Can't decide between a few guns

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stampederunner

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I'm looking to make my first pistol purchase and I just can't make up my mind. I have been renting a lot of different guns and really haven't found that one gun that stands out as the perfect one. I thought I had my mind made up on a brand new ruger p-95 for 300 bucks, then I found good deals on 2 used guns. I found a used police trade-in .40 SW99 for 290 dollars and a used 9mm taurus 24/7 pro with exactly 100 shots through it for 270. Is the SW99 or taurus any better than the ruger? Will any of them hold their value better? All three guns come with the same accesories including a case and 2 magazines the SW99 however does have night sights. My primary use for the gun will be a lot of practice until I am a better shot and to ensure that shooting is something I will actually stick with, then I will justify spending more for a pistol. I considered a .22, but I do want something with decent power to keep in the night stand for that just in case situation. I'm not too worried about concealing the weapon as I plan on buying something else soon for concealment.

Is there another gun to consider in the 300 dollar range?
 
Which one do you hit with? They all seem to be within about three or four Big Macs of being the same price. I'd go for the one I group best with, fits my hand, and I could afford to feed ammunition.
 
Smith will hold value better than a Ruger and definitely better than Taurus. If ya look around enough you should find a very good condition Glock or similar tupperware for your price range. Personally I dont much care for the .40 as its a high pressure, spendy, stiff recoiling and marginally accurate cartridge. I think as a newbie you'll develop your skills much better by using a 9mm which is much cheaper to shoot. Of course if you dont intend to carry it you just may be better off with a quality .22 rimfire pistol like a Browning Buckmark. Thats how I started.:)
 
The S&W and the Ruger would be easier to sell IMHO,if you decide shooting isn't for you. I don't like .40s. You could do worse though, just cost more to shoot.
You could always look for a S&W entry level 9mm.
 
i think i would start out with a 9mm. good idea checking out the used guns since it will be primarily used for plinking.

you can check out the sigma line from s&w.
 
My primary use for the gun will be a lot of practice until I am a better shot and to ensure that shooting is something I will actually stick with, then I will justify spending more for a pistol. I considered a .22, but I do want something with decent power to keep in the night stand for that just in case situation. I'm not too worried about concealing the weapon as I plan on buying something else soon for concealment.
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Sir, Welcome to the forum.

One thing to consider, if you ask 20 people which gun/caliber/sight/etc is best. You are likely going to get at least 17 different opinions. It's the same asking which car is best to buy. Which one will be easiest to learn to drive and still be good for off-road and rugged terrain?

As a new shooter my recommendation goes back to your stated use for the gun. First you want to learn to shoot. That means having a gun that you can afford to shoot a lot of rounds and often.
As you've ruled out a .22, my second choice would be to recommend a 9mm. A decent 9mm can be found at a moderate price (new or used). The ammunition is readily available and low cost. The moderate recoil will let you learn the basics of handgun shooting easier and faster.

My primary recommendation is to SAFELY learn the proper 'grip', 'stance', sight, and trigger control the right way the first time. It's a lot easier to learn it the right way, than to UNlearn the wrong way. There is a lot of good web info on the basics of shooting as well as poor or bad info. Try to stay with reputable sources. Many local ranges have clubs or national organizations regularly shooting. This is great place to go and see what the better shooters are doing and to tell them your situation. Shooters are good people, and you'll likely get good tips and suggestions, just by asking.

Stay safe and enjoy the trip.

P.S> Oh, having a 9mm you are confident with, is a comforting addition to your nightstand.
 
I believe you could find new SW99 for around $250, and for about $100 more a used Taurus PT 92. It is a good copy of the Beretta 92FS, check out http://budsgunshop.com for a good selection of used pistols. If you want to learn how to shoot, get a .22 target pistol, but if you must get a centerfire pistol, start with a 9mm not a .40S&W.
 
I have 25 handguns, from 7.62x25 Tokarev to a 45 Kimber Gold Match, but I carry a Glock 26 with Laser Grip site. Love that red dot on a target. Not any good in bright light so I still practice a lot.
 
If I was to buy a Taurus, it would be the Taurus 24/7 OSS which was designed to compete for the Military's new official sidearm contract a year or 2 ago that got squashed by bureaucrats. Just my 2 cents
 
I owned a SW40 for some time. I didn't like the trigger pull much; but with practice I was able to do okay. It is a long trigger pull (more like a revolver double action). That said, it might not be bad for initial shooter. It was reliable. One of my daughters shot it well so I gave it to her as a college graduation present. I attend the Washington Arms Collectors Gun show quite often and see them for sale at reasonable prices.

While I am a large caliber person (I like calibers which start with a "4"), there is nothing wrong with a 9mm. From my experience, the 9mm appears to be a little more accurate than the .40...nothing that would make a difference in a self-defense situation...just interesting. I'm in the market for a Glock 26 for my wife. She was hooked on her KelTec P32; but has decided that she doesn't like the accuracy (mostly short barrel, sights, and heavy trigger pull). So I will be getting a 9mm into my arsenal.

Bottom Line:
1. Listen to the folks on this thread and analyze their advice. You will get some good input with regards to reliability. Trigger pull, accuracy, and other factors are totally trumped by reliability wrt self defense weapons.
2. Don't let price be the total discriminator in your decision. An extra $100 might be a very good investment.
3. Shoot the candidate pistols before you buy.
4. Consider ammunition costs. If you have a self defense pistol, you will have to shoot it a LOT if you want to be ready.
 
I was informed today that I am not allowed to buy a gun until after christmas. I think my friend who got me interested in handguns told my girlfriend I was wanting the P-95!
 
The Sig P6/P225 is a little over $300.

You might also consider the CZ82. Chambered in 9X198 Marakov can be had for less than $225. Very accurate little gun that has a buttery smooth DA/SA trigger. Spend the rest on cheap Russian Ammo. Go out and shoot some guns. Whichever one feels best in "your" hand.

CZ-82-Right-2.jpg
 
Your first pistol experiene should be a good one. I would go with the gun with the most reliable reputation.

Actually, if it was my first pistol - I would opt for a .22 - a ruger Mark II or Browning Buckmark. Ammo is much cheaper.
 
Love the CZ, just feels so sexy smooth, doesn't really look it, but a hell of a gun

and thats part of the reason I'm so poor, But gun rich.....
actually it's the feeding of the damn things that will make you go broke
and when you consider it, a gun only cost you two cases of ammo, so why not get one that will really let you enjoy those two cases.
 
Love the CZ, just feels so sexy smooth, doesn't really look it, but a hell of a gun

and thats part of the reason I'm so poor, But gun rich.....
actually it's the feeding of the damn things that will make you go broke
and when you consider it, a gun only cost you two cases of ammo, so why not get one that will really let you enjoy those two cases.
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The CZ82 is a diamond in the rough. They look unrefined. Tool marks, black paint finish plastic grips but take one out for a spin and they simply shoot..... :D
 
I just ordered a tokarev to shoot cheap...I say go with a 9mm german-made sig p6 from J&G for about $350 to your ffl..
 
Like someone else said check with J&G sales and Top Gun Supply they usually have some imported Ex-police Sig P6'S and/or some P225"S that have come in from Germany and Zurich that are in fairly decent shape and rock reliable for a fairly decent price. I have one of the P6'S and it is as reliable and accurate as any other pistol I have.
 
As many people have pointed out, there is no lack of good quality pistols on the market, and ya go broke trying to get them all....
 
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