carrying a 'budget' gun?

[Armored farmer]

I have been known to wander North of the border on some fishing/hunting adventures. Handgun laws being what they are in Canada.....I carry something that will sink to the bottom of a lake and not break my heart.
The last 2 trips there was a Davis .22mag derringer in my tackle box. Not much of a weapon, but waaay better than nothing.

 

[Guillermo]

Ugly as an oozing baboon butt however a police trade-in Glock 23 (40 caliber) fits the bill.

About 300 bucks and dependable as gravity

 

[Ben86]

2 out of my three CC guns are budget guns, they are the ruger lcp and taurus 709. Both are reliable and accurate. The taurus had one FTE during its break in period but has run perfectly fine since. My other CC gun is the kahr pm9, I'd be heart broken to loose it ($630). If I have to lock the gun up in the car during any time during my course of travel I usually take one of the other 2 "budget" guns instead, just in case someone decides to raid my car. I do keep my gun locked up in a gun safe inside the car, but I know where there's a will, there's a way.

IMO it's almost downright silly to carry a super expensive gun for CC when you will most likely have it confiscated by the police for a long while and they MIGHT return it. There is such a thing as a modestly priced gun that is reliable and accurate, and even concealable.

 

[jad0110]

My least expensive carry gun is a Ruger Police Service Six 4" .357 Magnum I paid $279 for about a year ago. It may be inexpensive, but it certainly isn't cheap. It is accurate, reliable, points naturally and carries easily. It it didn't cost much, what more can you ask for?

 

[Nasty]

FWIW, while I do consider most of my handguns "bargains"...I did not concern myself with their prices when I selected them. All were selected based on a combination or purpose, function, caliber, accuracy and application. The fact that most could be considered "bargains" was just a lucky happenstance.

Perhaps the fact that none were bought to impress others, as artwork or to bolster my self esteem played a part in that.

Otherwise, I might still own the nice old Pythons I once had...

 

[Dnaltrop]

with a range of guns from Glocks to Berettas to Springfields set before her, my wife picked a Sigma 9mm as her CCW on grip comfort alone.

Shoots well, save it appears to dislike the taste of PMC.

I wouldn't have any qualms about carrying it if I have my M&P at S&W for work.

It's a friendly little gun.

My Old man's CZ-82 has a comfortable grip, and is reliable enough that I would consider one for myself. The $200-300 cost, cheap ammo, and decent power are a good combination.

 

[JohnBT]

"Or you were just joking and I read your post wrong. "

I don't know what you were reading, I posted exactly what I meant...

We should do a poll - If you carry a cheap gun do you also buy cheap tires and what is your life worth. Jeez, don't let a suggestion for a poll get you down.

I didn't say anything about the guns I typically carry - P-32, 442, 649, Rohrbaugh, CZ-75B, BHP, whatever. I only said we should post a poll comparing our gun choice with our tire choice. I mostly carry the Rohrbaugh. It was a pretty good deal used.

I understand different folks have different budgets. I didn't always have money, I grew up in a row house in Baltimore.

John

 

[JohnBT]

"Ruger Police Service Six 4" .357 Magnum I paid $279 for about a year ago."

I have one of those, although I don't carry it on my body. I think I about that for it new in 1985 or 86. Maybe it was $50 more than that, I really don't remember, but they are great guns. JT

 

[ATBackPackin]

My main CCW is a Kahr CW9, but if something was to happen to it I would have no qualms carrying my PA63 which I paid $200 for. No qualms at all.

 

[Rail Driver]

I don't know what you were reading, I posted exactly what I meant...

We should do a poll - If you carry a cheap gun do you also buy cheap tires and what is your life worth. Jeez, don't let a suggestion for a poll get you down.

I didn't say anything about the guns I typically carry - P-32, 442, 649, Rohrbaugh, CZ-75B, BHP, whatever. I only said we should post a poll comparing our gun choice with our tire choice. I mostly carry the Rohrbaugh. It was a pretty good deal used.

I understand different folks have different budgets. I didn't always have money, I grew up in a row house in Baltimore.

John

It wasn't the poll suggestion, it was the stuck up, snide non-high road (to put it politely) way it came off, aside from being off topic from the OP.

So because different folks have different budgets, and you grew up in a Baltimore row house (for those that aren't aware, the term is generally used in reference to a row of 2 story townhomes, usually with a basement in that part of the country) which isn't all that bad, all things considered. Visit my Detroit neighborhood for a week where I grew up and tell me you grew up hard.

In the end it's apples to grapes... "If you carry a cheap gun, do you buy cheap tires and how much is your life worth" is like saying "Because you buy a cheap gun and/or cheap tires, your life is worth less than mine"

What does one have to do with the other? I happen to value my life above nearly anything aside from my children, and I've come close to losing it a couple times, but that still doesn't mean I'm going out to drop $1500 on a pistol, that's just stupid unless you happen to be one of those wealthy elitist cows that thinks they're better than everyone else because they grew up middle class and have money now.

