Wanna Play? Which would you pick?

[Quoheleth]

.22: Browning Buckmark - got it.
9mm: Rock Island 9mm 1911; Ruger P-series
.45: Rock Island Tactical 1911 (have the compact)

Q

edit: adjusted for price; didn't realize the great difference between "street" vs MSRP. Mea culpa.

 

[atomd]

Ok, first off a lot of the replies are not in line with the rules of this thread. You can't choose Glock, XD, FN, Kahr or a CZ75. Heck, you can't even choose a Ruger SR9 or even any EAA gun. All of those guns are over $500 MSRP. Sure we can get them for a heck of a lot less but that's not what the OP was asking.

My choices:
1. Buckmark Contour with 5.5" barrel. MSRP $499.99
2. Stoeger Cougar 9mm matte black MSRP $469.99
3. RIA Tactical - I don't know the MSRP but I'd bet it would qualify. Could also substitute a Metro Arms 1911 too.

 

[triplebike]

Ok, first off a lot of the replies are not in line with the rules of this thread. You can't choose Glock, XD, FN, Kahr or a CZ75. Heck, you can't even choose a Ruger SR9 or even any EAA gun. All of those guns are over $500 MSRP. Sure we can get them for a heck of a lot less but that's not what the OP was asking.

My choices:
1. Buckmark Contour with 5.5" barrel. MSRP $499.99
2. Stoeger Cougar 9mm matte black MSRP $469.99
3. RIA Tactical - I don't know the MSRP but I'd bet it would qualify. Could also substitute a Metro Arms 1911 too.

Thanks! A few actually did follow the guidelines. I'm going to bet that your list would be the norm. All three are excellent, well priced handguns.

PS- I should have set the MSRP at $525 so the SR9 could play, my bad

 

[Stringfellow]

I gave you my input a bit earlier, but after some time at the range today, I think I will reiterate:

1) Browning Buckmark. Feels awesome in the hand. Extremely well built, with a "luxurious" feel of high quality. It was cloverleafing at 5 yards, and gave me 3" groups at 10--and I am really not that great of a shot. And best of all, it is fun enough to shoot that it served as "filler" since I cannot afford to shoot 9mm for my entire 1 hour range slot.

2) Finally shot my Stoeger. As expected, very accurate with little recoil. The thing that stands out about it among others I considered is its feeling of quality. When you don't have the $$$ for a big collection or big names, you get a taste of the big name feel with this pistol (much like the Browning). I.e., the slide glides like butter, and it is even a joy to DRY fire since its DA + SA trigger pulls are so damn smooth. So in addition to being a sweet shooter, it screams pride of ownership--and that combination is even more rare at its price.

I researched for a long time, and chose very carefully. I am convinced that the $800 total that I spent on the Cougar, Buck Mark, and a CZ82 could not otherwise possibly bought so much quality with so few apologies.

 

[Aceoky]

when I 1st started looking for a 9MM I was limited to $400 or less. Being a fairly new novice I didn't want to buy used. I just wanted a reliable handgun to enjoy the sport of shooting & since my funds were so limited, I figured if something did go wrong It would be covered & I would not have to shell out any more money.

The Hi Point would fit this exactly yet you excluded it? You'd had MUCH more $ for ammo also (sorry just couldn't resist)