First Gun for a Man on a Budget

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nomadboi

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Looking for reccomendations here... this may have been covered before, but the search terms I could think of were way too common, so I was getting thousands of threads to search through.

Wanting a handgun, preferrably a reliable semi-auto, probably going to stay in the home or go to the range more than be a daily carry kinda thing. I've been renting every time I go to the range, and I've got a pretty big collection of blank firing guns (I run a props rental business) but nothing real. I would be getting a CCW though, so it'd be nice to have that option.

Problem is I'm in the midst of buying my first house and having my first kid too, both of which can break the bank.

Any suggestions? Keep trolling the forums and gunshops for used guns, or are those likely to be lemons? Just save up until I can get something reliable? Any amazing deals out there?

Thanks,
Kevin
 
Now that's the price range I'm thinking! Most of what I've seen and liked has been $400-$500.

Guess you must like them pretty well to buy three of the same type... one for each hand, and then what? Or is that the SHTF, I-pull-my-nice-piece-and-hand-these-out-to-my-trusted-friends piece?
 
+1 on the Mak recommendation. Cheap ammo, too (the Wolf stuff is fine for plinking, and you can buy it for about $100 for 1000 rounds).

I wouldn't mind using a Mak for CCW, but I know many on THR prefer more powerful calibers.
 
Revolver: used Smith and Wesson model 10 or one of the many surplused Ruger GP100s that seem to be floating around.

Autos: Ruger P95, reliable and uses cheap 9mm. Also there are many surplused Smith and Wesson autos out there, ie, model 5906. Bulgarian Makarovs are probably going to cost about $175 and are better for CCW, but are not as much fun as a locked-breech 9X19mm for range use. Sharp recoil from a blowback pistol.
 
For a cheap and reliable semi-auto I'll have to second the Makarov recommendation.

That said for about $150 more you could pick up a Taurus revolver like the 66 or 608 models in .38/.357. The advantage is that both +P .38's and the .357 are way better rounds than 9X18 Mak which is hardly better than a .380 ACP.

In addition since this is your first handgun - and as much as I hate to say it - a revolver is probably a better choice for a HD weapon than a semi-auto. Why do I say that? For close in work the DA of a revolver is more intuitive and IMO requires less training than a semi-auto. If the revolver fails (unlikely as that is) you just pull the trigger again. If the semi-auto fails there is a specific manual of arms that must be accomplished based on the nature of the failure to get the thing to go boom again. That manual of arms may or may not be intuitive or easily accomplished under stress. In fact there are some failures that can occur with a semi-auto that one absolutely will not recover from quickly if at all. The chances of getting a no-go failure in a revolver are IMO much lower than in a semi-auto.
 
For defensive, Makarov, or a CZ-52. The CZ fires a snappier, more powerful round, and is slightly less expensive, but ammo is either name brand factory or it's surplus.
 
A Star BM is an option, and they're readily available for under $200. Nice little pistols, and they're in 9mm. A bit more oomph than the Mak.
 
I purchased three Maks due to the fact that they were so darned cheap, and I couldn't pass them up. One for the wife, one for my son, and one for me. Where else can you purchase three quality pistols for less than $400?

A buddy and myself purchased five of them for $99 each, and after factoring in the shipping, FFL charges, and sales tax they came to right at $125 a pop. When they came in, I had first dibs due to the fact that I bought three of the five, then my buddy, then me, etc.

My number one pick was a pristine pistol that had no importers markings, and this became my pistol. Number three became my wife's gun, and number five went to my son as a 21st birthday present. All three function flawlessly, and are some of the most accurate handguns I own.

I cannot think of a better choice for someone wanting a semi-auto on a budget. Even the ammo is dirt cheap, and is even stocked in most decent gun stores. Your best savings come from buying 1,000 rounds at a time online or at a gun show. At the price you can buy one of these pistols, you can afford to buy a thousand rounds, shoot it up, and buy another thousand. Not only do you save money, you get proficient with your weapon as well.
 
Thanks for all the input guys! Keep it coming!

AIM seems like a great resource. I've got a friend with a FFL, so hopefully that'll work well... as much as I've liked some of the guns I've rented at the range (USP, Kimar...) I think those'll need to wait until I've got the funds.
 
That Star is pretty cute...

