[armedliberal]

Hi, new to forum.
I'm looking to buy a pistol soon and was hoping to get feedback on everyone's favorites. I was thinking semi-auto 9mm or .45. I don't PLAN on shooting anybody so i don't want to hear superior stopping power of .45, besides its always about where u put it. I think i could spend at the most $750 but that could change if the gun feels good. I will not be looking to get concealed carry obviously so compact pistols are out. And if its possible, i would like the pistol to have a steel/aluminum trigger, my father has a 9mm with a plastic trigger and i don't feel comfortable "going ape" with it.

 

[huntswithdogs]

Armed,
If you're just looking for something cheap and fun to shoot buy yourself a 9mm of some sort. I recently shot a Springfield 1911 that was chambered for 9mm that was a hoot to shoot.

HWD

 

[Alert]

my favorite is my Sig 229 9mm two tone but it was almost $800

 

[armedliberal]

Thanks, I'll try to check those out. The local gun shop has a little bit of variety but I think a trip to Cabela's will be more fruitfull. Have you guys heard any negatives on CZ pistols?

 

[uglydog]

My first semi-auto after transitioning from revolvers was a CZ-75. I really liked the gun and stupidly traded it off for a stainless steel Smith and Wesson. It was a really fine gun and one I should have kept.
There are a number of used SIGs coming on the market as a number of police departments have traded them in. I think locally at Gander Mountain the various 9mm models are running in the $350-$450 range depending on model and features. They may have some holster wear but are in very good working condition.
I agree that a 9mm is the better choice in centerfires for inexpensive shooting. In factory loads, you can buy about 2 1/2 boxes of 9mm for every box of 45 ACP and 40 S&W is not much better. For even cheaper shooting you should get a 22 LR. Since you aren't going to carry it, a 22 is great for perfecting the fundamentals. A 500+ rounds pack of bulk stuff at under $15 is hard to beat for value. If your limit is $750, you might be able to buy both a pistol and a .22 LR conversion kit for it and have the best of both worlds. I've done this with a Kimber 1911 and I wish I would have done it sooner.

 

[Roadkill Bill]

Česká zbrojovka produces some of the finest pistols and rifles ever made. The CZs have great ergonomics (they feel good in your hand), and are very well built. While most of the Soviet military carries the 9x18 Makarov, their Special Forces used the 9mm CZ-75. Back when we couldn't get CZ pistols in the USA, Tanfoglio, an Italian company, made a clone called the EAA Witness. It was nowhere as good as the original, but as close as we could get. I had a .40 Witness, and it was really a piece of junk. Now, however, we can get the real deal from the Czech Republic, and they are excellent handguns and rifles. Their .22 rifes are extremely accurate and very affordable. My favorite handgun is the CZ 97 B, but that's because I'm a .45 ACP kinda guy. Bigger holes are better holes!

If you've been looking at a CZ and kinda liked it, you're on the right track.

 

[armedliberal]

Thanks all. This weekend I will be going to Gander Mountain. I don't think their prices are too good but they at least have a good selection. I'll be looking at cz75 models, Ruger p90 i think is the model number(aluminum frame), and heckler and koch. In my state, tresspassers who are shot and killed when they break into your home, the family members can sue YOU! If i ever get into the idea of home defence I'm gonna get me some 12 guage 00 rubber buckshot or beanbag rounds, no one is spending my money but me. haha I will post my finds after my trip.

 

[TexasFats]

For somebody who has never shot a pistol before, I would suggest either a Ruger or a Browning Buckmark in .22 long rifle. It is not something that you would use for self-defense, but that is what you need to use to begin to learn to shoot a handgun. The recoil from more powerful calibers can cause a lot of problems such a flinching. A .22 won't do that. Maybe you should begin by renting a .22 for a few times until you learn the basics of handgun marksmanship. Then, you can transition to something like a 9 mm in the SIG 226 or 229, or one of the other brands such as a Browning HP, a Glock, a Ruger, etc.

 

[john1911]

I don't PLAN on shooting anybody

Most people don't.

If you're not looking for a concealment firearm, a shotgun would probably be a better choice for home defense. Forget the less lethal rounds, chances are you will still be sued. Less lethal will not guarantee the BG will stop his/her criminal actions. LL works on the principle of pain compliance while regular ammo stops the BG by shutting down the body.

 

[armedliberal]

Thanks John, but even if he or she is killed, the family can sue. I know, dumb but I don't think theyre are enough b and e's for law makers to look into it too much. Most isn't all and it should be all. Please someone inform me need of a target pistol for self-defense. Shooting mugger or whatever in back or 50 yards away, is not self defense, ask a cop. I liked the CZ 75, felt solid in the hand, but the Browning High Power gave me goosebumps. Browning High Poer it is when I decide for sure I want to get into this. Anyone who can take multiple shot of rubber slugs, bean bag rounds, or rubber buckshot...I will give my t.v. to. Went shooting 150 rounds of 9mm last weekend and did not flinch, never the same case with hunting rifle though haha.

