Recommend me a DA/SA Handgun

[CountryGent]

The Beretta 92FS fits the bill nicely.

 

[Stomper]

Well if it was boobs the G was the right answer as well lol

Yeahbutt begin' your (Dolly) Pardon.... you risk straining your thumbs.

 

[Catfishmoon]

I have shot all of them and each would be a good choice, I prefer the CZ or Sig steel frame models. As always a visit to a gun rental shooting range is a good choice if you can do it before making your purchase, because different firearms fit each of our hands' differently. For example, my hands are not large and the reach for the trigger on the Beretta 92 is longer than I prefer on a stock gun... See what feels best in your own hands when you shoot them.
Then you have to decide if you want a manual safety vs. de-cocker on some of those models mentioned.
You will have to do some homework regarding an optic ready or a light rail and their importance to you. A CZ 75b has neither, but other CZ models do.

 

[USMC1911]

Really all 4 of them are great pistols. For me the CZ or Sig. Not a fan of the Beretta safety location.

 

[Joe13]

Really all 4 of them are great pistols. For me the CZ or Sig. Not a fan of the Beretta safety location.

I've heard about this before.

It is the same as a S&W 59 has the same placement and is what I learned on so it's very natural for me. I have a Weather with the same placement as well.

 

[USMC1911]

I've heard about this before.

It is the same as a S&W 59 has the same placement and is what I learned on so it's very natural for me. I have a Weather with the same placement as well.

I've actually shot one quite a bit and I don't particularly care for the safety because when I swipe it up sometimes it doesn't swipe up far enough and disengage it when in a hurry.

 

[JJay206]

Whoops.... I meant the "G" variant not "D", fixed my prior post!


I musta been thinking about boobs again!

 

[titsonritz]

Really all 4 of them are great pistols. For me the CZ or Sig. Not a fan of the Beretta safety location.

I've heard about this before.

It is the same as a S&W 59 has the same placement and is what I learned on so it's very natural for me. I have a Weather with the same placement as well.

Walther style safeties suck, but the G mode on he Beretta fixes that issue. The 59 was the first semiautomatic pistol I owned.

 

[titsonritz]

I could never get used to the USP mag release.

Why not? IMO the ambidextrous paddle safety is superior in every way compared to the Browning button, I wish my Glocks had them.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Embrace your inner popeye and get a ruger.

 

[Joe13]

I've actually shot one quite a bit and I don't particularly care for the safety because when I swipe it up sometimes it doesn't swipe up far enough and disengage it when in a hurry.

I started with that 59 when I was 4 with my grandfather so it's second nature but to be honest 99% of the time even if a pistol has a safety I do not use them. I've just gotten very used to no safety and one in the chamber and my finger out of the trigger guard.

 

[M45A1]

Carried a 92F starting in the mid/late 80's.... consider a "G" model de-cocker variant. Also, don't rule out the Beretta PX4 (D variant)... those are pretty sharp kit as well!

In your mind, what makes the Beretta the best of the bunch?

 

[M45A1]

My vote is the Beretta. Mine was a gift so I didn't have the choice but if I were to do it again, which I might so I can have an inox and an M9, I would go for the 96G (which I believe is the de-cocker version in .40 cal). That way you just need a 9mm barrel (even spend a little more for a match barrel but my factory barrel out performs my Glock by a fairly noticeable margin) to convert it and you're good to go. I would also consider an M9. I love the INOX my wife got me as a gift but I still have not put another $180-200 into replacing the polymer parts on it with metal and an M9 should have all metal (at least that is my understanding). You can get conversions to turn and FS into a G or D or whatever you want with them.

The ONLY possible hiccup is the grip. My wife hates it because the grip is fairly wide compared to the G17 she shoots like she is a competitor but for my large hands it is a dream. I have the stock rubber ones, but you could go with the hogue over molded and finger grooves or get a slimmer set of grips.

The 92fs and M9 have been around a long time with an exceptional reputation and they have a very large aftermarket availability should you want to change anything on it.

I do not know which model they upgraded the front sight so that it is not integrated with the slide but that might be worth some extra cash to be able to get night sights on it if you want them.

Otherwise I like the integrated look better personally.


I do not own the other 3 options you gave so I can't speak to them or compare them for you but I've outshot friends with 2 of those models in friendly "at the range" competitions while having a shooting day at the range.




Couple questions.

