So, I know very little about guns, I don’t have a loader, and I’m talking about just having the feeling of having one, going to the range, and knowing it’s in the hoos in case it’s needed. It’s never been needed in my immediate family, but my grandparents’ car was stolen by home invasion, so it’s not like it doesn’t happen ever. (The car was recovered in part because of the personalized plate “MY MOM”, which is easy to recognize. Take that, Jeremy Clarkson.)
I’m looking for something reliable, good looking, under about $300 used on www.gunbroker.com if possible, with bonus points for being American made. I know some of you gun nuts out there have opinions coming out your ears.
I’m guessing you know how to actually fire a gun or you plan to learn. You should know how to shoot, clear a jam, clean, and disassemble your guns.
As for models, can’t help (though I think Colt has quality guns; I know a lot of people like them). My gun is neither American nor under $300. I can say this: better to save a bit longer and spend more money if that’s what it takes than just have a cheap piece of junk you can’t trust will fire when you need it.
Also wanted to add: the gun that’s right for me may not be the gun that’s right for you, and vice versa. My coworker told me she really likes her Sig, but when I tried one, I didn’t like how it felt in my hand. My Glock 17 is an awesome gun for me; my husband doesn’t like it as much and wants a Kahr K9.
I have an opinion, but my opinion is unimportant. What’s important is what you think. Grip matters. Feel matters. Also, perceived recoil matters, but that’s really hard to shop for so you’ll need opinions from knowledgeable people.
So here’s what I suggest: go down to a gun store and handle a few of the weapons. Make price comparisons. Figure out which features you want and which ones you don’t. Also, realize that most guns in your price range are “junk”. If you go a bit more on price you’ll get a much better weapon. Guns don’t depreciate that much because very. very few people ever shoot a gun often enough to devalue it substantially. However, if you look hard enough you can get some steals. Virtually every gun shop has some good used stuff and some of it is priced to move.
I just did a search on GunBroker with your criteria and you won’t find anything worth looking at. I found a Taurus .40 S&W semiautomatic pistol, everything else is a target .22 or a brand with, shall we say, a not very good reputation (Jimenez Arms). If you go up about $250 you can get some absolute steals. I did when I got a SIG SAUER P239 in 357SIG for $535 on GunBroker.
If you’ve read this far you probably still want an opinion. OK, you’ll get one: mine. Get a GLOCK. Any GLOCK will do. I am partial to the .40 S&W, but it’s your call. As far as caliber goes, avoid .380 ACP (too weak) and avoid the 10MM (too powerful).
Some people don’t like the grip size or angle, some people don’t like the lack of a manual safety, but I am very happy with my GLOCK 27. Then again, I’m also happy with my SIG. Like I said, try them out first.
Thanks for the replies so far. I’ll withdraw the price limit, on the advice of my counsel. How about “low priced reliable gun that might scare off an intruder and be fun to shoot”.
Here is a list of used guns from one of my local gun shops. If you can read it you can get an idea of what you might expect to pay for some weapons. Some are very reasonable. It makes me wish I had the coin for a few of them right now, or at least a credit card. Thank God I don’t.
Have prices changed that much, or is Ruger suddenly making ‘junk’ guns? It’s entirely possible to find quality pistols for 275$ - 350$, both used and new, at almost any gun show. I also think gun shows are a great place for a newbie, because you have a lot of different dealers with a ton of different models that you can pick up and feel.
I wouldn’t reccommend buying a first gun online.
Why so much focus on Glock? Not everyone likes them, nor finds them worth the price. One thing I really don’t like about Glocks, other than the way they fit my hand, is that many models require you to pull the trigger to disassemble the pistol. Bad design, IMHO. I’m also not big on the ‘all plastic’ design, which tends to make them back heavy.
All models require you to pull the trigger to disassemble the pistol. Great design, if you ask me. You have to clear it first, so there can be no accident in disassembly.
Anyway, why so much focus on GLOCK? Because he asked for my opinion. Now you give him yours. This is how it works.
I’ll chime in as another Glock disliker… They’re not especially complex guns- there’s no external hammer or safety catch or anything, but they’re also rather… common? Everyone and their dog has one.
