9mm Glock good gun???

[slider]

heard the 9mm for a knock down.Glock is about the  best  has it got good power for a take out and knock down?

[slider]

thanks nice catch!!!

[0leman]

If I really wanted knock down, would go with either old 45 or the 40, rather than 9mm.

[Big Rig]

I liked mine...really prefer the 45 for knock down...the 9 was a fun shooter...shame both were lost at sea.... both smooth and reliable....as I remember

[Wavalk]

THE 9mm Glock is a very well built and reliable firearm.  It has much less recoil than the 40 or 45 calibers.  With new and improved 9MM ammunition available, many law enforcement officers are switching to the 9MM.  They like the added magazine capacity and the reduced recoil.   I would suggest shooting each of the Glocks in 9MM, 40 and 45 before purchasing.  You will notice immediately how smooth and accurate the 9MM is over the 40 and 45 calibers.   I currently have a Glock model 23 which is 40 caliber.  It too is a very nice firearm, but if I were to buy a Glock today, I would purchase the 9MM.

[Dave Ritsema]

It's all about shot placement. Knock down is a rather vague attribute in any caliber.  A .380 between the eyes has more knock down potential than a .45 in the arm. 

[MarkT]

The Glock and Sig Sauer are the two best autoloaders in 9mm in production, IMHO.  Both are absolutely reliable, with superb engineering and craftsmanship.  The 9X19 / 9mm Luger is a potent round, which these autoloaders (and others) typically hold LOTS of them in a std magazine - up to 19 w/o getting the extra-long ones that protrude.  It's available everywhere, and cheap.  Personally I favor the .40s&w and .45acp for "knockdown", but that's based on other's opinions as I can't claim to have more success knocking down more perps with any particular caliber.  I don't expect to either, with all but one antique shooter of my armory on the bottom of Lake Michigan - including my Glock 21SF (.45acp) and G23 (.40s&w), Browning Hi-Power (9mm),  a Luger replica, Mauser Broomhandle, and several .380's - Beretta, Walther PPK.  

Whatever you get, you might want to check that Crimson Trace grips are available for it.  True for the Glocks and I believe Sigs, didn't check on the ones I didn't used to own.

Here's an interesting article on the subject; I'd say he's pretty much correct -

From http://www.greent.com/40Page/ammo/9/9mm-advoc.htm

Why the Nine?   Advocating the 9x19mm

by Todd Louis Green, me@greent.com
Probably no other handgun cartridge has been so misunderstood and maligned as the 9x19 (also called 9mm Luger, 9mm Parabellum, or just 9mm).  But in a world where new calibers seem to go in and out of vogue almost daily (10mm, .40S&W, 357SIG, 400CorBon, what's next?), the venerable 9mm still seems to be a popular choice for shooters.  Why?

The reasons are legion and depend, to a great extent, on each individual asking the question.  However, the basics can all be boiled down to what I call the Three E's of Ease of Use, Economics, and Effectiveness.

Ease of Use    

Compared to most other defensive calibers, the 9mm has relatively little recoil and muzzle flip.  This affects both new shooters and more experienced handgunners.

Beginners frequently have problems taming recoil.  This can lead to bad habits such as flinching, which makes accuracy almost impossible to achieve.  More importantly, a shooter who is recoil sensitive might get discouraged trying to learn with more punishing rounds and give up shooting altogether.  With the light recoil of the 9mm, inexperienced shooters can learn the basics of sight picture, trigger control, etc., without being battered by the gun.

Of course, with experience, most shooters learn to handle recoil properly and can move on to other calibers if they choose.  However, recoil force has a direct impact on things like muzzle flip, which in turn affect how quickly and accurately a person can make follow-up shots.  This shouldn't surprise anyone.  The more the muzzle flips up, the more time and effort it takes to bring it back down and on target.  Time equals marksmanship, and the more time you have to take your aimed shot, the more accurate you will be.  Therefore, the 9x19 allows a shooter of any given skill level to be faster and more accurate when firing multiple rounds.

