2ndtimer
Member
This 6” Colt Diamondback .22 lr purchased new for $279.99 back around 1979.
Which handgun "PURCHASED NEW" was the best value for the money
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Trey Veston
Member
Interesting to use web sites like this: https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/1979?amount=280 to see how much money guns actually cost in today's money. That sweet .22 was a $1000 pistol in 1979.
bangswitch
Member
Only two of my entire handgun collection (14 guns) were bought new, and I bought them together in a single-price deal. A Ruger SR40c and a Ruger LC9. If I separate them in price, the SR40c has been the best value. I've only shot the LC9 a few dozen times, but the .40 gets huge use. All others are used guns, some looked as new, some with a bit more "character".
2ndtimer
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Maybe, but if you check gunbroker, the cheapest 6” Diamondback.22 has a starting bid over $1500. I wouldn’t consider selling mine for that.
peeplwtchr
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Canik TP9 SFX, without a doubt.
Armybrat
Member
Another good new buy for me was this RM380 for $199.99 - it included 5 magazines. Gifted it to my grandson for Christmas.
Robbins290
Member
I have 3, all brand new
Glock 23 for 359.99 (purple label)
p99's 4 of them @ 269 each
fns40L for 299
Glock 23 for 359.99 (purple label)
p99's 4 of them @ 269 each
fns40L for 299
bigpower491
Member
This lovely Super Redhawk, in 454 Casull
Brand new new, $900 OTD. Bummer, the scope was not part of that deal, but was a good deal on its own, too.
Brand new new, $900 OTD. Bummer, the scope was not part of that deal, but was a good deal on its own, too.
hey smepl this
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Love my Canik Elite SC. $329 for a smooth trigger 9mm carry gun.
peeplwtchr
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Caniks are the best value higher quality pistols there are. My TP9 SFX has a better trigger than my VP9 or PPQ. Not much, but slightly.
Hugger-4641
Member
Diamondback 380 , my main cc . Paid $260 for it, $100 less than the LCP I was carrying and it shoots just as well and has swallowed everything I've put through it. Still have the
LCP, but its a back up now.
LCP, but its a back up now.
hey smepl this
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Yeah my buddy has that full size Canik and it’s a dream to shoot. Just amazingly smooth. I don’t have experience with high level pistols for comparison though.
tomrkba
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Hmmm
Anything from Nighthawk or Wilson Combat
Glock 19
Glock 21
S&W Model 19 4”
Ruger GP100
Glock 17
Think of it this way: if you shoot 200,000 rounds through a Glock with minimal maintenance and parts replacement, did you get your money’s worth? If you get thousands of troublefree rounds through a gun, then you got a good deal!
The S&W 19 or 66 are excellent guns. The petite frame built around a 357 Magnum cylinder makes it punch above its weight and excceeds the sum of its parts. The heavier L Frame is great too, but the form factor of the K Frame is superior.
My MOST EXPENSIVE gun as measured by cost per round was my Phoenix HP22. I paid $98 for it and it broke at round 70 or so. I paid $535 for a Glock 19 and fired around 20,000 rounds through it. That HP22 cost me $1.40 per shot! The G19 cost around $0.02 per round.
Everyone thinks a $4,000 1911 is not a value. The problem with our current Walmart culture is: buy an item annually for a low price and pretend it is a deal. A gun like this will last a very long time and be more fun to own than its production equivalent.
Anything from Nighthawk or Wilson Combat
Glock 19
Glock 21
S&W Model 19 4”
Ruger GP100
Glock 17
Think of it this way: if you shoot 200,000 rounds through a Glock with minimal maintenance and parts replacement, did you get your money’s worth? If you get thousands of troublefree rounds through a gun, then you got a good deal!
The S&W 19 or 66 are excellent guns. The petite frame built around a 357 Magnum cylinder makes it punch above its weight and excceeds the sum of its parts. The heavier L Frame is great too, but the form factor of the K Frame is superior.
