Guys need your help...$250 travel gun

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EVIL

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I am in a situation where I travel frequently to small towns by USAF bases by commercial air, I stay in hotels so carrying on base is not an issue. I would like to carry concealed where legal via reciprocity to do so, because I have long car rides through the desert etc...Needless to say, I do not want to take one of my $500 + handguns and foolishly trust them to the airlines in checked baggage. I think about $250 is my "tolerance" level for a lost gun...:uhoh:

Right now I don't care about: caliber, type of firing mechanism (Revolver, SA, DA), brand, etc. I have only 3 requirements: cost (~$250), reliability, and resonably easy to conceal. I can make my own holster system (IWB, Pocket, etc...) so that cost is not a factor. I have talked the guy at a local gunshop down on a bulgarian Makarov to $250 - but I am concerned if I ever have to buy ammo in small town wally worlds; I will SOL with 9X18 Mak. (normally, I will bring ammo with me...but you never know.) I look forward to hearing your Ideas!:)
 
used Bersa 380's can be found at your price.. they are DA/SA with exposed hammer..
used Keltecs can be found at your price.. DAO
 
9mm

USED S&W Sigma & Ruger P95 (or older P series). Actually, you can probably buy the Sigma new for $300 and send in for the $50 rebate (which takes 2 months to get, btw). Sigmas have a heavy trigger. If you shot DA revolver, you'll be fine. Otherwise a used Ruger P95 will fit your bill.
 
USED S&W Sigma & Ruger P95 (or older P series). Actually, you can probably buy the Sigma new for $300 and send in for the $50 rebate
Click to expand...

I thought the S&W sigma line had reliability issues...

Bersa or a CZ82 would fit the bill.
Click to expand...

I will look into the CZ82...I haven't shot one yet....It is about the same as a Makarov -right, just higher capacity magazine?
 
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The Sigma reliability issues are of yesteryear, I have two and have had nothing but great service from them. I am not the only one as a search on the S&W forum will attest. Others will berate their trigger but it is like a DA revolver which I and many others find quite nice.
 
EVIL said:
I thought the S&W sigma line had reliability issues...



I will look into the CZ82...I haven't shot one yet....It is about the same as a Makarov -right, just higher capacity magazine?
Click to expand...
the cz82 is a fine choice. 9x18 ammo is a little hard to find locally. Online is not a problem
 
should be able to find a used P3AT,PF9 or a UL85 38spl.
All will work and no great loss if lost.
 
a Taurus/Rossi revolver for 230 NIB maybe?

or EAA Windicator? for 250?

unless u feel u need hicap for travel ...
 
Used Smith model 10 if you can get a good low price or a Rossi .38/.357 can also be had for that money.
 
You might be able to get a new Kel-tec for just a bit more. This was several months ago, but Pro Defense in Houston quoted me $259 on a blued P-11. Not sure if that included FFL fees, though.
 
I might get flamed for this one, but what about a Hi Point C9 (9mm)? They're not as small as the Kel-tec offerings, but if I wanted a gun in an inexpensive caliber that I didn't feel bad about losing, it's not a bad option.

It's also made in the USA and has a lifetime warranty for less than 2 bills in most cases.
 
I was liking the look and feel of the Taurus slim 9mm. I can't think of the model right now. Would also concider the Ruger SR9 but I think its more the the $250. Seems there should be a few other quality guns on the used market that might fall in the price range.

WB
 
We were selling SCCY 9mms for 250 before Christmas, they come with two ten round mags. Boss, who can carry anything in the shop, took one with him on his vacation last year. DAO with a manual safety.

Supposedly made by old KelTec employees, also formerly labelled SKYY but the Vodka people balked.
 
I thought the S&W sigma line had reliability issues...
Click to expand...

Not the current generation. 1st generation pistols had some sporadic issues that were blown out of proportion, and S&W never recovered from that, even with the 2nd gen. Sigmas are one of the best deals out there for current production pistols IF you can handle a DA revolver accurately and don't mind a gritty trigger that needs wearing in.
 
light carry pistol

The Ruger LCP is exactly that at 10 ounces and small enough to holster in that little Levis jeans pocket. It's a .380 caliber with a short barrel, thin frame,and light enough to go in your elastic waist shorts pocket and easily conceal. Don't pay any mind to any fools complaining of the trigger pull or size. This is a conceal carry gun for self defense, not for target at the range! The design is such as that you can safely carry 7+1. Certainly break in your new gun with a hundred rounds or more, carefully clean it and pack away for emergencies.
 
I love CZ-82's, but you'll have the same ammo issue as with the Makarov: small town shops and Wally World will not have 9x18, no way, no how.

Kel-Tec in 9mm (PF9 or P11) gets my vote.
 
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