The M-9 Baretta is a decent handgun and is fairly cheap to shoot. I have an extensively upgraded version that I shoot often and even with inexpensive ammunition it has only jammed a few times. If I had to guess I would say that I average less than one misfeed or partial ejection less than once every 2-3,000 rounds. This has almost invariably been traced back to the ammunition I was using.
Drawbacks – It has an external safety that I have forgotten to disengage on occasion. This can be eliminated by using a positive control holster that uses a plastic safty catch that automatically disengages the safety when the weapon is drawn. Second item: Despite having replaced the trigger group with a higher quality assembly, I always know when the trigger is about to break and it can affect my shot quality. Both assemblies have had the same issues and my gunsmith said the only cure is to buy a better gun. Well…
Full frame Sig P226 in 40S&W. Awesome sidearm. Hands down my favorite to shoot. No external safety except, as a friend of mine once said, “Keep your booger hooks off the bang switch.” Uses an internal trigger block to prevent accidental firing and has a decocking lever. Smooth take up on the trigger and a clean break on each shot. I have medium sized hands and it fits me perfectly. All the operating controls are in the right position. As I said before, I tend to shoot quite a lot. Sometimes it is as low as 100 rounds a month. At other times I am shooting 3-500 rounds a week. I have never, ever had a misfeed with the Sig.
Drawbacks? Only two really. It is more expensive to shoot and NATO doesn’t sport the 40 S&W round. Most folks that I know that are professionals that really expect to use their weapons carry Sig. There is a reason why.
