I want a 9mm for leisure shooting, help me choose

[TTv2]

Sounds like you're at affordable choices. There are a lot of good choices, only a few bad ones. I'd eliminate the Ruger P89 for the reasons cited above. Decent guns, but no longer made and no support.

I'd be looking at used guns. I picked up a Sig 320 Compact recently for $420. That is about what the budget brands sell for new. Lots of used Glocks and Smith M&P's out there at reasonable prices too.

It really comes down to what you find, the price, and what you like. If you focus on only one gun and are looking at the used market it seems like you never find one at a decent price. It seems like I always find deals on good guns when I'm not looking. And often when I don't have the cash.

Price is always a factor as if it's something I am looking at for entertainment, I'm not looking for an expensive date. It's really down to pistols I have had my eye on for a while.

I don't need another Glock and M&P's in 9mm don't interest me.

I have others on my list (Zastava, etc.) but left them off because I realize they don't offer much. Even the XD-E is a stretch, it's not common and finding one used for a good price is going to as hard as finding primers for under $50 a brick right now.

 

[TTv2]

I have a couple of range/fun 9mm pistols-don’t even have holsters for them. They are not inexpensive ones, but high quality adds a lot to my enjoyment of them on & off the range. Get the best you can afford & I’d lean towards a target model or vintage/used one like a Hi-Power or Luger that are a lot more interesting than most new offerings.

A Luger would be cool, but I realize that it will be shot a couple times, then sit in a safe for years and eventually be sold. I don't care about build quality, it's nice but if I enjoy shooting something I don't care what it is, so long as the sights for it are adjustable or hit to he POI and the ergos agree with me.

 

[earplug]

Leisure means enjoyable. Single stack magazine for easy loading. SA usually has a better consistent trigger and simple operation.
SIG 210, 1911 target pistol. The new Springfield P35 or a early CZ pistol If money is a issue a steel framed Beretta 1951 can be fun.

 

[TTv2]

What other handguns do you have?

Almost all of them can be had in 9 mm Luger/Parabellum, so I'd look for one of those. If say you love 1911s (which I have to say: not so popular anymore. Glock is the king of that) then the 9mm 1911 is delightful, you may stop shooting your other calibers.

I have a lot of handguns, many calibers. My only 9mm is a Glock 35 with a Lone Wolf barrel, it's okay, but I got it 5 years ago when I didn't think I'd get this far into shooting. Now I would like something that's affordable to shoot w/ current ammo prices and availability and figure it's the perfect time to buy a 9.

And since I already have 3 Glocks, I don't want a 4th in 9mm.

 

[TTv2]

OP:

Do you Use the DA mode on such handguns? I realize that you seek (or sought) a range gun.

A friend of mine Never shoots my DA/SA guns in DA.
Sidenote: he lived in Essen Germany until age 22, and in the US he has never “carried”.

Knowing whether you like the challenge of DA makes a difference.
This mode is why I never bought a “stock” HK USP, despite the option of changing a spring.

I like the DA/SA for a lot of reasons and really have no dislike of them. I do shoot the DA at least once for every new mag inserted, the rest of what's in the mag gets SA. I like the way SA feels in a DA/SA, it feels better than strictly SA like a 1911 where the trigger pulls straight back.

That said, it's not an absolute requirement, but I do seem to enjoy shooting DA/SA more.

 

[tercel89]

With 9mm more affordable and available right now and primers still not I'm interested in getting a dedicated 9mm for leisure shooting. By this I mean I'm not looking to buy a 9mm to carry, shoot competitions with, or for home defense, its focus is on recreation.

That said if it did shoot well I could transition it into a carry role, but that's not the intention currently.

Here's what I've been thinking of:

Ruger P89- DA/SA, metal frame, strong design, Ruger's first centerfire semi auto

Beretta or Taurus 92- DA/SA, nice trigger, proven, popular

Springfield XD-E 4.5"- DA/SA, slim, light

1911- slim, popular

Single stack pistols have a special bonus because they're slimmer, they would interest me.

