Lookin' to buy. Need advice

[buckstopshere]

Greetings. I recently bought a Ruger P95 and love it. I now have the itch to buy another gun, but don't know what to buy. I know many of the features that I am looking for, but with so many quality handgun manufacturers I am CONFUSED. Here is what I'm looking for

PRICE: $500-600
CALIBER: .40 S&W
Safety: Just about any will be fine, a little intimidated with 1911s, just not that experienced YET.
Would like to have tactical rail if possible (or suggestions of how I can put a tactical light on a gun w/o PT rail)

Manufactures of interest
CZ (CZ 75BD, P-01 (9mm I know), or 97B 100)
Taurus (PT 101SS)
Sprinfield arms (XD 40 Service Model or Mil-Spec .45)
Magnum research: Baby Desert Eagle
Walther P99

Opinions on any or all of these pistols would be appreciated or feel free to suggest something else. I am particulary interested in opinions regarding Taurus. I've heard they have a trigger pull from hell, is this true?

Being in Arizona, conceal carry is an option, but some pistols may not be appropriate to conceal carry (being too big).

Thanks,

buckstopshere

[MLB]

Hi Buck, glad to see that you made it over.

Take a look at my P99 review in the review section. There are reviews of some of the others you mentioned that you are interested in too.

Like I mentioned over in the HGR forum, you might also want to consider the SIG 229 or 239, the Browning Hi-Power, or a Glock.

[NButler]

I have both a baby eagle compact and a taurus pt101SS. Both are good for the money. I have never had an issue with the taurus trigger on the pt101, it is lighter then the beretta 96 and i shoot fine with it. but it is still not up to par with sigs. I would recommend getting either one used instead of new. getting them used will cost you about half of what your price range is. you could get both of those pistols for a little over 600. if you want to spend the full amount, i would second the sig recomendation. I know this isn't going to help you much, but all of those handguns would be a good choice IMHO, depending on what you pay for them. sites like www.gunbroker.com can help you price out what you should be paying. I ususaly add some money to the gunbroker price because you will have to pay a FFL fee and shipping (around 30-50 bucks)

[Ricochet]

Take a look at my XD-40 review in the Handgun Critiques section. It has a tactical rail and it's in your price range. I love mine.

[klmhq]

Yea, the P-01 is a 9mm, but it has all your features and can be found for about $50 less than your price limit. You can generally get 14 rounders with it too now.

I really like the decocker on it. I think it'll make a great carry gun. It's not quite full size, but close enough.

Most importantly, use what feels good.

[Callahan]

NButler said:

I have both a baby eagle compact and a taurus pt101SS. Both are good for the money. I have never had an issue with the taurus trigger on the pt101, it is lighter then the beretta 96 and i shoot fine with it. but it is still not up to par with sigs. I would recommend getting either one used instead of new. getting them used will cost you about half of what your price range is. you could get both of those pistols for a little over 600. if you want to spend the full amount, i would second the sig recomendation. I know this isn't going to help you much, but all of those handguns would be a good choice IMHO, depending on what you pay for them. sites like www.gunbroker.com can help you price out what you should be paying. I ususaly add some money to the gunbroker price because you will have to pay a FFL fee and shipping (around 30-50 bucks)

Problem is, Buck seems to want a safety and he ain't gonna find one of them pesky things on a Sig! ;D

The XD only gets him a grip safety and that gonzo XD-Glock style trigger safety. Sorry, but that style trigger safety scares me more than the double-action trigger on the Sig!

(Edited for typo but not political correctness.)

[tptplayer]

Callahan-I'm trying to think why you would be bothered by a Glock/XD type trigger. The general rule is don't put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to shoot. Likewise, soon as I draw my Colt 1911 the safety comes off.

(I know this is thread drift.)

[Callahan]

tptplayer said:

Callahan-I'm trying to think why you would be bothered by a Glock/XD type trigger. The general rule is don't put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to shoot. Likewise, soon as I draw my Colt 1911 the safety comes off.

(I know this is thread drift.)

I dunno if it's rational. I'm always afraid I would snag that type of trigger on something. I'm one to toss a pistol under the seat or a floormat, or in the glovebox. Not a problem if it's in a holster that covers the trigger, but if it's just the pistol...

The Glock is what, a 5-6 pound trigger? The Sig is about 10 on doubleaction. I just think there's a bit more "room for error" (I know, there should be no room for error) with a double action trigger or a pistol with a manual safety that's engaged.

