Five hot 9mm pistols suitable for duty, defense, competition
by Scott Smith
Contributing Editor
Back under the Clinton Administration “hi-capacity” magazines, or more appropriately full capacity magazines, were banned. This was to cut down on the supposed proliferation of bullets and shoot-outs on the city streets. The capacity limitation would also lead to the development of more compact pistols; no sense having loads of extra space if you can fill it with ammunition.
The magazine capacity also had the affect of making the venerable 9mm cartridge less favorable with the civilian market. The feeling and thought was I might as well carry as many bigger bullets as I can; the 40 S&W became the preferred cartridge for self-defense.
Today the capacity limitations have been dropped except in those states that limit the rights of the inhabitants. In states that have citizens not subjects handguns chambered in 9mm are seeing resurgence in popularity. The cost of lead has also helped the 9mm regain its popularity with ammunition prices jumping 15% and more, the 9mm is an affordable cartridge to shoot. Thanks to current bullet design it is a very lethal self-defense cartridge as well.
As I peruse through the various magazines and various catalogs of the manufacturers, where the 9mm is concerned it is like Mark Twain once quipped; the rumors of my death have been quite over blown. It seems every manufacturer—even those known for their 1911s—offers pistols chambered in 9mm. Pistols chambered in 9mm can be had as compacts, full sized, polymer framed, steel framed, pretty much anyway the end user would like.
Overview
Tried and true pistols such as the Browning Hi Power are selling well, Glock 17s have regained popularity as has their longer barrel sibling the G34, Sig Sauer’s P series pistols are hugely popular as are duty pistols from Beretta. This past year Armalite introduced the Armalite AR24, FN Herstal the new FNP-9, Heckler &Koch (HK) the P30, Sturm Ruger its revolutionary SR9, Springfield Armory it’s Tactical XD9, and Smith & Wesson’s M&P started taking the competition world by storm.
These pistols are all good handguns and will serve the owners for competition, duty and daily concealed carry. I thought it would be worth taking a look at a few of the newer pistols and see how well they stack up against the old guard. I was fortunate to procure a Ruger SR9, a FNP-9, an AR24, a XD9 Tactical and an H&K P30. All of these are polymer framed pistols except the all steel AR24. These pistols represent a fair cross-section of the new or recently available models on the market. I am sure that since this was written there will be more new ones to talk about, but these are what I have.
The Sturm Ruger (1 Lacey Place, Dept. GWK, Southport, CT 06890; phone: 203-259-7843; online: ruger-firearms.com) SR9 is a radical departure from the company’s past “P” series of pistols. The SR9 is striker-fired, is very slim line (virtually the same size as a 1911), the back strap is interchangeable to make the pistol fit every individual better, and—unique to this striker-fired pistol—an ambidextrous safety.
Ruger SR9 Test
The SR9 was developed and produced under a very large veil of security and secrecy. Ruger wanted to have pistols and magazines ready to deliver when the handgun made its media debut late in 2007. From initial reports the SR9 has been well received and is selling like hotcakes at a church bazzar.
When my sample of the SR9 arrived I was pleasantly surprised. It felt like a 1911 except it has a polymer frame and holds 17+1 rounds of 9mm over 8+1 of .45ACP in the 1911. The trigger felt like other striker-fired handguns I have fondled over the years, and I am sure it will get better with time. The stainless slide and black polymer frame makes for a good looking firearm.
What I liked most about the SR9 is how well it shot. The pistol is reliable and shoots well. Offhand and right out of the box, this pistol was racking up 17-shot groups that hovered at 4˚ inches at 25 yards. When I put it on a rest, 10-shot groups were 2 inches and under at 25 yards.
The SR9 showed no preference for bullet type, weight, or brand; it just shot. This is not surprising as every other Ruger “P” series pistol I have owned or shot just kept on running like the battery bunny.
Another of the new breed is the FN Herstal (PO Box 697, Dept. GWK, McLean, VA 22101; phone: 703-288-1292; online: fnhusa.com) FNP-9. FN Herstal is better known for their crew-served weapons such as the M249 SAW, M240, or M2 Heavy Machinegun. FNH has produced several duty weapons over the last several years, but they have seemed to lack that oomph to make it in the market. When I saw the FNP-9, I thought it was just a rehash of past FNH efforts. But I was proven wrong.
New FNP-9
The FNP-9 is not a copy, not a reinvention of any wheels; it is an entirely new offering. This pistol has three variants: a traditional double-action; a double-action-only, and a single-action-only. The traditional double-action was the first available, so that was the pistol we are reviewing.
At first glance I thought, “Nice pistol!” The fit and finish of the FNP-9 was excellent, the slide to frame fit was tight and the black finish of the slide was deep and even. To make the pistol more versatile, the backstrap of the FNP is interchangeable from an arched style to a flat version; simply remove a set screw and you can change the backstrap. Throughout shooting of the pistol I didn’t notice this screw working itself loose.
One thing that sets the FNP apart from other traditional double action pistols is the ability to operate it as a single-action pistol. You can either sweep the ambidextrous safety on the pistol in single action or sweep it down and the pistol is decocked and ready to operate as a double-action. Another unique feature of the FNP is the safety can be applied after you decock it, making it “extra” safe.
At the range I found the FNP-9 to be pleasant to shoot. It fit the hand well, the magazine was easy to seat and readily dropped free when you push the magazine release. The trigger in double- or single-action was smooth and the sear broke clean.
The FNP ran as good as it looked. During several trips to the range the P-9 shot hard ball, lead round nose, hollowpoint and full metal jacket, and did it accurately. When I fired the FNP-9 for accuracy, I shot it in single-action from the bench at 25 yards. If not for a dropped shot, the 10-shot group would have been 2 inches not 2˚. For duty, personal protection, or action pistol, the FNP-9 should make inroads this year.
