[holycrikey]

First time poster here!

Wooo! My decision is at the bottom.

Welp, I'm finally turning 21, so I can finally purchase a handgun. I've been shooting .22's and .38 revolvers since I was about 13, and I love target shooting. I'm looking for a gun that is smaller in size (but not a compact), that is great for target shooting, but would be reliable and suitable for concealed carry, should I decide to do that in the future.

After going to my local gun shop (we only have one in my county here, but fantastic selection), I've lowered down my choices to the Springfield XD (4 in 9mm), the CZ 75 P01, and the Walther P99. I want a 9mm, as I'm still a skinny guy (5"10/11, only about 145 lbs), and the 9mm is still a widely avaliable and pretty cheap cartridge. I don't want to go with anything smaller (aka, .22), as I've had my fair share of those.

I love the safety features of the XD, but the feel of the P99 is amazing, but on the other hand, I've talked to many people who agree the P01 is one of the most accurate guns on the market. I'm pretty divided.

Can you guys list any pro's and con's of each of them? Do any of you have experience with these? I'm leaning towards the XD, as it is a very easy gun to dissamble, clean, and shoot, and especially because its on the lower side of my budget (I'm a college student, so money is tight of course.)

I know a lot of people will suggest Glocks, but I'm not too interested in them. Can't beat them in reliability, but I want a semi-unique gun. Most of the glocks I've handled just feel bulky and odd in my hands.

Any help would be great on these And I added a poll for the fun of it.

 

[Adler]

Well I would go P99 with the AS(anti Stress trigger). This gun can be fried single or double action like a traditional hammer gun. The XD is much like a glock because it is basically single action only.

The p99 also has a better trigger and is very easy to take down. It can also be custom tailored to your hand with the interchange handgrips. ANd if you dont like grip safeties then its a great gun. Its one of the softest shooting 9mms I have ever seen.


So yeah go P99.

Or if you want to be different you should look into the Steyr M series. Unique like a Walther and basically an updated and improved Glock. Shoots better, feels better, has better sights, easier to take down, optional manual safety, and very very accurate.

 

[Shad]

I'm sure that me and Janq will agree on this one. If you like the safety features on an XD (mainly the grip safety), go with a 1911 frame. They're slim as hell, IMHO perfect for a CCW (I'm 5'10" 170lbs, and when I used to live where I could carry, I could carry a full frame 1911 in a SOB holster without obvious printing) and they're easy to get used to shooting. I can also say that for your size, you could definately handle a .40 almost as easily as a 9mm, so don't settle for a 9mm on a carry gun.

 

[brucelee]

I like the P99, don't have extensive experience like I do with the XD, so I can't vouch for reliability or anything, but it def shot nice.

I do rave about the XD... Some will say the finish isn't the greatest, but I think thats just the early models, I got mine like 2 years ago and the finish is still great. Never had any sort of jam or hiccup. It shoots very accuratly and handles recoil nicely. It's a great pistol, there's no doubt about it.

You really can't go wrong with either... If the choice were mine, I'd get the P99 only because I already have an XD... Actually, I'd probably get the XD-45 since I have the XD-40 and I've been craving a new .45, and well, I like the XD.

 

[Adler]

Might I add that if you shop around the S&W 99 is a bit cheaper and just as reliable as the Walther...and it comes in 45acp.

My Big issue with the XD is a small one(well besides grip safety). The fact is that unlike the Glock or Steyr it is fully cocked. This just rubs me the wrong way as I am a paranoid and untrusting person. Should the internal safeties fail on the XD(big iff) the gun would have enough spring pressure to fire. Gaston Glock and Steyr were smart in this since their guns are about 75% cocked which on good ammo wont have sufficiant energy to fire a cartridge if the internal safety fails.



Shad if you think a 1911 is slim shoot a Tokarev pistol sometime. I have had 2 over teh years and its as thin or thinner than my little Walther pp

 

[Adler]

Nothing wrong with a 9mm for carry....just get good ammo and it kills just fine. I like Corbon.

 

[brucelee]

Might I add that if you shop around the S&W 99 is a bit cheaper and just as reliable as the Walther...and it comes in 45acp.

My Big issue with the XD is a small one(well besides grip safety). The fact is that unlike the Glock or Steyr it is fully cocked. This just rubs me the wrong way as I am a paranoid and untrusting person. Should the internal safeties fail on the XD(big iff) the gun would have enough spring pressure to fire. Gaston Glock and Steyr were smart in this since their guns are about 75% cocked which on good ammo wont have sufficiant energy to fire a cartridge if the internal safety fails.



