The firearms industry rarely creates something new. It’s even more rare that anyone gets it right the first time. Bill Wilson and his engineers at Wilson Combat set out to create a high quality, all-metal 9mm high-capacity gun specifically for every day carry. The Wilson Combat EDC X9 nails it.
Think about it. Most manufacturers usually make a larger gun and then shorten it or lighten it for carry use. The X9 was created from the start as a gun for non-law enforcement civilians to carry at all times.
The top slide is basically the same as a Wilson X-TAC 9mm 1911 short slide with a tri-topped cut, and anti-glare serrations. That gives the X9 a tied-together finished look, one that really make the sights pop.
The X-shaped serrations on the front and back of the slide give plenty grip for racking the slide. You’ll also find an external extractor, making user service easy, as well as an attractive fluted barrel. The slide includes Wilson’s Enhanced Reliability System for 9mm 1911s, designed to keep the gun running well despite varying loads.
On the front side, a deep crown on the bushingless bull barrel lies directly under a bright fiber optic front sight. That front rear sight combination is ideal, allowing for fast acquisition as well as precision shots at distance. It does, however, disappear in the dark.
If you prefer another option, the user can easily swap out sights through a hole extending through the front of the slide to the sight itself. You can choose from red or green fiber, a brass bead or a tritium insert. All of these will be available on the Wilson combat web site later in May. If you can pull off the slide and turn an Allen wrench, swapping them out is simple.
The real magic is below the bore, in the frame. The X9 is not a “slightly modified” version of anything. It’s a new gun, offered either with or without a rail to hang a light or laser. Note that there X9 has no grip safety under the beavertail. The thumb safety clicks on and off solidly and with little effort.
Tucked inside the small, dehorned frame is what I’m sure was a challenge; a 1911-style trigger inside a smaller, non-1911 gun. Wilson pulled it off, and with options as well. They’ll supply short, medium, or long triggers at the users request. And looking at how the gun comes apart, installing your own Wilson-supplied trigger should be a simple task.
This supplied trigger breaks at a consistent 3lbs 15oz, without a bit of variation. With just a tiny bit of empty pre-travel, the not-a-1911 1911-style gas pedal breaks cleanly with a short and obvious reset. But wait, there’s more!
You’ll notice there are no screws on the scales. With a single 1/8 pin punch pressed into a small hole in the bottom of the handle, the back strap swings open and the scales slide out. That allows you complete access to the inside of the EDC X9 for detailed cleaning.
Wilson Combat will put any of their Armor Tuff finishes on the gun, and I’m already seeing some cool variations. The buyer can also decide from a few different G10 color options. I have this finish on two of my Wilsons and it holds up extremely well over time and still retains a smooth, easy-to-clean surface. The magazines are stamped “Made in Italy” and are made by Mec-Gar.
Bill Wilson has said that reliability was number one for his pistols and that there would be no compromise there. I haven’t seen any in the X9, but I was eager to see if the hype matched the performance.
I headed to The Range at Austin and put 300 rounds of mixed 9mm ammunition through the X9. In 22 minutes. The next day I headed to my outdoor range where I put another 300 rounds through it in a series of drills. Through those 600 rounds, I had zero failures of any kind. That includes rounds in 115gr, 124gr, and 147gr. That includes standard and +P, full metal jacket round nosed, hollow points, frangible flat tips, and the Hornady XTP round as well as other ammo from eight different manufacturers.
The next day I pumped another 120 more rounds through the gun. I shot right handed, left handed, in standard and off positions, I intentionally limp wristed the X9. No problems. At no point did I lube or clean the gun, nor did I so much as remove the slide after my initial look until after all of the firing was complete. Not so much as a hiccup.
In all of those rounds, even during the fast fire of that first 22 minutes with the gun, I didn’t experience so much as a pinch, sore spot, or anything other than a solid, comfortable grip on the EDC X9. The slightly oval shape of the grip, combined with the texture of the of the front and back straps and the G10 grips give me a firm purchase on the gun. The slightly enlarged trigger well is undercut, allowing a comfortably high grip on the fairly small frame. This clearly isn’t a sized-down gun originally made for .45 ACP or .38 Super. The X9 simply feels great in the hand.
I expected a little more recoil out of the gun. Despite the high grip, the bore axis isn’t particularly low. There’s about a finger’s width from the top of the frame to the center of the bore. It’s a relatively large slide on a small frame. The gun is fairly light weights only 3 oz more than a polymer GLOCK 19 unloaded. But the recoil is nothing like the plastic fantastic.
The EDC X9 humms along it’s rails, giving a back and forth push with very little muzzle rise. It was no problem at all keeping the fiber optic front sight in view during the recoil cycle, and the gun was fast to fire and faster to fire again. All in all, the familiarization fire and drills I did with the gun for reliability testing proved that not only was the gun reliable, but exceptionally comfortable to shoot.
