Picking up a new pistol

[Kelvrick]

For 350, it might be hard to find an alloy/steel framed quality gun. I'd go with the german police trade-in Sig Saeur P6's (p225).

Otherwise, for polymer, try the Smith & Wesson M&P. There is a 50 rebate or 2 free magazines and you can find them for under 500. I prefer them to the glocks/xd's.

 

[pstylesss]

Jump for the XD. I love that gun.

 

[JasonSix78]

Springfield XD 9mm was my first handgun. It's really a damn fine pistol. Easy to disassemble, clean, shoot, etc. Like mentioned above, the lifetime warranty is great. If you decide to go with the XD, check out the HS2000/XD Forums. A lot of information and resources there and the members are very helpful and friendly.

Here's a pic of mine

 

[Imported]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: OFFascist

Springfield Armory also has a lifetime warranty.

I havent had any experience with the Bersa in 9mm, but I'd say that a good new handgun is definitely worth atleast $500. Its simple to field strip and clean, has a higher magazine capacity (if there is a new assault weapon ban the value of the magazines will jump), if you buy an XD before January 15th there is a mail in rebate promotion where you will recieve an additional 2 extra magazines in addition to the 2 that come with the pistol. Also if you situation ever changes or you decided that you want to use it for self defense you will already have a very good pistol.

That's a pretty good deal. Just decided it for me.

Woah. I was looking to get a handgun and this just may have decided it for me too.

 

[FDF12389]

Originally posted by: JasonSix78
Springfield XD 9mm was my first handgun. It's really a damn fine pistol. Easy to disassemble, clean, shoot, etc. Like mentioned above, the lifetime warranty is great. If you decide to go with the XD, check out the HS2000/XD Forums. A lot of information and resources there and the members are very helpful and friendly.

Here's a pic of mine

Nice

 

[Gothgar]

+1 for the XD9, super nice gun!!

 

[clamum]

Damnit I need to get an XD-9. Been wanting one for awhile and I shot one in a shooting class and liked it quite a bit. While I was a the class I looked at the guns they carried and the Glock 19 was just a bit more in price, not sure if it's worth it to get the Glock but I know I like the XD.

 

[DayLaPaul]

If I was paying $500, I'd just get a real Glock. That's what the Springfield XD design is based off of. From all I've heard, the XD is an outstanding firearm, but I'd only buy one if I could get it for less than the price of a Glock, which at $500 is not.

 

[paulney]

I got a CZ 75BD. It's more than $350, though. Close to $500.

 

[DayLaPaul]

Are the CZ75 the Baby Eagles? Didn't they used to be a lot less than that?

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: DayLaPaul
Are the CZ75 the Baby Eagles? Didn't they used to be a lot less than that?

No, they are not Baby Eagles. They are made by completely different companies.

Everyone seems to love the XDs but I don't like them. My dad has one and I've shot it a few times. I hate the trigger and I hate how it feels in my hand. The top heavy slide and light frame just didn't feel right.

I've held glocks, but never shot one, but they felt better in the hand than the XDs.

 

[gorcorps]

Originally posted by: DayLaPaul
If I was paying $500, I'd just get a real Glock. That's what the Springfield XD design is based off of. From all I've heard, the XD is an outstanding firearm, but I'd only buy one if I could get it for less than the price of a Glock, which at $500 is not.

The problem with Glocks are they aren't very comfortable to shoot for a lot of people. You have to have pretty big hands for them to feel right. The XDs don't use as much polymer in the handle so it feels a lot better for those who don't like the Glocks.

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: DayLaPaul
If I was paying $500, I'd just get a real Glock. That's what the Springfield XD design is based off of. From all I've heard, the XD is an outstanding firearm, but I'd only buy one if I could get it for less than the price of a Glock, which at $500 is not.

Glocks are out of the question for me since the grip does not fit my hand at all. I guess I'll look into the XD and CZ 75

 

[paulney]

Originally posted by: DayLaPaul
Are the CZ75 the Baby Eagles? Didn't they used to be a lot less than that?

No, CZ is made by Czechs, and it's a great pistol.

D stands for decocker model. 75B is a regular manual safety model. Some pople confuse 75BD with a police version, but it's not. Police version is slightly different and has 'police' in the model name.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: gorcorps

Originally posted by: DayLaPaul
If I was paying $500, I'd just get a real Glock. That's what the Springfield XD design is based off of. From all I've heard, the XD is an outstanding firearm, but I'd only buy one if I could get it for less than the price of a Glock, which at $500 is not.

The problem with Glocks are they aren't very comfortable to shoot for a lot of people. You have to have pretty big hands for them to feel right. The XDs don't use as much polymer in the handle so it feels a lot better for those who don't like the Glocks.

The Glock SF line helps with that. My 36 isn't big, either.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: mwmorph
I might as well just bite the bullet and buy a basic 4" Springfield Armory XD 9mm for $500.

This. Except I got mine for $435 (well I paid $510 but I got the night sights) at a gun show. You should be able to find it for about the same.

