Quality budget 9mm pistols

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WestKentucky, I have one of those Diamondbacks. Cost $170.

Its a "slick" no safety or slide stop, so the niche I give it is as a tertiary backup. I carry a long gun with a 1911 backup. The DB barely weighs more than an extra clip so fits in a little pocket at the edge of my armor.
 
WestKentucky, I have one of those Diamondbacks. Cost $170.

Its a "slick" no safety or slide stop, so the niche I give it is as a tertiary backup. I carry a long gun with a 1911 backup. The DB barely weighs more than an extra clip so fits in a little pocket at the edge of my armor.

As someone who like small guns, I have to say I am intrigued the the New DiamondBack Gen 4. Like the Beretta Pico, it is the thinnest in class and like the light weight of a little over 13oz. I see it is now rated for plus P and takes Sig sights.
 
Put me down as another one who is impressed with the Taurus G2C. I bought two of the stainless models from Bud's a few months ago for $ 210 each minus the rebate. I have a few hundred rounds through each with no problems or malfunctions. They are an updated version of the PT111 that I bought about ten years ago for $ 350.
 
Not my photo, but I owned a G2S very briefly... Purchased it thinking it was the G2C. I did not know the G2S even existed, and I didn't notice the name was different when I placed my order online. Anyway, I sold it soon after I picked it up from my LGS... I just don't see that much of a size difference. The difference in width is very minimal, the other dimensions are basically the same, there's only a 2oz weight difference, and it's a 7+1 vs 12+1...

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G2S on left - G2C on right...


I agree.

For the slight difference in size, the five extra rounds available in the G2C make it more appealing to me.

If size was a concern, the 709 Slim is 0.3" shorter, 0.1" narrower, and 3 ounces lighter than the G2S and holds the same seven rounds with the extended mag that comes with it.

It has the same barrel length and is just as reliable as the G2x series.
 
First handgun I ever bought was a Ruger p95. I think the purchase price was $249. Solid gun and soft shooter. Wish I had held onto it.
 
I agree.

For the slight difference in size, the five extra rounds available in the G2C make it more appealing to me.

If size was a concern, the 709 Slim is 0.3" shorter, 0.1" narrower, and 3 ounces lighter than the G2S and holds the same seven rounds with the extended mag that comes with it.

It has the same barrel length and is just as reliable as the G2x series.
Yes, I don't understand their thinking behind the GCS other than they compromised having a smaller and lighter single stack in favor of saving money on tooling on a new slide. The G2C is thicker than the Shield, P365, and the Hellcat.
 
If $350 could possibly be in a budget category---

Tried out a Stoeger 9x19 yesterday, first time. Very solid, had a decent DA/SA trigger, overall ergos similar to other 9mm compacts. It looked rather cool.
Seemed like a solid gun.

The owner had reloaded his 9x19 ammo cases on the "light" side for this handgun.
How do your evaluate a gun's potential reliability with ammo which is "home-made", and not commercial?
 
Not a budget gun, but the discontinued Nano. Recently bought two more Beretta Nano's for around $250.00. These are the discontinued models since the APX Carry has replaced it. Basically the same gun. The Nano is my favorite Micro 9mm along with the Kahr. Just love the mild shooting they offer and the small size. This past Sept. finished putting 10,000 rds through the original and he looks barely touched. Buds had them on sale for $200.00 last week, serious thinking of buying another one. Gave one to my son when he came home from Army Medic school a few weeks ago. These guns are build tough. About 45 parts, modular design, easy to work on, clean triggers, or change grips. In fact just placed a APX Carry grip on on of the Nano's. Many folks will not look at the Nano due to the fact that like the Kahr it has a striker fired DAO trigger. For me that is a plus, a very similar trigger to the Kahr. And I shoot them them well.
The Picture above is a Beretta APX Carry with the new grip and slide serrations.
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The pic below is my two Nano one with the APX grip.

