If you had to choose of of these name your top 5

S

shoop66

New member
Ok I'm young and I'm getting my first gun. I have the Shooting Times Guide 2009 and I picked out 19 top guns. They all have to be low caliber (.22LR, .17HMR, .32 ACP, .380, .38 Special, 9mm, etc.) and I can't make a lot of money, all the money I get is mowing lawns, shovel snow and $20/week allowance. I'm going to try and keep it under $350. To be honest, I'm not too big of a fan of .22LR. Everybody says to start with a .22, and now that I know how to shoot a gun and all the basics, I want a little bigger gun that can do more than punch half inch holes in tin cans. It's not like ammo prices would be much of a problem, becuase I go shooting less than once a month. My dad will not let me get anything like a .45 or .454 Casull. I couldn't afford $1/bullet ammo anyways. I prefer semiautos, but I grew up on my dad's single action .22 Colt revolver, and to be honest, I hate having to deal with single actions, and all this half cock and that you have to take out every shell manually. Anyway, here's a little list I came up with. (PLEASE do not reccomend Ruger Mark III's to me, I tried one at Gander Mountain, and it practically takes 3 hands to release the slide. I can't reach to the slide release with my thumb. I prefer the kind of slide release that 1911's have. I also didn't like how you sort of had to angle the magazine to fit it in the gun.) Please make a top 5 list of which ones you think would suit me best. I used GunBroker to get the used prices.
1.CZ 83 .32 or .380
$475 new $250-$350 used
2.EAA Witness 9mm or .38 Super
$475 new $300-$350 used
3.Kel-Tec PF9 9mm [One of my favorites]
$330 new $230-$290 used
4.Magnum Research Baby Eagle 9mm
$550 new $250-$350 used
5.Ruger SR9 9mm
$530 new $350 used
6.Ruger P95 9mm
$450 new $300-$350 used
7. Sig Sauer Mosquito .22LR [One of my favorites]
$350 new $250-$330 used
8.Smith & Wesson Sigma 9mm
$450 new $275-$350 used
9.Stoeger Cougar 8000 9mm
$450 new $375 used
10.Taurus PT92 9mm
$530 new $375-$430 used
11.Taurus Millenium .32, .380, or 9mm
$400 new $300-$350 used
12.Walther P22 .22LR [One of my favorites]
$330 new $220-$300 used
13.Walther PPK .32 or .380 [One of my favorites]
$575 new $250-450 used
14. EAA Windicator 4" .38 Special
$280 new $225 used
15.Rossi model 851 .38 Special
$350 new [Unknown Used Value]
16.Smith & Wesson model 10 .38 Special
$675 new $300-$400 used
17.Taurus model 82 .38 Special
$290 new $290 used
18.Taurus model 94 5" .22LR [This one looked the best, but that's me]
$375 new $270-$330 used
19. Taurus Tracker .17HMR, .22LR, or .22WMR [One of my favorites]
$450 new $300-$400 used

Well, I had a few personal favorites but I'm not sure. If you guys ahve any personal knowledge about any of my favorite ones, do tell!
Ciao,
Tom
 
i have a couple ppk/s pistols, like tham alot, and owned a witness once that was a great pistol with a few surface finish problems, some others like smith revolvers ive always been happy with....but out of that list the stoeger cougar is the one i would most like to see if i like. so i cant recommend it, but i think it might fit with the others i mentioned that i do like.

edit...if that ppk is a smith and wesson, im not particularily interested, imported german used would be my choice.
 
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I would go with 9mm in a new or used Ruger, S&W, or any other major brand. Revolvers in 38SPL are good if you like them.
 
You should be able to get guns like the SR9 for much less than the list price, like $430 instead of 530 new.

My top five suggestions to you based on your criteria:

- Kel tec PF9 - lots of recoil but lots of power and CCW, semi-auto.

- Ruger SR9 - full size 9mm, high capacity, semi-auto.

