best 9mm for under $300?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - best 9mm for under $300?

Posted: 8/2/2005 5:58:20 AM EDT

Is there such a thing? I feel like buying my first pistol today, and I want a 9mm semi-auto.. im going to head to the local gun shop to see what theyve got, if nothing interests me, I'll order a P95 from CDNN or something..

size isnt a big issue, nothing massive, nothing tiny..

Posted: 8/2/2005 6:28:02 AM EDT

[#1]

It used to be the Star Model 30. That is a really good deal, compares really well against the Beretta 92F. But alas, Star of Spain was bought, and their importer Interarms closed its doors. Now, I would say any of the American Rugers, Brazilian Taraus 92s, Chech CZ75s. You should go and check out those guns to see which one fits your hand the best, and see what the prices are.

Posted: 8/2/2005 7:02:20 AM EDT

[#2]

If $300 is your absolute top end limit - I'd think hard and long about getting a used S&W K frame in .38/.357 instead.

There are no good new 9mm's near $300 (and damn few used ones).

Used to be the HS2000 out there - but Springfield bought that line and now wants to charge almost as much as Glock for the XD.

Some people like those High Power copy Hungarian FEG's - but I've never shot one.

Posted: 8/2/2005 11:46:16 AM EDT

[#3]

i'd see what i could do on cdnn- add another 100 bucks and you can easily find yourself a much nicer pistola.

Posted: 8/2/2005 11:49:11 AM EDT

[#4]

You can get a new Smith & Wesson 9VE for about $300. I have a 40VE which is 100% reliable and eats any ammo. You just have to shoot 500 round and dry fire it to smooth and lighten the trigger but that is why you buy a handgun to shoot it!

Or look for a second generation used S&W for under $300.

Hope this helps...

Posted: 8/2/2005 12:54:05 PM EDT

[#5]

CDNN had some Refinished Sig 226's with pitted slides as low as $250.00 Hell of a deal as long as you want function over looks.

Posted: 8/2/2005 4:25:04 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
CDNN had some Refinished Sig 226's with pitted slides as low as $250.00 Hell of a deal as long as you want function over looks.

Bingo. That is one of the best ways to go.

Posted: 8/2/2005 6:43:42 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
Quoted:
CDNN had some Refinished Sig 226's with pitted slides as low as $250.00 Hell of a deal as long as you want function over looks.

Bingo. That is one of the best ways to go.

Whoa. I feel cheated. Aren't slides easily replaced?

Ben

Posted: 8/2/2005 8:40:00 PM EDT

[#8]

I bought a used Kel Tec today for 149 bucks . K-11 9mm , 10 rds . I put over 250 rds thru it today also . It Loved the Winchester NATO , and Winchester HP it gobbled up everything but Federal 147 the slide locked back twice out of 50 that type . No jam just pull the slide back to release slide catch and back in action . 1 dud w/ Wolf out of 50 that type (hard primers)but it went on the second pull of the trigger . It needs a new rear sight ....

.50 cents from Kel Tec , spare 10 rd Mags $20 ea. I like it AND like was mentioned above a revolver was there that caught my eye S&W 19 4" minty . They want $219 for it , so I gave them 50 Bucks and put it on layaway . No shit a LIKE NEW model 19 PLUS Smith is going to stop the K frame line . RL

Posted: 8/2/2005 11:46:38 PM EDT

[#9]

I would say EAA Witness but under $300 is pushing it. I would wait and save. Just my two cents.

Posted: 8/3/2005 1:55:06 AM EDT

[#10]

Ruger P95 would be an excellent choice as well. I paid 350.00 for my Beretta 92FS which was "used" but less than a year old and never fired. Do some shopping around, and this will give you a chance to maybe get some more money together. For 450.00 you can get a lot of top tier guns, however you can still get a decent gun for 300.

Posted: 8/3/2005 8:23:10 AM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
CDNN had some Refinished Sig 226's with pitted slides as low as $250.00 Hell of a deal as long as you want function over looks.

Bingo. That is one of the best ways to go.

Whoa. I feel cheated. Aren't slides easily replaced?

Ben

Easily, yes. Cheaply, no.

