Ruger Forum banner

So, some of these Turkish pistols look like really good deals.

11K views 26 replies 20 participants last post by  HardLuck 
#1 ·
The logical part of my brain says my next gun should probably be a 22lr pistol, as that would be a nice complement to the pistols I already have. But I keep getting caught up on the cost of a good 22lr, and for that price there seem to be some nice 9mm options out there.

In particular I've been attracted to two Turkish pistols. The first is the SAR B6p, which is a polymer CZ 75 clone. SAR was being distributed in the US by EAA, but that arrangement ended and SAR still hasn't gotten their own US subsidiary up and running. The end result is that the B6p can be had for under $300 as EAA tries to dump their remaining inventory.

Meanwhile, Canik, another Turkish gun maker, has its own top quality stuff out trying to make a name for value. That Nutnfancy guy on YouTube just gave the Canik 55 T9, a polymer clone of the Walther P99, a very good review. Essentially, he said it was up there with Glock and the other $500+ polymer full size pistols. But the T9 sells for $3-350, and that includes two mags and a holster set-up, among other things. And Nutnfancy isn't the only one impressed with the gun.

Makes for a tough decision as I can't buy every gun I want, unfortunately. :D
 
See less See more
#4 ·
Speaking of Turks, Stoeger

I've been thinking about a new to me 9mm. Something not main stream with good reviews. Ran across a Stoeger Cougar 8000. Price is real good, basically a Beretta made in Turkey. Felt great in hand, might look at a CZ 75 compact also. Country of origin on the CZ is? Czech?

Guy at the LGS remarked when I asked about Stoeger, they do not carry, was that Turkish barrels are top of the line and he was a big Beretta fan. Double win if he was correct on the barrels.
 
#5 ·
I've been thinking about a new to me 9mm. Something not main stream with good reviews. Ran across a Stoeger Cougar 8000. Price is real good, basically a Beretta made in Turkey. Felt great in hand, might look at a CZ 75 compact also. Country of origin on the CZ is? Czech?
Yeah, Czech. CZ still makes their own versions today, of course, but the CZ 75 design was from the cold war era so it was copied almost from the start by western companies since there was no registered copyright in the west for it. So some of these CZ 75 clone manufacturers have been making them for decades at this point.

I don't know about Stoeger, but Sar and Canik are apparently top of the line Turkish arms makers who follow the top EU production standards so that they can market what they make to other EU countries for law enforcement and the like. So the Sar and Canik pistols are by all accounts not cutting corners on quality.
 
#6 · (Edited)
CZ's are Czech and they make TOP notch pistols. The genuine CZ is not too much more $$ than a Turkish clone, I say just go for the real deal.

CZ is a growing company, they acquired Dan Wesson a few years back. There will always be support for your gun if it needs maintenance.

There were a TON of CZ 83's in .380 and 9mm CZ75's imported a couple years ago, the Czech police in Moravia switched to other guns and Century imported bunches of CZ trade ins here. If you look around GunBroker or gun shows occasionally a well worn CZ75 can be found for $300 or so. Mine had lots of wear but looked hardly fired.

I have several CZ's, an 85b 9mm, a 75 pre-B , a 75 DAO .40 and my wife uses a .32 ACP CZ83 for CC.

I've seen the Turk Beretta clones, again I say just look for a police trade in 92fs for $450 and be money ahead and get the real deal.

Heck you can get a brand new CZ P07 Duty for $450 NIB and have the same gun used by the Czech "state police" , and you know they aren't going to use a bad gun. CZ has always been under rated, I just don't see buying a clone for nearly the same price.
 
#7 · (Edited)
In case you guys do not know

Stoeger is a subsidiary of Beretta. The cougar 8000 is the same design with the rotating barrel as the Beretta Cougar that is out of production. No polymer, all metal except grips Probable sub $400 gun if you hunt hard enough. My local Dunhams SG has them for $469 I think. Buds is about $100-$75 less. Production is in Turkey using Beretta machinery, thus price is kept low.

My LGS has CZ, I'll have to go Czech those out.:D
 
#11 ·
I have the TriStar L-120. Made by Canik. Has an alloy steel frame. Weight is excellent. On the other hand I have a Stoeger Cougar 8040. It is heavy. Both are great firearms with outstanding fit and finish. Highly recommend either one.
 
#12 ·
I did notice the weight issue when I was looking at EAA Witness 40 cal pistols (made by Tangfolio). They weigh 32oz (in either 9mm or 40) despite being polymer frame pistols, which is as much as my 20 year old P89 all metal pistol. Compared to the Glocks (4th gen) at 25-26oz and the SAR B6P at 28oz (all guns unloaded weight.)
 
#14 ·
So I'm resurrecting my own old thread because I finally got around to picking one of these pistols up. Well, actually, I picked a Canik TP9 back then and sold it earlier this year (not because it wasn't a good gun) and finally grabbed a Sar B6P. I paid $262 total, including shipping, to get it to my FFL. I took it out today, and I have to say I'm really impressed. Look, I like my Rugers, but this gun is right up there as far as I can see. Accurate, well made, everything you would want. And at this price the $25/per for extra mags (from Mec-Gar, it uses standard Cz75B mags) is just fine.
 
#16 ·
Personally, I wouldn't but another Turkish gun. Been there, done that, won't do it again.
May be inexpensive, but then again, you get what pay for!
 
#20 ·
I just picked up a lightly used (under 200 rds) Girsan Yavus 16 Compact. The Turkish Gov't wanted the Beretta 92 for their military and got Beretta to set up a modern factory in Turkey to build them. Once the contract was completed Girsan, under license fro Beretta took over the factory and manufacture several lines. Two of which are the M 92FS Beretta and the Compact version with a 4.25" barrel.

I have put about 500 rds through the gun with no issues. I installe a Beretta D Spring which brought the trigger pull down to an acceptable level. The guns are extremely well made on modern CNC equipment. Fit and finish are on par with Beretta.

Up here they sell for just under $700Cdn ($490US). I got mine for $400Cdn used.

I think they are a best buy up here and likely even better in the US. For those looking for a Beretta 92 FS check out the Girsans, either the FS or Compact. The Compact Girsan makes is a copy of the old Centurian so it takes the FS mags and has the same frame, just a shorter barrel.

Take Care

Bob
 
#21 ·
I have a TriStar (Canik) L120 and absolutely love it. It doesn't seem to be imported any longer, which is a real shame as I really like the feel of the fullsize 75b clone with the lighter alloy frame.

Here's the obligatory pic (with VZ grips that I added):
 
#22 ·
Looking good. The Turks have been making firearms since Christ was a Corporal. I think the CZ clones are coming in up here but not many and not often. The Canuck 1911's sell well but they only come in with a rail which I don't need or care for. The quality is there as it is with the CZ's.

Take Care

Bob
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top