[Smoke]

I have a nephew due to graduate high school soon, his 18th birthday will be within a few days of graduation also.

He is a remarkable kid, Eagle Scout, President of the church Youth Program for the state. Has a full ride football scholarship. DOesn't get into as much trouble as his Uncle did (or his Dad either for that matter)

I'd like to get him a centerfire pistol for graduation. Due to my budget constraints I need to keep it cheap. I've looked at CZ, Charles Daly, Llama. What else should I be looking at?

I'd prefer an auto loader but not mandatory.

Thanks

[Jim Watson]

Why a centerfire?
Does he have experience shooting handguns?
If not, get him a .22; Ruger Mk II or Browning Buckmark.
I learned bad habits with a 9mm at that age that I took years to work out of.

If you just must, the CZ 75 is the best in the price range.

[Smoke]

Yes he does have expereince with handguns. He already has a .22 Single Six. His Dad has several centerfire guns which he has use of, and he has shot almost every gun I own. He even has had some training at Powderhorn Ranch in CO.

He is deadly in the dove fields is a very respectable rifle shot and is one of the more instinctive pistol shooters I have ever seen.

He just doesn't have one "of his own".

[HSMITH]

The CZ75 is the best pistol on the market for less than $500 IMO. Hi cap mags are readily available and cheap too.

Open it up to a used revolver and you might be able to find a real heirloom for this boys future kids like a M25 45LC or M29 44Mag Smith. A good 357 would be a darn nice gift too, a 6" GP 100 can be had NEW for $300 plus tax and transfer fees.

[firestar]

If the boy was me, I would like something accurate and powerful but also cheap to shoot. I'm thinking 9mm for sure. A used Browning Hi Power or Beretta 92 would be a better gift in the long run than a new cheaper pistol. A used Ruger would only be $200 or so and they are tough. How much do you like this kid?

[firestar]

Hey, get him an FEG Hi Power clone. I would like one of those if I were him. They are nice.

[LWCmdr45]

Well, being a college student, he'll be poor for the next few years (and beyond, if he's taken out any loans!). He won't be able to keep a gun on campus and, since he's too young for a CHL, won't be able to store it in his car, either. How about a 6" barreled .357 revolver? Cheap to shoot with .38's, easy to reload if he has the equipment available, and can be used for some hunting. I frequently see excellent condition used Ruger Security Sixes and S&W K-frames for quite reasonable prices. Or, maybe a Blackhawk if he favors sticking with the single-action design of his Single-Six. Have you thought about taking him to one of those gun store/shooting ranges that has rental guns and seeing what *he* likes?

You're lucky to have a receptive nephew. I brought a NIB gun from my own collection to give to my oldest nephew for his college graduation gift a few years ago; it was to be his first gun. Because his mom is, ahem, not pro-gun, I took him aside in private to show him his present. He was less than enthused. Seeing this, I sucked it up and said, "You can have this gun or $300 cash, what I paid for it." "Oh, thanks, I'd rather have the cash, Uncle Steve." The gun was then worth $800!

Steve

[CWL]

CZ are an excellent pistol.

Also Ruger SS .357 magnum or any of their pistoline is dependable.

Stay away from Llama or a Charles Daley -you don't want his first experience to be sour in case these pistols break down.

[dairycreek]

I have several and they have all proven highly reliable with excellent accuracy. The price is generally reasonable too. Good shooting:)

[Rebeldon]

How 'bout a good ole Marlin 336?

[BamBam]

If he's a greenhorn: Ruger MKII
Otherwise, I like the CZ and .357 ideas.

I will add that my EAA Witness has been a great pistol. A clone of the CZ but less expensive. A 9mm in WonderFinish can be had for $300.

PS: You can give ammo for birthdays, Christmas, etc!

[notbubba]

Bersa / Firestorm makes some darn good pistols for a good price.
CZ's are good.
Charles Daly and Llama are more of a gamble. You may get a good one, but you may not.

[10-Ring]

From what I've read here & from my own experiences, I'd go w/ the CZ 75. The other option that came to mind is the Springfield XD 9.

[cratz2]

I agree letter for letter with Jim Watson... First suggestion would be a Ruger MKII or 22/45 with a heavy barrel. Good guns, cheap ammo, learn the basics and you always should have a handgun in 22lr.

