Best Full Size 9mm Handguns [2023]

There are so many good 9mm handguns available to shooters these days and the choices are just humongous.
Going with a full size 9mm handgun for home defense is hard to beat. Combine this with quality loads will give you knock down power and able to rapidly fire accurately is a huge plus. This may be one of the reasons why the FBI have gone back to the 9mm as the primary service pistol for their agents.


Almost hands down 9mm handgun is now one of the most popular self-defense calibers for concealed and open carry. In this segment of full service pistols we’ll look at some 9mm caliber handguns. What makes it a full size is the barrel length. Anywhere near the length of 5 inches we’re stating it as a full size.
Here’s a quick list not the complete list of some of the best full size 9mm handguns:

• S&W M&P9 2.0
• Springfield XD(M)
• Glock 19 Gen 5
• HK VP9
• Sig Sauer P320
• Ruger SR9c
• Sig Sauer P320 X-FIVE
• Glock34
• Sig Sauer P226 Tacops
• Springfield Armory XD MOD 2
• Walther PPQ Q5 Match
• CZ 75B
• HK VP9 Tactical
• CZ Shadow 2
• Glock17 Gen5

The 9mm is a weapon that provides a good balance between ease of firing and stopping power. It is a lightweight pistol that has moderate recoil with less chance of over penetration. Ammunition can be found nearly everywhere and comes in a variety of configurations, FMJ, hollow point and frangible.

• Smith&Wesson M&P9 2.0
  
  There have been some changes made to Smith&Wessons M&P pistol hence the new model number 2.0 tacked onto the name. The changes are stronger frame strength, with extra stippling around the grip with a heavy texture, beaver tail has been removed, small front serrations have been added for ease of handling and the top of the slide slimmed down a bit.
• Springfield Armory 9mm XD(M)
  
  Priced less than the HK but similar to a Glock it’s a great first gun to buy and a solid performer for a compact.
  This handgun is your more bang for the buck. It is packed with features and shoots flawlessly. Pretty fun to shoot with.
• Glock 19
  
  Think you all know the G19 reputation for its reliability is off the charts and is by far the most popular handgun in the United States. It is a striker fired polymer frame pistol that other handguns in the same class are compared to and sets the standard for this class of handgun.
  The gen 5 Glock 19 can be configured with upgrades to the slide, barrel and grip. It also has a rail that allows a flashlight or other accessories to your desire.
  
• Sig Sauer P320
  
  The Sig Sauer P320 (the chosen one) has been chosen by the army as it’s new serive sidearm. It has a lot of variants so finding something that fits your requirements is simple. The trigger breaks around 6.5 pounds allowing for precise and quick follow up shots.
  Beside being an excellent shooting pistol that its known for. Other great features are ease of use, reliability, modularity and accuracy. It is a compact that can be quickly changed to meet your requirements and give you a custom handgun.
• Ruger SR9c 9mm
  
  This compact 9mm handgun comes in four versions. The versions differ in color and magazine size with one having a 17+1 round magazine.
  Considered the lower end of the price scale but performs well and gives you every thing you need in a compact 9mm handgun. Only one version has the 17+1 round magazine, the other versions have a 10+1 round magazine.
• Sig Sauer P320 X-FIVE
  
  Just love the striker-fired Sig Sauer P320 Compact and would recommend it as an EDC to anyone. But this Sig Sauer P320 X-FIVE is something else entirely.
  This might be the ultimate custom striker-fired handgun. The metal work on the CZ won the battle, but if you want a polymer pistol taken to the limit then maybe look here instead of an Agency Arms Glock. Some are calling it an apex predator.
  This is really a big gun, and it’s been perfectly balanced by the in-house tuning aces at Sig Sauer.
• Glock 34
  
  Yes, it’s a blocky snag-free and simple striker fired pistol. The Glock 17 is famously accurate and the grouping at 50 yards is stunning.
  But the G34 is another level of laser precision. If cost is a big issue, look to the Glock 17 and possibly some aftemarket parts. If you can buy the best, go with the G34. This was designed for competitive target shooters and that 5.31″ match-grade barrel means its the creme of the crop.
  You get 17+1 rounds, more if you opt for a John Wick style mag extension, and this Glock is just about the most complete home defense handgun you’re likely to find.
• FN FNS-9L Long Slide
  
