I've pondered a similar question to this for several months. I handled several guns at the gun show this weekend and a couple more this morning at my LGS. Here is my list of guns that fit my hand, have a natural point-of-aim for ME, that I trust and are in a caliber I can afford to shoot a lot.
small:
Bulgarian/E. german/most any other Makarov (used 9x18)
Bersa CC (new 9mm)
Medium:
CZ-82 (used 9x18)
Bersa Thunder (new 9mm)
Large:
CZ-75 pre-B (used 9mm)
CZ-SP01 pre-B (used 9mm)
While I appreciate your opinion I beg to differ than any of these guns would be unreliable for any of the things I want them for. Just because a gun doesn't cost $500 or more doesn't make it any less reliable. That's simply gun snob talk IMO. To each their own.
First - my price may be a bit higher than yours ... The Bersa CC 9 is running about $375 and the Thunder 9 about $405. I would stretch to that, although to be honest, the Mak and the CZ-82 (both 9x18) are NICE for around $250 ... gives me more $$$ for ammo. OR, to buy two of 'em. I really love the Mak/CZ-82s! Also, consider that you don't pay sales tax on the Maks and used CZs ... you probably will on the Bersas. Mag prices can effect your final cost too. I haven't really considered that as they all seem to be close in cost to each other.
If you factor-in sales tax and extra mags and try to stay in your budget, the CZ-82 gets better and better. Or the Maks if you want something that holds less.
The BIG DEAL to me is how incredibly on-target the Bersa and the Mak/CZ-82 are for me ... your experience may vary. I am not on-target with many, many guns. The Bersa'a and the 9x18s are just incredibly "there" for me (as are 1911's, but they don't fit our price range).
I voted pt111, but highly recommend a 24/7. They can be had around 300-325 used. If my buddy backs out again, I'd sell you mine with a crossbreed supertuck, and 2 loaded mags of SD ammo. Along with whatever other ammo I have laying around.
And whats funny is that a Glock probably costs about the same (or less) to produce as any of these guns. Cost/reliability do not always go hand in hand.
Thank you for the info. You mention some other factors that I had not really been considering. I was basically just considering the gun price by itself plus ammo cost at this point. I do like the CZ's and Maks from what I have seen of them but I don't know of any place to check them out in person to see if I actually like them or the feel. Also I don't know much about them so I wasn't sure if they would be a good choice for what I want. My next thought would be how about ammo cost? Is it relatively close in price to regular 9mm Luger ammo? If you don't mind I'd like to PM you and chat more about them if you have the time and don't mind helping me learn more about them.
And whats funny is that a Glock probably costs about the same (or less) to produce as any of these guns. Cost/reliability do not always go hand in hand.
Do this:
Do this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_JuF23qazI
or this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj5Kcs4dzro
with any of the guns in that list. Sometimes, a couple extra bucks are worth it.
I want to KNOW the gun I'm carrying will work when if my wife or child's life depends on it.
If you can come to Lafayette, you can shoot mine. Birds Away is from here and has more of them than I do. We have a great indoor range on the south side ... so!!! 9x18 ammo costs about .23 per shot ... or about .03 cents more than 9mm. More or less kinda maybe. There is good self defense ammo available for it too. I figure, if I don't stop the BG with a 9x18, I probably wouldn't have with a 9x19 either. On the other hand, if I shoot the 9x18 better than I do the 9x19 (for whatever reason), I'm way ahead
I know there are many Maks in Indy ... not so sure about CZ-82s. There is a member in Indy that has the pre-B CZ-75s. I forget his ID though. I can look it up if you want to reach out to him.
PM me anytime!!! Going out to dinner tonight (beat the Valentine's day rush), but I'll be back early!
I don't plan on getting in a gunfight and firing 1000 or anywhere near that many rounds consecutive
I agree with you here but I'm not sure that was the point he was trying to make. On a " longevity " standpoint, I would be concerned about at least a couple on your list...
I currently own a Kahr CW9. I really like it and have the utmost confidence in it's reliability. Saying that though, it is one weapon I own that I do watch the round count on. It doesn't take much observation to see it is not as heavily constructed as other options out there. I also have others weapons I have absolutely no concerns with putting several thousand rounds thru a year. Ones that I have no fear of ever wearing out...
Out of curiosity... Will this be primarily your only handgun ? Do you hope to have this for years to come ? About how many rounds do you expect to shoot in a given year ?