I’m a Smith & Wesson guy and I have a relatively robust knowledge of firearms but this was still very informative. Love the channel, it’s helped me so much mentally and physically prepare for the worst day of my life
Hard to get in the US, very in demand. That said, they're somewhere about Sigs if not better. That at the same price point as Glocks. Their main faults are somewhat higher weight than other guns and the classic DA/SA system that takes a bit of training to use well, slightly harder field stripping. Main benefits are very smooth trigger with relatively low pull weight, excellent reliability and accuracy. For self defense purposes, the decocker safety, though bit dangerous, is probably the fastest to get into action, while external safety is still very accessible, ambidexterous and easy to operate. They're very easy to get and available in Europe.
AstralStorm They are easy to get in the U.S. too. A decocker is not a safety it is what the name implies a decocker, in the case of a cz it takes the gun from cocked and puts it in half cock position and double action mode which is the safest way to carry a firearm. Not that I wouldn't carry a gun cocked and locked.
I 100% agree. Guns are like RV's people buy them and never use them. I only purchase lightly used. I save anywhere from 200 to 350 dollars off the price.
@@errolbest1991 yes in deed. Let's not forget about layaway. That's how I purchase all my firearms. I have found real quality tlat pawn shops. You just need to do a little hone work because they also have shit.
I agree. Would love to see a 2021 22 edition. New modles and new ownes of brands might not make them like they used to or make them better like they used to
Glad to see not everyone is fooled by the name "Kimber". Their junk is so insanely overpriced it's not even funny. When I first got into 1911s (which was as soon as I could start buying them at 21), I thought Kimbers were the cream of the crop. Couldn't wait to get my hands on one. Bought a Kimber and 2 S&W 1911s. Then I joined a 1911 forum and saw all these guys talking about Les Baers and Wilson Combats and Ed Browns. I was pretty shocked by their prices but I just had to see what all the fuss was about. Ordered a Wilson Combat, shortly after which my local gun shop started carrying Les Baers. The SECOND I held a Les Baer in my hand I knew what everyone was talking about. You can literally FEEL the difference in quality just holding a high end 1911. Shooting them is night and day. I bought a Les Baer that day and went home and IMMEDIATELY listed the Kimber and both S&Ws for sale online. I will NEVER own another 1911 that doesn't have Les Baer, Wilson Combat or Ed Brown on the frame. The most pathetic thing is that many Kimbers are priced right around $2,000 these days. It absolutely blows my mind that people are paying that much for MIM, low quality, poorly fitted JUNK when a Les Baer is maybe $200 more and an entry level Wilson (which is 100x better than the BEST 1911 Kimber has EVER made) is only around $500 more. I've been called a snob when I talk about how crappy any 1911 (that includes Colts) that isn't a Baer, Wilson or Brown is. The reality is that I thought Kimbers and Colts were the best of the best when I got into gun buying too. Then I did countless hours of research and realized how much higher quality not just the parts are, but how much better the manufacturing process of high quality 1911s is, and realized I was wasting my money on junk. The saddest thing is that people see the price of high end 1911s and say they are too expensive, but in their safe at home they have 3 or 4 of the entry level $1000 1911s. People would rather be able to say they have "a collection" of 1911s than buy one single quality gun that will last them a lifetime (if they can only afford one high end 1911).
Alex S I have a Colt. Runs beautifully... I'm not saying your not correct in your assertions. But I know damn well I can't afford a Wilson or Baer firearm.... Ill stick with my Colt
Don't be afraid to buy USED!!! You can pick up any of the mid-tier guns for a price point on par with the Bersa/Taurus. Keep in mind lots of folks buy guns, shoot them a few times then they sit in a drawer or safe. At some point, they get sold or traded like anything else... except they are often well under what a new gun will cost. Disclaimer: This, of course, assumes the gun is checked out by a reputable armorer/gunsmith before use.
John I will say that this is by far the most in depth interior look when it comes to guns. I haven't seen an example like this yet but God bless, safe shooting.
My first gun was literally a Taurus 9mm and after I got familiar and comfortable with shooting after about 6-9 months I moved to a glock 17 and it was a smooth transition.. I'm blown away by the expertise you have in recommended starting areas with guns.
great video for a COD gamer (real life pretender) growing up and realizing I know nothing about protecting myself and my young kids. oh and my spouse. thanks for making these libraries of vids. super informative and keeps all the bias and politics out. love it. you just well may save lives with spreading this information.