  With its low price the FN509 is making its mark and it’s giving Glock a run for their money.
  The stainless steel slide is serrated in all the right places and it comes with night sights. The grip is just like holding a 1911, especially with the pronounced beavertail that lets you get high up on the gun and close to the bore axis.
  The grip does look a little slim at first glance, but you can change out the backstrap for a thicker gun.
  This comes with an external extractor, a loaded chamber indicator and a fully ambidextrous mag release and slide stop.
  Another polymer handgun, with replaceable steel rails that means this is a cut above the standard plastic pistols. At this price, it’s the right time to pull the trigger if you want to try it out.
• Sig Sauer P226 Tacops
  
  Sig Sauer will always be on any top gun list. This P226 Tacops comes with a 20+1 capacity and a DA/SA operation that might suit you.
  The Sig comes with a stainless steel slide that has evolved into the perfect companion. Experienced shooters can manipulate the slide and even strip this weapon in their sleep.
  This is a fully-loaded version as well. It comes with a SIGLITE rear night sight and a full-on Tritium loaded TRUGLO fiber optic front night sight. Has a Short Reset Trigger too. This is a seriously good handgun, perfectly balanced and suppressor ready.

• Springfield Armory XD MOD 2
  
  Springfield Armory makes our favorite CCW in the world and the 5” barrel version of the XD MOD.2 is technically the near-ultimate handgun.
  This striker fired 9mm pistol is not just accurate but, seriously accurate. You get 16+1 rounds if you take the extended mag, it’s lightweight, pared down and clean. It isn’t quite as monolithic as the Glock, but it is definitely understated and every piece of the form has followed the function.
  This gun is thin, just over an inch wide at the controls, and the widest part of the gun is the double stack magazine.
• Walther PPQ Q5 Match
  
  Performance benchmark, it is up there with the best 9mm handguns in the world. The Walther PPQ Q5 Match is capable of taking your home defense duties and if you own one, you will learn to love it just like HK fanatics and Glock fanboys love their chosen weapons.
  If you are into custom Glocks, as most of us, then the Walther PPQ Q5 Match should make sense to you. That slide is about as light as it could get, the barrel is Walther’s best match-grade unit and you get a lot of bullets.
  The Walther is a big chunky gun, with a slide that is serrated front and back for easy manipulation.
  In a way, this gun offers better value for money than the bigger names and the other leading 9mm guns in its class.
• CZ 75 B
  
  If you didn’t know most CZ Shadow is expensive, this one is cheap.
  The CZ 75 B is a break from the striker-fired routine. This really is a stripped down and evolved 1911 with a proper hammer fired action and everything.
  Its not a 1911, but It’s a fresh design and clearly resembles a lot from the classic 1911.
  This is not just one of the best 9mm pistols right now, it’s one of the best handguns on the market.
  It’s a steel-frame gun with a double-stack magazine, which means it can mix it with the best plastic pistols here in terms of magazine capacity. You get a 16+1 round set-up that weighs in at 2.2lb. Yes, its heavy, but it’s a metal gun, and that’s a big deal for the heavy metaller.
• HK VP9 Tactical
  
  HK is no stranger to striker-fired pistols, but it’s been a while since they’ve designed a new one — close to four decades. The VP9 Tactical fit is really comfortable.
  HK engineers focused on designing a better trigger system for the VP9 than competitive polymer-framed, striker-fired pistols.
  The Heckler & Koch VP9 Tactical is accurate and absolutely reliable with several types of ammunition.
• CZ Shadow 2
  
  Its a gun crafted similar to the older Beretta FS. Not exactly the best budget full-size 9mm pistol, so expect to throw down some bucks on it. Some say its not for the beginner shooters.
• Glock17 Gen5
  
  For the die-hard Glock fan, this G17 Gen5 is a balance between big and maneuverable if you’re the LE/Survival type. You will like the ruggedness of the grip similar to days with the ranger bands.(I was too cheap to buy the Pachmeyer grips).

Last Look
As we stated earlier, this isn’t the complete list of full size 9mm handguns. If you’re a newbie this should help give you an idea of what to start with and take it for a run. For the seasoned carrier, doesn’t hurt to look at other toys while you’re at the gun (candy) store.
Overall, these newer generation of polymer guns are quite durable, accurate and you can custom tailor to your content. And, they are very fun to shoot.



Looking to get some Ammo, have a look below.

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