Over the last week I visited the local pistol range a couple of times. During these visits I decided to rent a few guns that I don’t generally have the chance to shoot. Among these rentals were a couple of Sig Sauers 9mm and .45 ACP(not sure which models), a Walther P99 9mm, and a Glock 21 .45 ACP. I did this because I am trying to decide which pistol I want to purchase next. Right now I’m planning on a Springfield Armory XD in 9mm or .45 ACP.
I wasn’t very impressed with the Sig 9mm, it shot low. I realize this was probably my fault since I am a beginning shooter. Also I had just put 150+ rounds through my Mark 3. After the Sig I tried the Walther P99 9mm; I liked it a lot! It’s pretty light and has sharp recoil but the gun feels good in my hands, so the recoil is manageable. I was much more accurate with the P99 than I was with the Sig but I may have just been used to the sharper recoil of the 9mm’s over my 22. I’ve also put 50-100 rounds through the XD 9mm and I really enjoyed it. Right now I may pick up the P99 a year or two after I purchase an XD. Also, the P99 is somewhat pricey I believe $650+ MSRP.
Now for the .45’s; the Sig I shot was nice. It’s a reasonably heavy, metal framed gun so the recoil is well controlled. Accuracy was good (for me). I wasn’t impressed to the point of being ready to buy one but if I found one at a good price I wouldn’t pass it up. I was surprised by the Glock 21, I’ve shot the Glock 19 9mm and didn’t like it at all. It’s lighter and doesn’t handle recoil as well as the XD 9mm. The 21 on-the-other hand shot great. The gun has a large grip and fills my hands perfectly. I think it’s heavier than the 19 as well so recoil was negligible. This is a gun I would consider getting after I get an XD and 1911.
Please remember I am not a firearms expert, I’ve only been shooting for a few months. So if I’ve made any mistakes please notify me of them. These are simply my opinions.
