Ya, all things being equal I would have preferred a compact CZ or CZ clone (not a huge Glock fan, I like manual safeties), but $$$ is tight (house projects for the most part) so I scrounged together what I could of my own "fun money". I'm also thinking at the price I got it for I could easily trade up in the future for very little loss in value if any at all.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Budget 9mm CCW, which one?
- Thread starter BigBL87
- Start date
BigBL
Didn´t bother going through all the threads.
For $200 your looking at HI-Point - Jimenez - Cobras and whatever is on the used market, above that it´s your Double Action jobs Kel Tec - SCCY - Diamond Back - Taurus.
www.impactguns.com will give you an idea whats out there. Start with Handguns
Caliber
check...Price low to high.
Didn´t bother going through all the threads.
For $200 your looking at HI-Point - Jimenez - Cobras and whatever is on the used market, above that it´s your Double Action jobs Kel Tec - SCCY - Diamond Back - Taurus.
www.impactguns.com will give you an idea whats out there. Start with Handguns
Caliber
check...Price low to high.
Shadi Khalil
New member
I would hustle and save my way to a Ruger LC9 at the very least. For not much more you can have a S&W shield, probably one of the most highly regarded single stack 9mm's on the market and for good reason.
Didn´t bother going through all the threads.
For $200 your looking at HI-Point - Jimenez - Cobras and whatever is on the used market, above that it´s your Double Action jobs Kel Tec - SCCY - Diamond Back - Taurus.
www.impactguns.com will give you an idea whats out there. Start with Handguns
Caliber
check...Price low to high.
Well, as my purchase illustrates, you aren't limited to crap (Jimenez, Cobra) or bulky/cheap (Hi Point) when you're on a budget if you're willing to shop for the right deal. In addition to the PT111 that I bought, I could also have gotten a PT709, Zastava M88A/M70A, or Keltec P11 for right at $200 (prior to transfer fee, to be fair). Given none of those are high end, great brand name guns, but having a less expensive gun is better than just having my hands.
lee n. field
New member
Thread's getting a bit old, but I'll chime in.
Yes, it certainly does. Do note that you'll need to spend on a decent holster as well.
The Tok clone might be interesting.
I've never been very interested in the Taurus autos, but Hickock45 just reviewed the G2 version of this. He likes it.
The B6P --CZ75 clone.
I have big hands too, but I do manage to carry and shoot a Kel Tec PF9. Which is about the only other thing (along with Kel Tec's P11 and Sccy's low end clone of it) I can think of in that price range.
How big is that? You having that would steer me to recommending the compact version, due to familiarity and the fact that you'd already have compatible magazines.
Or, carry the full size gun. It's do-able. Put the money into a decent IWB holster and good belt.
Hey. Tonica! I know where that's at. One of the towns we used to go through on our way down old US51, making our way to Champaign (before they built 39).
(If you were a bit closer I might offer to trade you something on the full size SAR.)
I'd like to pick up a 9mm for when I eventually get my CCW license. My budget is in the $200ish range, which obviously limits my selection greatly.
Yes, it certainly does. Do note that you'll need to spend on a decent holster as well.
Taurus PT111 ($199)
Zastava M88a ($207)
EAA SAR B6P Compact ($240)
The Tok clone might be interesting.
I've never been very interested in the Taurus autos, but Hickock45 just reviewed the G2 version of this. He likes it.
The B6P --CZ75 clone.
One additional thing to consider is I have above average sizes hands, so subcompact are pretty much impossible for me.
I have big hands too, but I do manage to carry and shoot a Kel Tec PF9. Which is about the only other thing (along with Kel Tec's P11 and Sccy's low end clone of it) I can think of in that price range.
I already own and like the full sized B6P.
How big is that? You having that would steer me to recommending the compact version, due to familiarity and the fact that you'd already have compatible magazines.
Or, carry the full size gun. It's do-able. Put the money into a decent IWB holster and good belt.
Location: Tonica, IL
Hey. Tonica! I know where that's at. One of the towns we used to go through on our way down old US51, making our way to Champaign (before they built 39).
(If you were a bit closer I might offer to trade you something on the full size SAR.)
B6P is about the size of a CZ75. And I used to go to Champaign often. My sister in law went to U of I and my sister is a dean at a high school in the area. I just moved to Tonica a few years ago. I really like the SAR B6P, but if I got an interesting enough offer I might think of trading it.
Grumpy_Bottom
New member
Picked up a Taurus PTIII G2 today as well...for $212.93 out the door it seems like a very good buy to me.
Wow, where did you find that deal?
A number of places are running around that right now. I got mine from Kentucky Gun Company.
www.slickguns.com/category/hand-guns?sort=price&dir=asc&caliber=1&mobile=true
www.slickguns.com/category/hand-guns?sort=price&dir=asc&caliber=1&mobile=true
Took the PT111 and the B6P out shooting with my father in law this afternoon. I am very inexperienced with shooting handguns, but once I got used to the trigger on the PT111 I had no trouble keeping everything inside the 8 ring of a B27 target from 10 yards, which is very good for me at this point. Definitely "combat accurate" in my hands. My father in law, who is much more experienced, really enjoyed shooting it and is planning on buying himself one for his birthday. I was slightly more accurate with the B6P, which isn't surprising.
We also shot my AR15 and zeroed the scope on it, that was a BLAST. My father-in-law said my mother-in-law is going to ticked now because he wants a PT111 and an AR15, haha. It was alot of fun, this is the first Father's Day weekend since my dad passed away (I'm 28, he was only 58) so it was nice to spend an afternoon shooting with the closest person I have to a father now.
