Best value per dollar handguns in the under $300 range?

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JonF

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I've decided to pick up a few more handguns with my remaining pistol purchase permits and have set some criteria for such. I'm curious to know what options there are out there for the $300 or under range that really give you the best value for your dollar. The guns can be new or used, pistol or revolver and should be considered to be examples of some degree of desirability (ie. quality, collectability, historic, etc). There are only a couple exceptions and that is no junk guns and no mouse guns or derringers. One item already on my list is a surplus SIG P6. I think its a fine example of a compact pistol and falls perfectly in the price range. I know there will be countless candidates out there in the used market that qualify just on price alone, but i'm really looking for ones with some exceptional quality--ones that truly give you the most value for your money.

my list of possibilties:
- Sig P6 surplus
- CZ 82 makarov
 
Sig P6

SW Sigma

the sigma gets a bad rep but they always go bang and if you can deal with the heavy pull its a good buy
 
Surplus Walther P1 HERE

These even have the hex reinforcement pin or whatever its called. Supposed to be desirable if to be used as a shooter.

Or I could sell you my old Sigma 380 for, I don't know, 299.99? :evil:
 
The best value is in the god awfully ugly Hi-points. At last weekends gunshow they were selling them for $119. They are chunky and blocky, but they are reliable and cheap. I have had several, including the carbines, and they are as reliable as a sharp stick. Just got to get over the fugly looks and chunky feel.
 
Something used.

Plenty of high quality rigs to select from. Estate sales, thinning collections, etc.

New... not so much for under $300 IMO.
 
The guns can be new or used, pistol or revolver and should be considered to be examples of some degree of desirability (ie. quality, collectability, historic, etc).
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for under $300? :eek:



you state that you'd like to buy "a few more" handguns, so I'm assuming you mean more than two. It's just my humble opinion, but I'd prefer a coupla quality handguns that will hold their value and be a pleasure to shoot, than a whole fistfull of P.O.S. ones. I know some say those with the most toys wins, but it don't count if the toys are junk.
 
Makarov

Oh, treat yourself to a Makarov. They're still plenty cheap, as is Mak ammo if you like milsurp, or .380 if you want a conversion. They are well made, very reliable, compact, sturdy, and all that. Some history (like being made in a country that doesn't exist anymore, like East Germany) can be had.

They don't tend to be beautifully finished - they are functional military sidearms.
I shoot mine in .380 a lot - thousands of rounds a year - and it'll outshoot a lot of other milsurp handguns I've had over the ages. You'll find it's pretty concealable for a "military sidearm" even if it doesn't have the "cool" :cool:of a P38 or CZ52 (both of which are good to play with, too, by the way).
 
you state that you'd like to buy "a few more" handguns, so I'm assuming you mean more than two. It's just my humble opinion, but I'd prefer a coupla quality handguns that will hold their value and be a pleasure to shoot, than a whole fistfull of P.O.S. ones. I know some say those with the most toys wins, but it don't count if the toys are junk.
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I'm not really looking to stockpile a bunch of guns just for the sake of it and i'm definitely in it to be a collector of any sort either. I'm just looking for good, yet somewhat inexpensive examples that i can actually use. I do appreciate quality and my current pistol selection are decent shooters, IMHO (CZ75 custom, DW PM7, Buckmark target). I'm not adverse to spending some money to get a quality product but there's also a wealth of stuff like the items mentioned in this thread that are good examples of quality firearms that can be had at a discount for reasons of surplus, age or otherwise. Certainly not looking for any POS jam-o-matic's or kaboom prone guns either.
 
+1 on S&W Sigma, but under $300 is not easy with that gun.

Maybe a Ruger LCP.

Maybe some other CZ Surplus guns.
 
I'm not adverse to spending some money to get a quality product but there's also a wealth of stuff like the items mentioned in this thread that are good examples of quality firearms that can be had at a discount for reasons of surplus, age or otherwise.
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JonF......Quality is a very relative term.....one man's trash is another man's treasure. Good luck with your search.
 
CZ40b's at CDNN are $289. My 40b will out shoot 2 of my 3 SIGs and eat ANY trype of ammo I feed it! As far as durability, Burningsquirrels has over 10000 rounds though his 40b and it is just getting broken in!
 
I bought a LE trade in model 65 S&W for under $300 with shipping and feel like it was a good purchase.... Nice well built gun and hard as heck to ever wear it out if you take care of it.
 
+1 on S&W Sigma, but under $300 is not easy with that gun.
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huh. i can get them 275-300 on a regular day, all day long

on a sale day, i can get it straight from Smith and Wesson retail center for 300


as for the walther P1's OMEGA weapon systems has them too. last i heard. 250$
 
If I were in your shoes, the first $300 pistol I'd be looking for would be a Ruger MkII. Reliable, good shooters that take cheap ammo. I take mine to the range weekly, and it has paid for itself several times over in encouraging me to put rounds downrange regularly and focus on the fundamentals.

Any S&W revolver that you can purchase for under $300 is almost guaranteed to be a bargain. At this price point, expect wear/finish issues. If it functions correctly, consider the wear to be "character". :)

The LCP is a new, quality CCW weapon that is worth the price of admission. You will have to work to find one under $300, but it can be done. I've seen two in the last month, and bought one. Having owned (and sold) four Kel-Tecs, the LCP has twice the value and quality (especially functional reliablility) at only a 25-50% premium.

As far as the Hi-Points go, I would not feel compelled to add one to my collection, unless my collection consisted of pointy sticks and a stone ax. The Hi-Point would be an improvement at that point. They are like a mobile home--better than sleeping under a bridge, but will only lose value. Not a snob, just a realist. Spend your money on something that will maintain it's value.

Taurus--maybe. I've owned one good Taurus revolver (right at the $300 price point) and sold it to a good friend. I miss it (M-431, blued 44 Spl) and he allows me to carry it when I visit him. I -might- buy another. I would be -very- careful, as I have examined a lot of used Taurus revolvers and pistols at gun shows and (as yet) never been tempted to buy another. Again, not snobbery, but a careful evaluation of cost/value.

The pickings in the $300 range can be kind of slim. If you can move up to $400, a whole other world of choices emerges....
 
Yep....

Makarov
CZ40B
PA-63
CZ 52
Bersa Thunder

And I dunno if you can still get a P6 for under $300, but if you can, that's a steal for sure.
 
P-6, heard great things, want one myself.

I am probably going to end up buying a lot of the mkarov styled guns. And they are around $200 still.

Picked up a FEG high power (FP9) for under $300, but that was a find.
 
Went to a gun show a couple of weeks ago. Man tried to sell me a like new Sig P-225 for $275.00. There are deals out there just get out & look pawn shops, estate sales, gun shows. Just depends on how much you want to look.
 
Strike Taurus off your list since you aren't considering Junk Guns.
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I wouldn't consider Taurus a "Junk Gun" at all as a matter of fact I was going Monday to trade a 2nd gen G17 for a Taurus PT145 or PT745 for daily carry. They are right at the edge of your limit 300 to 350. .45acp, second chance trigger, reliable, I have a PT92 in the safe that has probably 1000s of rounds with no failures. But please don't push a good gun to the wayside on one persons opinion.
 
A couple of years ago I got a barely used CZ75BD for 300 OTD. Like someone above said, there are great deals out there if you are willing to look around for them.
 
I'd say get a 1851 Colt Navy reproduction, which can be found for well under $300.

If bp isn't for you the Makarov you mentioned will do just fine.
 
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