Most powerful and most affordable pistol

[rocinante]

I vote for the Witness 10mm. The 10mm cartridge is said to be comparable to 41 magnum and it is designed to shoot in an auto loader. You can get 357 and 44 magnum autoloaders mainly Desert Eagles but it is my understanding those revolver cartridges are finicky in auto loaders.

The 10mm Witness can be had for less than 400.

I have a couple of 45s already so that is out.

What else is as big and bad and wonderful on the wallet as the witness?

 

[NG VI]

A used Ruger .44? Not an auto, never mind.

 

[lee n. field]

What else is as big and bad and wonderful on the wallet as the witness?

Hi-Point .45.

 

[rocinante]

Hi-Point .45.

My buddies already think I am suspect because I love my taurus PT145, AO 1911 and think my saigas are good guns. I like budget brands and am tempted to get a hi point in 40 S&W just because I don't have anything in that caliber.

 

[Loomis]

I just bought a S&W model 4006 out of the CDNN catalog simply because I didn't have anything in 40 caliber. I'm not a big fan of the 40, I just felt I should have one just in case some day I find a bargain on 40 cal ammo.

It's an alternative for you to think about before buying a hi-point. The smith is a heck of alot better gun, all stainless including frame and magazines, and it only cost $299. It appears to have glock-like feed reliability. Mechanically, the gun is way more complex than a glock, so in the long term it probably won't be a reliable as a glock in terms of repairs. But I am more than happy with the purchase.

As far as cheap power is concerned, I think you got it already figured out with the EAA witness.

If you shoot alot, you've probably already figured out that the ammo is what kills your wallet, not the gun. So one strategy for saving money would be to buy a really nice 9mm gun then make up for it with the savings in cheaper ammo.

 

[Drgong]

it is HUGE but the hi-point .45 is inexpensive.

And I assume your not counting revolvers, yes?

 

[DWARREN123]

Glock 20, 10mm. Lots of after market support/parts and a proven platform.

 

[burningsquirrels]

CZ-40b for $289. then give it a hot 40 load and you're knocking on 10mm's door. i once tried this hot load during a match, i've never seen blue flames from a pistol before. nor have i lost loc-tite'd grip screws. not doing that again anytime soon, but i have one magazine of it left in my HD gun.

 

[NG VI]

Yeah, the 40B is an awesome gun. Can't believe how cheap they are, but who knows how long they will be around?

 

[Loomis]

Is that the same thing as a colt z40?

 

[NG VI]

Yes, but with CZ markings. And way cheaper. The Z40 was built by CZ anyway wasn't it?

 

[burningsquirrels]

Colt needed a DAO alloy framed 1911 gun in 40 to fulfill a contract, and asked CZ to build it. CZ built the Colt Z40. when the contract fell through, CZ had a buttload of parts. about 700-800 Z40s were made. CZ took the leftovers, and made a DA/SA version designated as the '40b'. at least 10000 were made by 2005, because i own both serial numbers 2,4xx (2000) and 12,xxx (2005). Some 40b slides were mounted to the standard 75 frame and were designated '40p'. i personally prefer the alloy 1911 style frame with thin grips i made.

the one to the left is bone stock and is one of my carry guns. i have some mods lined up for it later. the one to my right is my IPSC limited-10 gun that i pieced together and runs with a single action trigger. about 15 thousand rounds later, it has shot one hole groups at 50 feet, though not in my hands.

the 10mm is an awesome round, but it's a pain in the butt for ammo. i'll just stick to hot 40 loads and just won't shoot them often.

 

[woad_yurt]

Has anyone mentioned TT33s, Norinco 54s or CZ 52s? 7.62x25 is a real screamer of a cartridge and all of the above can be had quite cheaply.

 

[NG VI]

Some 40b slides were mounted to the standard 75 frame and were designated '40p'.

Isn't the 40P the 40B slide on the P01 frame? Or am I mixed up?

 

[BlindJustice]

T/C Contender
pick yer flavor many go way above 10MM Auto

R-

 

[mljdeckard]

If it was me, I'd poke around for a used G20.

 

[burningsquirrels]

Isn't the 40P the 40B slide on the P01 frame? Or am I mixed up?

"oops" you got me. that's right, it had a decock and had the short grip frame. yes, it was a compact decocker frame.

 

[NG VI]

Sexy looking thing isn't it? What magazines does it use?

Yeah I suppose a Thompson Contender or Encore could easily outclass any of the other pistols listed, but they aren't really autoloaders.

 

[burningsquirrels]

rocinante:

in further response to your original post....

i think the CZ-40b with a 12+1 magazine is a great deal. if you're looking for personal defense, it's a great gun. however, CDNN has glock 22 fullsize pistols for $329 and i think they hold 15+1 if i'm not mistaken. at least the 40sw round is common, and glock stuff is common too. this can also be a good, high capacity alternative to a more expensive and lower capacity 10mm 1911 pistol. in addition, CDNN has 15 round glock 22 mags for $11.99 right now used. objectively it meets a lot of people's criteria for a personal defense/combat handgun. even the compact glock 23 still holds 13+1. however, personal preference leads me to the 40b hands down.

cdnninvestments.com

 

[burningsquirrels]

Sexy looking thing isn't it? What magazines does it use?

any standard CZ magazine in 40sw. so, you can use the fullsize 12 rounders. of course, since it's the short grip, fullsize mags will stick out like they do in the picture. the basepad in the picture is the same they use on the sp-01.

 

[Chuck Perry]

How about a surplus CZ52? 85 grain bullets running around 1600fps out of an autoloader. Haven't priced them in awhile, but I'd guess you can still find 'em around or under two bills.

 

[burningsquirrels]

the tokarev is a cool, light, fast flying round good for shooting through stuff... makes a nice big bang and supersonic crack! gives the pins a good flippin'

 

[rocinante]

How about a surplus CZ52? 85 grain bullets running around 1600fps out of an autoloader. Haven't priced them in awhile, but I'd guess you can still find 'em around or under two bills.

Yes I have been eyeballing that pistol real hard because of the ballistics and the ammo is so cheap. It also has appeal to me because so many folks think it is fugly but I find it attractive. go figure.

 

[Elvishead]

Buy it, that just leaves more 9MM's ammo for me a the right price.

If I need power, I go to the old revolver 627 .357 8-Shot.

 

[wnycollector]

+1 on both the CZ40B and the Polish tokarev!

For less than $600 they are both wonderfully reliable, accurate and very powerful pistols.

The DT .40S&W 155gr Gold Dot loading is ~1300fps and ~590 ft/lbs. vs the hornady 155gr 10mm loading is 1265/551. The S&B 7.62x25 load is ~1600fps and 500Ft/lbs. Both will get the job done as long as you do your job!