- Taurus 94 - 22lr, you liked it the best, revolver, easy to learn on.

- Sig Sauer Mosquito .22LR - if you like it, maybe that will cause you to practice and learn with it more.

- 38 special small frame revolver - Rossi, Taurus, used S&W or Ruger - most prefer the used better brands instead of news in the questionable brands.

Let us know if you have other questions. Good luck in your search.
 
DWARREN123: Thanks, but most revolvers are .38 Special and I can't get .357's and .44's.
hasbro_fan: I'm not old enough to carry yet.

Guys, tell me the the Taurus 94 isn't the sexiest .22LR revolver of all time.


Makes me drool thinking of popping of like 10 rounds at a time. Haha what if I had a speedloader ;)
Now THIS is the sexiest revolver of all time

or this
 
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I'll give my opinions on the ones I've actually shot.
3.Kel-Tec PF9 9mm [One of my favorites]
$330 new $230-$290 used
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Good gun. A lot of recoil, but easily concealable and a lot of firepower in a small package. This is my secondary carry piece.

7. Sig Sauer Mosquito .22LR [One of my favorites]
$350 new $250-$330 used
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GREAT .22 semi. Accurate, reliable, and just plain fun to shoot. If you get it, only use hi-vel ammo like CCI Velocitor or Mini-Mags. Follow the manual and oil it once every 500 rounds.

11.Taurus Millenium .32, .380, or 9mm
$400 new $300-$350 used
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My wife has a Mil-Pro in .380. Loves it! Accurate, reliable. If it's used, verify it's the 3rd generation.

13.Walther PPK .32 or .380 [One of my favorites]
$575 new $250-450 used
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Get the Bersa Thunder .380. Same gun, under $300 new. Accurate, reliable, fun to shoot.

16.Smith & Wesson model 10 .38 Special
$675 new $300-$400 used
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S&W wrote the book with this one. Excellent gun!!! Price seems a little high.
18.Taurus model 94 5" .22LR [This one looked the best, but that's me]
$375 new $270-$330 used
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We have one. I'm a BIG Taurus fan, but I DO NOT like this one. The trigger pull is EXTREMELY heavy, and ours had to have the forcing cone filed down to prevent interference with the front of the cylinder.

I hope this helps. If you name specific gun, I'll try to give you more details on it from my experience.
 
Hey Gerald, can you tell me your thoughts on the Walther P22? I'm sad to hear that the Taurus 94 sucks. You're probably been the most helpful so far. I'm out of your list of 5, which is your personal favorite? What do you think of the Taurus Tracker?
 
shoop, I don't have any experience with the Tracker or the Walther.

For a specific personal favorite, you need to tell me what use you want it for. Self defense? Range plinking? What?

Any of those I mentioned, except the Mosquito, would be good PD Carry weapons. Of those, I'd pick the Keltec PF-9. It's not the most comfortable to shoot on that list, but it carries the most firepower of the lot in an easily concealable package. The recoil IS a little stiff, but easily handled with practice (and maybe a grip extension). After that, I'd pick the Model 10 in a snubbie version. The .380 is at my personal bottom limit for carry ammo and I'd choose something else if at all possible. That being said, anything is better than nothing and the Bersa is a light, easily carried semi. The Mil-Pro just doesn't fit my hand, but my wife loves hers.

For range plinking, the Bersa, Mosquito, and Mil-Pro can't be beaten.
 
1. Smith and Wesson Sigma- You should be able to find one new in 9mm or .40 for around $300

2. Taurus PT 92 9mm

Those are the only two of those listed that I own and have experience with. Besides that from what I've read and heard:

3. CZ

4. Walther

5. Ruger

All would be great guns. #1 was my first new gun. For the price you can't really beat it. Go with whatever you can afford + cost of ammo and accessories you want and whatever feels right in your hands. Nothing wrong with a good .22, but if I had the choice I would go to at least a .380
 
1.Smith Model 10 4 inch blued-I own one-super easy to shoot-just a classic gun.-bought it used $200 I think 10 years ago.

