Cheapest handgun you would trust for defense...

Under $300?
New In Box - Bersa Thunder .380
Used - Tokarev 7.62 x 25 or S&W M&P Bodyguard .380

Are we thinking $200ish or $300ish? That makes a big difference.

And NiB is different that used. I have occasionally gotten insane deals on used guns, but you can't count on it. And someone who is not a "gun person" probably wouldn't know where to look or what to look for.

For NiB, I think that the Hi-Points are made to be what is described: a very inexpensive firearm that goes bang every time and uses a reasonable SD caliber. IIRC, these are pretty easy to find for under $200 OTD.

For used, I would recommend military surplus. I seem to always see some available in the $200-something range. I have gotten quite a few good pistols that way that are very sturdy and will last longer than I will.

Try to find one of the Bulgarian Makarov's. They will never let you down.

I'll second the idea of a High Pernt. They work, and work well.

CZ-82



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Hi Points aren't terrible. You could actually do much worse.

One of those $200 Makarovs would be absolutely splendid.

Acera said:

CZ-82.

Click to expand...

Great pistol, but they're getting scarce and the prices are climbing correspondingly. Scanning Gunbroker, I see them selling for $300 to $400, with really mint ones going for even more.

Guns like a Taurus PT111 M G2, a Makarov, an EAA SAR B6P, a Tristar C-100 or a CZ-52.

Shields were $299 shipped a week or two ago from Palmetto.

Yes, something chambered in 9x18 would be good. Maybe a Taurus .38, provided you get one of the random good ones. Older model LCPs are still inexpensive.

Yet another vote for the Taurus PT-111, any of the Commie-Bloc surplus pistols, or a Hi-Point C9 or C380.

Really, there are scads of decent choices these days that run well south of three bills, and a couple that run around two.

If I were starting out, and was really pinching pennies, I'd definitely have to consider ammunition cost and availability. That would likely rule out the 9x18mm caliber guns, and would put a dent in consideration of the .380 ones. For serious practice opportunity for the serious penny-pincher, I'd likely default to the .22LR, and the only contenders I know of in that caliber at well under $300 are the Taurus PT/PLY-22 pistols. A diligent search might turn up a used Bersa Thunder in .22LR, or a Ruger SR-22, for around $300.

New, probably a Taurus PT111 G2 9mm. or a Bersa Thunder .380.

Used, I would go with a Makarov or a S&W Model 10.

I gave $199.99 + $17 ship + $10 FFL for a Taurus PT111 G2 at Palmetto State Armory 2 months ago. I've ran over 100 rounds thru it with out a hitch. The trigger is weird, long take up but you learn to live with it.



Here ya go

http://www.gunbuyer.com/p-67723-taurus-pt111-g2-9mm-32-bl-as-12rd.aspx ships free

I have a friend who carries an old Burgo 38spcl revolver. Not even worth $100 if it were NIB.

I'd trust the hi-point 45 I had once upon a time. In the 1000 rounds or so I had it, it's record was perfect.

P Series Rugers usually fall on the high side of the $200-300 range.

@MedWheeler

On the 9mm Mak ammo it's available on ammoseek.com for 0.19 cents a rd. That's way cheaper than what most .380 ACP is

Taurus PT-111 Millennium G2 can be had for about $200 plus shipping & transfer. Nowadays the Kel-Tecs & Scyy fall in around $200 also. I used to have a P-11 & it worked fine. There are a lot of inexpensive options that work now.

Price has not one wit to do with whether I would trust my family's lives or my own with a piece of equipment.

Look around on THR and you will see a host of reports of bad experiences with some high priced guns as well as with el cheapos.

Get what you can afford AND TRAIN WITH IT! If it does not work every time with the ammunition you want, don't trust it, or change ammo or figure out what YOU could do different.

Back in the 1980's there was a gun that made the Hi Points look fancy and high class. It was called the Stallard. A .45ACP stamped gun that only seemed to eat 230 grain FMJ. (Used 1911 mags and a 9 sillymeter model used P38 mags.) Yet it went BANG every time. A college student brought one to our range and immediately the gun snobs were all over him. The snobs had our plate rack up and were racing the clock on the thing. I borrowed the stamped gun, beat their best time, pointed out that one of their race guns had given a bad time because of a failure to feed on one run and that the Stallard had not choked up once all day.....they sill ragged the kid for his choice! Yep I beat them with first and last shot with the rack cleared and still that Cheap Stamped striker fired blow back was junk. Go figure.

Choose a gun you like that will do the job you want done. Test it. Train you. Practice.

-kBob

You have any idea how many people are carrying LCPs out there?

I don't trust any firearm for defense, regardless of cost, until it proves itself to me, with the ammunition I use.

I have bought firearms in the $200-300 range. Some have been worth it and some have not. I bought a Ruger P94 in .40S&W with Crimson Trace laser grips for about 325. Never had any faults with that gun other than it was rather uncomfortable for me to carry in the holsters I was using at the time. My wife's Bersa Thunder .380 was a very reliable firearm with no malfunctions of note.

I have also owned the Taurus 738 TCP and the Kel-tec P3AT that had massive and devastating malfunctions to the point where there will never be any Kel-Tec in my house ever.

For cheap, with great quality, shoots forever, with no hick-ups and sends out a screaming, put you down round, look no further than a quality Tokarev 7.62 x 25 - I have a few and prefer the Polish Version. Can be had in the $225 range and usually comes with two 8 round mags. Ammo is not too crazy, at about $20 / 24 for a box of 50.

My LCP was $209.00.
I trust it.
Not one misfire yet.