What are some good "Sleeper" Semiautos?

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sig p6

How about the Sig P6? You can get them cheap right now, I guess they are old german police surplus. I just picked one up for $300 out the door (includes 2 Sig mags) and I love it. My brother has one too and they are great. Can beat a Sig Sauer for $300!
 
If someone cannot be trusted with a Glock, they shouldn't be trusted with any gun...

That said, I would recommend looking at a Hi-Power or a 1911.
 
Walther P99. I will never understand it but sooooooo many people pass on this gun, completely overlook them, and/or completely discount them. As far as polymer frame autos go at least, the P99 is the best d@mn one out there as far as I'm concerned. It's pretty much the most ergonomic (P30 what??!), reliable, ergonomic, accurate, and oh yeah ergonomic. ;) They are such great guns. I just don't understand why more people don't like them. Oh well, more for me.
 
1. Sigmas are not discontinued
2. Sigmas don't feel the same a a Glock. The grip angle is very different, shape of the grip is very different, and the shape of the trigger is very different.
3. The Sigma trigger is more like 8-10 lb on a new gun, which is heavier than a Glock and also a longer pull and lighter than a DA revolver. I think an articulated, hard trigger with a long pull is an effective "safety" feature, and frankly I don't trust any gun that has a hair-like trigger that requires a secondary safety in order to be carried safely. So some folks dig DAO, no manual safety guns (like me), and some prefer light-trigger, SA/DA guns with a manual safety.
4. There is no doubt that it is easier and more fun to shoot a light-trigger SA/DA gun in SA operation on the range than a DAO gun whether it's a revolver or a polymer auto. But for self defense and daily carry, one may have different priorities.
 
Interesting in the following link FN states
or claims it is the ONLY polymer framed handgun with replaceable
rails in order to make it rebuildable.
Maybe when it was introduced, but no more. The rails on the S&W M&P are part of the locking block and sear housing block assemblies (replacement cost $39.92).
Click to expand...

Agreed, and M&P isn't the only one. I suspect the XP is similar, as is the Steyr M series. Hmmm....I think there are pins in some Taurus's that allow the rail/frame assembly to be removed and replaced.

The only two I know for sure, that this can't be done on are the Glock (molded in) and the Ruger P-series (rails are plastic like the rest of the frame.) I've never heard issues with either of these guns rails.
 
CZ 40B from CDNN is a spectacular bargain, $289.00 plus shipping.

Many other posters have given great input. I recently went out on a limb and ordered a Bersa Thunder 40, $299.00 plus $25.00 to ship. I looked at a Thunder 9 Compact at Academy Sports before ordering the 40 and I was favorably impressed with overall workmanship and function.

I'll give a range report after I get it.
 
Interesting in the following link FN states
or claims it is the ONLY polymer framed handgun with replaceable
rails in order to make it rebuildable.
Click to expand...

Nope. Even the lowly, POS Kel-Tecs have an aluminum frame with rails that can easily be replaced by knocking out a couple of polymer pins. Besides, who cares about replacing the rails? I have NEVER seen a pistol with worn out rails.
 
1. Sigmas are not discontinued
2. Sigmas don't feel the same a a Glock. The grip angle is very different, shape of the grip is very different, and the shape of the trigger is very different.
3. The Sigma trigger is more like 8-10 lb on a new gun, which is heavier than a Glock and also a longer pull and lighter than a DA revolver. I think an articulated, hard trigger with a long pull is an effective "safety" feature, and frankly I don't trust any gun that has a hair-like trigger that requires a secondary safety in order to be carried safely. So some folks dig DAO, no manual safety guns (like me), and some prefer light-trigger, SA/DA guns with a manual safety.
4. There is no doubt that it is easier and more fun to shoot a light-trigger SA/DA gun in SA operation on the range than a DAO gun whether it's a revolver or a polymer auto. But for self defense and daily carry, one may have different priorities.
Click to expand...

I incorrectly stated that Sigmas were/are discontinued. There have been a number of changes to the line and I believe they S&W stopped or halted production at one time due to legal issues over the trigger. IIRC.

Those I have handled seemed to have had heavier than normal trigger pulls for any kind of handgun.
I don't think any S&W is a "sleeper" unless you're talking used, LE trade ins or older discontinued models such as the 28.
 
I'll echo the praise for Daewoo pistols.

I've had a DH40 for around six years now. I paid about $280 for it, brand new. I can't recall any malfunctions in several thousand rounds and it has no discernible mechanical wear. It is lightweight, ergonomic, and nicely ambidextrous (big plus for lefties like me). I like the "triple-action" trigger system and found it to be very practical. The build quality is top notch.

The only things I don't like about it are directly related to it's obscurity. It's a little tough to find off-the-shelf holsters for it (some Bianchi holsters for S&W 4006 pistols work well), and magazines are similarly tough to find (though I hear again that some S&W 5000 series magazines work).
 
No longer made or imported, but definitely "sleepers"...Firestar M43, M40 and M45. Small but in good calibres. A bit heavy (all steel). Dependable and very concealable.
 
Shadow1198, I'm on your side, I love P99s, and like you I can't understand how so many people just "don't care" about Walther.
The P99 is a very, very good pistol. Very accurate (both full-size and compact), very reliable, great trigger system, etc.
It is not James Bond's gun just for fun :cool:.
A Walther is a gun you can rely on, as a sleeper or as an everyday carry.
 