If you must go centerfire, I'd suggest a CZ75 in 9mm. Next to nothing recoil, reliable, accurate, decent trigger than can be tuned up to be excellent. About the cheapest centerfire ammo available.

Other choice would be a Makarov for a smaller gun. He could carry it if/when legal, usually 100% reliable with good ammo and a decent manstopper. And if you look around, you might be able to get him a 22/45 AND a Mak for the price of a new CZ75.

[Kahr carrier]

A Springfield 1911 Milspec they can be bought in the lower $400.

[Brian Williams]

I say a nice 3 or 4" K frame, or a FM Argentina BHP clone
K frame about $250 to 300 used.
FM about $350 400

[Bullet Bob]

Nothing is better for a newbie than a 4-6" .357; I'm partial to S&W L or K-frames for newcomers.

[TRIDENT]

Springfield Mil-Spec or CZ 75

[Penman]

The CZ would be a nice choice-a high quality, reliable piece. If you can get one at a good price, it might be nice to have a little engraving done-perhaps the date you gave it to him, both of your initials, etc.

[Graystar]

Springfield Mil-Spec is a very safe buy. Great, gun, nice shooting.

[Glock_PhD]

Whatever you end up choosing make sure that it is something that has cheap ammo. As a college student money may be real tight and sometimes priorities dictate that other things will come first and he won't practice.

[Peetmoss]

Seeing you said he has expierance with hanguns if he hunts a used 357 or if he isn't interested in hunting a used 9mm. 9mm ammo is real cheap 11 bucks for 100 rounds at the local wally world.

[otomik]

stay away from polymer, it's his first handgun and gift so he'll probably have it for a long time. something with a classic look would be preferred.

So i think you want something all metal, 9mm with a .22 conversion kit available.

FEG Hi-Power Clone
just as good as the real thing except many report that the trigger isn't as good, for it's 250 price that might be acceptable. Ciener has a Hi-Power .22 conversion kit they're working on and haven't released yet.

Star Model B / Model B Super
A 1911-pattern 9mm, at 40oz the recoil is light so he won't develop bad habits and the 9mm will be cheap. price is around 200.

Springfield Milspec, Taurus .357 and CZ-75 would also be solid choices.

[sanchezero]

www.CDNNinvestments.com

These guys have great deals on a wide variety of stuff. The guns aren't listed on their site, but a phone number is.

They have FM hipowers for $270 bucks plus all the hicaps you can eat for $20.

I also have to agree with the Sprinfield Milspec gun. Just recently got one and am making some changes to it, but its a great piece. Plenty accurate and so far, unjammable :) .

[4thHorseman]

Buying a gun for someone is called a "Straw purchase." It's illegal. Also to own a pistol or revolver before age 21 is against federal law.
I can see your intensions are honorable.:)

[Rebeldon]

I your budget restrains you, here's the best bang for your buck...

http://www.gibbsrifle.com/images/quest2.gif

Gibbs Rifle Co. Quest II Extreme Carbine, 308 Win w/ 10 round detachable magazine. M.S.R.P. $279.95

http://www.gibbsrifle.com/sport.html

I personally wouldn't buy a handgun for someone under 21. I'm not sure that it is legal.

You can buy a firearms for someone as a gift. It's not a straw purchase. A staw purchase is when someone who is prohibited by law from purchasing their own firearm gets someone else who is not prohibited by law from purchasing a firearm to purchase a firearm for them. In your case, the initiation is on your part. You are the actual purchaser of the firearm. You are purchasing it for your nephew as a gift. As long as your newphew is not prohibited by law from purchasing a firearm (when he is 18 it's okay in most states), you are okay. You cannot knowingly transfer a firearm to somebody you know is probited by law from purchasing a firearm. If you want to cover your tail, fill out a hand written transfer of ownership (sort of like a bill of sale, but minus the $$), saying something like...

I, Smoke :D (DL# 0987654321, TX), hereby transfer the following firearm, blah blah model blah blah (SN 1234567) to my newphew, Smokey Bear (DL# 1234567890, TX), on Marchuary :rolleyes: 24, 2003 , as a gift for his eighteenth birthday.

Just make sure he lives in Texas, or you'll have to transfer it through a dealer.

I just bought a CZ 452 Scout youth rifle (.22LR) for my son's eigth birthday. Do I go to jail? Technically, he cannot "own" it (I do), but it is his.