reccomend some sub $400 guns

G

GUNSNGOLD

New member
im taking a friend out gun shopping this week and his budget is $400. he has no preferrance of revolver, semi, subcompact, full size, he is open to anything in any caliber. he will be a 1 gun person, he's not a gun nut, just wants something.

he has shot my sig p6, glock 19 & 23, sp101 in .357 and lc9, he has also shot his brother p226 and M&P 40C. he likes the lc9 and p6 the best out of all the guns he's shot.

im lloking for some reccomendations so i can show him a nice selection to choose from, im leaning toward 9mm for him because he already has a case of 9mm, well around 700 rounds left.
 
The question is, what does he want one for?

If he justs wants something for target shooting a .22 would be a great choice. The Ruger 22/45 is a favorite of mine.

In a 9mm the Ruger SR9c can be purchased NIB for $400. With a 17 rnd mag and grip extension it feels and shoots much like a full size, and with a 10 rnd mag can be easily concealed. It comes with both magazines and the extension. I love mine.
 
I picked up a real nice S&W model 10 heavy barrel revolver, with target hammer and trigger, for around 300 a few months ago. Used, but clean and smooth.

Also got an FN (Browning) Hi Power, again used, for around 400, if capacity and 9mm are motivating factors.

On the other hand, a good .22 can be had for less than 400, and you can shoot all day for ten bucks. All depends on what his needs are.
 
looking through buds i see a sig p250, anyone have one of those? it looks like its DAO, he shot my lc9 and was able to controll that trigger so he should have little trouble with any other dao
 
Ruger P95 is very reliable 9mm pistol. Reasonably accurate and eats pretty much anything, and just over 300 (325 at buds, similar price at my LGS).
 
Can't go wrong with a Keltec P11 or the slightly thinner PF9. I personally prefer my P11 for all around use, including being my CCW.
 
he's not a gun nut, just wants something.
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Sub-$400, I'd be looking at Ruger P95. The last of the Ruger P series guns still in production, it's a screaming deal ($299-$321 at Bud's). The P series guns are probably the safest gun out there, in terms of accidental handling mishaps. And they tend not to break.

he wants one for potential chaoes ensued by economic collaps.
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Now, to do it right, he's going to need to get extra magazines, a decent holster, a decent belt to hold it up, a buttload of ammo, and take a class that'll teach him how to use it right. All of which is going to blow his $400 budget completely away. Doesn't all have to be done at once.
 
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For $398 he could get a SR9 at Buds. SR9 = 17 rounds of 9mm in a full size semi auto. it's not my favorite pistol but Its not had any function issues either, I just dont like the trigger on it and the mag release is not my favorite either. But for a general purpose semi auto under $400 new, its a good handgun and he'll probably not find anything better.
 
Ok... $400.00 and some paitence you can get whet you need. First off with that budget, quality will come in a used package. For longevity, and reliablilty I'd go with a major manufacture. Not that the majors dont have klinkers... You are just much less likely to run into one.

Glock
Browning
Smith & Wesson
Colt *
Sig
H&K*
Ruger
And probably one or two others I didnt think about.

* Some firearms from these manufactures in my opinion may not be easily repared in difficult times.

Then there's caliber.

.38
.357
9mm
.45acp
.22lr

The ammo in these calibers is readily available.

Okay... soooo with a $400. budget Just to have something for the coming difficulties... I'd browse gun shops, and pawn shopps for the deal that would fit my budget. As another poster mentioned a .12ga shotgun is a must. I agree. There may be times when a shotgun will be out of place, or you and significant other may be split up. So a second gun is in order. A handgun. Keeping within the budget your going to have to own some patience. As with the above handguns the shotgun will probably have to b used as well. Again I'd stick with a few well known brands.

Remington
Mossberg
Ithica
Stevens/Savage

These guns are the work horses of the breed. None are finicky nor ammo sensitive in my experience.

Keep in mind that used is just that... someone else owned it before. Safe queens are a premium, and will cost more. While a old war horse thats looks as though it's been through the wars can be had rather inexpensively. OK so back to choices.

As I say I'd haunt gun shops, and pawn shops until I find this deal... That police/security trade in Model 10 and that older ugly Rem.870 on the rack... both for $400. You may have to kick in a tad more, but not much.

I know it can be done. I did it last week. a 1990's I believe model 10-10 H/B for $210. and a well worn Remington 870 18" for $200. The model 10 looks like heck. But the sction is smooth, timing is perfect, and it locks up nice n tight. The 870 while the stock is a bit bleached, and has a patch of rust on the reciever, and much of the blue is gone. It works smoothly, and chambers and fires every time.
 
Here's my list in order of:

S&W SD 9mm (awesome reliability, finish, durability, and night sight standard)
EAA Witness
Sig 2022 ($350 at Palmetto State Armory now)
Ruger P95

All are guns I've owned or shot a lot and I haven't had failures in any of them. IMO, the SD is the star of the lot and you can find them on the internet for under $350 with shipping. Plus, they're backed by S&W customer service and the M&P holsters work with it.

The EAA and Ruger's are built like tanks (I own the EAA) and they're both good utilitarian guns. The Sig is proven and has been adopted by lots of European military/police agencies and has proven its' durability over there even though they're considered a new model here.
 
With one gun in this scenario he may want to consider a pump shotgun and a case of 00 buck
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Now put that in your coat pocket and go to the store.:D

Like others have alluded to, the Ruger P-series are good choices, not the lightest or most compact, but they are built like brick outhouses.
 
Ruger P95 with a Hogue Universal Hand-All sleeve for the grip. Well built; reliable; model has a reputation for feeding, firing and ejecting; and not bad in the accuracy department. IMO, it is not a tack driver; but he is not using this for bullseye competitions.
 
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