cheap handgun?

[ThePacifist]

hey guys, new here. great forum, ive always loved guns but never known much about them.
Ive got a question for you...
I live in the ghetto and i could buy a gun off the street, but i dont want to affiliate with those people and I don't want to own a gun that has a body on it or is stolen. sense I live in a high crime area I am paranoid about home invasions. I have an old .38 but last time I practice shot it, it doesn't shoot anymore, and its baisically just a piece of crap. I bought it off the street 5 or so years ago and pretty much never used it.

Now I need a new gun, preferably a 9mm, but I would settle for a .38 or even a .22
The problem is I have no job, little income and my budget is only $100.

What are some cheap brands of guns out there. I dont need a super accurate killing machine, I just want something I can keep in my house and never use unless its an emergency. Stopping power is not a big need, cause if someone breaks in my house I plan to take cover and shoot shoot in there direction until I have no bullets left.

A revolver or pistol, it doesn't matter to me. I just need something to save for a stormy day. I will only be shooting it on occasion in the woods for target practice, and if need be in a life or death situation. I feel even if someone does break in my house and I dont survive the situation at least I will go out with a fight, cause right now my .38 is nothing but an old raggedy empty threat and where I live its just not safe to only have that.

Basically what im saying is im looking for a really cheap brand that I can rely on to shoot when I pull the trigger that I can pick up at a gun store or pawn shop.

BTW great forum ive already learned so much just browsing for an hour or so.

 

[non2os13]

hipoint? is this a joke?

 

[RS14]

Welcome to the forum.

Bryco, Jennings, Jimenez, and Cobra come to mind as brands that might be available under $100, though I'm not familiar with the particular models.

The problem is not that these guns lack accuracy, so much as that they tend to be unreliable. If you do purchase one, you should test it to make sure it will cycle properly and reliably and should practice failure drills.

Any particular reason for a pistol? I don't mean to dictate what gun is right for your circumstances, but for a home defense gun at that price, I'd consider a mil-sup Mosin Nagant rifle, depending on the construction of my home and surroundings. Not tactical, certainly, but it'll do.

Note also that you can probably find a pump shotgun at a similar price, and one would be a better choice. I've not seen any quite that low lately, but I've not been looking.

 

[xmanpike]

You may be able to find a FEG PA-63, which is basically a hungarian Makarov. It fires 9x18 bullets and they can be had for $100-$150.

 

[c919]

I bought it off the street 5 or so years ago and pretty much never used it.

Yikes. By "bought it off the street," do you mean it's probably stolen? If so, or you're not sure, you need to get rid of it ASAP. That could mean one long stay in Club Fed.

You can't really find many guns that are worth trusting your life to for that price. Anything you could find would probably be better than a sharp stick. If I were you, I'd save up a little more and pick up a used S&W Sigma or a police trade in of some sort.

Are you set on a handgun? If not, you could get an old beater shotgun or milsurp rifle that'd probably be a much better bet. I just picked up an Enfield SMLE for $60 the other day that, while it would never be my first choice, I'd take it over a $100 pistol any day of the week.

 

[greyling22]

best you're going to do is to give blood a couple times and get a hi-point. they're clunky, ugly and cheap. but they work. should run around 150.

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

I know this is the handgun forum, but I would suggest that instead of getting a cheap handgun, you should look at a few pawn shops for a used single barrel break action shotgun. You will get much more for the $100 that way. The shotgun will be more powerful, easier to use, and ammo will be plentiful and inexpensive.

By the way, this is coming from a guy who owns a $30 RG40 revolver that I keep in the car and will use for concealed carry once I have my license. Its a good gun, and it works better than it ought to for the price I paid for it, but if you bought a random RG you might not get so lucky, and not being familiar with firearms means you probably would have no clue what to even look for.

You could also take that $100 and your old junky revolver to a gunsmith and explain your situation to him an ask him to try and fix it.

 

[millertyme]

Home defense? Shotgun. 18" Mossberg 88, should run you around $150 on the high end. Worse case scenario, a single shot NEF or H&R for $75-100.

 

[Sport45]

Welcome to The High Road!

Let me first as a few questions to see what's going on here. You just joined and chose for your user name "ThePacifist". Since a pacifist is by definition one who opposes violence as a means of settling a dispute I'm a bit surprised that you are looking for a handgun. You live in the inner city, have no job and little income but will be "shooting it on occasion in the woods for target practice".

How often will you be practicing? Most folks need practice to be proficient with a handgun. Without practice, don't count on being very effective when you "shoot shoot in there direction until I have no bullets left" as all you will be doing is making a lot of noise and sending bullets off on random trajectories.

Can you explain this contradiction in your post?

I dont need a super accurate killing machine, I just want something I can keep in my house and never use unless its an emergency.

(Emphasis added by me)

followed by:

I will only be shooting it on occasion in the woods for target practice, and if need be in a life or death situation.

This is The High Road and we don't endorse illegal activities. If you can legally own a handgun then get what you can afford to own and shoot. Look at used guns to save money. JG Sales probably has some surplus revolvers in your price range but ammunition may not be available at the corner store.

For barricade and cover the door options (my favorite), it's hard to beat a pump shotgun. A "coach" double barrel would be effective too. Don't start shooting until you need to. If the intruders are willing to leave without bleeding then by all means let them! Shotguns require practice too, and contrary to myth they do require aiming and don't spread shot patterns more than an inch or three at short distances.