If you are looking for a sleeper, it would be the AR-24. If you like the CZ type handguns, the AR-24 is worth looking into. Quality control is very high, and the ergonomics are a step forward.
 
and magazines are similarly tough to find (though I hear again that some S&W 5000 series magazines work).
Click to expand...
JesseL,I have 2 brand-new one's I've never used..If interested for a good price, contact me by PM...The S&W's will fit, but stick out...Not good...
Your points were dead-on concerning the Daewoo attributes...Concerning the holster, since I favor the open belt-slides these days, no problem in fitting.:)
 
I am going to have to look at a Daewoo sometime, they might be a good cheep gun which I am all about. That and I get sick and tired of folks who diss people for not being confortable with a gun that has no non-trigger safety and only five pounds of pull.
 
I have a bunch of semi-autos in .40 S&W. Some good ones, too, like the new XDm, Steyr M-40, etc.

None compare to the Walther P99. Best semi-auto I've ever shot.

I didn't even know James Bond was using one until I read it on the 'net. I never see NEW 007 movies :p
 
i picked up a .45 that you could call a sleeper. it's a mag reasearch baby eagle .45 it's all steel, nice trigger, has 10+1 cap, a real hammer on the back, and it's very accurate. the safety how ever is a decocker that stays were you put it, and it's slide mounted. may be a deal breaker for you but works for me. you can buy NIB for $450 - $500 with two mags. good luck searching, hope you find the right one.
 
I agree with a previous post, the Walther P99 has to be one of the most under rated pistols on the market. They are simply ergonomic and reliable!
 
I disagree on the P99. It's trigger is unique...but that can be good and bad...depending on your tastes. It is a harder recoiler than other polymers...must have something to do with the timing. Above all that, it is more expensive. I consider a sleeper to be a gun you can get less expensively than it's rivals, with equal performance, because it isn't popular.

The CZ40b is a good example of a sleeper. It is less known then other CZ's but shares many of their great characteristics. If you like the 1911 grip you will love the little .40 caliber CZ for $290.
 
Star is out of business for some time. Some parts are unobtanium.

O.P. expressed a pref.toward .45 ACP I can't fault his pref. as
I have a S&W 1911 5" Bbl. Stainless Steel with a couple
of mods. I'm about ready to pull the trigger on getting an
RIA 1911 Tactical - dovetailed Novak style sights, beavertail
grip safety, skelton'd commander style trigger, beveled mag well
and an ambi safety for < $500. RIA is imported by Armscor
and has a good shop for Customer Service in Nevada. I think they
also have a double stack model.

The .45 ACP platform in CZ is the 97B. it does have a longer
grip frame so it's 5.8" in height, whereas the 75B is 5.4" and as a ref.
a full size/Commander is 5.5" in height. The 97B has a 10 shot mag.
capacity with the DA/SA and thumb safety.

.45 ACP - I also have a S&W 625 5" Bbl. .45 ACP with full moon clips
at 45 oz. it's a joy to shoot at the range however long I want with ol'El
Kah Bong. Not a sleeper but when others with the big magnums get sore
wrists etc. the 625 just keeps on booming.

Randall






.
 
OK, I'll play

Charles Daly HP - HiPower Clone for a lot less money. I paid $319 for a brand new one. Used ones are out there. It has the fat grip you like and 1911 ergos

RIA 1911. Get over the thin grip. The 1911 is the small-block Chevy of handguns. you can make it into anything you want it to be.
Or buy a doublestack model.

Spanish guns: I'm a big fan of these, and they truly are sleepers.

Astra A75 or A75L is a real neat SIG clone, compact 9mm or .40. L is for Lightweight alloy frame. Hard to find, but usually priced right when you do.
Avoid the Astra A80 or A100 in .45.

Star - Most all Stars are on the 1911 model, except the M-series.
If you don't like 1911s you won't like these, and you can't fatten up the grip as easily. My Star BM has about the best trigger in the safe. Any Star is a quality gun, and they often go for a song.

Llama - the perennial whipping boy of the handgun purists. Many people consider them cheap junk, and that's fine with me as I can score some nice handguns cheap. I have a 1940s .380 coming right now for $150.
Short guidline:
Anything with original wood grips is desirable, especially if made in the 1940s or 1950s.
Anything with plastic grips and a ribbed slide is suspect, though there are some that are fine guns. This would be approximately 1968-1993.
Anything made after about 1993 will probably be reliable if a little rough - but Colt parts mostly interchange.

FEG is a big Hungarian company that makes a lot of guns, and a lot of components that go into brands you recognize. They have a rep for good quality with maybe some rough edges that do not affect function. Centerfire seems to sell a lot of them at good prices.
 
Sleepers

Greetings MacTech, and welcome.
I am new here also.
I had narrowed my search down to the Bersa/Firestorm; FN; and CZ. (all in 9mm). I had a Bersa/Firestorm mini/UC on layaway. When I went to pick it up I noticed an FNP9-M in the case. It had been my first choice but the out-the-door price was almost 200.00 more than the Bersa. Long story a little less long, I was offered the new FN for a few dollars more than the Bersa, I suspect it was due to the fact that this pistol has been discontinued by FN and/or the shop had had it for a while and wanted to move it.
FNs are very nice, made in US. You get 3 magazines, which is a plus. Here's a (not very good) picture of the pistol I bought recently.
(On balance, the Bersa may be the best 'sleeper' deal out there though, all things considered.)
 

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