help me decide on a budget 9mm

[JeeperCreeper]

I am a very poor graduate student looking for a cheap but quality 9mm. I don't want to spend more than $350 (minus ffl transfer fees if I go online). This pistol will be a light range toy and home defense option. I do not really care about carry options, so I will be looking at full size options. I have a decent amount of weapons experience, so manual of arms is no issue. My main concern is reliability first.

What do you experienced shooters think? I would like points of view I have not considered yet.

 

[BigBL87]

I voted B6. I have a B6P and its amazing how nice it is for $249. Another option related to the B6P is the Tanfoglio Witness line. The B6 is actually a clone of the Witness, which is itself a clone of the CZ75. Now, that being said the DA/SA setup just feels natural to me and I like having a manual safety, just the way I'm wired. Also, if you want something a little smaller just in case you want to carry, the SAR K2P has a shorter barrel but the same grip and also has an accessory rail below the barrel for lights, lasers, etc.. Yet another quality option in the CZ75 clone family would be the Canik55 Stingray C, its more on the compact side and a more viable option for carry should you ever decide you wanted to but still not overly small.

I was a poor recent graduate when I got my B6P myself.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I voted B6. I have a B6P and its amazing how nice it is for $249. Another option related to the B6P is the Tanfoglio Witness line. The B6 is actually a clone of the Witness, which is itself a clone of the CZ75. Now, that being said the DA/SA setup just feels natural to me and I like having a manual safety, just the way I'm wired. Also, if you want something a little smaller just in case you want to carry, the SAR K2P has a shorter barrel but the same grip and also has an accessory rail below the barrel for lights, lasers, etc.. Yet another quality option in the CZ75 clone family would be the Canik55 Stingray C, its more on the compact side and a more viable option for carry should you ever decide you wanted to but still not overly small.

I was a poor recent graduate when I got my B6P myself.

Thanks for the help, I am a huge CZ fan so I understand the connection (sorta) between the MAPP, witness, SAR, and tangfolio.... But I think the SAR has the price point while the MAPP has the warranty advantage leaving the witness in between. It makes it comforting when people like the pistol, so no matter what I choose, hopefully its a right answer

 

[Panzerschwein]

Zastava M70A.



Check out this review. It will give you all the information you need. In short, this is a combat proven design chambered for 9mm that is an accurate, all-steel and extremely reliable handgun that has more going for it than anything else in it's price range. This isn't a used surplus gun, but totally new manufacture in Serbia. I recently bought one and it's quickly becoming one of my favorite guns and is used for dedicated car defense.

On sale now at JG sales for $199.95.

 

[BigBL87]

Prior to buying my AR15 I considered the M70A. For a cheap range toy you can't beat the price, but the mags tending to not drop free and question of mag availability scared me off. Then I got a nice back pay check and an AR15 became a reality.

I've seen the M70A ( or at least its "parent gun") referred to as the "Russian 1911" and it seems to have earned a good reputation.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Prior to buying my AR15 I considered the M70A. For a cheap range toy you can't beat the price, but the mags tending to not drop free and question of mag availability scared me off. Then I got a nice back pay check and an AR15 became a reality.

Magazines can and will drop free if you open up the grip panels and snap off the magazine safety. Takes all of two minutes to do.

Also, magazines are available now but they weren't for a while because this is a relatively new pistol. I just bought four of them this last week.

 

[BigBL87]

Good to know. Snapping off the magazine safety would make me nervous as far as the legal aspects if it was used in defense (thank you gun-paranoid Illinois) but seems like a nice simple fix. May have to look into it if I ever buy a second handgun.

 

[MotorCraft]

Hi Point C9.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

That M70 is definitely on my list one day, but I have a few surplus guns that I wouldn't really use for HD. Whether it is new or surplus I am not sure, but century's M70 seems like it might have some stubborn surplus "charm". But I'm definitely gonna research it some more.... But I don't know if its what I'm looking for right now. I really appreciate the info though, I now have another gun to add to my "one day list"

 

[guncheese]

i voted
and here is other
Canik55 TP-9
really nice reliable gun that eats any ammo you toss thru it
and they are sold every where now days and fall right in your budget
check the youtube reveiws
and there are plenty of written as well
ive had mine for 2 years and have coming up on 5000 rounds thru it
here is a post i made today about it
THR TP-9 post

 

[ljnowell]

Good to know. Snapping off the magazine safety would make me nervous as far as the legal aspects if it was used in defense (thank you gun-paranoid Illinois) but seems like a nice simple fix. May have to look into it if I ever buy a second handgun.

Illinois isn't him paranoid, just some people. A mag safety is the last thing to worry about.

 

[Kahr33556]

this would be my choice on a budget
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...ts_id/18442/Kahr+Arms+CW9093+CW9+7+1+9mm+3.6"

great quality gun, I have one and also have there CW380.
They also Have a cm9 that's smaller than the CW9 if you want a smaller 9

 

[bikerdoc]

RIA is offering a 50 dollar rebate on its 9 mm through october 15 th.

 

[SlayerOfBunnies]

Ruger SR9 and Kahr CW9 are both high quality 9mm handguns in your price range.

 

[Normandy]

S&W M&P 9mm. They are now available at 'reasonable' prices. $324.50 is what I paid for the most recent one.

Awesome accuracy, reliability, and concealability.

