Good Reliable $160 auto?

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Woody_in_MN

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I think this may have been asked before in other ways, but I thought I would throw it up the flag pool anyway.

I looking for a cheap relable auto to keep in the trunk. I'd like another 9mm, but may have to consider other calibers with my price limit. Here are ones I'm considering so far:

STAR BM - Kind of heavy and after looking at one for reasons I can not explain I'm having trouble warming up to it.

CZ52 - Pluses are nice caliber, negetives are kind of ugly, a wierd caliber meaing I'll have to go out and buy yet another caliber for my closet. Also I heard of problems with the firing pin

MAKAROV - I kind of like these. But are the 9x18 ammo a decent self defense ?

FEG - Similiar to Makarov, but harder to find. Another 9x18 caliber.

Other???

What do you think?

- W
 
Well I have a FEG PA-63, you will get mixed reviews.After about 300rds mine is reliable. I changed out the springs to lighten the trigger and it is a pretty good shooting pistol. Light and flat. I had a Star BM great gun , heavy, like you said couldnt warm up to it even though I'm a 1911 guy. Don't have the others so I can't comment on them.
 
For a cheap, reliable pistol to keep in an automobile I'd go with a CZ 52. If I was a BG I'd hate to be downstream of the muzzle blast. Push comes to shove it'd probably perform better disabling BG's or their vehicles.

Had a FEG PA-63. Good looking little gun but a handful of recoil and a horrible trigger pull. Priced about the same as a Mak or a little more (IIRC ~$140).

Maks are nice but the CZ 52 would seem to fit the bill better.

Magazines for Mak's an CZ-52's are cheap too.
 
I can get CZ52 for $99 thru SOG. But I'd pay about $20 transfer fee. So net like $120.

My local crusty hole in the wall favorite gun shop has FEG (I think the 63) for like $150 - but I think that is high.

What is IIRC ?

(MTRCTY - I sent you a PM.)

- w
 
I'm going to vote for the CZ52 as well. I recently recieved a pair of them from SOG, paid the $10.00 extra for handpick and got what appear to be two brand new pistols. I have found them to be extremely accurate and ultra reliable.

The only drawback is the occasional spent shell cracking me in the head, ouch! These things really chuck the brass!

Good luck, I think with the choices you have outlined any one you pick will be a winner.
 
I own a Makarov. The gun is reliable and accurate. But I have to admit I'm baffled why you would want to keep a gun in a trunk? :confused:
 
I'd say get a Makarov over a Hi Point. But to each his own. Makarov is a all steel gun with a long proven history behind it and has actually been in use for over 50 years by many countries.

CZ 52 would mafe a decent car gun but ammo tends to run higher for it than for a Makarov or a 9mmpara chambered gun. Defensive ammo is a bit tough to find in 7.62x25 sometimes too.

Star BM might be an ok choice too, read about them on the internet some and see what you think.
 
For 160 bucks get a good used Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 riot gun.
No handgun that I would trust my life on comes that cheap, but those two shotguns can be had for that money or even a bit less.
 
Woody-

The hand pickfrom SOG simply amounts to you specifying that is what you would like when you place the order. They go through the crates and crates of them they have and cherry pick the best ones for an extra 10 bucks per pistol. I don't know what the condition is of the non handpicks but these are very nice!

As far as physical size goes I have attached a pic and you can see it is very comparable to a 1911. While not as comfortable for me to hold I do like how the gun feels. The angle of the grip on the CZ is closer to vertical than the 1911, not uncomfortable, just different. The grip is comparable as far as width but front to back it is deeper and my hand wraps around it less. I don't dislike it I just like the feel of a 1911 better. I am really a 1911 guy at heart so I may be a bit biased here.

The only real warning against the CZ52 I might have is that if you are on a limited budget the 7.62X25 ammunition is definitely not cheap. The Makarov would be a better choice if you are planning to do a fair amount of shooting as the 9X18 can be had much, much cheaper.

Again, good luck and give us an update as to what you end up with!

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Hi-Point

The suggestion for the Hi-Point is a good one. For $160, you might also be able to land their 9mm carbine. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone that truthfully says anything bad about it. But for under $100, a Hi-Point pistol will leave you with lots of cash to buy ammo to practice with.

Though I've never handled one much less shot one, people talk up the Mak a lot. I'm hoping to some day buy a CZ52 if gas prices don't go up. :cool:
 
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