 

[Pistolero]

Re: re: First pistol?

In my state, tresspassers who are shot and killed when they break into your home, the family members can sue YOU! If i ever get into the idea of home defence I'm gonna get me some 12 guage 00 rubber buckshot or beanbag rounds, no one is spending my money but me. haha I will post my finds after my trip.

What State do you live in?

Most people refer to scum that break into your home as burglars, which is a felony, not "tresspassers" which is a misdemeanor.

Do you really think using less lethal ammunition will keep you from being sued?

 

[uglydog]

The use of "Less Lethal" munitions such as rubber bullets and beanbag rounds is considered deadly force in about every jurisdicition in this land that I can think of. These types of munitions are very capable of killing or permanently injuring a person which is why they are called "less leathal" and not "perfectly safe". The rules of engagement for police to use this is no different than using standard ammunition and the law holds civilians to at least the same standard. One of the other rules is that an officer using less lethal munitions WILL be backed up by another officer using standard munitions. This is because many suspects take a dim view of being hit with less lethal and take steps to prevent it from happening again by attacking the officer. I have seen repeated hits with both beanbags and rubber bullets not stop the actions of a suspect and it wasn't until officers either wrestled the suspect to the ground when he dropped the weapon or was shot with standard munitions. I would rather trust the Louisville Slugger that was behind the bedroom door because I forgot to put it in the basement after the game than less lethal munitions alone.

 

[GunChef]

I have a S&W model 457S 45acp. For the quality and vaule this pistol is great. It has done what was expected of it and does it well.
S&W Model 457

The spirit of models 28 and 46 lives on at Smith & Wesson in the Value Series guns. These reached their position of "best buy" status with the 1996 introduction of the Model 457, a compact 7+1 shot .45 ACP with an aluminum-alloy frame. This series of pistols has plainer finishes and the edges are squarer and blunter to save machining of contours.

All Value Series versions of the conventional DA first-shot S&W autos are good buys. For example, the Model 908 at $466 is the Value Series treatment of the top-line Model 3913 in the same 9mm chainbering, which retails for $662 -- an almost 30 percent savings. The 457 carries a suggested retail of $515, compared to the stainless top-line Model 4516's $822 price tag. This is a whopping 37 percent savings.

It gets better. The 4516 is a chunky, all-steel pistol. The aluminum alloy-framed 457 is much lighter and more portable. The only counterpart in the S&W line is a very high-end pistol, custom made for a certain distributor and selling for roughly twice the price of a 457.

Very reliable and very accurate, the Model 457 is probably the best buy in the S&W catalog today.

 

[Roadkill Bill]

Pistolero has it right.

We have a DA in our city that is as liberal as he can be, except for the one conservative bone he has in his body which is the one that says law abiding citizens have the right to be armed to protect themselves. (We had five murders this weekend alone.)

He tells folks getting their gun license if they have to shoot someone who is threatening the life of you or a loved one, SHOOT TO KILL. There are scumbag lawyers out there will help the slugscum you shoot to sue you, even though they broke into your home and committed a crime. Kill him and he cannot sue. That said, the same scumbag lawyers can help the dead slugscum's family sue you for killing their dearly departed vermin. So DO NOT leave him alive to testify.

So forget the "less than lethal" stuff. Save that for the police and the city's laywers. Protect yourself and your family with the best lights out for good stuff you can get. Don't let your retirement go to worthless trash on welfare.

 

[baseballguy2001]

I have two pistols. A Glock22, and a Walther PPK/S. Both are very high quality, accurate, and easy to clean. I would say get a .380 as a first pistol. It's got very little recoil, and will help you get the basics. I've never used a CZ75, but lots of folks here say that model would be a fine addition to any collection.

 

[Bunnyman]

The law (in California, no less) says that for the use of lethal force in self-defense (Justifiable Homicide), there must be a reasonable assumption of personal danger, and that intrusion into one's home is an automatic assumption of mortal risk. You are also not required to retreat, especially from your home. So if someone breaks in, blast away. I keep a magazine full of 9mm Pow'rball around for precisely that purpose.

My first two were a NORINCO (Chinese) Tokarev 213a in 9x19mm and a CZ52 in 7.62x25mm. They're both a load of fun. The Tokarev is a bit finicky about ammo (prefers mirror-smooth ogive FMJ's to anything else) but is a solid piece otherwise. The CZ is built like a tank, and after replacing the firing pin ran like a champ on anything I fed it (including some nasty-looking garbage Romanian surplus). Then again, my preference is for old guns and milsurp.

For a fun gun, you can't go wrong with a good .22. I have a Ruger standard auto (circa 1967) 4" plinker and a SIG Trailside 4", and both were worth every penny I spent on them. Incredibly reliable, feed just about everything, cheap to feed, and great for improving your marksmanship skills.

CZ75 - best Wondernine ever.