What are your favorite inexpensive handguns

In the under $500 range, I'd say used Glocks. $425-450 is an average price for a used gun, $350-380 for a police trade-in.

Bersa hands down!
It is one of the few guns that meet your original post and is still a great gun. With MSRP well under $300, it is one of the cheapest and best guns for the money.

Now, breaking the rules a little, I also like Star BM and used S&W 3rd gen autos. I have seen nice used police trade-in SS 3rd gen S&W autos sell for less than $300. Sometimes, much less. I bought a nice 6906 for $235 OTD from a gunshop!

used s&w and ruger revolvers.
cz's.
makarov's.

Makarovs

Used S&W Model 10

Taurus revolvers

Well, after reading through this thread, one thing seems pretty clear. I need to buy a Makarov... I don't really care much for the caliber, but the little guns do seem well made and everyone who has one likes it, and they're CHEAP! Maybe I could get one in .380. Got dies and such for .380 already.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the EAA Witness. I just picked up a new .45 in the Wonder Finish (hard chrome) for $364 shipped.
Well made and accurate. About 400 rounds so far with no malfunctions.

and the 442 and 642 are almost $600 MSRP but just a tad under.

Click to expand...

Huh? S&W shows the 642 at $476 on their web page. $350ish actual price new at the gun shows around here.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=14793&langId=-1&isFirearm=Y



And the 442 lists for $480.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=14760&langId=-1&isFirearm=Y

Both well under your $550-600 limit.

Another vote for the Makarov. I have a 1964 East German Ernst Thaelman.

I would have to say my Taurus 415 revolver, Taurus PT-145 Semi-Auto Pistol and my Kel-Tec P11. All three were from 200-300 dollars each. That is about as cheap as I go for a new gun.

I've had two Tokarevs, sold 'em Both were Norincos in 9mm. They fed and functioned flawlessly and were adequately accurate and easy to conceal. However, I read the loosly translated instructions that came with the guns (never knew a pistol was a "bullet launcher" ROF!) and said the guns had a 2500 round expected life. I'd forgotten about that until someone brought that up here. Now, I felt they'd go a lot longer than that, all steel guns after all. However, when the distributor gives such a low round count as an expected life span, gotta make you think, eh? I only gave about $100 each for these and made a little money on 'em at gun shows. They were kinda cool and they were flawless in their function. they were close enough in design to the 1911 that I even modified a shock buffer I had left over from my 1911s for one of 'em. On one, I did notice a little bash damage where the slide strikes the guide/frame on recoil. The steel seemed a might soft.

Anyway, be aware of this if you consider a Chinese Tokarev.

J-Frames from the 70's. Also well used Glocks.

My favorite "inexpensives" would be Rugers and Taurus. Never had problems with several of each brand, in various configurations.

I guess I'd better buy all of my handguns here before moving after college! In NH I can find NEW Glocks all day for $499-599, OTD (no tax! ), Ruger revolvers and autos are almost always less than $500 new, Smith and Wessons new range from less than $400 all the way to whatever the current custom shop model is. Taurus revolvers in the more common kinds are routinely in the $270-370 range. That's about all of the ones I can think of offhand, but there are others available. And buying used can save big $$.

Mod 64 police trade-in. Polishes or beadblasts to brand new look. Accurate as any I've used. $150.
kid

CZ's. Best quality per dollar out of production handguns IMO. (although the XD package by Springfield is comign mighty close).

I guess I don't have a good handgun, I've got:

bulgy mak
Rock Island .45
CZ40B I got off gunbroker for $300 !
Heritage .22


All shoot great.

My favorite cheap handgun is my RIA 1911. Got it for $319 and now after all the mods I think I have around $550 in it. Shoots like a dream and I love it.

MCgunner
" Well, after reading through this thread, one thing seems pretty clear. I need to buy a Makarov... I don't really care much for the caliber, but the little guns do seem well made and everyone who has one likes it, and they're CHEAP! Maybe I could get one in .380. Got dies and such for .380 already."
------------------------------------------------------------------------

I saw two .380 Maks at the Ft Worth gun show last week, $225.
I would have bought them but I already have two in .380. (12 in 9x18)

The .380 Maks are usually are hard to find.

My Rock Island Armory GI .45 is a great value. The Firestorm I bought recently in .38 super is a little finicky about magazines, but with those it likes it also does well. The Ruger Security Six is my favorite .357 revolver of all time although the GP100 is creeping up on it.

I have to mention the Makarov as well. I have two, a Bulgarian in 9x18 and a Russian IJ-70 in .380. The .380 is amazingly accurate and boringly reliable.

That's easy IMO

Firestorm, Taurus, Bersa are all excellent.

The Firestorms and Bersa are the least expensive.

Tarus is a bit more, but still really reasonable.

I think FS, T, and B are just as good as my more costly Ruger, CZ, and S&W guns.

GLOCK

Another Sigma Vote

I had forgotten about these until I stopped by to see a friend this afternoon. As we were BSing he mentioned that his Sigma SW9VE that he bought a couple months ago just went over 1000 rounds with 1 stove pipe and no other malfunctions. I've put a few rounds down the pipe of this gun myself and it shoots just fine. The trigger is a bit rough and heavy when compared to... well compared to about anything I've ever shot. However, at $280 before tax (from Sportsman's Warehouse in Boise) one could do far worse in a defensive pistol if Glocks, Sigs, HKs, etc. are beyond the budget.

Revolver
#1 Taurus 85 UL
#2 Rossi SS .357
#3 any Ruger

Auto
#1 Ruger P89
#1 1/2 Amscor .45 1911
#2 Macarov

I'm still waiting to find a Taurus 1911 to look at and probably buy.

In line with chaim's reqs (new, MSRP < $600):

Kel-Tec P40 .40S&W & P11 9mm
P40 is no longer manu, but were well under price. Could require a little work to get going properly, but once tuned, are good-to-go. And they are light. I own a P40 I bought for $275 a few years back.

AMT DAO Backup (9mm, .40S&W, .45ACP)
No longer manu, but were also well under $600...more like $400 when first intro, then went down to $250. I own the .45ACP. It is reliable with hardball, which is all I want to feed it.

Taurus 651 .357mag
I own the Ti model revo. It has turned out pretty well.

CZ75B 9mm
I don't own one...YET! I will, though. I like C&L.

NOT in line with chaim's reqs (USED):

S&W M10 .38spl
$200, used. Utterly reliable.

Tie:

S&W M10
KBI 9mm Hi-power clone.

Springfield XD