[Minator]

I went into my local range the other day to get my paperwork to start my CHL process and as they were going over the rules they mentioned which came as a surprise that you haft to qualify with an auto in a caliber no less than .380. Which I had just gone out and bought a Stainless ruger 4" GP-100
with a blanchi nylon holster and thought I was good to go.

After several months of practicing with it 3 times a week I still couldnt get a descent grouping nor get used to the akward grip angle. So after I was told that I needed to use an auto I went out and tried to trade it on a 9mm or sell it. After several weeks the best I could do was about $300 for it and the holster.

I know I can rent a gun and use it to qualify but I want to have a firearm im fully familiar with and have put plenty of practice in with it also the actual CCW peice itself :D . The recoil of even the 158gr rounds through the .357 werent causing my accuracy problems it was the way the sights were and the high grip angle so it wasnt an recoil sensitivity problem I just dont have the cash to get a descent 1911 right now.

So my question is in my longwinded fashion is, is there a 9mm around $300-$350 that you would personaly trust your life to. I dont really have any types that I dislike other than Kel-tec and taurus which the kel-tec was fixed in a timely manner and the taurus came back in 3 months.

[ugaarguy]

is there a 9mm around $300-$350 that you would personaly trust your life to.

New Ruger P-Series autos, used/police trade in S&W autos - no Sigmas. If you can go with 9x18 the Makarovs are always a great choice.

[Pax Jordana]

Kel-Tec P11 (mine was 280 after taxes)

Or buy a pair of Hi-Point C9 comp (http://www.mkssupply.com/handgun_details.asp?Gun=9mmCOMP)s.

Keep one in an IWB and the other one in your.. I dunno, shoe or something. They're too ugly to leave out but I hear they go bang every time.

[wally]

You can qualify with a revolver, but then you can only carry a revolver, if you qualify with an auto you can carry either. Its a quirk of the Texas CHL law.

EAA Witness are usually available for ~$350, Call CDNN, they might still have some of the discontinued EAA Witness compact polymers for $250. Pretty decent guns although extra mags are hard to find and pricey.

Another option would be the surplus Star MBs floating around for $150-$200 these are a nice 1911 like single stack 9mm.

If you can go up another $50-100 you can get Springfield XD9 or CZ75 compact or CZ RAMI options.

Good luck!
--wally.

PS there is no new or used gun I'd bet my life on out of the box -- too many even high dollar guns have issues.

[Minator]

New Ruger P-Series autos

Have they added internal safety locks yet?

[leadcounsel]

I own two CZ pistols that I would gladly choose to defend my life.

One is a CZ P01 which I bought in near new used condition from a private party for $300.

One is a CZ75B satin nickel bought in near new used condition for $350 from a private party.

They are rugged, solid, reliable, accurate and the more I read about them the more impressed I am.

Do you know that he 75B is the most used pistol by law enforcement, governments and military in the world!

It only suffers from lack of advertising in the USA, which isn't a concern for me at all!

[Pilot]

You can get close to that with a CZ-75B.

[ugaarguy]

Minator, as far as I can tell the Ruger autos are shipping with an external lock and do not have an internal one. Keep in mind that Academy Sports list the CZ-75B at $406 NIB. Though a little higher than your stated price range they're less bulky and easier to conceal than the Rugers.

[Shipwreck]

I have seen XDs forsale at gunshows as cheap as $385 new.

I would not recommend the Keltec 9mm - it i so light that it is not really enjoyable at the range.

Ruger comes to mind. Maybe CZ. I have seen Beretta 92FS pistols NEW for $409 at Houston gun shows (at several tables) - never see a price close to that at gun stores.

Spend a few $ more maybe and get a Glock...

[kentucky_smith]

www.budsgunshop.com


I'm thinking Taurus, CZ, Ruger, heck Beretta is close to your price range. A Keltec P11 will come in way under budget.

[Texfire]

Look for a good used gun. If you aren't going to carry it then full-sized will be easier to qual with. Police trade-in might be in the right price range, with some worn finish from holster wear, but not many rounds fired. I'd go to my local gun shop and look around, pick some up, see how they feel in your hand, and what's the best bargain.

In general you can't go wrong with Glock, Sig, CZ, Beretta, or one of the Hi Powers.

For a disposable new pistol you'll use to qualify then sell, you might look into a Hi Point.

Tex

[Minator]

For a disposable new pistol you'll use to qualify then sell, you might look into a Hi Point.

Im going to keep it for a while as my CCW peice and no offense if anyone likes them but id rather have a shapened stick then a hi-point. A few of my freinds went down that road as their first pistol and none of them had anything good to say about them nor did they have them after about 6 months.

[lycanthrope]

How about a reconditioned Glock from CDNN? Excellent value.

[bg226]

Ruger. Hands down.