My MOST EXPENSIVE gun as measured by cost per round was my Phoenix HP22. I paid $98 for it and it broke at round 70 or so. I paid $535 for a Glock 19 and fired around 20,000 rounds through it. That HP22 cost me $1.40 per shot! The G19 cost around $0.02 per round.
Everyone thinks a $4,000 1911 is not a value. The problem with our current Walmart culture is: buy an item annually for a low price and pretend it is a deal. A gun like this will last a very long time and be more fun to own than its production equivalent.
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Flatbush Harry
Member
My best purchase in terms of VFM was a Colt Government Mk IV/Ser. '70 that I picked up in 1974 NIB for $125. In 1978, I took it to James W. Hoag for what he called a "Class B Rebuild" with a few extras (Gold Cup Trigger, hard chrome frame and frame parts, Bo-Mar sights, extended Grip safety, trigger job to 3.5#, bevel mag well, 20 lpi checkering of front strap and flat mainspring housing, match bushing and fitting to barrel with custom bead to replace the collet bushing, full length recoil spring guide, cutting lines on top and back of slide to eliminate reflections, bob hammer, enlarge ejection port, Commander ejector) for $508.
This gave me a world class 1911that is the equivalent of anything available today for $3,500-$5,000. My cost, all in, was $633. I still have this gun and have only used it for IPSC and UDPA competition. It will shoot into a 2-1/2" circle at 25 yards, has never had a hiccup and is a thing of beauty. I don't use it for CCW but I would bet my life on it. In a post-apocalyptic world it would ride on my hip.
My next best buy is an Ed Brown Special Forces 1911, unfired and NICase), that I picked up a couple of years ago for $1,200 (I had a side hustle at Cabela's and got it at cost+5%). They retail for $2,999.
Harry
This gave me a world class 1911that is the equivalent of anything available today for $3,500-$5,000. My cost, all in, was $633. I still have this gun and have only used it for IPSC and UDPA competition. It will shoot into a 2-1/2" circle at 25 yards, has never had a hiccup and is a thing of beauty. I don't use it for CCW but I would bet my life on it. In a post-apocalyptic world it would ride on my hip.
My next best buy is an Ed Brown Special Forces 1911, unfired and NICase), that I picked up a couple of years ago for $1,200 (I had a side hustle at Cabela's and got it at cost+5%). They retail for $2,999.
Harry
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JBB
Member
Taurus TX22. Terrific gun for the money.
twarr1
Member
My first thought would be my SR9.
Second would be my IWI Masada. Of course the SR9 is discontinued but you can get the Masada right now for a little over $400, which imho is the best handgun deal on the planet at the moment.
Second would be my IWI Masada. Of course the SR9 is discontinued but you can get the Masada right now for a little over $400, which imho is the best handgun deal on the planet at the moment.
entropy
Member
I don't buy new handguns often. I'd have to say my PT1911AR, 15 years ago.
Not long after I bought it.
I put some new innards in it a couple years ago, and a set of Hogue grips my Dad sent me. I replaced the ambi safety (though with another ambi, I might go to a RH only safety at some point, but it's not urgent.)
Why yes, that is a 47D poking out the bottom of it. Always loved the Commander hammers- glad this had one, even if it has a laywer lock. I just leave it off.
With the Hogues on, and a target that shows why I have kept them on:
As you can see, it's been rode hard, but put away cleaned.
Not long after I bought it.
I put some new innards in it a couple years ago, and a set of Hogue grips my Dad sent me. I replaced the ambi safety (though with another ambi, I might go to a RH only safety at some point, but it's not urgent.)
Why yes, that is a 47D poking out the bottom of it. Always loved the Commander hammers- glad this had one, even if it has a laywer lock. I just leave it off.
With the Hogues on, and a target that shows why I have kept them on:
As you can see, it's been rode hard, but put away cleaned.
Charlie98
Member
I actually have 3 that would fit that bill, depending on how you define the OP.
