[kungfuhippie]

If I were to give you $1500 to buy three NEW handguns...
A few specs;
1. All guns must be new
2. Prefered one full size autoloader, one revolver, and one compact autoloader
3. Don't suggest used guns-they are expensive in PRK, (a used, worn out kimber sells for $100 less than a NIB one here-not worth the savings IMHO)
4. Prefered Calibers; .45acp .40 s&w, 9mm, .357 (smaller is a possibility)
5. If you want justify two nicer guns instead of three, but justify it.

Why am I doing this? I want to get three worth while handguns that I'll register this summer when applying for my ccw. I can only carry a gun I list, and I can list up to three. I will have about this much cash to work with +/-$250 so I'll either get two now and one later (and add it) or get three now.

***Something else to consider is that added capacity is not a sell since I'm limited to 10 rd. capacity anyway.

Thanks anyone who plays.

[glockman19]

OK I'll play.

NIB
Glock 17/19, Glock 9mm...$450
Glock 27 .40..................$450
S&W 442/642.................$400
.................................$1,300
Covers almost all calibers and $200 left for ammo.

[MarshallDodge]

I went $50 over but here is my input:
Springfield loaded 1911 $700
Kahr P9 $350 (sale price at Sportsmans Warehouse)
Smith & Wesson 686 $500 (If you are planning on carrying it you may want something shorter)

Can you shop on gunsamerica and gunbroker and have them brought into California? I have saved a lot shopping this way.

[Clipper]

Taurus 1911 (?$) or PT-145 compact $350.00
Kel-Tec PF9 $300.00 for when the .45 is too large...
Whichever flavor Taurus snubby you like, for fun...

Then use the leftover to buy ammo.

[DogBonz]

I don't know what prices are like where you are, so here go's nuttin.

Kahr P9 $350
SIG 229 $700
Ruger Sp101.

its over by $50, but I think that you have a good list there.

[phantom45]

I'm not 100% on prices here, but I'm fairly certain these would be within your budget or close to it. Just some ideas anyway.

Full size Auto: Taurus PT1911 .45ACP, Springfield XD .45, HK USP .45, Sig .45 (if money allows here I'd go with a SIG or HK .45)

Compact Auto: Smith & Wesson M&P Compact 9mm, Taurus MilPro 9mm or .45

Revolver: Ruger GP100 .357 or S&W .357 whatever model you prefer, or if it's for carry purposes you can't hardly beat the S&W Airweight 642 in .38

[ChristopherG]

Glock 17, 34, 22, 35, or 21, depending on caliber preference and what exactly you want the full-size auto for;
Glock 26 or 19, depending on your tolerances and preferences, for CCW;
S&W 642 for the pocket.

[qbpc]

1 Full size glock pick a caliber $450-500
2 Glock G30 Or G36 $500
3 Ruger SP101 Or GP100 $350-450

CCW When needed $Priceless

[strat81]

Full Size: CZ 75B
Revo: Taurus Protector 651
Subcompact: Glock 26 or 27, Taurus PT-145 or PT-745

[Dr.Rob]

FEG Hi-Power Clone 9mm (sold as Charles Daly HP) full sized $350
FEG SMC 380 pocket auto (CA approved even) .380 (or 9x18) $200
leaves you nearly a thousand for a good revolver in .357, ammo and range time.

If it was only two, get a Colt plain jane series 80 Gov't model and a Ruger wheelgun.

[El Tejon]

Pair of Glock 17s and a .22 pistol. Use the rest of the money for magazines for the Glocks.

[03Shadowbob]

Full-size: Springfield 1911 GI Mil-Spec .45 Stainless $550-$600
Revolver: S&W 642 - $400
Compact auto: Taurus PT145 MilPro - $350
So far $1350 is spent, you have $150 left
You need holsters...Southern holsters Memphis IWB for full size - $65, Don Hume IWB or JIT slide - $30, DeSantis pocket holster for revolver - $30
Now you have spent $1,475, you have $25 left
You need ammo - Remington Golden Sabre 230 Grain JHP .45 - $25 for 25.
You have $0 left for the .38 ammo but can get that on your next payday.

