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A Friend of mine is looking to acquire his first handgun. He's not monetarily gifted, and he has a pretty strict price range.

Unfortunately, my normal recommendation of 'a good 1911' puts him outside this range.
So I'm asking everyone, what your recommendation is for a good self defense handgun, in the $300-400 range?

Requirements:
-Rock Solid Reliable.
-Semi Auto, not a wheelgun. (I know this runs counter to the line above... but its a requirement)
-Being his first handgun, he (and his girlfriend, even moreso) wants a mechanical safety, no glocks (even showed him the clipdraw safety thing, still no go)
-At least 9mm

Preferences:
-His GF has small hands, something that she would be able to use as well would be preferred.

Basically, I want to be able to give him a list of 'highly recommended handguns', that both of them can go try and hold at a local store.
Also, ones slightly outside this range will be considered if he can find them used in the price range.

Also, since he lives in a state that requires paper to even own one, and virtually no chance of actual carry, this will primarily be a nightstand handgun.

If he's open to looking at used guns, then you have a lot to choose from.
"Best SD Handgun" is so subjective, every person you talk to will give you a different answer. I have a Ruger P-95. Bought it used for under $250, with all the accessories(box, inst.manual, 2 mags, speed loader, etc). It was used but it shoots like a champ, and it's more accurate than I am.

A lot of people love Taurus...a lot of people love their Smith's. Both are quality guns. There's so much to choose from, it's hard to pin it down. It should come down to what fits the person's hand. Is it to big, or is it to small? It's a moot point to choose a gun, if the gun doesn't fit the persons hand well.

So I think the first step is to see which gun out there fits your friend(s) hands the best. THEN start shopping for the best deal you can find.

I love used guns. IMO a used gun gives you the best value for the money. Check out AuctionArms.com, and you'll get a good idea of used gun prices.

Smith Wesson Sigma 9mm. New one can be had for $350.

True, there are lots of options. I guess I'm not really looking for the 'best' but more like recommendations. I changed the thread title to reflect that.

I guess I'm just looking to ask people what They would buy in this price range. Handguns they have experience with, that they know to be good defense pieces.

Also, and I'll add this to the list above, unfortunately this friend lives in a blue state that requires a piece of paper to even own a handgun, and virtually no possibility of carry, so this will most likely be a nightstand/vehicle gun (I think the state he's in allows them in vehicles).

I'll second the recommendation for the Sigma (if you can get him over the thumb safety issue).

I recently bought a Kahr CW9 for the grip size and thinness of the overall firearm. They can be found for just a slight bit over the $300-400 range (around 450), but should fit the needs. I have short bearpaw fingers myself and have to really search out the handguns that properly fit my hands and carry method (IWB). The Kahr fits my needs well and has been 100% flawless through it's first 325 rounds. Very smooth crisp DA trigger, but no external safety (if that's an issue).


surv


oopppss... I re-read the original post... the Kahr is off the list I assume since SA and external safety are required.... too bad since it would have fit the lady very well.

One thing I didn't catch in the first reading was that your friend wanted SA only semi-auto. That changes the picture entirely by cutting down on the choices. Sorry I didn't catch that on first read.

That eliminates all SA/DA, DAO guns. Phew, that's about 80% of all guns, if not more. Can't help you dicion. After ruling out 1911's, I have nothing to offer, unless a used 1911 at that price can be found.

joe817 wrote:One thing I didn't catch in the first reading was that your friend wanted SA only semi-auto. That changes the picture entirely by cutting down on the choices. Sorry I didn't catch that on first read.

That eliminates all SA/DA, DAO guns. Phew, that's about 80% of all guns, if not more. Can't help you dicion. After ruling out 1911's, I have nothing to offer, unless a used 1911 at that price can be found.

Sorry, I didn't mean SA Only Semi Auto.. dunno why I typed it that way. (Must have been a subconcious 1911 thing) Removed it.

But he Does want a semi auto. Just not SA only

Stupid wrote:Smith Wesson Sigma 9mm. New one can be had for $350.

Sorry, no go, no safety beyond the trigger.
He has stated that a Grip Safety, ala the XD, would work for them, as it is an additional safety, but does not require any additional thought to activate.

