Looking For A Good Plinker 9mm

[///AMG]

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum. I've been reading around and decided to join and seek some advice.

I'm looking for a pistol to shoot at the range and home for fun. I don't have any plans to conceal it. I already have a .22 revolver and would like to buy my first semi auto. I've shot a few semi autos. I've spent the most time with a friends TT-33. I'm looking for something similar, but figured a 9mm would be better because the rounds are cheaper and non corrosive. My budget is around $300. I'd like to stay under, but if I have to go over to get a nice reliable firearm I will.

I'm thinking about a Glock G17, Beretta 92FS, or a CZ 75B. I've seen these guns sell within my range, but from reading around that seems pretty low. Is there some better options out there for me? I've considered a Makarov or CZ 52, but am concerned with the availability of ammo. 9mm is cheaper and more readily available. I'm hoping to go to a gunshow in the next few weeks so I was hoping to have a good idea of some pistols to keep an eye out for and fair prices for them in used condition. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[JERRY]

RIA 9mm.

 

[97guns]

my brother just bought a ruger p95 for $300, they are well built reliable weapons that the us army uses.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Browning HP, Beretta 92FS, CZ75, Walther P99. All great carry and range guns. You can't go wrong with any of them.

 

[Mr.Blue]

CZ 75B, but you'll have to get a used one for $300. I got a new one for $465. It's worth every penny.

 

[MikePaiN]

Wow....///AMG. You almost can't go wrong.
Just to keep this simple, I bought a few pistols recently that really have impressed me. They are both ergonomically awesome, 100% reliable and a pleasure to shoot. I'm going to suggest you look at a Ruger SR9/SR9c and the Beretta PX4/PX4 Compact

 

[CZ57]

Don't own one, but if my budget was $300, I would be looking at the Ruger P-95.

 

[towboat_er]

Ya should be able to find a SW 5906 or a FEG Hi-power clone around that price. I like my CZ-82s. I buy bulk ammo for em off the internet.

 

[Inebriated]

Hi Point... as low as $80 used, and very reliable. Just ugly and heavy.

 

[Bozwell]

The CZ75B is an excellent choice. They're great guns out of the box and there's work you can do to them to turn them into absolutely fantastic guns if you choose to down the road. It'll be hard to find one for right at $300 but it'd worth be worth it IMO to spend a bit more for a quality gun.

I've tried a lot of the guns you can get for $300 and that some others have suggested. My personal opinion, if you can't spend more than $300 right now, wait a few months and get something a bit more expensive. There are tons of good options in the $500-600 range. For $300, your best bet is to find a used CZ or glock and even then $300 is a bit low. Save your money, be patient and get yourself a quality gun. If you're anything like me, you won't be happy with what you can get for $300.

 

[Mr.Blue]

I advocated a CZ above, but after thinking about your price constraints I'm thinking Ruger. Ruger gives you the most for your money. In the $300-$400 range you should be able to find a NIB Ruger 9mm.

 

[kayak-man]

I have a Ruger SR9. Love it.

I've found it to be pretty accurate, and I'm not the greatest shooter out there. the only jams I've had have been from shooting handloads that had no where near enough "pop" to make it work well.

Just make sure you take out the magazine disconnect to extend the life of the firing pin.

Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson

 

[mgmorden]

For a $300 budget you'll not find a Glock 17 in respectable condition. A CZ-75 or Beretta 92 might be a bit difficult too.

My recommendation would be one of the ATI Beretta 92 clones. They go for $299 new from CDNN. It's got a nice 5" barrel, and you can pre-cock it on the range so you don't have to worry about the double-action trigger pull.

Ruger P95's aren't bad, but for a range gun I don't like the shorter sight radius (still, if you wanted to go that route it's not that bad a choice).

The CZ-75 isn't bad either if you can find one within your budget.

Wideners also has S&W 5906's (used) for $275, which is one heck of a starter gun for that price:

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=100000277&dir=700|1012|1026

 

[22lr]

You wont find a better gun than a S&W 3rd gen. You might find a different one, but never a better one. They are cheap, amazingly accurate and reliable, and thy will last forever times 2. I cant speak highly of them enough.