I thought I had them when I got to the bench. After my first string of five rounds at 25 yards off of bags, I took a look at the holes in the target. They looked pretty wide. Finally a deficiency. Then I measured them. 1.2 inches. A group that small at 25 yards from a carry gun is excellent. And that’s not the best. As I had no baseline with this pistol, I spent a morning shooting many different loads from it.
The Cap Arms 147gr XTP round scored the best, averaging a flat one-inch group. Cap Arms 147gr RN scored 1.2 inches, Wilson’s 124gr HP defensive load scored 1.8 inches, as did the Federal 124gr +P HST, Blazer 115gr FMJ scored two inches as did Team Never Quit’s 100gr frangible round.
This was a solid pattern with the gun. The heavier rounds produced tighter groups, with any 147gr round outperforming any 124gr or lighter round. The lighter the round the worse it got, but it never got anything other than great. Keep in mind this was after 600 rounds of familiarization and testing fire without cleaning. I fired a total of 120 rounds for accuracy testing and the worst group the X9 produced was two inches. From a compact carry gun, I have to tip my hat.
As far as concelability, in my El Paso Saddlerly Summer Cruiser IWB holster, it disappears just a well as any of my single stack 1911s, including my lightweight commander. No surprise on the ease of carry there. However, I can’t use that particular holster for this gun.
Although the slide fits perfectly, the more rounded and enlarged trigger well of the EDC X9 stops the gun from completely entering the holster. That means that the trigger is ever so slightly exposed, including the trigger face. That’s a no go. Remember, there’s a thumb safety, but no grip safety on the X9.
I took a look at a few of the holsters I have and I found this same problem with most of them. That includes the holster for my Wilson Combat CQB Tactical LE. If I were to order this gun, I would order it with the long trigger rather than the short version. It’s something to be aware of when choosing a holster for this gun. Every holster should hold the X9, but not all of them will do it safely.
There’s really no good reason for this pistol to exist. I don’t mean the market doesn’t need or want a metal-framed high capacity carry gun with great styling. The SIG Legion P229 proved that, although the X9 outclasses it in every way. No, I mean there was no reason for Wilson Combat to make this gun.
Wilson does just fine with their core business of excellent 1911s and they’ve done well with their long-time production of shotguns under Scattergun Technologies. They could have continued to do what they’re doing forever. I really applaud Bill Wilson and his staff for going out on a limb to create something new in the X9 and they’ve hit this one out of the park.
Specifications: Wilson Combat EDX X9
Caliber: 9mm
Magazine Capacity: 15 rounds
Barrel Length: 4 inches
Overall Length: 7.4 inches
Sight Radius: 5.6 inches
Height: 5.25 inches
Width: 1.4 inches
Weight Empty: 29.09 oz
Weight Loaded: 35.04 oz
Base Price: $2,895
Ratings (out of five stars):
Style * * * * 1/2
The slide looks a little busy. And yes, that may be a desperate attempt to find fault with something on this gun.
Reliability * * * * *
Perfect with any round by any manufacturer. I ran this gun hard and it did not disappoint.
Accuracy * * * * *
A four-inch compact carry gun that hit one-inch five-round groups at 25 yards with defensive ammunition. Even the worst performing rounds were still very good.
Overall * * * * *
This isn’t a good pistol, it’s an exceptional pistol. Congratulations to those of you who gambled and pre-ordered one. It breaks my heart that some of those folks are collectors who will never carry the gun. It’s pretty, but no safe queen. The EDC X9, as its name implies, is a gun to carry. Every single day.
Let’s just get all of the “would you like fries with that” income level comments in now.
“OMG do you know how many (glocks/hipoints/caniks/keltec/etc) I can buy for motherf&^king $3K!!”
“I would never carry a gun that cost that much, what happens if I have to shoot someone and they take the gun”) which since like Lt. Briggs you’ll never have to pull your gun out of your holster
My income and wealth are probably higher than yours or TTAG management’s and while I recognize the quality of the gun why would you pay 2-3x the price of a SiG for a carry piece?
Pro tip: if you want to accumulate wealth for your retirement don’t spend $3k for a carry gun when you can get something that does the same job for less. You will feel the same after being shot with an M-9, Sig P226 or a BHP as with this wunderwaffe.
If you mean “does the same job” as that bullets come out of it, then sure. But this gun is three times as accurate and more than twice as reliable as my Sig Legion P229.
So you are putting all the rounds through the same hole. /sarc
Did Wilson loan it to you? Did they give it to you or did you fork out your own cash?
I guess my question is: with the Sig P229 Legion SAO coming out, is this worth that much more?
If you’re going to impugn my integrity at least be a man and come right out and say it. I kept it for 4 days and returned it.
