Ruger SR9 Springfield XD9 Taurus PT809 Sig Sauer P250
The XD9 is the only one that i have actually fired. I have held the Ruger and it felt fine in my hand.
Friends don’t let friends buy 9mm .45ACP ONLY!
My current 9mm handguns are: Glock 19 and Beretta M9. Different as night and day, but both have been superb.
You can't miss me, I'll be the guy wear a Ranger's Cap and a Mav's T-shirt :-)
THe Ruger SR9 would be a good one.
If you were going for the Springfield, get the XDM model (newest). Nicer grip, more capacity.
I have a Taurus 709 Slim. It has been flawless through over a thousand rounds of numerous types of ammo. I love the way it fits my hand and it can be carried in a holster or pocket in most types of pants. I love it! It is a single stack and you must clean it right out of the box before shooting it, but, for my money, it is a sweet little 9mm.
Without regard to your choices, beware the gun-show fares. Yours may differ, but most I’ve been to have far more overpriced guns than bargains.
May as well buy a .38 Spcl. Go for a S&W .40 or .45 ACP Terminal ballistics are better. I presume your going light for a reason but for the life of me I can’t understand why if it is self defense your concerned about.
So the question is - if it’s NOT for concealed, then why 9mm?
I have a hard time recommending anything 9mm for home defense.
That being said, I *did* purchase a Baretta PX4 Storm *Subcompact* recently for concealed carry purposes. (They have non-subcompact models, too.) It’s a very well thought out pistol with surprising accuracy for a subcompact, so I imagine the non-subcompact is an even better shooter.
Biggest complaint? No chamber window.
I have a S&W .38 and a 12 gauge that I am currently using for home defense, so maybe this is just going to be a new toy.
:)
Do not overlook CZ handguns
I'm kind of a traditionalist so if I was forced to go with a 9mm I'd probably opt for a Browning Hi-Power, CZ75BD or a Beretta M92/M9 or Or a Taurus PT92.
Having said that, unless you have a compelling reason for a 9mm, I'd really reconsider looking at upgrading to .38 Super, .357 Sig, .40 S&W, 10mm, or of course .45ACP if this is to be used for personal defense.
Avoid the Taurus!!
Get the venerable Glock 17, a reliable classic.
Get any 9mm you like, as long as it is in .45.
Beretta 92FS, Italian
Sig Sauer P226 is truly an excellent handgun
the P228 is a bit more compact. I don’t like it for my hand and prefer the P226.
I also love the Browning HiPower.
While these are not on your list, they still are excellent handguns.
I think all your choices are OK. I know you are limiting your discussion to these particular guns but there are better ones out there.
There is one oddball which I absolutely love. It is the Helwan 9mm. It is made in Egypt and is a quality gun. It is a copy of the Beretta 1951 Brigadier. I have owned enough of them that I actually like them better than the Beretta model 92. They are single action and have an 8 shot mag.
Another great one which seems to fit everyone’s hand and which beginners seem to shoot better than most is the Browning Hi-power. It is single action but very high capacity mags are available. If you want to save money, get an Argentine made one. They are of equal or even better quality yet with a plain finish. I had one which just would not jam no matter what I fed it and that included some reloads I had made many years ago in high school using a Lee loader and a pipe crimping tool so the bullets would stay in the case. It fed it all including some sub-machine gun ammo.
Probably the best is the Sig P-226. The current Beretta model 92 is the best one yet and is a great gun. They have recently made some subtle changes to improve already great reliability.
If you can find a post war Walther P-4 at a good price it is a Walther P-38 lookalike but with greatly improved mechanics. It also is accurate and reliable.
I do not like the various Ruger P series as they mostly don’t feel good in my hand. If they do feel good in yours they are a terrific bargain.
Another odd but great one is the Argentine Bersa. They have changed the models slightly but they are all good.
You have picked some pretty good names. Pick each one up and see how each one feels in your hand
Negative = the safety is between your ears with a Glock. If you don't have a lot of time to practice or are not too familiar with handguns, buy something with a regular thumb safety.
The Sig P250 is a great “friend” to have. Acurate, light weight, and in the matte black invisible in the dark ;)