Spend My Friend's Money! ($300-500 First Pistol)

LockedBreech · May 24, 2011, 12:13 PM

Hey all! I've been getting a friend of mine into shooting bit by bit for a few years now. He went from ambivalent about guns, to casually pro-gun, and now he's actually showing some enthusiasm. He wants me to help him find his first gun and join the NRA.

Specifications
1.) Gun must be $300-$500 price range (I've been using Bud's Gun Shop prices)
2.) Gun must be a semiauto, mid to full size
3.) Gun must be chambered in 9x19 or .40

Here's what I've come up with so far for him:
- Ruger P95 (~300-325)
- Smith & Wesson Sigma (~295-315)
- Smith & Wesson SD-series (~330-370)
- Ruger SR-series (~390-410)
- Beretta PX4 Storm (~420-460)
- Sig-Sauer 2022 - (~415-450)
- Smith & Wesson M&P (~500)

+Your suggestions:
-CZ-75B (~480-500)
-Stoeger Cougar (~400-450)
-Walther P99 (~575-600)
-FNP/FNX (~450-480)
-Springfield XD-40 4" (~420-450)

Oh, and it goes without saying that we'll be getting him to a gun store (probably run down to Cabela's in Sidney, NE for a large-ish selection. Nothing real big locally) to see how your various suggestions fit his hand.

aarondhgraham · May 24, 2011, 12:27 PM

CZ-75B

group17 · May 24, 2011, 12:33 PM

Stoeger cougar 8000 $350
Walther P99 $449

LockedBreech · May 24, 2011, 12:49 PM

The P99 is that cheap? Wow, I always assumed that was a 600-700 gun.

Aaron, a great suggestion, but you have good taste so I'm not surprised. The 75B is on the upper side of his budget, but I can't think of a lot of guns with such a universally great reputation.

Edit:

Group, where did you get those prices? I was only able to find the Cougar for 350 used on Bud's, and the Walther was more in the 600 range.

skifast · May 24, 2011, 12:52 PM

FNP or FNX

LockedBreech · May 24, 2011, 12:53 PM

Skifast, awesome! Once again, a gun that I did not know was so affordable.

Uncle Malice · May 24, 2011, 12:59 PM

jetguns.com - M&P - $439 shipped.

LockedBreech · May 24, 2011, 01:09 PM

Holy cow, UM! Good find!

PipeSmokeMcGee · May 24, 2011, 01:32 PM

Here is a Springfield XD 4" chambered in .40 S&W for $419...same site Uncle Malice referred to. This place has some bargains!

http://www.jetguns.com/springfield-4...ack-p-224.html

LockedBreech · May 24, 2011, 02:14 PM

That service-sized XD has always intruiged me. I may have to make jetguns a favorite. Anybody know how the service is?

Leejack · May 24, 2011, 03:09 PM

At the lower end of the price range, the sigma.

Towards the upper end of that range, the PT-92.

Uncle Malice · May 24, 2011, 03:19 PM

Quote:

I may have to make jetguns a favorite. Anybody know how the service is?

I ordered my M&P9 from Jet Guns. They shipped it the same day i ordered it. No tomfoolery. Quick service and great price.

Smaug · May 24, 2011, 04:42 PM

Ruger P95 is a solid choice and will leave some money for ammo, eyes, ears, and range time. It is also US-made. Don't rule out P89, P93, and P94. They're previous generation guns, but are very durable, so buying a used one carries very little risk.

S&W M&P is also nice, and US-made, though it is a striker-fired pistol and is famous for a heavy trigger that is hard to shoot well.

A used SW99 or P99 from gunbroker would also be a great choice.

If he's looking at CZ75s, look at the P-01 and SP-01 models. They're of newer design and have completely interchangeable parts, unlike previous CZ75s. I belive the P-01 is the issue side arm of the Prague Police.

XDs to me are terribly ugly. But folks who have them seem to really like them.

Don't forget the great Beretta 92FS or M9. Great build quality, cheap magazines available, very accurate and easy to shoot well.