Far from impugning your integritu I am merely trying to establish your point of view. I have driven cars valued at 6 digits and found them to be outstanding and something far beyond my everyday driving experience but it was from the perpective of someone who had the opportunity to drive fantastic car without paying for it. I would have a different opinion if I paid for it. You borrowed the gun and thought it was fantastic. Fine, I would probably be singing its praises too if I got to shoot it. If you bought it you might have a different answer.
My skepticism about your “3x more accurate” statement is derived from my respect for your marksmanship. I would be hard pressed to even double my accuracy and I consider myself an average shooter. You can praise a gun without the hyperbole.
If you only had the gun for four days you cannot determine its long term reliabilty. More hyperbole.
No hyperbole at all, actual data from my shooting of both guns under almost identical conditions, down to the same range and the same target and the same bags to shoot off of, over the same period of time. My Legion P229 shot 3″ groups at 25 yards. The EDC X9 shot 1″. My Legion P229 got to 300 rounds before it started to have failures to feed. The EDC X9 went past 700. That’s more than twice as reliable.
The test shoot is what it is, the data is objective and straight forward.
Tell us more about how rich and smart and wise you are.
And then tell us about how you know so much more than the author.
We’re interested!
Funny, my original post had nothing to do with author. It had to do with the commentor’s snide remarks about the income level of those of us who questioned the value of buying a $3k gun. JW is the one who went off on me. So tell me, what would you give up to buy this gun and then tell if was worth it a year later.
And I can put up 2″ group with my BHP at 25 yards and I am not that good.
“what would you give up to buy this gun and then tell if was worth it a year later”
Well, I could give up buying lunch and bring leftovers to work instead. And in one year, if I bought smart and decided I didn’t like it, I could sell the Wilson for exactly what I had into it. Check gunbroker, it’s true.
But we really, really, want to know how rich and smart you are. And I know that you’re just dying to tell us.
tdiinva, “And I can put up 2″ group with my BHP at 25 yards and I am not that good.” You are doing just fine, and a proper Browning High Power is an exceptional firearm. There are obviously many things in common with the BPH and the EDC X9, but there is something about this gun, something about the way that the back strap flips open and the scales remove that remind me of some other gun. No, I don’t know what that gun is, and it is driving me crazy. It’s something FN/Browning related, I just can’t put my finger on it.
If you are a High Power fan, maybe you have an idea.
Really, driving me crazy.
Sounds like Kevin does not understand the concept of opportunity cost. You could have used the nearly $3k to buy other things and if you sold some of your gums to raise the cash you wouldn’t have them when you sold the gun back to Wilson. As I said to JW, your perspective on value is function of what you put out for it.
For jwtaylor above:
“but there is something about this gun, something about the way that the back strap flips open and the scales remove that remind me of some other gun. ”
Star Mod 30M perhaps?
“I have driven cars valued at 6 digits and found them to be outstanding and something far beyond my everyday driving experience but it was from the perpective of someone who had the opportunity to drive fantastic car without paying for it.”
If a car valued at 6 digits is far beyond your everyday driving experience I feel sorry for you. I would never pretend that you have any sort of wealth again.
Yeah that’s how you get rich, by blowing your money needlessly and flaunting it around like some kind of pimp. You know how many people with *very* good paying jobs with solid retirements wind up re entering the work force after 10 years because they blew their retirement on the finer things? Very many. How many lotto winners are broke in 3 years time? Big league ball players broke after 5 years? Being a penny pincher is a virtue of the wise. That’s the true glory of capitalism. The free market offers the consumer multiple choices to get a bargain. Glock, Sig, S&W, are massive empires built upon that principle. While I will not bash Wilson combat at all, it’s because you will always be more successful playing at the strengths of your customer base. In other words the “wal mart philosophy.” In which you offer the lowest prices you can for the best reasonable product. Though Wal Mart takes a great deal of liberty with the best product part.
I love to see an expensive gun that shows its engineering and is worth every penny.
It’s easy to have cheap crap that’s worth the money, or expensive crap that’s not. But a gun that is both at the summit of price and function is a rare bird.
I drove a Ferrari F430 when the model had just come out, and it was like the angels sang a song just for me. I “got it.”
Someday. . .
I work at a dealership and I’ll tell you now that the 17 Z06 Corvette is the same thing. I’ll never afford a 110k car, just like I probably won’t own a handgun more expensive than my Tavor, but they are F*$%ing nice to shoot.
Says the guy who works at the dealership, lol. Lemmie guess: Chevy dealership?
I drove a Z06 back to back with a F430 (along with an Aston, a 911 turbo and a Gallardo) at triple-digits and take it from me, even though I don’t “work at a dealership” they are barely even both cars. The Ferrari was a kiss on the check by a supermodel, and the Z06 was genital warts. Similar hp numbers, but that’s all.
Man, every swingin’ dick at the TTAG Comments Section Ranch is itching for a fight today. Something in the water?