2.Ruger P95 9mm-sweet shooting accurate and reliable 9mm-kind of reminds me of a big 1970 Chevrolet car- big,clunky but fires up every time and will get you there when you need it too.-bought the Ruger this year at a gun store used for $225.

3,Taurus Model 82-I have'nt owned a Model 82 but I have owned three Model 85's and have been happy with all of them functionwise.

I own a Model 85 Ultralight now that is a great handgun.

4.Stoeger Couger 9mm-I saw a used one of these in the actual Beretta pistol configuration for $300 that was in brand new shape for $300.

Stoeger is actually owned by Beretta now so a Stoeger is in effect a Beretta without the name recognition.

This gun in either form is said to be highly accurate and very easy recoiling.

There has been some problems with the unique barrel lugs breaking but I believe that was more on the 40 SW models.

5.KelTec PF-9-this gun is working it's way into my small collection as we speak.

But it is not a gun to buy as a target gun or weekend shooting enjoyment gun.

You won't see good groups at more than 10 yards with this gun unless you are a great shot and have done some work on this little KelTec.

The PF-9 is a no nonsense,concealed or very small,open carry 9mm designed to be affordable to those that need a carry gun to protect themselves with.

It's effective,accurate range is at combat ranges usually no more than 10 yards or less.

And it has a healthy amount of recoil too.

Not really a gun for a beginner.

5.extra-Taurus Model 94 22 LR-this is a great gun to start with.

I know that 22 LR gets really boring but you need to start small and work your way up.

Just be aware that when you buy this gun you might want to either get a gunsmith to take off the sideplate and clean out the lockwork and lube it or do that yourself.

Some 94's have some really strong double action trigger pulls.

But those that get good ones or make them that way love them.

My last hint is to find a local gun store that has a used gun case and go there weekly.

You never know if exactly the gun you want will show up at more than half the price you would buy it new.
 
First of all, where in IL are you? Drop me a PM if you're close to Chicago.

Second, believe me when I tell you that you will have a lot more fun shooting five times as much 22LR when compared to 9mm, the next cheapest ammo.

Third, avoid 380 if you're on a budget and don't reload. It costs more than 9mm and has less power.

My top five would be these, and in this order:

  • Sig Sauer Mosquito - Buy good ammo such as CCI MiniMag or Winchester Super-X.
  • S&W Model 10. You should be able to find a nice used one for around $250.
  • Taurus PT92 - better than the typical Taurus.
  • Ruger P95
  • Ruger SR9

One that is conspicuously absent is the Browning Buckmark. I'd pick one of those over the Mosquito. More reliable and mor accurate.

It is a shame you can't handle a Mk. III. They are fine pistols.
 
One thing to consider:

50 rounds of quality 22 ammo costs around $3.

50 rounds of quality 9mm or 38 Special costs around $16.

You can go to the range with a 22 and shoot 100 rounds for $16. Or you can go and shoot 50 rounds of 9mm or 38 Special for $26. Believe me, 22 is more fun if you don't have a lot of dough.

The best advice I ever took was starting with a 22, my Ruger Mk. II.

Good luck.
 
In no particular order.

Magnum Research Baby Eagle 9mm $550 new $250-$350 used
Ruger P95 9mm $450 new $300-$350 used
Stoeger Cougar 8000 9mm $450 new $375 used
Walther PPK .380 $575 new $250-450 used
Smith & Wesson model 10 .38 Special $675 new $300-$400 used

If I were in your situation I'd probably pick a used Ruger P95 (I'd look for one under $300--they're out there) or a used S&W Model 10 from your list and spend any other money on ammunition.
 
