looking for a price friendly handgun

vcpilot79 · 10-09-2009, 02:19 AM

This is my frist time posting in the handgun section, so hi everyone! i'm in the market for my first handgun and i'm leaning towards a 9mm. i've always shot glocks at the ranges and absolutely love them. I'd love to buy a glock 34 in hopes of one day participating in IDPA matches, but right now my "accountant" says that glocks are out of my reach. what i'm looking for is a well priced handgun that i can throw around and not really worry about it too much. i read the thread about the hi-point C9, one of my buddies owns one and has had no problems with it. My question, is that my only choice for that price range? any other brands that you would recomend? This will not be a CCW, nor a competition gun... just something cheap, yet reliable, that i can have fun with.

danf6975 · 10-09-2009, 07:41 AM

hahaha does your accountant have a ring on one finger ? =)

does it have to be an autoloader or can it be a revolver?

tappedandtagged · 10-09-2009, 08:29 AM

Check out Kel Tec or a used Taurus revolver. The Kel Tecs are more geared toward CCW though. On the High Points, yeah, if I got one of those, I wouldn't worry about it either. The things are nearly just a trolling weight IMHO.

toolman · 10-09-2009, 08:32 AM

I'd suggest looking at a PA-63. It's much slimmer and lighter, plus it makes a dandy CCW if you want to carry. Ammo isn't hard to find and a lot of these come with two mags and the issue cleaning rod in like-new condition.

File:PA-63 with Clip.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Taurus Fan · 10-09-2009, 08:50 AM

[QUOTE=vcpilot79;1015694]. what i'm looking for is a well priced handgun that i can throw around and not really worry about it too much. /QUOTE]

Cheap knock around gun for casual shooting in 9mm pretty much makes Hi-Point the logical choice. People who own them seem to think they're OK.You're not going to beat the $150 price tag, and if you get into shooting later and want a serious gun you're not out much on the Hi-Point.

Go for it.

stinkybriches · 10-09-2009, 09:38 AM

i dont know what your budget is so its a tuff one to call.
i love my eaa witness. i mean love it. it ran me 400 new.
my bersa thunder 9 is also and excelent firearm, and it was 300 new.
neither have given me any problems.

WLew · 10-09-2009, 10:43 AM

Has anybody heard of the Jiminez pistols? The company is from Las Vegas. And they're cheap. A local dealer has the 9mm for $152 brand new. I'm gonna go look at em today.
Here's a link to their site http://jimenezarmsinc.com/janine.htm They might be worth a look.

dog party · 10-09-2009, 11:36 AM

The Ruger P95 is around $300 and it is a fantastic gun. Or, try to find a used Ruger P85. Just a plain great gun that just keeps on shooting.

DaTeacha · 10-09-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WLew

Has anybody heard of the Jiminez pistols? The company is from Las Vegas. And they're cheap. A local dealer has the 9mm for $152 brand new. I'm gonna go look at em today.
Here's a link to their site Jimenez Arms, Inc. They might be worth a look.

Run, don't walk, away from buying a Jiminez. They're very heavy and not very reliable, based on what others have said on here.

tclu1308 · 10-09-2009, 12:34 PM

http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/gen...-arms-9mm.html (Anyone Tried a Jimenez Arms 9mm ?)

I read this discussion a while back on the Jiminez pistols, thought it might be worthy of linking to.

As far as Hi-Point, a friend of mine bought one of the 40SWs a couple years ago and has fired tons of rounds out of it with no problems. I toyed around with the idea of getting one for a while but never did. It is just a little clunky feeling I thought. There will probably always be an argument over the quality of hi-point, but as far as I know from actual experience, they are tough little guns, made here in the US, come with a great warranty, and can't be beat as far as price. Another gun nut friend of mine has one of their .40 cal carbines for a plinker and loves it--and this guy has some ARs that are worth more than my truck, so I can respect his opinion.

CrazyIvan · 10-09-2009, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vcpilot79

This is my frist time posting in the handgun section, so hi everyone! i'm in the market for my first handgun and i'm leaning towards a 9mm. i've always shot glocks at the ranges and absolutely love them. I'd love to buy a glock 34 in hopes of one day participating in IDPA matches, but right now my "accountant" says that glocks are out of my reach. what i'm looking for is a well priced handgun that i can throw around and not really worry about it too much. i read the thread about the hi-point C9, one of my buddies owns one and has had no problems with it. My question, is that my only choice for that price range? any other brands that you would recomend? This will not be a CCW, nor a competition gun... just something cheap, yet reliable, that i can have fun with.

