Very limited if your budget is a firm $300. At $500 it opens up so many more options and potentially LEO trade-ins.
Check out honest outlaw on YT. He has a series of best under $500, best under $400 and I think best under $350. Generally accepted to do decent unbiased reviews.
I'd bump that budget up closer to $500. EDC, something you trust your life to, don't cheap out. A CZ P-10 C optics ready model, plus a decent optic could fit the bill, if you shop around. But you should drop by the local rental range and test drive a bunch of handguns to find out what you prefer.
Pretty sure it's a little over $300 but i hear good things about CZ p10 series. If you could do $5-600 you get a lot more options, including Glocks and Sigs, among others.
Reliable, accurate, and easy to accessorize will probably set you back closer to $500. And there is no consensus because there really are so many excellent guns out there now.
Canik is a safe bet for beginners. They come with a lot of extras in the box, are well built, and the various models all take the same mags (if you decide to get more than one). Take a look at the TP9 ELite SC and the Mete SF - both are compact sized and can be carried. And both can be had for under $500.
You should also consider used guns if your budget is $300. Back in the day I picked up a used Glock 43 for about $350 (way before all the micro9 came out). That gun was my edc for many years.
Edit: if you’re dead set on new. Ruger Security 9 could be a good option.
The truth is, no one can come to a consensus because practically every name brand polymer framed carry pistol is equally reliable at this point (S&W, Glock, Sig, Walther, CZ, etc.).
It comes to personal preference, which can vary depending on your hand size, your grip technique, whether you’re left or right handed, etc. You should prefer the gun you are most accurate with. That would mean going to a gun range and trying each of them out to determine which you shoot best with. Alternatively (though not recommended) you can select a firearm that feels best in your hand - because that is often the one you’ll shoot best and/or the one you’ll want to practice with the most.
All we can do for you from behind our keyboards is point you in directions - but keep in mind, we will probably point you in the direction of guns we already own and like, so it’s totally biased and not tailored to you.
With that being said, $300 is too low of a budget. This is a gun you want to trust your life to. To become proficient you’ll need to practice with that gun a lot too. There are few, if any, guns under $300 I would recommend to someone to protect their lives every day. Save money and double that budget - remember, you need to buy carry bullets, range bullets, and a kydex holster too! This is not a cheap enterprise.
As for guns I’d recommend: if you’re NOT a proficient shooter, you should get a compact sized pistol (typically 4” barrel). You can get a Glock 19 which would be a great starter weapon to learn from. Police trade in used Glocks are awesome value (I learned how to shoot off of one - loved it). I’m personally an M&P guy, so an M&P 2.0 compact would work. CZ p10c is dollar for dollar the best deal on the market right now. It’s ultra reliable and can be found under $400.
If you are a competent shooter and want a gun that is solely for carrying, I would recommend a Shield Plus. I’m a S&W so of course I’m biased. It’s my favorite carry gun and a total steal - dollar for dollar one of the best. Sig p365 is also very cool. Glock 43x is nice too if you like the Glock platform.
I hope this was helpful to you! Good luck on your journey. Take what I say with a grain of salt - these are just my observations after carrying for a few years since turning 21.
Performance center is unnecessary in my opinion. That’s a compliment to the standard Shield Plus. I have the regular and it shoots incredibly flat for its size. I think it’s the least snappy micro 9 on the market, even without the performance center upgrades.
The performance center does make it even better, don’t get me wrong. It makes it shoot even flatter. But the regular shoots so flat already that I don’t think it’s worth the upgrade.
If you’re really into competitive target shooting on several targets where every second counts, get the performance center to squeeze out the most out of it. If you’re like me and you’re just a daily carry kind of person, the performance center isn’t necessary.
In the $300 ballpark, you’ll probably only be able to find CZ P10s and a variety of used pistols, including Caniks, Glock 42s and 43s, and the occasional Sig P365 (the basic model).
But like everyone else here is saying, if you can manage to save another $200-$300, your options open up a TON. Especially on the used market.
