5 Best Surplus Handguns to Own and Shoot

When most people hear the words “surplus,” they immediately think of rifles and other long guns.

Or perhaps they think of quiet, dusty stores that sell camouflage clothing and dented canteens.

However, surplus handguns are another segment of military and police surplus collecting that should get shooting and firearms enthusiasts excited.

Especially those who enjoy shooting handguns more than rifles.

Let’s take a look at some of the interesting and affordable surplus handguns that any firearm enthusiast or surplus collector would be proud to own.

How We Chose the Best Surplus Handguns

Input for this article came from the PPT editorial team and our writers. Together, we have a combined shooting experience of 30+ years, including instruction, competition, and multiple shooting disciplines.

We’ve spent countless hours researching and shooting various guns, including plenty of surplus guns. Like you, we love buying neat stuff, too. Between us, we either own or have hands-on time with every handgun on this list or their close variants.

This list is comprised of guns that you can still readily get from online vendors without having to go through any annoying bidding processes or long-term hunting for deals at gun shows or pawn shops. Everything on this list is fairly available as of the time of writing.

But we had to make some tough calls to keep the list reasonable. If you don’t see your favorite surplus handgun, it doesn’t mean we missed it; it just means we couldn’t include it this time.

Best Surplus Handguns

1. Tokarev Pistols - Editor's Pick

Editor's Pick

Tokarev Pistols

$349

at Guns.com

Prices accurate at time of writing

$349 at Guns.com

Palmetto State Armory (see price)

Classic Firearms (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 7.62x25mm Tokarev
• Action: Single-action only
• Barrel Length: 4.6"
• Weight: 30.1 oz
• Capacity: 8, 9

The Tokarev TT-30 semi-automatic Russian pistol is one of the most well-known surplus handguns out there.

The original TT-30 was originally designed in the 1930s by Fedor Tokarev when the Soviet Military was in search of a new sidearm to replace the aging Nagant M1895 revolvers that were still standard issue at the time.

A few weeks after the design of the pistol, 1,000 of the guns were ordered to be used in troop trials. Not long after, the TT-30 was adopted for use in the Red Army.

However, despite being put into production, the TT-30 was already undergoing redesigns to simplify the manufacturing process., with the redesigned pistol being dubbed the TT-33.

During the TT-30 production run from 1930 to 1936, about 96,000 total pistols were made.  The TT-33, on the other hand, had a much more prolific production run, with approximately 1.7 million being made between 1933 and 1952.

The Tokarev is chambered for the 7.62x25mm Tokarev cartridge. This cartridge is a very flat shooting round that packs a hard punch.

For example, modernly produced 7.62x25mm ammo from the Wolf brand has a muzzle velocity of 1,722 feet per second and 560-foot pounds of muzzle energy. That is stout, even by today's standards.

On top of impressive ballistics, the Tokarev is renowned for being extremely durable and reliable, even in extreme conditions.

While hunting down an original Russian Tokarev can be a difficult and increasingly expensive proposition these days, there are some easier alternatives.

The Yugoslavian M57 TT Tokarev pistol, also known as the Zastava M57, is a cheaper licensed copy of the Russian Tokarev. It was used by the Yugoslav People’s Army, starting in 1957 until 1992.

The main difference between the two pistols was that the M57 featured a 9-round detachable magazine, while the Soviet version only had an 8-round magazine.

A third option is the Chinese Type 54, another direct copy of the Tokarev. These feature the same 8-round capacity as the original Soviet version. Again, these are much easier to find and more affordable than the original versions.

While the original Tokarevs had no manual or external safeties, the imported Yugo M57 and Chinese Type 54s do in order to meet US import laws. These safeties typically come in the form of manual slide or frame-mounted safeties or trigger blade safeties.

The power, simplicity, and reliability of this pistol make it popular amongst military surplus collectors and shooters.

2. Makarov Pistol - Best Russian Surplus

Best Russian Surplus

Makarov Pistols

$479

at Guns.com

Prices accurate at time of writing

$479 at Guns.com

Classic Firearms (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 9x18mm Makarov, .380 ACP
• Action: Double-action/single-action, direct-blowback
• Barrel Length: 3.68"
• Weight: 26 oz
• Capacity: 8

Another staple in the lineup of Russian surplus is the iconic and classic Makarov Pistol, or PM (Pistolet Makarova).

The Makarov took heavy inspiration from Germany's DA/SA, direct-blowback Walther PP and PPK pistols. In true Russian fashion, they simplified the design even further to make it easier to produce and more rugged.

Russia elected to develop its own round, the 9x18mm Makarov, for the pistol. This round is extremely similar in performance to the .380 ACP round found in many direct-blowback pistols of the era.

Developed in 1948, the Makarov became the Russian military standard sidearm by 1951, replacing the Tokarev pistol.

Although the pistol was formally replaced by the Russian military in 2003, it never really left service. It is still in sporadic use in the Russian military, and is still in use by various countries throughout the world today.

Between military and civilian production, over an estimated 5,000,000 Makarovs have been produced to date.

Baikal, a brand of Russia's Izhevsk Mechanical Plant, began producing Makarovs for the US civilian market in the 1990s. Although multiple variations were produced, the most common is the Baikal IJ-70, most of which were chambered for the native 9mm Makarov cartridge or the more Americanized .380 ACP.

While snagging a .380 ACP model might seem tempting, I say spring for the 9x18mm version. Having the ammunition to match the name of the gun just exudes a much more "surplus-y" feel to me.

