Cheap Pistols and My Buddies Harassment

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When I saw the thread title I was expecting to see a list of Saturday night specials, maybe a Hi Point, and remanufactured ammo.

Nope, you have a list of firearms with good track records from reputable companies. Same with the ammo. I wouldn’t be ashamed to own any of those and actually, I do own a LCP and Mossberg 500 and have had a Shield in an online shopping cart more than once before backing out.
 
tarosean said:
I kinda want to know what these buddies are shooting that is so much better? They happen to be Glock fanboys? :evil:

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.
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In my personal experience the price elitists I've know are HK, Sig and Colt fanboys.
 
Who would cry louder? Should you or your friends ever have to use a firearm in a defensive incident that gun will be taken as evidence. No one takes care of your guns like you do, and certainly the evidence clerk is not going to worry if your gun gets dropped, or a pipe leaks on it.
If your guns suit your needs do listen to them.
 
If you were trying to justify Hi Points that would be something else, but these are mostly very, very respectable choices. I'd rather see a value gun and more ammo, training, etc. if that's what it takes.

They should not be making fun of your for it. I am pretty sure I do not. Recall long, long ago I had a very shiny 5946 (not stamped as such, but the local S&W superfan confirmed they were low rate so made in the PC shop) and a friend had a 915. If you do not recall, the 915 was a discount 5906. Lost the last two steps of polishing, cheap finish, etc. But... the gun ran and ran. We'd compare sometimes, to see what stuff was different and where they'd made sure the gun got the attention needed to work, vs. where they could cut costs.
 
I used to take grief for owning single shot rifles so I feel your pain. There's nothing wrong with your armory as long as they are reliable who cares. I had a gun shop clerk tell me that RIA 1911s are junk,I have one that goes bang every time and works as well as a Colt and for half
the price. So there's no pony on the slide who cares?
 
2 Mossberg 500 18.5" 12 gauge

S&W SW9VE Sigma 9mm with 5 mags

Taurus PT111 G2 9mm with 2 mags

Ruger LCP Gen 2 .380

S&W Shield .45
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I was expecting a collection of Loricin's, Davis, an RG revolver or three and High Points.

Those aren't 'Cheap Guns' as much as they are affordable. I have a few of those guns on that list, nothing wrong with any of them. I have several that you'd have to add a zero to some of the prices you listed, but that doesn't mean that the other ones that I have don't work.

I'm curious what your friends are shooting.
 
Which Larry's are you referring to? If I was your friend, the only thing I would give you a hard time about, and most of it would be jokingly, is the Taurus. That is because I have a bias against them due to a very bad experience in the past that was never really taken care of. Everything else on your list is perfectly fine and some of the best budget friendly firearms you can have.
 
I had a friend that worked in a canning factory. He told me that they would do a run of cans, then stop the line, change the labels and restart the line using the exact same cans. He laughed at how people thought the more expensive labeled can was better even though both brands contained the exact same product.

Hornady American Gunner is good quality ammunition. It uses their XTP bullet which is a well proven design. Does it make any sense that Hornady would risk lawsuits and damage to their reputation by deliberating making self-defense ammunition to a lower standard?

For comparison I have Hornady American Gunner 124 gr. XTP +P, product 90224. It is listed on the box at 1175 fps.

I also have Hornady Custom 124 gr. XTP, product 90242, which is listed at 1110 fps.

Both cartridges look exactly the same. Same XTP bullet, same brass case and brass primer. The American Gunner is headstamped 9mm LUGER +P. The Custom is headstamped 9mm LUGER.

Cost wise American Gunner is listed for $17.49 / 25 rd. box and the Custom is listed for $19.99 / 25 rd. box at Cabelas. So less powerful ammunition (standard pressure) is $2.50 more simply because the box says CUSTOM.

I do understand that nickel plated case does cost more to manufacture but I am comparing the exact same components. Like other people I want the best ammo for self-defense but most expensive does not mean best. YouTube videos proof that.

I carry American Gunner 124 gr. XTP +P but I am open to switching if something comes along that conclusively proves it's superiority.
 
BSA1 said:
Hornady American Gunner is good quality ammunition. It uses their XTP bullet which is a well proven design. Does it make any sense that Hornady would risk lawsuits and damage to their reputation by deliberating making self-defense ammunition to a lower standard?

For comparison I have Hornady American Gunner 124 gr. XTP +P, product 90224. It is listed on the box at 1175 fps.

I also have Hornady Custom 124 gr. XTP, product 90242, which is listed at 1110 fps.
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I understand what you are trying to say and I really don't have a dog in this particular fight but there are several flaws in your logic.
 
I somewhat expect I get a little defensive and it feeds it. (Kind of like the guy with a flinch that keeps getting offered a turn behind the .460 Weatherby)

I have a tendency to only buy something when it's a screaming deal and it's given me a reputation as a tightwad. That said I get to shoot more and own more guns as a result.

Truth be known I think the latest and greatest is somewhat over-rated. I tend to wait until the next great thing comes along and buy them then. I would not feel undergunned with my Dad's S&W M10 .38 Special, Grandad's Remington M11 20 ga or Great-Grandad's Winchester M92 .38-40 if they where what was at hand when something went bump in the night.