Most tactical handgun trainers agree that the ability to put multiple rounds downrange into a target is critical for self-defense.  The obvious conclusion, then, is that the 9mm gives the shooter an edge when performing double taps (two rapid shots to Center of Mass, or "COM") and similar defensive techniques.

Economics    

Nine millimeter ammunition is just plain cheap.  Places like Natchez and Cascade regularly have sales at around  $7/box of 50.  You can find even better prices if you find a reputable commercial reloader or quality surplus ammo at gun shops and gun shows.  In fact, 9x19 ammo is so cheap that it's almost a waste of time and effort to reload for it.

By comparison, most other defensive ammo calibers are significantly more expensive.  Discussing just practice ammo (like FMJ or Blazer), the 9mm is usually two to four dollars cheaper per box than comparable .40S&W and .45ACP ammo; 10mm and 357SIG ammunition can be twice as expensive!  Of course,  shooters of these other calibers can save money by reloading, but that requires (1) an outlay of substantial funds to buy the reloading equipment and (2) time and effort spent sorting brass and loading ammunition.  Many shooters would rather not be bothered with all of that, myself included.

Also, in my experience, great deals (like specials, sales, etc.) on 9mm ammo are much more common than for other calibers.  Surplus NATO 9mm "ball" ammo makes an excellent training/practice round.

Less expensive ammunition, of course, means more ammunition.  Whether you want to spend $10 or $100 or $1000 each month practicing, you'll get more for your money with 9mm.  More ammo means more practice, and more practice means greater skill.

In a defensive shooting situation, shot placement is much more important than tiny differences in so-called "stopping power."  The only way to improve shot placement is by practicing.  By switching to 9mm from .40S&W or .45ACP, you can practice half again as much for the same cost.

When considered along with the 9mm's inherently reduced recoil, the economic efficiency of shooting 9mm means that you get better, faster, cheaper.

Effectiveness    

This is the big one, of course.  Many of the "big names" in the gunzine world disparage the 9mm right and left because, they claim, it lacks "knockdown power" or "stopping power" or whatever they're calling it this month.

I won't lie to you.  They're right.  The average 9mm load probably isn't as effective as a defensive round as the average .40S&W, .45ACP, 357SIG, or 10mm round.

Whoa, hold on a minute!  Did he just say the 9mm isn't as good as those others?

No.  I said that the average load wasn't as good.  When you start to look at the best loads in each caliber, you begin to see that they're almost identical in terminal performance (ability to penetrate, expand, and otherwise wound a violent threat).

Here are some samples of performance in bare gelatin:
Round    Penetration    Expansion    Wound Area

Federal HydraShok
         
9mm 124gr +P+    13.3"    0.67"    44.8 sq. in.
.40S&W 155gr    13.3"    0.68"    47.9 sq. in.
.45ACP 185gr +p    12.9"    0.69"    31.5 sq. in.
.45ACP 230gr    13.7"    0.71"    28.4 sq. in.

Federal PDA
         
9mm 135gr    11.5"    0.72"    
.40S&W 135gr    9.6"    0.68"    
.45ACP 165gr    11.3"    0.78"    

Remington Golden Saber
         
9mm 147gr    12.8"    0.68"    
.40S&W 165gr    12.5"    0.67"    
.45ACP 230gr    14.1"    0.76"    

As you can see, the 9mm versions of most "premium" loads are very close and sometimes superior to the .40S&W and .45ACP versions.   It's all about bullet design, not bullet weight or velocity.

The problem is that while there are few "bad" loads in the other calibers, there are tons of "bad" 9mm defensive choices out there.  Many rounds either fail to expand or fail to penetrate, or both.  It is important that you, as a shooter, do a little research and choose 9x19mm ammunition which is tailored to your particular needs.

