Need help choosing a pistol

**Walleye Hunter** · April 24th, 2018, 06:55 PM

I love my H&K P7. They're out of production but if you have deep pockets they are available on Gunbroker. It's a squeeze cocker and I don't think you'll find a safer pistol that easy to use.

**Just1more** · April 24th, 2018, 06:58 PM

What about the Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm M2.0 with safety? The shield is smaller than the Glock 19

**Twoboxer** · April 24th, 2018, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by RockIsland

A CZ75 Compact variant.

I'd second this.

I own both brands for over 5k rounds each and there's no difference in performance. In fact, I like the CZs better . . . no pretense, just solid, repeatbale performance. In addition, you can get a new CZ75 compact for less than a used Sig and order what you want.

I have the CZ P-01 with a decocker that your dad might not like, but the standard CZ75 compact and other variants are equipped with a safety.

**Just1more** · April 24th, 2018, 07:05 PM

I love my CZ75B but its too heavy to carry (stainless) and i am not comfortable carrying in cocked and locked. Not sure if the dad would like that either. Of course i am not familiar with the other CZs and how they are with regards to carrying conditions or weight.

**TooBigToFit** · April 24th, 2018, 07:11 PM

HK USP Compact. Let's go through your checklist...

Similar in size to a G19 or P229
Check. Actually might be a bit shorter.

9mm
Check.

Either DA/SA or possibly striker fired WITH a safety
This here is where I think the magic is. There is no other gun with as much trigger convertibility as the USP series.

Want DA/SA? You can have DA/SA.

You want striker fired? You can have HK LEM, basically striker fired benefits in a hammer fired gun. It is essentially a precocked double action only. Just like a striker fired gun, you have a long light takeup for safety, but a nice wall, crisp light break, and short tactile reset. Trigger pull is the same for every shot, unless you have a failure to fire, whereupon you can actually second strike with a heavier pull if you wish instead of racking the slide.

You can have a safety for either trigger variant, if that's you want. And in the case of the DA/SA variants, you can choose between safety, decocker, or both.

And you can convert it any time you want (with the proper parts of course). Going between safety + decock, safety only, or decock only is literally a 30 second job that pretty much anyone can do. Converting from LEM to DA/SA (or vice versa) is more involved, but still doable if you have basic mechanical inclination and can watch YouTube.

So it's the one gun that will change with him, if he isn't sure between DA/SA and striker style, safety or no safety.

**Christen** · April 24th, 2018, 07:37 PM

Sorry for the vp9 suggestion. I did not see that he wants an external safety. I tend to avoid external safety because I am a lefty and one ambi ones usually add bulk. The USPc can come with all kinds of variants like someone pointed out. I love the safety and decocker and it is easy to use but I was not very accurate with the .45 variant at all. If he doesn't mind a hammer, I believe the p30 could be a good contender. I also have the LEM variant and I love it.

I have shot the M&P 9 with external safety. It was good, nothing remarkable about it but it seems well built and reliable.

**Twoboxer** · April 25th, 2018, 01:51 AM

Originally Posted by Just1more

I love my CZ75B but its too heavy to carry (stainless) and i am not comfortable carrying in cocked and locked. Not sure if the dad would like that either. Of course i am not familiar with the other CZs and how they are with regards to carrying conditions or weight.

P229 is 34.4oz, CZ75B is 35,2oz, CZ75 P-01 is 28.1oz, CZ75 Compact (with safety) is 32.8oz. The CZs are a bit narrower than the P229 as well.

**Holeshot121** · April 25th, 2018, 06:16 AM

Great responses folks! I appreciate all the input. I now have plenty more options I can present to him. I'll also try to get him to a range that has at least some of these available to rent.

**markshere2** · April 25th, 2018, 07:17 AM

Have him look at 1911s?

The single stack makes it slim and its very safe.
They are surprisingly concealable with a reasonable IWB holster

Plus .45 ACP makes it a giant glowing obnoxious floating ball of WIN!