Best Handguns for Under $500

[PawPaw]

It's not a bad list, and the Rugers are fine pistols if they fit your hand. I also see that they talked about the SW M&P which I found to me eminently shootable after you'd put a couple of hundred rounds through them.

But, Gen1 and Gen2 Glocks are going for well under $500 around here. They missed a big boat not talking about Glock pistols. I'm not a Glock fanboy, but I'm coming around. They do have a decided tendency to go BANG every time you pull the trigger. I've found that to be an admirable trait in a pistol.

[blackeagle603]

The Ruger P series ARE big, like any early wonder 9 (e.g. 92F), but they run, and run, and run, and...

[arctictom]

Sold a Glock 17 recently with 500 plus rounds , holster and a metal case for 450 , so even here in serious gun country Glocks can be had for under 500.

[Windy Wilson]

A friend has a Glock 17. It fits my hand nicely, is easy to use. I'd like to try the Glock 21 to see how much difference the .45 ACP makes in handling, recoil, and muzzle blast.

[HTRN]

I've seen Glock 17 police trade ins as cheap as 300 bucks.

Sarco had a S&W 4516 for 450ish not so long ago..

[Erik]

Not really the same circumstances in Scandinavia. There's guns under $500 available here as well but you have to buy them used.

A few years ago, I bought an old S&W K-38 for $150. I just recently had it at a gunsmith for a tuning. He fixed some issues and adjusted the trigger to a lighter trigger pull just over 3lbs. That cost me $200, so I've now invested a total of $350 in it. The scores I've shot with it (even before the tune up) shows that it's accurate enough to have a chance at winning a medal at the Nationals.
The S&W m14 is pretty common here. I've seen many sold, and only twice have I seen them sold for over $500. Privately they'll typically cost $200-$300, and I know people and clubs that have gotten them for free.

Old CZ-85's pop up once in a while, usually under the $500 mark.

Glocks and sometimes CZ-75s can also be found used for under $500. (I'd probably not buy a CZ-75 at that price level though)

It's also possible to find the Baikal .22lr target pistol for under $500 here, they're usually sold for around $200. But they're old and used, and it's difficult to get parts even if they don't often break. High Standard, Ruger and similar plinkers usually go for about the same.

[evan price]

Serious hard-on for Rugers.

A ZVI Kevin????? Really????? "sharing all the family traits of the world-famous Desert Eagle pistol" Umm, I think not!

Caracal? Bersas?
SigPro SP2022 can be had for under $500 and I'd put it above the Bersas, most of the Rugers and the Taurii and the [strike]ZVI Kevin[/strike] Micro Desert Eagle.
The Rural King locally had them about $450 this summer on special.

[Greg]

Serious hard-on for Rugers.

A ZVI Kevin????? Really????? "sharing all the family traits of the world-famous Desert Eagle pistol" Umm, I think not!

Caracal? Bersas?
SigPro SP2022 can be had for under $500 and I'd put it above the Bersas, most of the Rugers and the Taurii and the [strike]ZVI Kevin[/strike] Micro Desert Eagle.
The Rural King locally had them about $450 this summer on special.

CDNN has the 2022 in 9mm for $400, with a free holster thrown in. That's new, not used. It's not rare to see new SigPro's under $500. They're often overlooked, and screaming barhains. Which is why I mentioned them.

Edit: Oh and Palmetto has new 9mm 2022's with night sights for $390 right now.

[rightisright]

I stopped reading after I saw Bersa.

[Greg]

I stopped reading after I saw Bersa.

Yeah articles about guns by people who pretty obviously aren't gun people often have that 'what the hell are they talking about?' feel.

And I can say that, ever as late to the game as I am.