$200 to spend on a handgun - what do you get?

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I never thoug I would recommend one of these, but if concealed carry isn't the ubtention, the Hi-Point C9 is an option. The latest issue of "Gun Tests" wrings one of these out and recommends it. The thing is, that the most important costs involved in gun ownership is range fees and ammo. If you are on a budget, it's better to buy the cheaper gun and more pracyice time and ammo. The most expensive and best made firearm in the world is useless in the hands of the unskilled.
BTW, if anyone is unfamiliar with "Gun Tests" magazine, they take no advertizing and buy their guns off of dealer shelves, rather than test manufacturer supplied models. They have no problem saying negative things about anyone's products. They also test ammunition and other accessories.
 
$200? Makarov. Bersa .380s come in that price range, if you shop well. Used wheelgun, if you can find one.

$300? Way, way, way more choices.
 
Hmmmm $200?

Used Mdl 10 Smith, Ruger Speed/Service/Security-Six series

New auto...Makarov (9x18MM), Bersa .380

$300 gives you a much larger selection
 
Go to a gun range and shoot everything until you find what you like the best.

Buy that! A budget is fine but don't scrimp on a gun purchase you'll be sorry later!

Get a credit card that has 0% interest for 6 mos or put it on a CC you already have. Build your credit rating. Or, do what all college students do- ask Mom and Dad for some cash!
 
Bad news!

No one will let me buy a handgun! Despite that the age to own a handgun in Texas is 18, and that the 21 to buy law only applies to FFLs, every single private seller at a recent gun show I attended was convinced that selling to me was illegal! One of them was even an attorney :uhoh:
 
I bought a fantastic .357 M66 nickeled Taurus for about 200 at a gun show once, the best shootin' medium frame .357 I've yet owned. I got a little lucky on it, but I checked it out thoroughly before the purchase for end play, tightness, timing and such. The Makarovs are about that price range and just about everyone likes 'em, though I've never owned one. You're really draggin' the bottom line at a 200 dollar cap, but if you ain't in a hurry, you can find something you like.

Even the black powder stuff is mostly over $200, though Cabela's has a Remington 5 1/2" .44 for 200 I've been thinking about getting. It's blued and I'd like to get a stainless one, but stainless runs about 100 bucks more.

No one will let me buy a handgun! Despite that the age to own a handgun in Texas is 18, and that the 21 to buy law only applies to FFLs, every single private seller at a recent gun show I attended was convinced that selling to me was illegal! One of them was even an attorney
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Hmm, well, my parents were with me when I bought my first handgun. I was 17 IIRC. It was just after the 68 GCA. I don't know if it was legal or if the sales person at the discount store didn't realize the law had changed or what. LOL

You interested in black powder cap and ball shooting at all? You can mail order black powder. I got into it when I was in college cause I was broke and wanted to shoot. I had no idea how much fun I was getting into. I mean, they're not real practical, but they sure are fun to play with. Heck, the Ruger Old Army verges on practical for hunting. Thing is as accurate as a modern gun and hits hard! The Remingtons are the way I'd go and you can get one from http://www.cabelas.com or bass pro or the other mail order places. Don't mess with brass frame ones, not good, eventually stretch.





This one is the one I've been thinking about ordering lately.

i215506sn01.jpg
 
Used Mdl 10 Smith, Ruger Speed/Service/Security-Six series

New auto...Makarov (9x18MM), Bersa .380
What he said....^^^^
 
Get a credit card that has 0% interest for 6 mos or put it on a CC you already have. Build your credit rating. Or, do what all college students do- ask Mom and Dad for some cash!
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Might be a good gun idea, but danged sorry economics. :rolleyes::D I mean, I should know. But, we all probably do stupid stuff like that in school. :banghead: Eventually got paid for, when I got a real job. :rolleyes:
 
Bad news!

No one will let me buy a handgun! Despite that the age to own a handgun in Texas is 18, and that the 21 to buy law only applies to FFLs, every single private seller at a recent gun show I attended was convinced that selling to me was illegal! One of them was even an attorney
Click to expand...

Good news!
Now you have plenty of time to save for what you really want. For the time being, get proficient with that .22 cal you got. As you might know a good hit with a .22 is way better than a miss with anything else.
How ' bout a shotty for now? or maybe a carbine of some sort?
 
For 300 bucks you can get a Browning Hi Power copy. FM in Argentina makes them. Just Google FM hi power copy for sale. Most of the better distributors carry them.

you can also get a good .357 revolver (used) by Ruger or Taurus; excellent quality either.

