This thread is a branch off another thread I started, about my newly acquired "beater" Sig P226. In that thread, I explained that I keep a self-imposed budget of no more than approx $320, and listed a few of the guns I'd gotten for that.
To which I got the reply
Ok, you're right . Here are mine (not counting the 9x18 or 22lr's just because I was running out of light!)

Feel free to show your own bargain babies here. We all love a good, inexpensive gun!

These are my hi-cap guns

Beretta 92FS


FEG Hi-Power


CZ 75


S&W 915


Star 30MI


Zastava CZ 99


Sig P226

Part II, the single stacks

S&W 39-2


Star Modelo B Super


Norinco T-54


Tisas Zig1911 (not a 9mm, my only .45 acp)

Ok, you might note the red tint to some on the right side... I took these near my driveway, not far from my (red) miata. I didn't think it would cast a reflection; whoops.

Some nice shooters there........

what's a Tisas Zig ????????????new one on me...............

Tisas= a Turkish manufacturer, carried by Bud's. I did a little research and I think they also make/made Regent 1911s.

It's a 1911A1, 70 series (no firing pin block). The left side of the slide is also pretty clean, with just Zig M 1911 on it. They make something called a Zigana, I'm guessing that is some type of brand.
I picked it up used at the local shop for $299, didn't hesitate a moment. It hasn't let me down yet with FMJ rounds!

....even I could become a gun collector like that. What is your strategy? Do you peruse LGSs, pawn shops? Over what period of time have you been doing this.

__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Man it seems like 10 years since I've seen a used Beretta 92 in the $300 range. I wanna follow scoobysnacker around when he goes shopping!

~3 years ago I snagged a BNIB Ruger P95R from an online auction for $261. Still had the factory grease smeared all over it.

Seller's photo:




I know this aint the right sub-forum, but I still see screaming deals on the Smith SD series guns. Vastly underrated by the general public.

__________________
TEAM DNF

Will add my bargain basement S&W 909...shoots GREAT and still cosmetically challenged. For $165 a deal unlikely to be repeated.

Well, I think I just lost my crown as king of the cheapskates! Nice work.

__________________
Release the Kraken

If you are looking in that price range and new, take a look at the Kahr CM9 or CM40. They are sub compact pocket guns in 9mm and .40 S&W. they are priced at $316 and $320 at Buds Guns. I've been researching them for two weeks and I'm ordering the .40 tomorrow. Less than 5.5" long and 15.8 oz empty. All the reviews were good but it has a long trigger pull and takes about 200 rounds for a break in.

I don't own one (for good reasons), but I think the Jiminez (sp) 9 mm is around $135. That may actually beat out the all enduring High Points. Relative to what I own, this is a tough question. If I remember correctly, this 1939 Luger cost me around $300 about 10 years ago. It was and still is an import from one of the USSR countries. Came with a pitted left side, a bad magazine, and those plastic grips they put on them. After years of fiddling off-and-on it came out like this. All matching except that little side plate. A great shooter and probably a $1200 gun today. I also found a 1939 Nazi marked holster and another correct magazine and loading/disassembly tool to go with it. I guess I'm into it for a bit more than $300 at this point, but that was the original cost. You can see where I had to polish out the pitting on the side that shows in the photo. The other side is perfect. The highest end shooter Luger that money can buy.

Attached Images

Luger 1939.jpg (109.0 KB, 52 views)

__________________
Dr. B

I'm not a semi guy but when I was offered a Ruger P89 (9mm) in the box with all the papers and very little wear for $300 out the door I couldn't pass it up . That ruger is built like a tank , all metal .

Thanks

My "strategy" was simple enough... the first pistol I bought was the Norinco (which is a Tokarev with a 9mm barrel), at a gun show, for about $160 NIB. It shoots great, and from it I gained an appreciation of
a) steel pistols
b) pistols intended for duty usage
c) inexpensive guns
d) surplus/Com-bloc guns

After getting the Tokarev, I began looking at surplus Com-bloc guns, and began gathering up a few 9x18 Makarov designs:

P-64, CZ 82, PA 63, Makarov


and again, they reinforced the message that quality doesn't have to be expensive; these averaged about $200.

The one pistol I lusted after was a CZ 75, and I was able to get mine for $319 a few years back. As this was "my favorite", I pretty much drew the line at that price, and haven't gone over.

I check all over- online usually beats local, and I have found a couple FFLs that charge just a little ($10 for my primary guy). Occasionally I find a steal at a shop, but usually I watch the surplus and police trade-in market, and cherry pick what I like. About the only thing I've passed on has been the Beretta 92S, since I have a 92FS... but I do see them at $250 now

Been doing this for about 15 years now, and it goes in spurts. A lot is recent, as my son has grown... he likes range time, and that's something I feel is worth the expense.

After getting a couple different "krunchentickers", I've become intrigued with the designs, and have kept randomly checking things. Seemed like that was drying up, and then I came across the Sig P226. Funny, it's probably my 2nd most expensive purchase, and in the worst shape of my collection... but it's the only time I have found one this low, so I took a deep breath and bought it.