I don’t think the man was saying that the Corvette was the same as a Ferarri. No one would be that dumb. I’m pretty sure he’s just saying that the Corvette gave him the same “kissed by an angel” feeling that the Ferarri gave you.
Designed something new? Looks like a 9mm 1911. Oh wait, it is a 9mm 1911. Never been done befo’.
Know how I know that you don’t know what a 1911 is?
Bitching about price to commence in 3, 2, 1…..
As soon as I took it apart and handled the gun, I realized I had a problem. I was initially highly skeptical, but this was an exceptional gun. Reports from people like Mike Seeklander, Larry Vickers, and Mandy Bachman weren’t just advertising. This was possibly going to be a 5 star gun at a near $3,000 price tag. I hate 5 star reviews for expensive guns.
I feel like there are only so many five star reviews that I have to give, like they are some kind of resource that will run dry. I want to give them to guns that everyone can afford, but that rarely happens. That leaves me looking for any way possible to disqualify expensive guns from that category.
RF has let me know that there are some higher end 1911 manufacturers that have voiced concerns about me reviewing their gun, and I suspect that is the reason. But I have to admit that criticism is fair, because the second I realized that this gun might make it to that category, I started looking for reasons to keep it out of the five star club. I just couldn’t find any.
Selfishly I’d like to see you or another TTAG team member review some of the higher-end CMP service pistols. I’m currently counting pennies for a Les Baer, Ed Brown or Accuracy X 9MM option. Heading up to Camp Perry this summer to see what all the precision fuss is about.
I have owned all of those pistols. I’ve never seen a bad Ed Brown, nor one that took particularly long to break in.
Nice to see the not-1911 1911. Similar enough for detractors to say it’s a 1911, different enough for 1911 fanboys to say it isn’t.
I personally think it looks great, I dig the square safety tube, inset grips, bulged out MSH (or rather where an MSH would be), the slide lightening cuts on top, lack of a grip safety, etc. I’d have to agree the only bad part probably is the slide serrations– I think a traditional, wide serration pattern would look better.
I’m not surprised they went with a linked barrel (I’ve read that they are better systems in that they put less stress on parts for whatever that is worth these days with modern metallurgy) but I do wonder why they went with a non-captive recoil spring.
Well, next time I have $3,000 to spend on a pistol I may get this. Spending $3,000 on any gun would be a first for me however. At least I can appreciate it from afar or maybe admire one next time I go to Houston and visit Collectors before giving it back to the guy behind the counter who knows I’m not gonna buy it.
Next time I have $3,000 to spend on a handgun, I’ll buy the Korth Nighthawk revolver.
But this seems nice too.
I can’t afford it, but I love the looks of it! Are the magazines cross compatible with anything else? As a carry piece, why no night sights from the factory?
“why no night sights from the factory?”
From the review: “You can choose from red or green fiber, a brass bead or a tritium insert. All of these will be available on the Wilson combat web site later in May.”
I’m sorry if I was unclear. You can order them on your gun now, or swap them out with one you purchase at any time with ease.
What is this obsession with night sights. Unless it is pitch black, I can pick up my non-night sights faster than my guns with night sights. And I have both sets on almost identical guns. My CZ compact has night sights, my full size has fiber, and I have two Kahrs with the same length slide, one with the bar-dot and the other with the night sights, same results.
Why not more of a Carry melt profile for $3K carry?
There’s not a sharp edge on the gun so why turn it into a melted bar of soap for no reason?
Really cool looking gun. Those grips are obnoxious though lol. Ive been wanting to get a really nice 1911 for the past few months but, im really indecisive. Im torn between getting something like this or a dan wesson A2. Those Valkyrie 9mm 1911s you guys did a review on a couple weeks back look really nice too.
Sweet! Costing $99.58 per oz – just under that magical $100 per oz price cap of ARE YOU F-ING CRAZY!
If it’s all about price-to-weight ratio, why not carry a rock? Or maybe a sharp stick? Those are free.
I do carry a rock, and a sharp stick is my back-up piece.
Rolled up magazine in my back pocket.
Nicolai Hel- “Shibumi”
That book is hilarious.
Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against rocks and sticks. Limited range, but you can’t beat ’em for price and reliability.
I actually keep a homemade mace in my truck; it’s the best of both worlds, in my opinion. The reach of a stick with the punch of a rock. Love that thing.
“At no point did I lube or clean the gun..”
just curious, but does this mean you didn’t lube it after the initial lube (during testing) or that it was bone dry from the beginning? not picking any nits, just curious. great review with great pics as always.
I don’t know that if it did need initial lube that I would necessarily hold that against the firearm, as all firearms are designed to be lubed (at least, all manuals recommend it).
Regarding the pistol, seems a bit wide to me for a great concealed carry gun. One of the features I loved about the 1911 platform was how slim it is, beefing it up to get the 9mm capacity up to 15 seems to have negated that attribute. If I am reading this right, for a smaller form factor than a standard 1911 it seems to be maybe a bit wider than the usual more common usual suspects (Glock, PPQ, etc)? curious how the grip width compares to these “peers” for those with smallish hands.
