[BeyondTheBox]

Originally Posted by sweeper22

Your hands, your budget, your tastes. These are three excellent platforms and I think you're wise to be looking at 9mm. That's honestly as well as I can state it for you.

I love the P226. Great gun, great trigger, nice finish...and yet I didn't shoot it as well as I shot my other guns. So I sold mine. I never doubted its accuracy, just its accuracy in my hands. It just wasn't the right fit for me. That's sorta how picking the right gun works. Pick a good one that works for you. The three you mention are all fine options in a general sense. I love my XDms, and they tend to make me look like a really competent shooter.

A couple additional random words of advice: Avoid Glock unless you want to go predominantly with Glock. I have a pair and they're really good guns. But they're just an entirely different feel/grip angle/sight picture from most alternatives. Glock does offer some advantages (commonality, affordable convertability, outstanding weight:capacity, etc), but the XDm is just plain a superior gun IMO. Do look at the CZ 75b. There is no better value or performer in my hands. Maybe that's true for you also, maybe not.

Excellent set of advisements.

[JustinM]

I bought a S&W Sigma series 9mm (SW9VE) for my first pistol. It's a good gun but the trigger pull is ridiculous. I've since moved up and bought an XDM 40 3.8. I HIGHLY recommend looking into any XD series pistol especially the XDM. Since you are starting out it will give you everything but the ammo with the kit. Holster, two mags, magazine holster, cleaning rod, three backstraps a to adjust to your comfort level, and a great case. Well worth it. They have 9mm which is a great round especially with cost of ammo nowadays. Good luck. Put up a pic of whatever you get.

[BeyondTheBox]

Originally Posted by JustinM

I bought a S&W Sigma series 9mm (SW9VE) for my first pistol. It's a good gun but the trigger pull is ridiculous. I've since moved up and bought an XDM 40 3.8. I HIGHLY recommend looking into any XD series pistol especially the XDM. Since you are starting out it will give you everything but the ammo with the kit. Holster, two mags, magazine holster, cleaning rod, three backstraps a to adjust to your comfort level, and a great case. Well worth it. They have 9mm which is a great round especially with cost of ammo nowadays. Good luck. Put up a pic of whatever you get.

Personal preference involved, for me I loved the stiff trigger of the Sigma!

[kbd512]

Originally Posted by ScottA

I'm sorry. I just couldn't help myself.

That's ok, ScottA. I know you have a personal bias against Glocks from a previous post in this thread and that's quite alright with me. I realized from my post comparing the M1911 and Glock that someone might get the impression that that was the only pistol I thought would fill the role, which is why I made subsequent posts. If someone handed me a S&W M&P tomorrow I would not turn it down as a carry piece and would feel no less adequately armed than if I was armed with a Glock. The Glock was a recommendation, versus a statement to the effect that "there is no other pistol worthy of consideration for concealed carry", based on cost, availability, availability of accessories like magazines and holsters, and suitability to the OP's stated desires.

If you have arguments against the pistol I recommended to present, apart from a simple dislike of Glocks, it would be helpful to the OP and to me to know what those arguments are.

Originally Posted by kbd512

If you have issues with Glocks, there are S&W M&P's, Caracal's, and (soon) Strike One's out there as alternatives. The Glock is not a target pistol, it doesn't look pretty, and it is not "special" in any particular way. It is a functional tool that happens to function fairly reliably under less than ideal circumstances that has the characteristics that lend itself to combat. The Glock is a working tool to me and nothing more. If someone comes up with something demonstrably better, I'll ditch the Glock without a second thought.

Originally Posted by kbd512

Glocks are not the best at anything and are pretty far from perfect. I would have no problems using and carrying the S&W M&P, Caracal, or Strike One (when it becomes available). I'm pretty sure I stated that in a previous post. I've put hundreds of rounds through S&W M&P's owned by friends of mine and think the design is more ergonomic than the Glock in a variety of ways.

[ScottA]

Originally Posted by kbd512

If you have arguments against the pistol I recommended to present, apart from a simple dislike of Glocks, it would be helpful to the OP and to me to know what those arguments are.

Nope, none to give. I go back to my original recommendation. Pick any reputable manufacturer, pick a caliber suitable for your purposes, and go with what feels right to you.

[KJG67]

To those of you that recommended the C-Z - I may hate you Thursday After looking at these on line at the catalog and a couple of video reviews, you sold me. I finally found a range not too far away that has the 75B (although I would get the 75BD) and the 75 SP-01 Phantom (I would get the similar 75 SP01 Tactical). Trigger pull looks a little long though, but if they shoot and are as comfortable as good as they say, I may have found my 1/2 of a Sig price firearm! (and then to figure out a (sub)compact for down the road...C-Z, XD(M)...).

No, honestly I'll be shooting these, the 226 and the XD(M) (probably dropping the FN after reviewing my previous targets) and will make a decision from there.

[CrazedJava]

Now you're getting in my wheelhouse. I own the CZ-75 based Magnum Research Baby Eagle in .45 ACP. It is an awesome gun. I highly recommend the Baby Eagle series or the actual CZ series. I've taken a look at the EAA versions, which are also CZ derivatives but was never impressed with their quality and have yet to meet an actual owner.

I've heard great things about the Phantom.

[Threetango]

I have both a Sig MK25 and Springer XDm and feel they both are good dependable pistols and would recommend either.

[rb522]

Just to add one more to the mix, you should try the Beretta 92fs. I've been very happy with mine.

[Kemosabe]

If OP hasn't made his choice yet, I would offer one piece of advice. If he is looking at getting two handguns, why not get a .40SW now and get the 9mm barrel conversion kit. This way he would have one gun but two different barrels. This to me is a no brainer, however your mileage may vary.