So for 9mm, load selection becomes paramount.  (Click here to see CALIBERS recommendations in 9x19mm) But once you choose a good load, it works just like a good load in .40S&W, .45ACP, or any of those other calibers.   Sure, it's not as heavy as the heavy bullets, and it's not as fast as the fastest bullets.  But if it penetrates the same, expands the same, and disrupts tissue the same, who cares?  All else being equal, I'd prefer a cheap, easy to control gun rather than one that makes me work harder and spend more money to get the same results.
Conclusion.    The 9x19 certainly isn't the choice for everyone.  Plenty of people are very hardware dependent or simply lack confidence in the 9mm because of anecdotes and the performance of some of the "bad" ammo discussed above.  That's fine.  Those people are certainly free to use bigger guns which generate more recoil, which they cannot afford to practice with as often, just to have the same terminal performance ("stopping power") as my wimpy little 9mm.

Oddly enough, I haven't found a single person so far who is so unimpressed with the stopping power of a 9mm that he is willing to stand downrange and catch one fired out of my Beretta.  8-)

Stay safe ...

[Wetrudgeon]

What MarkT and Todd Lewis Green said.  We agree the 9mm is a good round and has the advantage of being relatively inexpensive (prices are only moderate extortion) and common (and therefore readily available almost anywhere).  This availability thing is a considerable benefit. 

Don't know what you care to "knock down" or "take down" but the 9mm is generally equal to any self defense task.  We slightly prefer the venerable .45ACP for self defense, because the proposition of relatively large projectiles traveling at relatively low velocities delivers measurably more "knock down" power than some others.  The 9mm may not always expand properly, but there are no documented cases of the .45ACP shrinking.  Nothing wrong with the .40 S&W cartridge.

As for handguns, we think one can scarcely do better than the various Glock models.  In 9mm, the G17 is the full (duty) size, the G19 the compact; and the G26 the sub-compact.  All are durable, reliable firearms with reasonable accuracy ease of maintenance and a simple manual of arms.  In .45, the G21 is the full size, the G30 and G36 are the compacts. 

Our $.02.

We trudge on.

[Serk]

(There's always gotta be one)

In my hands, I've never fired a more inaccurate or unreliable firearm than a Glock. I've never managed to empty even a single magazine without at least one failure of some sort, and I've shot many different Glocks over the years. (Every Glock friend tells me "Well, MY Glock won't jam! We go shoot it, it jams, FTF, FTE, stovepipe, some failure.)

And, to MY perception the .45 and .40 are much softer on the recoil than 9mm is. The 9mm might be overall less recoil, but the recoil is harsher, more instantaneous, whereas the .40 and especially the .45 feels more drawn out. It's like the difference between a strong shove and a punch. The shove might have higher pounds of energy exerted on you overall, but the punch is gonna hurt more.

In _MY_ hands I've never shot a more reliable, accurate gun than a Springfield Armory XD. Preferably in .40 or .45.

But that's in my hands.

What I'm saying is this... Try a few different guns in a few different calibers and see what works best in YOUR hands before buying one. Perhaps that will be a Glock in 9mm, but perhaps it won't be. Try some out before putting your cash down.

[MarkT]

I've been very impressed with a Colt Combat Elite .45ACP - 1911 pattern series 80, unmodified action, for very fast and accurate double-taps.  Returns to battery, and on target faster than any other auto-loader I've handled.  But it's not the easy-to-use handgun with the simplicity of a revolver, that the Glocks are with their automatic safeties.

I'm not necessarily a "Glock guy", and I know there are those who absolutely HATE them.  But there's a reason it's been called "America's Gun"  (it's Austrian, go figure, though I believe they are made here too, under license) and they have more police / FBI issues than any other make in the US and also in quite a few other countries.  Mine have NEVER failed to fire, G23 & G21.  The G23 has "competition" springs, the 21 is stock.  The Glock is a lot of gun for the money - I'd say the Sig might be a hair better but IIRC they cost quite a bit more. There are those who say "limp wristing" can cause failures like stovepipes - the slide needs a steady base to push against.  "Limp wristing" is not derogatory, just means it has to be held firmly.  Also Glock specifically proscribes shootin reloads in their guns - need to be full powered, factory copper clad ammo.  Though I've reloaded for years, and we all know if you are experienced at it you can duplicate factory ammo no problem.