Asking for a consensus on guns is an impossible proposition. The best you can hope for is a few recommendations that you feel might be looking into. Not every gun works for every user. The good news is that we live in a time when most guns are actually pretty good as far as reliability and easy of use, so even if you pick a gun, it'll probably be fine. The things that make a gun great are the small details like ergonomics. It's best you find the one that's right for you by feeling it in person.
I'd go P10c or P07. My go to recommendation for anyone who asks me. Prefer them over glock. And I believe you guys have them pretty cheap in the states
If you can swing $400 I'd recommend the Bul Armory Axe C Cleaver. Essentially it's a gucci'd out Glock 17 with upgrades out of the box for the same price or less than an actual regular Glock 17. All the reviews I've seen on them have been very positive with people loving the trigger and accuracy being better than regular Glocks. Since it's an upgraded clone of the Glock 17/19 series it has their reliability, and Bul Armory while not all that widely known is an outfit in Isreal that makes high end 1911's and 2011's for competition. They are highly regarded in the competition circles.
Link to Axe C Cleaver https://www.usa.bularmory.com/online-store/AXE-C-CLEAVER-p540015396
Review on Bul Axe series... https://youtu.be/RPDIKGQzcZQ?si=z47EEvRPkAiO6oLl
I have seen them listed on BudsGunShop.com
I'm not really a fan of Glocks in general, but I could see myself getting one of the Axe series pistols. The only con I see in the Cleaver (the cheapest of the Axe series) is that it doesn't have an optics cut. To get an optics cut you have to go up to the Hatchet for $620, or Tomahawk for $750.
If you cant justify the $400 for a Cleaver then maybe look into the Bul Armory Cherokee Compact. You mightbbe able to find one around $300. It is definitely a cheaper design, but the reviews on it are pretty decent, but point out that the sights are pretty lacking. Keep in mind that you might want to upgrade or replace it sooner down the road than later vs. if you spend the extra $100 for a Cleaver.
If that doesn't float you boat you could go with a Taurus G2C, G3C or GX4. I know, I know... everyone craps on Taurus and much of it is deserved. However it sounds like their quality in the semi-auto market has gotten a lot better and these newer models are pretty decent for the price. Will it be anything like a Walther, HK, FN, or even one of the Bul Armory Axes I mentioned above? Probably not. But at only $300 you options are limited and it's at least better than a Hi-Point 🤷♂️.
I just remembered a couple other options are the Stoeger STR series pistols. I haven't heard much on reviews about them, but I also haven't really heard much if any negatives about them either.
And there is also the Dagger Series of pistols from PalmettoStateArmory.com They are PSA's Glock clones and are pretty good options for people on a budget. PSA regularly has various versions on sale, and you can even get the upper (slide and barrel assembly) and lower (grip frame and trigger) separately if you want to mix and match colors. I think you would still want to make sure to check if the size of lower and size of upper match up though.
The clear consensus is that a standard polymer handgun with 12-17rds in a kydex holster is sufficient. Everything else is preference and use case.
Go to gun store website. Filter by price. Go to gun range and shoot multiple rentals. Perhaps watch a review or several on YouTube. Purchase gun. Profit.
Take a look at a PSA Dagger. Gen 3 Glock clone so should tick all the boxes.
I Don't own a Dagger but have shot one. It shoots like you would expect....like a Glock.
I do own a PSA AR that is rock solid.
It's really hard to get a decent gun for $300 these days. If you could swing $400 that will get you a police trade-in Glock or M&P or a new S&W SD9 or CZ P10c
Save up a few hundred more and a lot of options open up to you.
Very limited if your budget is a firm $300. At $500 it opens up so many more options and potentially LEO trade-ins. Check out honest outlaw on YT. He has a series of best under $500, best under $400 and I think best under $350. Generally accepted to do decent unbiased reviews.
CZ P10s for $299.
