9mm under $400

Hey guys. So I went to my LGS a few days back, looking at their inventory. I was hoping to find a Ruger SR9E or perhaps a S&W SD9VE... They had neither, and I wound up leaving with a new Glock 19 for $455 OTD. I really don't want the Glock though, and I'll probably wind up selling it in the future. So I'm still looking for a good budget 9mm like the two above. Money isn't an issue, I just get some sort of weird satisfaction using a cheap handgun that works just as well as more expensive models. Any other recommendations other than those? Perhaps the Canik TP9?

 

Those S&W pistols are issued to the afghan police, and they hold up reasonably well. I know because we ended up with a few after we took them from bad guys who didn't need them any more who got them probably from afg cops who didn't need them any more. We ended up giving them to our translators. Ruger has a rep for quality affordable products that work as advertised and great customer service. Have you shot the Glock 19 yet? IMO you upgraded from those other 2 choices and most other choices when you "settled" for the Glock 19.

 

I haven't shot the 19. I've shot the 17, and I have the 21. I'm just not the biggest Glock fan I guess. I'm not saying they aren't great guns, because they are...

 

Charter Arms PITBULL in 9mm

Taurus Millennium G2 PT111

SAR B6P

You can also occasionally get the Taurus 709 for $199.99

You can also occasionally get the SCCY for $199.99

 

You don't specify whether you want new or used, metal or plastic, carry or range, home defense or competition, so it's difficult to make a solid recommendation.

You could set the advanced search on Gunbroker for 9mm and specify a price under $400 and most every 9 less than $400 will pop up. I shop that way but set the max price at $2;75, as I'm looking for seriously underpriced pistols. I would also look specifically at CDI on gunbroker, they have excellent quality at very fair prices.

My own personal under $400 guns include a bunch of Stars (Super B, 30s and 28 and especially their UltraStar), older Berettas (1951 and 92s), the Cougar either Turkish or Italian, Taurus PT 99 (it's a Beretta 92 clone and has adjustable sights), THE S&W 5906, and a S&W 990L. Also price out the Sig 2022, Walther PPX, and some of CDI's Hi Powers (which are a bit over $400, but wow, it's an FN HP) and the S&W value series ala the 908.

 

The M88A - I wouldn't say its as nice as the Ruger SR9E or S&W SD9VE, but it seems to shoot OK.

 

Sw5906

 

Just try the 19 before you do anything drastic. See if you can borrow one if you don't want to fire the new one since you may end up selling it- NIB and unfired always helps resale.

 

S&W M&P9. Either the Shield or full size are commonly available for under $400, as long as you don't need night sights.

For more suggestions I'd start with Slickguns or Grabagun and search away. You will find plenty of choices in that price range. I'd advocate spending just a little bit more though, but there's nothing wrong with the S&W M&P choices I provided. I think you'd be hard pressed to find better quality and support in that price range.

A little more money will buy something in the CZ 75B family which IMO is superior to anything else in their price range. A while ago CZ used to be the "best kept secret" in guns but the secret's out

Others to consider are the various CZ clones. I don't have any of them but they seem to have a well-deserved reputation also.

Edit: Just curious why you wrote you're looking for "budget 9mm" yet "money isn't an issue". Which is it?

 

Places like CDNN Investments and Summit Gun Broker frequently have good deals on police surplus Glocks, both Glock 17s and Glock 19s.

I got my 2nd Gen Glock 19 from Summit. It was in great shape, plus it has a neat VA Beach Sheriff's Dept. roll mark on the slide. I needed to do some recommended parts upgrades, and replaced the connector with a 3.5lb. Ghost, but even then it didn't take me over $400. I ended up buying a Storm Lake cut rifling barrel for it, but only because I reload my own ammunition and ONLY use hard cast lead bullets. If you're sticking with factory ammunition you can keep the OEM barrel.

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll check them out.

v35, I do really like the CZ75, and I will be getting one in the near future. As far as the budget, like I said in my first post, "I get some sort of weird satisfaction using a cheap handgun that works just as well as more expensive models." I have a couple expensive guns, I'm just looking for something that is cheap, reliable, and a beater type gun.

 

Thanks, now I realize I should have understood what you meant

In that case I think the M&P would strike a good balance between reliability, accuracy, ease of use, factory support, and being a "beater" type gun that you won't mind abusing.

I don't have a SCCY but I think they're worth serious consideration for something in that category. For such an inexpensive gun it gets pretty good reviews and factory support also seems to be good. Lifetime warranty.

https://www.classicfirearms.com/sccy-cpx-2cbsb-9mm-blued-blue-aqua-without-safety

Hard to beat that price, and I like the color

I'd add police trade-ins to your search. You can often get a perfectly serviceable Glock that should last forever from CDNN and it will already come pre-abused Haven't seen any recent police trade-ins from them though.

 

"I would also look specifically at CDI on gunbroker, they have excellent quality at very fair prices."

Excellent milsurp guns. They have Stars, S&W's, and CZ75's in your price range.

 

If you dig around online you can find a Taurus PT 111 Millenium G2 $199.99 - $219.99 on sale. I like mine. Hickok45 did a review of them on his youtube channel a while back. There are a lot of good inexpensive options these days.

 

Springfield XD essentials kit can usually be had under $400.

 

I wouldn't give up on that Glock 19 either. You might be floored when you find out that you might only get $300.00 cash or trade value for it, that's what I was offered for my Gen3 17, 2 OEM mags & the box when I wanted to deal for a Gen4 Glock 34, that Glock 17 is staying home with me!

 

Hi power clones for $300 or so. Like these Mauser-marked one from FEG (not my auctions):

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=551596881

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=551596878

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=551596889

Or this one:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=551084643

 

give the tristar pistols a look. You won't be disappointed.

 

Give the Glock 19 a chance. Its like a hammer not pretty nor sexy but it is reliable, shoots accurately, right size for concealed or service use and is durable enough for for years of trouble free shooting use with +P and even +P+ ammo. Magazines are relatively inexpensive as well as night sights which IMO are the only useful add on for a defense pistol needed.

I bought my Gen 2 Glock 19 30 years ago. Took me a year or two to warm up to it but now its my most trusted carry gun and resides by my bed for when things go bump in the night.

 

Bersa Thunder 9.

 

I very recently picked up a CZ 75B SA for 450 plus transfer fees off Gunbroker.
It's been a fantastic shooter for me, I have a thread going on currently about it.

If I was in the market for a truck gun type beater, I'd snap up one of the surplus CZ 75b's off Gunbroker in a hot second.

There's plenty of surplussed Hi-Powers on there as well. I'd be hard pressed to think of a better value for your dollar.

The Glock's are very fine pistols, I just don't shoot the as well as other types. I wish I did though. They're very ubiquitous and solid performers at a decent price point. I can't shoot them very well, but I do recommend them to alot of new shooters.

 

Would love to find one of those under $400.

 

Another vote for the used 3rd gen S&W autos.
Some very dependable and well built guns.

I just don't particularly care for DA/SA triggers, and slide mounted controls.

 

Bud's has police trade in M&P 9s for $349 at the moment.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...ducts_id/718002823/Used+Guns/Police+Trade-Ins

 

Cheap = stick with your Glock. Concentrate on upgrading the 19. Sights, polish, maybe some trigger work and some trigger guard shaping. My box stock Glocks don't hold a candle to my $900 modded ones. So I vote to not keep adding stock cheapo pistols to the collection, and just fixing up what you already have. And that cheap pistols don't work as well as pricier ones.

"But the NEW $50,000 diesel trucks get 3mpg better than my paid off 2008 gasser. I could save a whopping $10 a week!"