What are your favorite inexpensive handguns

[chaim]

OK, I've been thinking...

We often have people coming through here asking for handgun recommendations within certain price restrictions. So, how about a list of favorite "cheap" guns.

Some guidelines I was thinking about for our list:

1) It must be something you have experience with, not just a general idea. Thus, ideally it should be something you actually own or have owned in the past. Less ideal but acceptable would be a gun a friend owns and you've been able to shoot it often.

2) I'm thinking of saying what your one favorite is, it can be in any catagory. If you find it too hard I have no problem with you breaking it down to favorites in certain catagories (i.e. service pistol, carry gun, woods revolver, etc).

3) While you might have found an incredible deal on a barely used SIG or HK and bought it at a near steal, that doesn't really qualify as an inexpensive gun. That is an expensive gun on which you found a great deal. That is a different thread. I'm thinking along the lines of new gun prices (to make comparison more of an "apples to apples" kind of thing).

4) Again, to keep us on the same playing field, I'm thinking of MSRP not actual prices at the dealer. Different areas seem to have different prices on guns. What may be a $500 gun in MD may be a $450 or even $400 gun around you, and it may be a $550 or $600 gun in even less gun friendly areas. Going by MSRP keeps the field level.

5) We also all have different ideas of what is "inexpensive". Since we are talking new gun MSRP (MSRP is usally a lot more than actual prices) I'm thinking around $550-600 as the upper limit. That puts us in CZ (barely), Taurus, and Ruger territory.

 

[chaim]

I guess I should answer my own question.

I'm not sure I can pick one favorite so I'll go the easier route of favorite from catagories:

-Carry gun: Taurus PT140 Milennium Pro followed very closely by the Taurus 85

-Service pistol: Until recently that would be my CZ 75B but my new Ruger KP345 may have beaten it out (I'm not sure yet)

-Service revolver: Taurus 82. A good workhorse of a gun.


Overall favorite (if I had to go with one choice): Toss up between the CZ, Ruger KP345 and my Taurus PT140 Milennium Pro. So, picking one would really depend upon my mood that day and which one I've shoot and handled the most recently. Right now it would be very close between the Ruger and Taurus with the Ruger barely winning.

 

[one45auto]

My favorite cheap handgun? Probably the Smith & Wesson Model 64 I picked up used (police trade-in) at a gun show some years back. Cost me $200 bucks.

 

[shaggycat]

Smith and Wesson 10. Classic, dependable, can be had at a very low price.

Plus, since most people buy cheap either because they want to abuse them or because they are new to firearms, the 10 makes sense. It is tough as nails so it can take that abuse, plus it is a great gun for newbs due to it's simplicity.

 

[Ford]

SA XD is my favorite "cheap gun"

 

[armoredman]

Usually I see CZs out here top out below $500. J&G Sales in Prescott has the CZ 40P, the polymer frame 40SW for $299.99. One of my staff bought one, and loves it.
The EAA Witness line of CZ clones made by Tanfoglio of Italy is another good line, well built, and usually between $250-450.

 

[Hacker15E]

Usually I'm a 1911 snob...

But I absolutely love the Star BM! Can be obtained in great condition for less than $200, and if you're not that concerned about exterior finish they can be had for less than $150.

 

[Roadkill]

I just got a well used police trade in S&W Mod 10 4" heavy barrel for $160, is a very good gun. Also have an Auto Ordnance 1911A1, paid $275, after a little work it is an excellent accurate shooter. Last is a colt trooper .357, 4" barrel, paid $225 for it. These are my "travel/canoe/camping/kayak guns", reliable, inexpensive, accurate, and replaceable if they have to be left somewhere, get lost or stolen.

rk

 

[2TransAms]

Beretta 92, and Taurus knock-offs of S&W's. The Beretta is a great pistol, and the Taurus guns are just fun to play around with,as long as you know what to expect.

I can't believe nobody has said Glock yet!

 

[wally]

Used guns, +1 to S&W police trade-in revolvers, and Star BM.

New, Armscor/RIA 1911.

