Welcome to the best 9mm pistol site. Hopefully the information provided is useful. Your input is always welcome.
Most of you will not agree with this list. You can shuffle the top 25 list and still have good results. The difference between the #1 pistol and #25 pistol is so minor. We are really splitting hairs here. Don't put too much weight on this list. The very best 9mm pistol, is the one that shoots the best for you.
So you want a .40 S&W insted of 9mm? Most of the pistols listed are also available in .40 caliber. This could be a best 40 S&W site, as the same best 9mm pistols are normally the best chambered for .40 S&W.
Why 9mm? The 9mm luger, also called the 9mm Parabellum or 9x19, is the most popular caliber in the world for carry pistols. More pistols are chambered in 9mm than any other caliber. According to FBI testing, the quality 9mm JHP ammo rivals the 40 S&W and 45 ACP in stopping power. Another plus is the low cost for ammunition. Only the 22 long rifle ammo cost less.
Favorite 9mm ammo? None really. When Wal-Mart has the Winchester 100ct white box or Remington UMC on sale, I will buy every box in the store. These are great for practice. If I had to pick a favorite it would be Fiocchi 123gr FMJ. They are accurate and loaded pretty hot (1250 FPS!); plus work great in competition. For defense, I would pick any brand of 124gr or 147gr jacketed Hollow Point (JHP). The terminal performance is about the same for the cheap stuff as the premium.
So many Plastic Guns! I don't know if I can get excited about plastic. First thing that comes to mind is the life span of a plastic trash can.
A really cool feature with some polymer framed pistols, is you can swap out the backstraps to fit different hand sizes. This feature combined with the less felt recoil makes for a great wifey pistol.
The Super Nines. If you are a handloader you may want to take a look at the super nines. This includes the 9x23, 38 super, and 357 Sig. The 124g bullet from one of the super nines is faster than the 125gr 357 magnum in a snubbie revolver. The 38 super is a combat favorite. The 357 Sig is gaining popularity as a police cartridge, thus making ammo easy to find.
Cheap $100 indoor shooting range....by Fleetwood.
Ask the trailer park manager about abandoned mobile homes. You may get one for free, and only have the cost of getting it to your property. An used mobile home makes for an excellent 15 yard indoor range. Make sure to lock the front door and use plenty of sandbags or railroad ties! The exhaust fan above the oven sucks out the smoke and fumes.
Cheap Viagra!
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The rules: The guns must be great shooters, reliable, good quality, and cost less than $650 USD new from a gun dealer. The $650 rule will exclude many fine 9mm pistols and competition guns. If you don't agree or have other choices, you can sound off in the Guest Book. Enjoy.
Note: The haggle price is the best deal you should get from your local dealer. |  |
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1. CZ 75 SP-01: Haggle Price $590-$620
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My CZ 75b has over 10,000 rounds through it and is still going strong. I say this because the SP-01 is an improved verson of the CZ 75b. No other pistol has shocked the combat shooting world like the SP-01. World Champions Adam Tyc and Angus Hobdell showed us what this gun could do. As a range champion or tearing up a combat course, the SP-01 has no peers. If you are just an average shooter, the SP-01 could change your game. I showed up at a regional police combat meet that was open to trainers too. All those cops with their plastic duty pistols started screaming foul after I won the first round. There is also an Tactical version with a decocker saftey. There are tuning parts available for the SP-01 if you want to build a hot-rod. Allow about 500 rounds for break-in. Ditto for the straight shooting CZ 75b, and CZ 85B.
CZ SP-01 Page
CZ SP-01 in Combat
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2. EAA Witness Elite Match: Haggle Price $540-$570
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I debated to list the Witness Elite Match here, because many think it is a borderline race gun, instead of a carry pistol. I put it here because it is a premium shooter at a good price. The Witness Elite Match is single action only with a thumb saftey. It is safe to carry it cocked and locked just like an 1911 service pistol. The SA trigger is so very good. The fit and finsh is way above other Tanfoglio Witness pistols. In fact the fit quality is better than about any gun on this page; just like it came out of a custom shop! At 33 ounces, it is about the same size and weight as an M1911-A1 when loaded. You may not want to carry it in a holster all day. The Elite Match will make you the envy of the range when you start chewing out bullseyes!
