Favorite cheap surplus pistol?

Suther

Suther

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So Im looking at getting a pistol in the coming weeks, and still haven't really decided on what exactly I want.

What is your favorite of the cheap surplus pistols? The three I can think of are the TT-33 Tokarev, the Star Model B Super, and the Enfield revolvers.

TT-33 is cheapest, and has cheap surplus ammo available. But factory ammo is not that common. Ergonomics are not the best, but a set of tokagypt grips should help that.

The Star Model B Super is in 9mm, a huge plus. But I hear parts are basically non-existant, and I've also heard of them blowing up or failing with hotter milsurp 9mm ammo. Not actually KABOOM! in your face, but you know what I mean...

The Enfield revolvers are a revolver. Thats just cool. But the ammo is about as common as Hens teeth.


So which do you like and why? Is there any others in the sub-$500 range I didn't think of?
 
Right now, the Tokarev is the best deal going, guns, mags, and ammo are both cheap and available. The guns are tough, and spare parts are around if something breaks.
Star B is nice, mags are pricey, if you break something the gun is a paperweight, 9mm ammo is a plus. I'd buy something more modern though if I wanted a 9mm to actually shoot....
The Enfields never interested me, total POS compared to the S&W pre-V 6" revolvers that were issued early war. I'd find one if those if I wanted a 38S&W...SFRC has one for sale BTW.

P38 Russian refurb are around for a bit more then $500, there were a bunch of P1 for sale a few years ago for $300, dunno what else is around.
 
Enfield Revolvers:

Good luck finding 38 S&W ammo these days. Pretty much the only option for that is re-loading. BTB - you can use your 9mm dies to reload them.

They are a fun gun. My wife really likes the size of my 38cal top break revolvers.

M
 
As mentioned P38s are around, if you look around long enough you should be able to find one in the 400-500$ range.

A other one which will sometimes come up sub 500$ is a Husqvarna M1907. It is escentually a 1903 Browning in 9mm Browning Long (9x20mm) made for/by Sweden. The ammo is available from such places as Tradeex and Canada Ammo but each box of 50 is about 32.50$. Cool guns to shoot, and fairly accurate (also happens to be one of the only pistols to every be reissued in peacetime when a replacement had already taken its place). The biggest issue is recollecting the brass as it looks very close to 9mm Parabelium except under close inspection.

A TT-33 is a very cool choice and there are many countries/conditions of pistols to choose from. Personally I have a big soft spot in my heart for the Soviet firearms so that is why I would recommend that but the two above are also reasonable choices (though the P38/P1 would be the ideal choice if you could find one at the right price).
 
Yes 7.62x25 seem to be getting harder to find and more expensive but there is non corrosive new manufacture around but price is not much diff than 9mm, however the 7.62x25 is a hoot to shoot, powerfull for its size nand the surplus stuf can go through the lower grade bullet proof vests!
 
1911. If the story behind the unmarked norincos that Canada Ammo is selling, then they are technically military surplus. Supposedly they are from a military order by an undisclosed country that was cancelled in 1996 and sat ina warehouse until they came to Canada.
Kristian
 
Of the guns mentioned, I can only speak to the TT33. Fun to shoot - and cheap...and soviet stuff is just cool. Now, I'd love to get my hands on a Mosin revolver...
 
turbo_bird said:
1911. If the story behind the unmarked norincos that Canada Ammo is selling, then they are technically military surplus. Supposedly they are from a military order by an undisclosed country that was cancelled in 1996 and sat ina warehouse until they came to Canada.
Kristian
Click to expand...

Dont really want a .45acp for my first handgun, otherwise I would probably get one. I plan to reload eventually, (I do for rifle w/lee loader classics) and maybe I"ll get into 1911s then, but for now I want something with cheaper ammo. (I realize this statement should mean the enfield revolver shouldn't be on my list... but here we are. lol)

As for the 9mm tokarevs, almost $300 for a Tokarev is just too much. I would rather spend a little more and get a NP22 or NP34 (sig 226/228 clones) most likely.