Are you ever going to use this as a carry piece or is it just the have a DA/SA pistol?

Have you looked at other models like the 59XX series from S&W (I would still prefer the Beretta)

I would carry it if it struck my fancy yes, but I carry full size guns everyday so I am not too interested in compacts.
I have not looked at the Smiths, but they always appeared...ugly to me haha

 

[M45A1]

By far the SIG Sauer Sa/Da Classic models are Sweet . Discontinued P225 single stack compact , P226 full size , P229 compact or the discontinued P239 single stack subcompact are the cats meow . Quality through and through . The decocking feature is very good . There are many police trade in pistols that are a great option .
The best way is to hold and function different makes and models to compare between them ........ let the pistol speak to you , you'll know .

I would love to but I live out in the middle of nowhere and my LGS only has the knock-off M9 (Melik) and a 226 and 220, so not much to handle.

 

[M45A1]

Sig P229 or P226 the Cz works as well but is heavy

Does the high-bore axis of the 226 make it funky to shoot compared to the lower bore axis of the CZ?

 

[2Wheels4Ever]

I've got a beretta, cz, and a sig in da/sa. The cz is by far my favorite. Mostly because of the ergonomics. It fits my hand perfectly and is easy to connect with.

 

[M45A1]

If I were you I would get a da/sa gun that has a manual safety. Then you can run it in SAO so every trigger pull will be exactly the same. 100% of my DA/SA guns can be run in SAO (even the 22s!). My recommendations in order with gun ranked 1-10:

1) Grand power x-calibur first gen ($579 new). 9.5 out of 10. 10 out of 10 for durability. 9 out of 10 for shootability (because irons only for first gen, gen 2 is OR). 10 out of 10 for value for the price. Equivalent to a modified cz shadow 2 in performance (think $2500 gun) but much lighter. Rotating barrel action incredibly smooth and low recoil. Trigger is sublime.

2) Arex zero ($409 at cheap gun club only. A few left). 8.5 out of 10. 10 out of 10 for durability. 8 out of 10 for shootability. 10 out of 10 for price. Built like a tank. Sig p226 clone but has a saftey so can be run SAO.

3) CZ 75 and clones. 5-6 out of 10. Including Jericho ($450 all steel) and Sar 2000 ($347 all steel).

4) hk Usp expert. 6 out of 10 due to price. 10 out of 10 for durability. 8.5 out of 10 for shootability. 1 out of 10 for price.

The Arex Zero for 599 with optic cut and threaded barrel looks awesome

 

[Bolt_308]

DA/SA is making a comeback! I own a ton and they are my favorites over striker fired. Of course this list would change depending on if it is for concealed carry or HD/range use.

Here are my faves, in order of preference out of what I own:

1. Langdon Tactical Beretta 92 Elite, with full LTT trigger job, NP3 coating etc- I am telling you, I like this thing over Staccatos- the trigger is soOOoo good . . .
2. Sig P226 Legion, with Grey guns SRT and flat trigger.
3. CZ Shadow 2 Compact (get the Compact, not the new 'Carry' model they just released- new 'Carry' trigger is not as good)
4. CZ Shadow 2 Full size. there's a reason they are so popular in the competition circuit.
5. Langdon Beretta PX4 Storm (YES IT IS THAT GOOD)
6. Sig P229 Legion, with Grey Guns SRT and flat trigger.
7. Langdon Tactical HK P30
8. Beretta M9A4
9. HK USP Tactical
10. HK USP Elite
11. HK USP Compact
12. HK Mark 23
13. FN FNX-45
14. Sig P226 Mk 25

I might be forgetting a couple but that is what i can think of in my collection in order of preference. That's not to say I hate the bottom ones, they rock too! It is just if I had to buy one, it would be in that order.

 

[M45A1]

Having owned a P226, CZ 75, and P30,

P226 all the way.

Would you mind elaborating why?

 

[M45A1]

I'd say the P226 then like an CZ SP01 tactical or shadow variant. I say 226 because of the slides the SP01s have the slide higher on the gun but less slide so it's hard to get a hold of to manipulate. The 226 has what I would consider to be a standard slide both width and length wise. If I was going to get a polymer DA/SA let it be a H&K USP those are tanks and tack drivers you just don't get that weight of a traditional Da/Sa

Does the 226 bore axis feel funky with it being so high though? Does the gun jump around significantly more than a striker fired or 1911?