Most reliable and shootable 9mm semi auto pistols

[RockAndSage]

Lot of love here for the p365. Sample of 1 but my p365 xl trigger is simply awful. Gritty pull, with a wall, then more pull to a break. It will have to go somewhere for a trigger job to be shootable. So that’s a cost on top of the purchase price to factor in.

Sounds like something is wrong with it - that doesn't sound right.

 

[NSI]

Lot of love here for the p365. Sample of 1 but my p365 xl trigger is simply awful. Gritty pull, with a wall, then more pull to a break. It will have to go somewhere for a trigger job to be shootable. So that’s a cost on top of the purchase price to factor in.

2 hours of free time and some m carbo parts made mine tolerable.

-J

 

[Thegman]

Lot of love here for the p365. Sample of 1 but my p365 xl trigger is simply awful. Gritty pull, with a wall, then more pull to a break. It will have to go somewhere for a trigger job to be shootable. So that’s a cost on top of the purchase price to factor in.

I tried the trigger on a Fuse at a gun store a week or so ago. It also wasn't very good. Kind of like you're describing. I wonder if that's getting more common with them...? Pretty nice otherwise as far as weight and ergonomics. Seems to have a lot of potential, although I really don't like those 21 round stick magazines. That seems kind of dumb IMO.

 

[mtnbound]

I'm starting to look at pistols to carry while hunting and hiking as I'll be moving to an area with higher bear pop in a year or two. I haven't owned one and have minimal experience shooting a pistol.

I don't know if I'll buy one this year , but thought I should get one and become confident with it before moving.

Goal and use:
- probably won't conceal carry
- no competition plans
- mostly for backpacking, hunting, etc. So, lightweight. Not so small it hinders shootability
- 9mm
- great in reliability in factory (or nearly) form. I want a Tikka pistol. Shoot it dirty for it's life and it still works
- shootability - I've read Glocks are not particularly shootable
- speed - as it's mainly for bear protection, I want to be able to put as many rounds as quickly as I can into poi
- I don't really want to "need" to upgrade. One and done purchase.
- not sure on optic ... If it truly would help with speed and accuracy, then maybe. But it's another failure point to deal with
- prefer to have manual safety

That said, I've been looking into Glocks, Sig, and staccato.

- g19, g45, g48 - maybe g43 or 43x but they seem too small
- p320 m18, p320 x compact, p320 x carry, p365xl
- staccato c or cs

First question... Would I actually see any of the benefit of the staccato unless I became an extremely good shooter?

Because the g45 and g48 seem to be variants of the g19, are they just as reliable?

Does a slimmer grip generally hurt or hinder shootability (g48 vs g45)? I realize it's probably just a personal thing

Is there much difference in reliability between the Glocks and the p320/p365? Much difference in reliability between the different p320 models?

Having not carried a pistol before... For backpack hunters where weight/space is a concern, would a subcompact be better or are the sizes of those above small enough to not be an issue? (Again, probably personal preference)

Also, yes there is a range with rentals nearby and I'll do that before purchasing

For me, a G19 is the first choice, second is a G43x with Shield mags, the thinner grip of the 43x does get old if you plan to shoot a lot. If you have bigger hands, a G17 may feel better. Reliability is not an issue; other than a broken recoil spring and the frame flex of a Gen 1, the malfunctions that I have had were ammo-based or operator issues, not platform-based. I have tens of thousands of rounds through multiple different Glocks with the same results; they just work. Shoot ability is not an issue either, but I tell folks looking to buy a pistol to go to a store/range and put your hands on as many different ones as possible and find the one that feels the best to you, then shoot it. An optic can be nice, and there are some very durable ones, but I had a nighttime encounter with a bear, and my headlamp made the optic's dot unusable, so make sure your iron sights are still visible in your optics screen.

 

[HighUintas]

I tried a few different triggers in the store. They were all ok, but all had a noticeable second wall or "hitch" pulling through, including a fuse.

I didn't notice it on the XL I bought used. It had a couple hundred rounds through it. When swapping to a fuse slide, it became garbage. Worse than what I felt in the store.

So I polished the sear and striker interface surfaces. Very easy job and it cleaned it up nicely.

 

[justinspicher]

I recently starting shooting a Canik pistol, switching from a Glock. It has been a day and night difference between the two and I’m nothing short of impressed with the Canik.

 

[Trogon]

2 hours of free time and some m carbo parts made mine tolerable.

-J

What parts did you replace?

 

[NSI]

What parts did you replace?

Titanium striker assembly, striker spring, sear spring, etc.

-J

 

[Remington92]

For the folks with p365 series did you upgrade the safety levers to a wider model and whose safety was it? I decided to put my safety levers back on my xl to give it a try and they're too small and easy to miss.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I love my P229 and my P365 Macro. I open carry the P229 in the woods and the rest of the time I carry the P365 concealed.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[HighUintas]

For the folks with p365 series did you upgrade the safety levers to a wider model and whose safety was it? I decided to put my safety levers back on my xl to give it a try and they're too small and easy to miss.

I use the factory safety lever on my p365. I haven't had any issues missing it though

 

[Dunky]

For the folks with p365 series did you upgrade the safety levers to a wider model and whose safety was it? I decided to put my safety levers back on my xl to give it a try and they're too small and easy to miss.

I just recently swapped mine for a tyrant cnc lever. It’s a touch longer and has more aggressive serrations. No long term use but I find it a little easier to manipulate than factory.