Great question, especially since that line slightly differs from my usual review, in which I lube a gun prior to shooting. This gun came obviously oiled with what looked like Lucas Oil, so I didn’t have to re-lube it prior to shooting. Which is good, because I forgot my lube in the truck when I got to The Range at Austin. They have SLIP 2000 in sample packs there for use, which I grabbed but didn’t use, so just ended up pocketing it. Guess I owe them $1 for the sample pack.
The grip is about 1/4″ total wider than a G19. I can’t tell the difference in 1/8 of an inch on each side during carry. The biggest benefit for smallish hands will be the ability to order a shorter trigger, or to replace it with a longer one with relative ease.
It came lubed with Wilson Combat Ultima-Lube.
wait, doesn’t springfield armory make something like this?
(slinks back under bridge…)
In 2017 Wilson Combat creates the all-new CZ-75B!
At only six times the price!
And smaller, lighter and a better trigger!
Is an ambidextrous safety an option? I’m left-handed, and carry in Condition 1.
Yes, an Ambi safety is an option either at time of order or you can replace it yourself with one from Wilson.
That is a smexy piece of machinery. I’m definitely going to check one out. That said, the price really interferes with my strategy of slow accumulation. Not that I couldn’t (or wouldn’t) spend that much on a pistol, but I have to keep the wife happy. She’s resigned herself to the idea that I will purchase more guns, and she won’t complain if it doesn’t get obnoxious. Just like I won’t complain if she buys a $300 pair of shoes. Now if she buys those $1000 boots, that’s another issue.
As a relatively novice shooter with disposable income, I have to balance everything I want to shoot with those items that just have extra cool factor. I could probably purchase four of the guns I’m looking at, including the M&P 15-22, for $3000. Not knocking what looks to be an amazing gun. I do believe there are entries that belong at that price point. Just voicing my internal delimma.
“including the M&P 15-22”
Make this first on your list.
Do I go off the shelf, or deal with the stamp and get the one with the integrated suppressor?
Integral suppressor. It’s the gun I shoot just about every day.
Wilson did everything I wish I could do to a 1911. Now I just wish I had $3000 and it was California legal so I can make the drooling stop before my house floods
Hey look, an all original designed Browning Hi-power for $3000
I get the first comments crack about the “would you like fries with that” income, but even with a really decent income, $3K for a daily carry beater gun is high.
yikes…
My cost is significantly higher. If I bought one as a carry, I’d have to buy a spare, and if my wife found out I dropped $6k on two pistols, I’d need another $2k for a new sofa to sleep on, if I’m not paying for counseling-and that road to recovery is always long and expensive.
How is this not a 1911? I see a 1911 cam linkage, a 1911 guide rod plug, a 1911 frame, a 1911 mainspring, a 1911 recoil spring, a 1911 safety, a 1911 slide stop, and a 1911 hammer. You can’t just change the caliber and go TADAA! NEW GUN!
No, not tbe 1911, it’s the Browning HI Power reinvented for a mere $2895!. I am sure that it is a fine pistol but I doubt I would shoot it any better than my Hi Power.
But maybe this gun has the trigger reset the Hi Power has always lacked.
I love my Hi Power, but you combine it with a 1911-type trigger reset, and I am a happy(ier?) boy!
I’ll never buy a 3000buck gun but I like seeing one. Some of you guys bitching probably drive an expensive car/truck-which depreciated instantly as soon as you drove…
I bought my expensive car with 9100 miles on it. Took care of that pesky depreciation problem for me, but I had to buy the spray for that new car smell.
I just ate boiled eggs, burritos off the roach coach and ate some citrus.
Gave my used 4runner that jwm smell.
No body wants to borrow it.
Bwahahahahaha!!!
That expensive car or truck has more utility than a 9mm carry piece
I do.. I also bought it used for half the price. If one of you suckers wants to put a box through one of these and sell it for $1500 I’ll swing by.
I am intrigued, as someone who has purchaed a number of 1911’s and the top quality gunsmithing to go with them. Knowing that Wilson doesn’t produce junk goes a long way for me in justifying the cost, now I wanna know how it feels in my hand.
It’s beautiful. First 1911 I ever shot was a Wilson. Spent some time at the Wilson booth at TFF. Will never purchase one myself, unless I win the powerball. Hope Wilson Combat sells lots of these and stays in business a long time.
We are all spoiled these days. If you go back 100 years, fifty years, even 25 years, you will find that guns, in particuliar, semi auto handguns cost a much larger part of your paycheck than they would today. I am very thankful for this, because I collect fine examples from before WWII( and some after).
