Which gun should I buy?

G

Guyon

New member
It's my first post on The Firing Line, and I'm sure you see a lot of posts like this one all the time. I apologize if I'm asking questions that have been asked hundreds of times before.

Still, I'm looking for ideas and opinions on my next handgun purchase. I only have one handgun presently--a S&W .357 that I keep at home for defense.

I want to get a semi-auto to keep in my vehicle and occasionally carry as a ccw. Caliber is not really a big deal, but I imagine I'll look at .40 or 9mm. I would like something that can hold a sizable number of rounds, so I'm not interested in compacts. Here's the catch, however. Top end that the budget can hold (now or any forseeable time in the future) is right at $400.

Would people mind giving me opinions as to the better models I might choose? I'd certainly appreciate any advice from others who handle and study handguns more often than I do.

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Guyon
NRA Member

[This message has been edited by Guyon (edited July 28, 2000).]
 
First of all, Welcome to TFL, here you will find answers to many(if not all) of your gun related questions, and maybe answer some for others. Ok, you either want a 9mm or a .40, thats a good place to start, and I have two guns in mind. A Glock 17 can be had used, sometimes new if you are lucky, for about $400. Also a USED S&W 9mm or .40 would be great. Smith pistols are great guns, and its a shame that they cant be gotten new(1. for political reasons, and 2. they stopped making them because of political reasons)These guns will serve you for years to come. Have fun, good shooting, and happy hunting.
 
Guyon; You might look into the Ruger line of pistols. They're probably THE best value on the market today. High quality at reasonable prices. I had a couple of P-95's. Real nice pistols. And if your're so inclined you can still get hi-cap mags for them. For around $400.00 you can get Taurus or Witness pistols also but I'd rather have a Ruger in your price range. Good Luck, J. Parker
 
Don't apologize. TFL'ers just love to respond to these posts. :)

In a new DA/SA, based on your $ stipulation, you can't go wrong with the Rugers. They are Heck-for-stout, reliable, and easy to maintain(as pistols go). If you like single action, the Hi-Power clones by FEG are a great value too. They should run about $200-$235 new, depending on your area. They are blue, and require more care though. In a DAO, I am quite pleased with with my CZ100. In .40 caliber, it was only $335(+tax) at a show. It's available in 9mm too; but, stuck with 10rds I felt that it was the obvious choice. I'm not sure on the street price of new Taurus', or CZ75s, but both merit your perusal.

You MAY be able to find a used Glock on your budget, but you will have to look long and hard. OTOH, you should be able find any number of USED( :)) Smith and Wessons in that range. It will be harder to find one in .40 though. You can find many lower-priced import pistols of sometimes spotty quality. Such brands as LLama, Bersa, Star etc. Many are just fine, and have proved themselves well.(No flames, please.) But, I feel that there is increased risk of you obtaining a lemon vs. a more established brand name.

Give some consideration to the 9mm. It's cheaper, and easier recoiling. Both of which add up to more frequent practice and familiarity with your choice. This is especially important if your spouse may dependent on this same gun. The .40 can be intimidating for new pistol shooters. Good luck hunting.

[This message has been edited by VictorLouis (edited July 28, 2000).]
 
Buy my Sig 2340 in .40, or my Kahr K9 nickle. I'm selling both and they have been barely used. Don't like DA/SA triggers and the Kahr was for my girlfriend, but she has gone to a revolver :)
Gary
 
First off, don't worry about your price range. There are a few VERY good pistols to be had for $400 and under. Don't allow anyone to guilt you into spending more, you don't have to.

The others have already mentioned my two picks: The CZ 75B and the Ruger P95. Both are very reliable and durable. And both have relatively inexpensive hicap mags. You should be able to get either of these guns brand new with at least one hicap mag for $400.

The only problem with these two guns is their large size. They aren't the easiest guns to CCW. Most of the nice CCW autos are over your $400 price.

I agree with VictorLouis and I advise you to stick with 9mm if this is your first semi-auto. Less recoil, less expensive, and more availability. But that is just MY opinion, and many others will disagree ;).
 
Guyon:

You would probably want to think about the trigger. Do you want to stay DAO? DA/SA with an auto is different from the revolver. Then you want to shoot. Try what you are thinking of purchasing. I like the Glock and P7M8 trigger. The P7M8 and the Kahr (FBI) are great carry guns, but the Kahr is DAO and the P7M8 is unique, but a great design. You must squeeze the grip and then it shoots much like a single action with a slight take-up. The problem is the expense. The Kahr is very small and thin. The DAO is much like the revolver. I think that the best approach is to try and shoot different guns.
 
