researching for awhile and need personal opinions

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knicks118

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ok guys, im new to the forum and need your expert personal opinions.
so here's the deal.

i've been researching a pistol for awhile now and am ready to buy.
i've always liked the beretta 92 but am open to other options.

1. i would like an all around pistol for target practice/defense.
2. i am not going to need it for plinking or concealment.
3. would like a semi-auto and wont consider a revolver
4. the gun needs to be fairly inexpensive, reliable (jamming), and very easy to maintain
5. recoil, weight, size is generally not a problem
6. this would be my first handgun but i have fired 9mm pistols before without the experience of cleaning and never experienced a jam or malfunction

if you had a choice to pick ONE semi-auto pistol if you were in my situation what would you personally pick?

thanks guys and looking forward to hearing your opinions
 
Springfield Armory 1911. I don't like alot of frills so i'd go with the mil-spec. the Loaded series is really great too. These guns come in 9mm and .45 ACP, if you had a preferance.

my personal pick would be a parkerized SA 1911 GI Mil-Spec. $500 almost anywhere and very potent and proven .45 ACP.
 
If you like the Beretta 92 and it is in your price range, I think you should go buy it at the next opportunity. You chose a good weapon. Of course there are many other good weapons out there but why would I want to suggest something else when you already like the Beretta. I like Sig and H&K a lot but so what? Go get your 92 and be happy.
 
The Baretta is a well made pistol. My son has one, and I have shot it a fair amount. It will give you good service. However, in my opinion it is quite large for a 9mm, and the design is far from my liking. I don't like anything on the slide. I don't like SA/DA autos. I don't like decockers. I like Glocks. But some guys like pinochle, and some guys like dominos. It's what makes the world go around. If you have decided that the Baretta melts your butter, then that is the one to get. If you want reliable and easy to maintain, then the Glock is at the top of the pack. The Baretta has proved itself to be reliable as well, but my experience is if you don't clean and oil it often, it will stop running. Not a problem for me, since I clean them each time they are shot. However in a recent long range session, my son's Baretta began stovepiping every round after about 500 rounds had been fired. Good clean up and oiling, and it was fine again. I have fired as many as 1500 rounds through the Glock without maintainance with no problems. I don't know what it is about the Glock, but folks seem to hate them or love them. There doesn't seem to be a middle ground. I'm a lover. You will no doubt hear from the haters. Good luck, and enjoy shooting, whatever you ultimately choose.

Why why why do I keep responding to these things?? Opinions are like a**holes, everybody has one.
 
well everytime i ask around i find a new gun that grabs my interest that ive never heard of before.

how are the taurus 92's, i heard they are an exact clone of the berretta but hundreds cheaper?
 
I like the Taurus 92s safety options better than the Beretta. The Taurus is a good gun and likely more affordable. If money is an object, Ruger P series guns work, are strong and well built. I'd stick with 9mm if you don't handload just so you can afford to do more shooting, the most affordable center fire ammunition on the market.

Might look at the CZs, too, for affordable quality. The CZ75 has become a classic and is cloned by many companies. It's a good design.

Just a few thoughts. If you like the Beretta and can afford one, go for it. It's a big gun, but you said you ain't worried about concealment.
 
Beretta 92- you know it already
Taurus 92- a near exact clone (safety is different), and I've heard good things about them
CZ 75- not as well known, but a VERY good gun
CZ PO1- newer interpretation, looks to be very good
Glock 17- if you are shopping 9mm guns, you've gotta at least consider it
Springfield Armory XD9- gaining popularity fast
Ruger P89 or P95- reliable, strong, and not expensive
Charles Daly High Power- The High Power is an all-time classic

If I had to pick ONE in your criteria, I would probably look hardest at the Glock 17 or the SA XD9. The CZ PO1 would also be very interesting. There's a whole lot of choices out there; good luck in your search.
 
Knicks,

Go handle several and see what fits your hand. See what feels best to you, and what pistol has the controls (slide release, mag release, safety if it has one) where you like them. If you have a range that rents guns invest the time and money to go and fire a few of your top choices and see what you shoot best. The Beretta 92, Taurus 92, Glock 17 or 19, Springfield XD-9, Ruger P-Series, CZ 75, and many others are all fine pistols, any of which will serve you well.
 
All of the gun's mentioned are good piece's. I have a few of them, but for all around reliabiality & durability I can't beat my Ruger P89DC.
 
If you like the Berretta, like the grip on the Berretta, and can afford the Berretta, buy the Berretta. The 92 is a good, solid, reliable, accurate 9mm. Its just big. I have a 92 and it is the "designated house gun" that I have instructed my wife in using along with my 870. She picked it as such.

I'm not a fan of Taurus for reason's I don't want to get into. I do hear the Taurus 92 is good though. Fit and finish probably won't be Berretta quality.

For a quality gun for less money look at the CZ 75 series. Pretty good ergonomics except for the long DA trigger reach. I liked the one I had for a while.

The Glock 19 is a superb weapon. Not too big, not too small, good capacity, low recoil, cheap ammo.

The Caddilac of 9mm is the Hi-Power. If you go this route, get the real thing, FN or Browning (same gun, different markings). The Hi Power is a class item and if you get a clone you'll want the real deal eventually anyway.

I like 9mm for a first centerfire auto due to the availability of cheap practice ammo.
 
I believe the Berreta is a great pistol and am really looking at getting one soon. You should definitelty check out the Glock series. The CZ75s are also great guns and the one I have fired was accurate.

