OUt of all the guns U mentioned, the Browning Buckmark is probably the highest quality gun. It is a good 22 - If I ever want to get a target 22, that would be the one. I researched them all several months ago.

Hi Point pistol... While it MAY work, it really is a trash gun. The carbine has gotten pretty good reviews. Still can't make myself go buy a weapon with "Hi Point" written on the side, though....

RIA 1911s are a crap shoot. Some people get a good one. And, some people get one so out of spec that NOTHING can be done to it because no other parts will fit. Charles Daly, RIA, Armscore... ALl these are cast 1911s made at the same factory in the Phillapines. If U REALLY want a cheap 1911, get a Springfield GI or Milspec model.

Next one is gonna be a longslide 1911
ya gotta have a 1911

Next one's NOT gonna' be a Hi Point. Hell, I wouldn't buy one with somebody else's money! In fact, my next gun will not be any of those. It'll probably be another 1911 or a Smith revolver.

What's the new gun going to be used for? Hunting, home defense, concealed carry, competition, plinking...?

a good .308 rifle, would be my choice as next weapon then a good 1911a1, a good .22 semi-autoloader ruger,s&w, browning.

If I can ever sell my telscope, I hope to buy a PS-90 carbine. If not, then by the Jan gunshow, I'll probably buy a 1911.

Originally Posted by Mike Barham at Galco

What's the new gun going to be used for? Hunting, home defense, concealed carry, competition, plinking...?

Plinking/HD...I use my 20ga + slugs for hunting right now. I know a SKS could be used for deer too though. Dunhams is advertising SKS' for $99 this week...I'm pretty tempted. When I start CCW, my .40 XD Subbie will fill that need .

Originally Posted by Shipwreck

If I can ever sell my telscope, I hope to buy a PS-90 carbine. If not, then by the Jan gunshow, I'll probably buy a 1911.

I thought you swore off 1911's.

WM

SKS, hands down. Rugged and accurate. Fires a rifle round that is ballistically similar to the .30-30 so it can be used for plinking/hunting/self-defense/survival rifle. It's the most accurate, powerful, rugged, and versatile weapon you listed. But the best value and weapon out of that bunch is the SKS. Plus it's the only one on your list that will actually see a rise in value whereas everything else will only have a drop in value. It won't be too long 'till the SKS supply is dried up. I'll be sure to get quite a few before that happens.

I also have experience with the Hi-Point pistols if you'd like me to discuss them. Contrary to what others may say, they are in a higher class than the Lorcins, Jennings, etc. Though they are still quite distinctly primitive and lacking in elegence.

I was looking Sunday for a steel and wood revolver in .357 with adjustable sights,and a 4" barrel. Getting hard to fine. Most of this new stuff leaves me cold. I don't want a 16oz gun made out of titanium or some other stuff. S&W has gone to just about all stainless steel. I am not into shinney. I want a good old target gun. I don't need a scope either. Sure wish I could fine one priced right.

Originally Posted by Wandering Man

I thought you swore off 1911's.

WM

I will get another EVENTUALLY. Just not sure when. Mot much else I need in my collections. If the PS90 doesn't work out... What else would I get...

I'm not really a rifle person, I just like the PS90 - Although, I keep looking at the Beretta Storm carbine too. It's just pretty expensive for a 9mm rifle...

Originally Posted by Baldy

I was looking Sunday for a steel and wood revolver in .357 with adjustable sights,and a 4" barrel. Getting hard to fine. Most of this new stuff leaves me cold. I don't want a 16oz gun made out of titanium or some other stuff. S&W has gone to just about all stainless steel. I am not into shinney. I want a good old target gun. I don't need a scope either. Sure wish I could fine one priced right.

You too? Don't forget those locks and MIM parts! The classics are still floating around used and reasonably priced if you know where to look. I can for instance get a nickel 19(4" bbl, adj. sights, original wooden grips) in superb condition for $300 locally. Their value is going up since it's what the people want. You'd think Smith & Wesson would take notice.

I just found out Sig is introducing a new model in 9mm. The P226 Elite. Will seriously consider looking at it for competition shooting.

I tore that gun show apart looking for a .357 blue with wood grips. Smith/Colt I didn't care and the only thing I could fine was a Rossi. Taurus didn't even have one. Everybody is pushing SS which is fine but I am not going hunting with it, and I like a blued gun. Oh me.

Originally Posted by kayl

Plinking/HD...I use my 20ga + slugs for hunting right now. I know a SKS could be used for deer too though. Dunhams is advertising SKS' for $99 this week...I'm pretty tempted. When I start CCW, my .40 XD Subbie will fill that need .

The SKS is fun. It's not accurate, but it'll do for deer at relatively short ranges. It's a whole lot of fun for plinking, kind of a Ghetto Garand, though 7.62x39 ammo is much more expensive than it used to be (I sold my SKS and AK when the cheap commie ammo dried up). Not a great HD gun, but with an XD and 20 gauge, you pretty much have that covered already.