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What is interesting is that today I shot mixed ammo to include 150 rds of Wolf Steel case. Both guns really like this ammo. It ran great. It was the first time I have used this ammo in any gun in a long time. Came home and ordered 500 more rds from Target Sports. And at a Cost of only $6.43 shipped to the door is heck of a deal. Also received a nice gift from Target Sports. A fee Powder coated ammo can and 4 boxes of American Eagle 22.cal. edit.gif

I plan on getting another Nano and will be keeping a eye out. Last week bud's had a special for $200. But just looked and they are sold out. What is left anywhere as they have been selling quickly, the price now seems to be going up. that said, the New Carry is selling for around $325.00
 
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Not to derail this topic at all but why are these single stack 9s going for so inexpensive?
My only guess is competition?
To have a quality handgun for under 300., even 250 is truly a buyer's market.
 
I also bought the Taurus G2c when it went under $200. Wonderful size and ergonomics! Mine apparently has a flawed trigger because not only does it have the painfully long and mushy trigger pull that others note, but it also has a "catch" halfway through the pull that drives me nuts. Replaced the plastic striker guide with an aftermarket stainless steel one and no help. Taken it apart and used a jewelers file to remove all contact points that I could see possibly causing the phenomenon all to no avail. Was thinking about buying another one, with stainless slide, to see if I got a good one, but don't need it and can't throw away a couple of hundred bucks just for curiosity sake.

Yeah, I think there was an issue with the trigger safety in earlier models. The newer model G2C's have several improvements to them and shoot really smooth. I bought one in May this year and it is the newer model. I have zero issues with it, trigger still has the long take up, but it pulls smooth and has a good crisp break every time.

If you plan on keeping your G2C, you can try a mod that I have heard people doing to their pistols. Take some black heat shrink tubing and put it on the trigger, compressing the trigger safety. This seems to get rid of the catch during trigger pull.
 
I have such a good relationship with the local dealer that I can try used pieces before I buy.

But then when things get crowded there I step behind the counter and help out.

I've "closed" for him numerous times.

When it comes to "budget" guns I always tell customers to consider that they will be spending many times more than the cost of the gun on ammo (and accessories) so if there is a more expensive gun that has features they would like and appreciate then they will regret later not spending the money from the get.
 
Not to derail this topic at all but why are these single stack 9s going for so inexpensive?
My only guess is competition?
To have a quality handgun for under 300., even 250 is truly a buyer's market.
Competition, more supply than demand, and no real threat of gun control for the moment. It's actually a smart idea. I think many of us are buying guns we otherwise wouldn't have purchased if the prices weren't so low. I know I've seen a few deals I could not pass up even though I really didn't need a new pistol. Guess manufacturers are shooting for making a profit by selling higher quantities of firearms for a lower profit margin vs selling fewer firearms for higher profits...
 
I have such a good relationship with the local dealer that I can try used pieces before I buy.

But then when things get crowded there I step behind the counter and help out.

I've "closed" for him numerous times.

When it comes to "budget" guns I always tell customers to consider that they will be spending many times more than the cost of the gun on ammo (and accessories) so if there is a more expensive gun that has features they would like and appreciate then they will regret later not spending the money from the get.
Yea, if you have the money, get the gun you want. If you don't have the money, there are a lot of reliable and affordable pistols out there that will get the job done in the meantime while you save your pennies for the one you wanted. Then the inexpensive gun can always be sold or traded in.
 
Not to derail this topic at all but why are these single stack 9s going for so inexpensive?
My only guess is competition?
To have a quality handgun for under 300., even 250 is truly a buyer's market.
Yes, competition. There is a pretty good number of different compact and subcompact 9mms in this thread alone, and I'd bet that almost all of them are pretty good pistols. And I'm just talking about the new gun market, not to mention what's out there in the used gun market.
 
My Ruger ec9s has not been reliable at all. I'll send it back to Ruger one day but for now it's an emergency back up gun behind about 6 other guns.

My Ruger Security 9 has been a good solid gun bought for $300 earlier this year.
 
