Range gun suggestions?

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If you're leaning towards a CZ75, and since you're in TX you might want to look for Tristar or Canik clones at Academy Sports. With a few spring changes you can have yourself a mighty fine range pistol and for a few hundred bucks cheaper than a CZ75b will run you.
 
Part of the reason I recommended the conversion barrel for your G20 is that it is probably your cheapest option and would facilitate practice with that gun. When I was first collecting I always preferred buying more guns whenever the choice came up. As I've aged, I now prefer to have less guns and actually be proficient with them.
 
I'm looking for a similar piece. Considering a few different 9mm.

CZ-75
Hi-Power
1911 9mm

Leaning towards the CZ. You get a lot of gun for the money.
 
In that price range, there's no shortage of great guns. Walther PPQ, Smith and Wesson M&P, MAYBE an HK VP9 (most that I've seen in my neck of the woods are between $650 and $750), Glock for sure would serve your purpose, Springfield XD or XDm. There's plenty to choose from, you just have to go and see what fits your hand better. Insofar as something that would be shot frequently, I'd vote 9mm over .40. My experience has been that 9mm is more pleasant to shoot, and in the long run, the 9mm will have a longer service life than the .40. Remember, the .40 is a pretty high pressure round that will batter the gun up a little harder than the 9 during normal firing.
 
+1 on the CZ P 09

If you are looking at a polymer CZ P 09 is a really nice gun, love mine. Cabelas is listing the price @ $519.
 
I don't think many here have experience with the CZ P-09. I shoot it more accurately than CZ 75. Also easily converts from SAO w safety to decocker. I think if you shop you can get the black under $500.
 
Armor Snail said:
Witness Elite Match.

End thread
Click to expand...

^^^^ +1

Between my wife and I, we have 4 Witness pistols. Love my poly frame 40 and steel frame 45. We never go to the range without at least 2 of them.

I've been eyeing the Elite Match at the LGS. It is on my short list.

The Witness pistols are clones of the CZ75.
 
The one thing to remember is that awesome as a CZ is,(I have 3 and a turk clone) it will not be as nice as an Elite Match without quite a bit of upgrading,

The Elite Match has a superb adjustable SAO trigger, extended controls, and a very slick action.

It sells for around $50 more than a CZ75 yet the CZ will need a few hundred in upgrades to hang with it.

I'm a CZaholic and I would still buy a Witness Elite Match as a range only 9mm.

I carry a regular CZ75.
 
Dan-O, can you elaborate on the Canik/Tristar clone? I have an Academy that's about 20m away. Also have a BPS here but I don't like giving them my money
 
I bought my Canik S-120 from Gunbroker a few years ago and paid just over $300....it was from Bud's though. The Academy's by me sell a few variants of them, and I don't recall if they have the S-120 or not.....and it seems as though every time I am in there, they have a different one behind the counter. If you do a search on youtube for Canik.....ok, did it for you:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=canik+s-120

Anyways, here is mine, and I bought the spring kit from Cajun Gun Works, and swapped out the grips for Hogues, and it is an absolute tank, and tack driver.

28700E2B-F0CF-4D05-AD7C-7E11D05B7F0F-3811-000002A04661F032_zps7d445302.jpg
7A635156-D8CD-45D2-9000-A6F3F6C250F7-3811-000002A04C2352D9_zps7c3c95f8.jpg
717784EE-D8E5-453F-9BA2-B13AF1FBBCA5-3811-000002A0401E99F5_zpscb82d43e.jpg
 
I have a Canik/TriStar Shark FC(T120).

It is accurate, well made. CZ grips and mags work.
Lightweight alloy frame is nice.

A few bucks(literally) in pins/springs from Cajun Gun Works makes a nice difference.

A full hammer swap/trigger job makes a huge difference.

Out of the box the SA is decent, DA could be a bit better.

Great value. A S120 or P120 would be a good choice.

Both are all steel and full sized.