EAA Handguns
Witness Elite Match Overview
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3. Springfield XDm 4.5": Haggle Price $600-$630
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Spending only $75 extra for the XDm over the standard XD is one heck of a bargain! The XDm I tested was brand spanking new and the trigger has very little take-up with a short reset. So nice! I could not believe I was shooting a DOA striker fired pistol! It should be classified as a single action! The match grade barrel, two 19 round mags, plus all the extra goodies that come with the XDm are another plus. You can swap out the rear grips to fit your hand better too. Don't get me wrong here, as the standard Springfield XD is a very fine pistol. Springfield pulled out all the stops with the XDm and built close to the perfect handgun. It just shoots so good! I was having so much fun, I went through $50 worth of ammo in minutes. The XDm is excellent for combat. The smaller XDm Compact is a popular choice for police duty. Also available in 40 S&W.
XDm Page Springfield XDm Review video
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4. Baby Eagle II BE9915R: Haggle Price $510-$540
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The MRI Baby Desert Eagle is all steel with a 4.52" barrel. Handles just like the CZ 75, but more solid. Very good shooter with a strong heavy feel to it. About 500 rounds for break-in. I love shooting this baby. The good trigger and solid feel makes this the ultimate double-tap pistol. It is as close to the perfect shooter as you can get. The MRI Baby Eagle is a good choice for combat competition. I would have ranked it above the CZ if the exterior finish was better. Overall quality is great. The Baby Eagle is built to last a lifetime. The Isralies sure know how to make fine firearms. Also known as the IWI Jericho 941. This is NOT a CZ clone! Note: MRI is importing them again!
Magnum Research Website
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5. CZ SP-01 Phantom: Haggle Price $530-$560
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How do you make the best polymer framed pistol? You start with using the SP-01 (CZ 75b) top end and guts; then add a mean looking poly stock with accessory rail to get the weight below 29 ounces. Then add an interchangeable backstrap section to make it easy to configure for any hand size. This is not a sweet little gun for concealed carry. The Phantom is a full sized service pistol with 19 round capicity that works good for competition too. Trigger break-in takes about 400 rounds. I have been waiting for over a year for prices to drop. The Phantom will own a combat course and embarass your shooting buddies. You must try the Phantom to gain the religious shooting experience like I have. My range brothers, the Phantom is a heavenly shooter and the most accurate poly pistol you can buy! Amen.
SP-01 Phantom Preview Clip
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6. Beretta 92FS (M9): Haggle Price $570-$600
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Great performance on the range. This is a man's pistol. A true warrior that replaced the 45 ACP 1911 service pistol. The Beretta M9 (or 92FS) is the most tested pistol since the M1911-A1. Used by the U.S. Military and thousands of poilce officers. Beretta 92 pistols with over 75,000 rounds have been reported. This solid designed pistol is what replaced so many police revolvers. Nothing shoots better than a well used Beretta 92FS. Allow about 300 rounds for break-in. Good long range pistol. I can hit the 50 yard gong over and over again. Easy to find magazines and holsters for this popular gun. The Italian made ones are tight! See the new 92-A1 with 1913 Picatinny rail.
Beretta USA
Unofficial Beretta Site
92FS In Combat. WOW!
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7. Taurus PT 92: Haggle Price $430-$460
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The stainless steel model is awesome ($25 more). This Beretta 92 clone is just as good as the Beretta in every way. Taurus made some good improvements to the Beretta design. Reliably feeds every brand of 9mm ammo including Wolf and Blazers. With the 5" barrel, it is a tack-driver. Allow a few hundred rounds for break-in. Don't pay attention to all the disinformation from Beretta snobs. The PT92 is a very high quality piece! The only thing cheap about the Taurus PT 92 is the price. The PT 92 must be the best pistol bargain in the industry, and an economical way to get into combat shooting. Sure is pretty. Also see the more compact PT 911.
Taurus Website
PT92 Video
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8. Walther P99 AS: Haggle Price $560-$590
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The Walther P99 grips so good. It feels like it belongs in your hand. The P99 trigger is great for a striker fired gun and would get an 9 out of 10 rating. The trigger in SA mode is short and crisp like an 1911 combat pistol! At the range the Walther P99 feeds all ammo just great with no jams. The poly stock takes the recoil abuse and is good for all day shooting. You have 3 backstrap choices for hand fitment too. The P99 is the perfect police carry hangun, and shoots better than any 4" barrel pistol on the market. At less than 23 ounces empty, the P99 could work well for concealed carry too. You get 2 mags, plus some extra front sights. The Magnum Research MR9 Eagle is close to the same gun, but cost less. I love the MR9 stainless slide. I won my last meet using a MR9!
