pistol for under $300

[rice paddy daddy]

(again I am old school and pistol = semiautos, yes I know alot of people say pistol = handgun)

I am really old school. The word pistol has been used for handgun for the last 300 years. You know, like flintlock, single shot, dueling pistols.:)
Colt, in advertisements in the late 1800's, sometimes called their revolvers pistols.
I'm not trying to be a jerk, you are a good guy.:cool:

[rice paddy daddy]

thanks everybody. A pal o f mine had a hipoint and when i shot it didnt like it. Never thought of buying a beter pistol used :)

I have almost always bought used, out of necessity. My wife has been unable to work for 15 years now, my paycheck has to do. Back when the economy was booming, I used to get quarterly bonuses that averaged $500, and this is what I built my "collection" with.
If you have done your homework and have a good idea of what prices should be, pawn shops and the used rack at the gun store can be good places to shop. But be aware, sometimes they are over priced there. Then again, sometimes there are deals. I once got a Ruger Blackhawk 357 Magnum Flat Top (made in 1959) in near perfect condition for $300 out-the-door.

[shooter]

I have got to fall in with the Glock guys on this one. Last week in Texas I saw a dealer selling police trade in glock 19's for $325 the nite sites were mostly dead but the guns had what appeared to be new recoil and triger springs and came with 2 hi-cap serviceable mags. I carry a 1911 and have one for each member of my home BUT for all the same reasons listed in this thread I keep a couple of Glocks in the closet.

Look for used or agency trade in Glocks to meet this need.

[610Alpha]

Hi-point is made in Ohio and can be bought for $200. 9mm, .40, & .45. If you are tight on cash this might be an option. I don't own one personally so do not take this as such.

[Grand58742]

I would consider a CZ82 for those on a limited budget and just starting out trying to build up an arsenal. 9x18 caliber, 13 round capacity, cheap practice and carry ammo, great reviews online, fits nice in the hand, shoots nice without a great deal of recoil and has CZ reliability. Before anyone jumps in and starts saying how much the 9x18 sucks, it's a perfectly fine caliber. Maybe not up to .45 or 9x19 ballistics, but perfectly acceptable for most threats one will encounter day to day. About the only problem I've seen is the magazines are a little pricey for spares, but nothing that will break the bank.

J&G Sales has them at about $210 if you can find an FFL to do a transfer. Otherwise most dealers will have them marked up to about $270 and going up from there. Overall, a good starter pistol.

[Not_Yet_Prepped]

I would consider a CZ82

I have shot several CZ82s and all worked wonderfully. I don't know anything about the ballistics of the round but know that NO pistol round should be considered as a "One Shot" caliber. CZ makes great products.

[RunAndGun]

I am a 1911 guy. I have personal experience with just about any brand you can think of. One that I recently just got hold of was a Rock Island Armory. It is just plain wrong in some respects that you can get this grade of product = accuracy and reliability for the price. They are priced VERY reasonable and they WORK!

GT Distributors in Dallas has Glock 22 police trade ins from $289.00 to $355.00. I have honestly never seen a worn out Glock. Mine has an honest 100k rounds out of it. I got it from a IDPA Champion buddy of mine and know its history plus what I have put through it. I have and will continue to stake my life on it. My point is, the probability of a police turn in having anywhere near the round count mine has is astronomically low.

I have seen allot of good suggestions here. But the 1911 platform and the Glock is so popular that you will have a heck of allot easier and cheaper time finding replacement parts, magazines and accessories than you will just about anything else.