Cheap Pistols and My Buddies Harassment

[94045]

Okay, I've got to know, are cheap pistols a danger to me and everyone else just because they are cheap? How about cheap ammo just cause it's on sale? My shooting buddies harass me constantly.

I'm currently using the following for either home defense or carry.

2 Mossberg 500 18.5" 12 gauge ($190 each from Wally World) with #1 Buckshot Reduced Recoil.($0.40 Round from Local Law Enforcement). Maybe 500 rounds each with no issues.

S&W SW9VE Sigma 9mm with 5 mags ($150 after rebate). 2000+ rounds with 2 failures to return to battery in first 50 rounds. I have no issue with the trigger.. Just roll the trigger like an old S&W M10. Currently shooting Federal Tactical Bonded 135+P ($0.20 Round Law Enforcement over run)

Taurus PT111 G2 9mm with 2 mags ($170 new). I shoot it well and other than failure to fully seat the slide when slingshotting the first round when new. It's been flawless through 1200 rounds. Currently shooting Federal 124 HST standard pressure (Reclassified $0.20 Round)

Ruger LCP Gen 2 .380 ($180 new)
500 rounds no issues.
Hornady American Gunner XTP ($0.40 Round).

S&W Shield .45 ($245 after $75 Rebate)
500 rounds no issue
Remington Golden.Sabre 230 Grain (Pre-Black Belt $0.36 Round)

Most everything was bought at Larry's unless otherwise noted.

I'm of the opinion as long as its been reliable and goes bang everytime it doesn't matter what I paid or even if it's a Taurus. My buddies are constantly harassing me for trusting my life to a $200 gun and $0.20 Ammo.

PS Some of those purchases go back over a decade so don't expect to pick up a new 500 for $190.

 

[LoonWulf]

If it goes bang consistently and hits where your pointing....Sounds good enough to me. Ive honestly never had any of my "cheap" guns fail mechanically.

 

[MedWheeler]

Sounds like along the lines of what I have.. not the same guns, but similar price points. I have Bersas, Kel-Tecs, "Taurii", Charters, a Rossi, and a Norinco-built H&R shotgun among the front lines, along with some even-"cheaper" ones for fun.

 

[bersaguy]

About 12 years ago, just before the Great Recession, I had some buddies that had gotten into the mortgage business, they were making a killing and as a result could buy some pretty impressive hardware. I'd take a little guff from them when we would show up at the range, them with their H&K's and Sigs, me with my Bersa and Taurus. Or at the sporting clays course where I would pit my Mossberg 500 against their Berettas...but in either event, I could hold my own because I practiced more.
When the bubble burst, they had to sell their expensive equipment, I held on to most of mine. Main thing is to be proficient with what you have, better equipment does not a better shooter make. I found that the refinements that make expensive guns expensive aren't very useful unless you have the basics down

 

[bannockburn]

94045

I don't see anything wrong with your collection. As long as they work properly, are durable, and have decent accuracy, you're good to go.

 

[edwardware]

. . . My buddies are constantly harassing me for trusting my life to a $200 gun and $0.20 Ammo.

Sounds like they're a bit insecure about how much their gear costs. I and my $700 R700 outshoot or match guys running $3k Stolle Pandas pretty regularly; they buy rifles, and I buy components.

"It's not the arrow. . . it's the Indian."

 

[Zaydok Allen]

My shooting buddies harass me constantly.

If your guns work how you want them to, I don't see how it's their business. You sure they're your "buddies"?

Ribbing someone once or twice is one thing. Persistent harassment is something else.

 

[ih772]

Who cares what other people think. Buy what you want to buy.

 

[Winkman822]

In my book, there's a big difference between inexpensive and "cheap" guns. Inexpensive is what you have, quality stuff that doesn't break the bank. Cheap on the other hand is a whole other can of worms. I can't come up with any immediate examples, but cheap would be something inexpensive that doesn't run reliably nor with acceptable accuracy. Moreover, it's something where if there is a catastrophic failure, the user or those nearby are at risk of injury beyond what would be expected of a quality gun.

As far as cheap ammo, I tend to stick with something that I know to be good quality as inexpensive/cheap ammo can tend to be inconsistent. I'd hate to have a light powder load that sends a bullet partway down the barrel only to be sent the rest of the way by the next round causing a bulge in the barrel.

All of the above said, the most inexpensive guns I've bought have been a used Glock 23 (bought for $400), a used Gen 1 P99 (bought for $400 and I carry it daily), and a Springfield XD-9 Subcompact (bought for $350 NIB). I've also bought plenty of guns that have cost LOTS more and they don't do anything that these less expensive models aren't capable of with the exception perhaps of my Wilson Combat and Les Baer 1911's which I'd venture a guess are capable of slightly better accuracy from a rest with the right load.

 

[Spats McGee]

Cost really isn't the issue, and I don't see anything on that list that would make me nervous, safety-wise.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Take the criticism in stride, your buddies are good for the economy.

