Need suggestions on budget auto and a dealer in Tennessee

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Jim March

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Hi all,

I don't hang out here much, I'm a wheelgunner :).

Ahem. Anyways, there's a guy I know in TN who needs to buy his first handgun. He's one of the guys involved in the elections fraud thing (Diebold, etc.) and not "one of us". I've already dropped Tamara EMail to see if the shop she's in is near Memphis; I could use other suggestions on which shop to send him to that won't hose him.

Despite my talking up the wonders of guns with cylinders, he wants an auto. He had some time with a 45 back in the military 20+ years ago, other than that no experience.

Role: daily carry CCW, and home defense.

Budget: $325. Guy generally has to operate on a budget so I'm thinking 9mm to keep practice costs reasonable.

Suggestions?

I have a couple of things that I personally want to steer him clear of - for one, I think a rank newbie shouldn't be anywhere near a DA/SA operations drill. Which unfortunately leaves out the Makarov. I think the Rugers are too big (sigh again). Something the size of a Beretta Cougar or Kel-Tec 9mm should do, although the Kel-Tec's usually need for a "fluff'n'buff" would again be more than a brand new handgunner should deal with.

A Glock26 would be perfect but...I'm assuming that's out of his price range even used. Maybe a Baby Eagle? DAO with no manual safety would be perfect.
 
Jim,
I agree with the wheelgun approach, too. But if that's a no-go, I think you have the right idea with a 9mm.

Guns & Ammo usually has the best prices and selection in town. It's best if he knows exactly what he wants when he walks in to G&A; the staff there can be less than helpful.
Range USA has good pricing but a limited selection.

PM me if he wants any help; I'd be glad to assist.

BamBam
 
I'll toss in a few great ccw buys in the auto arena for you.

Springfield XD, look for a used one.

Bulgarian Makarov (I want to add it eventhough you ruled it out)

The Baby Eagles are still good deals, especially off the used rack.

But best of all, for $400 your friend can get a Springfield WWII Mil-Spec like what he learned on in the service. This is a good solid 1911 at a bargain price. It might be worth it to accumulate another $75 and get what he knows.
 
CZ-75, or a Ruger but they are HUGE for a daily CCW, should fit the pricing he has. The CZ-75 should be right around $350 and maybe less used, and IMO is a better gun than any other 9mm within $200. You have to shoot one for a bit to understand maybe but I am telling you it is a fantastic gun.

There are some G17 cop turn-in types out there , KY Imports for example, that are in the mid $300's. I like those Glocks too, they flat work.

A model 13 or 19 Smith is what he needs, even a model 10 or a 15......
 
"I've already dropped Tamara EMail to see if the shop she's in is near Memphis."

Tamara is going to be out of pocket for a short while. Her shop is in Knoxville - other side of the state.
 
I know about the CZ-75, and agree. With some range work, he can switch to Condition 1 carry and get around the DA/SA problem.

Rugers work, and are cheap, but they're so damn big. Some of the polymer-frame variants are pretty light though. One thing I'm going to talk to him about soon is making a decision on fanny packs. If he goes that route, he actually could pack something physically large and at that point, a Ruger makes sense...

The Springfield 1911 is a thought. Thin enough he could IWB, despite the otherwise full size.

Other possibles: how well does the Taurus PT111 work? It's small, DAO (with safety?) and in his budget...

He's 5'10 so I assume his hands aren't all that big. That rules out a Beretta 9000s probably...
 
I just purchased a PT-111. I ran 300 rounds through it last weekend. Trigger is a long hard pull (compared to the 1911 easy break or smooth ruger revo DA). However, once I became accustomed to it, I was shooting good groups. It is a handy gun and swallowed winchester, federal and pmc HP ammo, as well as standard ball rounds, with no glitches. Mine was $289. I have been carrying it for 4 days and very careful to watch the safe-carry aspects. No problems yet. Much lighter than the P14-45:)
 
How about a used SA Mil Spec since he already has experience w/ it? But really, for his application a wheelgun makes ALOT of sense! ;)
 
Jim,

What elections fraud thing are you talking about? Is this a Tennessee thing? Does this guy work for Diebold and fears for his life or something?