First pistol I ever bought, a Browning Buckmark, in 1987, for $179. Accurate, fun to shoot, aesthetically pleasing, and it's a Browning. I've probably pumped 20K rounds through it in the first 15 years or so that I've owned it, and probably about 15K of that was in the first 3 years when I was stationed in Colorado. It was a rare weekend it didn't go to the mountains to graze on a brick or two of Winchester Super-X (bought for .99/box at Service Merchandise... if that tells you how long ago that was.) The .22LR ammo shortage during the First Dark Age parked it on the safe shelf... and, honestly, I haven't touched it since.
I bought a Kimber Pro Eclipse II (4" .45ACP) about the time I parked the Buckmark, it remains the most I've ever paid for a handgun... $1100 or thereabouts... but what a pistol! Yea, it was expensive, but the true value of a firearm, to me, is how it performs, and the Eclipse is All That and more.
In a practical sense, every thing else aside, the Kahr CW9 is probably my most 'value for the money' pistol, however. Truth being stranger than fiction, I actually bought my first one so I could hate it. It was my first poly pistol, and my first 9mm in a very long time... I wanted to try a poly pistol, shoot it a little bit, decide that I hate poly and the 9mm, and go back to my Neanderthal cave of the steel .45 1911. But. I fell in love with the stupid thing. It fits my hand perfectly, is as accurate (at reasonable distances) as anything else, is stone cold 100% reliable... and is light enough to carry... the major defining factor. The CW9 is now my primary carry piece, day in, day out... so it wins the 'practical' award. This is a working gun. I liked it so much, I wound up buying something like 6 MORE of them, plus a CM9, a PM9, a P45, and a CW45... but the CM9 remains my favorite, .45ACP not withstanding. I have given 2 as presents, and my remaining 3 serve in rotation as my carry pieces.
First pistol I ever bought, a Browning Buckmark, in 1987, for $179. Accurate, fun to shoot, aesthetically pleasing, and it's a Browning. I've probably pumped 20K rounds through it in the first 15 years or so that I've owned it, and probably about 15K of that was in the first 3 years when I was stationed in Colorado. It was a rare weekend it didn't go to the mountains to graze on a brick or two of Winchester Super-X (bought for .99/box at Service Merchandise... if that tells you how long ago that was.) The .22LR ammo shortage during the First Dark Age parked it on the safe shelf... and, honestly, I haven't touched it since.
I bought a Kimber Pro Eclipse II (4" .45ACP) about the time I parked the Buckmark, it remains the most I've ever paid for a handgun... $1100 or thereabouts... but what a pistol! Yea, it was expensive, but the true value of a firearm, to me, is how it performs, and the Eclipse is All That and more.
In a practical sense, every thing else aside, the Kahr CW9 is probably my most 'value for the money' pistol, however. Truth being stranger than fiction, I actually bought my first one so I could hate it. It was my first poly pistol, and my first 9mm in a very long time... I wanted to try a poly pistol, shoot it a little bit, decide that I hate poly and the 9mm, and go back to my Neanderthal cave of the steel .45 1911. But. I fell in love with the stupid thing. It fits my hand perfectly, is as accurate (at reasonable distances) as anything else, is stone cold 100% reliable... and is light enough to carry... the major defining factor. The CW9 is now my primary carry piece, day in, day out... so it wins the 'practical' award. This is a working gun. I liked it so much, I wound up buying something like 6 MORE of them, plus a CM9, a PM9, a P45, and a CW45... but the CM9 remains my favorite, .45ACP not withstanding. I have given 2 as presents, and my remaining 3 serve in rotation as my carry pieces.
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LiveLife
Member
Best value?
That has to be GSG 1911 22LR due to ammunition cost savings from 45ACP vs 22LR.
