this is always going to be subjective in that what I, or anyone else, suggests may not be to your taste, so, with that said I will suggest two customs and one production brand that certainly hit firm and are well made.
The high quality customs that typically deliver a very firm hit are Jeff Olney cues with his 3/8 10 phenolic joint or a Pat Diveney cue with the G10 glass pin. You can find these from time to time in the $400ish range but they will be plainer ones, likely without points. I can't emphasize enough what good values these are, their playability is top notch, firm hitters with great feedback. Again, please keep in mind that interpretations can vary.
The production cue I would suggest would be Pechauer cues which can be had new in the $300 - $400 range, some can go for as much as a couple grand but the $300 ones will not hold your game back any.
One other thing to keep in mind is that the tip choice can certainly have a big influence on how firm a cue will hit.
Whatever you end up getting I wish you the best.
brian kc
