[Mark G.]

What is the best 9mm, preferably hi cap, for target & self defense if you only have $300 to spend and why? Any from which I should stay away? Thanks for your help.

[Tom B]

As a matter of fact I just shot the BEST 9mm today....Glock 19! But if you are limited to a max of $300. I suggest you look for a used CZ75B Mil Turk. Then check the classifieds here for your hi cap mags. HINT...Search under posting from Tom B. :D

[guy293]

$300 is a tough dollar limit. Perhaps a used CZ 75 but if you save a little more you could buy a new one in the mid to high $300 dollar range. You could also look at a police trade in SIG 226--probably going to be in the $400-$450 range though.

CDNN is listing FN fullsize Hi Powers for $299 for DAO and $339 for SA/DA and the Steyr M series for $299.

take a look at http://www.cdnninvestments.com

If I were looking in your price range I would definately try to find a CZ 75 to try out. Spend a little more and you could pick up a used SIG 226 which is my favorite 9mm pistol.

[GitSome45]

$300.00....

Used Ruger P-95

Used S&W Model 39-2 / 59 (first generation 9mm autos)

Shop around and find one that fits YOU...(both budget, and need.)

Shopping is FUN...!:D

Good Luck,

Howard

[valnar]

You can't say "best" and force us into a $300 limit! Surely you know the best 9mm guns are more than that! :p

I'd say a good used Glock, Beretta 92 or SIG P226 (P229).

Robert

[P95Carry]

I used to have a genuine early BHP years ago .... now I have replaced it ..... with a FEG .. some may disagree but for me this is a great value clone .... feels and shoots fine .... and probably if I don't approach putting the many 1,000's of rounds thru that I did in the old BHP .... doubt it'll be any problem. I love it.

Otherwise (bias here) a used P95 would be good too ..... may be chunky and ugly but hey .... mine does all i want of it and relaibility is so far 100% over quite some time.

That budget is limiting but ... not insurmountable.

[Cawdor]

Another vote for Ruger (http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/P-CategoryPistolsCF.html). You should be able to buy a P95 for about $300. Ruger is also running a rebate.

[jacketch]

SOG is advertising Argie Hi-Powers at $299 in ShotGun News.

[Gary A]

Another suggestion here to check out the Ruger P95. With the current $40 rebate you should be able to get a new one for pretty close around $300. They are a very under-rated 9mm, IMO. Very strong, ultra-reliable, accurate enough for government work.

[P95Carry]

Good point Gary ... the P97 I picked up not so long ago is elligible for rebate . (sent off) and so yeah ... gets down real close to that budget figure.

My P95 was pre-owned but almost brand new when I got it .. and that was significantly under $300.

[chaim]

What is the best 9mm you can get for $300 or less? My first choice would be a used CZ 75B or used S&W 39 (or 39xx). A used Taurus PT92 or PT911 could probably be found around $300. A new FM Hi Power would be a good new choice at around (though probably just over) $300. A new FEG Hi Power is a decent gun and should run you under $300. A used Ruger P95 would be decent, and with the current rebate (as others have mentioned) you probably could get a new one for right around $300.

[chaim]

Darn, musta hit the "submit reply" button twice.:banghead:

[Ala Dan]

Your price range: CZ75B

Unlimited Price Range: SIG-Sauer's P226 and P228

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[Brian Williams]

S&W 940 cost me $300
feeds anything.
very concealable
deadly accurate
ejects easily
no stove pipes
reloads easily


Glock 19
S&W 39-2
BHP
FM bhp
sig239

[cool45auto]

Tom B.- How did you shoot the BEST 9mm today when I shot the BEST 9mm last week-Beretta 92fs?;)

With the price limits you're setting I'd agree with a CZ.

[PCRCCW]

Ill say what you all know Im gonna say...."CZ75 B"....without question. Ill explain why......and then the nay sayers can jump in...:D :rolleyes:

Guns within the price range are getting more common. Off the top of my head...(what ever the hell that really means!)
CZ, Ruger, FEG HP's, Taurus (some new and used), Arcus, Daewoo, RAP 401, XLEO S&W and more.....

