Get R Done Guns
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Springfield Armory XD Essential package for 420.00 Squeeze 20.00 more dollars and it is probably as good or better than the whole list.
The $400 NIB 9mm Round Up
- Thread starter MikeNice
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carbuncle
Member
I've never fired an SD, but I loved the grip on the one I picked up.
catnphx
Member
I hear good things about the S&W SD9. If you can get a Ruger SR9 for $400 then I'd look at that too. Since it's for home use and you need more than 10 rounds that knocks several on your list out of contention. I have the CW9 and it's a great carry gun but it has a 7+1 capacity.
Good luck.
Good luck.
MikeNice
Member
I don't think I made my initial point clear. All of the guns on the initial list can be had for $370 - $400 out the door. I have found the guns either locally or on the net for prices that are in that range for the complete transaction. (Some of the guns are actually as low as $340 out the door. and the Kel Tecs can be had for $300 out the door.)
With prices in my area a Springfield XD is $460 plus tax. About $500 out the door. With internet pricing and transfer I can save about $50. (Just an example.) Witht the Ruger SR9c I'm looking at $428 out the door (with transfer) if I mail Bud's a money order and wait. Not a lot more, but for $8 more I get the CZ from Jet Guns with no waiting.
Surplus is an option for most people. I made this thread about NIB guns for a simple reason. Since a number of new shooters come here asking, "what is the best gun under $400," I kept it strictly NIB. I just feel a newer buyer is better sticking with NIB untill they learn how to inspect a surplus weapon properly.
This thread is about more than my needs though. So, keep putting up any and all info you feel is relevant. If you want to say, "model x is great for home use but I carry model y as my EDC because. . ." feel free. If you just want to say, "model z has a 1.5" grip width and may be hard for shooters with small hands to operate," that is fine as well.
Part of the purpose of this thread is to build a fountain of knowledge for all shooters. So, detail is welcome. There are somethings that the Manufacturer and Wiki won't tell you.
I will be adding the Kel Tec guns to the list.
With prices in my area a Springfield XD is $460 plus tax. About $500 out the door. With internet pricing and transfer I can save about $50. (Just an example.) Witht the Ruger SR9c I'm looking at $428 out the door (with transfer) if I mail Bud's a money order and wait. Not a lot more, but for $8 more I get the CZ from Jet Guns with no waiting.
Surplus is an option for most people. I made this thread about NIB guns for a simple reason. Since a number of new shooters come here asking, "what is the best gun under $400," I kept it strictly NIB. I just feel a newer buyer is better sticking with NIB untill they learn how to inspect a surplus weapon properly.
This thread is about more than my needs though. So, keep putting up any and all info you feel is relevant. If you want to say, "model x is great for home use but I carry model y as my EDC because. . ." feel free. If you just want to say, "model z has a 1.5" grip width and may be hard for shooters with small hands to operate," that is fine as well.
Part of the purpose of this thread is to build a fountain of knowledge for all shooters. So, detail is welcome. There are somethings that the Manufacturer and Wiki won't tell you.
I will be adding the Kel Tec guns to the list.
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doc2rn
Member
For me it would be the S&W M&P or the Ruger LC9. I wont ever own another Taurus. Dont know about the HiPower cloans but that would probably be a third choice. The rest I dont think I know enough about other than to say Sigs are good and the Kahr gets high marks from the CCW crowd. I would tend to stay away from cheaply made/ overpriced other stuff. Bersa is hit and miss some are great I had one that wouldnt shoot area of barn from inside at 7 yds, crown was messed up new out of the box.
snooperman
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- 2,143
I just bought a Ruger SR9 and for the $399 price it is a fine gun..
This new Ruger striker fired pistol is the best of the Ruger semi auto pistols I have tried. It is light, accurate and very reliable, and American made.
This new Ruger striker fired pistol is the best of the Ruger semi auto pistols I have tried. It is light, accurate and very reliable, and American made.
One comment on the Ruger SR guns. I do not own one but I did get the chance to shoot one at a rental Range. It was one of the post recall guns. It was fine other than the trigger being a bit on the heavy side. After the SR9c was released Ruger changed the trigger group (it is supposed to be much better) in the SR9. I haven't gotten the chance to shoot one of the SR9's with the latest trigger but the way to tell if it is the newer improved version or one of the older guns is to look at the magazine release. The earlier guns had a round magazine release. The later ones have D shaped mag release. If I were buying I would definitely want to make sure I got one with the latest improvements. There might be a lot of new old stock floating around out there.
hemiram
Member
If I had to buy new, it would probably be the Stoeger Cougar, but I would probably buy a used S&W 5906 for $300, and spend the rest on mags and a couple boxes of ammo. In general, they can keep any of the polymer guns, not interested. It's hard to beat a 3rd Gen S&W, IMO.
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MikeNice
Member
I went to the store today and fondled a few different guns from the list.
