Different way to look at it (CCW)

S

Steelers252006

New member
Okay, I've asked a lot of opinions, and this gun show is coming up next week, and I plan on making my purchase soon. I found a used LCR yesterday, but something in my gut tells me to wait. It was a bit chipped on the outside of the muzzle, and the cylinder release was loose. Otherwise, it may very well be a great gun, but I'm a little reserved for some reason.

So let's do this. It can be semi, revolver, whatever. I am looking at my FIRST and probalby not only CCW first for now anyways. If we had to break it up this way, what would be the best revolver or semi or both, your choice, QUALITY-WISE, meaning best bang (no pun intended) for the buck, in these three categories:

Low Price Range-200-400
Mid Price Range-400-600
High Price Range-600-1000
Absolute Dream Gun-(Money not a factor)

Remember, CCW only.
 
It's tough to answer... because if I simply stick to "best buy in this price range", I'm not necessarily taking in to account how well it will work for YOU in any given role. If you are buying specifically for concealed carry, then it's even tougher. Don't know how big you are, how you dress, what you can handle, etc etc etc.

I'll list a few, but these are only drops in the bucket, really.
Low range $200-$400
Ruger P-95 may be the best ultra-cheap buy on the market. Around $325 or less brand new in the box and anywhere from $225-$275 on the used market. Durable as they come, plenty accurate for defense (but not a target gun) and cheap to feed (9mm) and will not give feed or function failures. Hi-cap and extra magazines are easy to get.

Also, the S&W Sigma fits in here nicely. High quality, even though the trigger is not at all enjoyable (except for Sigma apologists who are convinced that it's fine...:rolleyes:)

$400-$600
Can't look past a Glock because of the reliability, the backing of Glock and the simple fact that parts, accessories and especially holsters are easy to find and get, probably more than anything else in existence.

S&W M&P for all the same reasons... parts are a bit tougher but everything else matches up with Glock and they are more comfortable and ergo-friendly than most Glock pistols.

XD would come behind those two simply because of aftermarket and holster support isn't quite as good. Reliability, shootability, quality and backing of the manufacturer are just as good as the two above.

Any price range above that... I won't bother to comment on. Your first gun? Can't see spending over $600 on a gun from advice from a gun forum if it's your first ever handgun purchase.

What you won't see me plugging here is any pocket guns or sub-calibers. I won't ever recommend a 3-inch 1911 or any of the pocket 9's, either. I will not recommend a .380 to anyone who doesn't already have an obvious aversion to recoil. I will never recommend a .32, .25, .22 Mag or .22LR to anyone for carry, either. Subcompact 9mm on the size of a Glock 26 is about as small as I would ever recommend for anyone's first concealed handgun.

IMO, if you start with something BIGGER and learn to carry and conceal it, anything you move to next will be easier. But don't fall in to the trap of carrying something smaller and weaker simply because it's "easier" to carry.

Some folks feel perfectly fine with a pocket .380 as their primary. In my opinion, that's out of the question. Works for them... that's fine. I'm genuinely happy that they CHOOSE to carry a handgun and that they are armed, but for me and my needs and the people that I care about, it's 9mm or larger at the minimum.
 
Agreed, at least 9mm on up for me, too. This is my first CCW gun, have two others. I know there's nothing perfect. I've handled quite a few, and I could name more than one that feels GREAT in my hands. There are some I'm undereducated about and want to learn about. I know very little about the CZs, where to buy, etc. I know very little about the Walthers. And the Sigs I'm looking at a little. I take it these are the "higher end" ones price-wise and quality-wise with everything else falling behind?
 
Meh, you can expect and ask and hope for higher quality as the price goes up, but I don't know that it's reality. Look at the price they get for H&K pistols. (modern, current production HK, not collectible P7's and the like) If you get a hardcore HK guy in the thread he will go to the grave defending his $900 tupperware handgun... but is it REALLY 30% to 40% better than a Glock or an M&P?

I don't think it's lower in quality, certainly... I would feel well armed with an HK USP or the like. But better so than with my G29? No. Not without some tangible evidence... and that's evidence I'm not likely to get. And the truth is, if there is something "better", am I going to be in the position to take advantage of whatever that is that is better?

Perhaps you need to visit a range that rents handguns or find someone with a bunch that will let you take some shots. Otherwise, I'd start looking for holsters and see what kind of holster you might want to try, and ensure that they make a model for whichever pistol you are considering, and make sure you can get that holster. Make sure you can find extra magazines at a price you can accept. Make sure you know where you can find parts to upgrade if you think you'll want to make changes.
 
Ok i'll bite

Low - Ruger LCP. Some don't care for .380. For these people I say LC9.

Med - I'd go with Ruger here again and say the P345

High - Sig P239 or P226 if you can hide it (I can).

Dream - Sig P226 X-five allround. Again, I can hide a 226.
 
So are the HZs like the BMWs of this class of gun? Or is it a "name" mostly. Are the differences that tangible to warrant another 4-500 bucks?
 
Low Price Range-200-400
Mid Price Range-400-600
High Price Range-600-1000
Absolute Dream Gun-(Money not a factor)
Click to expand...

Low range: Armscor M206 (.38 Special only, NOT .357 Magnum)

Mid range: Charter Arms 73520 (.357 Magnum)

High range: Colt 1991 Commander (.45 Auto)

Dream: Guncrafter Industries .50 GI with .45 Auto conversion option
 
Low - Ruger SR9C

Med - Glock 26

High - .357 S&W Snubbie (because there should be a wheelgun
in here someplace)

Unlimited - Ed Brown .45 with lots of extras!
 
Low Price Range-200-400
Mid Price Range-400-600
High Price Range-600-1000
Absolute Dream Gun-(Money not a factor)

Remember, CCW only.
Click to expand...

Low: Bersa Thunder, . . . .380 or 9mm, the .380 is an excellent value for your money, have heard the same about the 9mm, . . . have not owned one, . . . yet.

Mid: Rock Island or ATI tactical commander size 1911. Both are excellent guns for the money, . . . edge going to the ATI by a nose.

High: Springfield Commander size 1911 or if you like a smaller package, . . . Para Warthog.

Absolute Dream Gun: Anything that shoots a .45 and has Wilson's name on it.

May God bless,
Dwight
 
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