Not-so-well-known/cheaper quality autoloaders?

[MikeS63301]

What are some of the lesser well known/cheaper autoloaders that are fairly decent quality? We hear so much about the popular ones, but I know there must be some others we don't hear of every day that are pretty decent guns. Big frame, small frame, doesn't matter, just name some.

Merry Christmas

 

[varoadking]

Mad Magyar ought to be along any time now. I think he owns every otherwise unknown handgun ever made...

 

[AndyC]

Rock Island Armory for 1911s

 

[JJ Hiryuu]

Bersa handguns! Good price, good guns, expensive magazines though.

Rock Island Armory or High Standard 1911s. I've owned both, they both work well. No frills though on the base models.

Taurus, they don't get enough credit. My stainless PT92 was purtey, and made holes in things every time I pulled the trigger. I also own a PT145, PT22, M617 357 Magnum, and an M85UL.

Charles Daly Hi-Power. I like mine...a lot. My current favorite gun. $299 from CDNN just sweetened the deal.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

CZ's 9mm models are a lot of gun for the money.

 

[HisSoldier]

Ok, I bought an Astra Cub in .22 short. I had to have one and couldn't find a .25 that was in my price range. I thought, "well, at least it is an Astra even if it's not .25 nor a Colt jr." Well, last night I was working in the shop, minding an automatic machine and I decided to shoot the Cub. I set up a plate and found out right away that the tiny gun is pretty accurate! I'm shooting from about 20 feet at a 3/16" thick stainless plate that is 5" in diameter, that is in front of a 14" diameter 1/4" thick plate hanging on a frame. No problem keeping almost all of them in the 5" diameter plate! The neighbors can't hear it, and the ammo is $2 a box. The worthless little auto has proven itself to be valuable.
http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=85934397

 

[Geno]

I have to second the RIA 1911s. They may not be forged steel, but they seem to hold up well. And, for $299.00 that's a good commentary.

 

[schmeky]

Although discontinued, I have had really good reliability from the "A" series Astra autos. Been shooting them for many years and presently have a 9mm A-80 hardchromed that is my truck gun. The only malfunctions I have ever had were from my mild reloads. I would just work up the load until the pistol cycled reliably. I can't ever remember a single malfunction with these pistols once I dialed in a load.

 

[Ala Dan]

Probably, one of the least heard of quality auto-loader's is the
9m/m and .40 S&W's from FNP; as manufactuered in South Carolina~!

 

[Cowboy2]

Rock Islands are probably the best bang for the buck out there. I have two and wouldn't hesitate to get another. Just a good, solid, no-frills 1911. I'd add Taurus to that, too. They make a pretty solid, if often pimp-o-licious, firearm. I wonder, does every gun in Brazil has either pink grips or gold trim?

 

[makarovnik]

Tokarev TT-33, Polish P64, Carpati Model 95, Star model BM, Zastava...

 

[Beowolf1911]

I picked up an FEG PA-63 in 9MM Makarov for $130 I replaced both the recoil and the main springs. The recoil spring I got was rated heavier then the facorty one and the main spring was made lighter. This reduced the heavy recoil this little thing produced and the main spring lowered the DA triger pull to about half of the original pull which was way too high. Finaly I relaces the grips with a good wood grip to get rid of the terible thumbrest grips that it came with. Now with everything said adn done I spent $180 and I love this gun. It is a great little carry gun.

 

[Blue .45]

I don't know if the Star BM is still being produced, but it seemed like a decent gun for the money. A friend of mine had one some time ago.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

I don't know if the Star BM is still being produced...........

Gone. So's the company. Still a great gun that suffers badly from the poor reputation of certain other Spanish gunmakers.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

Arcus 94 and FM's M95 Classic are excellent guns for the money.

 

[Samgotit]

I have a Steyr MA1 (M40) in the mail - $339 from CDNN. I read lots of good stuff about it, and maybe by Wednesday next week I'll tell you first hand.

Link:
http://www.steyrarms.com/index.php?id=4

 

[bannockburn]

HisSoldier

I know what you mean about the Astra Cub. I've always been fascinated by miniature guns, especially ones where their caliber starts with a "2". I did pick up a LNIB Cub, in .22Short, at a gun show earlier this year. What a marvel of engineering and manufacturing; a really well made gun from a previous era.
And to stay on topic, and well made guns, I wanted to mention the French company, Manurhin, who with the help of German engineering, managed to turn out some nice PP's, PPK's, and P-38's.

 

[HisSoldier]

Yes, the Astra is fun. I should have assumed the OP was about more serious calibers. The Makarov in 9MM Mak may be a good cheap gun, I don't know if there are good self defense loads available. Reliable as heck!