What would buy for a 9mm DA\SA ?

[JTapper]

Another vote for the SP2022 here. I just sold mine last week and I regretted it from the moment I left the buyer's house. At least it went to a friend, so I'll still get to shoot it.

I only sold it because I was out of storage space, and the wife thought I had too many handguns. In an effort to keep her supportive of my hobby, I thinned the herd, then bought a second cabinet in addition to the bigger one I got for Christmas. Go figure.

[Rooster17]

IWA baby eagle. SHot one and love it.

[Tronster]

OP wants a DA/SA 9mm of high quality and slightly smaller than a full size pistol for range use:

Sig P225

They are slimmer than the full size P226, perfect ergonomics, 8 round single stack 9mm. Production ended a few years ago but nice condition ones run $500-600.
If you are on a budget, the German police surplus Sig P6 is a P225 with heavier springs and a few other minor changes, and can be had for $350-400.
If you want a current production mid/compact then the P239 would fit, but many prefer the ergo's of the P225.

Late production Sig P6:

[msnden]

I didn't see anyone mention the SAR B6P, I only know what I have read, but that is enough for me to take another look, it appears to be a CZ75 clone at about half the price, I have lusted after a CZ 75BD for sometime & am sure I will get one, however this SAR B6P looks like it could be a nice alliterative. I would also not rule out a Bersa in 9mm, here again I don't own one but have shot a couple and I was impressed (that don't take much). But to your question, If I had the $ it would be the CZ 75BD. jmop

SAR B6P


Bersa

[jshuberg]

I carry the P239. I own two of them. I can honestly say that it's one of the finest pistols made. You have to shoot it awhile to get used to the smaller grip size, but when you do, you'll never want to carry anything else.

[farmerj]

I carry the P239. I own two of them. I can honestly say that it's one of the finest pistols made. You have to shoot it awhile to get used to the smaller grip size, but when you do, you'll never want to carry anything else.

Just pointing out a small fact.

I am guessing you have smaller hands. At least, smaller hands than me. Because of that, having shot some of the single stack .380 and 9mm pistols that are smaller gripped, I do not find them comfortable to shoot at all. My 92FS though, fits like a glove.

So it really comes back to finding a gun that is comfortable to YOU, the specific shooter.

Every gun mentioned in this thread I would not hesitate to say that it's a good gun. Just go rent, beg, borrow a pistol to try it and see how you, individually, like it. See how you feel about the controls, locations and ability to manipulate them all. Then try and do it with gloves on too.

Then get it.

[gdubya]

I didn't see anyone mention the SAR B6P, I only know what I have read, but that is enough for me to take another look, it appears to be a CZ75 clone at about half the price, I have lusted after a CZ 75BD for sometime & am sure I will get one, however this SAR B6P looks like it could be a nice alliterative. I would also not rule out a Bersa in 9mm, here again I don't own one but have shot a couple and I was impressed (that don't take much). But to your question, If I had the $ it would be the CZ 75BD. jmop

SAR B6P


Bersa

My wife shoots the SAR K2P that is very similar and is a very accurate gun that will eat anything you load into it, holds 17rds and cost less than $300 new from a local dealer. SAR puts out very nice Tanfoglio designed pistols for very little money.

[jshuberg]

I am guessing you have smaller hands. At least, smaller hands than me.

Nope, actually the opposite. I have these freakishly long alien fingers. Well, not quite that bad, but I do have larger hands.

People have preconceived notions of how a pistol is supposed to be gripped. People instinctually grip a pistol incorrectly until they are taught the (hopefully) proper way. Large hands can grip small objects just fine. In fact once you learn how, it's actually easier to properly grip a small pistol because more overlap of the hands helps to produce a more reproducible index, and more uniformity of pressure. You can hold a toothbrush just fine, so you can hold a small pistol just fine as well.

You need to throw away any preconceived notions about what is "right" about gripping a pistol, and instead focus on what your grip is trying to accomplish. All you're trying to do is to firmly and uniformly apply pressure on the gun to keep it from slipping in your hands, to allow the "spring" that is your wrists and forearms to return the orientation of the gun back to where it came from after recoil, and put put your finger in a position where you can press the trigger perfectly rearward without disturbing the orientation. As long as you do this, it doesn't matter how your hands contact the pistol.

On my P239 I run a modified thumbs forward grip. My finger contacts the trigger past the first knuckle crease. The tip of my finger actually gently touches the side of the mag release before I begin my trigger press. Anyone hung up on the "right" way to do things would immediately say that this is totally wrong, except that it works perfectly. On a good day I can shoot 3" groups at 25 yards, and can shoot 6" groups with under .20 second splits at 10 yards with this grip. Not bad for a compact single stack 9mm with a "wrong" grip

It can take awhile to figure out how to grip a smaller gun properly, and by properly I mean the 3 objectives your grip needs to achieve. If you're willing to throw away any concept of what is "right" and simply find the grip that achieves those objectives, you'll be able to shoot a small pistol just as well, and possibly a little better than a full sized pistol.

[Stugotz]

I recently bought an HK P30L, one of the nicest 9mm DA/SA pistols I've ever owned. (I'm so impressed with it, I'm seriously considering one in 40 ca.)

http://pistol-training.com/archives/2668 - Link to a long term torture endurance test.



It came with interchangeable backstrap inserts and lateral plates so I was able to custom fit it to my hand.