Best New 9mm at the $300 Price Point

Best New 9mm at the $300 Price Point

  • Smith & Wesson Sigma SW9VE

    Votes: 15 18.1%

  • Ruger P-95

    Votes: 45 54.2%

  • Other???

    Votes: 23 27.7%
  • Total voters
    83
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Love my P95. Have had it over 2 years now, shoots and feeds everything, well over 3k rounds and built like a tank. It sits in my night stand next to the bed. Bought a couple of 17 round mec-gar mags for it.
 
The P95 is worth far more than its pricetag suggests - it's a true bargain. I think VERY highly of it, and I have owned several.

Tough little buggers, accurate enough for anything needed in a defensive sidearm, good capacity, and low cost - what's not to love?

Compare the two side-by-side and you'll IMMEDIATELY see why the Ruger is a better deal.
 
For $300 (-ish) I'd give the Bersa Thunder 9 a once-over. Smaller than the Ruger and with a better trigger than the Sigma, it's a viable 9mm CCW gun for around $300.
 
Did Not Vote

You've listed the two best values at the $300 price point. One is an overbuilt, heavy, and wide tank of a hammer fired DA/SA handgun. The other is a slim, light, durable, striker fired handgun. Capacity is only one round different between the two. I don't think either is a better value than the other. I think each is the best value at the price point for the respective operating mechanisms. You're not going to go wrong with one or the other. You just have to decide which action (DA/SA or striker fired) you like best.
 
What do you need this gun for? CCW? Range? How do you carry ? (cocked and locked ?)

Both are good guns for money, Sigma gives you MUCH better grip, and Ruger gives you much better trigger (DA-SA).

Both are reliable and comes from excellent companies .
 
If it is only a range gun then get a hi point - their ugly, huge, but absolutely relaible and usually under $200 for a new one
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=473229

If it is for CCW listed in increasing price:
ZASTAVA M88 is around $300, but I don't know quality of these pistols

The Sccy Industries Model CPX-1 and the Kel-Tec PF-9 are small, perfect for concealment and reliable. The Sccy is basically the PF-9 with a thumb safety.

Bersa Thunder 9 for the reasons above

Taurus PT911 and 917, larger capacity, only slightly larger (although it is wider), lifetime warenty, reliable, unless you get a lemon (happens with Taurus once and a while)

Used Glock? - can't jam a glock and I have only heard on one that has ever broken.
 
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It depends on what you want to use it for. If you want to carry it and will be using it primairily for self defense at 10 yards or less the Sigma is a good choice for it's light weight but the Ruger is a better value due to it's trigger, durability and reliability. The Thunder 9 has a good following and reputation. However I own the .45 version of it which I purchased new and have experienced enough problems with it that I would deem it better than nothing but not 100% reliable for CCW. I also the Ruger P-94 (.40 P series) and would carry it without hesitation - bought it used for $165 on Gunbroker (Pheonix Distributiors, PA) and it has been 100% reilable.
 
I voted P-95 because I'm fond of my P-944. I believe the old Ruger P-series guns are a very good value.
 
The P series guns are generally pretty great. Rarely will you go wrong with one. While I will admit that I am a Ruger guy, I will say that while the Sigma's aren't bad, they are hardly great. I mean, I would never look down my nose at one, but in my opinion they just aren't as good a pistol as the P guns.
 
I'll give you my .02. Take it FWIW.
I had a SW Sigma 40 enhanced model. Never malf'd in all the time I had it. I sold it to a cop buddy. He never had a malfunction, either. I'm willing to bet the 9mm is the same story.
I also had a Ruger P89 (IRC). Again, never a malfunction. I am pretty sure that gun would feed empty brass if you stuck it in the mag.

Both are great guns. Both are 300 bones or less (I paid 250 for each I think). Both are hard to beat. If you have a range nearby that will rent pistols out then try both. I really think you would be hard pressed to beat either one.
 
I am pretty sure that gun would feed empty brass if you stuck it in the mag
Click to expand...

My P90 will feed empty brass. Sort of a pointless thing to know I guess, but I tried it and it will do it. That P90 has fed stuff that has jammed up in every other gun at the range and I consider it to be about as reliable as an auto can be at this point.
 
I've never shot a P series ruger but after shooting a friends Sigma 40S&W (unfortunately he bought it without doing any research) I'd say get the Ruger.

Probably the worst trigger i've felt on a handgun. To it's credit though it never had any malfunctions that afternoon (around 200 rounds)
 
Ruger P Series or 3rd Gen Smith pplice trade-in.

BTW, that SIG 250 wasn't priced at $350. That was the opening bid and it didn't meet the reserve. $350, I wish!
 
I never have gotten a ruger auto because of its aesthetics. However, those p95s that are monochromatic black actually look pretty sharp. A little chunky for me still though. Plus, I just have too many blasted pistols as it is.
 
get a Bulgarian Arcus, you can find them on J&G sales. They're basically a copy of teh Browning highpoint made in Bulgaria, very nicely done, heafty and...well, it's a browning high power
 
ugaarguy said:
You've listed the two best values at the $300 price point. One is an overbuilt, heavy, and wide tank of a hammer fired DA/SA handgun. The other is a slim, light, durable, striker fired handgun. Capacity is only one round different between the two. I don't think either is a better value than the other. I think each is the best value at the price point for the respective operating mechanisms. You're not going to go wrong with one or the other. You just have to decide which action (DA/SA or striker fired) you like best.
Click to expand...
He answered the question closest to what my answer would be.
 
but the Ruger is built like a tank if your not planning on carring it
Click to expand...

Despite popular misconception, you can carry a Ruger concealed pretty easily. I would never argue that it is the best gun for it, and it certainly isn't for everyone, but I have carried my P90 around with no problems and have read a few accounts of others doing the same with the various P models.
 
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