[dhoomonyou]

glockman19
NIB
Glock 17/19, Glock 9mm...$450
Glock 27 .40..................$450
S&W 442/642.................$400
.................................$1,300
Covers almost all calibers and $200 left for ammo.

I AGREE.

great minds think alike.

any changes would be GLOCK 19 & 26 (same caliber)

[Fabi75]

Full size: CZ-75BD Police 9mm Para - USD 450.--
Revolver: Ruger GP-100 6" .357 Magnum - USD 635.--
Compact: Taurus Millennium PRO 145SSP .45 ACP - USD 439.--

Only USD 24.-- over the limit ....

[AJAX22]

I think most of you guys are about 100-200 short of the prices here in the PRK.

Remember we are required to pay 35$ transfer fees,

10$ for a lock

And a new glock 17 is around 560 in the stores.

If we order it from out of state, we still have to pay the 35$ in fees, the 10$ for a lock, and whatever the dealer wants to charge us as an import fee (usually 20-70 bucks)

I just paid 420$ for a used g17 and was extatic to get it, then I had to pay 45$ in fees and BS. and had to blow half a tank of gas (3.45 a gallon here in PRK) driving down to get it.

so ballpark it was 525 all things considered, and that was used.

[md7]

Full size auto: G17/22 or CZ 75B
Compact Auto: G/26/27 or CZ 75 PCR
Revovler: if full size, 4" Ruger GP 100 .357
if ccw revo, smith 642/638

Sorry so indecisive, i really like glock for the quality and price, but have been smitten with the CZ bug lately. Any combo of those should come in around $1,500.

[briansp82593]

glock 35 580.00
springfield 45 compact 450.00
taurus 85 275.00
1305
195.00 left

[Librarian]

Ah, kungfuhippie left out a requirement - the gun, if new, has to be on California's Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale (http://certguns.doj.ca.gov/).

Unfortunately, that lets out the Taurus PT1911; the only FEG is the PA63 in 9mm Mak (but the Charles Daly Field HP is approved). My quick scan through the other suggestions doesn't identify other problems, but I'm not up on revolvers, so maybe I missed on those.

[03Shadowbob]

God, how bad would it suck to live in California?

[AJAX22]

God, how bad would it suck to live in California?

Pray you never find out....

[Brian Williams]

Springfield Armory GI model
Keltec pf-9
S&W 642 or 586

[Nomad, 2nd]

Kimber Warrior $1,100

S&W Snubby .38 or .357 whatever you like best, call it ~$400

There's your $1500, you have a good belt gun, 8+1, accurate, already has night sites... carry's flat, can slap a light on it for nightstand use...

The S&W is a good BUG, or 'only gun', is reliable... just read one of the threads on them.

If we + That $250 I'd add a Keltec P32 or the .380 for a 'always gun'
(Get the chromed slide)
-You can CCW this one in a bathing suit.

[kungfuhippie]

Ah, kungfuhippie left out a requirement I left that out slong with my dislike of glocks because I didn't want to complicate it. I figured I could take in what people say and try out what is avaliable (that I'm not familiar with) and then make an educated choice based on the input of other's expirence and my own (from renting, borrowing, etc. the guns)

[ArchAngelCD]

IMO, the choices below are reliable handguns and were chosen because of the budget and the ability to carry concealed. I would have made different choices if carry wasn't the intent.

Ruger P345 in .45 Auto ($446)

Kahr PM9 in 9mm ($530) or Kel-Tec P-3AT in .380 Auto ($240) if you want to go very small.

S&W Model 640 in .357 Magnum ($483)

(Prices from GunsAmerica for NIB)

[mdao]

S&W 5" Scandium 1911PD ~ $850
Your choice of J-frame in .38 special ~ $450
Milt Sparks VM-2 ~ $130
Smart Carry ~ $50
Mika Pocket Holster ~$20

Lightweight, easy to shoot, easy to carry, Cali-legal options. No matter how you're dressed, it's not too difficult to find some combination that will work for you. You should be able to easily find these items at the prices I listed.

I skipped out on the compact autoloader, because the double stack variants really don't offer much concealment advantage over the 1911, and the Cali-legal single stack ones don't offer any advantage over a J-frame.