While direct-blowback guns aren't always the most pleasant to shoot, the Makarov is by no means uncomfortable, and the cool factor is definitely there. Not to mention, these are some of the most reliable handguns ever made.

3. Surplus Hi-Power Pistols - Best Shooter

Best Shooter

Browning Hi-Power

$799

at Classic Firearms

Prices accurate at time of writing

$799 at Classic Firearms

Guns.com (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Action: Single-action only
• Barrel Length: 4.65"
• Weight: ~32 oz
• Capacity: 13, 15

One of the most popular overall service pistols on the surplus handgun market today is the Browning Hi-Power.

This gun is a single-action, semi-automatic handgun based on a design by famed John Browning that was originally chambered in 9mm.

The Hi-Power is an elegant design with a slim hand feel and excellent ergonomics. It was one of the earliest successful pistols to feature a double-stack magazine. These are sweet handguns.

The Hi-Power has also been one of the most widely used service pistols in history and has been used by the armed forces of over 50 different countries.

Despite that popularity, an actual Browning Hi-Power can be very pricey on the secondary market. However, there are several variants available on the surplus market that can sometimes crop up for less money.

For example, the FEG clones, Mauser Model 80s, and Israeli Kareen copies can be found in the $500-750 range here and there. When compared to the often $1000+ Brownings and FN models, that is a steal.

FEG PJK-9HP

$520

at Guns.com

Prices accurate at time of writing

$520 at Guns.com

Classic Firearms (see price)

And for those who are still too nervous to take the plunge on a surplus pistol, don't fret, you have even more options. A recent resurgence in Hi-Power clones has taken the gun world by storm. You can snag brand-new Hi-Powers like the Girsan MCP-35, Springfield SA-35, and Inglis L9A1.

But as always, the original is always going to be the best (and coolest) in our book. Buy one, and you won't regret it!

What do you think of the Hi-Power?

{
  "blockName": "core/shortcode",
  "attrs": [],
  "innerBlocks": [],
  "innerHTML": "\n[ar]\n",
  "innerContent": [
    "\n[ar]\n"
  ]
}

4. CMP 1911 - Most Iconic

Most Iconic

CMP 1911

$1150

at Civilian Marksmanship Program

Prices accurate at time of writing

$1150 at Civilian Marksmanship Program

Specs

• Caliber: .45 ACP
• Action: Single-action only
• Barrel Length: 5.03"
• Weight: 39 oz
• Capacity: 7, 8

Ah, the old tried-and-true 1911. It is no shocker that it makes this list.

John Moses Browning's most iconic design, the 1911, was also his most popular --- and for good reason.

Nothing quite feels and points like a 1911. There is a reason so many guns mimic the grip angle even today. They feel amazing in the hand.

There is an entire rich history behind the 1911 and the impact it has had on modern firearm design. So much so that we have an entire article on it!

If you find these guns interesting and you like surplus, you are in luck. The CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program) has recently resumed online sales of US Army surplus 1911s.

These are a bit spendy, with prices ranging from $1,150 to $1,300, depending on what grade you are considering purchasing.

While most of the current CMP 1911s do not feature all matching or original parts, you are still getting a true piece of Americana and a sweet shooter for your hard-earned dollars.

5. Beretta 84BB - Most Affordable

Most Affordable

Beretta 84BB

$349

at Palmetto State Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$349 at Palmetto State Armory

Classic Firearms (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: .380 ACP
• Action: Double-action/single-action, direct-blowback
• Barrel Length: 3.8"
• Weight: 23 oz
• Capacity: 13

Fair warning: this one isn't a military surplus gun, but it is still a surplus pistol.

But do not let that deter you because this is an awesome gun --- the Beretta 84BB.

Over the last few years, we have seen an influx of Italian police trade-ins, including the .32 ACP Beretta 81BB and, more recently, the .380 ACP 84BB models.

These double-stack, direct-blowback pistols have all the panache and sexy lines you'd expect from an older Beretta pistol. The 84BB is an older version of what eventually became the Beretta Cheetah series, although the design has generally stayed the same throughout the years.

They are pretty large as far as .380 ACP pistols go, and the metal frame really helps soak up the sharper recoil that direct-blowback pistols are known for.

On top of being very accurate, they are also reliable, and new production magazines are readily available. Despite being a gun from the 80s, it is modern enough to still be viable for concealed carry if you so wish.

One of the reasons this gun makes the list isn't just for its performance or style - the current batch of 84BB pistols is extremely affordable, and most of the guns are in very good condition as far as surplus goes.

Meet the Experts

This article builds upon the work of former PPT freelance writer Brian Belko.

Expanding on this article is our editor Wyatt Sloan. Wyatt is an NRA-certified instructor with previous experience as a USPSA competitor. Wyatt personally owns over 200 firearms, a small chunk of surplus included, and has 10 years of home-based FFL firearm sales. He has used his extensive experience with firearms at large to test guns for Pew Pew Tactical — evaluating them based on our standards and metrics.

Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.

Final Thoughts

Surplus handguns are readily available and offer a different experience when compared to shooting milsurp rifles.

The common ground comes with the fact that when you shoot a surplus gun, be it a rifle or pistol, you are firing a piece of history.

Do you have a favorite surplus pistol? Let us know in the comments below! Looking for more surplus? Check out our article on the 5 Best Military Surplus Rifles You Can Still Buy.

Latest Updates

March 2024: Combined Tokarev models into one section. Removed 1895 Nagant Revolver. Added Makarov PM, CMP 1911, and Beretta 84BB.