A Question for "Team 3rd Gen"...

[TTSH]

So are you saying the classic Browning HP isn't on "the list" in Mass.? Bummer!!!!!

Sad but true. That's why I got so excited at the recent show when I found a dealer who was willing to sell me a Browning Hi-Power Mk II (or Mk III - I couldn't tell) in decent condition for $799+Tax.

I didn't have anywhere near that kind of money on me (nor room on my credit card) so I had to take a pass... but I did take the dealer's business card and if I win the PowerBall lottery grand prize, I know the first place I am headed!!!

 

[TTSH]

I'm on the prowl for a lightweight 9mm pistol that is somewhat smaller, thinner, and lighter than my 6906. The M&P Shield is possibly that gun.

Shields are on sale locally this week for $337 plus tax. That's the best civilian price I've seen around here in a while.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Question: If your very next handgun acquisition couldn't be one of our beloved 3rd Gens, what would it be and why?


But it can't be something you already own... ... got that?


Ready? Let's roll!!!

OK ...... reading your explanation....I don't understand the restriction that "it can't be something you already own.."

If your looking for other guns to look for; "a new direction".....it seems a better question might be:

"What guns are you glad you bought, consider "keepers" and would buy again?"

From other threads........ any search in Mass........ will be a pain in the A--!!

The top guns on that kind of list for me would be:

3inch Model 66
3 inch Model 65

4inch Models 19/66....P&R
4inch Models 686/586...... round butts, pre MIM, new hammer and lock

Beretta Compact Type-M ...... single stack (8+1) compact 92...if it wasn't bigger than a 3913 it might just be my primary cc auto

 

[GaryS]

I agree with this. Back when I looked at them, before my 3rd Gen addiction started, they were around $300.00 on the used market. Then, along with everything else gun related, prices took off a bit. They are still available used, but often closer to $400.00 than not.

I someone offered me the choice of either a P345 or 457, I'd probably pick the 457. The main reason being that I have holsters and plenty of magazines for it.

As I recall, there were a few variations of the P345. One was a black frame with stainless slide. I forget the others. I think Ruger replaced the P345 with the SR45, but I don't know why.

Ruger's P-345 is really underrated, more than S&W 3rd gens. Bought mine in '03 or '04 after seeing the ad in the American Legion magazine. LGS owner said it was the first one he sold the same day he got it in. Still have it. Carry sometimes. Rock solid.

 

[TTSH]

OK ...... reading your explanation....I don't understand the restriction that "it can't be something you already own.."

If your looking for other guns to look for; "a new direction".....it seems a better question might be:

"What guns are you glad you bought, consider "keepers" and would buy again?"

Because the problem is that even when we get beyond our beloved 3rd Gens, we all own very similar collections. What good does it do me to get great recommendations for stuff I already own? Hence the focus on new ideas... what's out there in the shops and stores right now that you might want to add to your collection/accumulation?

Trust me... for everything you just listed, I have its brother or sister or first cousin.

From other threads........ any search in Mass........ will be a pain in the A--!!

True. But the Massachusetts Cabela's thing makes it 20 times more discouraging. But it is what it is.

Perhaps I should just list my options and have the "team" choose my next acquisition for me? That might work!

 

[BAM-BAM]

Something else.........if I didn't have my 3rd Gen Smiths......and was starting from scratch of looking for a new direction....... I'd be taking a real close look at CZs..... still in production..... not real expensive.......the CZ rifles I have are great shooters....old world craftsmanship......the CZ-75 is a classic.... the grip is close to a Browning HP and the compact is close to a 6906 ... finally......steel and wood!!!!

 

[Arik]

Looking at your Mass list I'd go with a German Sig 220/228/226. Plenty of them coming out of police holsters and into the civilian market. Maybe not so much the 228 but the others are

 

[TTSH]

As I recall, there were a few variations of the P345. One was a black frame with stainless slide. I forget the others. I think Ruger replaced the P345 with the SR45, but I don't know why.

Presumably because hammer-fired pistols are out and striker-fired pistols are in.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Trust me... for everything you just listed, I have its brother or sister or first cousin.

Perhaps I should just list my options and have the "team" choose my next acquisition for me? That might work!

So instead of just being broke as you always claim ....... you suffer from a condition similar to being "House Poor".......you're a sufferer of

"Gun Poor!"

 

[TTSH]

Something else.........if I didn't have my 3rd Gen Smiths......and was starting from scratch of looking for a new direction....... I'd be taking a real close look at CZs..... still in production..... not real expensive.......the CZ rifles I have are great shooters....old world craftsmanship......the CZ-75 is a classic.... the grip is close to a Browning HP and the compact is close to a 6906 ... finally......steel and wood!!!!

Oh, I agree with you. I'd probably really enjoy a member of the CZ family. But as usual, the MA-compliance thing gets in the way. I'd have to buy it in a private F-T-F sale or from one of our "premium added" dealers... either way at double the normal free state price.

 

[TTSH]

So instead of just being broke as you always claim ....... you suffer from a condition similar to being "House Poor".......you're a sufferer of "Gun Poor!"

Ahhh... yes and no in this case. It's way more complicated than that. I'm actually selling off guns that I no longer want or need to raise cash... plus there are certain time-limited incentives with regard to Cabela's.

Truth is that I don't have to buy anything right now. There is nothing that I absolutely need and my goals for the year have all been met or exceeded. And maybe waiting is the smartest thing I could possibly do.

Then again, I never won any awards for my smartness.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Doesn't seem like the best of times to be selling......... at least not around here.....you need a good panic to get the best "Sellers Market"

If you can ......I'd set aside ....... was going to say $500 ......better make it $1000 for a "target of opportunity" that falls in your lap........never know what you might find that you're not looking for...........

