carrying a 'budget' gun?

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ccsniper

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How many of you carry the so called 'budget' guns (i.e. S&W sigma series, Ruger P89, P95, Kel Tec, Bersa, etc.) I am talking about the guns that run around 350 and less.
 
Sigma .40 for my every day carry.

It's cheap, and it's not the equal of the glock it copied. But it's easily minute-of-bad-guy at 15 yards, and it eats whatever I feed it.

Young folks and/or people with no money should not be ashamed of what they carry. We should be happy that there are so many adequate firearms in the $200-300 used market to facilitate the exercise of our rights, despite how many people wish that were not the case.

99% of the game is software anyway.
 
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Ive previously owned a Taurus PT745 which is a single stack version of the PT145.
Its about $375 and was a very reliable gun, But no fun to shoot at the range. I actually disliked shooting it and i cant say that about many guns.

Where i live near Columbus Ohio the local shop has sales constantly on Springfield XD's for $399 in the Essential package. I picked up the loaded version for $429 but i don't use any of the crap it came with.

so called 'budget' guns (i.e. S&W sigma series, Ruger P89, P95, Kel Tec, Bersa, etc.)
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If i owned any of those guns and it was reliable and in the calibers i find to my liking then yes id carry them.
A $2000 1911 can be a pos if it isn't reliable.

Also i don't much care to carry any gun worth over $600 as it will get lots of holster wear and scratches that only devalue a gun. But there are a few that are $1000 that are purpose made like the Colt Defenders that i would carry and could care less about its wear and tear.
 
The gun you carry should be something that you can live without. In the event that you do have to use it, it's likely to be confiscated by the PD.

Also, it shouldn't matter how much your gun costs, as long as it is reliable and you can afford to practice and become proficient with it.
 
Kel-Tec P32 & PF9, FEG PA63, Charter Arms Bulldog Pug .44 Special, Bersa .45UC in stainless...nothin' wrong with affordable handguns.

Of course, what I paid for all of my Smith & Wessons back in the day was much less.

My HS2000 (now labeled as a Springfield XD) was only $269 when I got it when it was first imported.

My Glock 27 was pretty much a throw-in on another deal I worked out.

I guess all of my handguns were pretty much "budget" guns.

Part of it all is having patience and not needing to have immediate gratification...working or waiting for the deals.
 
AWorthyOpponent said:
The gun you carry should be something that you can live without. In the event that you do have to use it, it's likely to be confiscated by the PD.

Also, it shouldn't matter how much your gun costs, as long as it is reliable and you can afford to practice and become proficient with it.
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This pretty much sums it up.

My Charter "Undercover" 2 inch .38 does everything it needs to do, cost right at $200 when I got it, and pretty much shoots to point of aim from 7 to 20 yards, give or take a couple inches. Can't ask more than that and it's ugly enough not to get sentimental over.
 
My usual carry is a Kel-Tec P-11, got it used for $250 and it's been as reliable as can be so far, several hundred rounds down the pipe with no issues to speak of. For occassional carry, depending on what I may be doing that day, is a Colt Commander stainless. $800 new, runs like a champ and if something happens where it is taken as evidence or whatever I feel it will have been the best $800 I have ever spent.
 
I carry a P3AT. Inexpensive doesn't automatically mean junk. If it did it would make selection of firearms pretty easy.
 
PF9 and PA63 are my regular EDC's. I rotate more expensive ones occassionally but the PF9 is my usual choice
 
Sigma 40VE for me. When I bought it, it was all I could afford. I'm hoping to get my CCW soon, and it's what I'll start with. I have no worries. It feeds my handloads with XTPs just fine and while it's not dead nuts accurate, it's good enough at the close range you're likely to encounter in a bad situation.
 
Two of my three carry guns are KelTecs. They've been unremarkable but completely reliable.
 
I carry a little Polish Radom P64 in my pocket daily, and if I’m going on a long road trip I swap it out for a Taurus 24/7 Compact in .45 in a SuperTuck. Both are relatively inexpensive pistols, the Taurus was around $330 new from Bud’s IIRC and the little P64 was about $165. Both are reliable and both fill my needs quite well. I own several more expensive pistols but I have no qualms staking my life on those two weapons.
 
Everything is a "budget" gun to someone. However, for the amount you mentioned, all of my carry guns would be considered as such. I carry primarily a Kel-Tec PF9. I have also carried my Bersa Thunder and my Charter Arms Undercover. I feel fine with any of them.
 
Kel-Tec P-11 and a Ruger LCP in warm weather. Never had to use them (thank God), but they have been 100% reliable at the range since break-in.
 
I suppose most of my guns are "budget" guns. At least the ones I carry. A Sigma (9mm), CZ-82, Charter Arms Undercover 38. In the past a Kel-Tec P-11, and a Makarov could be added to the list. Shoot, I have carried a Hi-Point C-9 at one time or another.

The Smith & Wesson 19, and the Colt Commander stay in the safe.
 
Often it is advisable to look at the individual weapon, before you either praise, or slam a particular brand. Then look over the track record. IMO, a cheap weapon is more like a jennings,davis, or some of those no name, import, pot metal 22's, that used to sell at the Army/Navy store for $20. All too often it seems, it is the day 1 beginner, that is able to use just such a weapon, to bail themselves out of a bad situation. You rarely see, Firearms combat master, NRA member, and winner of many medals, Mr Smith used his belt fed Browning, to repel an alien hoard, and their UFO bent on stealing his Yugo.
Have a great day.
 
I used to pack a Makarov years ago.

A Mak in the hand is worth two HKs in the safe.



Regardless of what gun you get (cheap or expensive) put several hundred rounds through it and be sure its reliable before packing it on the street.
 
The gun you carry should be something that you can live without. In the event that you do have to use it, it's likely to be confiscated by the PD.
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What does this mean? That you should carry a cheap/economy gun to defend your life with, because it'll be taken into evidence?

I am simultaneously amused and alarmed by such an attitude.

The FIRST order of business in a gunfight is to SURVIVE said gunfight! I can do that best with the gun I shoot best.

For example, if I can shoot Gun X at a level of "100," but choose to carry Gun Z that I can only shoot at a level of "60." then why would I want to carry Gun Z ?

Typically, but not always, the gun that's harder to shoot well are the cheaper ones. Case in point, I'd rather use my XD that cost me $250 for defense over an HK USP that costs $800, simply because I am much better with the XD

To base a gun choice carried for self defense solely on cost of the gun is foolish. To me, it makes the most sense to choose the gun you shoot the best. Others may disagree.

If I had to use a $1500 gun to defend my life with, then I certainly can "live without it" after the fact.
 
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