sell me on a cheap handgun.

I think the BERSA HC9's and HC40's generally run around $380 to $420 depending on where you look. Worth checking out in my opinion.
 
For the price, I was most impressed by the Canik TP9SA in your price-point. I never did get to shoot it, but dry-fire and fondling at the LGS I was quite impressed.

I saw Walther PPQ M1 for sale around $479 recently. CZ P09 and P07 in the mid 400s.

Research the Walther Creed as well. New model. Budget priced.
 
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The commercial Russian Makarov in .380 is known as a high quality gun and possibly one of the most reliable semi-autos ever produced. $280.

Pardon me, reread it and found the 9mm (Luger) requirement.
 
Yeah, CDI Sales on GB has great buys. They are ex military or police pistols that were generally carried a lot and rarely fired. They have quite a few different offerings in 9mm ranging from the mid $200's and on up. This includes some nice-looking Smith & Wessons. I have bought several pistols from them and have been very pleased.
 
Nobody mentioned a "High-Point"? Cheap? Yes! Ugly? Yes! Reliable? Yes! They are heavy, but they're like a Timex watch...Takes a 'lickin and keeps on tickin. Last time I checked they were in the $200 ballpark.
 
Nobody mentioned a "High-Point"?
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Nobody but the OP!
I would prefer service sized handguns with at least a 4 inch slide. gun's I've considered and decided against include the S&W sigma lines, FMK 9C1, EAA Witness and SAR, and pretty much all taurus's, Hi Points, and Keltecs.
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Also mentenioned no Taurus, and wanted a service sized, 4" barrel (slide), not compact, or pocket pistols.

A question for the OP before I make a suggestion. Why not EAA, or SAR?
CZ75 design, or country of origin?
 
If protection of my butt is my reason for buying a pistol I certainly wouldn't be looking in the cheap section of my local dealers offerings. Proven reliability, size and ease of my being able to shoot and hit the target would be major concerns not a cheap price.
For those not interested in defense and who shoot only a few rounds each year, almost any cheap priced pistol would fill the need. My firearms consume thousands of rounds each yeartherefore I am a lot more demanding than what most cheap weapons will offer.
 
The Taurus PT111-G2 has to be the best value out there, $249 ish.....the only people who dislike it are the people who never had one.
Also, the Canik TP9SF, another great value at $312
 
Ibmikey

If protection of my butt is my reason for buying a pistol I certainly wouldn't be looking in the cheap section of my local dealers offerings. Proven reliability, size and ease of my being able to shoot and hit the target would be major concerns not a cheap price.
For those not interested in defense and who shoot only a few rounds each year, almost any cheap priced pistol would fill the need. My firearms consume thousands of rounds each yeartherefore I am a lot more demanding than what most cheap weapons will offer.
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Valid point, but not the end-all. There are 2 versions of "cheap"; cheaply made, and inexpensive. There's nothing wrong with a lot of inexpensive firearms, they just don't command the price the premium gun brands do.

Proven reliability- surplus Eastern Bloc guns have this, basically by definition. Anything chambered in 9 Makarov will go bang, over and over again, and they're generally quite accurate. As for size regarding these, most are large and solidly built enough that shooting them accurately and easily is simple, while the P64 is smaller, small enough to be a mouse gun.

A way to look for "inexpensive" new guns, is to first identify the expensive ones. Popular, known names will command a higher price- Sig, Beretta, HK, CZ etc. Look at these for design and function, as they often will have the main designs; firearms tend to copycat features.
Secondly, identify the "cheap - I don't want garbage" brands; a a sure tipoff is an American-made gun that isn't prominent. Jimenez, Cobra, Jennings, guns like that, totally cross them off your list. Hi-Point is a rare example of "functional junk", most owners say they are reliable, but are ashamed of them; they're the epitome of a "cheap gun".

Some guns are inexpensive because they haven't gained a foothold in the US, but are well-made and have proven reliable elsewhere.

Zastava makes fine pistols over in Serbia, whether it's the modern Tokarevs (a proven single-stack design) or the EZ series, which aren't as nicely finished as Sigs, but are functionally probably just as good. I have a CZ99, it didn't cost me much, it has a chrome-lined barrel, feeds anything, has good sights and quickly puts bullets on target. It's biggest drawback is the finish on the frame is fragile, so it isn't very pretty; and since it doesn't have a big foothold here in the states, parts might be an issue down the road. It is still being produced, though, and it's such a robust gun that I don't think it will soon break down. Were it not for the geopolitics surrounding Serbia, I think Zastava would be considered a premium brand here.

Turkey is another country to look at. They're making firearms for military usage, intended for NATO forces. They've only recently started marketing into the civilian US market, and the prices are low, but these guns ARE proven designs, by and large; just not here.
 
Slickguns.com is showing the HK VP9 for $449 right now through Palmetto State Armory.

That's a great deal
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It might be a great deal but it is neither cheap or inexpensive compared to many of the other choices. Of my 14 firearms, I only have one that cost more than that (but it also includes tax and other fees).
 
Don't overlook the Makarov PM.

You can get a Bulgarian PM for under $300 in like-new condition these days. You won't find a more reliable battle pistol.
 
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