Recommendations: da/sa 9mm?

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Praxidike

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I'm wanting to get started shooting in the Stock Service Pistol (SSP) division of IDPA, so I am searching for a new pistol. I need some suggestions for a shortlist. I'm basically looking for a da/sa, dbl stack, hammer fired, compact pistol (preferably with a polymer frame by not required) in 9mm. I also want something where magazines are readily available for purchase as well.

Any suggestions?
 
mgmorden said:
Why compact and polymer? I don't really like the DA/SA for competition but if you need to go that route the CZ-75 is a great choice.
Click to expand...
I'm a smaller guy with small hands to boot. I'm not really into full sized guns, and I want something that I can carry if I want to. If I brought a full sized firearm, I'd only ever use it while competing.

Why don't you like ds/sa?

Thanks for the suggestion.
 
I would go with a 92fs myself, but but for your criteria I would look at an fnx9. Mags a little harder to come by, but you get 3 with the gun. Polymer, 4" barrel, 3 back strap choices, and holds 17 rounds.
 
With those specific requirements I'll recommend the Beretta Px4 Compact or Subcompact....they are actually different guns. The full size and the Compact share the rotating barrel and Glock style take down while the Subcompact has a take down lever/pull knob and *does not* have the rotating barrel.

Px4SCProfile_zps83b6c764.jpg

I own the SC and have shot all three...if I had it to do again I might buy the Compact as it's only a teeny bit bigger. But I'll highly recommend any or all of them...my Px4 SC has been utterly reliable from round one with a couple thousand down range. The factory sights were great but misaligned. I installed factory adjustable and a set of Talon tape grips. The snap down mag extension is awesome especially on the SC. The Px4 SC is my "go to" and number one carry pistol because of it's redundant safety features and DA/SA capability plus high capacity at 13 rounds..it is a thick, heavy pistol and even as a subcompact it draws a lot of criticism from smaller folks. I'm 6' 3" and 180ish and can pocket carry mine but a smaller guy will have to get creative. But you'll have to do that with *any* double stack. I carry mine AIWB in a High Noon Hidden Ally and I love it.

VooDoo
 
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I personally don't like DA/SA just due to the fact that the trigger changes from the first shot to the second. Training on something striker fired the trigger pull is the same the whole time. That's also true for DAO but DAO triggers are significantly heavier.

There's also some guns that are hammer fired but the hammer is partially cocked making i lighter. Those are good and about the same as striker fired. The Walther PPX or Beretta PX4 "C" model are examples of that.

Anyways, I personally have tiny, tiny hands and full-sized guns haven't been a problem. If you want something to carry though, you can look at compact models. you may end up at a slight disadvantage versus the "min-maxers" using full-sized guns though.
 
mgmorden said:
I personally don't like DA/SA just due to the fact that the trigger changes from the first shot to the second. Training on something striker fired the trigger pull is the same the whole time. That's also true for DAO but DAO triggers are significantly heavier.

There's also some guns that are hammer fired but the hammer is partially cocked making i lighter. Those are good and about the same as striker fired. The Walther PPX or Beretta PX4 "C" model are examples of that.

Anyways, I personally have tiny, tiny hands and full-sized guns haven't been a problem. If you want something to carry though, you can look at compact models. you may end up at a slight disadvantage versus the "min-maxers" using full-sized guns though.
Click to expand...
I'm mostly competing against myself, so I don't mind. Is it not possible to keep the firearm cocked so that the pull is consistent all around?
 
Not in SSP.
You must start with the gun in a safe condition appropriate to its design.
This means that the DA/SA guns must be decocked for a DA->SA "crunch tick" first pair.
If you want a consistent trigger pull you must have DAO or some approximation; which is why the Glock is so popular.

If you want a consistently light crisp trigger pull, you need a cocked and locked SAO which puts you in ESP.
 
I have medium sized hands at best and the CZ-75 fits my hand nicely. It is not in my carry routine because of the size and weight but it is a very pleasant gun to shoot. For a SA/
DA carry gun I don't currently own a single one in 9mm but do have a couple in 380 and 9x18. The Beretta compact is nice and some of the other "compacts" that I have fired were also good shooting guns. The word "compact" is in no way a standard of measure so you have to put them in your hands to really get an idea of whether they work for you! Everything is a trade off in my experience and there should be several guns from quality manufacturers that fit your requirements.
 
