Most reliable and shootable 9mm semi auto pistols

[Formidilosus]

Beat me to it ... "And no de-cocker"

Love mine and carry it pretty often.

They are very good pistols. I always laughed at the “we banned 1911’s from this division so Glocks would be competitive”……. Then… in slides CZ. Haha.

What's your opinion on the DWX line? I picked up a compact a few weeks back and it's been a fun marriage of CZ and 20/1911.

Only a few hundred down range at this point but it's been accurate and reliable so far.

They shoot very well. But, should have been a 1911 grip. When it comes to all out performance in that type of pistol, it’s 1911, then 2011, then DWX or Shadow 2.

 

[rileybassman]

They are very good pistols. I always laughed at the “we banned 1911’s from this division so Glocks would be competitive”……. Then… in slides CZ. Haha.





They shoot very well. But, should have been a 1911 grip. When it comes to all out performance in that type of pistol, it’s 1911, then 2011, then DWX or Shadow 2.

Thanks for the input! Glad to see you endorse the Staccato C… it’s been my favorite carry piece for 5-6 months and has been 100% reliable, crazy accurate, and I like the external extractor personally. I had a C2 for awhile and a P and for my small hands, the C has been just about the ideal do all pistol. And you are right… every person that I have taken shooting automagically just shoots the C better then just about anything else on the tailgate at the time… including my 11 year old son. DWX compact is close, but i do think the C beats it. I like the option of the CZ grip personally… not saying it’s better than a 2011, just enjoy the option and variation on the theme. It feel natural as I shoot the S2C and Staccato together a lot… the DWX just lands right in between.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[RockAndSage]

They shoot very well. But, should have been a 1911 grip. When it comes to all out performance in that type of pistol, it’s 1911, then 2011, then DWX or Shadow 2.

Any experience yet on the Wilson EDC X9 series?

 

[Formidilosus]

Thanks for the input! Glad to see you endorse the Staccato C… it’s been my favorite carry piece for 5-6 months and has been 100% reliable, crazy accurate, and I like the external extractor personally. I had a C2 for awhile and a P and for my small hands, the C has been just about the ideal do all pistol. And you are right… every person that I have taken shooting automagically just shoots the C better then just about anything else on the tailgate at the time… including my 11 year old son. DWX compact is close, but i do think the C beats it. I like the option of the CZ grip personally… not saying it’s better than a 2011, just enjoy the option and variation on the theme. It feel natural as I shoot the S2C and Staccato together a lot… the DWX just lands right in between.

Oh no doubt.


Fyi- 1911 grip, not 2011. By “1911”, I mean exact outside dimensions- shape, grip panels, front strap- all of it. 2011’s are too dang big. The C and CS are much better than 2011’s, but still the 1911 is the most forgiving of errors.

 

[Formidilosus]

Any experience yet on the Wilson EDC X9 series?

Yes sir.
Generally solid and reliable. But here too again, they messed it up- made a modern 1911, then put a Beretta grip on it.


For people reading that may not understand why I keep bringing up “1911 grip”- pistols with palm swells, bumps, humps, rounded, finger groves, etc, etc. can and often do feel very good with a perfect grip. But the moment your hand is even slightly out of position all those “features” that felt so great now put pressure in weird places and cause odd inputs into the gun. A 1911 on the other hand is like a 2x4”- it feels the same, and interacts with your hand the same way basically no matter how you grab it.



The myth of the 45 auto being such a great man stopper wasn’t based on the 45 auto round like people believe(ed), as we now know there isn’t any real difference between 9mm-45. Instead the myth that gave the 45 auto its reputation- was the pistol.

 

[RockAndSage]

made a modern 1911, then put a Beretta grip on it.

That actually explains a lot...there's been a few times I've seriously considered getting one, but every time I go into a shop and handle one, it feels like I got catfished.

 

[Formidilosus]

That actually explains a lot...there's been a few times I've seriously considered getting one, but every time I go into a shop and handle one, it feels like I got catfished.

Haha. Catfished is spot on.

 

[HighUintas]

So, after 18 pages you must have a crystal clear decision on what to get

Haha.... Yea. Well, with my current financial situation, I won't be dropping $2500 on a staccato. It would eat up most of my gear/ammo budget next to year also. With my want of a manual safety, that limits me a good bit. I picked up an m&p shield ez and 2.0 the other day and didn't love them. So..... I'm looking hard at either p365 or m18.

I think I might take the approach of learning on something less forgiving. So probably p365. Then when I do move and sell my house, I'll be irresponsible and get a staccato, an exo k4, a couple woody rokstoks, and an Alaska moose hunt. And that staccato will seem so easy.

It's a great discussion though! You know it's good when guys get into arguments and there's an oddly low number of memes

 

[HighUintas]

@Formidilosus , for a more affordable 1911, what's your take on the tisas? I've seen them come up a few times.

1911 nightstalker
1911 b9r

 

[SouthPaw]

For similar use case as OP (field carry, concealed carry, 9mm, shootable) where weight/bulk matter, but for Lefties, what do southpaw shooters prefer/recommend? I have a G20 but don't shoot it well and it's larger than ideal for field carry, looking to change it up.

 

[Formidilosus]

@Formidilosus , for a more affordable 1911, what's your take on the tisas? I've seen them come up a few times.

1911 nightstalker
1911 b9r

What I’ve seen with quite a few Tisas’ is that they tend to work without much fuss. The guts of the gun are pretty solid. They generally need an extractor tweak (easy) to run as they should. With any 9mm 1911 you’ll probably want to try a couple different mags to see which is best.

If that is appealing to you (1911), it would be a very good gun to learn on.

I would personally choose the B9r model. And get-

1). Wilson Bullet proof 9mm extractor.

