Favorite cheap surplus pistol?

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 think the cheap 9mm Grand Power ship has sailed. Aren't they all like $600 and up with the new distributer?
 
sailor723 said:
I think the cheap 9mm Grand Power ship has sailed. Aren't they all like $600 and up with the new distributer?
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I consider Girsans, Grand Powers, Ruger SR9s, FEGs, even Springfields, Glocks and M&Ps, guns in the $500-$800 range mid-range value guns. Between the Norcs, Toks and the >$1000 offerings. They are all capable and fine firearms and the OP should look at them carefully first before making a surplus Tok a first handgun purchase.
 
I have all three of the guns the OP mentioned.

The Star 9mm is a nice pistol, but a steady use of it would lead to a hard to replace broken part. I see it as more of a collector gun than a shooter.

Can't imagine ever breaking a Enfield 38, but I don't see it as much of a shooter, either.

I have a number of Toks by various makers in both 7.62 and in 9mm. The Polish mint ones shot very very well. I have use done in CQB competition and will do it again. Be aware that some indoor ranges will not let you shoot the Tok with milsurp (steel core) ammo.
 
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 have, that's the funny thing, most negative comments about Norks are from prior owners. First one i had was around 1999-2000, when did you buy your first nork 1911…? I also had one of the recent chrome sport models, and can say the QC has gone down even lower then on the older guns.
I also remember the threads on these guns when the CanAm gun/ammo deal was on....guys had bought 3-4 of them and had to send most back as they wouldn't function out of the box at all. Great guns....lol you even admit it yourself they need work to run "great" and throw a dig at US made guns that is complete BS as well.
Nork is the cheapest on our market because they are the poorest quality made. 5100 series steel means nothing when everything on the gun is so sloppy and loose, with #### sights, and tool marks that look like they were left by a beaver.
There are 1911's that are 10 times the quality of Norinco for $50-$100 more now, there is zero reason to buy that low grade crap there days lol
 
Hitzy is like a bucket of ice water down the pants.

Thanks, man. I just bought some primers and dlask mags to flesh it out to $200 instead ;)

Again, OP: I really don't think there are any cheap surplus guns out there that qualify as a good first pistol.

Maybe an ok third pistol, for a sometimes toy, but that's it. Do yourself a favour and buy something mainstream. Sales are on now. Sfrc has used handguns listed, there's the EE... You're going to buy and sell a fair bit before you settle into what you like and as your tastes change, so pick up used if you can, or at least on sale items.
 
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Hitzy said:
I have, that's the funny thing, most negative comments about Norks are from prior owners. First one i had was around 1999-2000, when did you buy your first nork 1911…? I also had one of the recent chrome sport models, and can say the QC has gone down even lower then on the older guns.
I also remember the threads on these guns when the CanAm gun/ammo deal was on....guys had bought 3-4 of them and had to send most back as they wouldn't function out of the box at all. Great guns....lol you even admit it yourself they need work to run "great" and throw a dig at US made guns that is complete BS as well.
Nork is the cheapest on our market because they are the poorest quality made. 5100 series steel means nothing when everything on the gun is so sloppy and loose, with #### sights, and tool marks that look like they were left by a beaver.
There are 1911's that are 10 times the quality of Norinco for $50-$100 more now, there is zero reason to buy that low grade crap there days lol
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That's funny, between myself, my wife, and a couple friends I know of 9 of the unmarked guns. I still have 1 unfired, but the rest of them all work good and the owners were very happy about their purchases. The one my wife got has a bit of a lose slide (no worse than some of the sr1911's) but a good trigger pull. My 4 had decently fitted slides with a couple that needed trigger jobs. They're a bit of a gamble, but overall pretty decent. You are right that some of the internal machining is pretty rough, but only in areas that don't matter. They are no colt or STI, that's for sure.
Kristian
 
I have a Norinco NP40 (CZ 85 .40 clone), a Girsan Regard INOX 9mm, and a M&P CORE 9mm with MRD sight. I just bought a few lasers to put on the other 2 (came with the sale). At this point I like all 3, but there is no doubt the NP40 shoots the best for me on a target with regular sights. Except for very expensive guns, the ammo will be your biggest cost, followed by your fuel to get to the range, your handgun, and perhaps your range membership. Try before you buy if possible. If unable, make sure it feels good in your hand when you dry fire it. Don't be too concerned about double action (DA) trigger pull as most shooting is done single action (SA). A rubber aftermarket grip can make a cheap gun feel very nice!
 
deemoney said:
S&W victory revolvers, P38 and 1911's can't just pick one
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Of the 3 the S&W Victory models were sleepers. But even the prices on those has come up.