Praxidike said:
I'm mostly competing against myself, so I don't mind. Is it not possible to keep the firearm cocked so that the pull is consistent all around?
Click to expand...
No....an SA/DA with decocker is designed to be carried with the hammer down.

Personally I carry mine decocked with the decocker down which completely disables the gun, trigger, everything. If someone took it from me they'd probably have to hunt for a half a minute to figure out why they kept pulling the trigger but it didn't go *bang*! :D

Seriously, if you intend to train seriously with it the transition between DA and SA is not that big of a deal for many of us. Some folks can't deal with it or don't care for it...you'd maybe need to try it/train it to make a final decision.

VooDoo
 
Have a look at the cZ pistol lineup. The DA trigger reach may be an issue for small hands though.
 
While it's not hammer-fired, the DA/SA Walther P99AS may be right up your alley. It's about the same size as a Glock 19 (the "compact" Glock) and the interchangeable backstraps makes it adjustable to hand size. Mags are readily available online for about $27 each.
 
It's not polymer, but take a look at the Daewoo Lionheart pistol. It has a clever trigger system where you can cock the hammer then push it forward, but the trigger pull stays SA, or you can go regular DA. Said to be a very reliable and accurate service pistol.
 
Praxidike said:
I'm wanting to get started shooting in the Stock Service Pistol (SSP) division of IDPA, so I am searching for a new pistol. I need some suggestions for a shortlist. I'm basically looking for a da/sa, dbl stack, hammer fired, compact pistol (preferably with a polymer frame by not required) in 9mm. I also want something where magazines are readily available for purchase as well.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
What's your budget?

There is a plethora of 9mm handguns out there.
 
Sig SP2022
Hammer Fired: Yes
DA/SA: Yes
Polymer: Yes
Double Stack: Yes
Compact: Yes (3.9" barrel)
9mm: Yes
Magazines Available: Yes
Smaller hands: Yes (small/medium/large grips)
 
CZ P07 Duty
Hammer Fired: Yes
DA/SA: Yes
Polymer: Yes
Double Stack: Yes
Compact: Yes
9mm: Yes
Magazines Available: Yes
 
Another one you can look at is the FNX 9mm. It is also made in the USA. I don't have one but looked at it since it also a 4" barrel, but it holds 17 rounds, whic is a plus. You can't go wrong with any of the SP2022, CZ P07 duty or FNX 9.
 
I second TUJ on the P07

CZ P07 Duty
Hammer Fired: Yes
DA/SA: Yes
Polymer: Yes
Double Stack: Yes
Compact: Yes
9mm: Yes
Magazines Available: Yes
 
A CZ P-01 would work quite nicely though it doesn't have a polymer frame; in which case you might want to try out the P-07.
 
Price would make a difference.

Off the top of my head, in no particular order: HK P30, SP 2022, CZ P-07, FNX-9, PX4/Cougar*, Sig P229*, HK USP Compact, Smith 5906?*(I never remember the numbers but there's a DA/SA 3rd Gen Smith). All of those are good guns.

Then there's: Taurus PT92*, The Ruger P series, EAA/Tanfoglios, Sig Clones*, FEG DA Hi-Power knock-offs*. Those are more second and third tier guns.

For me? If i had $1000 ready to go, the HK P30 is pretty sweet. $800ish? P229. $500-$600? the FNX or the 2022.

I have a 2022, and have about 600rds through my new FNX. Both are good guns that leave very little on the table. I like them both.

*denotes not polymer, I just included them to be complete. Often an Aluminum frame gun doesn't feel that much heavier then poly once it's loaded up.
 
Yeah you got the 5906 correct; those 3rd gen S&W's are great guns, I have a 5906 that was one of my HD guns for years. It is significantly heavier than the P07, both fully loaded. My wife really did not take to the 5906, but she likes the CZ P07; go figure.

I like that the CZ P07 you can setup with a decocker or safety, and that the lever is mounted on the frame. I use mine with the decocker. I was not a huge fan of the slide-mounted safety/decocker on the 5906.
 
The H&K USP Compact V1 would be my choice - it can be carried as a conventional DA/SA, with or without the safety engaged, or C&L. The $200 rebate H&K is running right now makes it a pretty good deal, too.
 
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