What’s that “cheapo” you want but won’t buy?

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WestKentucky

WestKentucky

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I bet a lot of us have a cheapo gun that we would like to have, but just won’t buy. I have 3 that I know of right off hand.

I want one of the cheapo derringers, probably a cobra, and I want it in one of the 32 calibers or 38 caliber. I reload both and would load light for it, but it just seems like a fun hideout gun.

The Heritage birdshead rough rider feels great. Every time I go to buy one the money evaporates or I find another gun to buy. Gotta be a birdshead, and gotta be convertible to 22 mag. Lately the ones I see all have pink grips. I’m not buying a $100 gun just to spend $30 on grips just to change the color. I will wait for wood or “pearl” that’s not pink.

Last but far from least, I want a single shot twist barrel derringer. Colt would be ideal but I’m not picky. I find the front-stuffer variety pretty appealing too, but the many variations on the “Lord and Lady” pistols has my interest. I have zero purpose for one but I want one.

For $300 I could probably have all 3 of the guns. I just keep talking myself out of buying them. What cheapos do you want but just haven’t bought?
 
Mine's the Heritage Rough Rider. I'll come across one for $100 and think "that's not much money and that'd probably be a fun gun to have".

But then I decide that I'd rather have a Single Six. And then I decide I don't have much interest in spending that much for a single action .22 so I don't buy anything.
 
I am with you on the Cobra Derringer. Look neat but I bet they are hard to hold in 38
I had one of the Cobray 45/410 double barrel Derringers. Look like they were made in High School shop class
 
bassjam said:
Mine's the Heritage Rough Rider. I'll come across one for $100 and think "that's not much money and that'd probably be a fun gun to have".

But then I decide that I'd rather have a Single Six. And then I decide I don't have much interest in spending that much for a single action .22 so I don't buy anything.
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They each have their place. The single six is heavier and stronger. It’s a great gun, but it gets heavy. It looks like a SAA but it’s internally not. The HRR IS a SAA clone, and it’s a lot lighter. It’s also a gun that the fit and finish is such that you don’t mind scuffing it up. It’s the perfect trail gun. I would put the HRR on my hip and ride horses, 4 wheelers, toss it behind the truck seat, etc. the Ruger is too nice for that, and too expensive to beat up by hard use. I have a single six 9” that is superbly accurate, but I want a HRR with a short barrel as a toy and as a gun to not worry about.

Answer to your conundrum...buy both.
 
Just got it a Rossi single shot to ride behind the seat in my truck. I got the .243 half price off the used rack! Nothing beats half price!
 
I really don't have any cheapo guns in my safe, but for some reason, I really want a Taurus 22PLY.

I don't know why.
I have no need for one.
It will probably never get a lot of use.
It will never be carried.
I would never trust it for anything other than a range plinker.

Still want one.
 
I continue to successfully resist older Rossi revolvers. I have a soft spot for them , but I've been stuck with a winner and 2 lemons. Got rid of the whole lot.

I keep looking at them on Gunbroker though...
RESIST!
 
Alte Schule said:
Has to be a Hi Point pistol caliber carbine. .380 ACP or 9 mm. Under $300 and they get good reviews. I want one but just can't see me buying a Hi Point.
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Just go for it, you won't regret it. I had the same situation with their 45 carbine, I just really wanted it. Do I use it a lot? no, but I am still happy to have it.
 
Rossi revolver. Saw one in a pawn shop this past weekend for $160, but had some rust issues.

I kinda want one, but not enough to look for it really hard.
 
I have or have had most of the guns mentioned above.
Some of them even worked.
I like my Rock Island .45.
I have despised all of the Davis Derringers that I've had. They take both hands just to pull the trigger. Admittedly, I still have one in .22 mag, just for completion.
I've got a little old Rossi ,32 pistol that's a fun, reliable and fairly accurate shooter. I've had others.
I've had High Point pistols, but they all came from the bottoms of lakes and rivers and mostly were used in sculptures. So the pistols may be good, but I don't know. The carbines are great, however.
Rough Riders are a blast, although I like the weight of the Single Six.
Also, I have fond memories of certain R/G .22 caliber revolvers. Not all of them, of course. Just a few.
I don't consider any of the rest of the guns mentioned so far to be cheapies.
 