Interesting...

My curiousity is piqued...

Steve
 
http://www.equalccw.com/voteprar.html

THAT is the "Diebold thing". It's not linked from my gun page. Start with the three letters to the California Secretary of State, middle of the right hand column, yellow table.

There's a guy in Memphis working on this...the Shelby County Elections Commission is a Diebold Election Systems customer. For his privacy, I won't give details.

It's a nationwide scandal bigger than Enron.

Oh, and...you really oughta hang out in L&P more. We've been discussing this there.
 
Jim, check out police trade-in guns at CDNN. Their prices are great, and you should be able to find something worthwhile within your budget. They don't show their catalog of firearms on the Web, but if you call them, they can probably tell you what would fit your needs. An example of a great price for a good gun: see this thread.
 
Jim.....from the page you linked go to index, then go to "download latest catalog", however it is a pain for me to access these adobe downloads, if you prefer I just got my catalog and I would be happy to mail it to you. My brother in law also recieved his today so if I need one I can use his.
Let me know, I can get it in the mail tuesday.....tom
 
Kentucky Imports (www.kyimports.com) has police trade-in Glock 19's for $349.00. If he can find a decent FFL to recieve it for him, that ought to be right in his price range, and the 19's work very well for concealed carry. That's the route I would go.
 
Jim, I'm an hour away from memphis, in jackson, tn.

I recently delt with a person named Scott (owner) at http://www.rangeusa.com

I purchased a .40 s&w baby desert eagle from him brand new for just $379+tax. They were very, very friendly people there. I now drive an hour there every month to use their range. Their friendly service keeps me coming back.
The reason I dwell on that so much is it seems that pawn shops/gun shop people are rude!
 
Jim

Have revolvers & autos.
It seems to me that entirely too much is made of the DA/SA transition. Not a big deal. Some autos have a reasonable like a revolver DA pull.

Expect you know something about the following which many need to consider in a defense gun.
Court view of pointing a cocked firearm at someone - wanton disregard for human life. You don't want to go too light on the pull in a defense gun & have an AD. Accidental Discharge ...
Many police go their entire careers w/o firing their gun though many are taken into custody w/ it.

DA is recommended in a defensive gun.
 
Lots of good info already posted. I've always considered the Kel-Tec the best bang for the buck in a defensive pistol. (Even owned one for a while, sold it when I got my Kahr MK-9. That Kel-Tec served me well and is continuing to serve the person I sold it to).
 
SirVette: I sorta agree regarding the "cocked gun" issue. I'd rather see him with a DAO...the idea of a cop trade-in Glock 19 is a good one.

That said, remember that he DID get military experience in the 1911 pattern. Such prior experience with an SA/SA semi-auto operating drill to some degree counters that court concern.
 
S&W Model 3953 (stainless) or 3954 (blue) is a 9mm double action only pistol. Barrel length is 3 1/2 ", overall length is 6 7/8", and empty weight is 25 ounces. I think a used 3954 in very good condition would sell for about $300 (very good 3953 is about $35 more).
 
(RE: Range USA):
They were very, very friendly people there. I now drive an hour there every month to use their range. Their friendly service keeps me coming back.
Click to expand...

I concur. Also, they are very RKBA; they host our Tennessee Firearms Association meetings and urge customers to be politically active.

If they don't have a gun in stock, they can usually get it in a couple days.

I will add that Randa (co-owner) is super nice and quite an eye-full.

BamBam
 
Budget: $325. Guy generally has to operate on a budget so I'm thinking 9mm to keep practice costs reasonable.
Click to expand...

If he can find one with an OK trigger, a CZ-100 would fit the bill. Street price is around that. Makarov size, 10 rounds of 9mm or .40, DAO, no manual safety.

That said, don't forget that he'll have to budget for a usable holster as well.

Too bad on your judgement against a Mak. For his $325, he could get gun, extra magazines, decent grip, 500 rounds of blasting ammo, and a holster, with change left over.
 
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