 

[TennJed]

You wont find a better gun than a S&W 3rd gen. You might find a different one, but never a better one. They are cheap, amazingly accurate and reliable, and thy will last forever times 2. I cant speak highly

This 22lr is a wise man. He speaks the truth.

I have a s&w 5906 and I think it is the perfect range 9mm. Great balance and shoots like a dream.

I had a ruger p95 and it is a good gun but IMHO not even in the same class as the 5906.....and I am a ruger fanboy

 

[miles1]

With a $300 limit i would go ruger P95 as well.Rugged and reliable.

 

[Thompsoncustom]

hmmm on a $300 dollar budget you can get a used CZ from robertson trading post I want to say they have some older pre-b models you can get for $285 but some of them look pretty rough and I think they would need refinished. I think the best thing to do would be to save you money and by a brand new CZ-75b.

Other option in the EAA witness you can get the witness(CZ clone) in any caliber for under $400 dollars new I believe 9mm is one of the cheaper models. I personal own a CZ 75b and have still been thinking about getting a witness to just because the kadet kit is good prices and you can change your gun to any caliber for $200 bucks.

 

[Dr_2_B]

For $300, I'd look at the Ruger P95

 

[2wheels]

Stoeger/Beretta Cougar. New Stoeger versions go for about $450, so shouldn't be hard to find one used for less. Got mine for $350. Beretta quality for a lot less cash!

 

[wnycollector]

Another vote for the 3rd gen S&W's for an under $300 budget. There are a bunch of S&W model 910 and 915's for sale on gunbroker for less than $250.

 

[Lo8080]

Plr-22

My FIRST post. I bought a KELTEC PLR-22 ($316@buds) and am happy with my purchase. I bought it mainly because of two things...I liked the way it looked, and I like how cheap it was to shoot it. Since I bought it, I've added a forend, rifle scope and a green laser. It is fun to shoot, get one.

 

[tuj]

Save a little more cash and get a used Glock 17.

 

[beatledog7]

The right gun for you was the CZ-52 in 9x19 I handled at a show last weekend. But if you like older CZs then check out Robertson Trading Posts inventory of ex-police CZ75s and 85s. Many right around $300.

http://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.aspx?T=CZ-75%20Robertson

 

[///AMG]

Thank you very much for all the input. I'm thinking it might be a good idea to save up a little more money and get something a little higher end. I have seen a P-95 in person and liked it, but from reading around it seems that the resale value isn't so good. I'm thinking if I spend a little more money now on a used Glock or something similar if I decide to sell it I won't necessarily loose any money. Since this will be the first semi auto I've ever owned I may want to sell it after a year or so and try something else.

I'm thinking I will go to a gun show and look around and hold a few guns that I think I like and see how they feel. If I find something I've read is high quality and feels right for the right amount of money I can pick it up. Does that seem to be a pretty good way to go?

I'm thinking about a CZ 75, Beretta 92, Glock 17, Walther P99, Springfield XD, or a RIA 9mm. These all seem to be nice guns and I can't go wrong with any of them. It'll come down to what feels most comfortable to me.

Would a budget of around 350-400 be enough to get one of the above mentioned guns?

 

[Bozwell]

Perhaps if you look at used models. A new CZ or glock will cost you closer to $500 (still good options).

I think you're definitely on to something when you said you want to see which one is most comfortable to you. I'll expand on that thought a bit and say you want to find out what is the most comfortable for you to shoot, not just hold. A friend was in the market for a new firearm recently and there were quite a few guns he liked the feel of but when we rented them and put some rounds downrange with them, we were less than impressed.

I'm a bit of a CZ fanboy at heart, so I will add - if the one you handle has a heavy and/or gritty trigger, rest assured that they will clean up a lot just from regular use and you can clean them up a LOT with some polishing and a bit of extra work. I don't mean to suggest they aren't great guns out of the box, but if you enjoy tinkering with things, the CZ can be an excellent choice because their triggers clean-up amazingly with just a little bit of elbow grease (and courage when it comes to breaking them down for the first time )