I have already recommended he find a used XD if he can, and try it

Oh! Cool, the bids have opened up again! So SA/DA, and DAO are up for consideration. I've no idea of new gun prices, so I'll recommend again AuctionArms.com. Their search filters make it real easy to look at only specific types, makers, calibers, etc. Beware all of what you will see are used guns though.

My Rock Island 1911 was 420 bucks NIB. My Taurus was 360 or so. Both are good guns, though I'd select a 9mm in mil pro if its a him and the g/f gun. My fiance hates shooting my PT145...kicks too much for her.

dicion wrote:Requirements:
-Rock Solid Reliable.
-Semi Auto, not a wheelgun. (I know this runs counter to the line above... but its a requirement)
-Being his first handgun, he (and his girlfriend, even moreso) wants a mechanical safety, no glocks (even showed him the clipdraw safety thing, still no go)
-At least 9mm

Preferences:
-His GF has small hands, something that she would be able to use as well would be preferred.

The Ruger P-series are solid inexpensive pistols but I don't know if they'll fit her small hands.

Based on all the requirements, I think your friend and his GF should at least look at a Makarov.

A Taurus PT24/7 in 9mm...My wife picked it out herself, with no input from me at all...I just handed over the cashola...Gunshow price at the time was $357.42 if I recall correctly...

That pistol, that very year, was the NRA gun of the year...Weight, balance, function...All were a tremendous surprise for me...

Grip is great for small handed folks...And I never in my wildest hallucinations ever thought you could put that many rounds in a single magazine load out in a gun ever...

Shoots like a dream right out of the box...

If I ever chose to carry a 9mm, that would be the gun for me...But if I touch it, even in the gunsafe, I get yelled at...

If you're looking for a rig that is fantastic as far as the bang for the buck goes...This is the one...

Ruger p95;
Should be able to be got within his price range, perhaps even in stainless..
Its meets his safety requirements
It has a reputation of extreme reliability, and my experience is that in thousands of rounds has never failed to cycle or go bang.
Is very easy to disassemble and reassemble.
It uses economical 9mm. economical yet effective in defencive loads.
Its a full size gun there fore not much perceived kick. real easy to learn on.
Made in America by Americans.
Lifetime warranty (It sounds like your friend might not know many gunsmiths).
It does have a large grip but the trigger isn't a far stretch and ladys with small hands haven't had many problems.

My bedside gun is a Berretta P92fs but it will go about $450.00 and while it very reliable I don't believe it enjoys the same reputation as the Ruger, One can expect though for an occasional shooter it is capable of a lifetime with no failures to fire or cycle.. It is very accurate. I like it because of its Military heritage. The women in my life that have shot it really like shooting it, I think its because of the very light recoil. I believe most of them are made in America except for the INOX w2hich is the stainless Version. Because its is military issue Mags are available at a very reasonable price.
I think its the prettiest mass produced gun made. Opinions vary.

Going with a Taurus Millenium Pro or 24/7 series, as well as a Ruger P series
would seem to be where well-manufactured guns at value prices intersect.
I've put probably 600-800 rounds through my PT-111B Millenium. Never a problem,
even though I admit I should clean it more religiously. A new Millenium Pro PT111 has
a 12 + 1 capacity (9mm) and runs about $329.95 brand new at Academy in Lewisville.

Bachman Pawn and Jewelry's (Dallas area) most recent ad had a Ruger P-95, 9mm, 15 rounds,
for $299.95. They didn't clearly say in the ad whether it was new, but even if it
was used, that seems like a great value.

I always have liked the feel of a Ruger in my average-sized hands because even tho
they are double stacked mags, the grips feel surprisingly slim, leading to a feeling of
control at the range. This gun should feel comfortable for both the man and she-who-
must-be-obeyed too.

Tuna:
I would not recommend a Makarov due to my perception that its 9mm x 18 ammo would
be harder to find than regular 9 x 19 ammo.

OP Dicion: Please let us all know what your friend buys. It's a big wide world of choices out there,
and sometimes what someone eventually chooses is just a throw of the dice and a surprise
to both the buyers and their expectant audience (us on this thread!)

SIA