I really appreciate all your videos, sir. The first gun I ever shot was a 1911. I think Colt made it. Just a couple of months ago, I bought my own. A Ruger SR1911 .45. I shot a friend’s Ed Brown, and I saw the difference. My Ruger shot a little low vs. the Ed Brown. If I take the same shot (line up irons, slow and steady trigger pull, firm grip) with both guns. My Ruger shoots lower. To compensate for this I need to aim my front sight a little higher than my rears. I think that’s a strange muscle memory trait to develop for one specific gun. But I think it clearly drives the point that you ARE paying for a different quality gun. Very good video sir.
I'm a big fan of FN Herstal's handguns (I believe they would slot in at "High") I would love to see you expand on this list and add more brands, like; Beretta, Walther, RIA, Staccato, Canik, SAR, Savage, etc...). Nicely done!
i have a bushmaster ar15 i bought in the 90's that has 20k rounds through it now. replaced the hammer and trigger springs preventatively at 20k, and added an extraction enhancer when i bought it. shoots straight as hell. very impressed with it.
Humble beginnings, but still the best video on the subject. This reminds me of the extra lessons my college professor would email the class when he got too many questions about the homework. 😂👍
He kinda has it...because Wilson Combat is there. And there is nothing sweeter than those new custom Wilson Combat Berettas, sweet mother of God... Lol.
In South Africa you can only own one pistol for self defense so I went with a Sig Sauer P226 Navy as I would not buy another pistol. Works like a dream carry it everyday. Great Vid.
I used to have a Sliver Slide VEKTOR CP-1 in 9mm.....I bought it for $400 and in '99 and I sold it for $500 in 2001....Now that gun is worth $1,200!!!!......I kick myself for selling it....
I realize this is a 3yr old video and it is likely this has already been said but the Kahr CM & CW are BOTH their entry budget options. Kahr PM is their higher end line. I use the CM9 as my EDC and love it. Picked it up used for $200 which is a better than normal used price for them.
Young and thin! You're definitely getting back to 2013 John Correia these days John! Great video my man. I'm a Sig fan (NH native of course) all day so it's nice to know I'm not only supporting a great (somewhat) local company but they also make some of the best engineered firearms and "simunition" products today.
John, well done on this tutorial and the other videos of yours I have seen. This video is a great intro for someone trying to figure out some basic available options. Yesterday was the first day I became aware of your videos. You are articulate, knowledgeable, and concise without a lot of unnecessary hem-hawing. Keep up the good work. I suspect the daily intercessory list on the far left may give another little insight into your caliber and mettle.
I still carry my entry level Bersa Thunder 380CC. It's eaten everything I've fed it, and the surplus of PPK holsters made it easy to find a quality holster for me.
I have a Stoeger40 and the quality is great I use speer gold dot 180gr and federal hst 165gr I bought it at academy for 299 dollars 2 years ago and it's been 100%reliable
Not really. Some guns you pay for the name. Some guns are better than their price level. Glock and Kimber are great examples of paying for the name. CZ and Canik are great values.
I take offence to the sigma being an "entry level" gun. I bought one for my first handgun (lucked out, used) and it is phenomenal! I've moved up to glocks but, damn John don't be harsh! Lol.
I'm a LEO but your channels have taught me a lot John. I used to carry an M&P shield (not that there's anything wrong with an M&P Shield) in a hot garbage BlackHawk Serpa holster. Now I carry a Sig P229 Legion in a Safariland ALS holster. I don't carry the HST's though due to my department providing me Winchester Rangers. I'd prefer the HST's.
@@ActiveSelfProtection Yes sir, that's really the only reason I carry it otherwise I'd carry the HST's. Thank you for the response and I know this might sound cliche but I'm your number one fan. If you're ever teaching in the Cleveland area please let me know. You actually have a lesson on ASP from my department. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lPxqD2JLopI.html
Thank you so much for this video! It really helps a lot of new shooters out. Hoping you can make an updated one since there has been a ton of great firearms that have come out since you made this vid.
Lol, the car comparisons: we own a Kia - never again. Crap that started to malfunction just as the warranty expired. I'm sure they're made to do just that.
You know how warranties are made for certain mileage... you know how you can calculate the lifespan of a part based on a usage variable like mileage...
You wouldn't be wrong in that final assessment, for a great number of different products. You have to be a well-informed consumer to know which bit by which manufacturer is built for your needs. Some people can't keep a car past 5 years, so a 5 year warranty is no consequence. If you need something longer, you have to do the legwork. I'm not playing devil's advocate like that's the way it should be, but it is the way it is.
@@johnnywaffles2482 I bought a Kia in 2007. It’s still running very well in 2020! I have 160,000 miles and I plan on keeping it for a couple more years. It has had brakes and tires and timing belt but not much more. A lot has to do with how you treat and maintain it. Most auto editors will say the Kia is affordable quality.
