Spring Handgun Purchase

[kerrmudgeon]

It's been a year and a half since my last firearm purchase.

I've been considering handguns, particularly something smaller than my 1911 and in a smaller caliber like 9mm. This has inspired the following line of thinking:

I would like to find a pistol with the following characteristics, all of which are mutable to some degree, in decreasing order of priority.

- priced from $300-$499, used or new
- semi-automatic
- relatively short barrel (say 3"-4")
- single-action option [DA/SA or SA only - i.e. no GLOCK "safeaction"]
- chambered in 9mm Parabellum
- narrow [single-stack if possible]
- magazines sufficiently abundant that I can have at least three on hand
- mostly steel

The Walther P5 comes to mind. I like its aesthetics and compactness; I suspect price might be the only downside. Other slightly more exotic models such as the Makarov also meet my loose criteria.

The question I have for this board is what other examples come to mind, and what have other people selected given similar circumstances?

[Reddbecca]

What about the SIG P225?

[tunder]

Since this is not an urgent need, watch the big dealers for surplus European police pistols.

I know you said no Glocks, but these guys have F1Glk22 Austrian Glock 22 .40S&W Police Trade-In Pistols with 2 mags. $399.95

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/New_Pistols.html

They've had SIG's in the past.

[Absintheur]

J&G has used German Police Sig 225 (P6) for $349 right now. Another to consider is an oldie but a goodie if you want slim...the S&W Model 39 is easy to find on the secondary market and it my all time favorite single stack 9mm ... can be bought for about 250 in very nice condition.

[tunder]

Absintheur

Thanks, J&G was the one I was looking for.

http://www.jgsales.com/

[markinalpine]

"Bless me, Father. For I have sinned"

Originally Posted by kerrmudgeon

It's been a year and a half since my last firearm purchase.

And doesn't the "One Gun A Month" rule mean you are supposed to buy one every month?

Mark