Looking for a Handgun for < $200

I prefer x25 over anything I can buy at walmart. 9x18 is a great cartridge in its own right.

vtuck2 said:

Quote:
"It's legal to purchase a gun as a gift for someone who is legally able to own it."

That may be true. However, a couple of years ago, my wife and I, both CHL holders went into a gunshop to buy her a revolver. The clerk told us that he had a genuine concern about me buying it for her - even to the point of which of us handed him the credit card.

Maybe he was uninformed. But when dealing with the federal bureaucracy it is far far better to err on the side of caution. Hence, I would be inclined to simply give my son the money and point him to the source.

Vernon

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That clerk was completely uninformed. A Straw Purchase is illegal and that's when someone give you money to buy a gun for them under the false information it's actually for you. Anyone can pay for a gun someone else is buying as long as the gun is for that person and not for the person paying for it.

ArchAngelCD said:

That clerk was completely uninformed. A Straw Purchase is illegal and that's when someone give you money to buy a gun for them under the false information it's actually for you. Anyone can pay for a gun someone else is buying as long as the gun is for that person and not for the person paying for it.

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Thanks. I am not an expert on the subject and have no legal training, but it always seemed to me that paying someone to buy a gun for you and using your money to give someone are actually the opposite things. I know it is a grey area and hard to prove, but in s.ituations where both people of a CCL and not prohibited from buying a gun it should be obvious.

Straw purchse is giving someone $ to buy a gun when you cannot

A gift is giving someone a gun.

The CZ-82 has a lot going for it

I'd recommend the CZ-82. It is a great weapon at a very reasonable price, especially with your C&R license. The design and the workmanship of the pistol are top-notch (and the polygonal barrel is really cool, too--it almost looks like a smooth-bore to the naked eye). The 12-round magazine capacity is respectable. Mine is accurate, too (at least as accurate as I can make it).

While you probably won't find the ammo at Walmart, you can find it in any decently large gun shop or on-line. As you'd expect, imported Berdan primed ammo is more affordable and Boxer primed is a bit more expensive, but you can reload cheaply. Reloading dies are readily available (Lee dies are ~$30) and you can get boxer-primed brass from Starline.

The CZ-83 (in .380 Auto) is NOT a C&R-eligible gun. I don't own one, so I can't vouch for it, but I'd expect it to be a high-quality weapon like the CZ-82.

35 Whelen,
I live near J&G in Az. They list 6 handguns for under $200 and I believe all are C&R eligible. If conceal carry is an option, a Polish P64 in 9 x 18 is an option. I picked up a M57 Yugo a year ago, but then they had milsurp ammo in that ran under 20cents a round.

blindhari

I prefer the CZ-82 over the P-64. I have both and the CZ, in my opinion, is a superior gun from a design and workmanship perspective. Also, the CZ has twice the magazine capacity of the P-64.

Both are similar in size, but the CZ has a thicker grip due to its double stack magazine and is a bit heavier. The difference in size and weight isn't significant enough to rule the CZ-82 out of the running if you wanted it for concealed carry, though.

That clerk was completely uninformed. A Straw Purchase is illegal and that's when someone give you money to buy a gun for them under the false information it's actually for you. Anyone can pay for a gun someone else is buying as long as the gun is for that person and not for the person paying for it.

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Many clerks are uninformed. I remember a few years ago my dad and I (both CCW holders) were looking at a Uberti Cattleman at a gun show. I was thinking about buying it, and I stated in front of the sales clerk that maybe I'd sell it to my father a year or so later when he had the funds. The clerk nearly had coronary while snatching the gun back, whispering with some agitation "Ssshh!!! That's a straw purchase, there are plain cloths ATF agents all around just looking to bust anybody even talking about a straw purchase!" Whatever. I was rather embarrassed for the guy, actually. We went onto the next table. Note that face-to-face sales (and even gifting) of firearms is perfectly legal in my state (you do have to get a stupid pistol purchase permit for handguns) as long as the person isn't a felon, is of age, etc. Apparently, this guy thought ANYTHING involving a gun had to go through an FFL.

I prefer the CZ-82 over the P-64. I have both and the CZ, in my opinion, is a superior gun from a design and workmanship perspective. Also, the CZ has twice the magazine capacity of the P-64.

Both are similar in size, but the CZ has a thicker grip due to its double stack magazine and is a bit heavier. The difference in size and weight isn't significant enough to rule the CZ-82 out of the running if you wanted it for concealed carry, though.

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The 82 has a much smoother trigger as well. Mine is especially slick in DA, far better than my CZ-75 actually. The P-64s I've dry fired all had very stiff triggers. Even stiffer than S&W Sigmas, which is saying something.

You could email Robertson Trading Post and see if they have any surplus CZ 75's in the 200 range the down side is that i'm sure it's gonna need to be refinished but if thats something u can do yourself than it might be worth looking into.

id be looking for a police trade in revolver. sure they may be beat up on the outside, but in my experience they are very mechanically sound

CZ-82 in 9mm Makarov sells for about $175. They are very accurate and have great triggers. I love mine, and have even used it in competitions at the local range.