As for the Taurus, I wouldnt get it. They are good weapons, but if you have your heart set on a Berreta, dont settle for a clone because its cheaper.
 
If you like the Beretta and it fits you, go for it. I have the DAO Centurion model and love it. Every gun that has been mentioned is worth consideration but my philosophy is get what floats your boat as long as it is quality, you need it to be reliable. Over the years I have been fortunate enough to acquire several pistols and each of them have their own appeal for different reasons. Start out with what appeals to you the most and go from there.
 
Define "inexpensive". This is no joke - we are of different income levels and people also handle money differently. Many will ask in the context of paying for quality "how much money is your life worth?"

I like the CZ-75 and variations.
The HiPower is good and sometimes there are deals.

I wouldn't say no to plinking - practice with your self defence weapon is always good.
 
The Beretta is a very reliable pistol. My duty weapon is a Beretta 96 (.40cal). However, if I was in your shoes, I would choose a Glock 17 or 19 for it's superior reliability, parts availability as well as low recoil and cheap magazines. If you ever thought you might carry concealed in the future, I would lean toward the G19.
 
croyance,

what brand is a hi-power or is it a brand cuz those are really cheap online.
 
Knicks,

The Hi-Power, not to be confused with the brand Hi-Point, was originally made my Fabrique Nationale - FN - of Herstal, Belgium, and sold under both the FN and Browning names. FM of Argentina makes a copy, called the M95, and FEG of Hungary also makes a Hi-Power copy. The Charles Daly Hi-Powers are made by FEG in Hungary with final assembly done in the USA. The FN/Browning guns are amongst the highest quality pistols built today and usually run around $600 new. CDNN investments did have some FN closeouts at $400, and they may have a few left. The FM M95 copies are available thru Sarco Inc for around $300, and I've seen the Charles Daly Hi-Powers for as low as $310 online. The FM, and FEG/Daly pistols are not as nicely fit and finished as the FN/Browning guns, but members here who own them report that they're well made and reliable.

www.cdnninvestments.com - FN closeouts, download catalog for gun pricing
www.budsgunshop.com - Has Daly Hi-Powers
www.sarcoinc.com - Importer for the FM Hi-Powers
 
Hi and Welcome!!

My first, and best choice for the money. Is the Taurus 24/7 Pro [.45 or .40 cal- 9mm is a pussy gun] I just got one 2 weeks ago[ .40 cal] for 400 and it rocks. It was the NRA 2005 handgun of the year. Has a nice external safety, great grip-ergonomic-loaded chamber indicator. Very reliable.
http://www.taurususa.com/video/taurus-corporate-video.cfm
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?model=24/7-40BP-15&category=Pistol

My second choice is the Smith MP. Not a bad deal something to consider.
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...d=27806&tabselected=tech&isFirearm=Y&parent_c

My third choice is a Glock model 22 or 21. This is a reliable gun, but you are also getting up there in the extra money. And I believe they do not have an external safety. Big for me I keep one in the chamber. Ready to Rock and Roll if needed-[my children are grown and the dogs have not learned to shoot yet]

I hope I have helped-Have a good one-take care.
 
If you like the Beretta, buy the Beretta. It meets your criteria. If you end up not liking it, sell it. It will hold it's value. The trick is not paying to much for it to start with.

CDNN has the Beretta 92FS for $439, and the Beretta PX4 for $439 as well. They generally have police trade in Beretta 92s for $350 or so. Download their catalog, call them up, and see. FWIW they also have the FN Hi Power for $399, and the HK USPc9 with a stainless slide for $599. Sig 226 for $399. A healthy supply of used Glocks priced to low to print in the catalog.
 
sorry guys i have a few more questions.

why do people generally not like 40 s&w? i mean a middle ground of a 9mm and 45acp sounds good to me?

also, which ammunitions are the most economic? ie 9mm or 40s&w?
please do not mention a 22lr to me thanks.

is there a website that reviews specific guns b/c i dont want to ask if a million questions as i find new pistols.
 
Knicks,

9mm is generally the cheapest you'll find. The 40 S&W works just fine, some people don't like it's snappy recoil compared to 9mm or 45 ACP, but it is a nice middle of the road caliber. If you find another gun you like do a serach for it here and I'm sure you'll find plenty of threads adressing it; if not ask, we like talking...err arguing... err discussing :evil: guns here on THR.
 
My first choice would be a Walther P99.
CZ is a great choice also, for less money.
Another less expensive option is the Bersa Thunder 9mm series, either an ultracompact or fullsize.
 
Don't apologize for asking questions, it is the fastest way to learn.

There is the question of why a middle ground is needed.
For me, it doesn't do anything that wasn't done before. The recoil is snappy like the 9x19, yet heavy like the .45 ACP - the worst combination.
Does it work? Sure, I'm not going to put it down for that. It is controllable too, but not as much as the 9x19.
While I have plenty of 9x19s, I am not a capacity guy. So the .40S&W doesn't do anything for me that the .45 ACP doesn't already do.
Ammo costs more than 9x19 also - making practice more expensive.

And gun rag writers keep saying that "anything that starts with a '4' is a large bore". Not in my book. Its fine to say you approve of something, but don't make things up.
 
The Beretta 92 is a fine handgun. I own one (Inox finished "United we stand" commemorative) and will never part with it. That said, my Baby Eagle (CZ-75 psuedo-clone, but tougher) is far more accurate and reliable and cost almost $200 less at $439.

Whenever someone asks me what their first autoloader should be and doesn't specify a particular style or caliber, the Baby Eagle is always one of (if not the only) pistol(s) I recommend.
 
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