Going gun shopping today...

[Dollar An Hour]

Will probably pick up a Buck Mark .22. Also looking for a pistol for range use/car gun/house gun that may see occasional carry.

Guns I plan to look at:

Bersa .380 Thunder - So affordable that I may get one if I like it - Everyone else seems to. Not the ideal caliber for any protection duties, but not a bad plinker. Or I may wait and order a CZ-83 online for a .380.

CZ-75B - Standard or Compact model. I've been keeping an eye out for one with a decent out of the box DA trigger, they all seem awful. :banghead:

Ruger P345 - Haven't owned a .45. I like these, but have heard the triggers can be bad. Bigger than I want for CCW but great for defense and seems like it'd be fun at the range. Ammo cost kinda high. Rugers tend to be solid.

Kahr K9 - Never handled one. But I like the idea of the same smooth DA pull for every shot and that it could be a carry gun + car gun + house gun due to it's size. Kinda pricey - could practically get the P345 and Bersa for the price of the K9.

Springfield XD9 Bi-Tone - If all the above don't work out, the Springfield feels right in my hands and gets overwhelmingly positive press except for the finish. I can avoid this problem with the Bi-Tone.

Any advice on any of the above guns appreciated!

 

[Shear_stress]

Looks like you've got yourself a pretty good list. I can vouch personally for the CZ75 and the Kahr. Of the guns you mention, the CZ75 looks like the shooter of the bunch, though I've heard good things about the XD9 as well. The trigger on the CZ will break in, believe me.

The Bersa and Kahr are both excellent carry pieces and short range plinkers, though the latter definately has more horsepower. It's up to you as to whether or not that justifies its much higher price. I could only afford to get a used Kahr K9, but I am very pleased with it (see range report below).

 

[todd-45]

The XD is an excellent weapon. Shoots great, very reliable, easy to take-down to clean. It's different from the others listed in that it is striker fired hence does not have a hammer. It does have a grip safety and a trigger safety to make up for the decocker or manual safety on others. Also, look at Sig. I own a 229 and a pro2340, both great guns though I carry the 229 mostly. The Ruger 345 is also a great gun. I've got one also and it's redesigned grips are much more comfortable than the earlier 90's, 89's, 95's, etc.

 

[sp40cal]

Nice list wish I could go with you, can't go wrong. I have the XD 40SC and a Glock 32 both are outsanding & wife and I can handle either gun very well. Bad news for the BG.

sp40cal

 

[lyricsdad]

I think you will like the XD, i am not an owner, but I think in the near future, I will be aquiring one of these or a glock.. cause the collection calls for an xd, HK, glock, CZ, HiPower,... etc etc.. anyways I think you will like the XD.

 

[Kramer Krazy]

pistol for range use/car gun/house gun that may see occasional carry.

For a multi-purpose handgun, as you list, I'd suggest a 9mm. It is a large enough caliber for personal protection, and, since you list "range use", the 9mm ammo is fairly inexpensive when you consider $95-$100 for steel-cased import ammo or $11.34/100 rounds of WWB at Walmart. Really like my Glock 19 and the wife's S&W 5903 (police trade-in).

 

[Dollar An Hour]

Okay, made some progress. My friend went along and bought a sweet NIB CZ-83 .380. Looking forward to shooting his gun!

Found a dual-tone CZ-75 Compact that had a nice trigger. That's one possiblity, just not in love with the finish.

Ran across a Kahr K9 Elite stainless used but supposedly unfired in box for $375. How do I tell if it's really the Elite model? Looked like a regular K9. The DAO trigger on the Kahr would take some getting used to, seems kinda weird on a semiauto. Seems like a great car gun or CCW, but seems like it'd be weird at the range.

What about the 9mm Baby Desert Eagle? I guess it's CZ-75 based? It was comfortable, had a nice trigger, and felt really solid. Looks like a durable finish too. About $50 more than the CZ:

I think I'll get a separate CCW gun later - probably a .38 snub, and focus on getting a good all-around pistol now.

 

[dxkj21]

No clue, Im not even sure why the Baby Desert eagle is related to the real desert eagle? Fixed barrel?

 

[gen]

No clue, Im not even sure why the Baby Desert eagle is related to the real desert eagle? Fixed barrel?

It's not. Welcome to the world of marketing.

 

[Island Beretta]

g34/35

 

[skeezix]

Quote: "What about the 9mm Baby Desert Eagle? I guess it's CZ-75 based? It was comfortable, had a nice trigger, and felt really solid. Looks like a durable finish too. About $50 more than the CZ:"

I have heard and read that there are magazine issues with the Baby Eagle. There are other more trouble-free guns for the money.

I haven't heard or read much bad about the XD. It's ugly, but if it feels good in your hand, that's half of accurate shooting.

 

[armoredman]

Baby Eagle/Jericho 941 are both made mostly by Tanfoglio of Italy, same people who make the EAA Witness CZ clones. Yes, the internals of the Baby Eagle are indeed CZ based, but not interchangeable. The EAA Witness magazines will work, but sometimes need an Eagle follower to activate the slide stop.
I like Tanfoglio pistols - carried one for years, but if the CZ is cheaper, I reccomend snapping it up in a heartbeat!
That's funny, the clone more expensive!

 

[Dollar An Hour]

CZ-75 > Baby Eagle

So is the consensus that the CZ-75 is the better pistol? It's true the Baby Eagle (clone) is about another $60.

But, money aside, you guys think the CZ is a better firearm?

How about other things like customer service? Is CZ better than Magnum Research?

Also, I think the BE comes with one magazine, and the CZ gets 2. The one magazine thing kinda irritates me.

 

[VG]

You should fire a CZ at the range before committing to buy one.

The S&W 3913 is a great all-around pistol, available new or used from $275 up to $700 or so epending on model and finish. Here's a size comparison.

 

[drf]

CZ makes a great pistol thats built very solid and durable and has been around for a long time....
You cant go wrong buying a CZ....drf

 

[Black Majik]

I agree. get the CZ75 instead of the Baby Eagle. Even though the CZ is less expensive, I felt the CZ is a better built pistol.

 

[xx78]

Out of the guns you mentioned I own a CZ 75b. It is a wonderful pistol. I have had no problems with it at all. It is accurate as well. I have handled an XD or two and am impressed with it, that may be my next purchase. Good luck with your purchase.