When I went a-lookin' all the decent condition guns were going for $500-$750. In that case a new one may be a reasonable option, if it's gotta look good.

In frustration I took a gamble on a sight unseen imported police trade. It is ugly, but for $225 it ended up being an exceptional shooter.
20150526_121250 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

Despite what some purists and naysayers say, there's nothing wrong with the new guns at all.