Beater handguns

Status
Not open for further replies.
More often than not I'd say that my handguns (in general) are "beater" handguns. My duty weapon has seen rain, sleet, snow, heat, sand, dirt, etc. My everyday carry gun goes with me for chores, hiking, hunting, and everywhere else. Handguns get some wear for me, and I don't mind this. I carry a Glock both as my duty and off-duty gun, and they're pretty durable guns that hold up well to everyday abuse.
 
Pocket guns, for me, are true beaters. They never look good. I keep mine free of pocket fuzz and keep them cleaned and oiled, but they generally have the most scratches on them from banging around with the odd forgotten coin in the pocket or whatnot. They tend to have the most pitting from leg sweat as well. All of the LCPs I have owned are such things. The LCPII is no different. My little NAA Wasp .22 mag has a good amount of scratches on the grip due to it hanging out of my watch pocket so much.

I would say that I purchased my CA Pitbull as a beater. I wanted something bigger than a mouse gun for the woods but nothing that would pull my pants down. I wanted stainless for easy clean up but inexpensive as to not worry about buggering it up if I scraped it against a tree or bumped it into a door frame. A .45 that costs about the same as a 662 is good enough for me to carry when walking the dogs by the woods.


My beater .22 I hate. It's a Plinkerton .22 six shooter that weighs as much as a .45 and gets light primer strikes when you try to shoot cheap ammo. It would have gone bye-bye long ago, but its worth so little it's not worth the trade in and I have no one I know of who would have a use for the thing. It's certainly a gun I dont mind beating on, but I never have any use to do so. I keep it in my garage stashed with some other odds and ends. In a very big emergency a crappy .22 may be better than nothing.
 
For me, ALL of my plastic guns are beaters. I’m not hating on them, I have a lot of them.
 
Last edited:
ulflyer

Looks like a WWII Victory model. Love the SW tapered barrels.
Click to expand...

Yes it looks like a Victory Model but has no markings on it to show that it was ever Government Issue. More likely than not it was one of many revolvers supplied to banks and Defense industries for security guards to use. My gun even has GE Co. (General Electric Co.?), electropencilled on the right side.

Still makes for a decent nightstand gun with a little bit of history to go with it!
 
Yeah, I would normally consider my G19 or my 642 in the role of “beater” gun.

Just got a G42 that might just replace the J frame for the really littler side.

That being said, bumming around in the woods or on an ATV or RTV, it’s usually my Auto Ordnance 1911 or Cimmaron Model P (5.5 inch, .45 Colt).
 
upload_2019-2-19_8-50-58.png

It sure was beat-up when I got it for $200.00 from Cabelas.

It was a Law Enforcement trade-in S&W Model 10-6 trade-in. What was left of the right grip and worn off blue finish on the grip frame showed this guns long career on a Officer's gun belt getting in and out of the car and rubbing against the seat.

A trip to the range proved this gun was only good for three rounds. After that the cylinder locked up and it was not possible to shoot any more rounds

A trip to the Mothership corrected what they called "ammo binding" for $100.00. They even polished the bluing. Digging around in my parts I found a used set of Magna Grips that looked much better.

It has found a second life and should easily last through the next generation.
 
chicharrones said:
Not that I don't take care of them, but carry guns are carry guns.
Click to expand...
That's it exactly. My XDs 45, and Ruger SP101 357 are well cared for, but I expect them to take a bit of a beating and show wear over time. When I eventually pick up a Sig P365, the same will be true.

Some guns just see heavy use, and will become "Eventual Beaters".
 
This is a real beater.
index.php
 
The closest thing I have to a beater is a S&W 10-5 4". I bought it 2 years ago from a lady who had bought it in 1999 as a LE trade in. She still had the receipt. She bought it, fired one box of ammo. Then a friend cleaned it for her. She loaded it with six Winchester Silver Tips the friend gave her. I got those six rounds too. It then sat in her nightstand for 18 years. The finish is quite worn from it's days on a cop's hip. The original grips are in terrible shape. It currently wears a set of speedloader cut target grips that have been modified into a boot grip. I carry & shoot it often.
 
armedwalleye said:
My new beater gun is/was going to be a Star BM, but, alas, the thing wont release the magazines without actually grabbing/hooking the heel of the mag with a finger and pulling. Just got it, and it's in the car with a shipping label going back to the seller for review/repair/replacement. I tried removing the mag disconnect, and it did no good whatsoever, so back she goes. When the issues get sorted out, that's the plan.
Click to expand...
As an update, returned the BM to the seller/retailer, and they just called. Yup, it's a clinker. They couldn't get it to function either, so they're going upgrade me to a "nice one" from the $149.99 beater status level, and send it out. While I'll have to drop another $20 for the paperwork again, to get an upgrade, if it is in fact a "nice one" will be worth the $20.
I'll report back with the results. BTW, the seller is J&G sales, and the original gun was one of the guns in our "Deals" section.
 
Dang drobs - that's too nice a gun to be a beater - probably worth $500+

This is mine - A S&W Model 439 that was filthy, with a rusty, pitted slide. Scratched up frame. Bought it at a sheriff's sale for $75. Sprayed the slide with Alumahyde II and the bottom with some desert tan gun coating. Mechanically perfect.

439.jpg
 
Last edited:
My beater gun is right there is in my avatar pic, Kel Tec PF-9. Riding on my waist isn't a happy place for any weapon, from 80+ humid days to winter weather. It gets broken down and cleaned out of dust bunnies weekly as a result.
 
This old Ruger Vaquero in .45 Colt resides in my shop most of the time, also rides in a holster when doing outside chores. Despite its age, I've only put just over 3,000 rounds through it. Usually stays out of sight:

101_0010.jpg

I bought this old .357 Magnum Three Screw from an ad in the paper. I removed the conversion parts and got it back the way God intended and fit a steel grip from from an Old Army. Intended it for a project gun, but the gun shoots well as is and I haven't been able to "pull the trigger" for the project:

100_0035_zps76a49eec.jpg

Bob Wright
 
RedlegRick writes:

My beater gun is right there is in my avatar pic, Kel Tec PF-9. Riding on my waist isn't a happy place for any weapon, from 80+ humid days to winter weather. It gets broken down and cleaned out of dust bunnies weekly as a result.
Click to expand...

A PF9 has been my EDC since I got it used in 2010. Two years later, I swapped out the blued-steel slide for a hard-chromed one to stave off the Florida rust.

I have to admit, though, that mine does not get cleaned often. The dust bunnies are actually kind of pretty when expelled in flame from the barrel. ;)
 
dodo bird said:
I’ve heard those old Taurus 82 were well built decent shooters. What’s your experience with yours?
Click to expand...
It’s a great shooter with a smooth action. When I got it, my friend that repairs S&W revolvers wanted to have a look at it. Took it down completely, gave it a good cleaning. He was impressed at how smooth the action was.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

M
  • Locked
.410 handguns for pests?
Replies
16
Views
927
rcmodel
R
C
  • Locked
"Beater" handguns that have surprised you
2
Replies
33
Views
3K
Spieler
S
O
  • Locked
"Classic" handguns
2
Replies
35
Views
3K
Armybrat
A
T
  • Locked
Heritage .45LC
Replies
8
Views
2K
tpelle
T
N
  • Locked
Advice on Purchase
Replies
10
Views
538
presspuller
P
Back
Top