CZ has a stellar and deserved reputation...regularly compared to Beretta, Sig and such.....and fairs well in this comparison.

Ruger..stellar firearm...just a little less (alot) character than CZ..plus the CZ is 10 times as comfortable to hold..makes for better shooting

FEG HP...great gun for the money...sights suck, trigger needs mag safety removed....but still great gun...S/A only.

Taurus...fine weapons...used clean/rare NIB guns for the $ range.
Steel framed Taurus autos are very very nice.....just have the bulky Beretta grip design or you can find a PT911....NICE!

Arcus....BHP variant...fullsize and compact available. A little inconsistant in fit/finish...but allaround a good gun for cheap!

Daewoo.....STELLAR weapon for the $...compares well to the CZ line..and has the trick triple action trigger......very nice fit, machining and finish. Great trigger....nice added features you see when you handle one that really show you its a great gun...lots of great detail work.

RAP 401....ASTRA 75 copy....killer quality at a cheap $....but heavy for there size and 8+1 rnds.....still a great gun.

S&W Ex LEO guns....stick with 3rd gen guns. 4 digit models...3913, 6906 etc...1st and 2nd gen guns were good...but the 3rds are much better for reliability and consistency.


Id say for me the choices are CZ, DaeWoo, RAP and LEO S&W...
They have character, excellent quality and reliability and are readily available....
For strictly a great running gun for the $...all of them are good.

Shoot well

[Richard]

Have you considered the Walther P1 police trade ins? These are great pistols that will definitely get you through the night. A bonus is you will have a lot left to buy 9mm ammo with. Regards, Richard:D

[Mark G.]

Thanks for all of the great responses. CZ has always interested me, but the very few, if any, dealers in my area carry them. They all say the same thing "we are constantly sending them back to the factory" so they stop carrying them. I read on the forums that they are very reliable and great to shoot. I am in southern Ohio, what is wrong with the dealers here?

[Akurat]

Check out the Arcus at www.aimsurplus.com. Both compact and fullsize models use the same mags (BHP mags). 17 rounders available for cheap from CDNN :cool:

[Richard]

Mark G., let me be the first to say your dealers speak with forked tonque! The CZ75 family of guns is known for reasonable cost and rock solid performance. The CZ75 may be large and heavy for a 9mm but it doesn't have a relabilty problem. I didn't recommend one because I don't think you can currently buy for $300. Regards, Richard:D

[GlocksRock]

Another Ruger 9mm vote here. Either a P95 or a used P89.

[Penforhire]

At that price? Another Ruger vote here. Personally I'd save a little more and step up to something prettier but you won't find anything more reliable than the Rugers.

[axeman_g]

CZ 75 ... hands down. We have a place here in Georgia ..$329. He will ship to you. Go here ....

http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=8964032

Call him. He will ship to a dealer near you. Offer him $329 ... he will take it.


Or if you are hard capped at 300, find a dealer that will accept an order for you and order a Steyr M9 for $290 from cdnninvestments.com

[HIPOWER]

For under 300 I would look for the following, in order:

1. Used Glock 17

2. Used Ruger P95

3. New FEG PJK-9HP

[cratz2]

Yep... the full-size CZ75 is one of the best at any price. If you can swing the $300 now, I'd try to scratch up or save up another $50 and get a new CZ. If you prefer and are comfortable with a single action mechanism, the CZ75B SA is pretty much unbeatable as a target 9mm under $1,000 and they go for about $390 at my local shop.

[firestar]

If I only had $300 and I wanted a 9mm hi-cap (with mag) for carry and target, I would go with a Ruger P95. It may not be as accurate as some of the other sub $300 guns out there (FEG, FM Hi Power, Arcus) but it has features that make it a better carry gun in my book. It is DA/SA instead of SA. It can be had with a decocker. It weighs less than most full sized 9mm hi caps. It is built like a tank. It will almost certainly be 100% reliable, most Ruger are. It can really be had for less than $300 with a hi-cap.