[M92FS]

Revolver: S&W 442/642 .38 Spl +P J frame $400
Compact Auto : SIG P-229 9mm $700

$400 balance for holsters and ammo. :)

[yongxingfreesty]

if i had that money right now,

1. kimber custom cdp $900
2. s&w 686 4" $500

[MustangHowie]

Kimber Custom II
Sig 229
Ruger SP 101

A little over on price but all very reliable and worth it.

[chongfa]

1) PX4 9mm about $500 new otd
2) S&W 686 4" barrel about $400 new otd
3) Springfield Mil Spec 1911 about $600 new otd

[springmom]

Don't know prices in California, but here, in Texas, I'd get:

Springfield XD-45
Springfield XD-9 compact
Ruger SP101

Pretty sure that would get you under $1500, especially if you watch for sales.

Springmom

[Geronimo45]

Fullsize:1911A1 GI model from Springfield Armory - around $500 for the Stainless model.
Revolver: Smith Model 10, preferably nickelled - $350-ish.
Compact: Walther PPK/s - $450 or so.
That ought to give you enough money left over for some ammo and/or a nice holster setup.

[Impala]

sorry, didn't read the first post accidentally posted a couple ar projects i'm a ****...

not really any handguns on my list, they don't do well at 100-200yds haha

[lee n. field]

OK, I'll play.

CCW, so bias towards compact. Kalifornia, so normal capacity mags are out of the question.

Ruger SP101 in .357. Around $400.

Springfield XD subcompact in.40. Good gun, magazines are not expensive, and it's handload friendly. It's like a Glock, except it's not. Or something. High $400s

Ruger P series .45, P90, P97 (prob. used) or P345. Stout, reliable 8 round full sized single stack .45. BOOM! Just the thing. Around $400.

Oh, yeah, the XD45 Compact is a 10 rounder, so you wouldn't have the gelded magazines to contend with.

Me, I think I'd go with 2 guns, and invest the rest in accessories, accouterments and ammo. Hard to have too many magazines. It can take a while to find the right holster.

[Stinger1]

I would keep the autos in the same caliber so not to have to keep changing ammo and like others here the same make so you could have interchangeable mags too.

1. XD45 Tactical . . . . . . . . . $550.00
2. XD45 compact . . . . . . . . . $525.00
3. Ruger GP100 4" 38/357 . . . $350.00

RC

[GunNut]

Glock 21 in .45ACP for home defense
Glock 19 in 9mm for CCW
S&W 642 or used 340PD for pocket carry

Should put you at $1,500.

This is where i'm at right now.

Steve

[sm]

Springfield GI 1911
Kel-Tec P-11
S&W 442

[Zen21Tao]

You say that you are getting these guns to be registered to you for permanent concealed carry pieces. IMHO, this means finding the highest quality firearms that best fits all of your needs. Therefore, I'm going to come out on the side of using your available funds to buy 2 of the highest quality firearms that fits you needs rather than 3 moderately priced adequate/acceptable pieces.

My suggestions are:

Sig P229 Elite... $950
Kahr PM/MK 40... $550

These two guns will fit all your CCW need.

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/6748/sigandkahr2bg2.jpg


The Sig is a perfect choice for either IWB or OWB carry. It takes 10rnd .40S&W magazines (actually 12 rounders also but those are for us in the free world), has a manual decocker, no safeties to worry about (just point and pull trigger), has night sights, and it has an amazing Short Reset Trigger. It is definitely (IMHO) one of the finest firearms on the planet.

The Kahr is also a great choice because of its amazingly compact size. It has the potential of making a great backup gun or a stand alone carry gun when your clothing wont permit the Sig. It can be carried in an ankle holster, pocket holster, IWB holster or OWB holster. Plus it is comfortable enough that you can easily forget you are wearing it all. All this with a gun that gives you 5+1 (or 6+1 with extended mag) rounds of .40S&W.

[Belgiboy]

ok, here are my thoughts on this subject

-Stoeger Cougar 9 mm as CCW, just because they are great shooters, feed 9mm Gold dots with no problems and mostly because I have one. If you ever have to use it and you do it right so it becomes evidence, you are only out $350.
-Smith and Wesson 686+ for on the night stand, wide choice of defensive ammo for this beautie and you can look at it until you fall asleep. I paid about $650 for mine but now i'm beginning to think that was a bit on the high side.
-That leaves 500 bucks for a top of the line .22. If you are not filthy rich, you'll need one for practice. Get a full option Browning Buckmark with rosewood grips and you might even get some girls to go to the range with you.