Walther P99 Page
P99 Combat Video
MRI MR9 Eagle
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9. Glock 17 Gen 4: Haggle Price $510-$540
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The Gen 4 pistols are the best shooting Glocks ever! A nice feature with the Gen 4 series is the 3 backstrap choices to fit different hand sizes. This feature is the biggest selling point for me. Older Glocks feel like you are holding a block of wood, while the Gen 4 series molds right into your hand. Glock 17 range performance is very good and the trigger is almost accetable for combat. The Gen 4 feels like it has less recoil than the old model. Glock has a proven durability history and is one of the most popular police carry guns. Glock does have a cult following, and ranking it #9 will upset many. If you want a Glock range champion, spend the extra cash for the awesome G34; or make your Glock 17 shoot like a G34 with the inexpensive Ghost Ultimate 3.5lb Trigger Connector! Also check out the 21 ounce Gen 4 G19 with a 4" barrel. It is the same gun as the G17, but shorter on both ends.
Glock Site
Glock Gen 4 Review
Pro Shooting Glock Gen 4
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10. Walther PPQ: Haggle Price $510-$540
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This German made Walther has the best striker fired trigger of any duty carry handgun. Use care as the only saftey is the trigger, just like the Glock. The ergonomics are just like the Walther p99, which is perfect. Choice of three backstraps for hand fitment. When Walther decided to make a new striker fired pistol, they pulled out all the stops. Before you buy any new pistol, you must try the Walther PPQ first. It handles and shoots so good it is like you are in a dream where every shot goes where you want it. Another plus is the PPQ is priced right with the Glock and Beretta pistols. It is a Walther, so quality is right up there with Heckler & Koch. The new M2 version has a button magazine release.
Walther PPQ Page
PPQ Video Review
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11. FN Herstal FNX-9: Haggle Price $580-$610
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Made in USA! The FNX-9 is an upgraded version of the FNP-9, and the FNP-9 was one of the best holster guns you could get! Rumor is FN Herstal is gunning for US military contracts, and the FNX-9 could be the pistol to unseat the Beretta M9. The FNX still has the old school DA/SA trigger with a decocker saftey, and this is good. There is just something about a crisp single action trigger that a stiker fired pistol cant match. The FNX feels very good in the hand and you can change grip fitment with extra backstraps provided. Magazines are tight and take some time to break-in. Keep the mags completely loaded for a week and all will be fine. We have not had a chance to try the FN Herstal FNS-9 striker fired pistol yet. The FNS should be a good one!
FNH USA Site
FNX-9 Video Review
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12. S&W M&P 9mm: Haggle Price $480-$510
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This is no Sigma! If you like poly framed guns, this Smith is one of the best shooters. It is accurate as a steel framed pistol. The balance is perfect considering it weighs only 24oz. You can tell it will be a good shooter just by holding it in your hand. The M&P trigger pull is 6 pounds, but feels like 4. The M&P uses a trigger safety. You have a choice of 3 backstraps so you can tune it to fit your hand just right. Follow-up shots are so quick. The fit and finish is excellent. The M&P would be a top choice as a competition or police carry gun. It looks mean too. The M&P replaced all the premium steel cop guns in the Smith and Wesson line, so you know it is good! Spend the extra $60 for the M&P Pro Series with the awesome trigger and better sights. It cost much less than a trigger job!
S&W Site
mp-pistol.com
Lady Competition Shooter
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13. Beretta PX4: Haggle Price $500-$530
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The PX4 Storm wins the award for the most pretty pistol. Design, fit and finish is excellent. You can swap out backstraps to make it fit your hand better. It the hand, it points and feels like the perfect pistol. The bigger 92FS is a better long range shooter, but the PX4 is better for carry. Allow about 300 rounds before the trigger smoothes out. I like the common DA/SA as found on most steel guns. With the rotating barrel and poly frame, recoil is almost nothing. It kicks like a .380! My wife just loves this gun. I also had the chance to shoot a PX4 in .40 S&W, and the recoil was only a little bit more. The PX4 Storm is gaining popularity as a cop gun. Good choice for combat too. Have you noticed the best combat shooters have dish-pan hands. Dish washing may be the trick.
www.px4storm.com
PX4 Storm Review
PX4 Combat Video
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14. CZ 75 P-01: Haggle Price $550-$580
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NATO certified! The NATO testing revealed that the CZ P01 can survive 30,000 rounds of hot 9mm ball ammo! Try that with a plastic gun! The P-01 has a 3.9" barrel, decocker, and is light as many polymer handguns. At only 27.2 ounces, the alloy framed P-01 would make a nice concealed carry, or detective pistol. The trigger reach is closer than the 75b, making a good choice for smaller hands. Excellent trigger. The NATO certification is a big deal, as most pistols on the market can't pass the testing! The P01 is a real gem of a handgun and made to last a lifetime. Also see CZ 75 D PCR Compact.