[foob]

FNP 9mm?

[10-Ring]

A little patience & some homework should help you out. I'd think one of the many police trade ins would be a good place to start but there are deals out there...maybe a Ruger, S&W, Glock or Taurus might come your way
Good luck

[SouthpawShootr]

Pickings are slim in the price range you mention.

I would trust my life to a Sigma, but I would also specify that it must be an enhanced or "E" series, not one of the original guns. I got my Sigma 9VE not too long ago for right at $300 OTD.

Ruger P-series, as mentioned, are good choices as are used S&W 3rd gen autos.

I would add Arcus and the FM-95 Detective, both being quality guns.

I would mention that I got my first XD9 used (very lightly - you could have told me it was new and I would have believed it) for $325 OTD.

Oh, almost forgot. You may still run into one of the original Steyr M- or S- series guns in the price range you specify. These are phenomenal buys at that price.

[wdlsguy]

Another option would be the surplus Star MBs floating around for $150-$200 these are a nice 1911 like single stack 9mm.

+1 on the Star BM. Mine is very reliable. I used it for my Texas CHL renewal a few months ago.

[Snarlingiron]

Look for a good used gun. If you aren't going to carry it then full-sized will be easier to qual with.

The Texas qualification course of fire is such that you should be able to qualify with a Raven .25 worth every bit of $25.00. Heck, I know guys that could probably qualify with 50 rocks. If you can't qualify in Texas, then you truly have NO BUSINESS carrying a firearm.

I have seen the Taurus 24/7's selling for your price range on Gunbroker. I have heard good and bad things, so who knows??

[antsi]

Another vote for CZ. A good used one should be easily within your price range. A new one would be slightly over your budget.

Another one to consider if you are going to be carrying it is a Makarov. You could easily get a Makarov within your budget and still have $ to spare on ammo and a couple extra mags. They are plenty accurate for self defense and extremely reliable - the AK 47 of handguns. Being a single stack blowback design, they are quite small and concealable. You can get some Russian models in .380, but I like the 9mm Makarov caliber - it's a touch more powerful than .380

[cookekdjr]

Used Glock, XD, CZ. Good luck.

[Longbow]

Head down to your local Academy Sportmart. I was just there a couple hours ago and they sell bersa .380's for <$300. A good choice for CCW, IMO.
If your worried about the qualifier, I'll advice against getting a Keltec. The trigger pull is just too long and heavy.

[MCgunner]

Quote:
New Ruger P-Series autos


Have they added internal safety locks yet?

No internal locks on Rugers. I'd recommend a P series Ruger, rugged, reliable, accurate, and within your price range. The P95 is a nice sized little gun, too, for IWB in a Sparks Summer Special.

I have a P85 9mm and a P90 in .45ACP that I won't part with. I also have a Kel Tec, a fantastic little carry gun, but you need to be a good DA shooter and even then you need to get used to it. I fire a hundred rounds out of mine a session all the time, not a problem. It's a very accurate little gun, too. It's not hard to shoot, but it definitely takes some getting used to. But, you'll find it much smoother and lighter than your GP100's DA trigger, just LONG.

I'd suggest the P95 for qualifying. Buy some WWB 115grain ball ammo and check POI on it and you're good to go for the course and qualifying. I had a P95, but traded it off when I found a P85 a friend had for $200 that had two 15 round mags. I'd bought some aftermarket P85 mags for the P95 only to find they'd give a feed failure now and then, not the same mag, apparently. That's why I traded the P95 off. Now, I can get hicap mags for it...:banghead: This was during the mag ban years. For as picking between the two, the P95 is a little shorter and a little lighter, but I like the P85's aluminum frame that allows me to install the excellent Hogue grips. It isn't noticably bigger on the hip and shoots just as good as the P95, sorta just depends on if you want the plastic frame or not. I've got nothing against the P95's frame, but like the Hogue rather than the slip on I had for the P95.

The P89 has taken the P85's model designation, pretty much same gun with some minor safety mods concerning the decocking mechanism. I think the price on the P95 will be a little less.

And, yes, you can qualify with your revolver, but you'll only be allowed to carry a revolver if you do.

[TA_Raider]

Well, I have done my research and I bought a makarov. They are small, not terribly heavy but heavy enough to where it is not going to be a pain at the range to shoot, and concealable. They are very reliable. Another member on THR showed me this link, which I was quite impressed. http://www.glocktalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=294814


But I recomend a Russian ( which I have ) or a East German, NOT the Bulgarian. Both run between $200 and $300, depending on the place you purchase them at. I purchased mine at a gun show here in jacksonville, FL. I payed $230 for mine and the best $230 I have spent.

[Texfire]

For a disposable new pistol you'll use to qualify then sell, you might look into a Hi Point.

