Congratulations! Shoot it in good health.
The full size $300 dilema
- Thread starter USAF_Vet
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My favorite new toy is an Israeli trade-in FEG High Power for a tad over $200. Pre-stressed finish and uses standard Browning and Mec-Gar magazines. New springs, a good de-gunking and a set of Navidrex grips has transformed it into my favorite range gun. Something over 500 rounds and it just keeps doing the Energizer Bunny thing.
cc-hangfire
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Vet, give us your range report. From your posts you were looking for something a little out of the mainstream. The older Ruger P series guns don't get a lot of attention or affection.
I had the P95 and it was a good shooting full sized gun. Ruger's synthetic frame is a stiffer material than other polymer lowers, & IIRC the slide actually rides on the synthetic frame rails. Like all Rugers, over built and rugged. I sold mine not cause I didn't like it, but I shifted to the S&W 3rd gen wonder nines (among others). In my heart, I still secretly lust for the Ruger P-85 with the alloy frame.
I had the P95 and it was a good shooting full sized gun. Ruger's synthetic frame is a stiffer material than other polymer lowers, & IIRC the slide actually rides on the synthetic frame rails. Like all Rugers, over built and rugged. I sold mine not cause I didn't like it, but I shifted to the S&W 3rd gen wonder nines (among others). In my heart, I still secretly lust for the Ruger P-85 with the alloy frame.
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Zerodefect
member
Bummer. If I could remember where I buried my Ruger P95 in my backyard, I would have givin' it to you for free.
USAF_Vet
Member
This is pretty spot on. I'm tired of shooting the same old same old plastic fantastics. All metal, hammer fired guns that aren't 1911's are becoming a rare thing. There's plenty of them out there, but they are being overshadowed by synthetic polymer striker fired guns.
The P-89 is basically the replacement for the P-85 MkII. Virtually the same gun. The P-95 is a polymer framed version of the P-89.
I think this will compliment my S&W 469 (double stack, alloy frame, compact 9mm) rather well. The P-89 is a lot like a S&W 5904 (double stack, alloy frame, full size) and since I don't often find S&W 3rd gen guns these days for anything under $500, I figured the Ruger would be a suitable substitute.
Shields Up! My gunshow Kahr CM9 has been functionally flawless. I know it is not a target pistol, but I wish I had some options for trigger improvement. Since it is a daily carry pistol maybe I should be pleased the trigger is long and weighty. It cost less than $350.
bannockburn
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bgw45
Love my CM9 and no complaints from me about the trigger; one of the best DAOs I have ever found on a semi-auto.
Love my CM9 and no complaints from me about the trigger; one of the best DAOs I have ever found on a semi-auto.
I have guns that cost a lot more, but I've been carrying a Polish surplus P-83 recently. For $200 it is a steal. Very accurate, and very reliable. Yes it is in 9MM Makarov, and I also carry a Beretta 85FS in .380, so I am fine with the caliber.
MachIVshooter
Member
Congrats, and sorry I missed this thread earlier and didn't chime in. The Ruger is known to be a good gun, if not a bit heavy and chunky.
For others who may click on this thread looking for input:
As a DB9FS owner, I give that gun very high marks, especially at it's price point. I bought it about 3 months ago when Bud's had the grey version on sale for $273 with free shipping. The gun is aesthetically pleasing IMO, quite ergonomic and very light weight. The trigger is a little bit heavy and undefined, breaking at 6.1 lbs on my sample. It's not as much as most true DAO guns, but not quite as good as, say, a Glock. I have not attempted to do anything with it at this time, though, as it's serviceable with a little practice. Accuracy is comparable to most other service pistols. Reliability has been excellent with most ammo, although I did find that it dislikes Federal aluminum cased stuff, and I also had a couple of light strikes with ZQI 9mm NATO (which I found is known for hard primers that give trouble in several other striker fired pistols). It has run fine with all other brass cased stuff, and also no trouble with the one box of Tula I put through it. The magazine is quality, but stuffing the last 2-3 round in will give your thumb a workout. All in all, with about 600 rounds through it to date, I'm quite happy with the gun, consider it an excellent value.
