Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns What was Your First 9mm?

Browning HP (Inglis) & German artillery Luger w/ shoulder
stock.




Jim

A P-38 I picked up in the Philippines around 1970....left it there, too.

My first 9mm was a mis-matched Luger that was given to me (along with a trunk load of WWII war souvenirs) by my neighbor when I was about 15. Next was a P-38 courtesy of Martin Retting in Culver City, Ca. Then, in rapid succession a few years later, came a S&W Model 39, a CZ 75 (still shoot it), and and FN Hi-Power, a gift from John Bianchi.

Browning hi power.

None
Colonel Cooper taught that 9's don't work
(Source of my --dated-- bias)

First and only was an H&K P9S.

Next will likely be the S&W Shield.

Mine too, except that I never got comfortable with it. I traded it in on an ASP, which of course is a Teflon-coated, cut down 39 designed and sold by Paris Theodore.

That one I really liked and I had the nice OWB and in-the-pocket holsters. I had to sell it with a lot of other nice guns in the '80s and have always regretted that.

I kept a special issue parkerizedHi Power with dual thumb safeties. I put on Trijicon sights which now need to be refreshed. It feels incredibly good to me.

I am now experimenting with smaller 9s, too. I can't afford another ASP, but I'd like to find something similar.

1970ish P35.

Col. Jeff, with whom I discussed guns in the 1980s, was very dogmatic. Some of his ideas made sense, but he often flip-flopped around depending on what manufacturer sucked up the most.

Let's face it, he had a point on the 9mm cartridge, based on the ammo available back then. However, there is far better more effective defensive ammo available today and many more choices in highly reliable 9mm pistols.

Consider the Czech CZ75, which Cooper found to be outstanding in ergonometrics. There are many CZ75 clones, some with polymer frames and very lightweight and compact.

German surplus p38, next was the Browning Hi Power

Browning Hi-Power Practical

AC 44 ( Walther) P-38 war trophy. With hard shell holster.

Gen 1 G17, complete with the awesome "sporter" pancake holster and mag pouches. I sold it to a friend and I think I had close to 20,000 through it and never saw a jam.

Beretta 92 since i figured it made sense to use the same gun for my personal use as I trained with at work.

To be honest I've not owned many 9mm handguns that I'd consider "mine". Quite a few passed through the shop or at gun shows, but these were considered "shop guns" to be sold or traded.....not personally used. Just never liked the weak 9mm as long as they were still making .45 ACP handguns.

My first 9mm was obtained and used my me when I was 14 or 15. A Walther P-38. Traded for it because it looked "cool". That gun was responsible for the beginning of my dislike for double-action trigger pulls and the 9mm chambering.

I did own one 9mm handgun that I really liked (except for the weak chambering).....a Star BM. It handled and shot very well but I eventually traded it away when I figured out that it was unlikely I'd need to stop a changing field mouse or chipmunk,

Always sort of wanted a Hi-Power, but just never have made the plunge as .45 ACP 1911's are still available.

S&W Model 39. A very fine shooter but not much good ammo in those days. (this was before Super Vel) Would still have it today if there had been better ammunition.

Bersa Thunder 9 bought it new when I turned 21 for $200.
It cycled fine but would not group well sold it and now I own a Walther PPX ugly thing but shoots amazing.

Ruger p89 dp. accurate but terrible trigger.

S&W Model 59. I traded it on a Browning Hi Power and never looked back!

HK P7M8