 

[TfflHndn]

Have you considered the Stoeger Cougar? It's basically a Beretta at a fraction of the Beretta price. Beretta moved its Cougar production machinery to Turkey and changed the label, but same gun. I have seen it for under $350. Very good gun.

 

[CZ223]

I love threads like this, really

It is nice to know what is out there for people on a budget. It sounds like there is a decent supply of quality guns at bargain prices. One comment on the Rock Island 1911 9mm though. I have the Tactical model and it would only function with ball ammo. Due to a bad situation with a local gunsmith, it will no longer work with even ball ammo. The situation is ongoing and I hope it gets resolved. Other than that the RIA is a fine gun.

 

[pistol10]

I voted for the S&W SD9 VE. It's a gun that has been around for a while now so most of the "kinks" should be worked out and there are plenty of aftermarket parts for them. Also it comes with a front night sight, and I have nothing but good things to say their customer service.

 

[tommy.duncan]

Picking from your list, I would go with the Ruger P95 then the SR9.
These are nice pistols. I had the P90 (45acp) a long time ago and I regret selling it.

I also agree with BigBL87 in the EAA Witness series. My wife bought one of these at a fun show and loved the balance and the way it felt in her hand.

Another option related to the B6P is the Tanfoglio Witness line.

I did try to get extra magazines and they were hard to find. The next fun show I found mags and bought 2 more. I would keep this in mind if looking for an inexpensive 9mm pistol.

 

[dogmush]

I just happen to have looked at Sarco's most recent ad.

They have FEG Hi-power ' s for $295,
Beretta 92's (call for price, but mine was $300 a couple months ago)
And Ruger P85's for $225.

Either of those are a good, we'll made gun, with lots of mags and parts, from a long lived, quality maker that will last a long time. Yeah they are used, but it's a screaming deal.

 

[modifiedbrowning]

Bersa Thunder 9
Canik 55 C-100

 

[Wanderling]

If you want a gun for plinking, get any of the above. Reliability wise who cares, really.

For defense, you need something you know you can trust your life with.

I am by no means a gun expert - which is why for the first gun I researched and bought reliability was #1 on the list. I ended up with Glock G17 Gen 3 (roughly $530 after FFL transfer back then) and now am set to buy G26 for carry ($540 for a Gen 4 before FFL fees because I really like the grip). I know these guns are reliable, simple to maintain, and accurate.

Out of the guns you listed, P95 has probably the best reputation for reliability (someone with more experience may correct me if I am wrong) but it's kind of large. I now wish I got G26 from the start and saved myself half a grand.

If you absolutely can't afford anything more than the stated amount, I'd look at Makarovs. The PM itself, CZ82, FEG, etc. They were all built like tanks, have superb reliability and are very accurate. It appears the rounds are still relatively easy to find and will continue to be available for some time given the millions of 9x18 pistols still on the hands of Eastern militaries and police. (They are being slowly phased out, but the ammo is still being produced en masse). When I have any spare money to spend, I want to get a PM or one of the Comblock pistols myself. The round is weaker than 9x19 Para but stronger than .380 ACP and the agreement seems to be it's more than adequate for self defense against civilians (from what I read the Russian military and police are phasing it out because they have to stick to the Hague dictated FMJ which is not that effective, while a JHP 9x18 should be a good performer).

 

[Nom de Forum]

Police trade-in Glock 17 or 19.

 

[Tortuga12]

I would think anything in the Ruger P-series (85, 89, 94, etc.) would be a good buy, as would a S&W 3rd-gen, and also the Daewoo DP51. Can you tell I prefer metal and hammers to polymer and strikers?

 

[Girodin]

Some options:

Canik 55 Stingray/Tri star: These are CZ clones and honestly in my estimation a very good gun for the money. If you shop hard you can find them at or very near $300. There are reviews and comparison to real deal CZs all over the internet.

Canik 55 TP9: Another one that is with all likelihood going to work. However, I really don't like the trigger on this gun. Although I generally prefer striker fired guns. I would pick the stingray over this gun. If the trigger were better this would an incredible value. As is it is a solid gun for $300 but personally I'd rather get something else even if it meant saving a little more. Trigger control is THE BIGGEST part of shooting well. Battling a crappy trigger for the next 40 years you own the gun hardly seems like its worth saving $50-100 right now. particularly given the cost of ammo.

FEG Hi Power clones/Kareens/Surplus FN Hi Powers: You have to shop around but some good values can be found. The real deal FNs will be rough and not to pretty at that price range but they can be found.

RIA/citadel 1911 9mms: Although some might think it blaspheme, a 1911 in 9mm shoots very nicely. For a range gun I would probably lean this way but that is largely due to my tastes. The deal that is floating around on the citadel is better than the GI style RIA for $300. For $329 the citadel gives you better cites (that only is worth the $30) and few other features.

Star model B, and other star pistols: This can be had for like $250. They only real draw back to them is the limited availability of parts.

Shop the used/surplus market hard. Used gun prices vary by location. You may also need to throw in an extra $20 (although for some that is less than a transfer fee anyways) or so but used glocks, M&Ps, etc can be found in that range. You just have to be keeping an eye out for them and jump on them when you find them.

For me I'd either get the citadel or shop really hard for deal on glock 19 or 17. Every glock I owned I got for $400 or less out the door.