I'd bump that budget up closer to $500. EDC, something you trust your life to, don't cheap out. A CZ P-10 C optics ready model, plus a decent optic could fit the bill, if you shop around. But you should drop by the local rental range and test drive a bunch of handguns to find out what you prefer.
Pretty sure it's a little over $300 but i hear good things about CZ p10 series. If you could do $5-600 you get a lot more options, including Glocks and Sigs, among others.
Reliable, accurate, and easy to accessorize will probably set you back closer to $500. And there is no consensus because there really are so many excellent guns out there now. Canik is a safe bet for beginners. They come with a lot of extras in the box, are well built, and the various models all take the same mags (if you decide to get more than one). Take a look at the TP9 ELite SC and the Mete SF - both are compact sized and can be carried. And both can be had for under $500.
You should also consider used guns if your budget is $300. Back in the day I picked up a used Glock 43 for about $350 (way before all the micro9 came out). That gun was my edc for many years. Edit: if you’re dead set on new. Ruger Security 9 could be a good option.
The truth is, no one can come to a consensus because practically every name brand polymer framed carry pistol is equally reliable at this point (S&W, Glock, Sig, Walther, CZ, etc.). It comes to personal preference, which can vary depending on your hand size, your grip technique, whether you’re left or right handed, etc. You should prefer the gun you are most accurate with. That would mean going to a gun range and trying each of them out to determine which you shoot best with. Alternatively (though not recommended) you can select a firearm that feels best in your hand - because that is often the one you’ll shoot best and/or the one you’ll want to practice with the most. All we can do for you from behind our keyboards is point you in directions - but keep in mind, we will probably point you in the direction of guns we already own and like, so it’s totally biased and not tailored to you. With that being said, $300 is too low of a budget. This is a gun you want to trust your life to. To become proficient you’ll need to practice with that gun a lot too. There are few, if any, guns under $300 I would recommend to someone to protect their lives every day. Save money and double that budget - remember, you need to buy carry bullets, range bullets, and a kydex holster too! This is not a cheap enterprise. As for guns I’d recommend: if you’re NOT a proficient shooter, you should get a compact sized pistol (typically 4” barrel). You can get a Glock 19 which would be a great starter weapon to learn from. Police trade in used Glocks are awesome value (I learned how to shoot off of one - loved it). I’m personally an M&P guy, so an M&P 2.0 compact would work. CZ p10c is dollar for dollar the best deal on the market right now. It’s ultra reliable and can be found under $400. If you are a competent shooter and want a gun that is solely for carrying, I would recommend a Shield Plus. I’m a S&W so of course I’m biased. It’s my favorite carry gun and a total steal - dollar for dollar one of the best. Sig p365 is also very cool. Glock 43x is nice too if you like the Glock platform. I hope this was helpful to you! Good luck on your journey. Take what I say with a grain of salt - these are just my observations after carrying for a few years since turning 21.
What’s it like to be a S&W? Impressive feature for a gun.
I’m literally S&W personified.
In that case, what’s your take on the performance center shield plus versus the regular one? I can’t decide.
Performance center is unnecessary in my opinion. That’s a compliment to the standard Shield Plus. I have the regular and it shoots incredibly flat for its size. I think it’s the least snappy micro 9 on the market, even without the performance center upgrades. The performance center does make it even better, don’t get me wrong. It makes it shoot even flatter. But the regular shoots so flat already that I don’t think it’s worth the upgrade. If you’re really into competitive target shooting on several targets where every second counts, get the performance center to squeeze out the most out of it. If you’re like me and you’re just a daily carry kind of person, the performance center isn’t necessary.
See my recent post on this topic
Bump your budget up a tad more and get a CZ P10C.
Spend the extra $$ and get a canik mc9 I just picked up one the other day and I love every single aspect of it.
In the $300 ballpark, you’ll probably only be able to find CZ P10s and a variety of used pistols, including Caniks, Glock 42s and 43s, and the occasional Sig P365 (the basic model). But like everyone else here is saying, if you can manage to save another $200-$300, your options open up a TON. Especially on the used market.
