I have a question for the room.....

Alright. I have a friend that is looking for a quality handgun, for not so much money. I've suggested the Walther P99 and, for shits and giggles, the Tokarev TT-33. Ammo price and availability, coupled with a quality weapon is what I'm looking for(I don't want him to blow off his hand!). Any suggestions? I call upon the knowledge of the Forge.....

Regardless, avoid this Las Cruses New Mexico dealer if you know what's good for you!

Authorities say an employee at a New Mexico gun shop was unloading a handgun when he accidentally shot a customer in the back, wounding him.
The Las Cruses Sun-News reports the 65-year-old customer was airlifted from Silver City to a Texas hospital, where he is listed in stable condition.
Silver City Police Chief Ed Reynolds says an employee at Copper County Sporting Arms was unloading a .45 caliber handgun Tuesday when the weapon went off, shooting the man in the back.
Emergency responders closed off the street in front of the shop so a medical helicopter could land. The helicopter then flew the man to an El Paso, Texas, hospital for treatment.
Reynolds says the investigation is ongoing, and it's unclear whether any charges will be filed. No names have been released.
A person who answered the phone Tuesday at Copper Country declined to talk to the Sun-News.

A Sig Sauer P250 would be my recommendation.

And this is why you FAIL!

WTF? Nothing wrong with wheel guns! To be honest, the best gun is the one you like to shoot the most - because you'll practice more, and end up shooting it better/faster.

It's the same with any weapon really.

My regular carry is a Sig P-250. It's a good pistol.

Personal defense. I've used a Glock .40 before, I thought it was a good weapon. $500.00 is perfect, that's about how much he's wanting to spend. I think I should have said 'affordable' instead of 'cheap'.

I think I paid $530 for my Sig P-250, an inside the waist holster, background check, ATF rape fee, etc.

If you can find a Glockp olice buy back, you'll save a shit ton of cash.

Glock or Smith M&P.

If it's for personal defense (and cost of ammunition is not a major consideration), I'd go with the biggest caliber your friend can shoot well. See if you can find a range that will let your friend rent a gun similar to what he'd consider buying.

I'd stick to either 9mm, .40, or .45 ACP; leave the others (.357 SIG/Auto, 10mm, .45 GAP) out of consideration.

Wade's Eastside Guns, over off Bel-Red in Bellevue has a decent rental selection. Go on a Tuesday, it's Ladies' Night.

Speaking of handguns, I was in Academy Sports the other day, and saw a black powder revolver. Yes, I fell in love!

I like the Walther PPK. It is slim, it points nice, and it is Bond's gun.
I've got a nondescript Smith that shares a lot of traits with the Browning Hi-Power, only it has a decocker, not a safety. It's adequate for a sidearm that you are going to open carry on your hip.
I want a 1911. I'll probably go with a value one like a Taurus. Part of me wants a compact, like a Commander or an Officer's model but I'll likely go with a full-size.
And I've got a vintage Highway Patrolman. I wasn't much of a wheelgun guy myself, but I do enjoy shooting it. And it isn't as hard to do (compared to a semi) as I thought it would be. In some ways it shoots nicer than a semi. The downside is, if you have it loaded with .357, you can't do Natural Point of Aim. Because every time the hammer drops, the recoil twists the gun in your hand and you have to readjust your grip.

"I said I never had much use for one. Never said I didn't know how to use it."
- Matthew Quigley

I carry mine every day, condition 1.

I don't carry every day anymore, but I carry mine cocked and locked as well. My full sized 1911 actually conceals better for me than my "compact" p229. I don't know why, but dual stack handguns stick out like a sore thumb on me. The slimmer 1911 doesn't.

Wheel guns are for old people.

Whatever this guy buys make sure he understands it is something to regularly practice with. Not just at a static ranging but drawing and presenting the weapon as well as dry fire practice.

If, by "old people", you mean people who are sophisticated enough to appreciate the finer things in life and wealthy enough to enjoy them, then I agree.

Wha?? The only people I've ever known that carried anything other than cocked and locked are former Military types that are to stubborn to let go of Uncle Sam's antique training methods. Anything other than cocked and locked and you're not carrying a gun, you're carrying a piss poor club and you deserve what you get.

Exactly. My uncle is ex navy. He carries just like the government taught. Lame.

The truth is that for some reason the military has a lot if negligent discharges. My buddy did a tour in the sandbox. Ended up in Kuwait and his unit guarded some shipping area. After three negligent discharges, they started carrying their M-4's without a magazine in. The guys with M-9's, same deal.

He told me how stupid it was, but now he carries a 1911 condition 1.

You aren't wealthy and you wouldn't know the finer things in life even if it walked up to you and slapped you upside your jarhead.

There are actually some big arguments once in a while at GlockTalk over carrying with one in the chamber or not.

Personally I've never understood the reason to not carry with one in the chamber.

Just drawing a gun from concealment (which is only going to occur AFTER recognition of a threat is made) is itself a significant disadvantage: all initiative is surrendered to the aggressor. To have to rack the slide while a threat is bearing down/drawing a bead is to further disadvantage oneself.

To be honest, I feel it's safer to carry a 1911 with on in the chamber than a Glock - a 1911 has two safetys, and neither of them is on the trigger as it is with a Glock. :/

He ended up purchasing a Springfield XP. This has me thinking about getting a handgun of my own. I like older stuff, like a Spanish Astra model 800 condor, or a Walther P1.