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Help choosing a new carry pistol.

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itgoesboom

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Going to get a new carry pistol sometime between now and early Feb. Currently have a Bersa .380 as my carry pistol, and a Ruger 22/45 as my plinker. I am also waiting for my Ruger to be returned to me by the FBI after they recovered it from the a little :cuss: that stole it from me a couple years ago. My wife has completly forgotten about it, so I need to purchase something while she thinks I only have 2 pistols. Otherwise, its going to be a cold day in hell before I can get another one.

The budget is kinda tight, otherwise I would be going after a HK P7M8 :banghead:. Right now I am guessing I will have roughly $350-450 to spend, plus about $80-$100 for a holster (comp-tac C-tac or MS VM-2) plus ammo.

The Bersa hides well and shoots well, but I would prefer something that

a: uses a little more potent round than the .380
b: has a consistant trigger pull from shot to shot. So I am avoiding DA/SA.

Right now I am thinking that the Springfield XD9 is in my price range, and so is the Springfield GI mil-spec 1911, which has been getting really good reviews so far.

Opinions? Anything else that I should consider?

I carry IWB with tucked in shirts always, so I prefer a fairly thin pistol (the Bersa is 1 1/2'' thick).

Thanks.

I.G.B.
 
You can get a solid Ruger auto for that price, some think they look like a brick but I love my P94 .40 with pierce grips, never a jam, no mis feeds, shoots better than I could ever shoot it...I have a buddy who is a true marksman and he puts 'im in the middle of the target...every time.
PB2K
 
FEG Hi-Power, Griffon or Arcus. All are copies of the Browning Hi-Power. The Hi-Power has a SA trigger. I think you can get any of these pistols for under $350. The FEG Hi-Powers often show up on Gunbroker or Auction Arms for around $200.

ZM
 
In your price range you should be able to find a NIB or LNIB Glock 19, or a Springfield Mil-Spec. Both are very good for concealed carry.
 
My first thought was a S&W mod 60. Yeah, I know it's a wheelgun, but IMO it fits the bill the best. Outside of that, there's the Kahr, SA Mil Spec or XD, or used Glock.
 
Although I am quite fond of the 1911, I would have to say that for your budget...I would go for a used Glock. That way, you can choose the caliber, and size that suits your tastes best.And you can be pretty certain that you will have a quality, reliable piece.Plus....If you decide later that you don't like it as much as you thought.....they hold a pretty good re-sale value.
 
If I had about $500 and no carry gun, I'd get a 1911 and a nice IWB holster.

A used Kimber Compact or Colt CCO would be just peachy if carried much, shot little, but a Govt. model would be probably be cheaper and a better all around gun.

I have a Colt CCO with the adjustable Kydex Comp Tac C-T.A.C. and I love the combo.
 
I'd have to recommend also the Springfield Milspec. Great gun. Shooting .45 would be better and plenty of options to carry it in.

Good Luck Hunting.
 
Forget the squeeze cocker

The P7 is expensive (over $1000 last time I looked) , picky regarding what kind of ammo you use and must be CLEAN to function properly. With the right ammo and kept clean its a great gun but I'd rather have something that shoots any round filthy clean, wet whatever.

Semi Auto Caliber: I'd go with a 45. Since you can't have more than 10, might as well be 10 of the biggest you can find.

For under $500 look at a mil spec 45.

Under $1000, look at HK USP or USPc (if you are concerned about size), Sig P220 both in 45

Don't dismiss revolvers: a ruger or S&W snubby in .357 makes a perfectly adequate carry piece and although only has 5 shots, is very freindly to carry all day. Cost friendly too!
 
My advice will be more general.

Get a 9x19. Ammo is cheap, and more ammo more practice more better. Had I taken my own advice, I would have done my first year of learning in 6 months. Then skip sissy calibers like .45 ACP and jump straight to 10mm Auto. :D

Go with a slightly bigger gun than the Bersa. It will be more fun to shoot, and the Bersa will still be around if you need a more pocket-friendly gun. Say a compact model with a 4" barrel. Bersa-sized .40 or even 9x19 guns can be kinda nasty to shoot.

Try several models from good brands and just pick the one that you like best. Since you want a consistent trigger, a CZ-75 Compact (carried cocked & locked), Glock 19 or a Kahr T9 come to mind here.
 
Unless you have your heart set on a .45ACP...

