Good Centerfire Auto in Walmart Caliber for $200?

star bm

Aim Surplus has Sig P225 9mm surplus guns for $260.

Increase the budget to $300 and get a surplus P6/P225. They're a great buy on great guns. We got about 50 in at the shop where I work a few weeks ago. They have holster wear, some more than others, but the internals are excellent across the board. Trigger pull can be improved and reliability maintained with a hammer spring swap or by cutting a few coils from the one that's in the gun.

I would look for a used Ruger P series pistol like a P89 or P90. in 9mm or .40. They are stout, reliable, high capacity semi autos that are known for functioning well and feeding a variety of ammo brands.
You can probably find one in good condition for around $250.
About the only negative thing about them is that they are a bit clunky looking, not the most sleek looking pistols but are very functional.

The Norinco 213 runs around $150-$175. It is a Tokarev TT-33 copy in 9mm and is reliable as all get out. It is ugly, no doubt about it. I bought 2 in 1992 for $89.00 each. I've been shooting one of them for years, no problems whatsoever. I pull the trigger, it goes bang. No failures at all. It is the most accurate handgun I own. They have a bad rap, though, so the prices are good.

S&W Sigma, around here, generally priced at $269. Throw in the $50 rebate, and you're into a factory-new gun w/4 magazines for $219 plus tax.

Despite the tough time people generally give Sigmas, I never had a problem with mine.

I doubt that you can get a QUALITY, centerfire, auto for $200, unless you run across somebody that's in need of quick cash.

Can you say......"Hi-Point"?

Taurus PT92 can all be had in the low $200s. Sold my PT92 last fall for $225 - 9mil, rugged, reliable, and good track record.



Q

Hi-Point is an option. They're horrendously ugly but they do work. But first, check out what Mastiff said above. I have a Norinco 9MM 213 also. It's a fantastic gun. It's the most accurate centerfire handgun I own, too. I got it because it was really cheap and I was totally surprised at how good the thing performed, a total sleeper. Search for "norinco 213" on gunbroker, auctionarms, gunsamerica, etc. They're around.

PS: You definitely can get a good pistol for $200 but you gotta look a little.

Here is one that would be perfect. I just got in my SOG catalog this morning. They have the Star BM (a compact 9mm) for $189. Star pistols were well made, reliable and strong pistols.

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Critical Look at Star Model BM.htm

They also have a CZ-70, a small 32 ACP for $159.

Hard to beat the Sigma deal with the rebate and free mags. The newer Sigma's are decent guns just with horrible triggers, plus S&W service if ever needed is considered to be excellent.

Bulgarian Makarov, it's the most reliable semi-auto pistol ever made. You can find one in excellent condition for 200 bucks. However, the 9x18 ammo can't be found at walmart, you can get them anywhere online and have it shipped to your home though.

I'd take a Makarov over anything mentioned already but the OP did put in the Wal-Mart condition. Too bad, because my Mak is the least finicky, most reliable thing I own except, of course, my '62 slant six Plymouth.

Star BM:

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Critical%20Look%20at%20Star%20Model%20BM.htm


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Model_BM

He did good!