Inexpensive handgun

[Clavicula_Nox]

I look at everything either through a set of pistol sights or a red dot; depending on what equipment I have. It takes way too much time to raise the weapon, obtain sight picture, and shoot. Train yourself to keep the weapn sight traveling where your eye travels and you will get the shot off in 1/6th the time of bringing weapon up from your side.

This is good for me; I'm not an inexperienced shooter, nor an inexperienced house to house shooter. I won't be able to train my wife, though. I can teach her to shoot and hope for the best.

[Reynolds357]

For an experienced shooter, I'm fine with that.

Just seen too many people shoot the good guys in video games because they were sight focused and squeezed the round off at the first human form regardless of threat profile.

I shoot the good guys in video games myself. Why? Its a video game. There is a reset button.

[MaddJack]

I posted in another thread, S&W M10 revolver or a Rossi 971 revolver are very inexpensive yet reliable handguns.

For semi-autos, look into the Russian/Eastern bloc Makarov 9mm. Very cheap, although obtaining ammo takes some more effort.

I am very partial to Rugers, I own several of them. Look into a Ruger P95 or an SR9 model. Very smooth weapons.

[Clavicula_Nox]

Thread necro.


I went out today and found a CZ75:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CZ_75

for just under $270. I did like the feel of the weapon, it is a good size for me and my wife but it felt like the slide was too thin? Does anyone have any practical experience with this weapon?

[Firefighter]

I have to refer you back to Reynolds as he is the CZ guy. CZ makes great weapons generally, I am just not a fan for purely aesthetic reasons.

If you don't mind a drive, I know where there is a SIG P2022 for sell REAL cheap, NIB, and has two back straps to help it fit smaller hands. Sadly it has about a 10 lb trigger pull DA, but the trigger is really smooth (better than some of the $900 SIGs) and drops off GREATLY for single action (down to about 4 lbs.) It is still in your original budget. I'll even buy you lunch.

[Firefighter]

Almost forgot... make sure your wife can quickly and effectively work the slide. The CZ slides have a small profile and leaves little room for a good grip with small and many times weaker hands.

[Reynolds357]

The security situation of my home is developing and the time is now to begin preparing a defense. I am looking for an inexpensive automatic handgun that can be customized with night sights and would be small enough for a woman to fire comfortably. I have been looking at Glock. Any suggestions? *edit* I am looking to spend around $450.

Glock 19 would be my suggestion in that price range. CZ-P01 would be another excellent choice, but can be a bit hard to find.

[Reynolds357]

I'm looking at a Glock 17. She has fired Beretta 92fs before, and she is eager to put in range time "weekly", though I suspect that by "weekly" she actually meant "monthly". Shotguns really aren't an option at this time: I don't want one, she doesn't want one. And I guess night sights are out, I'm glad to know they're useless; I'd rather not waste any money on stupid crap.

Night sights are not useless. I love mine.

[Reynolds357]

The Glock 17 is a nice weapon. Very reliable, very intuitive point and shoot. If she is training for home defense, I would have her shoot at no more than 7 yards without ever looking at the sights. She needs to put enough rounds downrange with a basic grab, point, and shoot until it is intuitive.

I don't like people walking through a house looking over the sights. Screws up your field of vision and prepares you to drop the hammer on the first human form you see. I prefer teaching walking through the house with weapon down at the side and ready to fire. Identify the threat, then point and shoot in one smooth motion.

The decision to fire must be made before the sights hit the target.

I subscribe to the IDF method of building clearing. It is what we were taught in SWAT. Everything is seen on a post or in a holosight.

[Reynolds357]

For an experienced shooter, I'm fine with that.

Just seen too many people shoot the good guys in video games because they were sight focused and squeezed the round off at the first human form regardless of threat profile.

Keep finger out of trigger guard.

[Reynolds357]

Thread necro.


I went out today and found a CZ75:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CZ_75

for just under $270. I did like the feel of the weapon, it is a good size for me and my wife but it felt like the slide was too thin? Does anyone have any practical experience with this weapon?

CZ 75 is awesome weapon. It is the weapn that performs best in the deserts of the world. It, or its clones, are the best military pistols in the world. IDF copied it for their sidearm. In my mind, the fact IDF uses it would be all I need to know. I own 6 of them and love every one of them. I would suggest the b, sp, or p variation of the 75.

[Clavicula_Nox]

Almost forgot... make sure your wife can quickly and effectively work the slide. The CZ slides have a small profile and leaves little room for a good grip with small and many times weaker hands.

I'm not worrying too much about what she can do. She was crushed in a car accident in October and won't be fully functional for a few months. She already has trouble working her friend's G17 slide, so I'm not going to overly trouble myself.

If you don't mind a drive, I know where there is a SIG P2022 for sell REAL cheap, NIB, and has two back straps to help it fit smaller hands. Sadly it has about a 10 lb trigger pull DA, but the trigger is really smooth (better than some of the $900 SIGs) and drops off GREATLY for single action (down to about 4 lbs.) It is still in your original budget. I'll even buy you lunch

That may be an option in the next couple of months. We have a road trip to Georgia coming up, and I need to get some funds coming in from the VA before I can plan another trip. I have some money for the weapon itself already saved up.

CZ 75 is awesome weapon. It is the weapn that performs best in the deserts of the world. It, or its clones, are the best military pistols in the world. IDF copied it for their sidearm. In my mind, the fact IDF uses it would be all I need to know. I own 6 of them and love every one of them. I would suggest the b, sp, or p variation of the 75.

What, in your opinion, sets CZ 75 apart from other pistols?

[keck553]

Go with what she's comfortabe/confident with. My wife can shoot a lot of different handguns, but she is superb with her outdated Walther PP-380. Never jams, she doesn't miss and she can do double-taps in small groups if necessary. There's nothing worse than not feeling "one" with any tool, especially if your life's at stake. The same goes for fire extinguishers....

[Clavicula_Nox]

The pawn shop doubled the price on the CZ 75 and I went with a Highpoint C9 instead.

[Reynolds357]

I'm not worrying too much about what she can do. She was crushed in a car accident in October and won't be fully functional for a few months. She already has trouble working her friend's G17 slide, so I'm not going to overly trouble myself.



That may be an option in the next couple of months. We have a road trip to Georgia coming up, and I need to get some funds coming in from the VA before I can plan another trip. I have some money for the weapon itself already saved up.



What, in your opinion, sets CZ 75 apart from other pistols?

It is still custom fit by a pistol smith. It is not a drop together gun like a Glock. There are cz75's in service in military application that have over 300,000 rounds fired through them. That number is staggering if you consider the estimated service life of most pistols. It is common for them to fire 150,000 rounds before requireing a re-barrel. My Glock 23 had to be re-barrelled at less than 3,000. The frame wrapping around the slide makes a much stronger assembly than the 4 stamped points of contact common on the polymer guns.