Posted: 8/3/2005 10:06:25 AM EDT

[#12]

CZ75, just a wee bit more, darned nice gun

Posted: 8/3/2005 10:15:43 AM EDT

[#13]

move up to .40, and get a cz-40p.
has the cz p-01 frame, and 40b slide.
great gun, and right at 299.00

Posted: 8/3/2005 11:15:45 AM EDT

[#14]

You can often find surplus or licensed High Powers for around $300. The FEGs are widely considered to be decent copies, and my own experience is in line with this.

Other options: Star BMs are going for under $200 now, expect to pay a little more through a dealer.

The Steyr M9s were being closed out for around $300 a while back, as were some of the FN High Power variants.

Posted: 8/3/2005 12:30:10 PM EDT

[#15]

You can find the P-95 in the $300 range, no problem. They are fine pistols for the money and are as reliable as the fancy guns that cost several hundred more. If that's all you can afford right now, get one and don't look back.

Ruger's aren't pretty. And they aren't known as tack drivers. And their company sucks up too much to the wrong crowd. But if you are on a budget and need a gun that will work, Ruger P-Series pistols get the job done.

Posted: 8/3/2005 1:20:46 PM EDT

[#16]

Steyr M9 9mm!

Posted: 8/3/2005 1:36:15 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
CDNN had some Refinished Sig 226's with pitted slides as low as $250.00 Hell of a deal as long as you want function over looks.

From CDNN 2005-2 catalog

SigArms 226

Good ~> Very Good $349

Refinished Pitted Slides with TuTone Finish
Heavy....$259
Medium..$299
Light.......$319

Hmmmm..........

Sounds like a good trunk gun to me

wganz
¶

Posted: 8/3/2005 10:02:55 PM EDT

[#18]

Used CZ's are cheap. So are the EAA witness clones. I'd check download cdnn's latest catalog. They always have tons of stuff in that price range.

Posted: 8/3/2005 10:16:44 PM EDT

[#19]

Ruger P95

Posted: 8/4/2005 1:51:17 AM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
move up to .40, and get a cz-40p.
has the cz p-01 frame, and 40b slide.
great gun, and right at 299.00

+1 on that. I forgot about the 40P. I got my .40B for about $300 and it is the best deal I ever got on a pistol. Not to mention it is responsible for a 97B and a P01 finding a nice home.

Posted: 8/4/2005 5:25:20 AM EDT

[#21]

Ruger P89

Posted: 8/4/2005 5:55:30 PM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:
Quoted:
CDNN had some Refinished Sig 226's with pitted slides as low as $250.00 Hell of a deal as long as you want function over looks.
Bingo. That is one of the best ways to go.

+1

Posted: 8/4/2005 6:21:30 PM EDT

[#23]

Checking the CDNN catalog I just downloaded......Walter P99 DAO 40 or 9 $339. FN High Powers $279-$329. Ruger P94s $279-$299. EAA Polymers all calibers $249-$299. Glock trade ins, starting at $349 and same with Sig trade ins. Lots of revolvers for around same price.

Posted: 8/4/2005 6:31:23 PM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:
You can find the P-95 in the $300 range, no problem. They are fine pistols for the money and are as reliable as the fancy guns that cost several hundred more. If that's all you can afford right now, get one and don't look back.

Ruger's aren't pretty. And they aren't known as tack drivers. And their company sucks up too much to the wrong crowd. But if you are on a budget and need a gun that will work, Ruger P-Series pistols get the job done.

Yep. If you can, save another bill for a used GLOCK 19, but for $300, I would get the P95.

Posted: 8/5/2005 6:28:42 AM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:
move up to .40, and get a cz-40p.
has the cz p-01 frame, and 40b slide.
great gun, and right at 299.00

FYI the minor frame mod for the 40p to accept the 40's slide precludes using a Kadet kit. Otherwise, the 9mm 75 and PO1 models do let you use the .22 Kadet kit if you are interested in that later.

Posted: 8/5/2005 6:48:20 AM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:
Used CZ's are cheap. So are the EAA witness clones...

A couple of years ago I picked up TWO 9mm CZ clones (a TA and a TZ) in decent shape for $340 shipped off of AuctionArms.com - excellent pistols for the money. They were perfectly serviceable as is, but for no more than I had in them I went ahead and had them both re-blued. Even with the refinishing and several extra mags each, I have less than $300 in each of them.