Best Bang For Buck--9mm

"Best bang for your Buck" in a pistol is really not an issue. If you want something, buy it. If you are going to shoot extensively, your biggest cost will be ammo. So if you want a premium pistol, buy it because you'll end up upgrading if you buy something cheap. That's my opinion.

I've purchased pistols and then upgraded to something else that I like better. Find out what you like the best and buy it. It will save you money in the long run.

Buy the best you can afford. CZ75 or Shadow is a good choice... there are tons of guns in the $700 range. Ruger SR9 is supposed to be a great bang/$ but I have no experience with it. Buy something you will not want to upgrade after, at a loss.
 
Norinco NP34 is a great bang for your buck esp if you get a good deal on one used. Accurate and reliable.

SR9 is a nice deal at $450, but over $500 I'd go with used M&P or Glock. Had all 3 and decided to stick with gen4's.

Taurus PT92 is another often overlooked but great affordable gun. I have one for sale right now.
 
Some of the main guns being suggested here (G17, 1911, CZ75) have very different characteristics (i.e. glock has no safety and is DAO, 1911 is SA, CZ is DA/SA and they all feel a lot different to hold). Make sure you consider this when advising the man.

I agree w/what others are saying. Biggest expense is the ammo. I was a (younger) university student when I started out (now I'm an older one w/an extremely large line of credit) and ammo was obviously the limiting factor. I started w/a CZ75B I bought off here for $475. So ya, tell him to save a bit longer and get a gun that he's going to love to hold and shoot.

I wouldn't go so far as to say get a .22, tho. It just doesn't have the same aesthetic appeal and satisfaction of shooting and owning. Makes a great second gun, however.
 
Shooting is expensive. Ammo and range fees ain't cheap; even 9mm adds up quick.

9mm that one can't afford to shoot or 22lr at couple bucks per 50.

G17, NP29, 92F are all nice.
 
After shooting and owning countless 9mm pistols, I have settled on the Beretta 92A1.

I am also a big CZ fan but the crappy painted finish was dissapointing to say the least.

For the money the SR9 is a great deal though, but they are scarce as of late.
 
Baby Eagle, M&P, Norinco rip-offs, SR9. Glock doesn't work for me due to no lead bullets (range requirement for indoors). CZ 75 base model is cheap too, but Tanfoglio Combat is even cheaper.
 
has he been shooting long? whats his fundamentals like? buy a gun that is easy to use, manipulate to get the fundamentals down. this includes cleaning and maintenance.

G17, MP9, SR9 = easy to maintain, clean. and very very good value, as well as being a easy to learn package.

1911's, CZs, not as straightforward to detail strip.
 
Bang for buck? If he can handle rough edges, then Norinco all the way. The 1911s that are available have a very good reputation. The Sig clones tend to get good reviews, too. That said, if he's really on a tight budget, he won't be able to buy much ammo. In that case, a 22 pistol offers much, much greater bang for buck.

I don't buy in to the "everyone must save up and buy a mid/high-end pistol" theory. For some people it makes sense. For others, not so much. My first two pistols were S&W and Beretta. My second two pistols were Norinco and Norinco. I don't have the Smith or the Beretta anymore.

Norincos make a great first gun. They're the most economical way to find out if you're really into pistol shooting, as they regularly resell for close to the retail price. He can try it, and if he doesn't like it in the end he can resell it for a very modest loss (especially if he buys in AB and resells to someone in a high-tax province). At worst, it amounts to renting the gun for a year (or two) for $50 or less. Cheap. Compare that to having to save for another summer (or longer), getting something more expensive, and then worrying about scratching it so you don't lose more money on the resale value. I like shooting guns, not saving for them, coddling them, or cuddling with them. If he can't handle the rough finish on a Norinco, fine, save for something else (M&P9 with range kit gets my vote for value). But if he wants a shooter, something to learn on, and not something to fondle, then it's go China.:D
 
a j cave said:
A buddy of my son has been shooting with him and decided he too, would like a 9mm handgun. What do you guys & gals think is the best for the $$. This is just casual shooting & he lacks lots of $$. I have one of the 100 $ Norincos from a while back but not sure on reliability for a new shooter. (still NIB :( ) Thanks for any ideas & will pass them along.
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The limiting factor in our hobby is cash. If you have lots of cash, then the firearm choices available are obviously anything and everything.

But the OP said, "This is just casual shooting & he lacks lots of $$", then as mentioned by the OP, the $100 Norinco 213 is a very viable option, at least that was the price back when they were still available.

Next step up in a quality shooting (quality of fit and finish not being considered) pistol for me would be a used one, for example the Norkie NP29. I have seen them very slightly used in the low $300s. Or go with a Norkie CZ clone for about the same price.

Next step up would be the Ruger P89. I have bought them on the EE for $400 and they are tremendous shooters, with fine accuracy and zero functional issues. I have also seen well used, but with plenty of life left, Glock 17 and 22s in this price range.

I will not recommend a .22 because the OP already said the buyer has decided on a 9mm. And as has been mentioned many times in these forums, ammo cost will very quickly outstrip the purchase cost of a pistol.

So I would recommend a basic single stage reloading set-up to be purchased together with a pistol. Better invest in a basic bullet casting set-up as well, since home cast 9mm bullets cost roughly $0.01 per bullet, vs $0.08 for commercial cast/plated bullets. Commercial projectiles represent the biggest single cost in reloading. Time is not factored in, but if the buyer is a younger person, his time is probably free and casting/reloading/shooting will keep him involved in a healthy activity (well assuming he follows the basic safety rules).

Of course, the buyer may change his stance on caliber and decide to include .22 LR pistols among his choices. Then that would open another can of worms:D
 
I was in the same position 2 years ago, and I bought a norinco NP-22, the sig P226 clone. I have really enjoyed shooting it. Nice big size for man hands, finishing was great, I have yet to have any issues with feeding, accuracy, or anything - all around great purchase $359 or something like that from Marstar.
 
I haven't seen much on the nz85b, but it really interests m. Is there a reason it's not more popular? Seems like people enjoy the CZ 85B and it comes in 9mm. I am hoping to grab one as my first non .22 handgun if I can find one.
 
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