Im going to keep it for a while as my CCW peice and no offense if anyone likes them but id rather have a shapened stick then a hi-point. A few of my freinds went down that road as their first pistol and none of them had anything good to say about them nor did they have them after about 6 months.

Ah well in that case pass on it and look for a good used gun. I'll second the person who posted the FM M-95 Detective. It's a High Power made in Argentina with an abreviated slide. Easy to conceal but just as accurate as my FN High Power. Mind you I've replaced the sear and hammer with ones made by Cylinder and Slide, but I was one of those who suffered from High Power "bite". The incredible trigger I got out of that was welcome if unexpected.

Tex

[Texfire]

Look for a good used gun. If you aren't going to carry it then full-sized will be easier to qual with.

The Texas qualification course of fire is such that you should be able to qualify with a Raven .25 worth every bit of $25.00. Heck, I know guys that could probably qualify with 50 rocks. If you can't qualify in Texas, then you truly have NO BUSINESS carrying a firearm.

I agree that the qualification is easy for anyone who can shoot their weapon, but still think that shooting a reliable and accurate full-sized gun is warranted. Besides, a .25 wouldn't meet the mininum caliber specified. ;)

Tex

[Minator]

Anyone have any links to any reputable sites to order from that I can just have my ffl order from directly not like gunbroker. Ive called cdnn and their out of almost everything I asked about. I went looking today and found nothing even in the pawn shops.

Head down to your local Academy Sportmart
At academy they had glocks and springfeild xds and nothing in between, also every shop ive been to around here have said bersa's are pretty scarce same with maks which I dont know if they order from the same supplier or what or they actually are.

Also I went looking through my cdnn catalog and forgot to ask about the used glock add that said prices to low to to print anyone know what their selling the G19 or G17 for.

[TA_Raider]

Here is ones for the makarov:
http://64.82.96.51/pistols.htm
http://www.adamsguns.com/
http://www.czgrips.us/sale.htm


I don't know much about these sites, but these are places you can purchase them.

[RioShooter]

Texfire is correct. If a person can't pass the Texas qualification test they shouldn't be carrying a gun. If you haven't seen the target you'll be using, take a look at one. The bullseye area is huge. Don't worry about it.

[railroader]

http://www.summitgunbroker.com/793350.html Good prices on police trade ins. Mark

[Texfire]

Actually it was SnarlingIron who said if you can't qualify on the Texas CHL course then you don't need to be carrying, I was just agreeing with him that it isn't a difficult course of fire.

Of course no target is so close that you can't miss it if you try hard enough. For purpose of qualifying I suggest that you pick a semi-automatic that you are comfortable and accurate shooting with, which has at least ten round capability. Since the largest string of shots are ten, this will minimize the reloading necessary for the course of fire. A gun you are comfortable with will allow you to focus on following the instructions of the RO and shooting the course of fire as instructed, not on hitting the target or avoiding possible malfunctions.

There was a shooter who qualified in my class with a snub-nosed S&W, she qualified but had to work harder to do so, in addition to having to reload on the firing line.

Tex

[mrmeval]

Rearsenaled after use by the german police. Beautiful guns, the parkerizing is heavy and soaks up oil like a sponge.

Dan's has them.
http://www.dansammo.com/p38.asp
Gander Mountain has them, it's where I got mine. Mine came in at under 300. there.

Because they heavily parkerized the magazines you will have to work with them to make the magazine drop free. But it's an under the magazine catch so it's more difficult that a US style one.

[Jeff Timm]

Minotor,

Find a S&W major dealer. The price, locally on a new Sigma 9VE is $309 over the counter and $289 - $299 at a gun show last weekend here in FL. Just keep calling on a larger radius from your location until you find a large stocking dealer.

You might try Googling Gun dealers in TX and see what you get. Most of the large local dealers have at least a business card site. You may have to drive 150 miles, but, hey, that's Texas!

Geoff
Who spent 39 months there once at Ft. Hood, 1973-76. :D

[Texfire]

Even though I have a P1, I wouldn't suggest it for the expressed purpose. It's capacity is 8+1, so you run into the reload situation on a 10 shot string. A fine gun, but not for this specific situation.

Tex

[johnsonrlp]

CDNN

[modifiedbrowning]

Bersa Thunder 9. The compact is my current carry pistol.
www.bersafirearmsusa.com

[MCgunner]

Even though I have a P1, I wouldn't suggest it for the expressed purpose. It's capacity is 8+1, so you run into the reload situation on a 10 shot string. A fine gun, but not for this specific situation.

There's no reloading required in the Texas qualification, not tac or speed reload that is. You simply shoot the stage, can use one magazine and loose ammo.

I've often told folks that I thought Ronnie Milsap could qualify.

[StephenT]

When I took the TX CHL shooting test, I qualified with the instructor's Sig P-220, so ask if a weapon isn't already available for the test; if so, just come with a box of ammo. Later, you can buy the gun that you really want.