As was mentioned earlier in this thread, coming by .38 S&W ammo at a reasonable price is a bit of a challenge, too.

Although, I do have a S&W Victory model with 4" brl as issued in .38 Special which is easy to find ammo for & a joy to shoot, too.

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NAA.
 
Where the H did all the $400 P1s go? Nothing but $700 P38s available these days.

Kind of kicking myself for letting mine go now!

M
 
As a new shooter would you really be willing to jump right into reloading right away? Otherwise GOOD LUCK finding ready made ammo for any sort of reasonable price for an Enfield, Webley or .38S&W Victory.

Keep in mind that .38S&W is in no way the same or in any way compatible with .38Spl. And even finding cast bullets for .38S&W isn't all that easy once you have the brass and dies and reloading setup.

Those that load these less common ammo types have their sources. But it's not something that is wise to leap right into as a new owner.
 
BCRider said:
As a new shooter would you really be willing to jump right into reloading right away? Otherwise GOOD LUCK finding ready made ammo for any sort of reasonable price for an Enfield, Webley or .38S&W Victory.

Keep in mind that .38S&W is in no way the same or in any way compatible with .38Spl. And even finding cast bullets for .38S&W isn't all that easy once you have the brass and dies and reloading setup.

Those that load these less common ammo types have their sources. But it's not something that is wise to leap right into as a new owner.
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Well Winchester makes factory ammo, and Lebarons carries it here, not that hard to find.
For bullets member Jet ranger on here sells them, again, fairly easy to find.
 
Guys we are helping a student with limited means and we are into discussions about reloading? If he ever does buy a gun under his present circumstances it better be a .22LR or the gun will be fondled a lot and shot very little. Factory ammo is not inexpensive for center fire handguns. The downside to .22lr is bulk ammo remains ellusive, at least up here. I may be different where you live.

Take Care

Bob
 
Suther said:
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?
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I recently bought a near perfect post war Tok with 2 mags and a holster for $193 tax included. Its a very nice pistol for the cost. and yes, I also bought a good stock of surplus ammo for a very reasonable price. Overall, in my opinion, this pistol best meets your stated criteria.
 
Hitzy said:
Well Winchester makes factory ammo, and Lebarons carries it here, not that hard to find.
For bullets member Jet ranger on here sells them, again, fairly easy to find.
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And what is the price on all these things?

As Bob said in his posts we're looking at a hungry student with limited means. If he's to get into the sport at all it should be with options that don't require expensive shipping or great delays.

Note that I said that this stuff COULD be found if the owner is keen. But for a new shooter? This isn't the best way to start out by a long shot.
 
Canuck44 said:
Guys we are helping a student with limited means and we are into discussions about reloading? If he ever does buy a gun under his present circumstances it better be a 22LR or the gun will be fondled a lot and shot very little. Factory ammo is not inexpensive for center fire handguns. The downside to .22lr is bulk ammo remains ellusive, at least up here. I may be different where you live.

Take Care

Bob
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A good first choice Bob and I agree with your reasoning. I have four decent quality .22 target pistols and I've been thinking it's time to thin things out a little and possibly put these two 'up for adoption'.:redface: Just haven't been able to follow through with that task yet.
- A High Standard Supermatic Citation



- And a Browning Medalist



However, as the thread stipulates 'cheap surplus military pistol', Following through with my 'suggestion' "that anyone into handgun shooting, at some time in their life, should own a 455 Webley.
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When a friend and fellow shooter passed away, from his estate, I purchased a Mark VI he had.



With the defination of the thread, something along that line would be my centre fire recommendation.
 
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