For others who may click on this thread looking for input:
As a DB9FS owner, I give that gun very high marks, especially at it's price point. I bought it about 3 months ago when Bud's had the grey version on sale for $273 with free shipping. The gun is aesthetically pleasing IMO, quite ergonomic and very light weight. The trigger is a little bit heavy and undefined, breaking at 6.1 lbs on my sample. It's not as much as most true DAO guns, but not quite as good as, say, a Glock. I have not attempted to do anything with it at this time, though, as it's serviceable with a little practice. Accuracy is comparable to most other service pistols. Reliability has been excellent with most ammo, although I did find that it dislikes Federal aluminum cased stuff, and I also had a couple of light strikes with ZQI 9mm NATO (which I found is known for hard primers that give trouble in several other striker fired pistols). It has run fine with all other brass cased stuff, and also no trouble with the one box of Tula I put through it. The magazine is quality, but stuffing the last 2-3 round in will give your thumb a workout. All in all, with about 600 rounds through it to date, I'm quite happy with the gun, consider it an excellent value.
I don't hold it against a gun if it doesn't function with Fed aluminum.
I had a bullet that was wobbly, noticed it from picking it up in the box to load it. I clipped it into a moon clip, (fairly gentle process) and when I picked up the whole moon clip the bullet fell out.
I had a bullet that was wobbly, noticed it from picking it up in the box to load it. I clipped it into a moon clip, (fairly gentle process) and when I picked up the whole moon clip the bullet fell out.
W.E.G.
Member
By the time you put $300 worth of ammo through it, you will have a pretty good idea of whether you made a good choice.
USAF_Vet
Member
Thanks for that quick review Mach.
How is your rear sight? One of the reasons I ultimately decided to pass on the DB9FS was reports, many reports, of the rear sight coming loose during a string of fire. Some have been so loose that they can slip out of the dovetail with just thumb pressure, and there is no retention screw to lock them in place.
That's also the main complaint I have about my Kel Tec P-11, but I'm thinking of getting a set of replacement sights and threading a hole for a small set screw and mill a small divot in the dovetail for sight retention.
I'm still interested in the DB9FS, and may still eventually get one. I just felt the Ruger was a much better deal at the time.
MachIVshooter
Member
No problems to date. Mine does have a set screw; perhaps earlier versions did not. I'm pretty sure you can install any Glock sights on the DB9FS, too.
USAF_Vet
Member
Still might check one out.
Here's a video regarding the issue I mentioned.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiDOZEoShAw
I have the cw and Cm 9 - and the original k9 I really like and the trigger is great for self defense! It sure can not hurt in a court to have a long double action, There are "other" guns for target use and plinkin serious
Guns are a lot like golf clubs -hammers and many other things- they make different ones for different uses
MachIVshooter
Member
Their entire chastising seems to be based on the sight moving; no mention of malfuctions/reliability issues. Theirs clearly also has a set screw; don't know why they wouldn't just pull the screw, put some blue loctite on and reinstall.
I've had more than one new firearm with sight issues, some of them not as easily remedied. My Beretta Neos wouldn't hold elevation adjustment, and the front blade just plain flew off of my Colt Mk IV at the range. Glock sights are known for breaking, too, although the ones on my 20 have not.
I can shoot the DB just about as accurately as other auto in it's class. No, it can't hold a candle to my Witness Limited 10 or Kimber Stainless Target II 10mm, but I have no trouble consistently nailing a 55 gallon barrel off hand at 120 yards with it. The combination of very light weight and slightly heavy trigger pull means that some extra attention is required at such extended ranges, but the weapon is mechanically capable. Or at least my sample is.
I have two DB-9s and both have been good and reliable. My newer model developed a stove pipe issue with a couple of types of ammo I bought in the banic but is 100% with WWB or Federal range ammo.