Semi-auto for under $320-ish? Here are the ones own or have owned. Putting together this list is quite frightening.

Used to own:


Hi-Point JHP45


EAA Witness P


Taurus PT-92B


S&W SD9VE


Ruger P95


Ruger KP95


Sig P220 (W-German)


Sig P250 (Two Fire Control Units)


Sig SP2022


Sig P6 (W.German Police Surplus)


XD-S 4.0


Ruger LCP


Taurus PT709 Slim on the left.

Current:


Canik TP9 V2



Looking at all of just the under $320-ish makes me shake my head. A couple on the list of "used to own" are recent trades in hopes to jumping to something better. One was out of curiosity. The rest were from my buy, try, sell/trade frequently attempting to define my preferences phase.

I'm glad I'm out of that phase. Since I know my preferences, I own only what I know I will keep. To be truthful, going to the firearms dealer isn't as much fun as it used to be. Just by holding and dry firing a handgun, I'll know whether or not it is a keeper. To put a handgun into the guns for the range collection, it has to both be good and different from what I currently own.

__________________
-John

I want to say the majority has been the last 5 years... yep, the CZ 75 was bought in March 2012, and that started the big run.

After that, got the Hipower later in 2012, the Beretta and Star Super B in 2014, the S&W 915 and 39-2 and the Star 30MI in '15, the CZ 99 and the Tisas in 16, and this Sig this year.

For the 9x18 pistols- the PA 63 way back, I want to say before 2007...

and then the CZ 82 in '12, and all others since then.

Those guns are great if you're a rich guy, I got a couple of 9m/ms recently under 200 bucks. Got a Kel Tec Pf 9 factory refurb new gun for $199, great gun and very lightweight but kicks like a mule. Just bought a Taurus Slim LNIB with all papers which is an awesome gun, but the trigger feels like it is a little too far back for my large hands but I paid $150 which included 3 boxes of ammo.

$300 Luger since the turn of the century... you win!

Most recent. SAR B6P Compact, $266 shipped.






Beretta 951 Israeli police from cdisales, $275.






Late '40s Hi Power from cdisales, $275.






Tanfoglio TZ-75 for $300.






P1 for $269.

I got my Shield 9mm brand new from Palmetto State Armory for $309.

The pictures are on another confuser, but I managed these 9mm's for under $300.

Star Model B Super
Star Ultrastar (under $200 on GB)
Star BM
Star Firestar M43 in Starvel
Ruger 95DC (under $200 on GB)
FEG High Power Clone

__________________
Release the Kraken

Not counting revolvers:

S&W 5943 (alloy frame DAO)

Kel Tec P11

S&W Shield

Sig 250

Taurus PT 809

__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Gen 2 Glock 17 with case, 100 rounds 9mm, 3 10rd mags and 1 33rd mag, holster and everything else in the photo for $290. I won't even start about my $500 S&W 500

$300 and under?

For me it would be:

39-2
59
915
3914LS

The 39 was almost pristine, with orig.box and gear. The others let you know they've been around the block, but still good working pistols.

__________________
Because of the metric system?

It's been my experience that when I'm looking for a firearm, I don't find it. When I'm not looking for a firearm, I'm presented with a deal that I can't pass up.

__________________
-John

Yeah, this happened to me the other day, when I picked up the Sig at my LGS. My son browsed over to the used counter while I filled out the paperwork, and called me over to look.

He found a gun I wasn't very familiar with, but it looked nice. Was a CZ 27 in what I'd call VG condition, .32 acp, finish great, grips great, $225. I paused, dickered around, even went outside to put the Sig up... and then walked back in and said I just had to grab that. I like CZs and this was an older example... I checked out on the CZ forum, and what I'm hearing is that I got it basically half the going rate.
Took it to the range and it was an eye-opener, the little pistol shoots like a good .22lr pistol. Quarter size groups offhand at 7 yds, no recoil. It's a laser.

I guess I've pretty much completed the 9's, and now I might start looking at old prewar .32s like this. I love the craftsmanship.



Very neat design, the button by the trigger is not the mag release (that's in the magwell).
The safety is the lever right over the button. You cock the slide and put the safety on, and when you want to go off safe, you press the button, and that gives leaves you with a SA hammer cocked first shot. Seems extremely safe and innovative.

Classic firearms had some 92's under $300 not too long ago. They have a couple other handguns under $300 as well. As for me, my one and only handgun was $300. Funny enough, my SD9VE is only $100 more expensive than my AR-15 scope. Actually, the rifle the scope is attached to is only $200 more.

And even worse, the knife in the picture costs more than the SD9VE and about as much as the rifle.........I'm not sure I know how to prioritize my income properly.

My LGS just traded in two Star Firestar 9MM's one is $250 and the other $275. If I had the spare change, I'd pick one up. One of the better compact pistols from its era.

Attached Images

Star 9MM.jpg (72.8 KB, 8 views)

__________________
Virtue,Liberty & Independence

Kick??? I have a Kel-Tec P-40.
This is what kicks! But I love it!!!