--wally.

 

[MCgunner]

I'm going to ignore anything used here and talk new guns in the price category. In that price range, my absolute favorites are Rugers, any Ruger. Rugers work, Rugers are accurate, Rugers are rugged, Rugers are fantastic quality for low price = value!

Some personal favorites that I OWN AND SHOOT, not that I heard about from a friend who's mother knew a woman who's daughter's boyfriend's boss had a (fill in the blank) and it was a POS.

Ruger revolvers, SA or DA....Had a Security six for many years. I loved that thing, was accurate, light enough for carry, rugged. It was a stainless 4" gun. I own two Blackhawks in .357 and .45 Colt and they're all fantastic! My Old Army cap and ball is more accurate than a lot of modern cartridge weapons! I'm currently in a SP101 mood when I can get some scratch together.

Ruger autos....My P90 is my absolute favorite center fire auto-chucker I've ever owned. It's ultra accurate, has NEVER jammed in thousands of competition and practice rounds, and is rugged to the max. I love that thing, almost seems to point itself in my hand. Amazing gun. I have a P85 which I have somewhat less affection for, little stiffer trigger, a bit less accurate, though still quite accurate. It's a good gun, though, has never jammed, rugged to the max. I keep it if for no other reason than the price of 9mm ammo, don't have to reload it anymore. I still reload for the .45. I have owned a P95, better trigger than the P85, just as accurate. Traded it off, which I sorta regret, but I got the P85 cheap and had some redundancy there.

Kel Tec P11....I have a LOT of rounds through this gun, in the thousands. I shoot a box through it every range trip just about. I don't keep round counts, but I've had this thing 8 years +. It is my #1 preferred carry gun, IWB. It's light, amazingly accurate for such a little gun, DAO which I love, nice smooth revolver like trigger. The trigger gets a lot of knocks and is a little long in throw, but I'm so used to it now and it's so smooth, it's a lot easier to shoot than shooting DA in a revolver. 6" falling plates off hand at 25 yards have no chance when I'm shooting this gun. That's how well I shoot it. It's relatively fast to shoot and to come into action, just squeeze and bang, powerful with +P stuff. It has never broken anything or jammed at the range and I've even used it in IDPA stuff. I think I paid $260 for it, best bargain in CCW weapons if you want a compact 9 that's +P compatible. 10+1 capacity is nice, too. You can get 12 round mags, but I have three 10 rounders that all work great and see no need to have any more.

Rossi Revolvers....I've owned a bunch of these things, still have two. I had a M971 that had a little problem with the firing pin fitting, got it fixed and didn't have the problem anymore. It was a GREAT field .357, 4". It weighed a bit over 30 ounces empty, all stainless with a good rubber grip I really liked. The front sight had a cheesy fit red ramp I tossed. I've owned a M88, sold to a friend, but was a good little stainless carry snubbie .38. I have a Taurus 85UL that has taken its place. I still own a M68 3" that is perfectly timed, great fit and finish, accurate to the max, decent trigger. I keep it as an outdoor gun because of it's superb accuracy especially with wadcutters. I am on my second M511 Sportsman .22, first got ripped off and I found a replacement at a gun show. This is another one that gets fired nearly every range trip and it is almost SCARY accurate. Superb single action, though the double action is a little rough. I cannot fault Rossi revolvers, great little guns for a paltry price.

Taurus revolvers....I'm still sorta luke warm on my m85, but I've got it fixed up. When I got it, it wasn't very well regulated. I had a smith install a dove tailed front sight so I could drift it for windage. I don't put up with guns that won't shoot to point of aim. Timing isn't perfect, a little off on one cylinder, but not enough to effect function. Poor timing is just something that bugs me. My M66 I bought at a gun show is superb! It's super accurate, perfectly timed, tight as a bank vault. The M85 is quite accurate for a snubbie and it's only 15 ounces of +P firepower.

