Boriqua said:
I know the world is all about plastic and strikers but .. who likes a good ol hammer fired DA/SA Semi and if you do .. what do you like?
What do I like? Well...2nd & 3rd Gen S&Ws are pretty danged cool. I have a 469, a 4506 & a 4566.
Also, the Beretta's are pretty nice. I only have an M9, but I've been hankering for one of their .380s for ever. Never found the right deal, yet.
If you like CZs, you might look at an older CZ-75 or CZ-85. Kinda "old-school", these were the cream of the crop back in the late 70s, early to mid 80's. Because of the Cold War, they were nearly unobtainable here in the U.S., back then. And, they can be carried cocked and locked, if you ever feel the need.
And...if you like Soviet Bloc history, and Cold War era mystique, there's the iconic Soviet Makarov PM...and another CZ offering, the CZ-82. These are both chambered in the Soviet 9x18mm Makarov cartridge. The Makarov, with versions built in Russia, EG, Bulgaria, & China...has an 8 round single column mag, a decocking safety, and a European style heel mag release. The CZ-82 holds 12 rounds in its double stack mag, has ambidextrous safeties and mag release, and can also be carried cocked and locked. There's also a CZ-83 in .380, and I believe in .32 ACP...though I don't believe I've ever actually laid eyes on one. It appears as if J&G may still be selling these for $250...a fair price.
In keeping with the Eastern Europe theme, as well as the 9x18mm...there's the Polish P-64 & P-83 Radom. These occasionally, along with the CZ-82, are incorrectly referred to as Makarovs. I've handled, but never owned or fired a P-83. The P-64 has a 6 round mag, and as issued...possibly the heaviest DA trigger pull in existence. Harsh recoil, but very nicely finished, and extremely accurate.
To finish off this 9x18mm category, there's the Hungarian PA-63, which bears a very strong resemblance to the Walther PP, and has an identical decocking safety. This is another small and tidy pistol, but also lighter than the others (which are all steel) owing to its alloy frame. With a 7 round mag, these were supposedly also manufactured in .380 & .32 ACP versions, though I've never seen either. Due to its light weight, it's a bit of a handful...and rumor has it that they don't hold up well to extended firing.
Having mentioned the Walther...there's another iconic series of pistols. The PP, PPK, and PPK/S series. Not a lot to say about these...compact, reliable, chock full of history, from WWII to James Bond, and all of the copies that they spawned. Available in blue and stainless...German manufacturer, French manufacture, U.S. manufacture, various importers with various levels of quality and desirability. And the S&W variant...which I personally have no love for. Available in .380 ACP, and also the frequently overlooked, but much more "shootable" .32 ACP. Also, some .22s have been built...my only experience there was...less-than-impressive.
One last CZ mention, well...two. The CZ-50 & CZ-70. These are also close copies of the Walther PP, with similarly functioning slide-mounted hammer drop safeties. Chambered in .32 ACP, with 8 round magazines...these also have pretty awful DA triggers. At one time, they were practically giving these away (but then...the same could be said of the Makarov & CZ-82, if not all of the former Warsaw Pact pistols), for less than $100 with spare mag and military holster. I have no idea what prices are like now. While I wouldn't mind paying $350- $400-ish for a nice Makarov (especially an EG, military [non-commercial] Russian, or early Chinese example), I don't believe I'd care to spend more than $200 on one of these, and even then...it better be pristine!
I know you mentioned not spending $1000...so that will probably disqualify the pistols I'm about to mention. But, these are just such *superb* pistols, and since I was just mentioning Walthers...here goes. First, something that you "might" find for under a thousand...the P-5. These are wonderful pistols, kind of the final evolution of the P-38. Chambered in 9x19mm, as well as 7.65 Parabellum (mine came with a barrel for each caliber, and the mags work with both), with an 8 round magazine, a heel-type European style mag release, and a dual-purpose decocker/slide lock. These have an exceptional DA trigger, and are capable of amazing accuracy. There's also a P-5 Compact. I don't own one, and since they're scarcer than the P-5, they command a premium.
Another outstanding Walther is the P-88. These probably will not be found for under $1000, unless one is extremely lucky, or the pistol is in poor condition. Chambered in 9mm, with a double stack 15 round mag, ambidextrous mag release, as well as ambidextrous dual-purpose decocker/slide lock. The DA on these pistols is nothing short of astounding...and they also are capable of extreme accuracy. There is also a P-88C, Compact. I don't care for them. For some reason, they moved the decocker to the slide, and ruined the ergos of the pistol...IMO.
Then there are Sigs. So many Sigs! I have a couple P-6s, a P-225, a P-228, and a P-230. There are probably others who could speak a lot more authoritatively than I, about Sigs. I will say...the P-6s *used* to be a great value. I can't recall what J&G was selling them for, back in the day...$250, $300? I don't know if you can find any for less than $450-$500 these days.
One last "honorable mention"...as an interesting DA/SA pistol. The Steyr GB. A gas-delayed blowback (very similar to the H&K P7 series), with an 18 round double stack mag, a slide mounted decocker, and the first factory issued GITD sights (literally...GITD, *not* tritium) of which I'm aware. The DA trigger pull isn't great, but it's useable.
Oh, also the Ruger P-85/89/90/95, etc. Nothing amazing, but generally solid, useable, affordable pistols.
I'm sure there are a ton of others that I've missed. I've just covered some of what I'm familiar with. Enjoy the hunt...there's lots of "game" out there!
