New pistol recommendation

Handgun
1

So i’m planning a new pistol purchase end of the year, my wife promised me a bday gift.

Anyway, i’m an HK fanboy but i’m really frustrated with HKs offerings lately and need a recommendation.

I am looking for an optics ready 9mm hammer fired DA/SA. Size is not an issue as i’m not planning to CCW this pistol. But it has to be reliable, work with a TLR1 or TLR7 (that’s only because those are the lights I have a few extras of), and it must be a gun that I can easily find a holster for.

Right off the bat, I don’t want a 92 of any variant, I don’t like the fact that it decocks when the safety is engaged. And I don’t want a SIG of any kind.

So far I have been looking at the cz p-09 f nocturne sr. Any other recommendations?

2

Also try out a CZ-P01 if you’re interested in a compact

3

Do you have a 1911? Every good American should have at least one 1911.

What is your budget and use case for the gun? Is it going to be a range toy, competition gun, BBQ gun? If competition, what competition?

1 Like
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I do eventually want a 1911/2011 but not for this purchase, I don’t want a SAO yet.

The use case is range and SHTF gun. I currently have the FNX45T for that, but I want a 9mm.

5

You won’t go far wrong with a CZ. I have a P-01, two SP-01s and a Shadow 2. Add a Cajun Gunworks trigger package that they are super sweet, even the DA pull.

For hammer fired that isn’t SAO, I’m struggling to think what else there is that is not Sig or a Beretta 92.

6

The sexiest handgun I ever shot. Dunno what it s about the Shadow 2 but just a fantastic pistol. Well balanced, not too light or heavy, parts move like a fine swiss watch.

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I looked into the Shadow 2, looks like the carry and compact are the only version with a pic rail.

At 2.5 X the price, is it 2.5 X better than the nocturne?

I just wish HK made an optics ready P30. I don’t trust after market slide cutting.

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The current production full size are available optic ready, and have a weaver type mount under the barrel for a light.

CZS2withLIGHT
CZS2withLIGHT783×506 91.6 KB

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My Shadow 2 is a little over 3 years old and it has a rail.

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20260513_2023401920×2560 971 KB

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I didn’t notice the rail in the photos.

I did notice doing more research that only the carry version has a decocker, the full size and compact only have a safety. That is one of the main reason I don’t want a SAO gun yet, I want a decocker. I don’t trust myself to bring down the hammer manually.

But I still don’t see the reasoning for 2.5 X the price of a P09. For competition yes, but for range, carry, and defensive use, no.

11

So grok recommended either the Shadow 2 carry or the 92GTS.

The msrp for the Beretta is $899 while the CZ is $1,599. I need to do more research and look at reviews but the price difference for non-competition use is a factor.

Also, I have experience with the Beretta platform, I sold my 96A1 a long time ago because of the whole decock while putting it in safe issue.

The 92GTS has a frame mounted decocker similar to the CZ.

12

So, after a little more research, I have come to realize that what I am looking for simply does not exist out of the box.

I am looking for a 9mm equivalent of an FNX45T and nobody makes it.

I want a 9mm DA/SA with manual safety, decocker, and optics cut, and it simply does not exist.

I think my only option is to send my P30 out to get an optics cut, which is something i’m not willing to do.

So I think when the time comes, I will have to give up on the DA/SA search and just get a VP9 Tactical.

Yes, I know, I have weird tastes, but I ONLY want SA/DA with safety and decocker, or a striker fired. I don’t want a hammer fired pistol with only one, safety or decocker. For the simple reason that I want to have a choice on how to carry it, cocked and locked, or hammer down safety off.

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Do HK P30 aftermarket slides exist?

If they do, what about an aftermarket slide that already has an optic cut?

14

Unfortunately they don’t, I have been searching for months. There is a company out there that is working on aftermarket slides for the entire HK hammer fired line-up, even the USP, but there is no telling when and how much.

There are 2 companies that perform the optics cut with a custom top plate, but it’s between $350 and $450 because it requires some fiddling with the firing mechanism. Which is my main reason for concern.

15

Has anyone ever heard of Arex?

Arex Zero 1 T - Superior Tactical 9mm Handgun

AREX Zero 1 Tactical Compact in FDE: 815537023732

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More recent review:

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CZ like Dirty says

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I’m curious about what benefit you get from DA and a manual safety.

Do you leave the safety applied in DA mode in the holster?

This is redundant.

If you do leave the safety applied in the holster and are accustomed to deactivating the safety as part of your draw, why are you reluctant to consider SAO?

20

I like to have options, I know it’s weird, but that is what I like. That is why every hammer fired pistol I have is SA/DA with decocker and manual safety.

USP 45, P30, P30SK, FNX45T

All in manual safety with decocker variants. I want to be able to carry cocked and locked OR hammer down safety off. I don’t want to have to choose between guns depending on how I choose to carry on that particular day. And yes, I train both ways.

As for SAO, I don’t trust myself to let the hammer down manually. I decock my gun every time I put it in the safe in the evening, and I really don’t want a ND in the house.

If I am however forced to choose, I will always choose decocker over manual safety.