Budget 9 comparison

This is the cheapest I've ever seen the S&W SD9VE - $234.99 shipped

https://gun.deals/product/smith-wes...223900-no-credit-card-feesfree-shipping-27999

Blkhrt13

I think you might be venturing into apples to oranges territory when you start comparing single stacks to double stacks. I mean are you only interested in the overall cost of the gun or does mag capacity play into it as well? The SCCY and KelTec PF11 are both relatively inexpensive and double stacks but so is the slightly larger PT111. And the S&W M&Pc is sort of the same size as a Glock 19, an SA XD Mod.2 Sub-Compact, or a Ruger SR9c; all brand names but all costing significantly more money.

Everybody has their own idea about what makes for a good pistol. Price is certainly part of that evaluation. But I don't think that you can get a perfect pistol for everyone even at ten thousand bucks a pop.

I only have two 9mm pistols. I find shooting them both to be fun. One is a big old Ruger P85 any other is a Smith & Wesson Shield. You don't get much difference between pistols as you do from the Ruger and The Shield. But they're both fun to shoot.

The Ruger is really too big to carry around if I were into concealed carry. I kind of bought the shield as an eventual carry pistol. I need to put a few hundred more rounds through it before I'm completely comfortable with it though.

I can't tell you how many different 9mm pistols I've shot over the years just getting to shoot other people's pistols at various ranges. I found that most of them are quite shootable if you put a few rounds down range. There were some I didn't particularly like and some I thought were pretty nifty.

The only one I didn't really like was an Italian 9mm pistol that a guy I used to shoot with bought. The trigger pull on it was about 150 pounds I think. When i pulled the trigger it felt like I was pulling on sandpaper or something as it creeped back to the release point.

My friend took it apart to clean it one time and couldn't get it back together so he brought it back to the store where the gunsmith couldn't get it back together either. So they sent it off to the distributor who also handled warranty work and they couldn't get it back together either. Eventually they gave him a new one because no one could get the thing back together. I wish I could remember the name of the pistol. I swear this thing must have had 500 little Parts in it. With all the little Parts in it I was amazed it worked at all.

ilbob

I wish I could remember the name of the pistol. I swear this thing must have had 500 little Parts in it. With all the little Parts in it I was amazed it worked at all.​

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Sounds like a Benelli Model B76 I use to have. Way too many parts and way too complicated in it's design for a single stack 9mm.​

This is the cheapest I've ever seen the SAR B6P - $229.99 shipped:

https://gun.deals/product/eaa-sar-b6p-fullsize-pistol-9mm-45”-barrel-1-17rd-magazine-24999

I ended up spending $241.43 for my B6P. The SAR only comes with 1 magazine. I think the S&W SD9VE is probably a better deal. I ended up purchasing a 19 rd Mec-Gar mag for my B6P for around $20.00 The S&W SD9VE comes with two 16rd magazines.

I recently purchased a Taurus 709 from grab a gun for $185. Zero issues with it firing an assortment of FMJ and JHP ammo. Reasonably accurate and about the size of a Walther PP. It's what I've been carrying the past few months.

I have a SCCY, from when the Gen 2s first came out. Reliability has been flawless over maybe 500 rounds with 0 failures. Accuracy is what you would expect from a DAO hammer gun..not awesome unless I stage the trigger. Lack of aftermarket sights is really the biggest issue with it, you can get FOs (Twisted Industries) but no tritium. FO front with blacked out rear is OK for me but would prefer a glowing front dot. Other aftermarket (holsters, lasers, etc) exists.

The CPX and P11 by extension are SMALL for 10-12+1 guns. When you put one side by side with a Shield, XDs l, PPS, etc you can see easily see it. Despite being a smidge thicker (like 0.1") the height and length are noticably different. P938s and Kahrs aren't in your price group but that is where you need to go on size if you want smaller.

Blkhrt13 said:

The sccy and the P11 are also double stacks. I am sure I will have something with a better brand name. But I think I want to get a kel tec to play with.

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From your OP,
1. you're a machinist who is fully capable of tinkering with your guns, &
2. you're looking for a challenging DA trigger to help you train

While the KelTec P11 isn't for everyone, it will fulfill your requirements. You can find them in the $150 range (& lower if you're patient) on Gunbroker so it should also be your cheapest option. Do the "fluff & buff", it can't hurt & you'll likely enjoy it. One last recommendation is to either use original mags or get stiff springs for any S&W 59 series mags you use - the slide is light & the recoil spring is heavy, so the gun cycles fast. Weak mag springs won't get the cartridges up fast enough & you'll have a jammomatic.

I owned a Kel Tec P11. I nicknamed it Jam-O-Matic. I sold it for a loss.

S&W $75 rebate on M&P Shield expires 6/30/17 - https://www.smith-wesson.com/rebates

Sportsmans Outdoor Superstore selling various M&P Shield 9mm models (thumb safety, no safety, mag disconnect) as low as $319 and free shipping - https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/search.cfm?kword=M&P+shield+9

Smoky Mountain Guns and Ammo selling M&P Shield 9mm for $299 and free shipping - https://www.smga.com/p-104082-smith-and-wesson-180021-shield-9mm-3-18-bl-78rd-3dot.aspx

$299 - $75 = $224 (Almost no brainer)

Want up to 10 round capacity? MagGuts +1/+2 magazine kits - http://magguts.com/shop/smith-wesson

Blkhrt13 said:

But I think I want to get a kel tec to play with.

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You might want to rethink that. But it's your money and your time.

I think the best under $300 9mm pistols are the S&W Shield, the S&W SD9, the EAA Witness polymer small frame, and the SAR BP6, K2P and CM9.

I got a PT111 G2 a few weeks ago when academy sports had the fathers day special of a free .22 rough rider wit the purchase of the PT111. I haven't shot either yet so I cannot comment on the reliability yet. It feels decent in my hands and cycles smooth enough, The trigger is a little long and spongey, but has a distinct break point. The double strike capability has me intrigued. The fit and finish is good enough for a carry gun.
I had a P11 a few years ago. I never could warm up to the long and overly heavy trigger pull. The only function issue I had with it was with lead bullets. It had a short throat and I had to seat cast bullets deeper than I wanted in order for them to chamber.

I believe cabelas still has the pt111 g2 on sale for 199usd. I'm debating over this or something like a tanfoglio pavona, just because I would like a range pistol for my wife and kids, something they can work the slide on. I have a shield 9mm for myself that I like just fine but they don't like shooting it.

bannockburn said:

ilbob

Sounds like a Benelli Model B76 I use to have. Way too many parts and way too complicated in it's design for a single stack 9mm.​

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may have been.

grabagun is also selling these for $169. there are deals everywhere these days.

I'm very impressed with the Ruger American, Ruger SR9c, and LC9s for the money. I bought a LC9s a while back for under $300 OTD. It replaced my G43. I shoot it a LOT better, it holds 1 more round and if it is any bigger I can't tell it. And I just like having the thumb safety. I see one of the American Compacts in my future for about $80 more.

I've had a Taurus PT 709 slim for 9 years now. I still carry it from time to time. Mine has adjustable sights.