XD9 Tactical
Springfield Armory (420 W. Main St., Dept. GWK, Geneseo, IL 61254; phone: 309-944-8994; online: springfield-armory.com) entered the non-1911 handgun market several years ago with the successful XD series. The XDs have taken the market by storm. The XDs are offered in compact, standard and long slide versions. All shoot well and every one I have shot is incredibly reliable with any kind of ammunition.
With the resurgence of action pistol shooting which seemed to plateau in the ’90s, I thought I’d look at an XD that is built for running and gunning: the XD9 Tactical. This is a full sized, XD with a 5-inch barrel. This gives the user a longer sight radius and the extra weight of the slide reduces recoil, allowing for faster follow-up shots.
At the range I found the XD Tactical did not let me down. I had anticipated the XD Tactical to be a shooter because of past experience with the shorter 4-inch Service version. The XD Tactical was reliable and over the course of the range session, it digested several hundred rounds without a problem. When it came to accuracy the XD consistently had 10-shot groups under 2 inches at 25 yards; it didn’t matter what bullet weight, style or manufacturer.
The XD Tactical would be a fine addition to your stable if you are looking for a pistol for action pistol competition, personal protection, or duty carry. The XD has become a mainstay at Springfield Armory, after holding and shooting several XDs over the years I know why. The XDs just rock, check out your local shop and see for yourself.
HK P30
Another well known builder of fine firearms, Heckler & Koch (7661 Commerce Ln., Dept. GWK, Trussville, AL 35173; phone: 205-655-8299; online: heckler-koch.com), introduced the P30 last year. The P30 became available near the end of ’07 and already is a popular seller for HK.
There are several factors that make the P30 a success; not the least of which is it is an HK. That fact gets people to handle the pistol, but handling it will convince you this is an entirely new breed of handgun. Granted, this is a polymer HK, but it is vastly different from the USP series.
To make this duty-size pistol more appealing to more shooters there is the interchangeability of the back strap and side panels to make the pistol fit more shooters’ hands. This pistol is also built to be truly ambidextrous; using HK’s paddle magazine release and control version while adding ambidextrous slide stop levers, with the decocking lever located on the rear of the slide. All of these factors give the user a compact 16-shot 9mm HK pistol with a Picatinny rail—not the proprietary rail of the USPs—and luminescent sights (they glow in the dark with a shot of light).
Before I headed to the range I tried installing the various panels and backstraps on the P30. They really do change the fit and feel of this pistol. I ended up using the large backstrap and small side panels. That decided, it was off to the range.
Again I chose a variety of ammunition to shoot through the P30. HKs are known to be reliable and to have match-grade accuracy out of the box. The P30 carried on this tradition. The P30 was consistently shooting 1˚-inch 10-shot groups at 25 yards. Bear in mind, this is a duty pistol not a competition 1911. Off and at 25 yards, the P30 made me look good, consistently shooting sub-2˚-inch 10- shot groups.
If you are looking to get a totally new pistol, the P30 should be on your short list. I think you will be well served for many years to come.
Should you prefer a more “retro” feeling and looking pistol, check out the ArmaLite (PO Box 299, Dept. GWK, Geneseo, IL, 61254; phone: 309-944-6939; online: armalite.com) AR24. When I first opened the box containing the AR24, I thought it was a CZ 75; but it is not. What arrived was the AR24 Custom, a pistol that has many improvements over the CZ.
This pistol is matte black all steel. To many traditionalists, this is the only material to use in making a firearm. One advantage of steel is the nice machined checkering on the front and back straps of the frame; this gives the shooter a solid purchase in any weather. To further enhance your grip, Armalite uses palm swell, soft polymer stocks that are functional and look good.
The frame, barrel and slide are all steel forgings CNC machined to the highest of standards. The fit and finish of these parts is excellent and they move smoothly when you rack the slide and during firing.
The AR24 performed well at the range. The all steel frame tamed even the hottest +P loads from CorBon. When it came to reliability, the AR24 just shot and shot. What was just as impressive was the accuracy. Off a rest at 25 yards, the AR 24 consistently shot sub-2-inch 10-round groups. This is what many will call nearly match-grade accuracy. Not bad for a pistol retailing for less than $635.
As you can see the 9mm pistol is far from dead. Manufacturers just keep producing pistols chambered in this tried and true caliber. Ammunition manufacturers continue improving loads for the 9, and they perform better and better making the 9mm a fine choice for duty and self-defense.
Because of the larger capacity of the intended full capacity magazines over those restrictive 10-round abominations, the 9mm is a fine choice for action pistol; even when scored as minor under USPSA rules. The cost of the 9 over others is one of the driving reasons behind the resurgence of the 9mm in competition.
If you are looking for a new handgun for duty, self-defense or competition, these and many other fine 9mm chambered pistols are fine options. Look for these and more new models this year; you won’t be disappointed.
Resources
Black Hills
PO Box 3090, Dept. GWK
Rapid City, SD 57709
Phone: 605-348-5150
Online: black-hills.com
Blade-Tech Industries
2506 104th St Court, S, Dept GWK
Lakewood, WA 98499
Phone: 253-581-4347
Online: blade-tech.com
CorBon
POB 369, Dept GWK
Sturgis, SD 57785
Phone: 605-347-4544
Online: corbon.com
Hornady
3625 Old Potash Highway
PO Box 1848, Dept. GWK
Grand Island, 68803
Phone: 308-382-1390
Online: hornady.com
Winchester Ammunition
427 N Shamrock St., Dept. GWK
East Alton, IL 62024-1174
Phone: 618-258-2365
Online: winchester.com
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