Want a new handgun. Advice please.

N

ndaholic

Inactive
I just received some college graduation money, around $600. I am thinking of buying a new hand gun. This will be used for target shooting mainly. I would love a Les Baer, but I can't afford it. I don't like Glocks. So, what is my next best choice? I already have a Sig P239. I was thinking about a H&K maybe. I am thinking of beginning to shoot competitively, so accuracy is important. Thanks guys.
 
Is this new gun going to be just a play gun or will you also carry?? Look at maybe CZ and Witness line . With the witness you have much more freedom to change calibers easily for 200 bucks or less and you do get a great gun for the money and with the witness match no high dollar 1911 based gun will out shoot it. With that 600 bucks you can buy a witness match and 100 bucks worth of ammo if you take some time to shop. You can also get a 22 kit for cheap practice along with changeing between 9mm 38super/9x23mm, 40s&w, 45acp and 10mm.
 
Go to a gun store and start handling some guns. Look at the guns and ask to hold and handle them. See what fits your hand and what feels comfortable. Look at both revolvers and semi automatics. People here will tell you which are the good brands. S&W, Glock, XD, Walther - HK that you yourself mentioned are all good brands plus plenty more. If you go to a gun shop, most of their guns OUGHT to be high quality - but at gun shows, avoid brands like Jennings, Jiminez and Raven. But get the gun that fits YOU. Everyone has their favorite gun and people here will tell you what you should buy based on their own experiences. Shop around and handle some guns - then when you narrow the choice down, try to rent one and shoot it if the store has a shooting range. Get the gun that will be YOUR favorite.
 
Look for a good used 1911 / since that seems to really be what you want - why compromise ....or maybe save another $ 600 .... so you have $ 1,200 and buy what you want.
 
Smith and Wesson M&P series. Great value for the money, 17+1 capacity in 9mm, great shooter. For competition, look at the Pro series version.

Comes in 9, .40, .357, and .45.

Mine has been extremely reliable, and an all around great gun.
 
CZs are top of the line nines. Definitely more bang for the buck! Definitely look at either the P07 or 75B. Another good choice along the same line might be a Baby Eagle / Jericho 941, an excellent Israeli-made CZ derivative, which you can frequently find used for under 600. You could also check out the FNP series of pistols, which also fit within your budget - they cost upwards 450 - 600-ish at most.

HK makes great guns, but they probably won't fit in your budget.
 
Competition? Not sure what that would be for you, so it would be hard to suggest one. Maybe you can find out what others use in those matches, and see if any of those work for you.
 
Be sure to check out the EAA Witness Match. I recently bought one and it has been a delight to shoot. It is a single action, all steel pistol and is beautifully made and amazingly accurate. It is manufactured by Tanfoglio in their custom shop in Italy. Best of all is the price. You can find these for $500 or less depending where you shop. Before this I had a CZ 75 B and a Taurus 24/7 and the EAA is better than either one.
 
What kind of competition are you intending to get into? That makes a bit of a difference as to what gun would be most useful. What caliber are you looking at? You have to ask yourself lots of questions first, then narrow it down. Once you have a general idea of what type and caliber firearm you require, you can go to a bunch of gunshops and see what fits your hand (and budget). There are a lot of good deals on-line in classified sections on forums like this.


Good luck,

DS
 
i have a hk uspc.40 and i love it, it is the best handgun i have ever owned and i got it used in MINT condition for $540, now i do a lot of business at this gun shop,but if you shop around you will find a good deal on one
 
Those CZs look great. I am narrowing it down to a CZ or a H&K. Which model in these would you guys recomend? Not sure if I want a .9 or a .40.
 
CZ: The CZ75B is a great gun, along with the new P07 and both are well within your price range. They can double as a great plinking gun or for full-sized carry. Both feature cocked and locked operation, along with a DA/SA operation. P07 is polymer and the 75B is steel, if that makes any difference. The P07 is obviously lighter of course.

HK: You'll have to do some serious searching to find a good used HK under 600, but check out the USP series or a P2000 or perhaps a P30. All are difficult to find under 600, but I see more used USPs under 600 more than the others.

All three feature a lightning-fast mag release by the trigger guard. However, only the USP and USP compact models can be carried cocked and locked, if you prefer that mode of operation, and neither the P2000 nor the P30 feature external thumb safeties. The P30 and P2000 are more ergonomic than the USP though. Only the P30 has a standard Picatinny rail though and the USP and P2000 both have proprietary HK rails unfortunately. You CAN get an adapter, but it's just more money down the chute. All 3 are tack-drivers and amazingly reliable.

If you are buying the gun for range time primarily, you can't go wrong with a nine. It's cheaper and you get more range time in the long run. Plus, it can double as a carry/home defense weapon in a pinch.

You really can't go wrong with any of the choices above...
 
Add me to the CZ bunch that have already spoken up. I don't know of a better bang for the buck, these things just plain shoot. And you can pick up a new pistol and maybe an extra mag or 2 with your budget.

And just to add some fuel to the fire, as the budget allows you can convert a
.40 S&W model 75B to .22 with the Kadet Kit, and to 9mm with a conversion barrel from Frank at EFK Fire Dragon in Mesa, AZ.
 
Wow just got back from a friends house and he has a new S&W M&P. I loved the way it felt in my hand and it had a smooth action. I didn't shoot it, but I could tell it was a nice weapon.
 
Lots of people here will be quick to tell you what gun you ought to buy because THEY like them. Buy the gun that YOU like.
 
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