9mm advice

If you are like me and don't care about looks. CZ SP01 are not too far off. I paid 650 shipped for my Shadow. But its got scratches and stuff. There are still people selling for normal prices and not out to gouge.
 
Tenda and a few other places still show Girsan MC P35 available. They have an excellent reputation for the price point.

I think there's also the surplus Beretta 92s still widely available.
 
If you are into actual target shooting and do not want to pretend to be John Wick then the Beretta 92s Surplus from Marstar is an excellent deal. They are $500 and an excellent build quality and accuracy. Most people don't like them because they have a European Heel Release magazine and not a modern thumb release magazine. That makes it no good for competition/fast reloads. But if you want budget, quality, accuracy, then the 92s is your best bet. Berretta is a top brand in the firearms world.

Your second option is the IWI 941F Surplus. It costs a bit more but it has the thumb release magazine that modern pistols have. The drawback is that it is single action only, while the 92s is Double/Single, if that matters to you. It also has a barrel with polygonal rifling. The 92s has a traditionally rifled barrel. The traditionally rifled barrel is better for shooting lead cast bullets, if you ever get that far into the hobby, but otherwise they are just fine. Glock uses polygonal barrels and they have not had a reason to change since the 80s.

If you want excellent target shooting, get the Beretta 92s, if you want good shooting but something just a bit more modern get the IWI 941F.
 
Quite a while back I bought a Norinco NZ85B with the intent that if I liked the "CZ"pattern, I would upgrade. The factory grips were terrible, but I put a set of take-off CZ over molded grips on it. Over the years that I have owned it, I have had the opportunity to shoot a number of CZ 75 type pistols and other clones like the Tanfoglio, Jericho and the Sphinx, and the Norinco is comparable in every way (Including accuracy) to these other great classic pistols so I never did upgrade.

They sold for between $300 and 400 new, but now you might find one for $500.00 if you are lucky.

Thank you.
 
If you are into actual target shooting and do not want to pretend to be John Wick then the Beretta 92s Surplus from Marstar is an excellent deal. They are $500 and an excellent build quality and accuracy. Most people don't like them because they have a European Heel Release magazine and not a modern thumb release magazine. That makes it no good for competition/fast reloads. But if you want budget, quality, accuracy, then the 92s is your best bet. Berretta is a top brand in the firearms world.

Your second option is the IWI 941F Surplus. It costs a bit more but it has the thumb release magazine that modern pistols have. The drawback is that it is single action only, while the 92s is Double/Single, if that matters to you. It also has a barrel with polygonal rifling. The 92s has a traditionally rifled barrel. The traditionally rifled barrel is better for shooting lead cast bullets, if you ever get that far into the hobby, but otherwise they are just fine. Glock uses polygonal barrels and they have not had a reason to change since the 80s.

If you want excellent target shooting, get the Beretta 92s, if you want good shooting but something just a bit more modern get the IWI 941F.

Excellent advice and feedback, thanks!
 
Thank you to everyone for your feedback, info, tips and advice - really appreciated! Seems a strong consensus includes Beretta 92S and Jericho 941F as two of the top choices for budget. I remember a few months ago at my local range, I met someone who had a polymer 9mm which I got to shoot and liked. I don't recall if it was a Canik or Canuk though!

A few have suggested models from Canik, Girsan and Taurus TH9. I have also been checking FMK 9C1, Girsan MC28, Girsan MC9, Canik TP9SF. I've been checking reviews on YouTube and seems some mixed reviews, both good and some really negative. Anyone own or had experience shooting any of these?
 
Thank you to everyone for your feedback, info, tips and advice - really appreciated! Seems a strong consensus includes Beretta 92S and Jericho 941F as two of the top choices for budget. I remember a few months ago at my local range, I met someone who had a polymer 9mm which I got to shoot and liked. I don't recall if it was a Canik or Canuk though!

A few have suggested models from Canik, Girsan and Taurus TH9. I have also been checking FMK 9C1, Girsan MC28, Girsan MC9, Canik TP9SF. I've been checking reviews on YouTube and seems some mixed reviews, both good and some really negative. Anyone own or had experience shooting any of these?

Those that you just mentioned are clones of existing guns, or remixes of existing guns. Quality is nowhere hear as good as something Beretta or IWI make. If you only have the budget for one gun in the price range of the Clones then my recommendation is to not hamstring yourself with one of them. The feel and quality is really different. That is advice I wish someone gave me when I started buying handguns. Don't buy "cheap new" unless there is something unique or special about them. If you can't afford the good brands then wait for surplus. Even the good brands used are better than the New Cheap stuff. It really is amazing once you learn that for yourself. In you case that is something you will not be able to learn for yourself but will have to trust others are not exaggerating.

That said, please don't buy a New Cheap gun as your one and only gun. Please.
 
Those that you just mentioned are clones of existing guns, or remixes of existing guns. Quality is nowhere hear as good as something Beretta or IWI make. If you only have the budget for one gun in the price range of the Clones then my recommendation is to not hamstring yourself with one of them. The feel and quality is really different. That is advice I wish someone gave me when I started buying handguns. Don't buy "cheap new" unless there is something unique or special about them. If you can't afford the good brands then wait for surplus. Even the good brands used are better than the New Cheap stuff. It really is amazing once you learn that for yourself. In you case that is something you will not be able to learn for yourself but will have to trust others are not exaggerating.

That said, please don't buy a New Cheap gun as your one and only gun. Please.

Hey Polish, thanks for your advice. I did learn that with Norinco, years ago. The NP58 was an "expensive paper weight"! I'll never buy one of those again. I had heard some good reviews online, especially on some of these made in Turkey and occasionally got to try one at my local range.
 
Hey Polish, thanks for your advice. I did learn that with Norinco, years ago. The NP58 was an "expensive paper weight"! I'll never buy one of those again. I had heard some good reviews online, especially on some of these made in Turkey and occasionally got to try one at my local range.

Norinco are in a class of their own. They are a love/hate relationship that only make them possible because of how cheap they are. When I say New Cheap I don't mean Norinco. Norinco handguns are for people that fancy themselves as DIY gunsmiths that can make the gun work when it starts giving you problems.

The different between Norinco and the Turkish guns is like the difference between Turkish guns and the big brands.
 
Its getting down to the nitty gritty. There are still plenty of surplus 92s and Jerichos out there. As well as there are a few new Girsans and CZ's. Act now because they will be gone soon
 
Marstar currently has 3 models of the Canik tp9 in stock from $579 to $799. Canik pistols have been used by the Turkish and quite a few other militaries around the world, they are well built, accurate and very well tested. Best cheap option currently available imho
 
Bullseye North has 10 CZ 75 BD for $1,000 right now: https://www.bullseyenorth.com/shop/...ol-46-barrel-1x-10rd-mag-decocker-black-28225

If I was to buy a 9mm today, I'd jump on that. In fact I just did... It is going to be my second CZ 75 BD.

Finding a pistol thats right for you is a personal experience and differs from one person to another, but you cannot go wrong with any flavour of CZ 75. In spite of the age of the design, CZ hit a a homerun with its ergonomics.
 
My first pistol was a plane old S&W MP9 range kit think it only cost me $440. Just be carful with pistols you buy for ease of grip size changes, sights you can purchase for it and especially ease of repalcement parts supplies. You might want check gun stores for nice trade in's as well because it would be cheeper than buying new. And it will be well looked over by the gun dealer so it's safe.
 
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