Gun Prices

[papafloyd]

Hey All, new to the board and pretty much new to firearms. I say pretty much because I have not fired my pistol in about 15yrs and not very much before that. I am in the market for a handgun, mostly for HD, but will take it to the range some also. I also plan on a shotgun as my primary HD weapon. I've been looking on the internet and at a few gun shops......why is there such a difference in the pricing?

I have been reading thru the threads and am getting more confused the more I read. I am up in the air as to caliber as well as make/model. The salesman where I picked up my HSC today was leading me towards revolvers for HD but told him I will be purchasing a shotgun as well for that purpose and really wanted a semi-automatic handgun. What should I be looking for in a gun, one that feels comfortable I know, but anything else? Also any words of wisdom that could help me decide on a caliber?

I appreciate any help or comments, thanks Ken

 

[jbkebert]

There is a huge range of guns and gun prices. I am not sure what to tell you in the way of what to pay. I would venture to say if you want a "starter semi auto handgun" maybe something in 9mm, or possibly a .45acp. Go to local gun shops or a range that rents range guns. Try several to get a feel for what you like. Brands like Taurus, Beretta, Springfield, Ruger, Glock and other mid-priced guns will surley fit your bill. You don't have to invest a fortune to get a quality firearm. Just don't go to cheap you'll just end up sorry you did.

 

[Sagetown]

I'm getting on up in age, and don't like the sharp recoil anymore as well as the little extra loud bangs. So I put away my .357 mag and my 9mm, and picked up the .45 ACP. It's a whole lot easier on me, yet it has plenty of knock'em down power.

 

[mtlucas0311]

If it's been that long since you've fired a handgun, leave it in the nightstand and stick with the shotgun. Get the handgun that fits the best in your hand, and you can easily manipulate the controls with your firing hand. When you find that gun, shoot it. No two people are alike so what works for some one you know may not work that well in your hands. You should get a gun that fits and works in your hand AND that you are reasonably proficient with. If a gun fits your hand great, but you cant shoot a .45 to save your life, try a .40 or a 9mm. If you can't hit anything it's not worth that much.

 

[benderx4]

9mm seems to be the cheapest and most plentiful. That makes a BIG difference nowadays.

A 9mm coming out of a small gun like a Rohrbaugh feels a lot different than the same bullet being fired by an all steel CZ or Beretta.

Try and rent (or borrow) some 9mm autos and find one you like! Personally, I would recommend either the Beretta 92FS or the CZ 75B.

Both these guns are affordable, reliable, accurate, easy to clean, and VERY soft-shooting. Good luck!

 

[mtlucas0311]

In regards to the difference in prices, there are many reasons (IMO). Cost of manufacturing, maybe one gun has an alloy frame vs. a steel frame vs. a polymer frame. Name, like it or not you will pay more if it says HK. Popularity, if people are buying a specific gun as fast as they hit the shelf, supply and demand says that the merchant will raise the price (ie: AR's and AK's right now). Caliber, offer a gun in 9mm or 40 S&W it will be a higher priced weapon than the same model in .380. I don't think you should focus on price in determining "how good" a gun is; post a thread that reads "what's better, Glock or HK..." and watch the fur fly. there is normally a couple hundred dollars difference between comparable models (at least that was my impression before all this gun madness started) but in reality both are top of the line, very capable and reliable weapons. It's kind of like Ford vs. Chevy..."better" is usually a matter of opinion, who's drivin' is usually more important.

 

[papafloyd]

I am a novice so I was kind of surprised to hear "Sagetowns" comment on the .45 being easier on him than a 9mm.....I just kind of figured the larger the caliber the more recoil it would have. Also my reference to prices were what appeared to be the same guns and the shops that I visited were approx. 200 to 300 higher. I guess they could of been different but at the shop I visited yesterday there was only a few semi-autos under 1000. Maybe I'll start a different thread seeking avg prices for specific models.

Anyway thanks for all your help/comments, Ken.

 

[Sagetown]

papafloyd: I just kind of figured the larger the caliber the more recoil it would have.