The Ruger SR9 had a good feel to it. It was light and well balanced with a good angle of grip. The controls were well placed. The thing that killed it for me was the little plastic backstrap insert. It pushed my hand out of alignment when I gripped the gun. It pushed my wrist out and to the right. A definite no go.
The Sig Sauer P250 was a good all around gun. It just did not wow me. Nothing about it was bad. Nothing about it was wrong. Nothing about it was special. It has no personality.
Taurus 709 Slims just look cheap. Compared to a Ruger SR9c or a Sig the gun looks rough and dull. In the long run the gun was too slim and top heavy. It felt completely out of proportion.
The Taurus 24/7 Pro Compact (G1) has great feel to it. The gun has a nice weight it feels proportionate. The controls are easy to reach and manipulate. All around the gun has great ergonomics. It feels like it could do the job over and over. I will definitely consider it when I go to buy my next carry piece.
The Stoeger Cougar was another great feeling gun. I have short beefy hands and this gun felt great. I could get a good wrap around the grip. The grips swept and bulged in just the right places. The reach to the trigger was a little short though. With a proper grip I was getting way too much finger on the trigger. This gun is going on my "next year" list. I want it for a range toy.
Then I tried one that isn't on the list. I tried out the CZ P-07 Duty. The gun just looks the part. The black isn't flat, but it isn't flashy. The sights are easy to line up and quick to focus. The grip is thin but deep. It has a longer reach than the seemingly fatter Stoeger. That made a big difference in my affinity for the gun. The reach is just long enough that it ensures proper finger placement on the trigger.
I also liked the slide on the CZ. The slide in frame idea gives it a low profile look. More importantly it puts more of the weight close to your hand. It leads to a vertical balance that is head and shoulders above everything else I touched.
I special ordered the CZ P-07 Duty in 9mm. I paid more but the experience at the store was great. It was worth the extra fifty bucks just to get the personal attention and advice. It made a big difference in getting the right gun for me and my wife.
The Ruger SR9 had a good feel to it. It was light and well balanced with a good angle of grip. The controls were well placed. The thing that killed it for me was the little plastic backstrap insert. It pushed my hand out of alignment when I gripped the gun. It pushed my wrist out and to the right. A definite no go.
The Sig Sauer P250 was a good all around gun. It just did not wow me. Nothing about it was bad. Nothing about it was wrong. Nothing about it was special. It has no personality.
Taurus 709 Slims just look cheap. Compared to a Ruger SR9c or a Sig the gun looks rough and dull. In the long run the gun was too slim and top heavy. It felt completely out of proportion.
The Taurus 24/7 Pro Compact (G1) has great feel to it. The gun has a nice weight it feels proportionate. The controls are easy to reach and manipulate. All around the gun has great ergonomics. It feels like it could do the job over and over. I will definitely consider it when I go to buy my next carry piece.
The Stoeger Cougar was another great feeling gun. I have short beefy hands and this gun felt great. I could get a good wrap around the grip. The grips swept and bulged in just the right places. The reach to the trigger was a little short though. With a proper grip I was getting way too much finger on the trigger. This gun is going on my "next year" list. I want it for a range toy.
Then I tried one that isn't on the list. I tried out the CZ P-07 Duty. The gun just looks the part. The black isn't flat, but it isn't flashy. The sights are easy to line up and quick to focus. The grip is thin but deep. It has a longer reach than the seemingly fatter Stoeger. That made a big difference in my affinity for the gun. The reach is just long enough that it ensures proper finger placement on the trigger.
I also liked the slide on the CZ. The slide in frame idea gives it a low profile look. More importantly it puts more of the weight close to your hand. It leads to a vertical balance that is head and shoulders above everything else I touched.
I special ordered the CZ P-07 Duty in 9mm. I paid more but the experience at the store was great. It was worth the extra fifty bucks just to get the personal attention and advice. It made a big difference in getting the right gun for me and my wife.
MikeNice
Member
UGA, I wish I had known that. With the strip reversed it would have been right up there with the CZ and Stoeger in my opinion. The first salesman I dealt with showed me the Ruger. He didn't tell me about the reversible back strap. He barely talked much about the guns even when I asked a direct question.
Half way through my transaction the original sales guy walked away. I guess he thought I was trying too many guns to be serious. I handled all of the guns I listed. Plus I handled a Walther PK380, a used Beretta 84, and a Taurus PT92. Me and my wife were both handling the guns and discussing which ones fit her hand best as well as mine.
He pulled out an $800 Sig, instead of the 2022 I asked to see, I told him I wasn't looking to spend $800. I said "If the only Sigs you want to show are the $800 ones, skip it. That just isn't in the budget." It was shortly after that he walked away.