What is your budget? Whenever someone asks about buying a gun that they don't have to spend a lot on, it really helps to give us a budget.

I have a Rock Island Armory 1911 that is awesome! It can be had new for between $400 and $450. Where I got it was $450, but I bought a couple boxes of ammo and the hogue grips, and was able to talk them down to $400 on the gun since I bought a few things.

(CLICK FOR FULL SIZE)

UtahMike · 10-09-2009, 01:20 PM

Lots of good recommendations here. It will all depend on your budget. I have two 9mm, on a Polish P64(under $250 in most places) and a PT92(about $400 or so). As to Hi-point, I have seen them, never shot them. They are heavy but those who own them seem to like them. And for the price, you can't beat it. I don't know where you live, but some gun dealers have indoor ranges where you can rent guns. If you can get access to one, this would be a great way to find the gun that you feel the most comfortable with. Test fire all the ones in you price range if you can, then decide.

musicmaniac · 10-09-2009, 01:22 PM

Here is another vote for the FEG PA-63. I got mine about two and a half years ago when J&G was selling them for 99 bucks. Pretty sweet!

Still waiting for the day when I have a little extra cash and toolman is making those purty grips he used to make again!

mitchr · 10-09-2009, 02:30 PM

Some good suggestions here. Another one is Bersa. Life time warranty. Made in Argentina but has warranty shop in the states with very good customer service record. They make a "Thunder" & "Firestorm" which are the same pistol, just difference in the trigger guard & grips. They have 380ACP, 9 mm, 45ACP & , in the Firestorm, also make a 40 cal. They make all of these in compact & full size. Price ranges, dependinng on cal. & where you buy it, from $250 to $400. Some will say they are not a "pretty" gun, but most agree that they are a dependable one.

vcpilot79 · 10-09-2009, 02:37 PM

wow great info guys! thank you so much, i love this forum!!! so my budget is gonna be around 250. i live in southern california, so concealed carry is not even an option unless i sell diamonds! lol. gonna start doing my homework on all the ones listed here... Ivan, that Rock Island looks great!

240 Coastal · 10-09-2009, 05:07 PM

Another vote for the FEG PA-63, a great value and a great shooter!

Here's mine with the ClipDraw installed. LOVE the ClipDraw!!!!!

Tom

woody1981 · 10-09-2009, 05:37 PM

Good suggestions above. My vote is for the Kel Tec P11--no jamming, easy to grip, priced right, and lots of fun.

Billyz · 10-09-2009, 05:43 PM

First handgun I would say get a revolver. That said I have a pa-63 and a hi-point c9 and they both are nice shooters.

MLN1963 · 10-09-2009, 07:06 PM

I have the following inexpensive guns that may fit your budget (and all were bought from CDNN-Click On This Link. I have others that don't fit your proposed budget so I won't mention them.

FEG PA-63: $149
CZ 82: $189
KT P-11: $229

There are certainly other choices out there as well but with the current feeding frenzy on guns there aren't a lot of sub $250 guns anymore. Even those above have gone up considerably (50% in the case of the FEG) in the last year. I think you are going to be paying $300 plus for a Bersa these days. They are decent for the money but may be out of your range.

The PA-63 is a nice gun that needs $20 in springs and a little easy to do TLC to make the trigger pull much more bearable. It is without a doubt the most accurate of my guns listed above. It does kick some and if you are really susceptible to recoil then it may not be the best choice. The 9x18 Makarov ammo is easy to find online for about $10 a box of 50. This is a Hungarian military/police model so don't expect a finish like a S&W revolver.

The CZ Model 82 is also chambered in 9x18 Makarov. It has a double stack magazine and is very comfy to hold. The trigger on the CZ is so much easier than the FEG and needs no springs to make it better. There probably never has been a nicer DA/SA pull on a military weapon ( I know the M9 I carried sure wasn't). The finish on these guns are painted on and therefor chips. These are all old Czech military guns and even the nicest ones can have some chipping. No worries though, they still shoot great. Mine isn't quite as accurate as my FEG but it isn't too bad either.

The P-11 is a 9mm and therefore more powerful if you were to consider it for personal defense. It is the smallest of the group and the easiest to conceal. It has a very unique trigger pull. It is double action only and therefor has a long and stiff pull. It is easy to get used to if you give it a chance. Don't expect to shoot 1" groups at 25 yards with this gun. The short sight radius and DA trigger just aren't conducive to that. This is a close contact to 10 yard self defense weapon in my opinion. Given that it is a nice gun weighing size, power and price.