That said it's not like I don't own a Premium 1911 or Revolver or two. They just are not my go to SHTF guns.

PS I feel for the individual that ever gets in the way of my 71 yo Mom and my old Dan Wesson Model 15. Watching her nail empty shot gun hulls at 40 yards is enough to give anyone pause when faced with a Senior and an old Revolver.
 
Glocks, Sig's, HK's, M&P's for carry mostly and a smattering of Colt and Semicustom 1911's but those are mostly range guns.

I think I catch the most flack over the Sigma "Night Stand" Gun when I bring it out and the fact that my primary carry is a Taurus PT111 G2 but it carries well, I shoot it well with standard pressure 124 HST and it's been dead nuts reliable after the first 50 rounds (slide didn't fully seat when slingshotting new).

The LCP Gen 2 "Mouse Gun" that's always I'm my rear pocket gets a few comments about everyone needing a flyswatter too. I think that's more of .380 thing than price.
 
Many years ago I bought a H&R 20ga at Walmart. On the way home I stopped at a turkey shoot(my first one) and after they explained it to me I proceeded to win 8 out of 10 rounds and got 3 turkeys, a ham, and $600 before they asked me to leave. No less than 4 people tried to buy it from me, and I’m sure Walmart had none for a while after that. Not bad for a $75 shotgun that I still have and shoot.

I also had a Jennings J22 that almost never malfunctioned and was very accurate, a Davis 380 that worked great till if failed and locked up completely, an Accutec 380 double stack that was very reliable but it was stolen.
 
mdThanatos said:
Which Larry's are you referring to? If I was your friend, the only thing I would give you a hard time about, and most of it would be jokingly, is the Taurus.
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Larry's Pistol and Pawn in North Alabama.
They run a lot of good sales when a model is being updated or discontinued and they can get them in quantity. Something a little like Bud's but local to me.

I understand completely on the Taurus but but when the PT111 G2 dropped to under $170 (thanks to the lawsuit on older guns, election results and the coming G2C update) I couldn't resist. It has proven to be a wonderful pistol. Extremely thin for a double stack, very easy to carry, accurate, low recoil, very easy to grip for a compact and reliable. It took awhile but I'm past the name on the slide. I just hope I never need their Customer Service (Their reputation doesn't instill confidence). If the others are anything like mine I don't know how you would get a better CCW for the money (as matter of fact I simply can't find anything I like better at any price although the .45 Shield is a close runner up).
 
That's the Larry's I thought you meant. I visit there from time to time, he does have good deals frequently.
 
I like Glocks, and rugers, and Smith&wessons. My Uncle carries a Kel tec 9mm. He likes it.
Some drive land rovers...some drive kias.
Life is too short to care about what your friends think.
what are we....in high school?
 
All my guns are "cheap" from a certain point of view. Mostly mil-surp.

Super Star 9mm Largo, $150
Star BM, $170
Beretta 70S, $250
Daewoo DP51, $220

Most came from Sarcoinc, or J&G Sales, and I love them all. Scratches, worn blueing, nicks and gouges just gives them more character and each has an interesting history.
I like what I like, and I will not change. Buy what you like.
 
I have some of the guns you mentioned owning. I also have experience with some of the others mentioned in this thread. If it is reliable & you can shoot it accurately who cares what they think. Personally I don't have anything high end. Ruger Taurus, Springfield XD, Kahr is what I have for semis. My biggest dislike about the PT 111 G2 is the trigger. I like everything else about it. But it does work. What's not to like about an easily concealable pistol that works for under $200. Sometimes you just gotta be like old mother duck & not give a quack.
 
All of the guns mentioned are decent guns. I personally wouldn’t own the sigma, because I had a sigma, but it’s not dangerous. There are much much more expensive guns that I would trust less...Glock 40s, Colt Delta Elite 10mm, etc. What I would do is shoot the guns side by side, and see what the truth is about the guns. Reliability, accuracy, and target aquisition are the big hitters for what you have.
 
I have a couple things to chose from to keep by my bed/around the house.
I use an XD, not what I shoot the best, not my most expensive gun.
Heaven forbid I ever have to use it I figure it will be gone a long time.
Rather have it getting bounced around and abused in the system than something nicer.......

Not as important with the shotgun (but still important) I would spend the few extra $ to get quality ammo for the pistols.
Target Sports USA has (or used to being in CA I can't order ammo online anymore and have it shipped to) good prices on Speer Gold LE ammo.
(Pick your favorite HSTs, Gold Dots etc)
Shooting the bull has some good ammo tests in gel with and without denim in front of the gel. "Ammo Quest 9mm"
Some bullets that work great in plain gel don't do as swift with the denim (clothing) in front of the gel.
50 round boxes are not much more from them than what I would pay for a 20 round box in town.
You are probably not going to shoot a lot of it so the few extra $ are worth it IMO.

I always ordered 3 or 4 boxes so I had the same lot.
Shoot 2 to make sure all is well, feed and function, save two for SD, and rotate out every year or two.
 
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