Shad if you think a 1911 is slim shoot a Tokarev pistol sometime. I have had 2 over teh years and its as thin or thinner than my little Walther pp

That is a good point Rob... However, I never keep a round chambered unless I'm ready to fire... Unless its my Glock 21, which is always locked and loaded on my nightstand as I sleep, but yeah, I don't use my XD for that.

As you all know, I'm a major glock whore.

 

[Ducman]

I haven't had a chance to shoot a XD, but have a shot a 99, the worst trigger I have ever felt, like dragging rocks across each other, inconsitent and mushy and that was the single action

 

[holycrikey]

Wow, quite a range of opinions. I appreciate all of em.

It's going to be a tough decision. My mind keeps going to the P99, as it was simply perfectly comfortable in my hand, and that weighs heavily on me.

Hmm... the quest continues. Next week is a trip to the range to hopefully narrow down my options to just one. Thanks guys!

 

[ORCA]

yeah a trip to a decent gun range with weapon rentals answers alot or questions. I demo'd a P99 and HK 2000 both in 9mm. It probably wasn't fair to the P99 to compare it to an HK and it did fall short.

The HK won in balance/weight, recoil system and overall accuracy at 100 and 250 feet. But you're also looking at a P2000 to be at least $200.00 more expensive then a P99.

 

[Shad]

Nothing wrong with a 9mm for carry....just get good ammo and it kills just fine. I like Corbon.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with a 9mm. I'm just from the school of thought that, on a carry gun or any other defensive gun, you should go with the largest caliber you can handle. I'd also love to get my hands on a Tokarev (REALLY want a Makarov, though), but unfortunately I've never had the chance yet. That, and I've always been kind of a 1911 fan. I know I've said it before, but they fit my hands and shooting style better than any other handgun I've shot yet.

 

[Adler]

I haven't had a chance to shoot a XD, but have a shot a 99, the worst trigger I have ever felt, like dragging rocks across each other, inconsitent and mushy and that was the single action

Trigger smooths out after 500 rounds. Plus the AS trigger has a long pull on teh first round of every mag. This is so a copy carrying one doesnt accidentally shoot some unarmed crackfiend when he jumps out at him and the cops trigger finger flinches and you have a bunch of people yeling about police brutality on the TV

 

[Adler]

yeah a trip to a decent gun range with weapon rentals answers alot or questions. I demo'd a P99 and HK 2000 both in 9mm. It probably wasn't fair to the P99 to compare it to an HK and it did fall short.

The HK won in balance/weight, recoil system and overall accuracy at 100 and 250 feet. But you're also looking at a P2000 to be at least $200.00 more expensive then a P99.

Was it the new or old style p99? They did alot of updating in 2004 to the German line and are just now leaking them over here. This is why the AS guns have been so damned hard to find.

I have seen P99 tests over on a Walther forum where a guy with a SW99 and P99 were getting 2-2 1/2 groups at 25yards with their 9mms.

Its funny you mention the feel and balance of the HK being better. Not one of the newer HKs feels good in my hand and it just doesnt point well for me. Now my Steyr points just right and all the walthers I have ever shot do the same.

Feel of a gun is really a subjective observation that changes from person to person. And although thr p99 is my 3rd fav walther 9mm(p5, P88) it is by far the best modern plastic gun I have shot. I just cant afford to get one and opted for the Steyr when they were on a closeout for 250.00.

 

[Adler]

The CZ is also an awesome gun as well and would be a close 2nd in the lineup you gave.

 

[ORCA]

I agree Ad, prolly shoulda explained I own a few HK USP's so I'm very used to the line in general. So to me everythign feels dif. I'm not sure what Gen p99 I shot was, but prolly the intial release. The SW99 didn't come out until a year later.

 

[Adler]

Yeah and right now they are getting rid of teh DA/SA SW99 9m dirt cheap. I can sell them for 450 NIB.

 

[holycrikey]

Can anyone explain the technical and mechanical differences between the Smith and Wesson SW99's versus the Walther P99's? (the current issued models.)

What are the pros and cons between these two?

 

[Adler]

Same gun as long as its the SW99 and not the SW990. Only difference is the frame of the S&W is slightly different cosmetically(round trigger guard instead of square) and the slide profile is unique(More round with front and rear serrations). The slide and internals are all stainless steel with S&Ws Melonite coating while the walther is plain Carbon steel with the Tennifer GLock type finish. Walther makes the S&W frame btw

Internal parts and mags interchange between the 2.

Here is the SW

and the p99(Quick action but its close enough)

 

[Mndfusion]

I've only shot the walther p22, but it does look the same as those p99's. I like the feel, and they way it shoots, and the mag release, its so fast. -- but my buddies p22 was a jamomatic..

 

[Adler]

I as talking to the walther dealer in Ames nearby( talk about overpriced but thats another story) and he said that Walther fixed all the quirks in the line now.