Next is Glock 22 due to ammunition cost savings from 40S&W vs 9mm using 40-9 conversion barrels, especially since I can reload 9mm for about $6/50 rounds. And I can save even more by shooting 22LR using $241 AA conversion kit with various 22LR I stocked up at $16-$20/500 - https://www.natchezss.com/advantage...t-for-glock-model-17-gen-1-3-w-range-bag.html
45ACP - Let's say you shoot about 300-500 rounds a month. At around $40/50 pricing currently, that translates to:
- $240-$400/month or $2,880-$4,800/year or $144,000-$240,000/50 year lifetime of shooting.
- 500 rounds a month of 22LR I bought at $20/500 comes out to $240/year or $12,000/50 year lifetime of shooting.
- That's savings of $132,000-$228,000!
- $300-$600/month or $3,600-$7,200/year or $180,000-$360,000/50 year lifetime of shooting.
- 500-1000 rounds a month of 22LR I bought at $20/500 comes out to $240-$480/year or $12,000-$24,000/50 year lifetime of shooting.
- That's savings of $168,000-$336,000!
- 40S&W - $300-$600/month or $3,600-$7,200/year or $180,000-$360,000/50 year lifetime of shooting.
- 9mm reloads - $60-$120/month or $720-$1,440/year or $36,000-$72,000/50 year lifetime of shooting. $144,000-$288,000 savings.
- 22LR - 500-1000 rounds a month of 22LR I bought at $20/500 comes out to $240-$480/year or $12,000-$24,000/50 year lifetime of shooting. $168,000-$336,000 savings!
It's only money that we can't take with us when we die, right?
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earlthegoat2
Member
I dont buy brand new firearms very often and it is because I dont find much value if any at all in them across the board. There is a reason I cannot think of any to answer the OPs question. The first thing that pops into my mind is the HK P7. Incredible value when you could purchase them from the surplus outlets but that does not fit the OP of course.
The only handguns I can think of off the top of my head that would have represented a great value when new are a plethora of Taurus and Rossi offerings that when new, were not necessarily a good value but became great values on the used market. Examples include the Taurus 450 UL and various Rossi 44 Special offerings. Guns that NOW, are in demand but apparently werent back when they were new. When, Taurus 1911s first hit the market they were a great value. Of course the secret got out and they went up in price.
I guess I just dont like new.
Here comes the broken record of pistols...
IME, the only pistols that just work are Glocks. So, in this day and age of consumers as beta testers, I would say Glocks represent the best value as I hear of very little problems with them compared to most others. They are all the exact same boring crap that share one common feature. They work. Period. That represents the only true value of modern consumer products.
The only handguns I can think of off the top of my head that would have represented a great value when new are a plethora of Taurus and Rossi offerings that when new, were not necessarily a good value but became great values on the used market. Examples include the Taurus 450 UL and various Rossi 44 Special offerings. Guns that NOW, are in demand but apparently werent back when they were new. When, Taurus 1911s first hit the market they were a great value. Of course the secret got out and they went up in price.
I guess I just dont like new.
Here comes the broken record of pistols...
IME, the only pistols that just work are Glocks. So, in this day and age of consumers as beta testers, I would say Glocks represent the best value as I hear of very little problems with them compared to most others. They are all the exact same boring crap that share one common feature. They work. Period. That represents the only true value of modern consumer products.
Armored farmer
Member
I'm going to say....
My pietta 1858 sheriff's model.
I bought it on cabelas Christmas (or was it Thanksgiving) sale for.......
$149.00!
Its a great gun, very accurate, and a whole new genre of shooting skills.
Best $150 bucks ever!
My pietta 1858 sheriff's model.
I bought it on cabelas Christmas (or was it Thanksgiving) sale for.......
$149.00!
Its a great gun, very accurate, and a whole new genre of shooting skills.
Best $150 bucks ever!
Jackalope 1
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You are close, mine was a S&W M27 NIB came in Goncalves ?? Beautiful wooden case, had 83/8" barrel, price tag inside showed $160, kept case, M27 went with older brother to Vietnam, said later it saved his bacon many different times. M27 I got on a trade, one of the best I made.
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