A few more things to consider....

If you buy instate, you will not pay a dealer transfer fee. You cannot buy out of state and have it shipped to you (you can do this in state!). You must have it shipped to a dealer in your state and have them transfer it to you, for a fee.

You pay FFL fee+shipping. But you save tax. Take that into account when you compare instate prices to out of state prices.

Bersa makes the Thunder and mini-Thunder in a variety of Calibers:

http://www.impactguns.com/store/bersa.html

9mm - 17RD - $334.99 (I think it's a High Power knock off)
40SW - 13RD - $395.99 (I think it's a High Power knock off)
9mm - 13RD - $329.99 (Also available in 10RD, Democrat magazines)
40SW - 10RD - $395.99
45ACP - 7RD - $399.99

For some info on the different types

http://www.bersa-sa.com.ar/bersa.asp

Oh, and if you plan to carry it concealed, I personally recommend Nickel, Stainless steel or one of the modern synthetic finishes.

9mm ammo at Walmart has been running slightly under $5.00 per box of 50 rounds, Winchester White Box (WWB).

But yeah, you might want to buy a Bersa, then buy a .22 pistol to practice. Cheap cheap ammo.

Thanks again guys. The Bersa seems like a pretty sweet deal, I am yet to find anything really negative about it online. The .380 seems like it's a pretty good PPK knock off, many people seem to think it is actually better. Their 9mm, .40, and .45 are supposed to be essentially a knock off of the Sig P220 series, good guns to copy. I'm going to check my local Gander Mountain, and the other local dealer listed on their website. In the meantime, I'm headed to the range with one of our BMW club members, so I'll get a chance to try some different things.

Matt, I have four SIG's, three of which I got dirt cheap and one I bought NIB 10 yrs. ago.

Check out CDNN. They sell police turn ins and are dirt dirt cheap and excellent quality. I got a P229 in .357SIG with great night sights AND rubber grips for - ta da - $392 delivered. That would run around $900 new.

I got my P239 in .40 on www.sigforum.com with new night sights, stippled grips and with about 300 rounds down the pipe for - ta da - $475 delivered. That would be over $700 new.

I also got my SIG Pro 2340 in .357SIG face to face on Sigforum for $450 and it came with 600 rounds of ammo and two holsters. So I basically have less than $300 into the gun.

My P220 I got NIB for $600 and change in 1996. Since then I've had it all tricked out, but it's one of the finest guns you'll ever see.

I am a cheapskate and only go after the best deals around. My latest steal was a Springfield Mil-Spec. 1911 in stainless for $275 delivered, though it was missing a barrel ($60 on eBay). Got that one from www.glocktalk.com classifieds.

My local FFL charges $27 for transfers. Ordnance Outsellers keeps a list of FFL all over the US, so they can hook you up there.

Local BMW club member has both a P220 .45 and a Ruger 9mm that he's selling. Yet to hear back on price, but it would certainly be convenient.

How bout an Auto-Mag 357...made by High Standard...

Or a....Barrett M82a....

I'll pick up the Barrett for concealed carry, should be perfect.

Well, the P220 is $485 with some holster wear, and the Ruger P95 is $300 but DAO, which I don't want. Guess I'll keep looking.

You should be able to find a very clean P220 for under $500 if you look hard enough. Get it and then when you have more guns and money, you can send the P220 out for refinishing and it will look better than new. I'd also install a new spring kit ($26 from Sigarms) in any non-CPO used SIG.

so many details to need to know..where's the best sort of place to pick up a reasonably priced beretta model 92 in good shape and what price would i expect to pay (range)? gun shop..gun show..pawn shop?
ryan

big chill, check out CDNN. I'm sure there's no better deal out there. You have to download their HUGE catalogue as a PDF, but it's a treasure trove.

thanks, rick. i will check it out. :)
ryan

Ryan,

My wife bought me my Beretta 92FS (Trijicon sights) at a local sporting goods store about 9 years ago (Gander Mountain) for $600. You should be able to find a nice used one at a gun shop, range, etc... for about $450. I like my Sig P239 more, though! 9mm is cheap to shoot and get some extra magazines for taking to the pistol range. I use BreakFree and a Boresnake to clean the pistols...

Late to the conversation. But the advice I will give you is to go to a gun show or store with a large selection and pick up each handgun you are considering buying. Some grips will fit your hand better than others, which if you buy something that isn't comfortable or fun to shoot, you won't shoot it. If you can find a place to test fire different models do that would be better.