@@nightsterbob this car had 15 miles on when purchased and its front end has had nothing but problems. I will say kia has done wonders for its brand in the past 2 decades. I'm glad that enjoy yours. Having a car give you problems is nothing short of annoying and absolutely useless.
Most of the guns I buy are in the middle tier. Spend $400-600 on a pistol if you can (if it's actually for defense). It's worth it. You get a quality gun from a reputable company that will be reliable and durable. Going up, you get diminishing returns for what you spend, but there's no doubt the premium guns are cool.
Got my first pistol from my neighbor last fall he fired it about 60 rounds. 1911 metro arms I've been loving it especially because for the whopping price tag of $350.00 I got 200 target rounds plus 50 Winchester defense rounds. Ya I'm happy.
Mr. John, you should really take a look at Palmetto State Armory AR-15s! They are cheap in money but the parts are decent for entry level. They are said to be "Working Mans AR-15" take a look! Ive had mine for a few years ran about 700 rounds, 200 rounds in one day and it runs great!
I owned a Sig Sauer, Beretta and a Bersa. The Bersa was the best gun I have ever owned. 1000's of rounds and not one problem yet. Something went wrong with a Sig and Beretta. Today, my Bersa has a Cerakote finish because it's starting to pit from CCW.
Glad I bought my noveske when I did. Same model I bought would easily cost you 2500$ now maybe more. I paid I think 1500. It's a 10.5" switchblock SBR. The thing is far and away the best AR15 I've ever owned. It just works, always.
@@steve132001 My first pistol purchase was an HK P30SK and the second was a Walther P99. The Walther was the first pistol I ever traded towards something else. Compared to HK, FN, and CZ the Walther just wasn't close. I blame it 100% on the AS trigger. I loved everything else about the gun, but the trigger was just horrible by my standards. I'm happy with the Springfield 1911 I traded it for.
2022: Taurus G3 is entry level on cost but I'd put it up against a comparable mid any day for feel, performance, reliability, etc. I was looking for an entry level and I got one helluva nice and reliable gun in the Taurus G3C ($305).
The reason Iove john is because he doesn't trash people for the guns they own. Not saying I'm a just a good dude, I carry a glock like everyone else, but it's still good to see people not hate based on something like a company.
I've shot the living shi7 out of my 40 year Mossberg full-choke 30" pump action. It's been 100% reliable EVERY shot. Thousands of shots ranging from 50* F to -30* F. I love that gun! I use a highly technical 100% silicon base lube called Jet-Lube (from Zoro.com) made by 3M. It's rated -40 to over +700* & wont wash off or dry out like petroleum base lubes. It's will NOT stretch or rot rubber gas gaskets or moulding. The same can also be bought under license by AGS (American Grease Stick) from Amazon. I use on all my guns. Never a jam or cold weather freeze-up. I highly recommend.
One of my best friends first handgun purchases about 20 years ago was a Hi Point 9mm... I've seen him draw from a cheap Uncle Mike's holster and put a double tap into a rattlesnake at about 15 feet, before my brain even processed what to do about said snake. I got the word "Snake" out of my mouth about the time he was firing. He's put countless rounds through it, even acknowledges that it's a cheap $100 gun, but would be willing to put $20 on being able to outshoot an HK any day... and being a guy with an HK that he outshoots I wouldn't bet against him.
The Bersa Thunder is one of the BEST .380ACP pistols you can get....It does everything the Walther PPK can do, but at 2/3 of the weight, and less than 1/2 of the price!!!
1. JOHN CAN YOU PLEASE CATEGORIZE these into your categories. It would help so so much. Dan Wesson. 2. Magnum Research. 3. SCCY. 4. Chiappa. 5. Phoenix. 6. Accu-Tek. 7. Kel-Tec. 8. Umarex. 9. Diamondback. 10. Steyr. 11.CZ 12. Colt. 13. Beretta. 14. Walther. 15. Browning.
There are a million videos showing how high-points chew through a gazillion different types of ammo without failure. Theres also a shitton of vids of taurus guns blowing up or discharging without pulling the trigger.
tehOGRE i was wondering if anyone else was thinking it. I’ve never personally held one, or even know anybody that has one. But i’ve seen them. They arent the prettiest things in the world. But have seen them tortured relentlessly by people that really wanted them to fail just off principle. They never failed. I’ve honestly kicked around getting one for a knock around gun. To be honest if i wouldnt have had anything already that would shoot the last box of ammunition i saw on the shelves, when everything calmed down a bit i planned on getting a hi point in that caliber. Just because price, and a couple demolition ranch videos.
"You get what you pay for..." Sure, to a point. That said, in the gun world value often has little to do with price points. A glock out of the box and a sig out of the box are both reliable solid guns, but the sig will be near double the price in some locales. For me, I stopped buying new guns. I pick up what i want used, because there's always a good deal to be found on NIB or LNIB, if you know what to look for. Let the newbies buy new... I'm patient.