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From top:

Walther PP 7.62mm (.32acp)

Walther PPK/S 9mm kurz (.380acp)

Taurus PT92 AFS

Smith and Wesson SW40F Sigma

Taurus M85SSUL (.38spl ultralite)

Ruger P97 (.45acp verson of the P95. I also have the P95, but no pic)
 
4.Magnum Research Baby Eagle 9mm
8.Smith & Wesson Sigma 9mm
16.Smith & Wesson model 10 .38 Special
14. EAA Windicator 4" .38 Special
3.Kel-Tec PF9 9mm

These would be my choices. The only one of these I actually have any experience with is the baby eagle my brother owns one and I absolutely love it.
 
  1. Walther PPK .32 or .380
  2. .Smith & Wesson model 10 .38 Special
    $675 new $300-$400 used

Sorry I couldn't see any other ones on your list that I liked, but thats why they make all kinds. I don't really like the Model 10 that much either, I would rather have an S&W Model 15 or 19, but thats just me.:)

You would probably be better off getting a .22 LR so you could do a lot more shooting, but get the one you like the best or you won't be happy.
 
Of those choices...

...my top three would be in ascending order.

3rd place- Taurus PT92 (The only Taurus I can ever recommend with a clean conscience)

2nd place- Ruger SR9 (A nice versatile and well made 9mm)

WINNER- Walther PPK (one of my all time favorites and a true time proven classic)
 
Shoop66

First you may want to use the search function here and look up the different handguns that you are considering. Many people here have already discussed many of the guns that are on your list.

I will echo Smaug on the rethinking .22lr. You are on a budget, and ammo prices are a big consideration for most of us. I have some ammo on my selves for the different calibers that I shoot, yet find myself enjoying my .22s in pistol and rifle more often than the others. (This even before the last few years of ammo prices rising.)

The price, where I live to shoot 1,000 rounds of .22lr is about $37.50. That will buy 1 box of 50 rounds for my 10mm, with a little change left over. That is approximately 20 times more expensive per shot. So say that you end up with a 9mm, relatively inexpensive for center fire ammo. O.K. maybe 10 times more expensive; ball park estimate, don't have any 9mm handguns at present so don't really know the prices. That same 1,000 rounds of 9mm will run you maybe $375.00. Something to consider. And you can get a semi-auto in .22lr, thus avoiding the single action revolver dislike factor. I know that I like to shoot, and to do that one needs to be able to afford to buy ammo.

One of the most important considerations, in my opinion, is to find a gun that fits your hand well. One that points "naturally". You are far more likely to enjoy shooting if you are not feeling that you are "fighting it every time that you pick it up" to get a good grip and aim. While I could tell you what I like in your list, your hands may not agree with mine.

If you can, go to a gun shop and try some of them out for fit. Also, go to a gun range and talk to the folks there. Remember that you have to like the gun, other's may have found the "pluses and minuses" but in the end you have to like it.

Good Luck!
 
I own a Model 85 Ultralight now that is a great handgun.
Click to expand...
I don't know about the 82, but I'll second what B.N. Real said about the 85UL. I have one of these little gems and I LOVE shooting AND carrying it. I installed lightweight Wolff springs and the trigger/hammer pull was cut about in half from stock. It's fun to shoot. With oversize aftermarket grips, I have no problem handling the recoil even from hot +p loads, which is what I carry for PD work.
 
From your choices I would go with:
7, 18 or 19 in 22LR.

There are other 22LR semi autos out there, here are a few SA's from GunBroker that are nice also:



http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=116930366

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=117408264

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=117415263

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=117389254

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=117328696

I have a Ruger 22/45, Ruger single 6, Colt Scout, S&W K17 and a S&W 422 all are good guns. Stick with a gun you are going to shoot and will not break the bank feeding. To Me that = 22LR. My 1st centerfire gun was a Ruger Blackhawk 357 mag. From that gun I started Reloading and casting bullets. That was 32 years ago and now I reload and cast for all my guns. If my wife could go back in time I am sure she would yank that old Ruger out of my little hand:)
 
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