Best 9mm full size handgun out there....

[Texasgrillchef]

I have an itch I need scratched. I have been researching and trying to find a suppressor ready full size handgun. I know everyone is going to say try before you buy and I will but I want to run some research by you. At the top of nearly every 9mm test comes the CZ SP01. They all trickle down from there with FNX9, Springfield XDM, Glock 17, Beretta 92FS, Walther P99AS and PPQ, couple Sigs...some throw HK VP9 on there depending on age of test (and who's testing). The ones that seemed to make basically every list were the SA XDM, CZ SP01 and FNX9. I know we have some members that have fired everything but I am mostly interested in those 3 unless you have a great story or argument for a different model.

I think best of anything is different for anyone.

In 9’s there are subcompact, compact and full size.

Which of those do you want? Also what is the purpose of this 9? Target? Compition? EVery day carry? Car carry? Home defense? Outdoor/camping/hiking defense?

I personaly have purchased several 9’s each serve a different purpose. I am planning on going through canada on the way to Alaska next year. So any 9mm that has a barrel of less then 4.25” would bot be allowed into Canada. So that right there eliminates compacts and subcompacts.

So i choose a Baretta 92FS Inox. I have a 20round magazine, and a 17round magazine I use in Texas for home defense and car carry. I purchased several 10 round magazines for it, when i make my trip to Canada since they dont allow magazines over 10 rounds.

I chose the 92FS INOX because its stainless steel so can handle the outdoor elements well. Also because it has a manual safety and decocker. Which is fast and easy to use. I use the slide release on it rather then using the “sling shot” mode to release the slide. So the location of the safety/decocker is never an issue for me. Its one reason i didnt choose a glock. They dont have a “slide release” they have a “slide stop”

I have two other 9’s but they are compacts. One is the Taurus G2 Milineum. Its a good gun for $200. Its a compact ao cant take to Canada. The other is a sig saur P320 compact. Great gun, but no manual safety, its ok if u drop it. Not great for being in backwoods country as things could catch the trigger and then bang.

Thats my input.

 

[DD130]

Where do I start. For decades I've owned Glocks, shot Glock and carried Glock. That changed about 9 months ago when I found a Canik TP9SF. Better trigger, better egos for me. My Glocks have gone dormant.

That said.. I've shifted yet again. The Canik is a great gun, I recently picked up a long slide version and enjoy shooting it.. but as of late.. I've shifted back to "old-school" hammer guns like the Beretta 92 (I have a couple of them) and more recently the CZ75 (have a couple of these too).

For me the 92 just feels right, easy for me to shoot and I've used it in IDPA competitions for months. Solid. I owned one 30 some odd years ago.. sold it, always pined for one.. then found 2 good used examples. The purchase didn't disappoint, just as great as I recall.

Coming back to the CZs. What a gun. What a solid (heavy in full-metal form), fine shooting weapon, that even digests the worst ammo (Federal Steel whateverthehellthatcrapis even), and just keeps working.

I like the smaller slide on the CZ's, less bulk in the holster.. has a natural aim point for me (I always have to adjust sight picture with my Glocks). I also have been down the 1911 pattern road.. sold all of those, just didn't work well, except I kept my first 1911.. it's heavily customized and the first gun I bought the 2 days after I turned 21 (I was too hung over the next day for gun shopping).

Right now, I have a CZ100 (oh.. that trigger is a dumpster fire!), just because it's weird. CZ P07 Tactical.. it was my fist CZ purchase along with the 100. Good gun, but I don't shoot it as much as my T-120S Canik CZ clone... which I have been doing competitions with, lets see.. oh, a CZ75 compact and just picked up a CZ75B full fame.

My CZ adventure started with a SAR B6P cheap ($230) poly frame clone. It was shooting point of aim, felt great.. and I found that CZs would be in my future.

Best? Who knows.. but I've owned more than a few hundguns that I've since sold off. The FNSs didn't last long for me. Looked great in the gun shop.. I just didn't enjoy actually shooting them. (PS anyone that needs a Compact or full-size FNS hoslter.. I still have those.. will make a deal). And the Springfield XD. Good enough ergos for me but I could not hit the side of a barn from inside with that damn thing. It was traded for a Canik.

I think you're just going to have to put paws to pistol on the stuff you like and see what actually *WORKS* for you. Right now i have an S&W Shield 9 for carry but I'm considering switching to the compact CZ.

If you're in the San Antonio area, I'd consider letting you try some of I have out at a range. You bring he ammo.