Don't take it so much as a shot at Glock/XD as just me expressing my personal preferences. I think they are great pistols. I just don't trust myself with one!

[tptplayer]

I am pretty careful that my holsters are fairly rigid (Kydex or good leather) but really like the "light" triggers. My (wife's-hee hee) Glock has a 3.5 connector and the $.25 trigger job. My Colt also has about a 4 lb. pound trigger. But if you can control the 1st shot with a heavier trigger, more power to you. I realize that after the first, the trigger pull is lighter.

[Callahan]

I can control the shot at what the state of Texas would consider "self-defense" distances. No problem out to 25 yards, actually, with some staging of the trigger or without . I also have the option of racking the slide and firing on single action...

[NButler]

Callahan said:

Problem is, Buck seems to want a safety and he ain't gonna find one of them pesky things on a Sig! ;D

The XD only gets him a grip safety and that gonzo XD-Glock style trigger safety. Sorry, but that style trigger safety scares me more than the double-action trigger on the Sig!

(Edited for typo but not political correctness.)

if CCW is a possiblity, then the baby eagle compact would be much easier to carry, and it has a manual safety as well as a decocker. Some CZs also has the option of Cocked and Locked carry or DA. Personally, I am not worried about a manual safety, but i can understand someones reservations about not having one.

["DoubleAction"]

Welcome to the forum Buck;

I had intentions of leaving this one to those with the most experience of obtaining deals on new pistols in the price range of $500 -$600 dollars.
With that amount I'm usually looking at the used counters or checking out deals among friends, relatives, or co-workers.
The lockwork with the Sig Sauers has alot to offer in safety while providing it's user with a weapon which is ready to fire upon deployment. The long and heavy first stroke of the Sig double action trigger is no worse than many revolvers in regards to safety; A matter of fact, it's safer than a double action revolver. If one wants added safety with the Sig, the gun can be carried with a loaded magazine and an empty chamber.
Many new condition pre-owned Sigs can be found for $500. dollars, I've bought several. But Sigs are not the only pistols around, there are many more to choose from.

[TMan]

Okay, let me weigh in with my advice: if at all possible, shoot before you buy. Especially if you have some doubts. Apparently your case isn't one of: "All my life I've wanted...".

I've been sort of a trigger-pull fanatic. I thought the less pressure it takes to pull on the trigger, the better I would shoot. However, I have a Glock 34, which after a lot of work has a 3.0 lb pull. My XD, on the other hand, has a 6.75 lb pull. (These were on my scale). The strange thing is: I shoot much better with the XD than with the Glock. I've spent more on modifications to the Glock than the XD cost, and I still like the XD better.

Want to know why? So do I

[5ontarget]

I've got the XD, was considering the Walther and the smith & walther err wesson clone. No doubt the walther looks better than the xd, and the interchangeable backstraps help customize the fit, and I have its little brother, p22, BUT I still went with the springfield? why? couple of reasons, SA has great customer service, lifetime warranty, I shot slightly better with it (although it might have just been the day), I liked the safety features on it, it felt good in my hand, and at the time it was $80-100 cheaper. Currently, rumors are that prices will be increasing on the XD this year. Plenty still around for $390-420 for the service model.
The Taurus didn't have the right feel when I held it...I know very subjective, but that's my opinion. Something wasn't right, the balance, the grip, I don't know...If it didn't fit anyone they'd stop making them, right? Just wasn't the gun for me.
CZ's probably one of the great "unknown" guns, really starting to get a name/reputation in recent years as a good solid gunmaker. That being said, I've never shot one, but I will someday.
As for the Mil-spec, with practice you will become familiar with the operation of the 1911 format. Depending on how much you want to customize the 1911, you may be better off looking at a used 1911 by some other maker, or the "loaded" models by SA-- most 1911 don't have the rails you want, but they can be fit with lights/lasers etc for some more$$. SA also makes the Operator model with the integral rail, but out of your price range. I know of a few others with rails, but definitely out of your stated price range...mine too currently
I haven't shot the baby eagle, but most guys I talk to enjoy shooting it, and give it a good recommendation.
So, of the choices you listed, I would go/did go with the xd.

[MLB]

5ontarget said:

... smith & walther err wesson clone. ...

;D ;D ;D