Of the three guns listed, if I had to choose just one for target shooting and plinking, I think it would be the CZ 82. As a Kalifornian I think you have to give up the 12 round mag and get one with a 10 rounder? It has decent sights, is comfortable to hold, and has manageable recoil. The ammo is fairly cheap and easy enough to locate. They ship it right to your door in most states. Click HERE for a list of places Cheaper Than Dirt won't ship to see if you can have ammo sent to your door.

Some other things to think about. AMMO, AMMO and AMMO. I highly suggest you not take Billyz's recommendation for getting a revolver at this time for one reason only. AMMO AVAILABILITY. In the current market revolver ammo is non-existent on most shelves. They are really only staying afloat with a few pistol calibers and they are 9 mm and 40 S&W. They are holding back on .25 auto, .380 ACP, .45 ACP from what I've been told. Maybe once they get caught up on all the military contracts and most popular rounds (E.G. 9 mm and 40 S&W) will we start to real supplies of revolver ammo sitting on the shelves.

Earlier this year I bought a M&P 40 just so I could find ammo. I have a 9 mm conversion barrel for it so I can shoot either caliber. I couldn't find ammo for my .22s, 380, 38 specials, 357 magnums, 41 magnum or 45 ACP. Needless to say I had a lot of iron laying around that was of no use to me because I didn't have ammo for it. 9 mm and 40 S&W would show up on a fairly regular basis. This is also the reason I picked up the FEG and CZ, ammo was available for it. It's pretty sad when you can't even find a single box of .22 LR on the shelves. Things have improved somewhat now as I can almost always find 9 or 40 at WM these days. The other calibers come in once in a blue moon and you better be there when they unload it or you wait another month or however long it takes.

I brought up the ammo situation because I would hate for you to buy a gun and not be able to find ammo for it. I know plenty of people that have Ruger LCPs or Keltec 3ATs and still haven't found ammo to shoot them. Talk about a buzz kill.

There is my 2 cents worth of input. Let us know what you get!

Durandal · 10-09-2009, 11:07 PM

Look at a stoeger cougar 8000 my brother picked his up for $350. I dont know if thats the current price but its worth a look.

10-09-2009, 02:19 AM	#1
vcpilot79 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: coastal california Posts: 54	looking for a price friendly handgun This is my frist time posting in the handgun section, so hi everyone! i'm in the market for my first handgun and i'm leaning towards a 9mm. i've always shot glocks at the ranges and absolutely love them. I'd love to buy a glock 34 in hopes of one day participating in IDPA matches, but right now my "accountant" says that glocks are out of my reach. what i'm looking for is a well priced handgun that i can throw around and not really worry about it too much. i read the thread about the hi-point C9, one of my buddies owns one and has had no problems with it. My question, is that my only choice for that price range? any other brands that you would recomend? This will not be a CCW, nor a competition gun... just something cheap, yet reliable, that i can have fun with.

10-09-2009, 08:32 AM	#4
toolman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 7,135 Blog Entries: 25	I'd suggest looking at a PA-63. It's much slimmer and lighter, plus it makes a dandy CCW if you want to carry. Ammo isn't hard to find and a lot of these come with two mags and the issue cleaning rod in like-new condition. File:PA-63 with Clip.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia __________________ cosmoline is an aphrodisiac!

10-09-2009, 10:43 AM	#7
WLew Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: North Arkansas Posts: 194	Has anybody heard of the Jiminez pistols? The company is from Las Vegas. And they're cheap. A local dealer has the 9mm for $152 brand new. I'm gonna go look at em today. Here's a link to their site http://jimenezarmsinc.com/janine.htm They might be worth a look. __________________ NRA Life Member Last edited by WLew; 10-09-2009 at 10:48 AM.