I’m a newbie and gladly bought my first handgun new. Less to think about and can focus on learning. Will buy used in the future, if the right deals are found.
My friends dad has a Hi Point. Ugly as sin, but I couldn't make it fail. I also had a Phoenix arms HP22 for 3 years. Used expensive ammo, but that gun ran like a champ. Maybe we got lucky, but even cheap guns can be reliable.
Gotta add the Beretta to the handgun list. The 92 frame belongs in the upper mid-level range as it is a military and LEO proven 9mm self defense weapon.
The officer in Chile was terrible, NOT the Beretta. My 92FS is the *only* weapon in my collection that has *never* malfunctioned in any way. I should add that all my weapons are cleaned and lubed and function checked after a trip to the range. I'd really like to have inspected the Beretta that was malfunctioning in that Chilean officer's hands.
Yeah, I have to agree with +Mark England I'd be more apt to blame the scooter cop for the malfunction than the firearm. Too many factors regarding care, re-assembly, overall condition of the firearm to blame the manufacturer. And we don't even know who the manufacturer is. Sorry, John (+Active Self Protection), we're not going to accept that Beretta doesn't make the list because of that video.
I think I'm gonna buy a taurus g2c just have as a back up gun. Surprisingly I bought a hawk just to play around with and it was more reliable than the 870 tactical I bought. I around up selling the 870 tactical for a loss.
You mention bushmaster, but is that pre-maine or when they moved to NY? I've always heard bushmaster used to be the ABC's of reliability in the AR market, armalite, bushmaster and colt. I own a bushmaster that was made in their glory days, just curious what you think about that
I would put Bushmaster in the mid value, Remington has more mid/higher shotguns than cheap. Remington 1100. One of the most popular shotguns that can cost over $1000.
Taurus is like Kel Tec in some ways, but without any of the innovation and without being US-based. Both have quality control issues. As such, a Taurus gun CAN be reliable, but you absolutely most determine that to be true before trusting the gun with your life. While you should do that with any gun, Taurus and a few others require special attention. New guns from Glock, Beretta, H&K , and a few other good manufacturers are assumed to be functional until proven otherwise. Taurus and Kel Tec are the other way around. You should assume that they don't work until you objectively prove that your specific gun does indeed function properly. Regardless, "excellent workmanship" is laughable when concerning Taurus. I like Kel Tec long arms, but excellent workmanship certainly is not how I'd describe their budget-friendly approach to making firearms. Excellent workmanship is how you describe Wilson Combat and Les Baer. Excellent would be the custom gun manufacturers. Great workmanship would be from manufacturers like H&K. Good would be S&W's M&P line. Decent would be Ruger's handguns. Taurus and Kel Tec handguns would fall into "eh, it works, hopefully, I guess?" levels of workmanship.
I have a lot of pistols but would only trust my life to my glock 19 (OK if a bear is charging I'll use my 629) and I will continue to trust my 19 so long as it keeps its track record up of zero malfunctions. I have owned it for 10 years and put at least 10-15,000 shots through it. Everything from range ammo to pretty much every hollow I could get my hands on, including +p+ (which it actually really seems to love that federal 115 +p+ I get great groups and it handles the rapid fire flawlessly) I hope everyone feels the same way about their combat/carry weapon as I do
I'm curious to know what John would think of Patriot Ordnance Factory (not that there's much hope of a response being that this video is 8 years old). They're a little spendy (right at or a little more than Daniel Defense), but my God my P415 Edge will not quit - just doesn't seem to be particularly well known. I constantly get asked who produced it and am usually met with "Huh. I'll have to check them out."
Update, John no longer recommends Springfield XD. Kimber Does not belong on the high nice area. They not worth it. And you can get a used M&P for $300 ish range for sure below $400 IMO that is a better buy than a Glock. But you can get a used Glock for mid $400. I prefer Glock. yet hard to say when their are other really good options.
I would put the Taurus in your mid level list. Have used many, many of them, and had nothing but good results. Will say that Taurus (as a group) need a "break-in" period. Since you mentioned "break-in" for other brands, that should not downgrade the Taurus. Otherwise, like your listing and reasoning.
I'm not the only one wondering about the lack of a Beretta on there. Also, I really like my Beretta-clone Taurus (pt92). I'm thinking that should be at least in the low end of the mid-range. Although I agree that the Taurus revolvers belong just below the hi-points...
One brand not on the list is CZ. High end quality at mid level prices. Canik is a mid level gun for just above Taurus prices. Stoeger shotguns are made by Benelli. You get entry level prices for a high level shotgun. The only thing you don't get is the options and the name.
