Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Metal frames, hammer fire, and big capacity made Wonder Nines the leap from six shots to serious fighting pistols. Here is what defines them and five models that still matter right now.
What Is a Wonder Nine
What’s a Wonder Nine? It’s the early wave of double stack 9mm handguns that changed duty guns forever. Definitions vary. Here is the author’s working list of traits:
- Chambers 9mm Parabellum
- Hammer fired
- Uses a double stack magazine
- Metal frame
Some shooters drop the metal frame requirement. Others say a Wonder Nine must be DA SA. Reasonable minds can disagree. For this list, we kept models you can actually buy today without hunting unicorns.
Springfield SA 35 Updated Hi Power DNA
The Springfield SA-35 was a big surprise in 2021, which might as well be called the year of the Hi Power. Springfield kept the look and improved the quirks with a drop free magazine, better beavertail to kill hammer bite, no magazine safety, and a 15 round flush mag instead of 13.
Available on GunsAmerica Now
The SA 35 keeps the excellent Hi Power ergonomics with a cleaner trigger and classic styling at a reasonable price point.
🛒 Check Current Price for SA-35 on GunsAmericaCZ 75 Longtime Wonder Nine With Racegun Roots
The Czech designed CZ 75 has been in constant production since 1975 and inspired a legion of clones. Its slide rides inside the frame, keeping reciprocating mass low and recoil controllable. It remains a favorite for civilians and competitors alike.
Classic models use a frame safety for cocked and locked carry. Decocker versions exist, but the spirit of the CZ 75 is DA SA with excellent ergonomics.
🛒 Check Current Price for CZ-75 on GunsAmericaBeretta 92A4 America’s Most Famous Wonder Nine
From Hollywood to military service as the M9, the Beretta 92 owns the spotlight. The latest A4 series modernizes the platform with a thinner grip frame, accessory rail, threaded barrel, and optics ready slide while staying true to the proven alloy frame and DA SA system.
SIG P226 Fighting Wonder Nine Proven Worldwide
The SIG P226 ranks with the greats. Used by elite military and law enforcement, it delivers a rock solid DA SA trigger system with an excellent decocker. Modern variants add a rail and optics ready options while keeping that do everything reliability.
Staccato P Modern 2011 Wonder Nine
Not your granddad’s .45. The Staccato P brings the 2011 double stack 9mm format with 17 to 20 round mags, superb single action triggers, and optics ready options. Weight helps it shoot flat and fast, making it a serious duty and competition choice.
READ MORE: Comprehensive Guide to Handgun Types
Why Wonder Nines Still Matter
Wonder Nines remain fun to shoot and easy to live with. Metal frames soak recoil. Hammers offer clear status. Capacity is there without bulky grips. Polymer carry guns have a place, but these classics keep earning range time and holster time.
Join the Conversation
Were Wonder Nines rightly replaced by plastic fantastics, or do they still deserve space in your safe and on your belt? Drop your take below.
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Travis Pike is a dedicated firearms writer, a Second Amendment Advocate, and a subject matter enthusiast for all things firearms. He is an amateur competitor with dreams of one day not coming in 4th place at a local defensive match. If he’s not putting text to word processor, he’s likely spending time with family, enjoying Florida’s Nature Coast, or drinking hipster beer. As the resident Florida man he has a preference for obscure guns and calibers.
Experience
- Hunter – Long time deer and hog hunter in the swamps of Florida
- Instructor – Volunteers to teach basic firearm safety classes to kids, adults, and cats
- Wannabe Competitor – Has recently dipped his toes into competitive shooting and has happily discovered an expensive hobby.
- Marine – Served five years with the infantry before transferring to the First Civ Div.
HK P7 M13
You forgot me of the first and that was the Smiths. Staccato? Whatever. The list is for metal framed high cap pioneeers of the 9mm that gave capacity to us all. None of the plastic fantastics count. I’ve shot all of them during my time in the 90s as a range instructor for my PD. Some cops claim their gun shoots crooked so I would take it and prove that it doesn’t. Have you ever heard of such nonsense. Crooked barrel. Ha. My favorite was the Beretta and the Smith DAOs although I never carried a Beretta. My short fingers could reach the trigger easier. Ruger P series shot but the P85 was not very acccurate. Fixed in the P89. P90 45 was very accurate. Very crude gun but worked.
What about Ruger p85
Once you get used to shooting striker fired ‘plastic-fantastics’ isn’t hard going back to SA/DA weapons that use a ballpeen hammer to hit the primer. Wonder nine? – G17, G18 w/fun switch, or G19.
The examples listed are all great choices. I would be pleased to have any of them in a tight spot. I also would have no issue whatsoever of being handed the highly underrated Ruger American, the CZ P10 F, Canik SFx, S&W M&P, or the most excellent Walther PPQ Q5 polymer pistols. I’m sure there are many others I have yet to try which would be fine.
Top five classic Wonder Nines that still rule the roost. Here we go. Hi-Power, 92, CZ75, P226…………and Staccato 2011????? Seriously? LOL!!!!!!! A 21st century 1911??? Sure, brother. Okay. That may not have been the best pick for the fifth one to round out the point you were trying to make, but hey, live and learn. Thank you for the chuckles. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 drum roll, the fifth one is…… the Staccato 2011!!!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣!!!!!!!!!
To each his own of course, but my best actual carry gun…is one I’m going to actually carry. Consistently. And my baby soft skin of the nether regions much prefers rounded polymer against it versus sharp edged metal. I do have a Commander size Kimber 1911 I like to carry some because it’s just so freaking cool and I shoot it well. But normally I’ll carry a Shield plus.
I’ve handled and shot the SA35, CZ75, and M9. All are perfectly acceptable IMHO. The common thread? Military background. I would be hard pressed to only select one.