The tokarev ammo is widely available here, so Im not worried about being unable to get any. The whole fact that I can get a gun and a half case of ammo (1260 rounds) for only $367+tax or cheaper is the whole reason it has a lot of appeal.

Kate at AmmoSupply is looking into stocking 38s&w and I have seen it around, but it certainly is a reloaders caliber it seems...
 
turbo_bird said:
1911. If the story behind the unmarked norincos that Canada Ammo is selling, then they are technically military surplus. Supposedly they are from a military order by an undisclosed country that was cancelled in 1996 and sat ina warehouse until they came to Canada.
Kristian
Click to expand...

Meh, those guns were about the equivalent of Khyber Pass made stuff, way too rough for any respectable country to pay money for to arm their forces. Somali pirates wouldn't event want that ####.
If the order was canceled, it was due to the low quality of the guns....nothing to be proud of there lol
 
I put in another vote for the Walther P38. Tough, easy to shoot, can be accurate, and of course chambered in easy-to-buy 9mm Luger. Frankenguns (mismatched parts) are sometimes available for less $, and can work just fine.

I find the TT33 ergonomics to be on the poor side, even though I like the snappy 7.62x25 cartridge.

Can't speak about any of the others.
 
Do NOT buy a cheap gun for your first gun just because it's cheap. The cheapest gun going will end up costing a huge amount in actual investment if you end up not being able to effectively feed it. Go with something mainstream for your first gun both for the reasoning of AVAILABLE and cheaper ammo that can be used in as wide a variety of shooting as possible.

Sticking with a mainstream alternative means you can also sell it easily if it turns out to be a gun you don't particularly like. It also means you can actually buy magazines for it if it proves to be a good gun and you want to use it for various competition options in the region. None of the guns you've mentioned can be used for a wide variety of possible matches or they lack available cheap and useable ammo or are difficult to buy spare magazines for them.

If you want one of these options for a second or third gun as something you want to play around with that's a whole other issue. But don't buy any of the three you list as a first gun since all of them WILL be very limiting in what you can use them for.
 
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I bought a Grand Power 9mm a while back on blow out brand new for around $350 or so and a Ruger SR9 can be had off the EE for $400 or so....probably some other low cost but modern guns out there as well...... maybe save up a little more and buy something current on sale or used.
 
I'd agree with both BCRider and Can-down about sticking with a more mainstream,modern choice. I'm not sure a cheap mil-surp is the best choice for a first gun. Like many people, my first handgun was a .22 (Browning Buck Mark) and it was quickly followed by a 9mm Grand power.
 
Well my first handguns were a Colt King Cobra in .357 followed by a Husqvarna M1907. It all depends on what you want to do with your shooting. Me personally I just enjoy shooting a target at ranges varying from 10-25m. Some people want to do all the IPSC stuff and realistically a milsurp likely isn't the best choice. The Husqvarna M1907 is kinda funny as I have never had a single stoppage with it at over 500rds through it well everyone else at my range tends to have more stoppages with there more modern pistols.

I still feel the Walther P38 is a excellent choice as they are available and they shoot a common round. There is a reason that a fair bit of people still shoot them.
 
If you get a TT 33 get the polish one 11 marked while they are cheap. It's the nicest one there right now. Having said that on occasion you will find the 9mm conversion kit. Just in case the cheap 7.62 runs out.
 
Those chepie norinco woodsman 22 clones are decent if you can find a lightly used one for $200 all in. Not a surplus but if you are just looking for an affordable handgun.

Got mine ligtly used, 3 mags, $200 shipped on the EE... Can't complain and the guy who sold it to me was awesome. Dude sent me targets he had used and emailed me to check up on it. Arctic hunter? Random shout out to him, hell of a nice guy.
 
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