The above are my favorites. Some of them might push your price window a little, but not much. Some of the Tauri are well outside that window if you go buying them in unobtainium. I'd like to try one of those .41 mag titanium "Trackers" or perhaps the .357 version, but they're up out of my price range a good bit. I think a 3" SP101 will work and I might have a smith put an adjustable sight on it. I'd really like to have one with an adjustable sight for outdoor use with multiple loads, thus the interest in the Tracker. Not sure what I'll wind up with, might find a used Smith or Security Six I can't live without, but I'm going to buy something this year I think and it likely won't be a $700 revolver.

 

[Ala Dan]

Bersa Thunder DT .380~! Need I say more?

 

[TOADMAN]

S&W 642 and Glock 26

 

[CAnnoneer]

Ruger KP89 and Taurus 92AFS. I own them both and love them both!

 

[jagdpanzer347]

Bulgarian Makarov. Picked it up for 170.00 at a show about a year and a half ago. Bought it to take on trips and such. It's in such good shape though I might have to find something else to use as a "beater".
I'm hoping my next favorite inexpensive handgun will be one of the CZ52s that AIM will be getting in in about a month. Should be selling for around 150.00 from what I was told.
-jagdpanzer

 

[chaim]

For those who picked the various S&W revolvers listed, you barely made it so far. The MSRP on a new S&W M10 is $570ish, on the M64 4" MSRP is $580ish ($614 for the 3" so barely over our criteria here), and the 442 and 642 are almost $600 MSRP but just a tad under. Since we are talking MSRP (to keep a level playing field by jurisdiction) and not out the door prices (usually lower) this isn't easy.

Beretta 92,

Sorry, at $650-1600 MSRP they don't fit the criteria.

I can't believe nobody has said Glock yet!

Sorry, at $650-800 MSRP they don't fit the criteria.

Taurus guns are just fun to play around with

Agreed that Taurus is a good inexpensive choice. Some fun guns, some very good guns.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Makarov

It is as accurate as most pistols.
More reliable than most pistols.
Costs less than most pistols.

 

[crazed_ss]

XD's come in under 500 bucks

 

[raghorn]

+1 for Makarov.

 

[Smith357]

Nice used S&W M10s are great guns and can be found all over for well under 200 bucks.

 

[half elf]

One of my current carry pistols is a Grendel P-12 in .380. This is a ghetto gun with a big G, and I have yet to find .380 load it wouldn't feed. I carry it with hydrshocks, and brass jacketed cleanshot to cover my bases. I have a H&R 999 which is great for the first 9 rounds until You have to remove the cyl. for reload, and use the retainer pin to run the ejector star.

 

[outofbattery]

I don't make enough to consider a $600 gun inexpensive.I'm certainly willing to spend that much on guns,but for my $,I'd rather have a LNIB SIG or S&W or Para 1911 or save a couple hundred and get a factory refurbished Glock.Many of my favorite handguns are in the $250 and under range used: SP101's,FEG's,Stars(especially the Firestars);lots of great guns that are affordable and work just as well as others 2 or 4 times the cost.

 

[allmons]

Bersa Thunder .380

Around $200 in most areas.

 

[MCgunner]

One of my current carry pistols is a Grendel P-12 in .380. This is a ghetto gun with a big G, and I have yet to find .380 load it wouldn't feed.

Wow, another Grendel P12 owner that actually LIKES it. Of course, most of the negatives I've heard on the gun were from people with no experience with the gun at all. I don't like the trigger on my due to the reset is so close to the front of the trigger guard, but it feeds anything, is reasonably, though not braggin' accurate. Lets say a torso shot at 15 yards off hand is no problem and it does shoot to POA.

Unfortunately, you cannot buy one anymore, defunct. But, mine does pocket duty, the only gun I have in a half way decent caliber that is pocketable in a rear jeans pocket. Nice having 12 rounds on tap in a pocket gun, too, especially considering the caliber.

If I were in the market for another pocket gun, the Kel Tec P3AT is smaller, lighter, holds less rounds, though. It'd probably be my choice as a replacement. Lots of satisfied owners of that gun.

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

My smith 36. I paid $100 for it.