Before WWII, handguns had fine workmanship and many parts that had to be fitted(for the most part) There was more manhours put into a handgun. Today, it is different, but… Anything new takes a lot of engineering and checking, before they can make cheaper parts work.
Yhis weapon was designed to be a quality piece and the price shows it. If this design takes off, it will be somewhat cheaper to manufacture, but it will be many sold before they pay for the R&D. The fact that(I assume) it was designed and made here in the states also adds to the costs, by employing American workers.
If I had that kind of disposable money, I might take a chance. Sadly, I don’t, so I collect older well made handguns.
“so I collect older well made handguns.”
You are not a stupid man.
How would you rate vs. the STI DVC carry? Also, I cannot make head or tail out of what you are trying to communicate. You state that there is no reason for this gun to exist er there is no reason for Wilson Combat to make this gun er they have hit this one out of the park…” Huh?
“There’s really no good reason for this pistol to exist. I don’t mean the market doesn’t need or want a metal-framed high capacity carry gun with great styling. The SIG Legion P229 proved that, although the X9 outclasses it in every way. No, I mean there was no reason for Wilson Combat to make this gun.
Wilson does just fine with their core business of excellent 1911s and they’ve done well with their long-time production of shotguns under Scattergun Technologies. They could have continued to do what they’re doing forever. I really applaud Bill Wilson and his staff for going out on a limb to create something new in the X9 and they’ve hit this one out of the park.”
It wouldn’t be fair for me to rate this against the DVC Carry, as the DVC Carry is on my hip right now and is my EDC. Too much pride in ownership there.
As for your second question, I can’t tell what your question is.
? perhaps you can detail attributes of each to help a prospective buyer make a decision. They seem pretty similar to me and at similar price points. this seems like a reasonable ask since you are familiar with both and went through the effort to write up the wilson. thanks
Woud you consider buying this gun when they become more available to replace your DVC as your carry gun? Also if you had neither which one do you think you would buy as your carry gun? Do either of the grips feel better in your hand?
I’ll try to answer both of you as objectively as possible.
The Wilson is certainly more comfortable to carry. The handle is just rounded more and isn’t as abrasive. That said, the STI sticks better into my hand, especially one handed firing in long strings. I really think the grip on the STI is just perfect.
The STI also has what I consider perfect sights, the Heine straight eight night sights. But on the STI, the sights are what you get, and you can replace the Wilson’s easily. Accuracy on the Wilson is slightly better, a quarter of an inch at 25 yards better. Both perfectly reliable.
I think the STI looks better, but that’s totally subjective and with the STI you get what you get when it comes to finish. You have many more options with the Wilson including some custom one off paint jobs. I think the coating on the frame and barrel of the STI will last a ridiculously long time, at least that is what I have seen from the race guns similarly coated.
If I did not have either gun I would buy the STi for two reasons. One there is more aftermarket support, but two, I want a grip safety. Many people do not.
Thank you for this feedback on the DVC Carry vs. the X9. I’ve been looking at both and have a hard time deciding between the two. I’ve held the DVC and will get to hold the X9 eventually, but I could only dream of the ability to shoot both first!
I am interested in hearing your thoughts about how the EDC X9 compares to the STI Staccato C now that STI has gone away with the DVC-C.
I really don’t get it. If someone is going to bitch about price why don’t they just stick with Hi-Point? I can buy 4 for the price of a G19 and they “do the same thing.”
to begin with, it’s CITIZENS, NOT non-law enforcement civilians!!! Seriously? 2895$ for f’g handgun? Well, good for him… he’ll get it, and make about 2k$ profit on each one….. capitalism at work. You got it? Shit, spend it. LOL LOL LOL
The phrasing I used was specifically to point out that the gun was designed for non-military and non-law enforcement. So the term just citizens is not enough.
Geez guys, class envy much?!?!?! If no Gordon Gecko-types bought the $5k brick cell phone back in the mid-eighties you wouldn’t have that jitterbug you all rely on throughout the day.
Do you want to carry a pistol with the same price tag as a nice high quality rifle?
Do you want to carry a chunk of metal 4oz heavier than a freaking Glock 34?
For me it’s a big no on both questions.
If somebody would gift it to me i might keep it as a rangetoy, but maybe even then i would just resell it for two other pistols and a few thousand rounds of 9mm…
It ain’t my cup of tea. But it’s nicer looking than some of the guns we see here.
There’s no excuse for this not having an ambi safety. Its not a 1911, its not slaved to the bandaid 1911 ambi’s design. I am absolutely sick of right supremacists intentionally leaving out lefties with their designs, and Wilson is one of the biggest offenders.
No need for all the hate there, as with every Wilson you can get a Ambi safety at time of order, or order one from Wilson and put it in yourself after purchase.
FINALLY . . . a comment worth reading. THANK YOU.
Great article.
i bought one.
Ambi safety for sure.
I’m not a pimp nor rollin in the dough but hey i got one.