And yeah, I buy cheap tires. Sometimes I even buy used ones! I must place no value on my life.

By the way, the entire preceding post was used to illustrate the silliness of your comment with silliness of my own. Enjoy

 

[Nasty]

Oddly enough John, I select my tires the same way I do my handguns.

Sometimes the bargain tire wins, sometimes it doesn't.

That's what the NTSB ratings are for eh? If they document that tire "A" is equal to tire "B", even if one logo is ugly, why would one want to spend the extra money except for flash or bragging?

 

[mongo4567]

A Keltec P3AT and NAA .22 mag are in my carry rotation. I don't care how cheap it is if it is reliable. I would also carry a Rohrbaugh if I could talk myself into spending the money.

 

[88 Cutlass]

I carried a Sigma 9mm for about a year before buying a Glock 26. In all honestly my SW has only not fired one bullet probably due to a bad primer or it not being seated all the way (I reload). My glock on the other has had about 3-4 FTF so sometimes price doesn't mean anything.

 

[Guillermo]

I did not read anything nasty into JohnBT's post.

He was making his point, a differing opinion.

If one were to look at it in a different light, you could say that he was concerned for your safety. After all, it is, potentially, a life at risk and he was watching out for his fellow man.

Or in other words, come on guys...this is an interesting thread...don't divert it

 

[hartmen]

my budget got is a lorcin! it chrome plated hahahah. .380. semi auto. i dont even have it yet! my finance is getting me it for a wedding gift so i can get my ccw. yay. cant wait til that day comes!

 

[kludge]

My EDC is either an XD or SP101, but I would carry any of those.

In fact I carried a Kel-Tec P11 part time until I sold it to get a SP101. I put 300 flawless rounds though it. No break-in required. If it doesn't, send it back to factory and they'll fix it. Try that with a Kimber! <flame suit on>

I also have a Bersa Thunder .380 DuoTone. I have about the same number of flawless rounds through it. Several new shooters have used during NRA Basic Pistol classes, all without a single misfire or feeding issue.

A buddy of mine wanted a .40 for under $300. I recommended a Sigma. He got a $50 rebate and two free mags to boot. It works.

The Ruger P-series are rugged, chunky, but feel good in the hand. Make mine a Decocker DAO.

 

[Realbigo]

I started carrying a PA 63 about 2 years ago when I started CCing more regularly. It's a good solid pocket gun, but i've had no problem carrying it everyday where ever I needed. If i'm expecting Trouble, i can move up to the 1911, or BHP clone. I'm thinking of getting a M 88 for everyday carry. I'll start w/ the 9mm, and if I like it, I may move up to the .40S&W model. That would definitely fit for a budget carry pistol.

 

[SSN Vet]

Taurus Pt-111 (third generation) works fine for me....

I hope to get a Karh PM9 someday for pocket carry.

 

[Mikhail Weiss]

I carried a Ruger P90 for years, and sometimes still do. Sure, it has quite possibly the stiffest SA pull I've ever felt on a pistol, but it can be worked with and, in general, I like the pistol a lot. No frills, no fail.

 

[Deaf Smith]

I've got an old Charter Arms Undercover, stainless, Stratford made, that still works perfect. Paid $100 bucks for it at a pawn shop maybe 15 years ago.

Also a Taurus 85, .38, bright stainless and DAO. Works perfect to.

A Taurus TCP .380 that shoots fine and is my BUG gun for whatever primary I carry (but it is NOT a primary CCW.)

A Bersa 'Thunder' .380, nickle, I got for $220 + tax. Works fine.

And of course, my EG Makarov I paid $105 for years ago.

Would not bother me to pack these guns CCW, but my Glock 26 is the primary and the secondary primary for very hot Texas days is a Smith 642.

Deaf

 

[oldbear]

My Taurus, 617, was a little more than $350.00, but it is my daily carry gun. I’ve run 1,200 rounds of assorted 38 special +P, +P+, and .357 Magnum through it in the last year without any problems. In fact I’ve spent more money on ammo this year than I did for the revolver.

 

[Plas62]

I carry a Bersa UCP 9mm. Best $400 I ever spent. Very reliable and accurate.

 

[ThePunisher'sArmory]

If I could carry in my state of Illinois. I'd bet my life on my Ruger P95. Never failed at the range.......NEVER. Its my nightstand gun.

 

[Taildragger-J3]

Used Mak 9X18 & Taurus .38. Didn't give more than $200 for either.

 

[Gun Nerd]

A Ruger LCP, Bersa Firestorm .380, and Polish P-64 rotate depending on mood and clothing. I paid more for the wife's Smith & Wesson model 60 than I did for all three. All very dependable. I would bet my life on them all...oh wait...I do.