2). 1x Wilson ETM mag

3). 1x Ed Brown mag

4). 1x Metalform mag.

5). Wilson 20lpi front strap piece.


One of those mags (maybe all) will work well.


@Colby did that, and shot his very well last spring.

 

[eaglemountainman]

CZ 75D PCR

 

[Nine Banger]

For similar use case as OP (field carry, concealed carry, 9mm, shootable) where weight/bulk matter, but for Lefties, what do southpaw shooters prefer/recommend? I have a G20 but don't shoot it well and it's larger than ideal for field carry, looking to change it up.

Is the G20 Gen5?

The update fixes the compromises I was making with my Gen3.

I add the extended ambidextrous slide release and turn the magazine release around.

You can activate the slide release with your trigger finger or thumb, or both.







I field carry a G43x identical to this one below with an extended slide stop. It doesn't seem like a Gen5 43x is on the horizon. I hit the slide release with my trigger finger which I got accustomed to on a G19 I have shot for a long time before the Gen5 update. I carry G43x in a chest holster under mag pouch. I have a G19/45 holster for the chest holster too but those guns feel fat on my chest.






With 1911 platform you can get by with an extended slide release but it's not competitive with a shot timer. Seek ambidextrous controls.



Standard controls on 1911 are even worse for lefties:



Short answer:
- I prefer a G45 with the magazine release turned around and the addition of an extended slide stop lever, a Glock performance trigger and bold sights. A Gen5 G19 set up the same way is my second choice.

 

[PaulIV]

Form what would you consider the best training course for a relative beginner. I have bought the recommended equipment but I feel I’m probably closer to the bumbling boob than anywhere near competent with a handgun. I have the staccato xl,p,c and alchemy and nighthawk 1911 45 and Springfield professional custom 1911 in 9mm. I feel it’s time to invest in training rather than more equipment. Where do you suggest to train starting from zero as I have had no formal training aside from basic concealed carry class.

 

[ARK_Ginger]

@Formidilosus , for a more affordable 1911, what's your take on the tisas? I've seen them come up a few times.

1911 nightstalker
1911 b9r

You didn’t ask me but mine needed some extractor replacement/ tuning and it’s ran great. Swapping to a colt sear spring seemed to help the trigger pull as well. I fell into some Wilson and mecgar mags and they both work good.

All three of my Tisas needed extractor tuning at a minimum.

 

[sbaker0029]

I'll throw in my two cents.

First 9mm pistol I ever shot was a friend's glock. Shot maybe 3-4 mags close to 50rds. Couldn't hit for crap with it.
Chalked it up to being new to shooting pistols outside of a few times shooting my granddad's old ruger single six 22lr.

Fast forward, I'm old enough to buy a pistol and get the itch for a 1911 and buy one.
First outing I think I fired close to 100rds. By the 4th-5th mag I was hitting everything, seemed as easy as pointing my finger at whatever I wanted to hit.

Later I find out about grip angles and how glock is so much different from a 1911.

For me the 1911 style grip feels and points natural. So much so that I occasionally notice I'm not even using the sights for some shooting.

I'll also clutter up the tread a bit more, sorry @HighUintas

@Formidilosus any experience with the Platypus 1911 platform? It really peaks my interest.

 

[Thegman]

I'll throw in my two cents.

First 9mm pistol I ever shot was a friend's glock. Shot maybe 3-4 mags close to 50rds. Couldn't hit for crap with it.
Chalked it up to being new to shooting pistols outside of a few times shooting my granddad's old ruger single six 22lr.

Fast forward, I'm old enough to buy a pistol and get the itch for a 1911 and buy one.
First outing I think I fired close to 100rds. By the 4th-5th mag I was hitting everything, seemed as easy as pointing my finger at whatever I wanted to hit.

Later I find out about grip angles and how glock is so much different from a 1911.

For me the 1911 style grip feels and points natural. So much so that I occasionally notice I'm not even using the sights for some shooting.

I'll also clutter up the tread a bit more, sorry @HighUintas

@Formidilosus any experience with the Platypus 1911 platform? It really peaks my interest.

Those mirror my experiences as well. Back when I carried 10mm (weren't many available at the time, like there is now), I remember shooting my G20, and then my Dan Wesson Razorback (10mm 1911). The 1911 was so much easier to shoot well it wasn't even close. Felt like I was just casually "willing" bullets to the target compared to the focus required with the G20.

(To be fair, I should add though, the G20 isn't the G17/19, I can shoot a G17 better, with less effort than I can a G20. Hadn't shot a G20 for years, but in the last couple of years I've shot a couple of buddies G20s, both times I was reminded that they're definitely harder (for me anyway) to shoot well than are most other pistols I've shot. Definitely takes more getting used to, for me.)

 

[BLJ]

What’s everyone’s thoughts on night sights?
Seems relevant to the original post.
I’ve been considering the XS Big Dot front and the vertical line rear.
Apologies to @HighUintas if that’s not the case.

 

[Formidilosus]

Form what would you consider the best training course for a relative beginner. I have bought the recommended equipment but I feel I’m probably closer to the bumbling boob than anywhere near competent with a handgun. I have the staccato xl,p,c and alchemy and nighthawk 1911 45 and Springfield professional custom 1911 in 9mm. I feel it’s time to invest in training rather than more equipment. Where do you suggest to train starting from zero as I have had no formal training aside from basic concealed carry class.

Unfortunately I am unaware of one that covers everything they should. However, TPC out of Utah has the best balance of what I have seen so far. Rossen is the lead, and they do a good job of getting people onto performance shooting.



Also, let me know if you get bored with the 9mm Pro.

 

[Formidilosus]

@Formidilosus any experience with the Platypus 1911 platform? It really peaks my interest.

Only surface level. The grips are not appealing to me.