it.

Won't be getting another SR9. Didn't care for that gun much at all.

 

[blarby]

HK in 9mm, OR the new rock island 1911 in 9mm...as a bonus, they give you the 22 TCM bbl FOR FREE !


It comes with amazingly grippy sculpted micarta grips, a beautiful finish, and a decent ( but not un-improvable) trigger.

You want full size, cheap, with tons of perks ? Hard to beat.