I have a Ruger P-85 that is extremely finicky on ammo so once I found an FMJ it likes I loaded up and keep it separate just for that gun. Ruger "fixed" the gun after the recall so I guess it is mow a MK II? It is a range blaster. Big and clunky but quite accurate and, with the right ammo, very reliable. I would pick up another if the price was right.
I have zero interest in the DB9FS as I already have two DB-9s as well as a DB380 and I have been very happy with all of them. I have taken notes on all of the other guns mentioned in this thread so I can do some research on them in case one pops up for sale during my travels.
For a range gun I will be glad to let anyone shoot one of my Hi Point 9mm's. They are both fantastic shooting guns and I didn't pay $100 for either of them. Guys at the range always laugh until they shoot them and then they sort of grudgingly acknowledge that it's not a bad gun. Weighs about 300 pounds and only holds 8 rounds. I am thinking about getting a pocket holster for mine.
I have a Ruger P-85 that is extremely finicky on ammo so once I found an FMJ it likes I loaded up and keep it separate just for that gun. Ruger "fixed" the gun after the recall so I guess it is mow a MK II? It is a range blaster. Big and clunky but quite accurate and, with the right ammo, very reliable. I would pick up another if the price was right.
I have zero interest in the DB9FS as I already have two DB-9s as well as a DB380 and I have been very happy with all of them. I have taken notes on all of the other guns mentioned in this thread so I can do some research on them in case one pops up for sale during my travels.
For a range gun I will be glad to let anyone shoot one of my Hi Point 9mm's. They are both fantastic shooting guns and I didn't pay $100 for either of them. Guys at the range always laugh until they shoot them and then they sort of grudgingly acknowledge that it's not a bad gun. Weighs about 300 pounds and only holds 8 rounds. I am thinking about getting a pocket holster for mine.
120 yards?
Do you aim above the barrel?
The bullet drop for your average standard pressure 124gr 9mm is a little over 12 inches at 100 yards. I'm not sure how much more it drops in an additional 20 yards. Your average 55 gallon drum is 36" tall
I'm wondering what your sight picture looks like when you're plinking 55 gallon drums.
Do you aim above the barrel?
The bullet drop for your average standard pressure 124gr 9mm is a little over 12 inches at 100 yards. I'm not sure how much more it drops in an additional 20 yards. Your average 55 gallon drum is 36" tall
I'm wondering what your sight picture looks like when you're plinking 55 gallon drums.
To the OP...I like the idea, and I definitely hear what you're saying. In fact when I first got into guns, I had this philosophy, and it guided my purchasing. Unfortunately, the products NEVER lived up to my expectation. Each and every one of them (and there were quite a few) had some issue. Either they were unreliable, or didn't function right in some way, or they just broke quickly. I have found some exception to the rule with some other things like Victorinox Swiss Army Knives, Buck, Honda products , but I have never found this to work out when it comes to firearms, and I have since given up on trying. Now I do like Ruger, but I wouldn't put them in the same category as some of the sub $300 stuff that's out there.
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Two handguns for under $300 that seem OK are the Taurus Millenium G2 / PT 111 and the SAR B6P.
The Millenium G2 gets mostly good reviews from people who own one, and I picked up a SAR B6P for $241.43 I've put a few hundred rounds through it so far, Wolf, Federal Aluminum, Tula BrassMaxx, ZQI and Perfecta as well as WWB and I haven't had any problems.
The Millenium G2 gets mostly good reviews from people who own one, and I picked up a SAR B6P for $241.43 I've put a few hundred rounds through it so far, Wolf, Federal Aluminum, Tula BrassMaxx, ZQI and Perfecta as well as WWB and I haven't had any problems.
glocknurse
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- Mar 27, 2013
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There are plenty of good used guns to be had for $300. Just this summer I picked up a Beretta 92fs for $275 and it is one of the sweetest shooting pistols I own. The same day I picked up a S&W M&P9 with night sights and 3 mags for $299. If you are looking for something new I recently bought a Canik TP9SA out the door for $289 and it is a great pistol. It is a soft shooter and has a really good trigger. It reminds me of my wife's VP9 for half the price.
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