That doesn’t make them a bad gun, but I’ve always felt that a person’s gun can tell you a lot about them, and that there’s nothing wrong with being a
My personal short-list of non .45 semi-autos would be:
Browning Hi-Power
Sig P226
H&K USP
Beretta M92
Tokagypt (or, at a pinch, a Tokarev TT-33)
Visiting a gun show is an excellent suggestion, but make sure you check around to see what prices are like in your local area before buying.
Pay extra attention to the bore (barrel), make sure the action is smooth, that the magazine locks in place securely, and that the trigger pull is not too “touchy”, and above all, Don’t buy anything in a weird calibre!
9mm Luger, 9mm Parabellum, 9x19mm, and 9mm NATO are all different names for the same calibre- but 9mm Largo and 9mm Makarov are totally different (and non-interchangeable) calibres…
I much prefer the Ruger design where you do not have to pull the trigger to disassemble the pistol. You can’t, however, get that thing apart with a magazine in it and without opening the slide and sticking your finger into the chamber. No way are you going to be disassembling a loaded pistol that way.
I think Glock’s design goes against the premise that you shouldn’t be pulling the trigger unless you’re actually intent on firing the gun.
Another thing that I find irritating aboug Glock is the capitalization of every letter. It just kind of is a nagging irritation, like capitalizing every letter of Unix.
My major issues with Glock are the trigger-pull disassembly, the unbalanced feeling they have because of the composite slide, and the way the grips don’t really fit my hands all that well.
There are also a lot of people out there who think that Glock is synonomous with pistol, and that to get anything else is blasphemy. I know one guy like that (not from SD), who will actually tell someone ‘If it doesn’t say Glock, it’s a piece of shit.’ No small wonder that people don’t wanna go shooting with him.
It’s also a good idea to go check prices at dealers and compare their price at the store to their price at the gun shows. Some dealers increase prices at gun shows because people are in a buy-buy mood, and some will actually decrease prices at gun shows for the same reaosn. I’ve seen prices on the exact same make and model pistol vary by 75$ from dealer store price to another dealer’s gun show price.
Good advice here, particularly the weird caliber thing. Causes a lot of problems finding ammo, then when you do it’s usually expensive.
Tell me about it… .455 Webley and 7.62x38R ammo is almost impossible to obtain now, and in many parts of the US .303 British ammo is as rare as rockinghorse excrement.
Save the non-mainstream calibres until you’re more comfortable with what’s out there…
Since we’re just playing opinions, that one is at it’s absolute best when chambered in .45, and in my experiance, easier to find than the 9mm or the .40.
You can never go wrong when you’re thinking about getting a pistol and you ask yourself “So, self, what are the Force Recon Marines carrying these days?”
Ruger P-Series , 9mm - .45acp. Starting out, I’d go with the 9mm as it’s cheaper to shoot, more gentle on the shooter, but isn’t .380. I like exposed hammers and dislike DAO, but I’m a single-action guy at heart.
Browning Hipower, as has been mentioned.
Unless you’re already experienced, I wouldn’t recommend a 1911. It’s my carry piece and I would bet my life on it, but not so good for the beginner, IMHO.
For price, reliability, and fun, I strongly recommend the Ruger. You aren’t going to be concealing this thing, it’s big and bulky and well built and shoots straight. If, however, you have small hands, disregard that.
Hie thee to a gun store and wrap your paws around some guns. Explain why your looking at everything and if the guy is cranky about letting you smudge up his stuff, go somewhere else.
You didn’t ask, but check out the Ruger GP100 another fun gun from Ruger, packs a little more punch than 9mm, and is generally more accurate than the affordable semi’s are. I don’t own one, and I’m not trying to push my favorite on you (again, I’m a 1911 man) but I fought against getting a DA revolver for years and now almost regret it (almost)
The slide isn’t composite. The frame and the magazine are both made mostly with composties, but the slide and barrel are quite definitely steel.
I know people like that too, and brand zealots of any stripe are turnoffs. You buy and shoot what suits you. For instance, you and I are polar opposites. I simply cannot stand the Ruger grips. I literally cannot wrap my hand around them. Therefore, that particular manufacturer is not worth the large investment to me. You, however, love it, which is a prime example of why the OP should find his way to a gun shop and figure out what he likes before he makes an expensive mistake.