Accuracy - well my Glocks were as good as my other autoloaders except the Combat Elite.  All .4x caliber autoloaders I owned had Crimson Trace grips.  Of course the Colt Python .357mag wheelgun was in a league of it's own.  Wouldn't hesitate to hunt deer with it and shoot out to a hundred yards.  The Super Blackhawk  (.44mag) generally got the nod for swamp hunting however.  It was accurized, and I built up some excellent loads for it. Though lock time on it was longer than the others.

One of these days I'll have to get started replacing those lost guns...

[Hoser]

 I was issued a Glock   model 17 when I did a stint with the campus police after I retired from the Fire dept.  When I retired from that I bought one for my self.  I like it. It is in my beside bed side cabinet.  Hoser

[Trynt]

I've been very impressed with a Colt Combat Elite .45ACP - 1911 pattern series 80, unmodified action, for very fast and accurate double-taps.  Returns to battery, and on target faster than any other auto-loader I've handled.  But it's not the easy-to-use handgun with the simplicity of a revolver, that the Glocks are with their automatic safeties.

I'm not necessarily a "Glock guy", and I know there are those who absolutely HATE them.  But there's a reason it's been called "America's Gun"  (it's Austrian, go figure, though I believe they are made here too, under license) and they have more police / FBI issues than any other make in the US and also in quite a few other countries.  Mine have NEVER failed to fire, G23 & G21.  The G23 has "competition" springs, the 21 is stock.  The Glock is a lot of gun for the money - I'd say the Sig might be a hair better but IIRC they cost quite a bit more. There are those who say "limp wristing" can cause failures like stovepipes - the slide needs a steady base to push against.  "Limp wristing" is not derogatory, just means it has to be held firmly.  Also Glock specifically proscribes shootin reloads in their guns - need to be full powered, factory copper clad ammo.  Though I've reloaded for years, and we all know if you are experienced at it you can duplicate factory ammo no problem.

Accuracy - well my Glocks were as good as my other autoloaders except the Combat Elite.  All .4x caliber autoloaders I owned had Crimson Trace grips.  Of course the Colt Python .357 wheelgun was in a league of it's own.  Wouldn't hesitate to hunt deer with it and shoot out to a hundred yards.  The Super Blackhawk generally got the nod for swamp hunting however.  It was accurized, and I built up some excellent loads for it. Though lock time on it was longer than the others.

One of these days I'll have to get started replacing those lost guns...

+1 on the Colt Combat Elite

[CaribouHunter]

Slider, I would recommend the Glock in 9mm, it's a fantastic personal defense weapon. I carry a Model 17, it is quick to draw and aim, and once you rack it once, you have 17 reasons not to play the little "knock out" game with you.  Hollow points will do the job.  There is no safety (it is actually part of the front of the trigger) and there is no button or tab to have to push.  Rack and shoot.  Takes about 0.1 sec to draw, rack, shoot.  Practice the double tap, and the triple tap, until it becomes pure instinct.  I would not carry my .45, too heavy and cumbersome. 

[Jess from VA]

Of the available Glock 9mm models, I like the 19 best. (middle size)

My limited exp with Glock is they are very reliable.  I have a bunch of 9's that are all more accurate than Glock (and also very reliable).  At some point, reliability and accuracy work at cross purposes. 

I am reasonably sure more police and Fed agencies (not our military) carry Glocks of once kind or another than any other brand (and perhaps all other brands combined, though that may be going too far).  The Glock was designed and marketed on the KISS principle to transition millions of policeman from revolvers to autos with the least amount of (expensive) transition training possible (and widely discounted in LE department sales).  That doesn't make them bad.  I am not a fan, but obviously many are.

