Old and Under Rated 9mms

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The happiest day of my life was the day I sold my S&W model 59. Terrible trigger (both double and single action) and even worse sights. Fit my hand like a 2x4. My WWI Luger ejects hot brass straight up into my hair (ouch!). My WWII P38 has an even worse trigger than my old model 59. If you want to be happy, purchase a S&W model 64 38 special revolver. Smoooooth trigger, heavy barrel, stainless steel construction.
 
Best Low Cost 9m.m. are the STOEGER COUGARS

If you are not interested in a plastic framed pistols, then the best bang for the buck 9m.m. are the STOEGER Cougar pistols. The action is smooth and the gun well made.

Jim
 
Thanks to all who offered their advice. I'd love to take it all, but the household budget being what it is.....I kinda keep my collecting in the under $400 range. And I've done, I think, fairly well looking for good guns that people gloss over because they want the lastest gun mag rage or believe the hype they hear or think they need the smallest 9mm man can make. (I've got a Shield for when I have to carry "small," and whenever I can I carry my S&W 908.)

I know I have way too many guns....but I have fun shooting them and as a retired gentleman of leisure I can get to the range at least twice a week.

Again, thanks to all who chimed in here, and boy oh boy I do wish I could afford a Sig 210 or a Walther P5. But, unless I sell a few, I may just have to look for some Rugers. I don't have any of those (nor Colts, either pistols or revolvers...I just like S&W better.) Now, is the LGS open tomorrow?
 
Older Sig P6's are great guns only thing is they are limited capacity (8 rnds) but, fantastic shooters and a good size for CC.
 
I'd look at a Taurus PT92 or a CZ75 given what you said. Also a Beretta 92, but I like the safety placement on the Taurus better.

You could definitely find a PT92 under $400. A CZ75 would be a harder find and would have to be used. As another option, you could look at a Canik S120 or P120. They are CZ75 clones, incredibly well made and very affordable. They take CZ75 mags and can also take CZ75 grips with a tiny bit of tweaking.
 
Surplus or used CZ75 clones are available for $300-ish. I paid $330 for mine.

I see surplus/used BHP clones are still out there in your price range.

And surplus/used Taurus 92's as well.

I own all three and like them all. The latter two have served me well for 25 years or more.
 
Used to be able to pick up those Hungarian Hi-Power clones by FEG for around $250 ... nicely done pistols.

As noted, Star did some great work -- my little nickle ("Starvel") Firestar is still a viable piece in my defensive armory. Another defunct Spanish firm, Astra did a cool little single stack 9mm that I never got around to picking up ...

I still love the S&W 5906, and am looking for a better specimen of my 3913 ...

My old Taurus PT-92 ($300 in 1991) is a fine example of that company's best product, and with the Mec-Gar 18 and 20 round mags, is still going strong.

But my favorite older semiauto is still the SIG P-225 (police trade-in P-6s still around for sometimes reasonable prices).
 
Walther P1 versions of the P38 can still be found under $500 and are a "Best Buy".
Smith and Wesson 39-2s are fairly common on the used gun market and are better than one might expect.
Neither is high capacity which makes them good choices if you live in a less enlightened area of the country.
 
Model 10 S&W 4" Can be had for little over 300
S&W 3913 great 9mm

I have a Colt Commander from 1951 in 9mm

Bersa makes a couple good Hi cap 9 for 400 or so.
 
German police trade in Sig P6 (P225) are great mid sized alloy pistols that you can find reasonably cheap on the used market. Mags are getting harder to find but out there.
 
Old Dog- do you shoot your Firestar much? How's it holding up? Mine might get 2-300 rounds/year. Finish is decent, wear on the sharp corners as expected. Wish I had the Starvel finish at times but the blue is acceptable.
 
ms6852 said:
I have a Taurus 92F or something I bought 32 years ago, has been a great gun SA/DA
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You made me do sad math... I bought mine 31 years ago (at WalMart!) for $220. Actually had to give my mom the money to buy it as I was 14 at the time ;)

Best gun Taurus ever made, if ever a gun was underrated, there you go. I've heard tales that custom gunsmith used Taurus locking blocks on Customers Berettas because the Taurus ones simply did not break, but most were very careful NOT to tell the customers who made it :)

As above as well, virtually all the Smith and Wessons. A few years back police surplus 5906's were all over the place for cheap, think those days are pretty much gone unless you get very lucky. A gun like that would have to retail for nearly a grand today, which is the reason Smith dropped them and the great 4506 series.
 
RA40 asked me
Old Dog- do you shoot your Firestar much? How's it holding up?
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Well, it's probably shot a lot more by people I take to the range. A bit heavy for its size (compared to the offerings these days) but totally reliable, has never hiccupped once since 1995. That's one reason I kept it in addition to the fact that it's quite accurate with easy recoil. Kinda wish I'd picked up some more mags (I have only two) back in the day. The safety is a tad loose, but otherwise, the finish and function is excellent.
 
"I have a Taurus 92F or something I bought 32 years ago, has been a great gun SA/DA."


I got mine in 1989 or 1990, somewhere in there. It has been a great gun. An ex of mine smashed it against something repeatedly (long story), breaking off the sights, damaging the extractor, and generally making a mess of it. Taurus wouldn't fix it for free (it was worth a try!), but I don't blame them. They sold me a new slide assembly for dealer price, though. I have no complaints about that. At the time that I bought it I also found a 32 round magazine. It is very handy if you want to make most of a box of ammo disappear like magic. :)
 
C0untZer0 said:
The P7 M8 was only $50 more than a Beretta 92 in 1984.
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I was around as an adult in 1984.
No it wasn't.
A P7M8 was a LOT more expensive than a Beretta 92 because they brought a premium IF you could even find one for sale.
 
In 1984, I was at the gun counter in Walmart in Leesville, LA. They had an HK P7M8 and I asked to see it. I was really already planning to buy one but Walmart was selling it for $550.00 and a gun dealer in my hometown could get me one for $500 even. When I held the P7M8 the clerk recommended the Beretta instead. I asked him why and he said "Because it balances better in the hand, its 50 dollars cheaper and it won the Army pistol trials - its the Army's new pistol."

I remember it clear as day.
 
Benelli B76 (lever delayed blowback)

Styer GB (gas delayed blowback)

MAB PA-15 (rotary barrel delayed blowback)

Those are a few I wouldn't mind adding to my collection. Especially the Benelli! Unfortunately they have had a huge price increase lately. They would pop up for the $4-500 range until recently.

Dan
 
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