9mm For $500 give or take

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LKB3rd

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I have a friend who wants to purchase a 9mm. He wants a semi auto, service sized, but i think in the future he may carry it concealed.
I already told him that I think he should be looking at Glocks and Springfield XD's, but he is on the fence because he is considering a Ruger for "$200 less" (his quote).
He says he wants to spend $4-600 at the most. Less would be preferable to him. I told him that if he posted that here my guess was most people would tell him to get a Glock, followed by some XD recomendations.
So, I am doing him a favor and posting it here for recomendations, and I will point him to this thread after some responses.
Thanks for helping (no matter what you recomend)
:)
 
cheaper

LKB3rd: Sir; there are a couple of fine and I mean fine under $400.00.
Ruger SR9
Stoeger Cougar 8000 'formerly miss marketed Beretta] same unit different name
Nothing wrong with Glock
Nothing wrong with XD's
The Ruger SR9 is Rugers newest in the market. After reading alot and enjoying 500-12,000rd report. The unit has held up well and accurate. Ruger service is legendary.

There is another 'brand', and I'm not remembering.
 
Glock 19, XD9, FN9, Sig P226 CPO, S&W M&P9, CZ75 even the Ruger SR9 looks promising. He needs to handle and shoot these to see what he likes. Lots to choose from.
 
The Ruger SR9 is incredibly thin for a double-stack nine. Definitely worth tracking one down to check it out.

I think brand Neophyte1 was forgetting was S&W with the M&P line. I've seen lots of good reviews and they do fell nice in the hand. I have to rent one soon. Don't rule out the Sigma either since they just might be the best bargain in a hi-cap 9mm currently available http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/520103904/m/4561077362/p/1. Both have a $50 rebate and 2 extra free hi-cap mags if you buy before 4/30.
 
One nice thing about 9mm is so many choices. Since money is a concern, don't overlook the $50 rebate and free mags on M&P. Also, figure whether you'll buy mags for any gun and what your total out-lay is going to be for the
gun
holster
ammo
mags
cleaning kit
ear protection
eye protection
targets
range fees
sights
trigger job
mag holster
...well you get the idea. Avoid buying a gun that can't afford to shoot.
 
CDNN has M&P's on sale for $400 right now. Even including shipping and FFL transfer, once you factor in the $50 rebate you are under $400 for a gun and 4 mags. Can't beat that.
 
The Ruger SR9 definitely looks like a good gun, for around $450. As an XD owner, I would absolutely recommend on of those, XD-9 compact, should run right at $500 most places.
 
Whenever I get asked this question, I round up all my guns and go to a local range with a wide selection of rental guns and have 'em try a wide variety and see what feels best to them.

I won't talk about prices until we've established a preference - if they do best with a high dollar Sig, we can find them a used one if need be.

I try diligently not to let my biases be known before hand. If they know of my preferences, I make sure and tell them that those preferences are very subjective and to completely disregard them in their choices. I assure them that if they are drawn to a gun that I absolutely don't feel to be safe and reliable, I'll let them know then - but these days there just aren't that many of those anymore.

Having gone through all of that, I would say that 60+% of the new or less experienced shooters that I take on "kid in a candy store" day end up gravitating towards the CZ. Men and women alike. Even several women with small hands that I was sure would love a 1911 with slim grips, preferred the feel of a CZ.

Joe
 
He should consider a police surplus Glock from somebody like Summit Gunbroker or CDNN. I got a great deal on an ex VA Beach Sheriff's Dept. Glock 19 a couple of years ago. Glock 17s are almost always available.
 
Lots of good choices under $400. And they've all been mentioned. Tell him to hold them all, and buy the one that feels best. In terms of function and reliability, they're all the same.
 
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XD or ruger should work just fine, have him try both if he can, or at least hold them both before he makes up his mind.

Avoid the block.
 
CZ75B - Double Action -or- Single Action & can be carried
Cocked & Locked - All Steel has heft to soak up recoil,
Good trigger design, no magazine disconnect & nice shape grip
 
I told him to go to a shop or even better a range that rents and try a few if he could. He says the shops near him seem to be heavily geared toward shotguns.
Bozo: You're right. But, I have bought stuff that I thought I wanted in the past and it turned out something else would have been better, and he's not rolling in cash at the moment, so I thought I'd try to help him some. Also, he has said something along the lines of "Glocks you pay a lot more for the 'sweetness' where I could spend less and get a Ruger." So, it sounds to me like he likes the Glocks but thinks they are more expensive than they are-especially used. That's also why I recomended the XD, because to me it is a slightly tweaked Glock type, with different grip angle(which I like better).
Thanks to all for the recomendations.
 
M&P, M&P, M&P, and M&P. $439 shipped from Bud's. Adjustable grips. Excellent (100% reliable). Fun for target, useful for personal and home defense.

--jcd
 
glocks, xd's etc also though ruger makes good stuff and they have a great cs that takes care of the customer. have him look at the sr9.
 
I'd suggest taking the road less traveled...

Shoot a variety of "older" guns and get a good used one that fits him, he has actually shot, not being marketed and posted a whole lot about today on gun forums.

3913s come to mind...
Police trade-in 3913 was a really great thing for CCW-ers when the Depts went to new guns.
Some folks trade in nice , proven, quality "older" guns such as 3913s for the gun of the week.

Some of these include mags, holsters and other goodies - thus saving even more monies.

Just a thought...
 
For Dirt cheap... the Sig P225. After that i'd probably get a used Glock or a S&W Sigma pistol (yes the trigger sucks badly...)
For DIRT cheap, i'd get a CZ-82/83? C&R! It should be a great shooter and work just fine.
Good luck
-bix
 
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