The store owner's wife came up and started helping me out though. She was great and walked me through properly fitting the gun. She also showed me some things about my grip and trigger squeeze. Once she came over it was a lot better. She even cautioned me against the .40S&W after talking to me about my experience level and favorite loads for other guns. Even though she could have made more money selling me the .40S&W on the shelf she did what was best for me.
I wish I had asked her about the SR9 now. I might have saved $65. Probably not though, the Stoeger was my second choice gun. If the lady hadn't shown me that I actually handle the P-07 trigger better the Stoeger would have come home Saturday. The SR is nice though. If I planned on buying more than 1 or 2 more pistols it would be on the list.
My next two guns will probably be the CZ Rami-P and the Stoeger Cougar. If my wife doesn't decide she wants a L frame sized revolver instead of a auto. I won't complain if she does though. Too many guns is like too much fun, it doesn't exist.
Half way through my transaction the original sales guy walked away. I guess he thought I was trying too many guns to be serious. I handled all of the guns I listed. Plus I handled a Walther PK380, a used Beretta 84, and a Taurus PT92. Me and my wife were both handling the guns and discussing which ones fit her hand best as well as mine.
He pulled out an $800 Sig, instead of the 2022 I asked to see, I told him I wasn't looking to spend $800. I said "If the only Sigs you want to show are the $800 ones, skip it. That just isn't in the budget." It was shortly after that he walked away.
The store owner's wife came up and started helping me out though. She was great and walked me through properly fitting the gun. She also showed me some things about my grip and trigger squeeze. Once she came over it was a lot better. She even cautioned me against the .40S&W after talking to me about my experience level and favorite loads for other guns. Even though she could have made more money selling me the .40S&W on the shelf she did what was best for me.
I wish I had asked her about the SR9 now. I might have saved $65. Probably not though, the Stoeger was my second choice gun. If the lady hadn't shown me that I actually handle the P-07 trigger better the Stoeger would have come home Saturday. The SR is nice though. If I planned on buying more than 1 or 2 more pistols it would be on the list.
My next two guns will probably be the CZ Rami-P and the Stoeger Cougar. If my wife doesn't decide she wants a L frame sized revolver instead of a auto. I won't complain if she does though. Too many guns is like too much fun, it doesn't exist.
Mike1234567
member
The P-11 at $250 plus shipping is very reliable. Just don't drop it on its muzzle on a hard surface if you carry with a round in the chamber. Same goes for most, if not all, DAO pin-fired pistols.
yuppiejr
Member
Great thread, thanks to all who've contributed! The SIG PT2022 is closer to $500 near me, the Taurus PT92 is selling for $402 at one local outfit if one doesn't mind a full size 9mm.
rellascout
member
Get yourself a good transfer dealer. They are ripping you off by at least $150.
PS I assume you meant SP2022.
catnphx
Member
MikeNice - did you spend more than $400 out the door? You made it very clear that over $400 was not an option. A whole new set of guns would have been recommended if the $400 limit was raised to $450.
Either way, I hope you are happy with your purchase. Good luck!!
Either way, I hope you are happy with your purchase. Good luck!!
Ledgehammer
Member
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2010
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- 492
Sig P250 in subcompact or compact and you're good to go.
Taurus_9mm
Member
I was also going to suggest the Zastava EZ9, I've seen them at one of my local shops for $350.00 and am tempted to pick one up.
NMGonzo
Member
That is my final answer.
MikeNice
Member
I did pay moe than $400. I could have gotten it for $430. If I had bought on line and transferred through a guy in a neighboring city.
I ended up paying $483. I liked the gun, my wife felt comfortable with it, and the owner's wife was very helpful. I felt the price was justified given the level of service she provided.
After reading the CZ forums I am hoping I didn't make a mistake. I might see if they will swap it out for the Stoeger and credit back the difference since the CZ will be NIB and never opened.
I ended up paying $483. I liked the gun, my wife felt comfortable with it, and the owner's wife was very helpful. I felt the price was justified given the level of service she provided.
After reading the CZ forums I am hoping I didn't make a mistake. I might see if they will swap it out for the Stoeger and credit back the difference since the CZ will be NIB and never opened.
MikeNice
Member
Pilot, after doing much more reading I found out that CZ puts a "mag brake" in most of their guns. The mag drop "problem" is actually a part of the design. Just so many people complained they started "fixing" it under waranty.
The mag brake is supposedly a safety feature for professionals that use the gun. It insures that during a high stakes event you don't accidentally drop the mag. If you accidentally hit the button you just slap the mag back in place. No lost mag in battle. Because extra mags are usually extremely hard to find in the field.
That is a paraphrase of their statement. I think it makes sense.
The mag brake is supposedly a safety feature for professionals that use the gun. It insures that during a high stakes event you don't accidentally drop the mag. If you accidentally hit the button you just slap the mag back in place. No lost mag in battle. Because extra mags are usually extremely hard to find in the field.
That is a paraphrase of their statement. I think it makes sense.
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