 

[awildswanger]

rented a p365-380 today, out of 100x rounds had 8-10 failure to eject/extract.

Those with stock P365 9mm, is this something yall have had issues with as well?

 

[Q_Sertorius]

rented a p365-380 today, out of 100x rounds had 8-10 failure to eject/extract.

Those with stock P365 9mm, is this something yall have had issues with as well?

Umm... no. In thousands of rounds, I have never had a failure with my P365 or P226.

 

[TheCougar]

I won’t claim

I'm starting to look at pistols to carry while hunting and hiking as I'll be moving to an area with higher bear pop in a year or two. I haven't owned one and have minimal experience shooting a pistol.

I don't know if I'll buy one this year , but thought I should get one and become confident with it before moving.

Goal and use:
- probably won't conceal carry
- no competition plans
- mostly for backpacking, hunting, etc. So, lightweight. Not so small it hinders shootability
- 9mm
- great in reliability in factory (or nearly) form. I want a Tikka pistol. Shoot it dirty for it's life and it still works
- shootability - I've read Glocks are not particularly shootable
- speed - as it's mainly for bear protection, I want to be able to put as many rounds as quickly as I can into poi
- I don't really want to "need" to upgrade. One and done purchase.
- not sure on optic ... If it truly would help with speed and accuracy, then maybe. But it's another failure point to deal with
- prefer to have manual safety

That said, I've been looking into Glocks, Sig, and staccato.

- g19, g45, g48 - maybe g43 or 43x but they seem too small
- p320 m18, p320 x compact, p320 x carry, p365xl
- staccato c or cs

First question... Would I actually see any of the benefit of the staccato unless I became an extremely good shooter?

Because the g45 and g48 seem to be variants of the g19, are they just as reliable?

Does a slimmer grip generally hurt or hinder shootability (g48 vs g45)? I realize it's probably just a personal thing

Is there much difference in reliability between the Glocks and the p320/p365? Much difference in reliability between the different p320 models?

Having not carried a pistol before... For backpack hunters where weight/space is a concern, would a subcompact be better or are the sizes of those above small enough to not be an issue? (Again, probably personal preference)

Also, yes there is a range with rentals nearby and I'll do that before purchasing

I make no claim to be an expert, but I just went through this.

My criteria: lightweight, double stack, easy to shoot, optic and light compatible, with a compensator to improve rapid fire accuracy and hit rate. I ended up with a P365 Macro TacOps with a Radian Afterburner and Ramjet with a Trij RMR. You can also get a Comp version of the TacOps, but by all accounts the Radian was superior and I wanted the best recoil reduction I could get for accurate rapid fire. I could have gone with the Glock, but I like the way the Sig feels in hand and the trigger. Plus I always wanted a Sig….

 

[RockAndSage]

rented a p365-380 today, out of 100x rounds had 8-10 failure to eject/extract.

Those with stock P365 9mm, is this something yall have had issues with as well?

The 365s have a pretty good reputation for reliability. As a range gun, it could be extremely high round-count and need cleaning, lubrication, springs replaced, etc, and it could also be getting fed lower quality bulk ammo/reloads, or have a bad mag. For guns that are otherwise known to be reliable, especially when one person doesn't have problems and another does, with the same gun, it's not uncommon for the failures to be coming from the thumb riding the slide and slowing it down, or limp-wristing the gun. The 365s are very reliable guns though.

 

[awildswanger]

The 365s have a pretty good reputation for reliability. As a range gun, it could be extremely high round-count and need cleaning, lubrication, springs replaced, etc, and it could also be getting fed lower quality bulk ammo/reloads, or have a bad mag. For guns that are otherwise known to be reliable, especially when one person doesn't have problems and another does, with the same gun, it's not uncommon for the failures to be coming from the thumb riding the slide and slowing it down, or limp-wristing the gun. The 365s are very reliable guns though.

I would assume so

High round count, minimal cleanliness/lubrication

I shot half, wife shot the other. All malfunctions occurred while she was shooting, so may be less a sig problem and more a problem with her form…

I’ve researched that the p320 had some drop safe issues early on, but none reported with p365?

 

[NSI]

I would assume so

High round count, minimal cleanliness/lubrication

I shot half, wife shot the other. All malfunctions occurred while she was shooting, so may be less a sig problem and more a problem with her form…

I’ve researched that the p320 had some drop safe issues early on, but none reported with p365?

Sounds like a combo of less than optimal lube levels and lees than optimal recoil control.

-J

 

[texag10]

rented a p365-380 today, out of 100x rounds had 8-10 failure to eject/extract.

Those with stock P365 9mm, is this something yall have had issues with as well?

No malfunctions with my P365XL, but I likely have less than 2k through it.

I was at a range next to a woman with a P365 380 that was having a ton of problems. Even a good dose of oil didn't help it. I think it was a feeding issue for her, and it repeated for multiple guys that shot it trying to help out.

 

[Remington92]

For you guys with manual safety p365 do you notice the safety is inconsistent when it will engage on decocked striker? On mine if I dry fire with the barrel pointed up the safety will not engage. If I dry fire with the barrel pointed down it will reengage. I called sig and they said the safety engages and disengages correctly when the striker is cocked so they don’t care how it performs when it’s not. I see their logic but also don’t like inconsistencies in operation. That also would be a simple way of checking striker postion (similar to hammer position in an ar) since the trigger doesn’t stay back like on a Glock. Most other guns I own to not allow engageing the safety after it’s been fired but not cycled.