[gordonv]

In my hands, I've never fired a more inaccurate or unreliable firearm than a Glock. I've never managed to empty even a single magazine without at least one failure of some sort, and I've shot many different Glocks over the years. (Every Glock friend tells me "Well, MY Glock won't jam! We go shoot it, it jams, FTF, FTE, stovepipe, some failure.)

This sounds like when I taught my kids to shoot. Not a firm enough grip on the firearm, and these kinds of malfunctions happen.

As for the 9mm, there is nothing wrong with the 9mm, you just need to check all the different types of ammo. I'm thinking of the subsonic, hollow points, etc. Hollow points aren't as good in the winter when passing through heaving jackets, they fill up and don't mushroom.

It's like I learned a long time ago (before the US went to a military 9mm), there where more deaths with a .38 Spl than any other caliber. I still like the high capacity over the .45 ACP.

[Jess from VA]

there where more deaths with a .38 Spl than any other caliber

Yes, but that statistic is a bit skewed since from about 1900 to 1970, most all cops (and citizens) carried .38s.  (various .38s, not just .38 Spl)   

[Serk]

This sounds like when I taught my kids to shoot. Not a firm enough grip on the firearm, and these kinds of malfunctions happen.

My main point was for the OP to try out multiple guns before making a purchase and not just go on word of mouth alone, but since I opened that can of worms, I've been told that I hold it too loose/limp, I've been told I hold it too firmly too... But regardless, I don't have these problems with my 1911s, my Taurus, my Makarovs of various makes, my Springfield Armory XDs, my Kel-Tecs, my.... well... you get the idea...

I personally don't like and don't trust Glocks. Too many failures first hand and too many people I know have had NDs with them, BUT if a Glock works well for you, more power to ya'... Kinda like a Valkyrie vs. a Harley, whatever works for ya', I'm just suggesting someone test drive a few before purchasing a particular one...

[bassman]

Not the final word on ammo but some interesting info.....

http://mousegunaddict.blogspot.com/p/ammo-tests.html

[Gavin_Sons]

I have had several glocks over the years. My favorite is the 23. I now carry the 42 which is a 380. This thing has had about 1000 rounds of about 10 different ammo and has not jammed once. Shot a bunch of different self defense loads and everything fed through this thing. Also have a springfield XDM in 40 and its the same way. The XDM is more accurate but it also has a 4.5" barrel compared to the 2" one on the 42. If this is something you're going to carry dont cheap out. Buy a quality gun that will last a lifetime.

[Crackerborn]

I have tried the Glocks in various calibers and found the .40 round to be my personal favorite for the Glock handgun. Like others have mentioned, that is an opinion and worth the price you paid. I also prefer other manufacturers offerings to a Glock in any caliber, but again, JMHO.
 

If this is something you're going to carry dont cheap out. Buy a quality gun that will last a lifetime.

  And select what is comfortable for you to shoot.

[therapist]

Here is a comprehensive video review of the Glock 19, my favorite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8eK2M4Z4tw

[solo1]

In answer to Serk about Glocks.  My son and I were teaching gun safety to a group of police cadets.
I had them shoot my Glock 35 fresh out of the box, new and cleaned only.  All seven of these youngsters had no problem with the Glock even tho some were limp wristing. A total of 70 rounds by inexperienced shooters with a new gun convinced me. THIS Glock was reliable.. i also have a Glock 22 and a Glock 42, both are reliable. None of the three would come close in accuracy to my Colt 1911 70 series which I no longer have.

I would NOT recommend a Glock to a new shooter who expects a conventional safety.  Also for those that say that the Glock is inaccurate I say, yes it is BUT with the .40 cal round.  The .40 round is inherently not as accurate as the .45 ACP round..  IMO,and others, the .40 has excellent stopping power tho.