These are my favorite 9mm pistols and they just happen to be 2 of your choices. They will out shoot any Sig , H&K , or any other fancy high dollar pistol. I reload and they will eat any reloads I make and any factory ammo. You simply can't go wrong with these two .

 

[twarr1]

The P89 is a good gun but I don’t like the mile long trigger pull.
Have you considered a Security 9? Yes, it’s polymer, but it’s hammer fired. And has a safety. (No offense glockophiles). Plus they’re inexpensive ~ $325-350 NIB. Roughly the same as a P series in good condition

 

[Ignition Override]

The Beretta 92f has such a very smooth DA and maybe SA, but to be quite frank, I don't pay attention to, nor know how to appreciate various SA pulls.

Racking the slide on a friend's standard 92f impresses me with such a well-engineered feel And sound, as much as with any other handgun I've owned or handled.
Silky smooth (this gun's metal is stored fairly dry), and it was much more than enjoying the beautiful bluing.

 

[Hurryin' Hoosier]

My vote(s) would go to the Colt Combat Commander 9MM and the CZ 75B. Truth be told, though, I have the most fun shooting my Colt Government Model .38 Super. Pricey ammo, but I find it to be more accurate than the 9MMs with less recoil than a .45 ACP.

 

[shoobe01]

Okay, then, I'd take the chance to go gun shopping!

Way back in the 90s, there were plenty of handguns from big makers that simply didn't work well. But for around 20 years now, almost everything goes bang very reliably and mostly has rather good triggers, even mostly good sights from the factory. The main driver when discussing purchasing a handgun is often aftermarket support such as holsters, WML, RDS, etc. And cost of magazines, but that's carry piece and/or class stuff. A range gun? No problem.

I'd go to the gun store. See what's on the used shelf. Have some research in your pocket to know a good price for everything you are likely to see. But grab the best deal you get on a Taurus, Beretta, HK, Ruger, Sig, or... whatever. If it feels remotely good in the hand, you like the trigger dry, then buy it.

Worried about used? Many are. Guns are well made, again: even more now than 30 years ago, no relation to 50 or 100 years ago. Police trade ins will be serviced before sale, 99% of privately owned handguns are fired less than 50 rounds in their life. As long as a cursory inspection shows no obvious huge signs of wear,

The Turkish imports that rule the new shelves (e.g., Canik) seem... fine. Even they go bang every time now, are reasonably accurate and have decent triggers. I wouldn't bother, as there are SO many neat guns available, go used market instead.

Whatever you get: if you don't massively over-pay: sell it if you hate it, then get another one Even if you sorta like it, get another every 6 months just to try out a series for really not much money.

 

[Walkalong]

1911- slim, popular

Sweet shooting in 9MM.

 

[Glockpride]

For me, I’d be looking into CZ. Maybe a Shadow 2 or something similar. Those have always interested me.

 

[Armored farmer]

Thinking outside the normal pistol boundaries....

An AR pistol with a brace and a 7½ to 10½ inch barrel with rds would be an excellent range gun and would do double duty as an excellent HD gun.

....just a thought from the guy that owns one 9mm....SR9C

 

[9mmepiphany]

From you list, I'd go with a used Taurus 92. Great gun, being a Beretta clone, reliable, and a good value.

One not on you list you might consider, since you're looking at DA/SA hammer fired pistols, is the SIG 2022. Great DA trigger, very accurate, and a great value.

 

[LoonWulf]

Slim? 1911 single stack.

My pure fun gun is a Canik tp9sfx

 

[TTv2]

From you list, I'd go with a used Taurus 92. Great gun, being a Beretta clone, reliable, and a good value.

One not on you list you might consider, since you're looking at DA/SA hammer fired pistols, is the SIG 2022. Great DA trigger, very accurate, and a great value.

For the Taurus 92, does it share mags with the Beretta 92s?

 

[toivo]

9mm for fun? Beretta 92, a 9mm 1911, SIG P-series: pieces o' cake, all of them.