The Buckmark is a great little gun. I've had one for years. But an HD gun it is not. It's a plinker, and great for introducing new shooters to handgunning.

I'd pass on the Hi-Points. If you were gunless and that's all you could afford, I'd say go for it. But you already have better-quality guns.

If you want a 1911, don't skimp on it. Save your money and get a Springfield at the very least, or better yet an S&W. Bargain 1911s aren't bargains, for the most part. They're just $350 worth of frustration.

Originally Posted by Mike Barham at Galco

If you want a 1911, don't skimp on it. Save your money and get a Springfield at the very least, or better yet an S&W. Bargain 1911s aren't bargains, for the most part. They're just $350 worth of frustration.

Originally Posted by Mike Barham at Galco

If you want a 1911, don't skimp on it. Save your money and get a Springfield at the very least, or better yet an S&W. Bargain 1911s aren't bargains, for the most part. They're just $350 worth of frustration.

HUH??
Ive seen a lot more jams and malf,s in the baers and kimbers and wilsons etc,etc,etc, than in a loose, rattling,and or milspec 350$$ "bargain" 1911 than I could ever count.That statement is at best totally unfair and actually closer to totally untrue???? Whazzup wit' you??

Originally Posted by scooter

Next one is gonna be a longslide 1911
ya gotta have a 1911

Originally Posted by scooter

HUH??
Ive seen a lot more jams and malf,s in the baers and kimbers and wilsons etc,etc,etc, than in a loose, rattling,and or milspec 350$$ "bargain" 1911 than I could ever count.That statement is at best totally unfair and actually closer to totally untrue???? Whazzup wit' you??

I'm not sure how many 1911s you've shot. I grew up on IPSC ranges and have taken a fair number of higher-level training courses. My civilian job grants me the luxury of being around guns every day. I carried a 1911 up until about a year ago. So I do have some small experience with 1911 pistols.

Your claim is the exact opposite of my experience. Almost every cheapo 1911 I've seen or shot has malfunctioned within 50 rounds, usually more than once. Granted, not ALL high-end guns will be trouble free, but all the Springfields and S&Ws I've shot have been excellently reliable. Kimbers are something of a crapshoot in my experience. I haven't personally shot a lot with the high-end guns like Wilson and Baer, but all those I've seen at classes have worked extremely well.

Low end guns often have out of spec barrel lugs and extractors, rough breechfaces, unthroated barrels, soft slide stops, and crappy magazines. None of these things contributes to good reliability.

I don't think the discussion is about low-quality 1911's vs. quality 1911's. I think what's being discussed is mil-spec vs. tricked out competition pistol. The 1911 with the looser tolerances is generally gonna be the most reliable when compared to the ultra-tight fit that is popular among some competition pistols. This is taking into account that the mil-spec model is of quality and not an out-of-spec clunker. There are still some(and getting fewer) choices out there for mil-spec for those who don't want non-custom "customs" forced upon them. And yes, they are indeed more of a bargain especially for someone who wants to eventually make it into a more genunine custom over time.

A "milspec" or basic gun is not the same as a cheap knockoff. The Springfield MilSpecs and GI guns are good. The few Colt 1991s I've seen, while not "milspec," have been decent guns. Inexpensive military surplus 1911s are a thing of the past, but if you get really lucky and find one, it'll certainly do.

No, I'm talking about "off brands," like the pimped-out, made-in-the-Philippines $380 RIA the original poster mentioned -- not basic guns from good makers.

I'd have to run some numbers, but I'm not sure buying a basic gun and then having it 'smithed (at least by a good gunsmith) is cost-effective compared to buying a 1911 that's ready to go out of the box.

++1 With yea Mike as I see it all the time down at the range. Guy comes in with $350 junk gun and then he's trying to get help from everybody there. The guys down there are good bunch, and try to help all they can, but we are not gun smiths. The smart ones come back in a few weeks with SA's or S&W's or something along them lines.

As for the ARMSCOR/RIA pistols, I hear mixed things about them. I've only seen one being sold locally so far, and it was priced much higher than what I see online. I want one of those Kahr Auto-Ordnance GI's. Allegedly they've been putting out a good product since Kahr took control. The big seller for me is that it's an American made mil-spec.

So Kayl, you any closer to deciding yet?

Originally Posted by Revolver

As for the ARMSCOR/RIA pistols, I hear mixed things about them. I've only seen one being sold locally so far, and it was priced much higher than what I see online. I want one of those Kahr Auto-Ordnance GI's. Allegedly they've been putting out a good product since Kahr took control. The big seller for me is that it's an American made mil-spec.

So Kayl, you any closer to deciding yet?

Not really; I think I'm holding on to my money until January. I'll be out of the country for Oct-Dec; I think I'll buy a RIA 1911 when I get back. I might buy a hi-point carbine tomorrow; we'll see...

I looked for a SKS locally; wasn't much of a selection. If the shop I go to tomorrow doesn't have a decent one, I'll probably get the carbine...