[crebralfix]

What about something odd like the Steyr M9 or Walther P99?

The P220 Compact was just released. It's a 6+1 compact P220 with beavertail for recoil management. It is the size of a Glock 19.

[Black Snowman]

CZ 75B Stainless, MSRP $629.00
CZ 2075 RAMI 9mm, MSRP $593.00
SP101 3", MSRP $550.00
If it were me. Street prices should get you much closer to the $1500 range.

[Vitamin G]

Here was my train of thought...

Browning hi-power cause its a browning design and having 15 rounds of oh wait nevermind he's in california...
So maybe a 1911 in 10mm of some kind cause I personally have no troubles using my normal wilson 8rd mags and fitting 9rounds into them, +1 in the chamber is 10... I wonder how expensive a 1911 10mm is out there...

Speaking of 10mm, the EAA Witness is really nice as a 10mm, but my friend's chokes on the 10rd mags so as long as you set aside $60 for a couple 15rd magazines oh wait crap thats right he's in California...

Well, maybe a Colt Defender or other compact 1911 for the hotter times when you just don't feel like going with a full size 1911 for whatever reason.

Didn't he say something about wheelguns? Wheelguns, Wheelguns, oh, those things from the old movies... Yeah, anyways...

A keltec .380 is a really nice pocket gun, plus it only has 6+1, so its cool in california, plus its has... <sigh> Okay, now i feel guilty for the wheelgun ignoring...

"I'd go with an SP101". Sweet, i knew a wheelgun. Now i can get back to autoloaders...



And so on...

[MPanova]

Even after tax a FFL fees you could 4 great pistols for about 1500 bucks :D


http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_50_495/products_id/31310

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_50_495/products_id/19896

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_50_495/products_id/11873

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_50_494/products_id/32125

[Autolycus]

I would buy 3 Glock 9mm's. A Glock 17, a Glock 19, and a Glock 26. They are about $500 a piece in my area.

[Vitamin G]

I would buy 3 Glock 9mm's. A Glock 17, a Glock 19, and a Glock 26. They are about $500 a piece in my area

And then end up carrying whichever one fit your hand the best? Each one of them is going to have 10 rounds, in california.

[Autolycus]

I didnt realize that the original poster was in California.

I guess then I would buy a Sig 220, a Jframd of some sort, and maybe a shotgun of some sort.

[G95]

S&W 686,
S&W 442,
GLOCK G19 over G17 since you will be using 10rnd mags,

skip the tiny autos they don't always run very well

[chopz]

cz po1 9mm
sa mil spec
ruger single 6 22lr/22mag

or

cz compact 9 satin nickel
ruger gp100
beretta neos

[GOSA]

>"I'd go with an SP101". Sweet, i knew a wheelgun. Now i can get back to autoloaders...

Yea, that, what Vitamin G said. SP101, and a Kahr. Or the SIG. All three of those would put you over budget, so make like the other people said, buy two and lotsa ammo.

[Master Blaster]

Glock G17 9mm
Springfield Milspec .45 acp
Smith and Wesson 686+ 6"

Might be slightly over 1500 or under depending on your source and prices in your area.

You migh also skip the Milspec if you dont like 1911s and get a good 22lr like a Buckmark or Ruger MKII (used)

[sean m]

Ruger KPGP-141 $500-$550
Ruger KP95 $350-$400
Keltec PF9 $300-$350

These would be my choices. At the low end only $1150 spent in tools gives $350 left for ammo and three holsters.

[Eightball]

Some form of decent, full-size 1911
A SIG 230 or 232 (9mm/.380)/Walther PPK .380/equivalent (for carry)
Smith Revolver, probably a 19, 66, or 620.

I could guess at prices, but PRK prices are alien to me.

[Jack19]

one full size autoloader, Glock 17

one revolver, S&W Model 65 .357

and one compact autoloader, Glock 19

Unlike the 1911 guys, I know they'll all work.