 

[starling]

For the Taurus 92, does it share mags with the Beretta 92s?

Negative. Some 92 mag designs can be modified to fit both though. Its pretty easy if you have some needle files. Some beretta 92 mags have a sharp front corner on the right side and get caught on the mag catch on insertion. The older Taurus 92s can have tight magwells as well so some of the innexpensive military mags with the grey silk coating are too tight. Nice thing once you do find a Beretta mag that fits the Taurus is you can raise the magazine height inside the action when cutting the notch to get straighter feed angles.

 

[webrx]

I think if I was looking for a “fun” 9mm I would go with a single stack 1911. I have short hands, so singles fit me well and the sa triggers is great to shoot. I might look at an officers model or maybe a commander size since I have full size 45 and a micro 9 kimber already.

that’s jus me though.

 

[Mars5l]

If id want a fun one then id want a really nice one. On the budget side id go a Canik Tp9sfx. If going Beretta id go a LTT 92 or Performance model. I also enjoy my Sig 229s, but one is a Legion the other is a M11A1, so they both have the better triggers

 

[Mosin77]

To me, a range toy is fun for two reasons. 1. If it’s historical and I can enjoy the experience of shooting a gun that was used in a certain time or place. 2. If it’s fun to shoot on it’s own.

In the latter category, I personally enjoy heavy, steel, recoil-absorbing guns in light-recoiling calibers like .32 or 9mm, with pleasant SAO triggers. Practicality would suggest 9mm at the present time. Bonus that 9mm also makes for a better home defense gun if push comes to shove.

I still haven’t found the holy grail for myself but I’m looking hard at the CZ SP01 tactical, shadow 2, possibly a Vertec-frame Beretta (my personal quest is tempered by the fact that I have small hands, making many guns less than optimal due to trigger reach issues) 9mm 1911, or one of the new SA-35 Hi Powers. Of course, there’s also the Sig P210, but it’s hard to be too enthusiastic about a gun that costs ~4-5 times what some of the competitors do.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Of course, there’s also the Sig P210, but it’s hard to be too enthusiastic about a gun that costs ~4-5 times what some of the competitors do.

You might change your mind if you get a chance to handle and shoot one.

I wasn't too impressed looking at pictures and reading about them. The real turn off was the pivoted trigger. But then a friend let me shot his (Swiss model) and it completely changed my view of them. They are very nice and you can actually feel why they cost more then "comparable" pistols

 

[Mosin77]

You might change your mind if you get a chance to handle and shoot one.

I wasn't too impressed looking at pictures and reading about them. The real turn off was the pivoted trigger. But then a friend let me shot his (Swiss model) and it completely changed my view of them. They are very nice and you can actually feel why they cost more then "comparable" pistols

Was the one you tried a surplus military model or the commercial type?

I wish more dealers actually had one in stock or even knew what they were. The few times I’ve mentioned a 210 in real life, I get that look like “I’m absolutely going to nod and pretend I know exactly what that is, but I haven’t the faintest clue truthfully. It’s kind of like a 226 or 938 right??”

The list of steel 9mm semi autos optimized for a good day at the range, is actually rather short, considering this is actually what most gun enthusiasts use their guns for, 99% of the time.

 

[Mike .45]

For a range/fun gun I'd choose the 92fs or a 9mm 1911. Both with full length barrel

 

[zaitcev]

'm not looking to buy a 9mm to carry, shoot competitions with, or for home defense, its focus is on recreation.

1911- slim, popular

The question answers itself, doesn't it?

If I were okay with low capacity, I'd also look at the new production SIG P210 Standard.

Coincidentally, I got myself a Beretta 92X for recreational shooting, and its trigger turned out to be quite frustrating. The return force is extremely low. So, on all other guns I only have to tell my finger to curl. But on the 92X, I have to tell it to uncurl in order to reset. Otherwise the muscle tone alone is enough to keep the trigger squeezed. I'm sure it can be turned with aftermarket springs, just didn't have a chance to tinker with it.