I just sold my SS one with three 10 round mags for $250 and I feel like I got a fair price.

The CZ is a good gun but it will cost you closer to $400 than $300 and used ones are not much cheaper than new ones. If you can swing the extra $100, maybe you can look at a CZ-75 to see if you like it. I like the feel of it but the DA trigger is WAY too long for me. What were they thinking? The rest of the gun is fine but the trigger is way out there! Does it really have to be so far of a reach? My Beretta 92fs doesn't even have a reach like that and people complain about it. I think CZ is missing the boat on this one. I doubt they will ever be as popular as Beretta because of the long DA trigger.

[New_comer]

For around $300, my 9mm choices would be:

1) FEG PJK-9HP
2) Used Ruger P95
3) Used CZ75
4) Used Taurus PT911/917/92
5) Norinco NP22 (sig226 clone, don't know if available there ;))
6) Bersa Thunder 9
7) Used HS2000

[PCRCCW]

I second the vote that your dealers are on CRACK! :what:

We have 2000+ members worldwide on the CZForum.....
We all know of the probs the guns have had...they arent flawless and are rarely portrayed that way....especially on CZF.

But the fact that all of the dealers in your area say theyve sent guns back to the factory and wont stock them because of that...
I call B.S.....
You very likely have another gun man.'s rep. thats a good old boy sort, spreading the word (his word) about CZ guns and have alot of dealers that are sheep! I cant guarantee it but.....
Id put money on it............Shoot well

[Dobe]

Cratz2:
"Yep... the full-size CZ75 is one of the best at any price. If you can swing the $300 now, I'd try to scratch up or save up another $50 and get a new CZ. If you prefer and are comfortable with a single action mechanism, the CZ75B SA is pretty much unbeatable as a target 9mm under $1,000 and they go for about $390 at my local shop."

I agree with Cratz2
The CZ75b SA is a great handgun, especially for the price. The finish is inexpensive, but the way the it shoots is something else. I take it with me when I shoot my Kimber Target. If I am shooting cheap ammo in both, the CZ will keep up with the Kimber. The trigger is a little on the long side, but to me it is superior to a BHP trigger.

One complaint. I hate the plastic trigger.

[Berg01]

Sorry, $300.00 doesn't get even a used 9mm that is decent, unless you're buying off a friend or a relative. For a limit of $300.00 around here (suburban Phila. PA), $300.00 will get you an excellent 4" Ruger GP-100 revolver, which BTW, is a damn fine all-around shooter!

[Pilot]

Berg01 wrote:

"Sorry, $300.00 doesn't get even a used 9mm that is decent, unless you're buying off a friend or a relative. For a limit of $300.00 around here (suburban Phila. PA), $300.00 will get you an excellent 4" Ruger GP-100 revolver, which BTW, is a damn fine all-around shooter!"

Well I live in suburban Phila. PA and you can still get a good 9MM for a bit over $300. Deals are still available on new CZ-75B's through the internet, going through your local FFL. I bought both my CZ-75B and PCR this way and beat the sales tax and only paid a $20 transfer fee. You may have to spend closer to $350 all in, but that is not a big deal. I have seen good, used 9MM's in this price range also, you just have to look. But Berg is correct about local pricing. Get out to central PA and you will find better deals in the gun cabinets.

[Berg01]

The best deal I saw around here for a good 9mm was for a consigned (but NIB) CZ 75BD decocker model. It was $349.00, plus @$25/ea for spare mags (I snoozed & losed on that one); this was at Tanners in Jamison PA. From time to time, he also gets in the Sig P220 9mm German Police surplus models, which he sells NIB for around $450.00 (a great deal for one of the very best full-size 9mms that I've shot).

I still think you need to be extremely lucky, or have a friend with a quality piece who needs money, to be able to swing a good 9mm for three bills.

[Meowhead]

I'd have to go with the FEG. Bought my PJK-9HP for two hundred used, and it's great.