best 9mm handgun below $1000?

[BCRider]

one of the specialists said that the beginner would make great progress in shooting target with 9mm ammo if he used up large numbers of .22 ammo(cheaper) on the same frame(handgun) first.
it is true???

A lot of people put great stock in using the same frame to shoot .22 as well as the center fire rounds.

But consider a few facts;

• Recoil between the two is wildly different so it's really only the first round or during slow fire that shooting .22 with a conversion kit is of any worth.
• If you progress to shooting in competitions there's something to be said for using the same frame. But most competition use requires faster firing rates. Then the ability to work with the recoil cycle timing becomes as important as the feel of the trigger. So again a conversion kit becomes less than ideal.
• With a conversion kit you can't easily swing back and forth shooting .22 to center fire. Swapping top ends takes about a half minute at best to a minute or so. If you're working on shooting to set your mind to avoiding a flinch issue it's nice to flow more seamlessly between center fire and rimfire.
• Besides, with a whole separate gun for .22 you can let a buddy or girlfriend shoot .22 while you're shooting center fire.... once you trust them not to do something silly.
• Shopping for guns which you can get rimfire top ends for limits the type of guns you can buy. I'd rather not have such a limitation.
• Good luck finding rimfire conversion kits that are $300 or less. Many are far more. You can buy a lot of nice complete rimfire guns for the cost of some rimfire conversion kits.
• Having a rimfire conversion kit really only pays off if you don't ever expect to have more than the one shooting platform. As soon as you buy another couple of guns you blow that whole "perfect match" out of the water and you find you have to adapt between different platforms anyway.

 

[Dexter Morgan]

The STI Spartan 9mm 1911 is a heck of a nice gun too.

They sell for less than $800 bucks.

 

[mmatt]

Consider a Ruger SR9. Inexpensive but not cheap. They can be had for less than $500 brand new and are great little pistols.

I've owned a Norinco copy of a Sig, a Glock 17 and now the SR9. It is more comfortable to hold and shoot than the other two and looks better too. (IMHO anyway)

I shoot IPSC with mine and couldn't be happier. It's even gotten me a first place finish as well as several top five.

 

[blaxsun]

Glock, HK, Steyr, XDM - they're all good.

 

[krausb]

I bought the S&W M&P9 5" Pro Series. The ergonomics are awesome compared to the Glock G22 Gen 4 that I have. I'd rather buy a complete new .22lr handgun than buying a conversion. eg. S&W 22a-1 you can get for $299. Browning Buckmarks, Ruger Mark III for around $350-$399.

M&P 9mm range kit combo for $650 includes 3 mags, maglula speedloader, and mag carrier.

I agree with both of these posters. The M&P series are great guns for a great price, and the Rang and Carry kit are a value that is unmatched anywhere in the industry right now.

 

[cuto85]

CZ 75 Shadow

I've never had a single hiccup. Not once. I would take this gun to a two way range over any other sidearm I own. Eats anything. Absolutely beautiful finish. Pristine finish inside. If the price of these guns magically doubled overnight I wouldn't feel bad about buying another one.

 

[majorca]

cz 75 series or 85 combat.

 

[eg23]

You need to go try them out and see what fits your hand. All of them are good and will get the job done. Don't discount the mp9 and and the SR9. I love my Glock 17 but the grip fits me well.

 

[RichardK]

I am wondering this also, for those who are saying Norinco, is the accuracy just as well?

 

[benbez20]

CZ75 SP-01 series (tactical or shadow), CZ75 B, CZ 85, etc. All of these offer great performance and give great value in my MHO.

 

[polaris]

The STI Spartan 9mm 1911 is a heck of a nice gun too.

They sell for less than $800 bucks.

you are right on...

but nothing tops the CZ 75 Shadow

 

[the_klenzer]

thanks .Many kids choose "else",what are those??Norincos???Norincos are made in China,and I worry about their reliablity though they are more cheap.someone says that there are little parts &accessories of Chinese handguns in the market.if Chinese handguns are broken ,please buy a new one directly.truth???

You might want to learn to punctuate before you start calling people "kids".

Norincos are made in China, so is most of what you own. They're very good guns, the forum sponsors who sell them will warrenty them. I don't know wtf you mean buy broken/buy a new one directly.

 

[mr00jimbo]

Glock, Sig, Beretta, CZ, H&K.
They're all great. Get the one that fits your hand the best. They're all equally as durable, as reliable, yadda yadda.
Unless you want to split hairs and dunk them into muck and #### like that.

 

[Dsiwy]

Glock or CZ

 

[Technology Direct]

CZ 75 Shadow

I've never had a single hiccup. Not once. I would take this gun to a two way range over any other sidearm I own. Eats anything. Absolutely beautiful finish. Pristine finish inside. If the price of these guns magically doubled overnight I wouldn't feel bad about buying another one.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[FLHTCUI]

Dont know and dont care but the one that busts the primer and the ensuing reaction everytime is good enough for me.
Especially if it costs less than $500.00
Tight Groups,
Rob

 

[djmay71]

Glock 17 all the way

As a newbish shooter, I just fired my Glock 17 for the first time yesterday. Having fired a few heavy-weight revolvers in my ATT course, the 9mm fit right perfect.
That being said, I wouldn't give a second thought into purchasing a .22 handgun (preferably in SA revolver) for teaching non-shooters.

 

[BigDotGlock]

If you're just starting out, get something cheap, get a pile of ammo, get training. People whine all day about Norinco quality, many of them are the same cats who think either the sig/glock/smith are crap becasue they can't hit a barn with it.

Seriously, get an Norc knockoff of a sig or CZ for half to a quarter of what the real deal costs. Aside from the finish, 90% of people and 99.9% of new shooters don't shoot well enough to justify the extra money for a hair more accuracy/reliability. They're also plenty reliable for realistic purposes. We're putting holes in paper on a square range, not HALO jumping into North Korea. If you don't like the gun, you're not out a grand either.

Obviously, I like Glocks. They are an excellent pistol. If you want one for your first gun, cruise the EE and be patient. You can find a G17 for $450 or less if you're patient, that's all I paid for both of mine (both like new, under 500rds). Replace the recoil spring if you don't know the round count, or every 5000.

If you insist on a new gun, I'll grudgingly admit the M&P is a damn fine pistol...I ended up geting one and I love it. Get the range and carry kit that's already been mentioned, have no regrets.

Bottom line, just about any gun is good enough to learn to put holes in paper well, training and ammo for practice are where you should spend money. There's nothing sadder than a guy with a fancy ninjagun suppsedly carried by JTFDEVCAGSASEALS, who can't shoot it. If you can, find a way to try a particular gun out before you buy, don't take the internet's word for anything.

 

[NAA]

9mm's I like...

Personally, I like:

1911 single stacks in 9mm [ ie. Colt combat commander]

Glock Model s19 & 17 in 9mm

CZ Models 75/85 series in 9mm

Star Model B & BM in 9mm

BHP MkIII in 9mm

------------------------------
NAA.

 

[Nestor]

First handgun?
Buy yourself 22. Once You will learn the basics and master them all, upgrade to something bigger. $1000 is a lot of money, You can pick up both decent - 9mm and 22 in this price range plus a pile of ammo. Spending this amount on one pistol won't take You any farther than let say - Walther P1 and Ruger MK2.