Generally speaking; that's true. But the .45 ACP is a different breed you could say. It doesn't generate the velocity as the other calibers do. Kind of like the old Colt .45 revolvers. Big with a modest recoil.

Heard a man tell of his .357 SIG Semi-Automatic. Said he's glad he didn't have to shoot it the other night. Only shot it once before, and said "it nearly broke his wrist!
here's his story - -
His wife heard a bump in the night, and he grabbed his Glock SIG out of the nite-stand, sneaking thru the house, he couldn't find anything awry, so's he heads for the bathroom before going back to bed. Suddenly he saw thru the shower door a Large Black Man. Immediately he went into attack mode, throwing up his SIG fully cocked and squeezing on the trigger and SCREAMING = COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP! COME OUT OF THE SHOWER! His wife began dialing 911. - - - - Then he remembered. He'd hung his Diving Suit up on the shower head that evening after washing the sea salts off of it. Began hollering at his wife - everythings alright, its alright. :banghead:

 

[sohcgt2]

It sounds to me like you won't be shooting very much so ammo price should not be a concern. What you will want to do is find out what fits your hand. In semi-auto there are 2 "common" large rounds .45acp and 10mm. if your hands are large enough they are both available in double stack pistols. If your hands are smaller then they are both available in 1911 models. .45 acp has fairly light recoil, 10mm is much harder hitting. In smaller "common" rounds you also have 2 choices, the 9mm and the .40S&W. Of these 2 the .40S&W is much harder hitting. The .40S&W and 9mm are both widely used by law enforcement and as a result are the least expensive ammo to purchase. The 10mm is in effect a .40S&W magnum and is the most expensive of the 4. It is also the least common.

My recommendation would be to find a range that rents all 4 chamberings in the same type of gun and see which round is best suited to you. Once you have determined what defensive cartridge you like best then you can decide on what to shoot it with.

For pd/hd I recommend tritium sights and an accessory rail. I would also recommend a double action trigger with second strike capability. There are several mfg and models available. As much as I am a fan of Glock they do not make a gun with second strike capability so I would not recommend them to a novice shooter. Second strike means the firing action is not regulated by slide actuation. This is fairly rare in semi-automatic pistols. Your local gun shop can assist you with this. If not then visit the manufacturers web site and they will provide specifications. Some also list M.S.R.P. for their current production. If you do see prices on a mfg web site expect to pay about 10% less.

Good luck with your purchase.

 

[Jed Carter]

Add shipping and FFL delivery fee to internet purchases on handguns. If I could only own 1 semi-automatic pistol it would be the model 1911 .45acp. Springfield Armory makes quality pistols and their price will not break the bank. It took 70 years for the pistol makers to make something genuinely "new", until then everything was just a copy in some form.

 

[Grumulkin]

First, decide what you want. Then compare prices from local shops and gunbroker.com. When you've done a little research, you'll be better prepared to know what is a good price and what is a ripoff.

Go to the link below and download the CDNN Sports catalog. They have pretty good prices on a variety of handguns and sometimes you luck out and they have just what you want.

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/

If you do a bit more investigating, you can probably find a local FFL holder who will do a transfer for in the $10 to $15 range.

As far as which handgun to buy; that's a matter of personal preference. I like a Glock in 9mm Parabellum. The ammo is relatively cheap and widely available and in the Glock it's safe to keep a round in the chamber. Also, having 15 rounds in the magazine is reassuring.

As for the 45 ACP having less recoil than a 9mm Parabellum I would say not really (sorry Sagetown). If you compare them side by side in pistols of equal weight and of the same action design (i.e., semiauto), the 45 ACP has more recoil. The 357 Magnum, especially in a snubbie, does have more felt recoil than the aforementioned.

 

[Sagetown]

Grumulkin: As for the 45 ACP having less recoil than a 9mm Parabellum I would say not really (sorry Sagetown).

That's okay Grumulkin; to each his own, but, I'll stick with my hands on experiences.