Some people like mopeds, some people like Ferraris. Almost everyone can afford something in between. Buy what you can afford or do something smart and, wait for it, SAVE for what you really are going to use.
Bunch of loud mouth know-it-alls talking about the most irrelevant stuff here. AND, i’m pretty sure none of them or close to none of them have even shot one. BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!!
This gun will last.
It snacks on every bullet like its a just that, a snack.
It has patents. Multiple patents. WC partnered with the best players in the industry.
What a stupid investment i made. Think i can get a refund?
i shoot it 3 times a week.
i’ll shoot it till i can’t shoot it anymore.
Then i’ll give it to my son.
And, whats really crazy, that if along the way i run into some trouble with that ridiculous-over-priced-yuppylove-hunk of gun and it gives me any lip . . . i’ll just send it back to the undeniable pool of talent that made that baby @ WILSON COMBAT and they will fix it. But i know i will never have to. I’ll end up ordering parts and eventually a new barrel.
Did i say i like the article?
LOL, LOL, LOL.
Lotta people green with envy out there. Or maybe sour grapes. No one is forcing anyone to buy one of these (unlike health care insurance). And last I heard Wilson is already back ordered for months and months. I am unlikely to purchase one of these fine pistols, just as I am unlikely to purchase a Sig P210. But in both cases I sure want to. The Wilson is exactly what I want in a carry gun. If I could just figure out how to pay for it….
I’d buy one and still might. It’s a chunk of change but I could swing it.
“It’ll get taken if you have a DGU incident “.
If I happen to have to use it defensively and it saves my life, I’d give it up happily.
Very, very cool. I’m still holding out for the Hudson H9 as I loathe manual safeties on carry pieces. But, this looks like a mechanical novelty (1911ish w/no grip safety) and a fine range arm. It’s a shame that the amateur financial consultants always come out to offer their services when you review guns that cost over $300. What pettiness of spirit!
Good review, great gun.
If you like accurate (like actually accurate not “combat accurate”) autopistols then you’re going to pay. This kind of precision costs money.
Personally I’m not carrying a $3k gun when my G19 is fine, because I hate the idea of my 3k gun living in the police evidence locker, but that’s just me.
But really it gets old that every time an expensive gun is reviewed people have to act like the manufacturers are con-men or the buyers idiots.
Achmed. Bravo. You expressed what I wanted to say! I ordered an EDC X9 earlier this month, and have now begun to sell firearms that I no longer shoot to pay for it. When you’ve been accumulating guns for well over two decades, you tend to have unused safe queens. I’ll gladly give them up to get a piece of this quality. As for the Browning Hi-Power analogies we’ve seen in this string, I paid the exact same price for a Nighthawk Custom Hi-Power which is a production Browning H-P upgraded to Nighthawk specs, but with the Browning barrel and mostly Browning parts, albeit with some nice additions. As a Distinguished Pistol Shot, it doesn’t satisfy me in terms of precision. My two Wilsons satisfy. I’m boiling down my accumulation of firearms to just guns I want to shoot every week by selling off those I haven’t shot in a year or more. I know I’ll shoot this puppy a lot!
It’s an amazing gun. I was fortunate to shoot several magazines thru one at my local range. I was able to to shoot it as a a side-by-side comparison next to my Wilson Compact Carry (9mm Commander) and my Wilsonized Commander in .45.
It’s amazingly accurate, and fantastically comfortable in the hand. If I had the cash on had, I would have pre-ordered one.
There is no way Bill or Ryan Wilson will let a product that is less than 100% reliable out of their shop. I am more than willing to pay a premium for that combination of accuracy and reliability. That’s why I carry my Wilson every day. If I’m alive after a DGU, I am confident I will have other issues to worry about than my pistol being in the evidence room.
Dear Sir:
Several friends and relations take pleasure calling me a jerk for my participation in the “gun” community. All it takes is for one of them to see something negative for me to hear about it from them all!
Please do not trust your spell checker alone! Read your stuff over. Do the usual editing things we learn. What the heck is a hu m m anyhow?
I love my Wilson 1911s – including my 9mm CQB Elite – but I just can’t get excited about this pistola. No wonder they quit offering the Wilson Beretta 92 Compact…
They quit offering the compact Beretta because Beretta couldn’t deliver them reliably.
Love my full size 1911s for their accuracy, reliability, safety, etc. I am very interested in the new EDC X9, but have one concern – the lack of a grip safety. Is there any info on the increased risk of an accidental discharge once the thumb safety is disengaged?
btw, this price is not my issue – while a rock or stick might be easier on the pocketbook, I can shoot better than I can throw (over 15 yards, especially!)