 

[ThePacifist]

thanks guys for the reccomendations. I will look for those brands when I go gun shopping.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Save another $100 or so and you can walk out the door with a brand new Maverick or NEF Pardner Pump 12ga shotgun.

Waaaaay more effective than a pistol---and can be counted on to go bang every time vs a POS $100 pistol.

A decent pistol new will run you at least $300 to $350--Ruger P95---Ruger MkIII or S&W Sigma----used will be $200-$250----hopefully you know what to look for in a used gun??

 

[Carter]

better idea...single shot 12 guage from walmart. Just over $100 and it'll do the job right. I'd save up for a bit and get something a little better if I were you though. Rely on the trust bat for a bit, or my favorite-the kukri

 

[w_houle]

I bought a Jimenez JA .32 recently and put 200 rounds through it without any problems, and was getting good hits as far as the carrier at the indoor range would take them and was getting eyeball shots at 7 yds. The only hiccup to the whole thing is that when brand new it was very difficult to rack the slide with a full mag, but that has improved.
$100 for a NIB JA 32
$10 shipping
$20 FFL
$_4 money order and postage
Or as will be suggested a lot... Milsurp

 

[ThePacifist]

@ Carter. I plan to get a shotgun soon too, but I also want to have the option of carrying the gun in my car, etc.

 

[Carter]

Fair enough. But I'd still wait and get a handgun over $100.

Sale a few things you know you aren't going to use if you have to. If your life has to rely on it, its a good thing to know it will go bang every time.

 

[ThePacifist]

Thanks for the tips.

 

[Boberama]

Hey, he's copying my thread.

 

[ThePacifist]

also btw what are some things to look for and inspect when buying a used gun. Also do all handguns disassemble in a similar manner? for instance, if you can disassemble a 9mm, can u disassemble a .38, or .22 or is there different methods for different calibers & brands?

 

[Sport45]

You field strip semi-auto's for cleaning. They all come apart into similar pieces, but the takedown procedure varies. Specific procedures for the one you get can be obtained from the manufacturer. Most of them will send the instruction manual free of charge. Or ask again here for model specific information.

Double Action revolvers do not need to be disassembled for cleaning other than maybe removing the grips or stock.

 

[bsheets20061]

i would check the local pawn shops out and look for something along the lines of an older h&r 22 revolver, in my experience they are very dependable and the ammo can be picked up anywhere for cheap. On a tight budget that would come in handy you could practice more often become skilled in its use so that you hit what your aiming at where your aiming. The more practice you have the more muscle memory you will aquire allowing you aim shoot and reload almost without thinking about it, which will allow you to concentrate on your target and your surroundings. Where i live i pretty regularly find these h&r's for the 100.00 to 125.00 range. goodluck

 

[Carter]

Different branks disassemble in different ways. But "generally" its all pretty similar. I'd have the salesman do it for me if I wasn't familiar with it. So you don't "break it and buy it."

Used guns-outward appearance is a general thing to look for. If its looked like its been through a warzone, negative. Holster wear is something to look carefully at because that just normal wear and tear. But massive gouging in the metal or plastic isn't.
Make sure the slide runs smooth and the mag drops smooth, goes in smooth. Point it up towards a light with slide open or barrel out and look at the rifling and barrel to make sure its in good condition. There's more to look for but thats about as far as I know. My used rifle is a surplus sks and I wasn't too worried about it when I bought it...thing could probably survive a nuke.

 

[ThePacifist]

thanks carter. Another question. Do you think I could get a decent revolver for cheaper than a pistol, or are they usually about the same price. Imma basically buy the cheapest gun I can find that I think will shoot.
Also whats most pawn shops return policies. If I buy it and it doesn't work I wanna return it for a refund.

 

[Carter]

Ummm I don't think Pawn Shops have return policies...Revolvers are as reliable as it gets though. I think a cheap revolver would be better than a cheap plastic autoloader though. Shop around a little. But you'll probably find something you really want out of your price range and sell your ps3 and other random things to get it (or maybe thats just me).

To save money-Tarus Judge. You'd have to save up for a bit to get it but it is a pistol that fires a .410 shotgun round or .45 colt round. Its a slightly oversized revolver that would work great in the house with the .410 and good out and about with the .45 colt (if you dress for it after getting your permit or putting it under the seat or w/e your state law allows). I don't remember the price for it but it should hold up for a long time and serve you well if you want a "all in one" package.

Happy hunting.

 

[Clifford]

Not to sound like an a$&hole but you kind of gimme the hebejebe's. Now that that's out of the way welcome to The Highroad!

I'm gonna agree with some others and recomend a H&R, NEF or Rossi single shot but in 16 gauge. A little less recoil in such a light gun. They are fairly short so it could possibly be made to work with some car duty.

Learn to shoot any weapon you may use to defend your life with. Just shooting till they go away may work but it may kill the little girl playing in her bedroom next door when your random shot flys thru a couple layers of wall.

Is you are set on a handgun save up and get a police trade in S&W. They run $200-$300 and work well. Good luck, learn your weapon, learn how to shoot it and be safe.

 

[ThePacifist]

thanks for the tip im going to get a revolver now. Do you think I could find a decent working one for under $100? The bigger the caliber the better. I don't want a .22 but I will settle for one for the time being than upgrade in the future.