Any thoughts on 9mm parabellum that can't do hollowpoint vs. 9x18 Makarov that can do hollowpoint?
 
Just another $0.02 here - you cannot go wrong with a Makarov... all steel... built like a tank... reliable as all get out... designed to work day in and day out no matter what. These days the Bulgarians are the best deal going on a Mak.

There are a lot of great revolvers out there, and revos have a lot going for them in terms of simplicity of use and reliability. But if it's an inexpensive semi-auto you're looking for that's anything but cheap you can't do better than a Bulgie Mak.

BTW - I'm on my second B-Mak (sold the first one for cosmetic reasons only) and also own a Ruskie and an E-German. These are absolutely fabulous guns.

OK - I'm done gushing :D

Just ask Shoeless (from GT). BTW - she's the one who got me hooked... thanks Shoosie!
 
My vote would be for a Ruger. Home defense in a .45 ACP but it is not a concealed carry gun... picked up a P90 for about $340 after $40 Ruger rebate..(Ambi safety and decocker)

CZ P-01 in 9mm is also a good choice if CCW is in the picture...
Picked up one of those for $425 which was a good deal....

I would stay away from guns under $300.....Just my opinion.....drf
 
Makarov, easily a good choice for $150 or less.

Also an option, Bersa Thunder for about $200.

For range use, Arcus 94, $260.

Revolver, lots of nice used Smith and Wesson revolvers floating around. Or a new Taurus of some sort.
 
Had an East German Mak, damn, why did I sell it!?!?!? (Wanted a .357 Blackhawk-already had the 9mm Mak cal covered with a PA-63-not nearly as much gun!) Seriously, the Mak is great and small, accurate, reliable, accurate, and ,did I mention, reliable?

Spare parts are cheap and obtainable, don't know that you'd ever need 'em, but....

Ah, heck, just go to www.makarov.com! Everything you need to know.

By the way, they're accurate and reliable! And cheap! And they WILL knock down our steel plates!

Stay safe.
Bob
 
Yeah, the Mak is a good buy......

abit underpowered, but inexpensive, reliable, small enough to CCW, accurate(enough). Cheap practise ammo and availability of JHP's for real world use. Can buy several for a decent price. The safety of mine thoroughly chewed up my thumb knuckle as the slide returned to battery, so I sold it, but from my experience...it was a solid little pistol.
The CZ-52 is a nice, affordable pistol but uses a round that is not that popular, small(though indeed fast), I'd consider it as a curiosity rather than a defensive weapon.
The revolver's mentioned are good too, (I'd vote for Ruger here, more modern design that can be field stripped for cleaning) but normally harder to conceal in the medium frame, and harder to shoot in the smaller frame. Unless you reload, the ammo is not as cheap as it once was.
The Ruger auto's are fair guns, but bulky. I'd rather get a CZ-75 in that price range because it is capable of single action carry, standard cap mags are available, it is thinner, fit's my hand better, AND you can get a .22 conversion unit for it for alot of cheap plinking. I'd prefer the CZ over a used Glock too(which is not a bad pistol, we just do not get along).
The Star's...well, my luck with Spanish autoloaders has not been good. Firing pins that break at most unfortunate times, so I'd personally steer clear of those.
The RIA 1911's are not as nice as my Colt's or most other makes of 1911's in terms of polish and fit, but from what I have heard they are reliable, made of good, durable steel( a very experienced pistolsmith hereabouts speaks very highly of them), and if I needed to start from scratch cheaply, I might get one of those...though I'd probably save alittle more and look for a used Colt 1991A1 or a deal on a used Springfield loaded.
1911's are not the ideal first gun, and they are big for CCW unless you have the proper rig.. but I am so used to them(as it was my first real handgun...i.e. non.22, some 28 years ago), that I would get one of these in preference to anything else..but again, that is me.
Hope this helps,
Jercamp45
 
I vote the Mak, slightly underpowered but good enough for me. I also vote for the CZ, Ruger, or the Star. Find out what feels best in YOUR hand. If it is not comfortable you will not shoot it and shooting it is the most important part. Find one that you like then shoot it A LOT, shot placement is more of a factor in self defense than caliber( within reason) You really can't go wrong with any of the guns mentioned here. I have a Mak, a CZ and soon the Star, all are good guns.
 
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