As for ammo, as in anything else buying in bulk is cheaper. I don't know what 380 goes for, but figure at wally world

9mm is about $9-10 box for 50 rounds
40S&W is about $10-12 a box of 50
357Sig is about $13+ a box of 50

This is for the cheap wadcutter stuff just to put rounds down range. With the hollow points and all the different loads prices increase. What ever purchase you go with I would buy a couple of boxes and put as many rounds down range as possible. You want to be very familar with it if you are using it for home or self defense.

sigforum.com is a good resource for Sigs
thefiringline.com is another good source for used guns
glocktalk.com is a good source for Glocks

Like buying a car, shopping and finding the one you want is half the fun.

bigchillcar,

The Berrettas are pretty pletiful I've seen used from about $300-500. Some are now also being refurbished just like the Sigs. I've heard and good and bad about the Berrettas but you'll have to form your own opinion on them. There are differences in the 92 series between having the barrel stick slightly out from the slide and having it flush with the slide. Also they come in 40S&W too not just 9mm.

You certainly won't go wrong with one of the big names mentioned above however when I bought my 9mm I read a bunch of magazine reviews by reputable old timers who rated my low/medium priced gun very high as in "I would use this as my carry weapon" and I have never had problems with it. (it stovepiped once on a newbie who probably wasn't holding it correctly).

The gun I bought was a Star that later became Firestar... I think they were made in Spain and I'm not sure they are in business anymore.

I think Bersa has 9mm also. (DOH! you guys beat me to it!!!)

Large gun shops and sporting goods stores often carry guns on consignment where you might get a bargain and they do all the paperwork for you.

thanks, art and pookie..appreciate the tips. :) i did know that they came in 40s&w, too. what are all the different variations available on the model 92? anyone know?
ryan

Ryan,
I have the Beretta 92FS, which is the civilian version of the military issue M9. Full size, ambidextrous thumb safety, DA in 9mm. The Sig P239 is easier for me to shoot (better balanced and smaller) and because many police depts are switching from 9mm to .40cal, you can get a great deal on a refurbished Sig in 9mm. The Sig is the "Porsche of pistols" if you ask me, very nice to shoot and well-engineered!

art, can an individual purchase a handgun from another individual from state to state do you know? sounds like what i'm looking for if you're interested.. btw, what is DA? my brain swirls with acronyms.. ;) and FS for that matter? lol
ryan

http://www.berettausa.com/product/product_pistols_main.htm
might have more info but I couldn't get the 92 series page to load. So...

92/92S- are the main base model 4.9 barrel frame mounted ambidextrous safety, double action, alloy frame 15 shot 9mm mag, push button mag release weight 34 1/2 oz

92 Combat- had a longer barrel 5.9" very few, around 50 imported to the US

92D - no manual safety

92F/FS- official US Military version, chamber loaded indicator, squared off trigger guard, extended magazine base
92F-P= plastic grips 92F-W=wood grips
92FS has slide retaining pin engineering change not included in the 92F
(side note replaced the Colt Govt model in 1985 although the entire switch over wasn't complete until 1999)

92FS Brigadier-heavier slide to reduce recoil and wraparound rubber grips

92FS BATS-matte Bruniton finish, black wraparound rubber grips with finger grooves, also supposed to have ariweight knife and carrying case

92FS Vertec-integrated light rail, shorter trigger, and removabel front sight

92 Billenium-single action only, checkered grip straps, carbon fiber grips, interchangeable sights, oversize mag release, slide serations

92FS year 2000-Bruniton finish rosewood grips

92F-ELS-high polished stainless

Bunch of special models including
United we Stand
470 Anniversary
Desert Storm
Enduring Freedom
M9Edition
92F Deluxe-silver or gold plating

92G-has a decocker

92G SD- decocker and frame rail

92FS Inox Tactical- 4.7 in barrel satin finish allow frame, steel slide rubber grips tritium sights

92FS Border Marshal--Border Marshal engraving 4.7 in barrell heavy duty slide tritium sights

92G Elite IA Brigader- 4.7 in barrell set up for IDPA contests

92D- 4.3 in barrel

92SB-P compact-4.3 barrel curved front strap

96D-DOA variation

96 is mostly the 40 version.

There's more but that's all for now.

my goodness, pookie..you couldn't do any better than that?? ;)

this is as bad as shopping for a 911. :( which one was the 'lethal weapon' model? lol.