 

[badkarmamib]

If it works, it works. There are a lot of inexpensive guns that are known to fail. There are a lot of inexpensive guns that are known for reliability. BOTH statements are also true for expensive guns. Practice with what you have, both to verify reliability and to increase familiarity. If both of these skills progress, spend what you saved on more trigger time, or something completely separated from firearms that you enjoy, with a smile on your face.

 

[drband]

Nothing “cheap” about your guns—ignore your “buddies”

 

[thomas15]

It is true that the main thing is practice and a lot of it. Get the basics under control and work on the secondary skills. Practice as in once a week, several hundred rounds each time, having a set goal with drills and proficiency exercises, keeping track of progress and noting weak points, not just plowing away at paper targets from a stall.

That said you get what you pay for and I see no evil in having good stuff. Inexpensive tackle will take you far if you have a lot of ground to cover. The key is it will take you far....but not to the journey's end. There is a reason why the top shooters use high end hardware. Keeping in mind that self defense skills are more tuned to knowing what you are doing and having a plan not having absolute pin point accuracy.

ON EDIT: I have a Taurus PT140 MIL PRO, in 40S&W. This particular firearm was part of a class action lawsuit, I could have returned the thing to Taurus for about $200.00. The problem for me was I have 4 extra mags and several quality holsters so the $200.00 I would have received would have been a less than break even and since I decided to keep the handgun I'm able to claim a lifetime warranty.

Anyway, that particular handgun is hands down the worse shooting firearm I have in my collection. It's a chore to shoot and not that accurate with a DAO trigger in the vicinity of 3 tons. At some point future I'm going to do everything a laymen can to get it to work better but for now it just sits collecting dust. I would not recommend that firearm to anyone although I know there are many fans of this particular unit. My main point here is not to deride Taurus but to say that I believe that if I were to put in the time I could get it to function well. I view it as a personal challenge. I paid about $220.00 for it about 13-14 years ago.

 

[sparkyv]

Cost really isn't the issue, and I don't see anything on that list that would make me nervous, safety-wise.

^^^This^^^

 

[JR24]

Seems fine to me!

Though I personally wouldn't pick the Taurus or Sigma due to triggers, but if they go bang and hit where you aim reliably, seems good to me.

 

[jar]

I have always followed the "Spock Principle" when it comes to guns; "Live long and accumulate". Most of my guns were bought at quarter century or half century or even longer ago price points because they were bought a quarter century or half century or even longer ago. Some were bought at "used" quarter century or half century or even longer ago prices.

If a gun has been working for a decade or generation or century and is still in good shape today, does it really matter if it was a "cheap handgun"?

 

[BlueHeelerFl]

I don't see anything wrong with those guns. I wish I could find deals like you did!

Lately I see that every manufacture has QC issues, no matter the price point.

You should pick on them for their expensive choices. For example "Be careful with that SIG! It can go off anytime! How much did you pay for that defective pos?"

 

[sarge83]

I have everything from Colts, S&W, Rugers, military surplus handguns and rifles, to Kel-tec's, Rock Island's and a Hi-point carbine. It sounds like he has the problem, not you. If you are comfortable with your weapons of choice and they are functional enjoy them and ask him why he is a gun snob. This is his problem, not yours.

 

[FL-NC]

There's nothing "wrong" with what you have, if they are reliable and you can hit with them. Not my #1 choices, but if they work for you, you could have done much worse. I believe your S&W sigma has plastic sights- I would change them to some type of night sights.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Sounds to me, you’re buddies are Gun snobs.
If you have to keep reminding yourself why someone is your friend, maybe he’s not.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Sounds to me, you’re buddies are Gun snobs.

The best way to shut one of those up is to out shoot them.

 

[Hokkmike]

I admit that I am a brand name snob. I like to buy the best and most reliable brands and models that I can afford. Someone once told me that with tires on your family car and a gun that goes "bang" next to your head get the best quality you can afford. That being said I don't believe any of your mentioned choices are dangerous by any means. Having limited money I do sacrifice quantity for quality. But that is my choice. There are many manufactures and models to choose from because everyone's tastes vary. Enjoy!

 

[tarosean]

I'm of the opinion as long as its been reliable and goes bang everytime it doesn't matter what I paid or even if it's a Taurus. My buddies are constantly harassing me for trusting my life to a $200 gun and $0.20 Ammo.

I kinda want to know what these buddies are shooting that is so much better? They happen to be Glock fanboys?

In my mind, reliability is number one concern for an SD weapon.. Not the name stamped on the slide. You state that they work and that is all that should matter.

 

[thomas15]

The best way to shut one of those up is to out shoot them.

This is, of course, very well said.

In general most of us need some thing to motivate us to increase skills beyond those that are easy. To go beyond easy requires effort. If I add up the total round count of the OP spread out over several firearms and over an unknown period of time, it is less than 5000 rounds total. If the time period is 5 years that is 1000 rounds per year, 100 per month, not really very much in my opinion of the goal is to excel.

One possibility would be to take one of those guns, pick a cof and put in mucho amounts of effort. Set goals and work towards them. Once the goals are met (in this case beating friends), move on to another cof or firearm. It is easier and faster to crack one nut at a time. Buy 5000 rounds of inexpensive ammo and a book that details marksmanship skills and set a goal.