Lastly, don't rule out a Hi-Power. Mine's a Charles Daly, but a used Browning or FN is also available. These have the easy-to-shoot-well single action trigger. No need to pull through that long double action first pull like on the others here. It is a real classic, and the original hi-capacity pistol.

Here's my Chuck Daly:

1goodi · May 24, 2011, 05:02 PM

Glock 23 or Glock 19 any day. I've purchased 2 G23's (1st was stolen) seperately and I've never paid more than $500 including tax NEW. Gun shows are a good source and a good lgs will have better deals as thy are not so restricted by corporate policies.

Coltman 77 · May 24, 2011, 05:20 PM

Good work converting your friend from anti to pro gun.

He needs to join the NRA asap.

(More anti 2nd amendment attacks coming from the Obama/Chicago crowd everyday.

)

You've listed some very nice pistols in a budget price range. I'd let your buddy shoot some of them and see which works best for him.

My personal choices would be (not in this order) :

Beretta 92FS
Sig-Sauer 2022
Smith & Wesson M&P
Walther P99

Good luck.

May 24, 2011, 12:13 PM	#1
LockedBreech Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2009 Location: Rocky Mountain West Posts: 3,395	Spend My Friend's Money! ($300-500 First Pistol) Hey all! I've been getting a friend of mine into shooting bit by bit for a few years now. He went from ambivalent about guns, to casually pro-gun, and now he's actually showing some enthusiasm. He wants me to help him find his first gun and join the NRA. Specifications 1.) Gun must be $300-$500 price range (I've been using Bud's Gun Shop prices) 2.) Gun must be a semiauto, mid to full size 3.) Gun must be chambered in 9x19 or .40 Here's what I've come up with so far for him: - Ruger P95 (~300-325) - Smith & Wesson Sigma (~295-315) - Smith & Wesson SD-series (~330-370) - Ruger SR-series (~390-410) - Beretta PX4 Storm (~420-460) - Sig-Sauer 2022 - (~415-450) - Smith & Wesson M&P (~500) +Your suggestions: -CZ-75B (~480-500) -Stoeger Cougar (~400-450) -Walther P99 (~575-600) -FNP/FNX (~450-480) -Springfield XD-40 4" (~420-450) Oh, and it goes without saying that we'll be getting him to a gun store (probably run down to Cabela's in Sidney, NE for a large-ish selection. Nothing real big locally) to see how your various suggestions fit his hand. __________________ 16 Pistols, 5 Rifles, 1 Shotgun, no time to shoot them Last edited by LockedBreech; May 24, 2011 at 02:14 PM.

May 24, 2011, 12:27 PM	#2
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	CZ-75B __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

May 24, 2011, 12:49 PM	#4
LockedBreech Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2009 Location: Rocky Mountain West Posts: 3,395	The P99 is that cheap? Wow, I always assumed that was a 600-700 gun. Aaron, a great suggestion, but you have good taste so I'm not surprised. The 75B is on the upper side of his budget, but I can't think of a lot of guns with such a universally great reputation. Edit: Group, where did you get those prices? I was only able to find the Cougar for 350 used on Bud's, and the Walther was more in the 600 range. __________________ 16 Pistols, 5 Rifles, 1 Shotgun, no time to shoot them

May 24, 2011, 12:53 PM	#6
LockedBreech Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2009 Location: Rocky Mountain West Posts: 3,395	Skifast, awesome! Once again, a gun that I did not know was so affordable. __________________ 16 Pistols, 5 Rifles, 1 Shotgun, no time to shoot them

May 24, 2011, 12:59 PM	#7
Uncle Malice Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2009 Location: Phoenix Posts: 4,580	jetguns.com - M&P - $439 shipped. __________________ Handguns: 2x Glock 19.4 \| Glock 26.4 \| HK USP 9 \| HK P2000 \| HK VP9 SK \| HK P30 \| CZ Shadow 2 \| CZ P-10 C \| CZ P-07 \| CZP-01 \| S&W 360PD Rifles: DDM4 \| SGL 21 \| SAM7K \| Draco \| PSA PDW SBR \| ASA Side-Charger SBR \| CZ Scorpion K SBR \| Aero M4E1 9" 300blk SBR \| Angstadt Jack9 SBR \| Savage Mark II FV-SR Shotguns: Mossberg 590A1 20" SP \| Mossberg Shockwave

