What's your favorite, trustworthy, low cost, handgun for SD?

Since you said low cost:

Makarov 9x18.......$150

Slim, reliable.

S&W model 60 $200 used. Easy to conceal, easy to carry, totally reliable.

Bought an old MDL10 for $99 plus shipping. Blueing was gone and I replaced the mainspring.

It works like a charm, accurate enough.

Not my beside gun, but I would consider myself armed if it was all I had.

Colt 70Series, .45, bought new, $125.00

S&W Model 19, bought new, $98.00

Colt GI 1911A1, bought used, $15.00

GI M-1 carbine, bought used, $15.00

Remington Rand 1911A1, bought used, $45.00

S&W Model 36, bought new $72.00

GI Colt 1911(1917) bought used, $75.00

There were more but I have sold some of them and forget the details. Oh, yes, there was the Nazi proofed and stamped BHP that someone who thought it was stolen, sold me for $25.00. Also there was an M-3 Grease gun that I traded for a case of LRRP rations and a Carl Gustav 9mm (Swedish K) that I bought for $25.00, a K-bar knife with dried chicken blood on it and the scabbard and a fake Viet Cong flag. I might have paid too much for each.

Ruger P95, $319, for HD or carry when it's cold enough to wear a bulky coat.

Kel-Tec P11, $205, for carry when I can have my shirt tails out.

Hard chromed Kel-Tec P3AT, $269, for pocket carry anywhere at all.

$225 Gunbroker S&W 457 with 3 mags plus a $40 Kramer holster form Ebay.

Mine would be a Sig P230 bought like new for 300

Easy one, it's my S&W model 19 I bought 2 years ago for $195

Cz 75b

Makarov $150

Just as reliable as anything else and a great shooter.

S&W 642 with laser grips!

S&W 642 with laser grips

Click to expand...

And what do you consider expensive?

I've only ever bought one as you describe. I returned it the next day for a S&W auto.

The last firearm in the world that you should economize on is one for SD.

I only keep three guns in the house, handguns are a Colt Trooper and a Beretta .40, I most likely would go for the Colt first. Got it for about $225, is one solid accurate gun. The Beretta has never misfired with my handloads.


rk

Quote:
S&W 642 with laser grips


Quote:
And what do you consider expensive?

For personal protection, me and family, I consider a 642 with laser grips cheap.

I bought a S&W M60 for $200.00. It was a trade in from the NC Probation and Parole. Cylinder had no play (very tight), no wear, has a very smooth trigger pull (single & double), and shoots 1inch low at 25 yards with 125 gr Nyclad . The only thing I changed was the grip. I also found a new in the box Ruger Security Six stainless for $240.00. It had been in the gun shop for 10 years and still had the 1984 price tag attached. It shoots real good.

1. Charter Arms Undercover. (38spec) $87.00
2. Ruger Security-Six (357Mag) $200 (more or less)
3. S/W J-frame model 49 (38spec) $250 (used)
(Bodyguard)
4. Colt Cobra (38spec) $250 (used)
5. KelTec P11 (9MM) $225 (new)
6. KelTec P32 (32cal) $225 (new)
7. Bersa Thunder 9 (UC) (9MM) $305 (new/slightly over $300 limit)
8. Star BM (9MM) $140 (more or less)

Probably for practical home defense purposes the Ruger Security Six (presently residing in nightstand by bed) is the pick of the litter. I bought it new, I think the 357mag rd. is pretty awesome, and I don't worry about a reliability problem....

I think of all of my pistols/revolvers as just something to make me feel armed until I can get to the High Standard 12ga. pump riot shotgun in the closet..

JMOFO
Best Wishes,
JP

A S&W M10 4" HB that was carried for years by some policeman; all the blue worn off but an action as smooth as glass!

Norinco A1 .45acp - NIB $325 Cdn, ($276.25 US). Accurate, reliable with every type of ammo I have been able to find and built rock solid with all forged parts. Rough on the inside but the targets don't care.

S&W Model 36

Inexpensive SD Guns?

Boils down to two (but paid over $ 200 for them)

* Bulgy Mak ($200 - yeah, I shoulda shopped around but I like it)
* KT P-32 $ 219

Guess I can't stick my SP 101 here as I paid almost $ 400 for it but it was one of the guns I carriedf 24/7 during the recent Hurricane Rita fracas in Houston. But its also rock-solid reliable and easy to conceal.

Well...

I bought a H&R 732 (in .32 S&W Long) for about $140 NIB, but the 1991-vintage, stainless steel, 3" barreled Charter Arms Bulldog is about the most reliable, effective and pristeen example of a self-defense weapon that I have purchased. ($175.00)

Scott

My Ruger P97 DAO; I think I paid a little over $300 for it, always goes boom when I pull the trigger.

A used S&W 581 for $225., Taurus 85UL new for $289.

Mak in 9x18