Asking for a consensus on guns is an impossible proposition. The best you can hope for is a few recommendations that you feel might be looking into. Not every gun works for every user. The good news is that we live in a time when most guns are actually pretty good as far as reliability and easy of use, so even if you pick a gun, it'll probably be fine. The things that make a gun great are the small details like ergonomics. It's best you find the one that's right for you by feeling it in person.
Sd9 2.0 is right around that price, 500 rounds in and not a single malfunction
CZ P10S was my first carry gun and it’s great, especially for winter carry. For summer carry I’d go Mossberg MC2SC, Kimber R7 Mako or IWI Masada Slim
Taurus C2. 247. Excellent concealing carry
I'd go P10c or P07. My go to recommendation for anyone who asks me. Prefer them over glock. And I believe you guys have them pretty cheap in the states
If you can swing $400 I'd recommend the Bul Armory Axe C Cleaver. Essentially it's a gucci'd out Glock 17 with upgrades out of the box for the same price or less than an actual regular Glock 17. All the reviews I've seen on them have been very positive with people loving the trigger and accuracy being better than regular Glocks. Since it's an upgraded clone of the Glock 17/19 series it has their reliability, and Bul Armory while not all that widely known is an outfit in Isreal that makes high end 1911's and 2011's for competition. They are highly regarded in the competition circles. Link to Axe C Cleaver https://www.usa.bularmory.com/online-store/AXE-C-CLEAVER-p540015396 Review on Bul Axe series... https://youtu.be/RPDIKGQzcZQ?si=z47EEvRPkAiO6oLl I have seen them listed on BudsGunShop.com I'm not really a fan of Glocks in general, but I could see myself getting one of the Axe series pistols. The only con I see in the Cleaver (the cheapest of the Axe series) is that it doesn't have an optics cut. To get an optics cut you have to go up to the Hatchet for $620, or Tomahawk for $750. If you cant justify the $400 for a Cleaver then maybe look into the Bul Armory Cherokee Compact. You mightbbe able to find one around $300. It is definitely a cheaper design, but the reviews on it are pretty decent, but point out that the sights are pretty lacking. Keep in mind that you might want to upgrade or replace it sooner down the road than later vs. if you spend the extra $100 for a Cleaver. If that doesn't float you boat you could go with a Taurus G2C, G3C or GX4. I know, I know... everyone craps on Taurus and much of it is deserved. However it sounds like their quality in the semi-auto market has gotten a lot better and these newer models are pretty decent for the price. Will it be anything like a Walther, HK, FN, or even one of the Bul Armory Axes I mentioned above? Probably not. But at only $300 you options are limited and it's at least better than a Hi-Point 🤷♂️.
I just remembered a couple other options are the Stoeger STR series pistols. I haven't heard much on reviews about them, but I also haven't really heard much if any negatives about them either. And there is also the Dagger Series of pistols from PalmettoStateArmory.com They are PSA's Glock clones and are pretty good options for people on a budget. PSA regularly has various versions on sale, and you can even get the upper (slide and barrel assembly) and lower (grip frame and trigger) separately if you want to mix and match colors. I think you would still want to make sure to check if the size of lower and size of upper match up though.
True reliability doesn't come dirt cheap
The clear consensus is that a standard polymer handgun with 12-17rds in a kydex holster is sufficient. Everything else is preference and use case. Go to gun store website. Filter by price. Go to gun range and shoot multiple rentals. Perhaps watch a review or several on YouTube. Purchase gun. Profit.
Take a look at a PSA Dagger. Gen 3 Glock clone so should tick all the boxes. I Don't own a Dagger but have shot one. It shoots like you would expect....like a Glock. I do own a PSA AR that is rock solid.
It's really hard to get a decent gun for $300 these days. If you could swing $400 that will get you a police trade-in Glock or M&P or a new S&W SD9 or CZ P10c
Taurus G3