Kel Tec makes a good 9mm concealment pistol, new, for under 300 bucks.

Enjoy the search.
 
For the time being, get proficient with that .22 cal you got. As you might know a good hit with a .22 is way better than a miss with anything else.
How ' bout a shotty for now? or maybe a carbine of some sort?
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Now I'm wondering why I haven't been keeping my SKS loaded under my bed O_O. I got so wrapped up in getting a new handgun I totally forgot I could just as well use my rifle for HD.
 
Just remember that a Defensive Handgun is not just a gun, it is part of a system that should be put together with more than just a shoestring. Things you need to add are a Good Holster and belt, Something to carry additional ammo and the pocket to carry that in.
Things to add to the list
Holster
Mag pouch/Speed loader pouch
Magazines/Speed loader/speed strips
Belt
Ammo for practice
Ammo for Carry
Training...


Suggestion is a good S&W Mod 10.
 
CZ52!!!!!! Hot round up to 1500FPS. Very reliable and fun to shoot. Ammo is cheap and can be found everywhere.

250px-Cz52_from_en_wiki.jpg

The can be had for less that $150
 
For $300...

Get two Makarovs!
If I had to buy a handgun for that money, it would be two Maks. For $200, I'd buy one Mak and ten boxes of ammo.
Or, for $200 you could get 1.5K of ammo for your SKS.
I'd get a Mak, a holster, and ammo. Maks come with three mags usually, so you will be fine for a while. There are only 23 parts in a Makarov, and I've never had a failure in many tens of thousands of rounds through mine. They are small enough to conceal, but big enough to really shoot, and they are very safe for carry.
 
a used M9 or 226

I was at the gun shop the other day and saw a M9 used police gun and a used Sig 226 with 2 standard cap mags, also a used police gun for $275 and $295. You can find some good deals if you look hard.
 
I was at the gun shop the other day and saw a M9 used police gun and a used Sig 226 with 2 standard cap mags, also a used police gun for $275 and $295. You can find some good deals if you look hard.
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WHERE!?!
 
As an alternative... You've got some time. Throw that $200 in a money market savings account, save your loose change and deposit it, put away a little here and there, and don't blow it on the bar tab the night of your 21st, and you'll have a pretty decent gun fund. In the meantime, rent, hit up your friends and range buddies for a few rounds through their guns, and figure out what you're really hot to buy. Instant gratification is overrated... not by all that much, but I've got some experience in really stupid gun decisions, and taking it slow and really targeting your purchases towards what you really want is never a bad idea. Ideally, you want to have the money, and then be looking for that special handgun, rather than the other way around.
 
If you just want something to play with, Walther P22's are going for $239 around here at Vance's. Saw a used one for $229 at Powder Room.

Also, if you want a dedicated .357 revolver, the Rossi .357's (made by Taurus) are going for around $249 around here. 6 shots, rubber grips, didn't look bad, thinking of getting one for the wife. Stainless or blued.

You should be able to find a Ruger Wundernine (P85, P89, etc) for $300 or less, probably used.
 
If I had that tight a budget, I wouldn't consider anything other than a used S&W wheelgun.

You can check out a revolver pretty well without shooting it, and determine with nearly 100% accuracy whether or not it's reliable. NOT SO with any $200 semi-auto pistol, not even a Makarov. (Most work well, but yes, I HAVE seen Maks that I wouldn't trust my life to - in fact, two of them showed up in the hands of other students at my last CHL renewal class.)
 
:scrutiny: Save up another $250.00 and get a XD in .40 or a GLOCK 21 / 45 ACP type. Don't try to get out cheap, remember - 'U get what U pay for'.

R U getting it for protection, or just to carry around, or to shoot?

U might even look at a nice CZ in .380 = Very accurate I might add.
 
A used Glock 9mm. Maybe a police trade in. Unfortunately, many police trade ins have not been fired much, and Glock 9mm's last a long time anyway.
 
100_5166.jpg

Just an old farts opinion, but if you can get $200 now, wait a couple of months, save your pennies, and start looking again when you have around $300.

You open yourself up to MANY more possibilities in the $300 market area, and you won't have to settle for crap either.

If you want a firearm to protect yourself with, don't jump the gun and buy a piece of merde that might NOT go bang when you need it to.

Hard to beat a Ruger Security-Six, or any of the S&W police trade-in's. Should you buy used be sure and have a buddy with firearms knowledge help you pick it out and make sure it's not worn out.

Best Wishes,

JP
 
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