trying to pick just one gun is very difficult as there are quite a few nice ones out there..i stopped trying to do just that when i considered my first pistol..
in the end...i bought in this order ...all the ones i liked from m want list..

beretta 92fs 9mm
beretta px4 9mm
glock 19 9mm
walther p99 AS 9mm
hk usp .40

yes, some are more expensive than the others (ie hk usp) but they are well worth it...all shoot well, and so far no problems to date.

That's quite a nice list! If you could go back and buy all those guns, but in a different order, which would you buy first?


Also, how about durability among my candidates? The construction of the SIG and HK definitely appear durable, and the hardening of the M&P rail steel along with stainless steel guides in the frame intrigue me.

Regarding durability for "civilian" owners, all will serve you well. Now, if you tend to kick it, throw it, stomp on it when the football Buckeyes beat your Wolverines, then you better get a Sig.

Haha! (You guys did play a pretty mean game this year. We'll have to see how things go next...)
Thanks for the quick response. That's what I figured. So many tough choices.

I own a P99 9mm, and have shot a HK USP 45 ( And will soon be purchasing one) and a Sig 226. From my limited experience I think Walther, HK and Sig are the best in the business when it comes to handguns. So any of these choices would be a good one. But if your judging your next purchase on price, I'd say go with the P99, it's at least $200 cheaper than either the HK or Sig. And with the Walther your getting comperable quality, reliability and better ergonomics than teh HK or Sig.

FWIW:

I'm 64...

I've had a firearm (at least one) since I was 12.. I have been carrying concealed (w/permit) since 1966.. I have gone thru a LOT of pistols and revolvers in the ensuing 5 decades +..

Before retirement in 2000, when I was gainfully employed, I managed to buy pretty much any of the "flavor of the month" darlings of the firearm magazines I took a likin' to. I've had a bunch come and go, altho during the past 4-5 years I've sold, traded, or given away any firearm I wasn't really fond of.. I'm left with a small batch (12-15 or so) of pistols and revolvers that I consider excellent firearms.

I had settled in and had been very happy with my purchased new Sig P239.. For over a decade that little sucker has been 100% reliable, and very accurate. I didn't expect to find a pistol that could come between my trusty old Sig P239.

Enter "Shipwreck" with his continual bragging and boasting about how great his P99/AS's were...

So, without ever having even held one of the suckers I ordered a P99c/AS.. (Never can have too many compact 9's anyway). This P99c/AS has simply been the best pistol as an overall package I've ever owned. The accuracy right out of the box bested the Sig. The trigger/striker is better... Grip ergonomics, better... Visible chamber loaded, and cocked indicators... Dual mag release incorporated into the bottom of the trigger guard, fantastic.. And so on..

I' don't have much play money anymore as I ease down the "three score and ten" highway, so I don't part with my money easily.. But I was so enamoured with the qualities of the compact P99 that I soon thereafter ordered a full size P99/AS.. I find the accuracy of both to be about the same for me. I do NOT shoot at long distances because I'm into the business of self defense, and for me that's somewhere in the 5-7' range.. I think both pistols ARE capable of being excellent further out, I just don't care to do it.. My eyes are not so great, and my hands are increasingly shaky, so that probably accounts for a small part of my non-interest in such shooting. I can tell you that even for this old you can seriously nail the black at self defense range all day long... I'm sure a younger person with better eyes and hand stength could do the same much further out.

All to say it took me over 4 decades to finally stumble on what I personally consider the best pistols I've ever owned... The P99/AS & P99c/AS. I can't speak for the other two trigger/striker modes (QA/DAO?), but the "AS" is fantastic.

You owe it to yourself to at least shoot a P99/AS if you can before you buy.. If it doesn't suit your needs you will be well served by the other pistols mentioned.

But, this old "loves" his Walther P99's......

Best Wishes,

J. Pomeroy

Now, I know it's been a while (school/moving/work), but I'd like to thank you for all your responses.

I was able to try the P99 QA, P229, Glock 17, and USP (all 9mm), doing about 100 rounds with each) I really didn't like the P99 QA trigger. It was too heavy and long for my tastes. The P229 was nice, but I think I like the feel of the USP better. It just felt the most "balanced" and "solid" of the 3. The trigger was my favorite, in terms of feel. It seemed crisp whereas the QA was kind of mushy.

I still need to find a P99 AS before I rule it out, but I'm leaning towards the USP. Also I plan on trying out the XD9 and the M&P over the next few months. I found out I don't like the feel of glocks, so is the XD close enough in terms of ergonomics and feel?

Going to the las vegas gun show today so maybe I'll be able to get my hands on some pistols.

Originally Posted by rb67

Now, I know it's been a while (school/moving/work), but I'd like to thank you for all your responses.



I still need to find a P99 AS before I rule it out,

FWIW:

The general consensus on the various dedicated Walther forums are the "Anti-Stress" versions are the pick of the litter..

I have both the compact and fullsize P99/AS pistols and I simply have never found in over 50 years of firearms ownership a better all round package as that of the Walther P99/AS & compact..

Do yourself a favor and at least try one out before you buy something else.. If you buy another firearm without ever having fired an "AS" version you'll always wonder if you did the right thing.

Best Wishes,

J. Pomeroy

I definitely will not make any purchases before trying out a P99 AS. Now.. if I could only find a place near Ann Arbor MI that rents out P99 AS's.

I say go with the P99!!!

I just picked mine up yesterday!!! I am so excited to shoot it this weekend, pics are below, it is a P99 AS in a .40 S&W with ten round magazines (I live in New York).

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HK 2000 or Sig 226! When you handle or shoot them you'll see why. Both are excellent guns.