Alte Schule said:
Has to be a Hi Point pistol caliber carbine. .380 ACP or 9 mm. Under $300 and they get good reviews. I want one but just can't see me buying a Hi Point.
Click to expand...

Yah, a Hi Point 9mm is a cheap gun I kinda want. The only reason I want it, is because it's cheap, and hi capacity. I also tell myself things like: "well, when the SHTF I might have a friend of family member that will really, really need it..." Yah, right...
 
Crickett Hunter or Chipmunk pistol.

I seriously considered getting one years ago because of the low price for a rimfire "hand rifle". However, I wanted a repeater and got a long barrel Single Six instead.

I've gone down the cheap gun path several times. Some are worthwhile (Bersa .22LR, for instance), others I wished I would've calmed my impulse to purchase.
 
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Savage Axis. I'll see an ad from Sportsman's in the mail or just be browsing Bud's and notice one of them, and every time they call out to me. "I'm only $250! I'll shoot an inch at 100 yards! You already have a bunch of 223 ammo. Buy me, buy me, buy meeee!"

Then I see them in stores, and they've got the cheapest, fugliest plastic stocks possible and a matte-blasted barrel and it just looks terrible. It's like someone tried to make a Volksturm version of a hunting rifle. And then I see Ruger's offerings on the shelves in the green and tan stocks and they just look like toys. I hate plastic stocks. Matte black and plastic on a military gun like an AR or a Glock looks OK, in a utilitarian, we-mean-business sort of way, but on a revolver or hunting rifle or shotgun or any sort of traditionally wooden gun, it just screams cutting corners. No, manufacturers, it's not "tactical". It's not "weather resistant polymer". You're just being cheap.

I'm sure the Savage Axis is a nice rifle. I'm sure it will shoot an inch at 100 yards. I'm sure I would be happy if I adopted that lonely one on the shelf and brought it back to a loving home. I just never end up doing it.
 
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I've had a few.

Heritage Rough Rider. The want kept coming and going. Then, I got one.

Heritage Rough Rider "birdshead" 3.5-inch. Then, I got one on a Taurus "blem" special.

Hi-Point C9. Then, a friend wanted a bottle of some specialty rum more than his C9, so I got one.

Old Rossi M68, Interarms variety. Then, I got one.

Inexpensive, import-brand GI-type 1911, as my first 1911. Got a TISAS (which is just fine.)

Raven .25 auto. Never did get one, but ended up with three other guns in the same caliber. Two are Taurus PT-series, one of which is stainless. The third is a Bauer. I probably won't get the Raven; it was more the caliber with which I was intrigued, anyway.
 
cheygriz said:
Guess we need to define "cheapie."
My definition of a cheapie is a new gun that costs less than $500.

What are everyone's else's definition?
Click to expand...

I'd say $300 or less is within impulse buy type range. If you get much past that then I'd need a justification for buying a gun, but if something cheap catches my eye, $300 is about my "what the heck" sort of limit.

For example, I saw a used Model 10 for $269 on Bud's about a month ago. I didn't know anything specific about Smith revolvers, Model 10 variants, fair market price for one, etc, I just thought "hey, I bet a 4" 38 Special would be fun to plink with." Called up a gun buddy to make sure the price was fair (he said it was a deal and he'd order one if I didn't) and bought one less than a half hour after I first saw it.
 
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cheygriz said:
Guess we need to define "cheapie."
My definition of a cheapie is a new gun that costs less than $500.

What are everyone's else's definition?
Click to expand...
I call them "budget" firearms and, for me, it's more the brand than the cost but cost is also a factor. Bersa and Hi Point are, IMO, on the high end of the budget list while, Jennings, Davis, Phoenix, RG and a few others round out the bottom. I like Bersa's and have three. Two .380's and one in 22 LR.
 
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