Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

I'm planning to hit up pawn shops first after I get my tax refund to see if I can find any bargains on pistols. What models should I avoid in .22LR (pistol), 9mm, .40 and .45 (and any other calibers you'd like to mention)? I'd like to conceal-carry any or all of these calibers.

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

When buying 2nd hand guns, I'd go with name brands........not to say lesser brands are worth anything, but used is used.

Also, the stainless models hold up to abuse better - be sure to check the barrel. Lands & grooves should be sharp and a mirror finish means it's like a new gun. Frosting is ok, but avoid any pitting at all cost.

Brands I prefer are Colt, Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Glock, Springfield, Kimber, and Taurus.

IMO - I'd stay away from Rossi, Hi-point, or any brand you don't recognize.

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

^^^ what he said, and stick with common, easily obtainable calibers.

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

I'm not cheerleading, but Ruger can satisfy all your listed caliber needs. (Not too firm on .40 though.) Anyway, they're relatively inexpensive and fairly common.
I'm not in the market, so I'm not totally up to snuff on the newer model polymers. Saw the new 9mm in glass, and it seemed thin. Polymer....go figure.

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

Add "CZ" to the list of quality handguns...

CZ-75b
http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/review...finish_350.jpg

Only going to find it in 9mm though! If you do anything under $450 is a bargain!

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

A Beretta bobcat 22LR is a nasty little belly gun that's been around for a long time, it's no target pistol but I have had one for about 20 years and I woulden't want anybody shooting at me with one full of Stingers.

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

I have this model in green and I love it:36_3_16:

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

380's are cheap but you should avoid them. Not effective.

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

Definitely avoid Hi-Point and Rossi as AD said.
I, personally, would avoid Taurus automatics.

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

Funny. Back when I had an adventure for a job my very first semi-auto was a Taurus .380. Had nice wood grips, too, but I graduated to a S&W .357 and a G19 after I had to sell it when I moved overseas and then to the desert.

I'm no marksman although I qualified as one...go figure. You get what you pay for, so I'll endorse S&W and Glock.

Happy hunting!

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

I got the 82 in the 9mm Mak. Picked it up NIB at Cabela's (Hammond, IN) for $199. It is a shooter.

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

Avoid Jennings

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

i've got this same little gun. it's a tack driver. i imagine even though it's .22lr, it would be pretty miserable to get hit with it.

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

They are very accurate for such a little package. If someone is 10 feet to 10 yards off they will get hit 4 to 8 times for sure.
My beretta has been in pocket enough times a lot of the bluing has worn off, it ain't no .45, but hitting a problem in the face multiple times easily has its merits.:ok:

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

Avoid anything in .45 GAP.

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

What is a .45 GAP?

CC

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

.45 made for Glock, but shorter in length than the .45 ACP.

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

I would avoid any semi-auto pistol made by Taurus. Their revolvers are OK.

My $0.02

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

Rossi revolvers are usually OK, too. Cheap revolvers are better than cheap autos. Cheap autos usually have awful triggers and are finnicky about what kinds of ammo they digest.
Older "made in Germany" Sigs are great.

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

I had nothing but troubles with my Beretta Bobcat in 22LR....tried every ammo under the sun.....I sold it.......and get this - I'm no fan of Taurus in any form.....but I bought a Taurus PT22 = tip up barrel and double action only.....it has been flawless in function.

Come to think of it....I had a Beretta FS-92 9mm.....and I sold it also ....had a hard time grouping 4" at 50 feet......good function - but horrid accuracy.

So - I guess I'm not a Beretta fan - based on my experiences.

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

There seems to be three quality classes of firearms:

1) flawless, always dependable.

2) dependability depends on model and particular specimen.

3) usually not dependable.

Category 1: GLOCKs, Rugers, Smith & Wesson revolvers.

Category 2: Taurus, SIG Sauer Mosquito

Category 3: Bryco/Jennings/Jimenez, EAA Windicator

(examples not all-inclusive, by any means)

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

at the same time - like Neo in the bank lobby scene in The Matrix ?

makes me think - as a noob - it would not be a good idea for me to buy a used gun. too big a chance i'm inheriting someone else's problem, and not be able to tell.

once i had a guy offer me a gun in trade for a computer. it was an Army gun. at the time i wasn't interested. do Army guys get to keep their guns after they leave the service ?

see, i told you i was a noob.

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

I had a raven .25 acp. It worked great until the chrome plated plastic firing bin broke off.

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

models to avoid
.22 - Sig Mosquito,Walther p22 (can be "Hit or Miss" )

9mm - S&W Sigma

.40 - Taurus (all)

.45 -Para Ordanance 1911s

As far as other calibers to avoid,when shooping pawns for a pre-owned handguns,
I'd avoid .25,.32 & 10mm(unless you reload).
They can be very difficult calibers to locate ammo for,also .25 & .32 are a less then effective round for personal protection.

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

.22LR
.223
7.62x39
.308
9mm

Ruger
Glock
CZ
Savage

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

You are the second person I heard this from Ruprick, about the exact same description too. There must have been a bad run of these pistols that got thru and sold.
I have experience with 4 of these guns bought by friends and family and they are all flawless. That little bastard of mine will cycle any 22LR I put in it, but I prefer Stingers.:smile:

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

I wouldn't necessarily avoid buying used guns, but I would definitely avoid buying a gun from a pawn shop. Most gun shops carry used. I'd like to get a used S&W .357 mag revolver and am looking at used, the new S&W pricing is out of this world, IMO.

Do you know someone with more firearms experience to go with you? Fortunately, most gun dealers will refuse to buy or trade for a shot-out POS, as their shelf space is limited, perhaps not so with a pawnbroker.

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

That would be a good bet. (I agree on the new pricing - the prices hold up pretty good used as well) I did a lot of looking around recently before deciding on a S&W 442 revolver in .38. Hard to beat it for concealed carry and reliability - two things that I decided were critical.

I also looked at the Ruger SP101. Nice gun, but I didn't like the factory grips. The 442 felt like it was an extension of my hand.

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

yeah, i'm wondering if it was a bad batch as well. the guy at gander where i bought mine actually tried to talk me out of buying it. mine works great though, it even fires crap .22LR fine.

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

http://www.gunsinternational.com/ima...106723-2-L.jpg


Smith & Wesson 4th model in .32 SW short. Best freakin pistol ever built.

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

Possibly, but I don't think that he's going to stumble across that at his local pawnshop. Probably wouldn't be what I would recommend to meet his parameters although a more modern S&W revolver in a common calibre would be a good bet.

Re: Best, worst pistols by caliber?
 

Ha, I did some brakes for one of those jewels on a trade because it had never been fired........

It lasted 17 rounds and you couldn't hit a washing machine at 5 feet. It would penetrate about 3 pages into an old phone book, had enough energy to mildly deform the nose of a bullet (fired point blank). after the firing pin broke it was really lost overboard and not by accident.

Better than nothing for a few shots I guess but I'd feel better with a rock.