Best "cheap" handgun you've owned?

[czechmate]

What is the best cheap (and preferably reliable) handgun you have ever owned?

 

[critter]

High Standard Double Nine-nine shot .22 revolver. Had it for nearly 40 years and it still shoots nicely.

 

[hansolo]

I assume you could transpose the word "inexpensive" for cheap: at $340.00, I am still amazed at my CZ 75B.
By your handle, I may not be alone .


Steve in Krappy-Fornia

 

[Newton]

Toss up between my Makarov for $130, or my FEG Hi Power with factory hicaps for $199.

Both have been 100% reliable and would serve you very well as a combat handgun, the Mak for concealment and the FEG as a sidearm.

Newton

 

[firestar]

That is a very good but hard question. What is the defination of "cheap"? Is there a price cut off? Do you mean "best' as in quality, reliability, accuracy, durability, smoothness, etc? I am not trying to be pedantic, I just need more info to narrow down my choice.

Here is a list of some that I have owned that I thought were worth much more than I paid.

Ruger Speed Six SS 357mag $200
S&W M-19 $285
Star Firestar $250
Bersa 23 .22lr $175

All of those I still own and I doubt I will ever sell any of them because they don't make them anymore and I really like them. I think I value them more than they are worth but that is a good thing, it beats the alternative.

 

[hksw]

My Hi-Point 9 mm Comp has worked out very well. Cheapest handgun I own. At over double the price, the Astra A-75 has also worked very well (have a second A-75 that doesn't get shot).

 

[Hkmp5sd]

Colt "Junior Colt" .22 short Pre- '68 GCA - Made in Spain.

 

[Sean Smith]

CZ-75B.

 

[Mike Irwin]

I'm pretty much in lock-step with Critter on the High Standard.

I've got a High Standard Sentinel .22 that's a great little .22.

I've also got a Charter Arms Off Duty .38 that was my first CCW revolver oh so many years ago in Pennsylvania.

 

[Daryl]

For me it would be my East German Makarov that I got for a little more than $100.

 

[Ala Dan]

An old Astra 4" barrel .357 magnum! Built like a tank,
this target sighted revolver was dependable and fairly
accurate; to be a product of Spain. My records indicate
that I purchased it NIB for $150.00, out-the-door.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Majic]

A Star model SA for $100. IMO by far the most reliable and strongest .380 that was on the market. It was built on the 1911 format so it was small, flat, and tough with it's locked breech. I shouldn't have sold it.

 

[P95Carry]

Hmmm .... gotta draw a distinction here ......

''Cheap'' ... my Phoenix HP-22 .... great value plinker.

''Lower cost'' .. definitely my FEG HP clone.

 

[czechmate]

FireStar,

Let's see, by best "cheap" handgun my first criteria would be:

1. Price
2. Reliability
3. Accuracy
4. Durability
5. Looks (Really not necessary at all.)

My two favorites are:

1. CZ-75B w/ Tritium nite sights 325.00
2. E. German Makarov 175.00

 

[Gewehr98]

"Cheap" is such a horrible word...

But my $150.00 CZ-52 was definitely worth the investment.

Same for my $200 S&W Model 696.

 

[Tamara]

My 1952 vintage five-screw S&W Military & Police. For $275 I got a gun that shames my newer Performance Center revolvers in build quality.

 

[sm]

Mike Irwin-Is that High Standard a 6" bbl ?
I bought for a little money that very gun from my dad...yes that gun.

Next would be an old Model 10 4" that was a backup pc kept at home by an officer. When he passed I was offered this for free...I didn't pay nearly enough even then--his widow just wouldn't hear of it.

 

[WonderNine]

I don't own any "cheap" guns. Champaigne taste on a beer budget....that's me.

 

[10-Ring]

Cheap? Well maybe not cheap...more inexpensive & those honors go to my S&W mod 19 that I got for $275 otd (roughly what I paid for my 22lr revolver).

 

[Amegatek]

Easy... My first purchase and still my primary house gun: Ruger KP-89 9MM. Paid $349 for it in "used but unfired" condition. Also my SA Mil-Spec was a bargain at $399 NIB. Both are reliable, well built, and shoot well.

 

[only1asterisk]

Cheap? That would be my $450 NIB Stainless USPf 9mm! Paid $200 several years ago for a police trade in 5906.

Sorry, the best I can do.


David

 

[denfoote]

Pistolet Makarova, comrade!!

 

[SnWnMe]

German Makarov $150 a long long time ago. The gun doesn't jam (are you 1911 makers listening???)

 

[caz223]

Cheap is relative.
My two 'cheapest' guns that I wind up shooting from time to time.
.41 mag ruger blackhawk 4 5/8". Long range accuracy steel plate killer.
CZ75b 9mm short range run 'n gun steel plate killer.
You could buy either gun new today for less than $400.
My star PD shoots better than the $270 I paid for it, as well.

 

[Okiecruffler]

Pheonix HP-22

At $72.95, cheap is the only word that could describe it. Splurged and spent $19.95 for the 5 inch barrel and a spare mag. Could chase soda cans out to 35 yrds easy with either barrel. Couldn't find ammo that it didn't like. Never jammed with anything except Stingers (never have had any luck with those from any gun). Traded it for a Charter Arms Explorer pistol that I just had to have. Even threw in $25 on the deal. Couldn't hit the broad side of a barn from the inside and if there's any ammo out there that it does like I haven't found it yet. It sits in the safe as a reminder to not do stupid things. Everytime I consider a trade now, I go get it out and look at it for awhile.