Cheapest handgun you would trust for defense...

[CajunBass]

The Hi-Point C-9 (9mm) I had worked just fine. No reason I wouldn't have trusted it. About $150.00 when I got it.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I think I paid $275 for my Automag II back when they first came out. Accurate and reliable as anything else I've ever shot in a handgun.

 

[Panzerschwein]

CZ-82.

Those are long dried up and go for way more than $2-300.

 

[Manny]

I've seen some absolutely smoking deals on new guns at my LGS lately. A Taurus 92, the only Taurus I have any interest in for $279. New Ruger American pistol for $399, the SR series at something over the $300 range.

 

[Shaq]

If I had to go really cheap, a cheap revolver is better than a cheap auto, IMO. Maybe something like a Charter Arms that I've tested 20 rounds or so.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

As a couple of others have stated, one that WORKS.

My normal personal process is 2-300 rounds of assorted target ammo and at least a couple boxes of what you plan to carry with zero malfunctions.

Price of the gun has nothing to do with it.

Finally, ANY gun, no matter the price or how many rounds you've put through it can malfunction at any time. So TRAIN. And if one of your proven carry pieces develops problems fix it or get rid of it. You should never carry a piece that left you "wondering" at your last range session.

 

[jhb]

Try to find one of the Bulgarian Makarov's. They will never let you down.

yep, but make sure they work. ive bought 4 over the last couple batches sold as excellent surplus like new from different online retailers and 2 of the 4 came with dangerous defects. I've bought many more surplus hi powers and feg copies and most of those had defective safety setups from improper armoring and tolerances allowed to slip through.

point being is always check surplus.......they dont always come in proper working order......

 

[jhb]

I gave $199.99 + $17 ship + $10 FFL for a Taurus PT111 G2 at Palmetto State Armory 2 months ago. I've ran over 100 rounds thru it with out a hitch. The trigger is weird, long take up but you learn to live with it.

Here ya go

http://www.gunbuyer.com/p-67723-taurus-pt111-g2-9mm-32-bl-as-12rd.aspx ships free

coworker bought one recently. light strikes repeatedly. good thing it has second strike capability cause he needs it to get through a magazine. taurus's motto should be...."never reliable or consistent."

 

[Mike J]

coworker bought one recently. light strikes repeatedly. good thing it has second strike capability cause he needs it to get through a magazine. taurus's motto should be...."never reliable or consistent."

That is interesting mine has worked with no problems. The only thing I did before shooting it was field strip, clean & lubricate it. I honestly don't know how Taurus customer service is now but your co-worker should contact them & give them a chance to make it right.

Edited to add: Did your co-worker clean the gun before they fired it? I thought about this after I replied. Mine came in a plastic bag sopping in oil. I wouldn't expect it to cause light strikes so much but if they didn't clean that mess off they are just asking for malfunctions.

 

[ranger56528]

My LCP is my go to pocket gun and I trust it.

 

[jhb]

That is interesting mine has worked with no problems. The only thing I did before shooting it was field strip, clean & lubricate it. I honestly don't know how Taurus customer service is now but your co-worker should contact them & give them a chance to make it right.

Edited to add: Did your co-worker clean the gun before they fired it? I thought about this after I replied. Mine came in a plastic bag sopping in oil. I wouldn't expect it to cause light strikes so much but if they didn't clean that mess off they are just asking for malfunctions.

says he did, but who knows?

 

[lsudave]

You can find some real deals in the used/surplus market, if you do your research and get in in a timely manner.
Going used, you might want to peruse Coles Distributing (CDISales on gunbroker). They do a lot of imports from Israel, and the guns I've gotten from them have been great deals, completely functional, maybe a little rough in appearance.

The 2 cheapest 9mms I would trust came from them; a Zastava CZ99 "ugly gun special".... it has some finish worn from the frame. If you look around, they all do. The black finish on the frame rubs off with alcohol, but doesn't affect the function. I got it for $195 + shipping and FFL. I rubbed some Aluminum Black on the frame, good to go.
Next would be a FEG Hipower, looks like it had some rust pitting on the side of the muzzle at one time, they parkerized it and it's solid now. $210 + shipping and FFL.

They also have CZ's, picked up a worn CZ 75 pre B for $300. Again, no hiccups and damn accurate.

 

[DDDWho]

light strikes repeatedly. good thing it has second strike capability cause he needs it to get through a magazine. taurus's motto should be...."never reliable or consistent."

Strange! I've found just the opposite to be true. Mine goes bang every time I pull the trigger.

 

[jhb]

^have to decide if y'all got lucky or my coworker was unlucky? i know which way i think.