FWIW, only malfunction of the day was with the B6P, and it was the ammo not the gun. Seemed to be a bad primer, tried restriking it several times in both guns, got nothing.
We also shot my AR15 and zeroed the scope on it, that was a BLAST. My father-in-law said my mother-in-law is going to ticked now because he wants a PT111 and an AR15, haha. It was alot of fun, this is the first Father's Day weekend since my dad passed away (I'm 28, he was only 58) so it was nice to spend an afternoon shooting with the closest person I have to a father now.
FWIW, only malfunction of the day was with the B6P, and it was the ammo not the gun. Seemed to be a bad primer, tried restriking it several times in both guns, got nothing.
The latest issue of "Guns and Ammo" had a article of the best carry 9mm pistols. Three men shot 8000 rds in 3 days and the Winner was the Taurus PT 709 slim. More then 1000 rounds fired without a hiccup. At less than $300 it beat out all others , including Walther PPS, Kahr, SIG, Glock, and S&W shield. There are bargains out there and the PT709 is one of them. With a life-time warranty it is one I would consider.
Here's a P64 Polish Makarov for $239 cash price from Bud's;
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/mobile/product/2549/cia_hg3279v_p64_9mm_makarov
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/mobile/product/2549/cia_hg3279v_p64_9mm_makarov
Will Beararms
New member
The OP specified a carry weapon. Save your money. Find a shop that does 180 day or 12 month layaways and get yourself and Smith and Wesson Shield 9mm. Deprive yourself now of instant gratification and get a good, reliable, serviceable firearm Shield 9's sell for $369.00 everywhere. Many shops will let you keep a lay away longer than stated terms if you pay on it monthly. Put that $200.00'down and stay with the monthly payments. You'll thank me later. Do it now. When the market tightens, the lay aways stop for a while.
I keep a lay away going at all times. As soon as I get one out, I start another one. In this era, good guns always appreciate.
I keep a lay away going at all times. As soon as I get one out, I start another one. In this era, good guns always appreciate.
Will Beararms
New member
Always buy a firearm that's in good enough condition to be sold quickly. The $700 starter AR's of today will be worth $2,000 after the next round of liberal politicians control Washington. The $500 Smith and Wesson M&P's will be $650.00 Smith and Wesson M&P's. A well made firearm holds its value better than a dollar over the long haul.
Big Hands
I know the OP already decided what he wanted and made the buy, but I wanted to comment on his original statement that he had above average sized hands so could not consider a subcompact.
For any other CCW newbe with big hands that might be reading this thread trying to decide on a carry gun, I urge you not to so quickly write off all the smaller ones. I, too, have large hands. Large enough that most XL sized gloves (work, motorcycle or hunting types) are significantly too small for me. But I have no problem at all comfortably shooting my Taurus 740 Slim and several other subcompact carry weapons. Each design is different, and not all are comfortable to everyone, but you will not know if any particular gun is a viable option for you if you do not at least try to hold it first.
I know the OP already decided what he wanted and made the buy, but I wanted to comment on his original statement that he had above average sized hands so could not consider a subcompact.
For any other CCW newbe with big hands that might be reading this thread trying to decide on a carry gun, I urge you not to so quickly write off all the smaller ones. I, too, have large hands. Large enough that most XL sized gloves (work, motorcycle or hunting types) are significantly too small for me. But I have no problem at all comfortably shooting my Taurus 740 Slim and several other subcompact carry weapons. Each design is different, and not all are comfortable to everyone, but you will not know if any particular gun is a viable option for you if you do not at least try to hold it first.
Grumpy_Bottom
New member
so I took the plunge and picked up one of the $199 pt111 from Palmetto, first range trip today and was pleasantly surprised. 100 rounds of umc flawlessly. not exactly wowed by the trigger, but it'll get the job done. I mostly shoot sa 1911and hi power, with a 92 fs for good measure, so I decided to start off with the 629 6" to get back in the long trigger pull feel. while the .44 made things easier, the taurus was still something that will take some serious getting used to, but for the money, I was impressed.
Last edited:
Got a B6P compact not too long ago. Utterly reliable 13+1. It takes full size CZ Mecgar magazines. I carry 2 17 rounders for backup. An Ace Case 14.99 shipped IWB leather holster from Ebay is good enough to wear all day long and literally forget it's there. You don't always need to pay a lot to get something very nice and dependable.
subcompact 9mm
Give sccy cpx 2 a try, dao trigger similar to most revolvers. inexpensive, 10rd. mags, no safety ,Made in USA and if you ever have the misfortune of having to use it you won't be out big bucks, cause it will be gone. Also great warranty service lifetime any owner as well as free replacement if stolen with police report. Go to a dealer and try one. Did notice a difference in trigger pull from the cpx1 with safety compared to cpx2 without safety. Go on youtube and check some of the torture tests, most high dollar guns couldn't pass.
Give sccy cpx 2 a try, dao trigger similar to most revolvers. inexpensive, 10rd. mags, no safety ,Made in USA and if you ever have the misfortune of having to use it you won't be out big bucks, cause it will be gone. Also great warranty service lifetime any owner as well as free replacement if stolen with police report. Go to a dealer and try one. Did notice a difference in trigger pull from the cpx1 with safety compared to cpx2 without safety. Go on youtube and check some of the torture tests, most high dollar guns couldn't pass.
Last edited: