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Looking for .45 under $400 any suggestions

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chetrogers

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Im going to be heading out today to buy a pistol.The only other pistol i own is a Jennings 9mm that jams ect like all the cheap guns do..I dont want to buy a gun that is gonna jam all the time.The main purpuse for this gun will be for home deffence and just a gun i can take out and shoot for fun..I would like some suggestions if anyone has any..I prefer .45acp ..I was thinking of getting a Taurus PT-145 but after reading on them i dont want to chance getting a lemon..Thanks for any suggestions.
 
In that price range you've got Ruger's P-90 and 97, Springfields WWII mil-spec, maybe a Norinco 1911 if they can be found, Taurus 945 and Revolver 445 Tracker and maybe a S&W 457.
For another $50 - $75 or so, your market expands considerably.
Go to www.gunsamerica.com and do a search entering the price range and ".45 acp" and pick out a few mfgs and you'll see what I mean (I think they skip from $350 to $500 in the price range)
I've heard nothing bad about the new Taurus Millenium "Pro" 145... but then again, I haven't been looking at them.
 
Stick another $50 on that budget and get a used Glock or Springfield 1911. Hell, I got my USP40 for $425 used. You'll be alot happier with a used $425-450 gun than what you're going to get new for sub-$400.

- Gabe
 
I saw a LNIB S&W 457 for $369.00 last week at a local gunstore; awesome deal for that gun.
 
Everyone will SCREAM Springfield milspec.....but Id look at the Rock Island Arms/Arsmcorp/CD 1911's as well as the SA milspecs. All can be had for around 400$ or less.

The RIA's Ive seen were easily as nice in fit and finish as the MS's Ive seen lately.

Bersa has a nice little mini thunder 45 out. Its a DA trigger gun with decent capacity and great trigger and sights.

Id look around at what you can find locally......if there are shops that have LEO's trade ins.....a good S&W 45 caliber S/Auto can be had for less than 400$.....probably in the 300$ range.

Hell there's a CZ97 for sale in the classifieds here for 399$...that may be the way to go.......you wont find a better or more accurate gun for the money...............if you do, BUY IT

Shoot well.
 
Unfortunately if i was to add 50 bucks more i wold have to wait untill next month to buy it.I Cant add to the gun fund till then..I really got a bug to buy a pistol today..Keep them coming guys..IM gonna go look at the ones suggested online...
 
Check out the Sistema 1911s. Made for the Argentinian military on old Colt equipment. They are compatable with 1911 parts. Downside is a thin front sight. Upside is a real military 1911 that was going for $300 a few years ago.

You might want to also look at the lower-end Dan Wessons. For some reason they are going at low prices -- if you can find one.

Also -- You can't go wrong with a used Glock 21, but it's not a 1911.
 
Ruger p-90 has given me many years trouble free and it has been shoot quite a lot most ive done is replace recoil springs.

Cant say on the 97 never had one but for a gun that will run out of box and be pretty accurate as accruate as my Hk 1911's and soem other guns otu there ive shot go for the ruger
 
I'd opt for the Bersa Mini Firestorm. They have them here for $349. That with tax and a couple of boxes of ammo should take care of the $400 you have to spend.

The newer Millenium Pro have been doing good since they came out. I haven't seen any bad intel on them as of yet.

You might even find a Taurus PT945 for less than $400 as well.
 
I'd suggest that if you have to pinch pennies to get a $400 gun (been there, done that), you probably don't want to buy a .45 ACP, since the ammo is so much more expensive than 9x19 or even .40 S&W. Remember, the most important thing is to be able to shoot the gun well, which means getting as much practice as possible, and you can practice about twice as much for your ammo dollar with a 9x19 than a .45.

With that in mind, I'd suggest you hunt down a CZ-75B in 9x19 or maybe .40 S&W. Want more punch for self defense? Go to Proload.com and get a box or two of Winchester RA9TA +P+.
 
There is a used CZ97 in the classified of this forum for $399.00 right now. That would make a great one unless you are looking for a 1911
 
You can't go wrong with a Ruger, they shoot every time and you will get a lifetime of service out of it...not the greatest looking handgun but...
 
My 2 cents

you CAN go wrong with a Ruger P97....though I am sure the kink is worked out....I had one that went back to the factory twice and had a part sent here. By the time I got it working I was too distgusted with it to like it. I was unique in that though. I haven't heard of anyone else who had the slide lock pin "fall out" during shooting. I gotta tell you, the thing locked so tight it was amazing. The gunsmith had to tap it with a hammer to get the slide off AND THERE WAS A LIVE ROUND IN THE TUBE....it couldn't be racked though....or shipped with a round in it. How dreadful that was.


When I worked armored....the Ruger P90 was the MOST reliable and indestructable weapon I have ever seen. I have seen them rained on, dropped, fallen on, un maintained, slammed, scraped, bumped, tossed etc. and never once seen one fail to fire. Built like a tank, weighs like a take and reliable as you can get. Not the most accurate though.

The 1911? I would avoid it. You would normaly have to spend about a grand to get the accuracy and reliability out of a 1911 that you would expect. (I can hear the flames already.)

I had a Bersa .380 that was awsome in accuracy, and after a break in, dead reliable. I am curious about their .45.

You may be able to find a used Sig 220 Police trade in...if so...get it. Worth ever red cent.

KY Imports or www.kyimports.com has a Mauser M2 .45 for about 300 bucks... and from what I hear, this is a very reliable gun.

A Taurus 945 is almost like a Sig 220....Excellent gun....just break it in. I had one, and a 220 and side by side they were SOOOOOO close in function and accuracy it was scary.

The .45 kind of limits your options. There are a heck of a lot of goodies in .40 and 9mm that are better.

For instance the Sig Pro, or the Springfield XD....Both are tremendous guns.

Have you considered an EAA Witness? the compacts and fullsize are wonderful bargains with excellent triggers. Break them in though. You may also want to fluff and buff.

That being said, I would be willing to bet that a Taurus 945 Millenium Pro would be just fine or a 945. I think they worked out the bugs in the Millenium by now. Second runner up? the kyimports Mauser M2, third, Bersa Compact, fourth, Ruger P90....too big for CCW though, Fifth would be Witness Compact, 6th would be Witness full size. 7th Ruger P97...thats just me though.
 
Well guys i bought a Ruger P97DC..I love the size of it And cant wait till tomorrow to go test it out..I almost got the taurus but I went with a brand that im sure has had less problems with it..Or at least i havent heard much on them being bad..Thanks for all your opinions and suggestions.....


Is it tomorrow yet :)
 
Congrats. I have a P97 too and its a fine gun. Easy to break down, tolerant of most ammo, etc.

I think they have fixed the slide stop problem, too.
 
PT145

I've got the PT145, and I love it. Its a great carry piece, good shooter, and a darn good value.
A) Its not a tack driver, mostly because of the short barrel.
B) Its not an all day shooter, it has a fair bit of snap and pop when shooting.
 
If i get my ccw someday i might get the PT145...This is my first .45acp and i think the Ruger will be easier to handle for me till i get used to pistols a little better.I have a basic pistols class im taking march 13 and am hoping this gun will give me a little practice till then..I have been shooting my 9mm for the past year but its not safe to shoot anymore do to its poor quality ect..Im more of a rifle shooter now..
 
Hope you have better luck than me

but if it helps...customer service at Ruger is pretty good. Be sure and pay attention to the slide lock. If while your slide is locked back and the frame is warm after a few magazines of rounds, you are able to push the lock out, be careful, and I advise sending it back. In my case it was the hole for the slide lock being too big.
 
I bought it brand new but i think it mite be a few years old...How will i know if i need to worry..Just shoot it?..Also how many rounds is to much..I bought 100 tonight just to Plink..Thanks
 
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