However, to each his own. Serk's recommendation is right on,  Try different brands and buy what you think is right for you.   Caliber wise is like asking what's the best Dark side tire.

[Jess from VA]

Wayne brings up a good point (among several) worth noting.

I came up using single action autos with (much) better triggers and with safeties.  I like safeties (real safeties).  Especially with one in the chamber.  I do not like safety-less (striker fired autos) with one in the chamber.  Yes the Glock does have so-called safeties (three of them), but they do not prevent the gun from firing if you pull the trigger by accident with one in the chamber (or if the trigger catches on something, or on something in the wife's purse).  

Yes, keep your finger off the trigger if you are not intending to shoot.  Yes, only use trigger guard covering holsters so you don't shoot your leg when drawing.  But under the stress of a mad-dog crack-head with a machete (or some such), or if failing to keep your finger off the trigger thru neglect or carelessness or nerves, you can easily have ADs with a no-true-safety striker fired auto with one in the chamber.  

I have a lifetime of firearm experience, but if I carried a Glock, it would be with one NOT in the chamber (unless I am traveling in a true danger zone, in which case I will have a 1911).  I do the same with my Kahr (my only striker fired auto).  I prefer a cocked and locked 1911 or Hi Power, or a double action auto with a safety..... draw, wipe the safety, and shoot.  And if someone whacks me over the head and takes my gun, he cannot just pull the trigger, he has to wipe the safety before it goes bang.  Or if we are struggling for the gun, it will not go off without releasing the safety, unlike a Glock.

Now some may rightfully point out that a double action revolver has no safety either, and that is true. But, the trigger pull on a DA revolver is long and heavy, unlike striker fired autos.

So even if the Glock was designed to be simple and easy to learn, I agree with Wayne it is not a great firearm for a novice simply because it has no true safety (though one can be added).  Without an added safety, it should be carried with one NOT in the chamber by a novice.

Except in OK Corral type situations, if you have time to draw, you have time to rack.

My two cents.

[solo1]

Jess brings up a good point. In addition to what he said, IMO, Glocks should NEVER be carried unless they are in a fitted holster that covers the trigger. Carrying loose is a recipe for disaster!

I not only carry in a good fitted holster but I use a trigger block that I can instantly release as I draw.  Being left handed, a person that would grab my Glock, wouldn't be able to easily figure it out.

It is possible that many police departments changed to Glock because they WERE like a double action revolver.

A Glock is perfectly safe to carry one in the chamber if the owner knows and remembers that the Glock is ready to fire with no further effort.

[Varmintmist]

Nine is fine. The have been putting holes in people for about a hundred years. With the new er ammo, even better.

 There is no such thing as "knock down" power when it comes to regular defensive handgun rounds. Newton had the final word on that a long time ago.

As for Glock. I have shot a few and I dont feel the love. The early ones had a very euro grip that I couldnt stand though the gen 3-4 are a bit better.  I hate the sponge like trigger feel. They are OK accurate, but the cheap model Kimber I have blows any I have seen out of the water, and I can do as good with a 249.00 Auto Ordanance 1911 with lead reloads. Which is NOT to say it is bad. You are looking to hit a man sized target at 50 yards, and it will do that reliably.

I DO NOT like Glocks for newbies though. Until you have the idea to keep your booger hook off the bang switch ingrained into your brain, you are looking for a problem if you are going to carry one. IMHO the Glock is marketed toward the lowest common denominator here in the US as easy and uncomplicated. It is. Which means you dont have to think. Which is bad if you dont practice a lot.

If you like it, it fits, AND are willing to practice until you understand that taking up any tension on that sponge trigger will make it go off, then go for it.

[Jess from VA]

Sponge trigger.   

Exactly!  Have to remember that one.

And the sproing toy-like noise on dry fire.