The safety is a was a little stiff on mine out of the box. It was lightly modified (½ coil cut off a spring) and works much better. Although for range use its not a worry. And for any carry purposes you can simply carry in Condition 2.

My Shark along with one of my CZs
 

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I vote for the CZ75 or a CZ clone as has been suggested; however, for your budget and for a range gun, Glocks or a M&P/40 will work. With a Glock or a M&P, you'll easily will be able to transition to competing should you choose to in the future and with IDPA, would not having to compete in the more advance class (you would with a CZ). With both M&P and Glocks, you have the option to shoot more than one caliber out of one gun by simple switch out the barrel, etc. If you shoot a lot, extra parts and even aftermarket upgrades are plentiful. I'm not sure with the M&P, but the Glock also has hi-capacity mags which is also fun.

FYI: if you decide you stay on the lower end of your budget, Buds has the Smith & Wesson M&P 40 with night sights and 3 15rd Mags for $400 shipped. You could use the extra $200 on a conversion barrel and ammo.
 
I have an M&P 40. I had to install the Apex kit to get a decent trigger out of it. My stock steel frame Witness has a much better trigger, IMHO. The M&P Pro comes with a decent trigger.
 
For a simple range gun with lots of upgrade/growth possibility, it woul be pretty hard to beat a plain old M&P 9mm FS. Or, my favorite, an equally plain SIG 2022. Both canbe had for under $400.
 
I like the CZ family and just acquired a 92FS today and am in lover with that one. I would get either of the two.
 
mdThanatos said:
I like the CZ family and just acquired a 92FS today and am in lover with that one. I would get either of the two.
Click to expand...
A least expensive alternative for a range gun to the Beretta 92FS would be the Taurus PT92.
 
Another vote for CZ. If is for range/HD, a full size 75B, SP-01, etc. If you are going to carry it sometime the lightweight, alloy framed compacts like the 75D PCR, and P-01 are excellent. They are also accurate range guns. More semi-compact, service style pistols.

All of these can accept the excellent CZ Kadet Kit .22LR conversion unit.
 
Didn't make it to LGS but did hit up Academy after work.

Everything was compact or carry sized, and I really want full sized. Otherwise I'd have walked out of there with something.

I liked the Tristar clones. They had a weird lock on it so I couldn't rack the slide or do much really.

I liked the P320 too, but it felt kind of cheap. I could be very wrong as it seems to have good reviews. My dad owns a 226 and I had a 230 back in the day.

Also felt up a Walther PPQ. It was a neat looking gun and it felt great in my hands. Looked bulky for what it was though.

I owned a M&P40 and a Beretta 96. I didn't like either. Trigger on the M&P felt off and the Beretta was OK, I just couldn't shoot it well...it had a LOT of miles on it and was very heavy, I got it used on a trade.

See what the LGS has for me tomorrow. Out of what I saw today the Tristar had it.
 
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I purchased my Glock 17L for $500

A 40 dollar trigger kit made it a good bullseye pistol. I would never carry this gun or use it for home defense. it stays unloaded in its case, goes to the firing line in its case, I take it out of its case at the firing line, load it and shoot it, then it goes back in the case unloaded.
 
I have used and heartily recommend the Ruger SR9c, Stoeger Cougar in either 9 or .40, the PPQ, and Sarsilmaz (SAR) ST10. Also used the Beretta M9 in competition in the Marines, and it is a great gun. I'd get a 92 if I didn't have enough 9s already.
 
My vote is for a CZ75. I've got the PCR and love it as a range gun and it's a good carry gun too. A full sized steel version would just make a better range gun, and I'm planning to buy one to test that theory come tax return time.
 
CZ75 or some clone or variant of it. I got a very basic one used and it is my favorite 9mm.

I have had my Beretta 92 clone (Taurus) for 25 years and it has been excellent.
 
I vote for the CZ 75's or the Tristar Canik clones. I have a 85B, 75BD Compact, and 75BD SP01 Tactical .40. The Tristar L 120 is good shooter clone and a little cheaper.
 
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