So the more a gun costs the more reliable it is? Sorry, but I have to dis-agree. I've seen plenty of those $500 guns jam. More $ does not always = better gun.
My carry gun is a Makarov. It is 100% dependable. My Mak has never jamed or failed to fire. It is a good size for carry. It is fun to shoot. And the best part is, it was cheap ($150).
I think the Makarov is the best auto-loader you'll find in your $250 price range...
Nope, but a lot of the cheaper guns are notorius for being unreliable. KelTec, HiPoint, etc. I'm sure there are plenty of quality guns out there for $250, but I haven't had any firsthand experience with them. All the cheaper stuff I've messed with has been kinda Hit or Miss (pun intended) as to whether or not it works correctly.
The KelTec P11 I played with would FTF about once a magazine, so I stopped shooting it after 25 rounds or so. (Not mine, a rental). My friend's Tarus P140 isn't horrible, but it's not the most reliable gun either.
On the other hand, I can't seem to make my P239 jam. Even if I mix ammo in the same mag. I shot a magazine last week with 2 CCI Blazers, 2 Hydrashoks, 2 TN reloads, and 2 Winchest Whitebox reloads. It shot everything.
We did the same thing to my friend's USP, same result, couldn't seem to make it jam.
Not trying to come off as an Elitist prick, just saying that I haven't had enough luck with the sub $250 guns to trust my life to one.
Then again, I've never shot a Makarov