ArchAngelCD said:

A Kel-Tec PF-9...
NIB = $275
Used under $200

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This is what I would do. Or a used 4" .357 magnum.

Makarov is about the only gun in that price range i'd bother with. I did once find a LE trade in Ruger P85 in good shape that i snatched up. I also found a Mark III for $180 but deals like those are few and far between.

I see that you are in Texas which means that you probably have an Academy Sports nearby. I bought my son and my son-in-law each a Rossi .357 with a
3" barrel for $199 on Black Friday of 2010. I think the regular price is about $269.
They love 'em. My son shoots the heck out of his and has had no problems. No it's not a Smith and Wesson but it wasn't $600 either.
I also like the CZ 82/83 idea.

+1 for the CZ 82. I owned a Russian import Makarov pistol in 9x18 that I wished I'd never sold (that's another option, I think those can be found for +/- $200, and it was a neat little gun), but if I had it to do over again I'd get the CZ 82 instead.

UPDATE, I just saw on CDNN they have the PF-9 NIB for only $229.95!

200 its a hard budget the magic number seems to be between 300 and 350. at that point you start getting in to some of the lower end rugers p90's p95's. if you think he would be happy with a .22 i think the berretta neos starts at around 200.

You could go with a NAA mini-revolver. They are fun!

I will add a very sincere vote for the CZ 82. I own a bunch of handguns, mostly C&R. Ruger, Berettas, new SIG Sauer, P-64, Colt 38 Army spl, original Whitney Wolverine, Magnum Research 22.

The CZ-82 is the best deal out there in a semi. It is built to last and to function impeccably, and my old C&R gun does. Not the prettiest gun due to its glossy black paint finish, but the finish seems to protect the metal well, and is easy to touch up. Some folks are actually pimping them with different colors of duracoat, and they look great. (Go see them on gunbroker.) I'm actually tempted to buy another just to fart around with a new color scheme for the fun of it.

It holds 12 in the mag and I ran several mags through mine without a hiccup. I would trust my life on it. It is also great fun to shoot. Little recoil and lots of rounds without changing the mag. Mag release button drops it smoothly for a quick change. Mags are readily available at a reasonable price. I shot Silver Bear ammo -- if your range allows it you can grab it for less than $11 a box on sale. It works great, not a single problem in the CZ-82 (but it did jam in my P-64, which is more finicky).

But don't take my word for it. Google it and you'll find endless happy reports from others who took a chance on it. CZ is a great company with a long solid track record for making great guns.

If you act fast you can still find an 82 cheap. But prices are going up fast.

First Gun?
Concealed Carry?
Nightstand READY ?
No doubt in my mind, a revolver in AT LEAST a.38 Special.
Revolver for defense means ONE thing :
No muss, no fuss, MERELY pull the TRIGGER.

35 Whelen, Good luck.

I don't think most of the responders understood that you were looking for a 9mm Luger, 38 Special or 45 ACP and not someother caliber. I am not sure what the Bersa's go for, but the do make a 9mm Luger and a 45 ACP and are good pistols, I have one in 380. Also you could look for a used Stoeger they should be in your price range.

Jim

Hello 35 Whelen,
I just picked up a Smith and Wesson SW9VE(9mm) Sigma series on GB. I paid $200 and some change. I see that cheaper than dirt has them in the new catalog for $272.00 brand new.

I have handled the pistol and broke it down, but I have not fired it at the range yet. What I noticed is that the tigger, in my opinion, is not as bad as the wrap it gets. It is firm but sooth and even. Fits perfectly in my hand.

I looked at several pistols and had the bunch narrowed down to the SW9VE or a C&R Walther P-1 in the $300.00 price range. Part of this is due to the whacky California approved list, price and ammo allready on hand.

After the dros wait, I'll check in with a range report. From what I see so far, it looks like allot of pistol for the dollar, made in the USA by a high end outfit, safe, familliar and fires cheap readilly availible ammo.

35 Whelen said:

Thanks for all the input. I think I'm going to go the revolver route. SOG has Taurus 82's very reasonably priced. They're a little thread-bare on the outside, but I has a Parkerizing set up that'll take care of that.

35W

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That sounds like a great plan. Be sure to let us see the results after Parkerizing.

Up your budget to $300/Colt official Police 38

Many are C and R. 5 years ago I found one of these for $225 and it was my son's first handgun. I would not want my son's first gun to be something cheap.

Not sure at your location, but a LGS out here in IN sells Kel-tec semi-autos close to that price. They sell the 9mm, PF9 and the P11, either one for $269. And they sell theKeltec,
. .380, P38T for $199. Good prices if you don't mind it being a Keltec. My Dear wife has the PF9 and P11, both and loves them.