Favorite cheap surplus pistol?

Don't see a reason not to get a TT33. Low price,great accuracy, and readily available commercial and surplus ammo. Ergos aren't the best for someone with larger hands but after market grips are available. If you really want something cheap and surplus with cool fun factor the TT would be my top pick. If you just want inexpensive there's a ton of Norc stuff out there with a low price tag but reasonably built for the price as well they're pretty well all clones of higher end tried and tested models. From what I've seen there's nothing wrong with these Chinese made guns, little rough yes but this is reflected in the price. Anyways for a sub $500 gun there are so many possibilities but surp wise TT33 is king in my books!
 
I bought the TT-33 because it was cheap. The fun lasted for less than a crate of ammo.

It's got nasty sights, a nasty trigger, and if you're a lefty that lanyard loop digs in.

And the small parts that tend to break are the ones that are difficult or expensive to source. If you buy a second one for parts, you no longer have a cheap gun.

I'd say that unless you have a collectors interest in them, stay away from surplus handguns. They are a novelty more than a day to day shooter.

I like my Webley revolver, but I had to send the first one back as it was worn to the point of being unsafe. I only have shot it 3 times in almost 2 years, however.

A 9mm GI style 1911 would be a good choice if you want practicality and nostalgia
 
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Suther said:
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.
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You said your budget was about $500 the norcinco np22 and np34 fits in that budget and 9mm is pretty common and reasonably priced. I like the under rail on the np34 but I find it a little small for my hands.
 
History: my fav cheap surplus pistol....

Circa 1989 you could get surplus 1911's at Lever Arms in Vancouver, B.C. for $99. They were beaters, but a lot of them were salvageable.

Before:

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After:

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NAA.
 
Suther said:
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...
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Ya, 45 might not be a great choice for a first handgun. At the same time, a tokarev probably isn't either. It might be cheap to feed now, but that's about all it has going for it. I have one that hasn't been touched since I discovered 1911's, and probably won't be any time soon. Like another poster said, the novelty wore off pretty quick, about 1000 rounds for me. I also started to notice some barrel lug peening, so I don't think my particular one is a good gun for any kind of volume shooting. I would go with some of the other suggestions to get a 22 first to get the hang of shooting a handgun with cheap ammo and low recoil to avoid developing a flinch.
Kristian
 
To the OP you are obviously struggling with the fact no matter what option you choose it is going to cost money. Shooting is not an inexpensive activity no matter which direction you go. Locally 22 ammo is not cheap anymore. The bulk stuff has not been in a store here for almost a year. Unless you reload center fire guns can be very expensive to run. Used 9MM guns from mainstream companies can be had on the EE for around $500 with two mags. That is about as inexpensive as you are going to see. 22LR semis might be found for a little less but can be relatively just as expensive to feed as you are more likely going to blast away longer.

Norinco does offer the NP22 and NZ85 which from what I have heard are fairly decent pistols for the money. They are no less cheaper to feed though and are not really all that much cheaper to buy.

If none of those suggestions meets your budget then you really aren't ready to make the jump into handgun shooting. One day you will be for sure just not right now.

Take Care

Bob
 
OP, not sure what you're actually after: CHEAP or SURPLUS...

The Star Pistols will handle the cheap standard 115 gr 9mm out there like Wolf or LCW, just stay away from any +P self-defence loads (which are expensive anyway). I'm thinking it will nicely fill the bill you've outlined...
 
Hitzy said:
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
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I suspect you've not spent much time with them... They're actually very high quality materials, and the finish isn't bad. Yes, they need dehorning to run great (common even with American 1911s), but it's nothing a couple hundred rounds down the pipe won't fix.

Neither of my Colts have seen the range since my Norc showed up...
 
I don't have any surplus guns, but probably my favorite gun to shoot is my Alfa .22lr 6" alloy revolver. Under $400 and cheap to feed. I could shoot that all day. It's 9 rounds, accurate, and easy to maintain. Anybody who I let shoot it likes it too. I can easily hit .22 metal spinners at 25 yrds.
 
Phat Eagle said:
I suspect you've not spent much time with them... They're actually very high quality materials, and the finish isn't bad. Yes, they need dehorning to run great (common even with American 1911s), but it's nothing a couple hundred rounds down the pipe won't fix.

Neither of my Colts have seen the range since my Norc showed up...
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I'm still having a crisis of conscience there. I do have some nice mid range 1911s, but if I buy a norc now, plus some primers, that's $500. Turn around and sell the free shotgun for $100 or so and the norc becomes a $200 pistol (that I don't need, but it's $200...)
 
Mark-II said:
I'm still having a crisis of conscience there. I do have some nice mid range 1911s, but if I buy a norc now, plus some primers, that's $500. Turn around and sell the free shotgun for $100 or so and the norc becomes a $200 pistol (that I don't need, but it's $200...)
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They were an even better deal with the ammo combo when the gun was essentially free, that's why I have a bunch of them to build on. I almost regret selling the one I did, now I only have 3 left, 4 if I count my wife's. They could use a bit of work, but other than the trigger on a couple, mine were pretty good out of the box.
Kristian
 
Far North said:
You said your budget was about $500 the norcinco np22 and np34 fits in that budget and 9mm is pretty common and reasonably priced. I like the under rail on the np34 but I find it a little small for my hands.
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While my budget is sub-$500, I made this post for opinions on milsurps, not the NP22/34. I've already done a post on the np22 looking for opinions (which is a very mixed bag. Half say they are freakin' awesome!!!!!!!!! while half say they are norinco junk.)

Can-down said:
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.
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If I could get a $350, brand new Grand Power, I would pull the trigger on that in a flash. But I missed that sale at Dlask (more specifically didn't have the money then) so I can't do that.

None of these guns would be expected to do anything but punch paper.
 
although the tt 33 is inexpensive it is not cheap. very good guns, buy one you wont regret it, in fact to overlook a 1911 in 45 auto you may be doing yourself an injustice, the tt33 has pretty much the same recoil as 45acp to me anyway, buy a tt33 and a nork 1911 in 45 auto, 500 ish
 
Suther said:
While my budget is sub-$500, I made this post for opinions on milsurps, not the NP22/34. I've already done a post on the np22 looking for opinions (which is a very mixed bag. Half say they are freakin' awesome!!!!!!!!! while half say they are norinco junk.)



If I could get a $350, brand new Grand Power, I would pull the trigger on that in a flash. But I missed that sale at Dlask (more specifically didn't have the money then) so I can't do that.

None of these guns would be expected to do anything but punch paper.
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I was like you a few months back and was looking at the Cheaper surplus pistols but I ended up buying a Girsan Yavuz 16...might be worth a look for you also. I paid under 500 for mine and they very well built firearms.
 
Strato50 said:
I was like you a few months back and was looking at the Cheaper surplus pistols but I ended up buying a Girsan Yavuz 16...might be worth a look for you also. I paid under 500 for mine and they very well built firearms.
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^^^^^
i agree with this choice! Strato found a perfect compromise firearm between cheap, surplus and high end! Another good option would be the Grand Power, like you said yourself. Please don't buy a surplus firearm as your first handgun. Buy what your budget will allow but try and buy modern, you won't regret it.
 
Still alive said:
^^^^^
i agree with this choice! Strato found a perfect compromise firearm between cheap, surplus and high end! Another good option would be the Grand Power, like you said yourself. Please don't buy a surplus firearm as your first handgun. Buy what your budget will allow but try and buy modern, you won't regret it.
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Thank God I listened to your advice and didn't act on my first impulse!!
 
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