I am a “gear guy”. Do my homework before buying anything and always compare function and quality with price. I bike, shoot, fish (and like quality knives too). If I train hard I can be towards the front of the pack with a $1,000 bike and can beat guys who don’t train as much on $3,000 bikes. Less time to train, a better quality $3,000 bike with better components that is lighter and runs better, I.e more reliably, helps me be closer to the front of the pack and maybe get past guys who trained about the same, but who have a heavier bike. Elite racers who practice a lot can get more out of a $3,000 bike than I can. If competing with another elite racer they want the $3,000 bike over their competitor on a $1,000 bike because small differences can determine the outcome when the competition is close.
You can race just fine without a $3,000 bike. Train consistently with the reliable bike you have and you can beat most everybody. If you train at least hard enough to get the most out of better equipment, then it is probably worth the extra expense to get better equipment.
Someone who does not have the talent or training to ever win a race, might still do somewhat better with better equipment (not a substitute for training). If they have the means to afford a race bike good for them. I’ll continue training hard and wave to them from the podium with my $1,000 bike.
Once I win or possibly am lucky enough to have a sponsor, maybe investing in a race bike could make more sense for me (being different than other’s in the race) because my talents and training are at the end of the day unique.
It is the carpenter, not the hammer. Always has been, always will be. BTW, $3k is impossibly cheap for a bike of any quality. You are still pretty low end at that price point. You will spend >3x that amount for a top of the line road bike with electronic shifting and a decent set of wheels.
Read a review about this pistol over in Lucky Gunner Lounge this morning. With regard to price, Chris Baker quotes John Johnson from Ballistic Radio: “Why does somebody need a $2900 pistol? You don’t. Period. You really don’t need much more than a… Ruger P89. That’ll work fine most of the time. It launches the same bullets. If we were only going on need, we’d all be driving around in Kias. $10,000 Kias that are not fun to drive, are not comfortable to drive, but they get us from point A to point B. So when people start talking about, ‘Well I could buy five Glocks for the cost of this.’ Well, yeah, the guy who buys the Corvette could buy seven Kias. He’s not going to drive the other six at the same time and it’s not going to perform the same way the Corvette does. So if it makes you happy and you can afford it, then do it. If you can’t afford it, or it doesn’t make you happy, then don’t do it. It’s really that easy.” This is about as well as anyone can put it. (Even if it fails to address those of us, ahem, who may buy it even if we can’t really afford it.)
Kia bashing is no longer appropriate. Sure, they have dirt-cheap entry level cars, but so do many of the other auto makers. A Kia Elantra isn’t going to be much different in price or performance than a Chevy Cruze. And comparing a barebones Elantra to a Corvette is absurd.
I had a Kia Sorento for six years. It was an amazing car. Much better than my wife’s Nissan Pathfinder, which cost $7,000 more. Now, it wasn’t as good as the Audi SQ5 I bought after some texting dingbat plowed into the back of me and destroyed my Sorento. But the Audi new (I bought mine slightly used) was $30,000 more than the Kia. I could make a strong argument that the Sorento is a better car for the price difference. Not a performance-tuned SUV with a twin-turbo V6, but it handled great, had ample power, good option packages, good ergonomics, and definitely better utility.
Of course, I won’t deny that it can be fun to open up that twin turbo on a windy road from time to time. So it really is a “to each his own” thing.
I’m more than a little sure you completely missed the point.
Nah, I get the point. I just didn’t like the context. And the author’s point of comparison was badly outdated. He clearly hasn’t driven a Kia since the 90’s. Just as many firearms manufacturers have made significant strides in the last 20 years, the same is true for automobiles. There is no longer a reason to sacrifice form and function to save money in either space, but you can still option up to suit your taste and budget.
I’m Tired of busting my as* in life to make a little money…… to have have someone say a nicer “anything” is not worth it. (SQ5, Ed Brown, JP Enterprise, Sebenza, etc)
….. work harder?
Hell, it’s $800.00 cheaper than my last Wilson, damn right I’ll get one!!! (Former SEAL)
Alot of bitching on here lol. Some whining about price Its just like a trailor is good for some people to live in. Hey its a home! But others like more. I like guns. Ill spend more. Bc i fn love them,if your complaining about price. Go buy your glock and be happy. If not. Get a better job or work more hours savd and get something youll treasure forever lol
Personally, I prefer to shoot handguns whose accuracy is better than my shooting skills. My Kimbers all meet this benchmark. My Colts do not. I own nothing better than a Kimber because it’s better than me. This Wilson sounds like it will give me the quality I demand in a a high capacity 9mm so I may get one. If you can’t afford the price tag, why comment. I drive a Jeep and don’t comment about high end automobiles because I cannot afford them. I suggest to the skinflints dissing this handgun because of its cost to do the same and keep your opinions to yourself because you are not a player in this tier of weaponry and those of us who are don’t care about cries of poor mouth.
Well, I received mine yesterday after a 4 1/2 month wait; and find it to be a great carry pistol.
The inane bitching and absurd comments by those who can’t afford one are of no interest to those of us who can.
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