Gun Show Prices?

[steadyrock]

So I will be in the market for an XD 45 soon, probably the service model. Generally I don't mind buying used, but the new XD's come with a thumb safety that I would really like and I don't think any of these will be hitting the used market soon. So my question is, should I buy it a gun show or from a retail store (like Ade's)? Faster to get if I go the gun show route, but what of the prices? Are gun show prices generally higher or lower than prices at brick and mortar retailers?

[Fobjoe]

I didn't even know the thumbsafety XDs made it into CA. Are you sure? Guns sold at shows are no cheaper than retail gun shops (from what I've experienced).

[aplinker]

How would it be faster at a gun show? You still have to do a PPT and wait 10 days.

[Vin496]

There is a very good chance the XD45 with thumb safety will not be CA legal.

[steadyrock]

Grr...whyzzat?

If it's not, can you friends give me a recommendation? I have liked the HK USP's I've fired, but my budget might not allow for one of those. My requirements are as follows:

* .45 ACP (.40 S&W would be my second choice, if needed)
* Light rail
* Thumb Safety
* Under $500

This will be a first handgun for me, and will be used mostly for HD and practice at the range. I don't want a Glock because I don't seem to shoot them well and to me the trigger safety is as good as no safety at all. What are your other suggestions if the thumb safety XD doesn't make the cut?

[Fobjoe]

^ it doesn't have a magazine disconnect, which is required for CA approval in addition to the drop test. I'm not even sure if the chamber loaded indicator on XDs meets the CA requirement. Just get it without the thumb safety. I have an XD45 service model that was my first handgun. Even IF the thumb safety model made it to CA, I prefer fewer safeties on my guns.

[Quiet]

My requirements are as follows:
* .45 ACP (.40 S&W would be my second choice, if needed)
* Light rail
* Thumb Safety
* Under $500
This will be a first handgun for me, and will be used mostly for HD and practice at the range. I don't want a Glock because I don't seem to shoot them well and to me the trigger safety is as good as no safety at all. What are your other suggestions if the thumb safety XD doesn't make the cut?

S&W M&P-45

[glockk9mm]

Cant go wrong with what quiet recomended.

[Digital_Hate]

S&W M&P-45

at basspro shop the m&p .45 is $588 right now. if you open a charge card there they give you 10% off. starting thursday smith and wesson is reinstating there 2mags free offer and $30 rebate. so it should come out to $499ish. OR you can get the M&p 9mm for $349 do the same thing and it comes out to $284ish

[RANGER295]

Why are you so sold on a thumb safety? I would get a SIG personally, but that is just me. But it has no thumb safety, or any manual safety for that matter. Even though I hate them, you may be interested in a Glock, but once again no thumb safety.

[steadyrock]

I guess I want a thumb safety because I grew up a shotgunner, so I'm accustomed to the positive "lock-out" that a crossbolt safety offers: if it's on safe, it ain't gonna fire (YMMV - safeties can fail). A grip safety is better than nothing, but a thumb safety seems to offer the same amount of lock-out as a crossbolt safety. Talk me into/out of this. Your thoughts? I'm interested to learn.

[hylander]

I to like an External Safety, I was going to say Glock but you said you don't shoot them well.
I say Glock because you can have a Cominolli Thumb safety installed.
I have a Glock 23 and I will be having the Thumb saftey installed this weekend.

[JTROKS]

I like thumb safeties on 1911s. Another great thumb safety is the Witness/CZ for cocked and locked carry. Nothing is faster.

[Hunter158]

OP and others who have said it is not possible to add the manual safety model to the list... From the Springfield web site: *For California legal models the part number is XD9661SP06."
9661 PDF

I know, it does not currently show on the DOJ list, but... Is it possible the DOJ made a typo? There are a bunch of XD's on the recently added list? Recently added list

As for not adding it because of the new safety, stranger things have happened... Like adding the Nighthawk T3

[Slayer]

at basspro shop the m&p .45 is $588 right now. if you open a charge card there they give you 10% off. starting thursday smith and wesson is reinstating there 2mags free offer and $30 rebate. so it should come out to $499ish. OR you can get the M&p 9mm for $349 do the same thing and it comes out to $284ish

Where on earth are you finding a M&P 9mm for $349??!

You must be confused with the sigma. Bass Pro has the 9mm M&P for $579