cheap semi-auto

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ronss

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i was thinking of spending 500-600 for a semi auto pistoll, then i starting to consider the option of spending a lesser amount. the reason for that is, maybe i get a good quality semi-auto between 300-400...is that possible, to get a quality, reliable, and great functioning semi-auto in the price range...or is it, you get what you pay for in guns.

not sure, but right now, stricker, double /single action...but its not written in stone.
 
Sure you can get a good gun in $300-$400 range
Used or new

Ruger SR guns
S&W SD series
Ruger P95
SIG P250
Walther PPX
 
At this point, you're going to have a bunch of people come in and tell you a variety of things, ranging from "Don't bother spending less than X amount, otherwise you'll be buying crap you'll regret" to "any gun works, from that $15 Taurus to the $15K MP5". You have to decide how much quality you want from your gun.

Does my $450 CZ85 function as well as my $1000 Sig? Sure, they'll both put bullets downrange. But does the Sig function BETTER? Definitely. Tighter groups, with more reliable parts. The thing is that cheaper guns have a greater variance in quality. You'll get a cheapo 9mm that might work great, while the same gun your buddy bought is awfully broken. More money means more consistency in quality, and probably less trips to the gunsmith/less boxes sent back to the Mfr.

In the end, figure out a price point you want to stay at, shoot all the guns available at that price point, and figure out what YOU'RE happy with. I could tell you all day about the brands I tend to avoid these days and brands I love, but it doesn't matter one bit if you have a different experience, which you will.

Personally, I recommend spending a little more cash at the beginning, and get something that will last you a while. $500-600 gets you into the range of a huge amount of quality firearms. $300-400 will definitely get you a gun that shoots, and probably one that isn't a complete waste of metal. Go try a few out at both price points at the range, and make an educated decision.

This is the internet, and any advice you get should be taken with a whole shaker of salt.
 
Tristar is importing the Canik lineup. They are built in Turkey to military specs and run about $350 all year long at Academy stores. Probably among your best bets.

Lots of positive reviews online and I can say from firsthand experience that they build excellent guns. IMO they're a good contender for the best gun in their price range.
 
i have had others mention the tri-star 120....i see that i can get the sig sauer sp2022, for $474 in phoenix.......shooters vault....not sure what the difference is between the sp2022 and the sp 250? i can see this is going to be a diffult choice, too many guns
 
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SIG P2022 is an excellent fullsize pistol, underpriced IMHO. DA/SA design w/decocker.

SIG P250 is also excellent but a completely different beast: True DAO (think really good revolver trigger) and surprising modularity (the entire pistol is centered around a single serialized FCU [fire control unit] that can be easily swapped to different calibers & grip modules).
With a single FCU you can go from a fullsize 9mm to compact .40 to subcompact .357 SIG or fullsize 9mm to compact 9mm to subcompact 9mm in only a couple of minutes.

Try to shoot/handle as many different pistols as you can before making your final decision.
Tomac
 
ronss said:
i have had others mention the tri-star 120....i see that i can get the sig sauer sp2022, for $474 in phoenix.......shooters vault....not sure what the difference is between the sp2022 and the sp 250? i can see this is going to be a diffult choice, too many guns
Click to expand...

SP2022 is a double action/single action gun. The P250 is double action only. SP2022 is generally more highly regarded than the P250.
 
I consider the $300-$400 range budget, but not "cheap".

Used will get you quite a bit for that kind of money, and there are some decent options for new.

As mentioned, the Ruger SR and P series (don't like personally), the S&W SD guns (pretty nice, actually), a couple of the budget Sigs, and quite a number of imports, such as the Witness line and several Turkish made guns
 
I like the S&W, S.D.9 or S.D.40 handguns. I have owned a number of them starting with the Sigma. They have all served me well & I have had a few friends buy them after shooting mine. The last one was $349+$10BGC.= $359 out the door. Another $86 for tritium night sights. Not bad for a brand new S&W. Some of the others mentioned are fine guns also. But I try to buy U.S.A.! Good luck with whatever you choose. JMO.
 
S&W SD9 or SD40 is a good place to start if you want a new gun with the best warranty and customer support in the industry so you can buy with confidence.
 
decoy562 said:
Police trade in Glock.
Click to expand...

Police trade-in in general is going to be your best bet. Glocks are good and can be found for ~$350. CDNN has had some trade-in M&P's for similar prices lately (and just IMHO, the M&P is a better gun).

Even brand new there's plenty good choices in that price range. S&W SD, Ruger SR series, and lots of the imported guns.

Even in the $200-300 price range you can find workable guns, though the limitations you have to make do with are a little more constricting (ie, the Yugo M-70 9mm's are fine range guns but not so great for carry. Kel-tec PF-9 is a decent carry gun but not a very good range gun, etc).
 
PPx by walther, got great reviews, even Mass liked it for the money. 350 -375
 
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If you are looking for a 1911 style pistol take a look at the Rock Island Armory line up. With a little shopping around you can find something for around $400.00. A bigger issue is what caliber do you want?
 
Don't forget the excellent SIG SP2022. PSA sometimes has them on sale for $350-370. I'd take one over a P250, Sigma, or Walther PPX any day of the week.
 
You guys are getting great prices, that ain't happening in South FL. The best price you can hope for is MSRP on a hot gun. At least till it cools down. Shields finally dropped to 400 at the show "and that from shoot straight" , the biggest dealer in the State. They were getting 550 at the last show. On a new model, you will pay retail of more. RI's were $500.00 for the compact, citadel $600.00 for the full sized, ATI $700.00, it's a different world.
 
Don't do it man, don't go cheap!

One of the finest 9mm pistols in the world,,,
Note I didn't say the finest 9mm pistol in the world,,,
Is available at Buds Gun Shop right now for only $487.00 delivered to your LGS.

This is the decocker version of the venerable CZ-75B,,,
It may not be everyone's favorite 9mm pistol,,,
But nobody can deny their inherent quality.

You can save $58.00 by purchasing a Canik which is a Turkish made clone of the CZ-75B,,,
But you can recoup that by giving up that $5.00 cup of Starbucks coffee for just two weeks.

Less than $500.00 and you have a superb 9mm pistol,,,
That will perform/function as well as anything on today's market,,,
And as an added bonus you can later purchase a Kadet Adapter Kit to shoot .22 LR.

Don't go cheap at the outset my friend,,,
Buy a high quality gun and never ever regret it.

Aarond

.
 
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