"Entry level" 9mm handguns

[Slater]

Took advantage of CDNN's sale on PPX 9mm's, and the FFL I used had a "free transfer" promotion going on. So total OTD price was $294.63 on a PPX M1. Kinda got me wondering how Walther can make this gun so cheaply. I would imagine that an injection-molded polymer frame can't be all that expensive to manufacture. And the barrel is a three-piece affair. I'm sure that most metal parts are MIM (barrel and slide are Tenifer treated). Mags are Mec-Gar (IIRC).

So what component would be a candidate for the most cost savings - the barrel?

[Kain]

For the manufacturer the actual cost to produce is not anywhere near what they sell them for generally speaking. I think it was once quoted that it cost's Glock something like $50 to produce a single Glock, or something like that. Chances are if CDNN has them they got them cheap when someone dumped stock, whether it was Walther, or a distributor, or someone.

[GNXII]

I recall that stripped Glock frames are something like $20 to make. Whole gun was in the area of $75 to $85. Barrel was most expensive part to make.

[FishTaco]

Looks like a great deal. Isn't that very similar to the PPQ?

[williejc]

The recent buying panic resulted in some distributors and dealers having excessive inventory that they may have paid too much for. They often dump it to CNN and other similar buyers.

[Slater]

Looks like a great deal. Isn't that very similar to the PPQ?

Somewhat bulkier than the PPQ and hammer-fired instead of striker fired.

[Etho]

Interesting and tempting. My sister shoots and loves the PPQ, which I happen to like shooting as well.

[pat701]

IMHO a Sig SP2022 in 9mm is great entry level pistol.

[ruchik]

I think the term "entry-level" is kind of a misnomer. Entry-level is whatever you are able to afford, or are willing to pay to get started in any particular hobby or endeavor.

[Slater]

In terms of 9mm handguns, "entry level" (from what I've gathered) as a general rule seems to refer to those guns in the sub-$400 range. The Turkish P99 clones would fall into that range as well as a number of others.

I know that it's a matter of terminology or preference. Would a Glock 17 or Beretta 92 be included as "entry level"? Guess it depends on your perspective.