I'm going to go with the Glock crowd. Specifically, the compact frame Glocks. Those would be the 19 (9x19, as mentioned above), 23 (.40 S&W), and 32 (.357SIG). You would probably have to go used to get one in your price range, but you could get a very slightly used Glock easily in that price range. Perhaps even a new one if you look around enough.

I personally have owned a Glock 23 for two and a half years now, though I've only been able to carry it for about 6 months. It has always been reliable, with the exception of a couple ammo specific problems. Those were a couple of badly set primers that failed to fire and an (I think) over crimped casing that would not chamber. All of those happened shooting cheap Black Hills reloads I ordered from Cabellas. My Glock has been 100% shooting regular quality ammunition (Federal, MagTech, PMC, UMC) and was still over 99% even with the cheap reloads (a half dozen failures out of 1200+ rounds). Despite the fact that it's a double stack mag with a capacity of 13+1 rounds it fits my hands really well and I've never had trouble reaching the controls. Since it's a polymer framed gun it's extremely light and comfortable to carry. I sometimes "forget" it's there. I know, I know, you never forget your weapon, but it does sink to a background awareness rather than "Bloody hell, what's that dragging down my pants?" Since Glocks are popular with police and a lot of non-LEOs it is easy to get holsters and other parts that fit your needs with a minimum of hassle and expense.

On that note, I carry in a Fobus paddle holster. A lot of people rag on them because they are cheap and simply made (injection-molded plastic). I bought mine for $15 bucks and have been nothing but pleased with it. It's light, retains the weapon securely, and can be moved around to any position on the waist comfortably. And since it's a paddle holster I can slide it on and off my belt easily. I know several people in my home town who use Fobus paddles and like them. It might not be a bad idea to try one, if you like the idea. If you end up not liking it, you are only out $15.
 
Thanks Sean Smith

I forgot to add that I agree with the consensus that the Glock 19 might not be a bad choice to start with simply because 9mm is dirt cheap. I personally like .40 as a carry round and I'm glad I bought the 23, but you wouldn't go wrong with a 19 either.

Plus, if you bought the Fobus holster you'd have TONS of money to buy ammo with.

^
|
Shameless plug for Fobus (No, I don't sell them. I just like them). :uhoh:

In all seriousness, if you do decide to buy the Fobus paddle holster I'd recommend spending the extra $15 for a Fobus single mag pouch. They hold the mag in by tension alone. Doesn't slip out ever, but slides out smoothly and easily when pulled. I bought one the same day I got my carry permit and have been very pleased with that as well.

Ok, I'll be quiet now. Really...
 
I believe the best bargain gun out there right now is the CZ40B. CDNN has them for $249. .40 Caliber, CZ quality, cocked and locked or double action capability. Mine should here today.:D

Also, CDNN has FN Compact's for $299 (DA only), little higher for DA/SA.
Download CDNN's catalog. Many other good candidates for cheap but good pistols.

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/
 
Thanks for the responses so far everyone.

Some good ideas in there.

I have thought about getting the Glock, although I prefer to purchase new rather than used, so I would probably have to a wait a month or more before I could carry since I would have to wait to purchase a good holster. Plus I always hear that an XD is just as good, but considerably less money, plus I can use XD40 mags to hold more than 10 rounds (legally), at least thats what I have heard. I would do more research before I did that though.

The Arcus or FEG Hi-Power clone sounds like a good idea. I checked out a used FEG (i would probably pick a new one), and it fit my hand well, seemed well designed, although the sights were very small. Also, how is the reliability of these? What model would I get if I wanted the S/A rather than the D/A? How much work would I need to put into it to make it good? Will they feed hollowpoints?

I do want something bigger than my Bersa, I purchased it because it was small and light and would be a good carry gun, which it has been.

I love the 1911 design, and the mil-spec would probably be a great pistol for me, and since I have a 22/45 with the same grip angle, practice wouldn't be much of a problem. I have also thought about a CZ, but it seems that they would be a little harder to carry, although I do like the design.

I have checked out the Kahrs, but the grips are so small that they are pretty uncomfortable for me, same with the Glock 26/27. Thats the other reason I purchased the Bersa, it was the only small pistol that fit my hand easily.

I honestly wished that the Taurus PT-92 was a little thinner, because it would fit my criteria pretty well, except its a little too thick for IWB under a tucked in shirt.

So keep those ideas coming, they are always appreciated.

I.G.B.
 
Can I just step in a suggest the Glock 19 again. And as someone else has noted, the Fobus holster goes well with it.
 
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