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Quintessential 9mm gun thread

15K views 135 replies 28 participants last post by  moeman 
#1 · (Edited)
I am a huge fan of 9mm semi-automatic guns. I have enjoyed this forum quite a bit, and have learned a lot from some of the members here, LSP and BAC in particular, so I decided to share some of the guns in my collection. I am no expert and my iPhone camera in my dark basement has obvious limitations, so please forgive the pedestrian dialogue and pictures. Please add to the thread if you have interesting or rare 9mm guns.

I will start with a family of Sphinx semi-automatics. Sphinx got in to the firearm business by reworking the AT84 which is essentially an CZ75 clone built by ITM. In the Sphinx lineage, this gun was well built, reliable, and stout, but not that refined. The Swiss, not at all being ok with building anything but engineered art, hired the best gunsmiths in the world and reengineered the AT84 into what is now known as the AT2000, one of the most refined semi-automatic guns ever built. I have the AT 2000 H model, which is certainly not as desirable as the AT2000 S (sport), but this is what I could find and it's in 100% LNIB condition. The newer SDP guns are certainly not built like the old 2000 and 3000 series, but they are truly amazing in and of themselves. Here is grandfather, son, and grandson.
 
#7 · (Edited)
Sig P226 Sport:

The "Sig "sport" models were the high end line that preceded the X line (X5 and X6). They were made from 2003-2005 and are relatively hard to come by. This particular model is a P226 sport, chambered in 9mm and it is the hardest to come by of the three. It is stainless steel, with a seriously heavy compensated barrel. This monster comes in at a whopping 48.8 oz, so it's not really a carry gun. It's true merits are build quality and design--I think it looks cool as hell. I shot it last month and it was dead nuts accurate and ate ammo it's life depended on it. Obviously, at it's weight, it was like shooting a 22. The build quality is second to none--in a way, I think it's better built than my X5. This model is LNIB with Nills grips, which I think look much nicer than the rubber Hogue grips it comes with.


 
#8 ·
I had two of the AT84's when they first came out; they were a train wreck. Both pistols experienced an extraordinary amount of parts breakage in a rather short period of time. Both broke slide stops, more than once. Both broke magazine catches, one broke two. One had a sear split in two, that was interesting. By that time I was disgusted, so I repaired them both, and got rid of them. It was a very heartbreaking experience, because I was a huge fan of the CZ75 design, and at that time the AT84 was the closest thing you could get to a real CZ.

I will say that when they were working, they both shot lights out.
 
#9 ·
So I just recently got a gun I refer to as "Unobtanium", a Lightweight Hi Power. It's well carried and ugly, but mechanically very sound. Carried a lot, shot very little. This one will be built up very right and will become my new carry gun. Unloaded it's 25oz, loaded it's 31.8oz; VERY nice to carry.

She's ugly right now, but that won't last for long.
 
#16 ·
So I just recently got a gun I refer to as "Unobtanium", a Lightweight Hi Power. It's well carried and ugly, but mechanically very sound. Carried a lot, shot very little. This one will be built up very right and will become my new carry gun. Unloaded it's 25oz, loaded it's 31.8oz; VERY nice to carry.

She's ugly right now, but that won't last for long.
Is that one of the Israeli police trade ins from AIM?
 
#11 ·
I had no doubt that Solothurn would work it out, it was just painful for me. I wanted a CZ75 so bad back then, and the AT84 broke my heart. When I first laid eyes on the AT84 it was such an impressive pistol. Machine work was just first rate, but I was very disappointed with the trigger in comparison to actual CZ's of the time...still, I knew triggers can be improved upon. And with a name like Solothurn, I was just confident it was going to be so much more than the CZ product....but heartbreak ensued. To this day, it was the worst experience I've ever had with any handgun.

But like I said, I knew Solothurn would work it out and it would eventually achieve all the greatness it was supposed to have.
 
#21 ·
Excellent collection and informative narrative.
 
#22 ·
I had no doubt that Solothurn would work it out, it was just painful for me. I wanted a CZ75 so bad back then, and the AT84 broke my heart. When I first laid eyes on the AT84 it was such an impressive pistol. Machine work was just first rate, but I was very disappointed with the trigger in comparison to actual CZ's of the time...still, I knew triggers can be improved upon. And with a name like Solothurn, I was just confident it was going to be so much more than the CZ product....but heartbreak ensued. To this day, it was the worst experience I've ever had with any handgun.

But like I said, I knew Solothurn would work it out and it would eventually achieve all the greatness it was supposed to have.
Yes indeed

The Sphinx AT2000S is about as fine as pistols get and night and day compared to the old ITM AT84S.


Firearm Gun Trigger Revolver Gun barrel


Gun Trigger Starting pistol


Text Font Material property Metal Number


Material property
 
#35 · (Edited)
The Pardini GT9 is an aluminum frame/steel slide Italian target gun. This is a newer model, which has cut outs in the slide and a 3/4 length dust cover. I think it's more attractive than the older GT9s, which have a full length dust cover and no cut outs, but that is subjective. The build quality is up there with the best of the best, and the price is on par with most semi-custom 1911s. They aren't ubiquitous but they also aren't rare--you can generally order one and receive it within 4-6 months from Pardini USA in Florida. If you are used to shooting pistols with a more closed grip angle it will be very hard to transition to this gun. You will be high for the first 50 rounds. Once you get the angle figured out, this gun is dead nuts accurate. It's a target gun, so the trigger is single stage and adjustable by staging, over-travel, and weight of pull. The trigger is the best of any gun I have ever held. I have never measured it, but it feels like 2.5 pounds and breaks like glass. The barrel is obviously match grade and is the thickest barrel I have ever seen in any pistol. The slide rides fully inside the frame (like a Sig P210) and feels like it's on ice. Pardini makes them in 5 and 6 inch versions, chambered in .45 ACP and 9mm. My only criticism of this gun is the finish. I understand it was built for competition, so a premium was put on performance as opposed to prettiness, but to me the finish is fairly pedestrian for a high end target gun. All in all, I think it's an amazing gun, engineered and built to exacting standards, and made for winning.



 
#39 ·
When your shooting self esteem is low and you have to convince yourself that you are a better shot than you really are...H&K 9mm Expert with Merkel weight.



Very nice. I've been looking for a Merkel weight for my Elite but so far no dice anywhere. I'd even order from Germany if I could.

Another beauty. I had one for a while and it IS all it is cracked up to be. Only sold it because I want to try a 6" version at some point. Nice collection.
 
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