Buy cheap now or expensive next year?

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LeafsFan

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Got a question.

Only gonna get one pistol in the forseeable future as I'm going back to school full time and literally have no spare money.

I plan to get one pistol, which will serve double duty as home defense and target shooting, until I have more disposable income and can buy more.

Choice #1: I can go with a cheaper pistol, the $200 Czech CZ-82 for instance, and have it today.

Choice #2: Wait for a year or longer, but get the gun I really want, a S&W M&P .40 which goes for $500 brand new. And hope nobody breaks into my house in the meantime (although I could always repell them with my 91/30's fixed bayonet...)

Anybody got pros and cons to share? I know the Czechs make quality items, but how does 9x18 fare as a man-stopper? Is it very different from the 9x19?

Opinions, anyone?
 
Choice #1: I can go with a cheaper pistol, the $200 Czech CZ-82 for instance, and have it today.

Choice #2: Wait for a year or longer, but get the gun I really want, a S&W M&P .40 which goes for $500 brand new. And hope nobody breaks into my house in the meantime (although I could always repell them with my 91/30's fixed bayonet...)
Click to expand...

Buy the CZ now, sell it next year to help fund the S&W, if that's what you really want.

9x18 fare as a man-stopper?
Click to expand...

Better than nothing, which is what you'll have for the next year or more under Plan B.
 
If it were me, I'd look for a used S&W model 10. You can find these used for around $200, like here: http://www.vivasandson.com/2007-030.html

Then get the S&W M&P .40 when funds are available. As a cool bonus, you end up with both types of gun named the "Military & Police".
 
2 thoughts
1) It is better to have a gun and not need it, than to need one and not have it.
2) There are better guns like the S&W Model 10 as stated above.
 
I had bought an East German Makarov for about $130 around 1994. The supply dried up and it has become an expensive gun.

What I am driving at, the CZ82/83 are the same quality and are currently sold as a bargain. I can hardly imagine that you can loose a lot of money on a $200 CZ.

Once the supply has dried up, the prices will rise. I also expect the S&W Model 10 to appreciate in value, now if you can find a decent one for $200, you've got yourself a fine shooter.
In the meantime, I expect the prices of used S&W M&P semis to drop a little bit with inceased numbers becoming available on the used market.
 
Let's assume you have a $300 budget

What's available within that range.

S&W K or even L Frame revolver

FEG Hi-Power. There was one here a couple of months ago for $299.
http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg130-e.htm

Ruger P95 - Clunky and ugly but a serviceable gun.

The CZ52 is also in your range. Not the best for HD but it would work in a pinch.
http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg58-e.htm

A local dealer here has a Argentine Ballester Molina 45acp for $325. An old gun but a good rugged 1911 style pistol(looks like a 1911 but the internals are different).
http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg158-e.htm

The Walther P38/P1 is available at Aim Surplus for $239. An excellent pistol.
http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg68-e.htm

There's probably more guns in that price range, but that's all I can think of now.

Troll the gun shops and gun shows. With a wad of cash and some haggling skill you might get a decent gun that will serve your needs.

If you really are concerned about home defense, a good used pump shotgun should be around $125-$150. Much better than a bayonet.

Good Luck

ZM
 
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Buy now, sell later.

Personally, I'd opt for anything over nothing. Selling it later to finance what you really want is a good option later. You'll lose some money in the deal because you won't get your money all back in the trade, but it puts a HD gun in your pocket right now.
 
well, there's nothing wrong with the CZ, but I was going to say to look for a decent 38 revolver, as others have already mentioned, since everyone should have one in their collection and ammo will be MUCH more plentiful/easily obtained. That's what I did when I was in college and was the starving college student. Had to sell most of my guns for the money, but kept the 38 in the bedstand. That and one old beat-up 16 gauge double were the only two firearms I think to surivive the starving college days I think *sigh*. Oh, and an SKS, largely because it wasn't worth enough to bother selling back then.
 
Get something now

I would rather have something rather than nothing, so if the CZ is in your price range, then go for it. If you could fork up another $50, and you look hard, you could probably find a nice used 357/38spl or maybe a decent 9mm. Look for some of those old S&W 9mm autos. They are good guns that are often overlooked. Also, you might, just might be able to find a police trade-in Glock or something in that range. If you look around and wheel and deal a little, you may be able to get a nice deal.
 
First, the CZ82 may only cost $200 but its not a CHEAP firearm. Its very well made, very accurate and high capacity - a far better firearm then the price lets on. There are several $500 firearms that I would choose the CZ82 over, price doesnt equate quality.

I would much rather be protected NOW, then protected later....thats a fact.

Buy the CZ NOW......save another $200 and get yourself a decent milsurp rifle or shotgun.....then your really covered.
 
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