I have shot the Rugers (not sure exactly which model, I think the SR9). It was nice but my xD-9 is just outstanding. I have shot Glocks, Smith and Wesson, Ruger, etc, the xD-9 is the best fit for me.

Basically I picked a caliber (9mm for cheap ammo and number of rounds in the mags) and then looked at all the good brands to see what fit my hand best. That was the xD-9 and I couldn't be happier with my purchase.

I have a Ruger as well (LCP .380) but I will be buying a 3" xD for carry soon in addition to the LCP.

Originally posted by: JDub02
I'm a tupperware guy, so I don't have much input other than a guy I work with has an SR9 and absolutely loves it.

My next one is going to be a Ruger LCP.

It's a great gun, trigger is hard to get used to. I had to put about 400 rounds through it before I felt comfortable carrying.

Originally posted by: DayLaPaul
If I was paying $500, I'd just get a real Glock. That's what the Springfield XD design is based off of. From all I've heard, the XD is an outstanding firearm, but I'd only buy one if I could get it for less than the price of a Glock, which at $500 is not.

Have you shot (or even held) one? xD is cheaper, comes with a mag loader, holster, 2 mags. I don't know where people are getting $500, like I mentioned above at the local gun show (Austin) they are $435-$435. Right under what the Glocks go for.

Glocks are incredible guns (that's what my brother has and the first pistol over .22 that I shot) but the xD fit my hand a lot better and has all the good qualities people use as reasons to buy Glocks plus a few extras.

 

[TallBill]

Glock 17/19 or XD 9mm are nice. You can definitely get barely used one of either for about $400, and will be better then your other options.

Hell, I paid $500 for my barely used Sig P226 40S&W, and that thing is SWEET.

I'd definitely recommend a 9mm though for the first handgun.

 

[Mo0o]

Get the deagle, it's good for headshots

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Originally posted by: Mr Pickles
Please don't leave your gun in your car...

Fixed

 

[clamum]

Originally posted by: TallBill
Glock 17/19 or XD 9mm are nice. You can definitely get barely used one of either for about $400, and will be better then your other options.

Hell, I paid $500 for my barely used Sig P226 40S&W, and that thing is SWEET.

I'd definitely recommend a 9mm though for the first handgun.

Damn that does sound like a good deal for that Sig! Nice.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: clamum

Originally posted by: TallBill
Glock 17/19 or XD 9mm are nice. You can definitely get barely used one of either for about $400, and will be better then your other options.

Hell, I paid $500 for my barely used Sig P226 40S&W, and that thing is SWEET.

I'd definitely recommend a 9mm though for the first handgun.

Damn that does sound like a good deal for that Sig! Nice.

yeah, new sig 226s go for about $800. I saw a used on at Cabela's for $650 once but it looks REALLY used.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: clamum

Originally posted by: TallBill
Glock 17/19 or XD 9mm are nice. You can definitely get barely used one of either for about $400, and will be better then your other options.

Hell, I paid $500 for my barely used Sig P226 40S&W, and that thing is SWEET.

I'd definitely recommend a 9mm though for the first handgun.

Damn that does sound like a good deal for that Sig! Nice.

Yeah, it was 99% too. You literally couldn't tell that it had ever been fired. I got a P220 for $525 as well in the same condition. Gotta love the internets!

 

[Thoreau]

For what it's worth, I just picked up the XDm (in .40) but did shoot the new XDm 9mm as well and I've gotta say, they're both very nice. The XDm's just fit my hand like a glove (easy to hit the mag release button and slide release with my thumb without having to stretch my hand or reposition my grip on it.) From what I saw, they're also priced very close to the XD lineup and I figured the extra capacity alone was a worthy reason to go with the XDm. Throw in the buttload of accessories SA throws in with any of the models (two mags, mag loader, basic holster, chamber lock, cleaning brush, sexy case, etc.) and it was a no brainer for me. The XDm, for me, beat out the H&K USP (including one of the 9mm versions, the .40, and the .45 tactical) which is hundreds more in price.

The stories I've heard about their customer support (think Logitech/Newegg levels) and the two free mags promo sealed the deal for me.

1st time gun owner here though, so take my love of the XD/M lineup with any applicable grains of salt.

 

[Lithium381]

Originally posted by: mwmorph

Originally posted by: DayLaPaul
If I was paying $500, I'd just get a real Glock. That's what the Springfield XD design is based off of. From all I've heard, the XD is an outstanding firearm, but I'd only buy one if I could get it for less than the price of a Glock, which at $500 is not.

Glocks are out of the question for me since the grip does not fit my hand at all. I guess I'll look into the XD and CZ 75

i have an XD, fits my hand like a glove, the glocks just didn't feel quite right in my hands.....

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: Lithium381

i have an XD, fits my hand like a glove, the glocks just didn't feel quite right in my hands.....

Both fit my hand just fine, but since my paws are fucking huge and I shoot with a correct grip, the takedown lever rubs on left thumb when shooting.

I ended up selling my XD45 for this reason alone. To bad, cuz otherwise it was a fine gun. Kinda glad that I ended up with the P226 and P220 though