 

[TTSH]

Doesn't seem like the best of times to be selling......... at least not around here.....you need a good panic to get the best "Sellers Market"

But again, Massachusetts law enters into the picture.

We can only sell four guns per calendar year privately F-T-F. After that, I must pay the dealer's transfer fee. So I need to take advantage of that fact and sell 4 between now and December 31st and 4 more right after Jan 1. That trimming of the collection/accumulation is long overdue and needed to get me back on track.

 

[TTSH]

If you can ......I'd set aside ....... was going to say $500 ......better make it $1000 for a "target of opportunity" that falls in your lap........never know what you might find that you're not looking for...........

You may recall that I did have money specifically set aside for a Model 4506-1. I spent it instead on the 4506 (No Dash) that came along in August. No regrets... but you are right; there is no "TTSH 3rd Gen Slush Fund" left. But with only three 3rd Gens left on my short Want List... and with those already budgeted for 2016... I don't see where that's a big problem.

Yes, I suppose you can point to that fine Browning Hi-Power at the show and make your point. I would have loved to have been able to jump on that rare Massachusetts find.

 

[UNCLE PAULY]

Okay, the first 1911 entry of the day! But in 9mm!

This is one of the things I was most interested in today... i.e., how many 3rd Gen'rs would look to a new/newer/newish 1911 as first choice in an alternative buy.

Fogot to mention why. My last auto pistol purchase was a Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 in 45acp and it outshines everything I've ever shot. The DW Pointman is full size 1911 but in 9mm. Would be nice range gun.

 

[BAM-BAM]

But again, Massachusetts law enters into the picture.

We can only sell four guns per calendar year privately F-T-F. After that, I must pay the dealer's transfer fee. So I need to take advantage of that fact and sell 4 between now and December 31st and 4 more right after Jan 1. That trimming of the collection/accumulation is long overdue and needed to get me back on track.

With every post on Mass. law.....the nightmare just gets worse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


With all the "restrictions" I'm not sure there's anything good about the next 5 years.......

You need a bug-out location in NH or Pa......... with a safe room/vault in the basement............

 

[Decker]

It's a dam shame that the CZ's are out of reach for you, TTSH.

The basic 'ol CZ 75B takes up where the 3rd Gen left off.

My 5906 is great, but my matte stainless CZ 75B has it beat, with the extra feature that it can be carried cocked and locked like a 1911, or, like a DA/SA 5906.

I came to CZ's late, but with 3rd Gens gone, I'm pretty sure that I'll be adding more.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Okay, I'll give you more comments, old guy to old guy:

This is one of the things I was most interested in today... i.e., how many 3rd Gen'rs would look to a new/newer/newish 1911 as first choice in an alternative buy

Not even my tenth choice. I sold the two I had awhile back and the only one that interests me presently is one a friend of mine has in .38 Super and that's "just because". IMHO, the 1911 is massively overrated except, maybe, as a war gun. I could go on but that would be thread theft and I won't do it.

As for revolvers, I have so many that it wouldn't be appropriate for me to say that if I couldn't buy a 3rd Gen I need to get a revolver of some kind or another. My main collection is wheelguns - there are a billion that I don't have but dollars and space limitations insist that I pace myself in that department.

Offhand, I have my five grail guns, my 4" M19, my 4" M25 in .45 Colt, and my Browning Hi-Power. For long arms that would be an M1A and one custom hunting rifle based on a 98 Mauser action. All of the rest of the collection are either utility guns, interesting guns, guns I wanted "just because", etc. The lightweight 9mm I seek is a utility gun for a VERY special purpose.

For collecting, I can always add more S&W .38/.357 caliber guns. But there are none that I need. I NEED that lightweight 9mm.

OTOH, there was a gun I had a passion for that that I did just buy, and it's a shocker:

It is a Precision Small Arms Baby Browning in .25 ACP. Why? Why not? One of the most cool little gun items I have ever seen! To get one that is pristine and for half the price, well, I couldn't resist.

Home Base

That's their website.

(C) Precision Small Arms, Inc. 2015

 

[TTSH]

Fogot to mention why. My last auto pistol purchase was a Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 in 45acp and it outshines everything I've ever shot. The DW Pointman is full size 1911 but in 9mm. Would be nice range gun.

Well, again, one of the main reasons I started this thread was to gauge "Team 3rd Gen" interest in 1911's generally (as alternatives to our beloved 3rd Gens) and in some of the newer styles & models more specifically... so I sincerely appreciate your input.

Unfortunately, there are no Dan Wesson handguns on our MA EOPS list... meaning we can't buy them here except in a private F-T-F sale or possibly through one of the "premium added" dealers at some crazy obscene cost. Our best EOPS-listed alternatives here are from S&W, Sig and Ruger. That is one avenue I'm seriously considering... i.e., getting back into 1911's for a while.

 

[TTSH]

With every post on Mass. law.....the nightmare just gets worse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With all the "restrictions" I'm not sure there's anything good about the next 5 years.......

You need a bug-out location in NH or Pa......... with a safe room/vault in the basement............

You learn to live with it Bam. It sounds bad to you because you live in a free state and know what real freedom is all about.

We here in MA live behind moonbat enemy lines and we know it. But for many of us here, it's all we've ever known. It's almost normal to us unless we travel out of state and see how you free folks live. A trip up to NH or down to RI and we get all depressed. But eventually it passes and we go on with our restricted lives.

With just 5 good years left, I can't afford to worry about it too much. It will all be over before I know it. Once I'm in the ground, none of it will matter.