Best pistol for noob under $600

[Buzznrose]

People keep saying "Glock!"

Did all the accused read this in the OP?

I said striker fired gun for a new shooter and stand by that as the best overall choice. And Glock is an excellent choice.

That said, good on the OP for helping this guy out….definitely went above and beyond for his friend!

 

[Craig_AR]

Did all the accused read this in the OP?

Half (as you conjectured) did, in fact, not read it.
The other half, the ones with the G-LOCK tattoos read it and didn't care, because they know what everyone is supposed to have, whether they like it or not.

p.s. I've been a Maccer since 1985.

 

[Buzznrose]

Half (as you conjectured) did, in fact, not read it.
The other half, the ones with the G-LOCK tattoos read it and didn't care, because they know what everyone is supposed to have, whether they like it or not.

p.s. I've been a Maccer since 1985.

I read it. I also read this guy was a new shooter. I’ve seen a LOT of new shooters have a hard time with SA/DA pistols. I’m a proponent of a simple to operate solution with a single trigger pull. Most quality SF pistols fit this description.



What is a “Maccer”?

 

[TarDevil]

they know what everyone is supposed to have, whether they like it or not.

Well, opinions do vary.

 

[Jimbo80]

There are too many high quality pistols that can be found for $600 and less to count. Finding one that feels like it belongs in your hand is the hard part and AFAIAC the most important.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Turas G3C x 2!

 

[unclenunzie]

The young man chose an H&K P30, a fine choice from among several fine choices. I complement him and the OP on good taste alone. Just make sure he properly loads the magazines and remembers how H&K feels about him.

Thank you all for the replies and advice!
So, yesterday after work my friend and I took my coworker to the range. We took all our pistols! 1911s in 45 and 9mm, Browning HP, Glock 19 and 17, Sig p229 and p226, HK USP9 and USP9c, HK P30, Beretta PX4, and FNX9.

New guy liked alot of the pistols, but really liked the HK USP9 and Sig p229, but really took to the P30. By the third mag he was drilling out the 10 ring. This morning he found one gently used for $575.

Thank you all once again for the replies.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Case solved

 

[Nature Boy]

Threads like this mostly just generate responses where people tell the OP to buy their favorite gun.

That is true, but understandable considering not many would recommend buying a gun that they hate

 

[TarDevil]

The young man chose an H&K P30

The lad has good taste!

 

[Buckeye63]

CZ P10c , CZ P10F or CZ P10S
You look online you can find them @ $375ish
Its what a Glock 19, 17 & 26 should have been

 

[Ignition Override]

Buckeye63: Interesting. I really enjoyed renting a CZ P-10 or 10-c and also rented a Walther PPQ.

Have any of you handled a modern Steyr 9mm? It looks kinda strange. Just a little bit like the guns which the factory aliens picked up when they began searching for Charlie Sheen in "The Arrival".

Some people claim that this Steyr (striker-fired) is what the Glock wanted to become.
---This reviewer was pleasantly surprised, and summarizes his impressions in the two paragraphs Above the photo which depicts the sight picture.

Steyr C9-A1 9mm [FIREARM REVIEW] - USA Carry Is it strange that this Also is from Austria? Maybe a later Glock design might have tried to copy some of this.

A Compact (nib) with Buy Now for just $433 ?

 

[AustinTX]

That is true, but understandable considering not many would recommend buying a gun that they hate

Yeah, sure, but there’s plenty of room between recommending guns that one hates and only plugging one’s pet pistol/brand as the one-size-fits-all “best” pistol for anyone.

 

[P89DCSS]

Sorry but speaking from experience, there's no point in fighting it, Glock 45.5 MOS.

 

[Nature Boy]

Yeah, sure, but there’s plenty of room between recommending guns that one hates and only plugging one’s pet pistol/brand as the one-size-fits-all “best” pistol for anyone.

You and I agree that these “what should I get” threads tend to elicit folks to recommend what they they like.

However, I don’t understand why that’s a problem. Preferences vary enough that the OP gets opinions on several different makes and models with enough information to help guide his decision.

Back to the subject at hand. I would recommend a CZ75 PCR.



It’s one of my favorites. It’s my noob wife’s first pistol and she loves it. It’s as close to a “one size fits all” pistol that I know of. You really can’t go wrong with anything CZ offers.

 

[FL-NC]

Whichever Smith M&P. There's a lot to be said for handguns that only use 1 type of trigger to make them fire- starting with 1/2 of the effort in training.

 

[Odd Job]

Thank you all for the replies and advice!
So, yesterday after work my friend and I took my coworker to the range. We took all our pistols! 1911s in 45 and 9mm, Browning HP, Glock 19 and 17, Sig p229 and p226, HK USP9 and USP9c, HK P30, Beretta PX4, and FNX9.

New guy liked alot of the pistols, but really liked the HK USP9 and Sig p229, but really took to the P30. By the third mag he was drilling out the 10 ring. This morning he found one gently used for $575.

Thank you all once again for the replies.

Glad he found something he likes and can shoot well. Let me know if there is a significant update to his usage of the P30 and I will reopen this thread.