I can't argue w/ the other recommendations, but here's another vote for CZ. I bought the 9mm polymer-coated 75B Military model last week (my first 9mm if you can believe it), have fired 350 rds. without a problem of any kind and the accuracy is amazing. The store was asking $359, took a little less, and it came with one 10rd. and one 15rd. magazine. I called CZ in Kansas City and the 15rd. mags. are available for $45. www.cz-usa.com/home.html Happy shopping. John
 
Welcome Guyon to the TFL board.
As I am a BIG fan of the Eastern European pistols, I also would have to cast my vote for any of the CZ family. The Makarov is my every day choice but it doesn't meet your criteria for caliber or capacity.

Frenchy

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Donnez-moi la liberté, ou donnez-moi la mort!
 
Hi Guyon.

If you are proficient with and enjoy shooting your .357mag; why not get another for the car? Police tradeins seem to run in the 225 to 275 range for a variety of S+W .357s. From 19s to 686s. Wonderful flexibility in ammo, if handloading they are cheap to shoot and therefore easier to become even more proficient.

Sam, my favorite 9mm is the 9X32R
 
Under $400, autoloader.

My first choice would be a CZ-75B, without hesitation. Should run you in the $330-350 range, possibly a little less. They make a compact version as well, but I am not sure about the cost of it. Expect to pay 10% more for a compact as a rule of thumb, but that would still bring you in under $400.

The Ruger P95 would be next on my list. Bottom line with those guns is that you just can't kill 'em. They shoot and shoot and shoot. The drawback is they are sort of bulky, though not nearly so much as the P89's they replaced.

If you had gotten this up yesterday, I would have still had my little Sig P239 in 9mm that I could have sold you along with 4 magazines and two holsters. Alas, it is sold to another man, and I will be turning those proceeds into a Glock 19. I would encourage you to take a look around to see if you can find one of those (G19) gently used. If you find someone who is willing to part with one in that gently used condition, take him up on it. You won't be sorry.

If you cotton to the 1911 model, Charles Daly makes a serviceable .45 ACP in the $360 range. Several of my friends bought them solely on the cost, and they have been far from disappointed. The recoil of a .45 ACP is less than that of a .40 S&W in my experience, so that ought not be a factor. And you can get 8-round mags for them, too. Yes, it's not 10, but it IS a .45 ACP!

There are several other possibilities out there as well. Makarov's are nice weapons. Kel-Tec's are good, too. Don't laugh. A friend of mine (guy who I shoot IDPA with) bought one of the little P-32's and was making head shots on a silhouette target beyond 15 yards. Not feet, YARDS. Mak's and Kel-Tec's are going to be in the low $200 range. Good value for the money, in my opinion.

But what do I know? I only work part-time in a gun shop! :D

(Yes, I know that doesn't mean I know anything more than the rest of you. ;))
 
Welcome to TFL.
Many good guns for 400 or under.Glocks G 19 used -Astra A-75 or A-100 are all good.CZ's and others.The big thing is find one that fits you.You are the one that shoots it and must be comfortable with it.Glock doesn't fit me but it still is a good gun.Check shops for used and if you can shoot as many different guns as possible.
Good Luck to you

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Age and deceit will overcome youth and speed.
I'm old and deceitful.
 
Welcome to TFL!

If I was you, I would buy a "pocket rocket" while I still could. ;-)
 
Welcome. I would opt for a used Glock 23 or 19. They are easy to learn to use and reliable. I agree the east European items are nice, and a used 1911 may be possible to find, especially with a surface blemish that does not affect function.
 
If my ceiling was $400, it would be a CZ75B in 9mm or .40 without hesitation. I got one in 9mm a year ago and it is probably the best gun for the money I own. Only disappointment was that the trigger wasn't the quality of a SIG, but few out-of-the-box handguns today are. I paid $300 for a new CZ75B with one 10rd and one 15rd mag a year ago. I saw some last week for about $350.
 
I agree with everone elses posts. My personal choice would be a used Glock if you can find one that isn't to beat for under 400. However I have been eyeing the Taurus line lately. A new one can be had in my area for under 400 and they come with a darn good lifetime warrenty.

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Cold Steel & Warm Plastic
 
Thanks to everyone who posted suggestions for my gun choice. Today was a good day since I wound up buying a pistol. See this thread for details. [Link to invalid post]


[This message has been edited by Guyon (edited July 29, 2000).]
 
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