May 24, 2011, 12:33 PM	#3
group17 Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2009 Posts: 307	Stoeger cougar 8000 $350 Walther P99 $449

May 24, 2011, 12:52 PM	#5
skifast Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2008 Posts: 227	FNP or FNX

May 24, 2011, 01:09 PM	#8
LockedBreech Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2009 Location: Rocky Mountain West Posts: 3,395	Holy cow, UM! Good find! __________________ 16 Pistols, 5 Rifles, 1 Shotgun, no time to shoot them

May 24, 2011, 01:32 PM	#9
PipeSmokeMcGee Member Join Date: May 3, 2011 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 38	Here is a Springfield XD 4" chambered in .40 S&W for $419...same site Uncle Malice referred to. This place has some bargains! http://www.jetguns.com/springfield-4...ack-p-224.html

May 24, 2011, 02:14 PM	#10
LockedBreech Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2009 Location: Rocky Mountain West Posts: 3,395	That service-sized XD has always intruiged me. I may have to make jetguns a favorite. Anybody know how the service is? __________________ 16 Pistols, 5 Rifles, 1 Shotgun, no time to shoot them

May 24, 2011, 03:09 PM	#11
Leejack Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2007 Location: The Alamo! Posts: 2,056	At the lower end of the price range, the sigma. Towards the upper end of that range, the PT-92.

May 24, 2011, 04:42 PM	#13
Smaug Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2004 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 3,210	Ruger P95 is a solid choice and will leave some money for ammo, eyes, ears, and range time. It is also US-made. Don't rule out P89, P93, and P94. They're previous generation guns, but are very durable, so buying a used one carries very little risk. S&W M&P is also nice, and US-made, though it is a striker-fired pistol and is famous for a heavy trigger that is hard to shoot well. A used SW99 or P99 from gunbroker would also be a great choice. If he's looking at CZ75s, look at the P-01 and SP-01 models. They're of newer design and have completely interchangeable parts, unlike previous CZ75s. I belive the P-01 is the issue side arm of the Prague Police. XDs to me are terribly ugly. But folks who have them seem to really like them. Don't forget the great Beretta 92FS or M9. Great build quality, cheap magazines available, very accurate and easy to shoot well. Lastly, don't rule out a Hi-Power. Mine's a Charles Daly, but a used Browning or FN is also available. These have the easy-to-shoot-well single action trigger. No need to pull through that long double action first pull like on the others here. It is a real classic, and the original hi-capacity pistol. Here's my Chuck Daly: __________________ -Jeremy "Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength." - Eric Hoffer

May 24, 2011, 05:02 PM	#14
1goodi Member Join Date: March 14, 2011 Posts: 85	Glock 23 or Glock 19 any day. I've purchased 2 G23's (1st was stolen) seperately and I've never paid more than $500 including tax NEW. Gun shows are a good source and a good lgs will have better deals as thy are not so restricted by corporate policies.

May 24, 2011, 05:20 PM	#15
Coltman 77 Senior Member Join Date: October 3, 2009 Location: NC Posts: 1,244	Good work converting your friend from anti to pro gun. He needs to join the NRA asap. (More anti 2nd amendment attacks coming from the Obama/Chicago crowd everyday. ) You've listed some very nice pistols in a budget price range. I'd let your buddy shoot some of them and see which works best for him. My personal choices would be (not in this order) : Beretta 92FS Sig-Sauer 2022 Smith & Wesson M&P Walther P99 Good luck. __________________ "A man can be destroyed but not defeated". Ernest Hemingway Protect our 2nd Amendment Rights -- Join the NRA