10-09-2009, 12:34 PM	#10
tclu1308 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Champaign IL Posts: 432	http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/gen...-arms-9mm.html (Anyone Tried a Jimenez Arms 9mm ?) I read this discussion a while back on the Jiminez pistols, thought it might be worthy of linking to. As far as Hi-Point, a friend of mine bought one of the 40SWs a couple years ago and has fired tons of rounds out of it with no problems. I toyed around with the idea of getting one for a while but never did. It is just a little clunky feeling I thought. There will probably always be an argument over the quality of hi-point, but as far as I know from actual experience, they are tough little guns, made here in the US, come with a great warranty, and can't be beat as far as price. Another gun nut friend of mine has one of their .40 cal carbines for a plinker and loves it--and this guy has some ARs that are worth more than my truck, so I can respect his opinion. __________________ If anybody asks I spent it on golf balls. Last edited by tclu1308; 10-09-2009 at 12:38 PM. Reason: spelling

10-09-2009, 01:22 PM	#13
musicmaniac Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Surprise, AZ Posts: 1,060 Images: 7	Here is another vote for the FEG PA-63. I got mine about two and a half years ago when J&G was selling them for 99 bucks. Pretty sweet! Still waiting for the day when I have a little extra cash and toolman is making those purty grips he used to make again! __________________ The lead car is absolutely unique, except for the one behind it which is identical. -Murray Walker

10-09-2009, 07:41 AM	#2
danf6975 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 257	hahaha does your accountant have a ring on one finger ? =) does it have to be an autoloader or can it be a revolver?

10-09-2009, 08:29 AM	#3
tappedandtagged Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Southwest Arkansas Posts: 840 Blog Entries: 1	Check out Kel Tec or a used Taurus revolver. The Kel Tecs are more geared toward CCW though. On the High Points, yeah, if I got one of those, I wouldn't worry about it either. The things are nearly just a trolling weight IMHO.

10-09-2009, 08:50 AM	#5
Taurus Fan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: COBRA COMMAND HEADQUARTERS Posts: 1,540	[QUOTE=vcpilot79;1015694]. what i'm looking for is a well priced handgun that i can throw around and not really worry about it too much. /QUOTE] Cheap knock around gun for casual shooting in 9mm pretty much makes Hi-Point the logical choice. People who own them seem to think they're OK.You're not going to beat the $150 price tag, and if you get into shooting later and want a serious gun you're not out much on the Hi-Point. Go for it.

10-09-2009, 09:38 AM	#6
stinkybriches Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: wisconsin Posts: 86	i dont know what your budget is so its a tuff one to call. i love my eaa witness. i mean love it. it ran me 400 new. my bersa thunder 9 is also and excelent firearm, and it was 300 new. neither have given me any problems.

10-09-2009, 11:36 AM	#8
dog party Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 275	The Ruger P95 is around $300 and it is a fantastic gun. Or, try to find a used Ruger P85. Just a plain great gun that just keeps on shooting.

10-09-2009, 01:20 PM	#12
UtahMike Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Ogden, Utah Posts: 137	Lots of good recommendations here. It will all depend on your budget. I have two 9mm, on a Polish P64(under $250 in most places) and a PT92(about $400 or so). As to Hi-point, I have seen them, never shot them. They are heavy but those who own them seem to like them. And for the price, you can't beat it. I don't know where you live, but some gun dealers have indoor ranges where you can rent guns. If you can get access to one, this would be a great way to find the gun that you feel the most comfortable with. Test fire all the ones in you price range if you can, then decide.

10-09-2009, 02:30 PM	#14
mitchr Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 109	Some good suggestions here. Another one is Bersa. Life time warranty. Made in Argentina but has warranty shop in the states with very good customer service record. They make a "Thunder" & "Firestorm" which are the same pistol, just difference in the trigger guard & grips. They have 380ACP, 9 mm, 45ACP & , in the Firestorm, also make a 40 cal. They make all of these in compact & full size. Price ranges, dependinng on cal. & where you buy it, from $250 to $400. Some will say they are not a "pretty" gun, but most agree that they are a dependable one.

10-09-2009, 02:37 PM	#15
vcpilot79 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: coastal california Posts: 54	wow great info guys! thank you so much, i love this forum!!! so my budget is gonna be around 250. i live in southern california, so concealed carry is not even an option unless i sell diamonds! lol. gonna start doing my homework on all the ones listed here... Ivan, that Rock Island looks great!