[bigguy]

Except in OK Corral type situations, if you have time to draw, you have time to rack.
My two cents.

There is a board full of very smart and experienced people, (LEO, MIL, Instructors) who very much disagree with this. The pistol Forum Search one in the chamber at this site and get a lot of first hand accounts from people who have been in the line of fire. There will be far fewer real world scenarios that give you time for a leisurely draw than you might think. Turns out that bad guys don't like giving victims a lot of time to consider options.

[Beer van Huet]

Almost half of NATO in the EU is using Glock 9mm.
This means that it has been extensively tested for military purposes.
I used it myself in my military career. Accurate and never had any problems with it.
Big improvement over the Browning 9mm, we used in the past (over 30 years ago).

[Jess from VA]

Search one in the chamber at this site

I suppose.  The two times in my life I produced a pistol, I had plenty of time to rack (though I had revolvers on those occasions).  And I was ONLY talking about no-safety striker autos (which I only have one and do not favor).

I think vigilance (situational awareness when in public) may be more important than one in the chamber, and I'm pretty good at that.  

I don't live in or frequent urban combat zones (though it's not that far for me to drive to some).

If I was LE anywhere or in the Middle East, I'm pretty sure I'd have one in the chamber.

Every man ought to do what he thinks is right.


Beer, I'll take a Browning Hi Power (P35) over any Glock!! (So did the Brit SAS for many years)

[therapist]

Have never been comfortable carrying with a round in the chamber. It feels like carrying a stick of dynamite and a bic lighter in the same pocket. Sure, the chances of it going off is small, but I don't want to have to think about it. Probably, if I was still young and working in 70"s NYC, I would have thought about it. Because, you know, I was invulnerable back then  

[bassman]

"Because, you know, I was invulnerable back then"


Invulnerable back then...invaluable now........

[czuch]

" Some say the 9mm is not a man stopper, I dont know. Johnson stops what ever he's doing everytime I accidently shoot him".
Sterling Archer.

[therapist]

Thanks, buddy. Hey, you guys are balmy downstate. We have 7 degrees here and windy. I am debating about my daily dog walk across the frozen lake. Not sure I own enough layers to make that a pleasurable venture.

"Because, you know, I was invulnerable back then"


Invulnerable back then...invaluable now........

[ibsrp]

Don't know if you are interested but Kentucky Gun Co. has the Taurus PT111 G2 9mm on
sale for $197 with free shipping. It come with 2 12 round mags and is supposed to be a
real nice carry pistol.

[Mr Whiskey]

Don't know if you are interested but Kentucky Gun Co. has the Taurus PT111 G2 9mm on
sale for $197 with free shipping. It come with 2 12 round mags and is supposed to be a
real nice carry pistol.

 Checked 'em out, out of stock, shame. Good price (most are payin' +/- $300) & it's gettin' great reviews. Wouldn't mind owning 2 of those at that price! Gonna keep my eye out, thanks for the tip.

 To the OP, 9 mil gets a bad rap IMHO. Most of the newer ammo is the shiznit in 9 with less muzzle flip giving you better control, & lets face it, if you aint hittin' it don't really matter what caliber you miss with.
Here ya go Bro if ya got a few minutes, feature comparisons from the master!
Glock vs M&P vs XD & more............
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clZnXL7nlFo

[Xtracho]

Like all my Glocks. 17, 19, 30S, & 42. The 30S (.45acp) is my EDC. Working on the learning curve with the 42. It is such a small frame pistol and my hands are very big. Grip and trigger finger placement are my issues with it and that means practice, practice, and more practice. My oldest daughter shoots that 42 like a pro though because it fits her hands much better. I wanted a pocket carry pistol for the summer months when it is shorts and tee shirt weather.

But Serk is correct....go to your local gun dealer, handle the guns, even rent them to shoot if your dealer does that. Choosing a carry weapon is a very personal decision. You must be sold on it reliability, your accuracy, and its comfort to carry.