Otherwise, finding a 9mm for around $300 shouldn't be too hard at a TX gun show. There's a gun show at the Pasadena convention center today (if you live in the Houston area) where I saw the FEG Hi Power clone with wood grips selling for about $300. There's nothing wrong with the FEG, but I would save up for a nice CZ 75B.

[Longbow]

There's a gunshow in San Antonio (SAXET) this coming weekend too.

[orionengnr]

I've often told folks that I thought Ronnie Milsap could qualify.
:uhoh:

Wow. A blind man is one thing, but a dead blind man?
Do dead men need to worry about CCW?
Who's going to issue him a permit?
Who's going to arrest a dead man for carrying w/o a permit?
What are you going to sentence him to? Life imprisonment?
:rolleyes:

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

[KC&97TA]

If you're willing to go the used route, ask at the ranges... there are some people that have too many guns, and getting a person a deal on thier first gun maybe be one of thier Karma interests.

Some of the People will admit, they have more guns than they know what to do with and have a few that for some reason they don't agree with, I sold a Ruger P-944 because I couldn't hit the target with it, it benched good, I just had problems shooting it, the guy that bought it from me could knock down X-rings for days with it.

I bought a used Mil-Spec LNIB off of a local Gentleman from this web site a month back, for $350 and I paid the transfer fee, total $380. I haven't had a single problem with it. There are good deals out there, it's usally "those that are cleaning out the safe"... watch for those words. Jump on good deals when they come around, I could sell that Mil-Spec for $500 in a heart beat.

Small "mom & pop" gun stores and pawn shops are sometimes good places to look as well. Try to shoot what ever used gun you get before you buy it, if it's a "too good to be true" and you can't shoot it plan to have it see the gun smith.

[kumma]

Used guns offer good values, just be sure to have cash and be willing to wait for a great deal if you need to be frugal. I picked up a Browning MKII Hi power for $300 and a Taurus PT92 for $194 both 9mm and both worked flawlessly with all ammo I ran thru them. Keep an eye open and make it habit to stop in a gun stores, right place right time.

[Redneck with a 40]

Taurus millenium pro 9mm, awesome pistol...they run around $350 new in box. Another option would be the kel-tec P-11, from what I've read they are reliable, can get one for $250 new in box. The P-11 is extremely concealable and it holds 10 rounds in the mag.

[TxPhantom]

When I qualified for my CHL I used a Bersa Thunder 380 purchased at Academy for just under $200.00. Go to www.bersatalk.com for info. Great little gun but requires a break in period. Since then I have bought a Sigma SW9VE that did not require a break in period. Never a single problem (over 1000 rounds) after I got used to the harder trigger. Bought it at Academy for $318.00. Go to www.smith&wessonforum.com for more info.
You can beat Academy's prices at a gun show though.

[chaim]

If I was looking for a carry gun in 9mm and was limited to $300-350 I'd go with a Taurus PT111 Milennium Pro hands down. I own many handguns from a low end Charles Daly 1911, to several mid-level handguns (including a CZ and a Ruger) to two higher end SIGs- my Taurus PT140 Milennium Pro (the .40S&W version) can run with all of them being the equal to most, better than some, and not that far from the best. It has been 100% reliable through 750 rounds (most of them various JHPs- WWB, Magtech, Speer Gold Dot, Remington), it is accurate (though some people take some time to get used to it and get the accuracy), it has a very smooth DA revolver-like DAO trigger, it seems very well made and it was inexpensive. Mine was $350 out the door (incl. taxes and fee for the background check), some people report them for $290-300 in their areas.

If you aren't interested in the Milennium Pros, there are other options in your range. If you want a .380 my Bersa has been reliable and they can be had for just over $200 in some areas still (around here they start around $250 now). The Ruger P95 is a bit big for carry but is a decent gun and isn't much over $350. The S&W SW9VE (formerly the SIGMA) is now a pretty good gun, but stay away from used (they used to be pretty bad and I don't know how to tell if the gun is from before or after the improvements). Taurus has a few good autos (PT 911, PT 92) that depending upon prices in your area might work for you (around here they run about $100 over your limit) and the PT 911 isn't a bad size for carry. Still, I'd probably go with the Taurus Milennium Pro.

[VTKFJoe]

Try to find a S&W 3914, you can get them for around $300 still and they are great little single stack 9mms.

[Juna]

A barely used CZ 75B or BD would easily fit the bill for $300.

I got mine for about that much with a ton of extras (multiple extra hi-caps, holster, etc.) barely used. It's still in like-new condition b/c I make it shine after every trip to the range. It's ridiculously accurate and reliable, and it's incredibly smoothe to shoot. No one who's fired mine has said anything but glowing remarks about it afterward.