 

[bearcreek]

BUT, I thought this may make an interesting discussion. If you were (or are) pinching every penny, and want/need a handgun to defend self and family if such a sittuation should arise, what would it be?

For me, I think it would be the good ole Makarov or one of its cousins/clones. They seem to still be available for a little over 200 so I suppose around 250-275 once shipped and transferred. They are reliable, smallish, and fire a relatively useful round.

So.. what's the cheapest handgun you would trust?

It's really tough to come up with a scenario where someone truly can only afford $250-$275 for a Makarov but really, truly can't afford $350-$375 for a police trade in Glock. I suppose if for some reason it was absolutely impossible for me to wait a little while and somehow come up with an extra $100 I would go with a Makarov.

 

[John Joseph]

We have no cheap handguns in CA anymore, but if we did I'd go for a police turn in S&W M10 or M15, or surplus Radom

 

[eazyrider]

Hi-Point 45. My grandfather has had one for years, it is a lot of things but unreliable isn't one of them.

 

[Kendal Black]

So.. what's the cheapest handgun you would trust?

I've had good luck shopping for used revolvers. It's not a good plan for everyone. I know revolvers pretty well, how to tell a sound but ratty looking example from a nice looking wreck, etc.

If you understand revolver problems and how to spot them, or have a buddy who does and who can go shopping with you, you can still score some nice deals these days. To learn how to check out a revolver, start here: https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...r-checkout-10-year-anniversary-update.695644/

I have not much money at all in an old (Pre-Taurus International) Taurus 82, bought used, that works okay: the DA trigger pull is a bit crunchy, but not unmanageable.

 

[JDR]

I have a Walther PPS-M2 9mm that cost me $419.00 earlier this year and I have about 1,500 rounds through it so far. I have 2 extra 8 round mags for it that I picked up in addition to the 6 and I also have a SIG P6 the W.German police surplus version of the original civilian P225, I paid $319.00 for it a few years back but these go for a lot more these days!

 

[lsudave]

It's really tough to come up with a scenario where someone truly can only afford $250-$275 for a Makarov but really, truly can't afford $350-$375 for a police trade in Glock. I suppose if for some reason it was absolutely impossible for me to wait a little while and somehow come up with an extra $100 I would go with a Makarov.

Well, you could always make the argument to wait and save more money, no matter what your price point is.
I own several pistols in 9x18, and have never had a problem. I would absolutely feel comfortable using a Makarov, PA 63, P64, or CZ 82 in defense. I found a hi-cap Makarov in a pawn shop for $199, it was missing the firing pin. $15 on ebay, a week later I had a completely reliable gun. People don't laugh if they're shot with something other than a Glock.

I suppose the obvious option is a Hi Point. There's a thread on another board, where I made the remark that I don't own one, and wouldn't... they don't appeal to me. But I acknowledged that most owners say they do work fine, even if they aren't sexy. They work, you never break it down to clean them, and if there's ever an issue where it's lost or taken, you don't miss it. And the warranty is second to none- they replace it no questions asked, from what I hear.

There are plenty of options out there, and as long as the gun goes bang, they are good.

 

[MedWheeler]

There are a lot of people who would tell someone considering a "tight-budget" pistol to wait a few months to save up for something that is supposed to be "better" because of its price point.

Yet, most of those people making such a recommendation would not themselves go out tomorrow unarmed, let alone for a few months.

 

[bc38]

$35.00 ............... many years ago i picked up a Davis .32 auto. it was reliable and i could rest over the truck hood and hit a paper plate at 50 yards. couple years later i sold it and a shoulder holster for $40.00 to a fellow that wanted it more than i did. ya i know all the bs yet it was better than harsh word and a stern look.

 

[Tallball]

And folks, here is the winning entry...

...the DAO Rossi 720 that I picked up at the pawn shop yesterday for $250!

They are sweet, sweet 44 special revolvers. It can keep my adjustable-sight version company.

 

[DDDWho]

^have to decide if y'all got lucky or my coworker was unlucky? i know which way i think.

Taurus has a lifetime guarantee. I would suggest your co-worker send it back for repair.

 

[Coyote3855]

I often carry a Kel-Tec PF-9 that's been reliable with Hornaday Critical Defense 115 grain ammunition, and over 250 rounds of FMJ practice ammo. My FFL got a "buy 4 get one free deal," so my cost was just over $200 two years ago. I absolutely trust my Russian Makarov, $120 but 20 years ago. One vendor had and may still have used/worn Bulgarian Maks for $200. I would trust one of those as all Makarovs seem to be bomb proof. There are good reviews of the reliability if not the fit and finish of the Rock Island Armory .38 Special revolver, but I cannot speak from experience.