Browsing gun.deals & noticed Kentucky gun company is selling the black version of the SR9 for about $250. They are actually charging more for the Security 9 pistols. I also noticed the Walther Creed for $250 elsewhere today (Don't have any experience with the Creed). I knew the Rugers were selling for around $300 but did not expect to see them any lower than that.
 
First handgun I ever bought was a Ruger p95. I think the purchase price was $249. Solid gun and soft shooter. Wish I had held onto it.

I did the same exact thing back in the day. This past spring I finally found a decent P95 locally and im going to make it my night stand gun.

Plus, if you run out off bullets during a home invasion you can throw the P95 at them and do more damage;)
 
I came real close to buying a G2C as an inexpensive car gun. I ended up going a different route and got a Beretta Pico from academy for $199.

Can't beat a stainless steel 380 that weigh is 11oz and can handle the most powerful 380 loads.
 
Most of the time when you think of budget pistols... you think low quality....
This is a list of my lesser expensive quality 9mm all under $250.00
all purchased new , sans the Ruger

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Springfield XD9SC ... High quality through and through ... 13rd to 16rd capacity
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Ruger P95 ... I purchased this one used .. Very well built pistol
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S&W Shield.. a been there done that pistol... very well built pistol
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S&W SD9VE .. Most underrated budget pistol bulit ... Catches alot slack ove the heavy trigger .. This one seems better than the last one
I owned ...but still not as light as some people like... But after you get some range time .. you get more comfortable with it ....

They are some great deals out there for very dependable SD options

I have one of, or a variant of, all of these pistols. XD .45, Shield 9mm, SD9ve, and a Ruger p89. I paid $300 or less for all not including tax, etc. All of them perform well. The XD .45 service was probably the best buy for price and performance. It has never failed with any JHP or FMJ. Just a bit large for my hands though. The SD9ve works well and would suffice if I had no other 9mm (my preferred HD caliber) and would nearly work for ccw if the magazine release was more stiff. I actually like the trigger a lot after installing an Apex kit. There's nothing bad to say about the S&W shield and they are amazing bargains at the current price. My Ruger P89 was still NIB when purchased. It isn't my favorite gun to take the range but it wouldn't be my last choice if the bombs started dropping. DA trigger is very stiff and the SA is a bit clunky but it's a very, very soft shooter.
 
I bought an SW9VE several years ago when the M&P was coming out and S&W had deals on them. They had a $40 rebate and if you sent the receipt they would also send you two free mags. I paid $300 for the gun and figure after the rebate and free mags I have just a little over $200 in it.

Mine was all black which is good since I don't really like two tone guns. It also came with one of the high intensity flashlights like a Streamlight with extra bulb and bulb holder. So I considered it a bargain. And yes the trigger was crunchy. But after taking it apart twice I figured out where the crunch came from and fixed that. Its still a long trigger pull but now it is smooth.

This gun has never bobbled or failed in any way. It has been my truck gun for many years now. I carry one spare mag so I have 30 shots on hand. If I saw a deal on a used one I would buy it too. If Academy has a deal on their version for Black Friday I might pick up another one.
 
I was in my favored local gun store the other day, to get my delay on my Walther Q4. There was a gentleman who was hard up getting a HD pistol for his wife/girlfriend. $300 for a Bodyguard without laser was too much. Only thing I could recommend was a SCCY CPX-1. Store had it on sale for $145. It was right below my waist as I did the paperwork. I hated the SCCY. Inaccurate as all hell and my wife didn't like it, and I got it for her. But when you need a cheap firearm, it is better than a stick. He really liked my Q4, and I didn't have the heart to tell him anywhere close to what I paid for it since it is a grail gun for me.
 
I was at the club (outdoor Range) yesterday. Shot the Mossberg MC1 for the second time. I have to say I am impressed. Nice shooter for sure. Came home and looked it up and can be bought for $249,00 with free shipping. And the fact that it takes Glock Mags is a bonus.
 
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