CZ P-01 Review Video
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15. Sig Sauer Pro SP2022: Haggle Price $430-$460
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Sig Pro SP2022 prices have come down to the bargin bin zone! For the price of a Taurus, you can own a Sig! Buy the integral fire control unit ($45) and change the pistol from DA/SA mode to DAO if you want. No break-in needed, as the single action trigger pull is very smooth and just over 4 pounds. Recoil is very light, plus you can tune the SP2022 to fit your hand by swapping out grips. Great for females! Accuracy is excellent and on par with the FN FNP-9. At 29 ounces, the Sig Pro SP2022 is a little heavy for a polymer framed pistol this size. In fact it weighs more than the CZ P-01 metal framed pistol. It must have the beef in the right places because the US military uses the SP2022. With a decocker and 15 round magazine, it is an excellent cop gun. (Only one magazine comes with the gun) Also available in 40 S&W.
Sig Arms Sp2022 Review
Sig Pro SP2022 Video
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16. Walther PPX: Haggle Price $400-$430
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There are three good reasons why the new Walther PPX should be the top selling police duty carry pistol in coming years. The first is the price. Local governments are strapped for cash with the down economy and the PPX cost $100 less than the Glock. The second is the sweet PPX DAO trigger. Long, smooth, and safe trigger pull that is better than the Kahr P9. No thumb safety required, and you carry it ready to fire. The third reason is; it is a German made Walther! Only the expensive Heckler & Koch has a higher quality rating. At the range it handles just like P99 and PPQ Walthers. After shooting a few magazines, you forget it has a DAO trigger, as you are hitting everything straight just like a combat pistol. You can get the PPX in 40 S&W too.
PPX Webpage PPX Review Video
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| 17. Ruger SR9: Haggle Price $410-$440
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18. Springfield XD9 Service 4": Haggle Price $480-$510
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Springfield's little factory in Croatia is turning out some awesome firearms! The 4 inch barrel XD9 Service pistol is a popular handgun for police and security use. Saftey and reliability have always been the two biggest selling points. There is no thumb saftey you have to think about. Just pull it out of your holster and shoot. The 1911 type grip saftey combined with the trigger saftey is all you need. Years ago one of the gun magazines did a 20,000 round torture test on the XD9 and they could not kill it! The 4" XD may not be the most accurate range pistol ever made, but it is durable and should provide many years of service. It feels really good in the hand and is a natural pointer. Also available in 40 S&W.
XD Service Model Springfield XD Sales Video
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| 19. EAA Sarsilmaz ST10: Haggle Price $490-$520
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Made in Turkey. Sarsilmaz ST10 shoots like it was made to compete with the CZ SP-01, but it looks like a weapon Sig or HK would make. It is not a knockoff of anything. Three years ago I warned everyone about the turkish invasion, and it looks like it is here. I got to spend a day with the Sarsilmaz ST10, and wow! It is a good shooter. No problems eating 200 rounds of WWB. I can not believe this pistol is made in turkey. The fit and finish rivals German made handguns. I knew the Sarsilmaz shotguns were awesome, but I am really impressed with this pistol. I belive the ST10 is NATO certified. Sarsilmaz also makes a cheaper B6P version a lot like the CZ 75b. You can find the B6P or under $350! You are going to hear much about Sarsilmaz this year.
EAA Sarsilmaz ST10 Page
ST10 Review
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20. Taurus 24/7 G2: Haggle Price $420-$450 |
Taurus has a real winner with this handgun. This may be one of the best duty carry guns Taurus ever made! This is a new G2 model and should not be confused with the old troublesome 24/7. Even though it is still called the 24/7, it is not anything like the jam-o-matic from the past. The 24/7 G2 is a striker fired pistol with a ambidextrous thumb saftey. It is striker fired but can work like a DA/SA. The G2 has many of the great features of the 800 series and OSS model. It comes with three interchangeable backstraps and two magazines. Very fun gun to shoot. I hear Taurus customer service is getting much better.
Taurus 24/7 G2 Page
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