 

[SQLGeek]

I am just reading this thread so I apologize if this has already been recommended but your best bet is to hold and fire as many guns as you can.

When I was shopping for my first carry gun, I went to the Arms Room in League City and took advantage of their unlimited gun rentals plan. I spent an afternoon shooting nearly every gun they had for rent and took a bunch of notes. Online research is enjoyable but you really don't know until you put it in your hand and take some shots with it IMO.

Now to more specifically answer your question, the FN 509 Tactical, a new offering from FN, is quite compelling.

https://fnamerica.com/products/fn-509-series/fn-509-tactical/

 

[Longhorn1986]

Now to more specifically answer your question, the FN 509 Tactical, a new offering from FN, is quite compelling.

https://fnamerica.com/products/fn-509-series/fn-509-tactical/

I have a regular 509 as my only 9mm (I'm a .45 guy) and have been very pleased with it. It's reliable, comfortable to shoot and very accurate.

 

[DD130]

I am just reading this thread so I apologize if this has already been recommended but your best bet is to hold and fire as many guns as you can.

Great advice. As I might have alluded too, I've purchased a number of handguns that just didn't "do it" for me, and sold them shortly thereafter, usually at a loss.. :/ If you can, test fire all the guns you think you might like, and some you'd never think about (I always poo-pooed the Checz guns... bunch of commies...), you might be surprised what works for you.

 

[skfullgun]

You (OP) started the thread asking about full-size. In my experience, the 92 is the Cadillac and the cat's meow.

 

[tonelar]

if it’s going to be used with a can on it, my choice would be the plain vanilla cz75b.

 

[tacotime]

S&W 5903, 6906 and 3913 still solid choices.

 

[MarkB462]

I have a Beretta M9A3 and it is a fantastic fun. As many others have said it is mainly personal preference and use that will determine the final selection.

 

[Gunny P]

CZ SP01 all the way. if you will be using it for extensive training" like shooting more than 900 rounds in a two day class, I will advise on the SP01 phantom. Those steel grip can beat up on ones hand after 500 rounds a day in a cold weather or on a hot training day. Super sexy if cajunized as well..

 

[m5215]

Can't say enough about the Beretta 92! The CZ-75 is great as well. I recently got a S&W 5906 and I was so impressed with it I just purchased another one. These are the 3 best 9mm full size handguns in my opinion.

 

[benenglish]

These are the 3 best 9mm full size handguns in my opinion.

Well, the OP asked about suppressor-ready pistols, so that narrows the field a little.

You've mentioned fine pistols but the field is very, very wide. I could make cases for the HK P7, the SIG P210, Korth PRS, several semi-custom 1911s, and probably a dozen others, some suitable for suppression and some not.

I've really enjoyed this thread. It's reminded me of the plethora of great pistols from which we may choose. In that way, at least, these are good times.

 

[m5215]

Oh well those are not suppressor ready so I guess a barrel change would be in order! They are great pistols though.

 

[crash83]

The SP01 apparently weighs quite a bit more than all the polymer stuff out there. Was it something you had to get over or was it "so balanced I didn't notice" good as some tests have claimed?

As a fairly new CZ shooter , i wanted to jump in here.
I picked up a Sp01 tactical urban grey suppressor ready. The wife was handling it, and wasn't looking forward to shooting it due to how heavy it seemed.
Right until she shot it, she spent the rest of the day shooting it over everything else we brought. It is now here favorite by far[mine too]. After the first shot , you have zero idea it has any weight, just complete balance.
Loved it so much that i now own, 75b ss , SP01 Shadow , P09 ,P07 urban grey...

 

[smittyb]

As a fairly new CZ shooter , i wanted to jump in here.
I picked up a Sp01 tactical urban grey suppressor ready. The wife was handling it, and wasn't looking forward to shooting it due to how heavy it seemed.
Right until she shot it, she spent the rest of the day shooting it over everything else we brought. It is now here favorite by far[mine too]. After the first shot , you have zero idea it has any weight, just complete balance.
Loved it so much that i now own, 75b ss , SP01 Shadow , P09 ,P07 urban grey...

Yet you have a Block as your profile pic.

 

[Lonesome Dove]

There will Never be a best but real close comes XD, M&P, FN, Sig, HK

 

[crash83]

Yet you have a Block as your profile pic.

That was set as my profile pic a year ago...

 

[crash83]

Yet you have a Block as your profile pic.

There ...is that better?

 

[robertc1024]

Much.

 

[smittyb]

Much, much better.