Smith makes a fine revolver, am skeptical about the autos. If you are a new gun user, I don’t recommend Glock, but go with something that has an external safety and hammer: Sig, Beretta, Taurus, etc.
Also, what is the purpose of said weapon? If you are looking for personal defense, get something bigger than a 9. Go with a .40 or a .45. If you want a revolver, get a .357. A 9mm is small and does not have real stopping power. You can get lighter loads in the other three that will have plenty of knockdown, but not that much knockback.
That said, find something that will be comfortable in YOUR hand and YOUR personal feelings.
Am always interested to hear how things work out, so Freepmail me when you make your decision.
Oh brother, not this again. So would you be willing to take a couple 9's to center mass to demonstrate its lack of stopping power?
A miss with a .45 is no more effective than a miss with 9mm. IMO training and practice are more important than caliber.
“A 9mm is small and does not have real stopping power.”
That may have been true for FMJ bullets, but not with modern expanding ammunition. Technology has greatly increased the stopping power of the 9.
I agree about the external safety. Doesn’t the Walther P99 have one?
As far as use goes: home defense, eventual CCW. I know it’s big. I’ve got a S&W 442 for CC.
BS.
A 9mm is perfectly acceptable for a handgun cartridge.
No common semi-auto cartridge is going to guarantee one shot stops.
It’s all about SHOT PLACEMENT and the 9mm allows for faster follow up shots.
“Stopping Power” ?
“Knock Down” ?
Those terms are bullshit.
There is a problem using standard ball ammo but we civilians aren't held by the lowest bidder. Any ammunition company can sell a formidable stopper in 9MM such as the Federal Hydra-Shoks. A new shooter is also hampered by using a larger caliber. It takes more time to learn instead of slowly working up.