10-09-2009, 05:07 PM	#16
240 Coastal Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 107	Another vote for the FEG PA-63, a great value and a great shooter! Here's mine with the ClipDraw installed. LOVE the ClipDraw!!!!! Tom Attached Thumbnails

10-09-2009, 05:37 PM	#17
woody1981 One of the Usual Suspects Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: southwest PA Posts: 1,358 Images: 4 Blog Entries: 1	Good suggestions above. My vote is for the Kel Tec P11--no jamming, easy to grip, priced right, and lots of fun. __________________ A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity.”~Freud

10-09-2009, 05:43 PM	#18
Billyz Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 241	First handgun I would say get a revolver. That said I have a pa-63 and a hi-point c9 and they both are nice shooters. __________________ COG #47

10-09-2009, 07:06 PM	#19
MLN1963 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: SW OK Posts: 126	I have the following inexpensive guns that may fit your budget (and all were bought from CDNN-Click On This Link. I have others that don't fit your proposed budget so I won't mention them. FEG PA-63: $149 CZ 82: $189 KT P-11: $229 There are certainly other choices out there as well but with the current feeding frenzy on guns there aren't a lot of sub $250 guns anymore. Even those above have gone up considerably (50% in the case of the FEG) in the last year. I think you are going to be paying $300 plus for a Bersa these days. They are decent for the money but may be out of your range. The PA-63 is a nice gun that needs $20 in springs and a little easy to do TLC to make the trigger pull much more bearable. It is without a doubt the most accurate of my guns listed above. It does kick some and if you are really susceptible to recoil then it may not be the best choice. The 9x18 Makarov ammo is easy to find online for about $10 a box of 50. This is a Hungarian military/police model so don't expect a finish like a S&W revolver. The CZ Model 82 is also chambered in 9x18 Makarov. It has a double stack magazine and is very comfy to hold. The trigger on the CZ is so much easier than the FEG and needs no springs to make it better. There probably never has been a nicer DA/SA pull on a military weapon ( I know the M9 I carried sure wasn't). The finish on these guns are painted on and therefor chips. These are all old Czech military guns and even the nicest ones can have some chipping. No worries though, they still shoot great. Mine isn't quite as accurate as my FEG but it isn't too bad either. The P-11 is a 9mm and therefore more powerful if you were to consider it for personal defense. It is the smallest of the group and the easiest to conceal. It has a very unique trigger pull. It is double action only and therefor has a long and stiff pull. It is easy to get used to if you give it a chance. Don't expect to shoot 1" groups at 25 yards with this gun. The short sight radius and DA trigger just aren't conducive to that. This is a close contact to 10 yard self defense weapon in my opinion. Given that it is a nice gun weighing size, power and price. Of the three guns listed, if I had to choose just one for target shooting and plinking, I think it would be the CZ 82. As a Kalifornian I think you have to give up the 12 round mag and get one with a 10 rounder? It has decent sights, is comfortable to hold, and has manageable recoil. The ammo is fairly cheap and easy enough to locate. They ship it right to your door in most states. Click HERE for a list of places Cheaper Than Dirt won't ship to see if you can have ammo sent to your door. Some other things to think about. AMMO, AMMO and AMMO. I highly suggest you not take Billyz's recommendation for getting a revolver at this time for one reason only. AMMO AVAILABILITY. In the current market revolver ammo is non-existent on most shelves. They are really only staying afloat with a few pistol calibers and they are 9 mm and 40 S&W. They are holding back on .25 auto, .380 ACP, .45 ACP from what I've been told. Maybe once they get caught up on all the military contracts and most popular rounds (E.G. 9 mm and 40 S&W) will we start to real supplies of revolver ammo sitting on the shelves. Earlier this year I bought a M&P 40 just so I could find ammo. I have a 9 mm conversion barrel for it so I can shoot either caliber. I couldn't find ammo for my .22s, 380, 38 specials, 357 magnums, 41 magnum or 45 ACP. Needless to say I had a lot of iron laying around that was of no use to me because I didn't have ammo for it. 9 mm and 40 S&W would show up on a fairly regular basis. This is also the reason I picked up the FEG and CZ, ammo was available for it. It's pretty sad when you can't even find a single box of .22 LR on the shelves. Things have improved somewhat now as I can almost always find 9 or 40 at WM these days. The other calibers come in once in a blue moon and you better be there when they unload it or you wait another month or however long it takes. I brought up the ammo situation because I would hate for you to buy a gun and not be able to find ammo for it. I know plenty of people that have Ruger LCPs or Keltec 3ATs and still haven't found ammo to shoot them. Talk about a buzz kill. There is my 2 cents worth of input. Let us know what you get! Last edited by MLN1963; 10-09-2009 at 11:14 PM.

10-09-2009, 11:07 PM	#20
Durandal Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 75	Look at a stoeger cougar 8000 my brother picked his up for $350. I dont know if thats the current price but its worth a look.