Do you have a 'beater" handgun?

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cookekdjr

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Do you have a 'beater" handgun? I'm thinking of a handgun that is primarily a tool, something that you keep in your truck, toolbox, etc, or simply a reliable gun you use that may not be pretty, but works. The rifle equivalent would be a 30-30 (or maybe an sks) you bought at a pawnshop and just keep around like you would a monkey wrench or a hammer; maybe its your favorite hunting rifle that you don't mind getting scraped or weather-worn b/c it already is.
So, do you have a "beater" handgun, and, if so, what is it?
I'll go first. Mine is a Glock 19 I bought on a whim. Its a police trade in with faded (but usable) night sights. I've thought of selling it many times for something fancier or with more cache (can you say SIG?) but i can never seem to part with it; its so functional, reliable, accurate, and fun, and I never worry about getting it scratched or "ruined". In short, I love it.
So what is yours? Pics are acceptable. I may post mine after supper tonight.
-David
 
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Every Glock I've owned I consider a beater:D I bought two new:p
My g-19s slide wacked the starter on my '83 Toyota once in a Wal-Mart parking lot. I had no other tools, and she started turning over!
 
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I wouldn't call them beaters, but my S&W 640, 432PD, FN BDAO (DAO HP), and AO/Kahr M1 Carbine are my "business" guns. I consider them reliable, potentially lifesaving tools and take care of them accordingly. But I wouldn't get upset if they got a cosmetic scratch or two. The rest of my firearms are range queens/fun guns.


nero
 
Current : Keltec P-11

Past: I am a huge believer in redundancy. Meaning multiples of same platform and caliber. "Beware the person that shoots one gun - they know how to use it".

Beaters include, Model 36, 37 , 10, 64, 19, 66, 29. for revolvers. Semis represented by Gov't model of 1911 , Steel Combat Commanders, and Lt.Wt Commanders. I refuse to use Officer's sized 1911s.

Made my choices for handguns (firearms in general) back when I was a kid...not deiviated much, just added few that came out in later years from T&E or somesuch.

If for some reason the only two guns I could of ever had - or would be ever able to have were K frames and 1911s - fine.
 
I got a police trade in Beretta 92 from CDNN. It aint pretty but it works just fine. Good range gun but if push came to shove I would have no problems with it as a CCW.
 
Sure I do, several in fact... :what:

The finish is mostly gone, and some are more brown then blue. But the insides are perfect and the mechanics are dead on. Totally reliable, but not so pretty. I've considered having them refinished, and someday I may get around to it - but frankly, a nice blue job never made a gun shoot any better. And in addition those well used but not abused guns have very slick actions.

Course my car is 16 years old too... :evil: :D
 
My old P95 from early carry days is near that category - no probs throwing it in any old place.

Perhaps tho my real beater is my first carry snub - old Taurus M85. It had some bluing wear originally but after my carry for a year or so - even more. It shows I think! That gun could get thrown into a fishing box and I'll not worry. ;)


m85_s.jpg
 
A Norinco model 213 9mm. My dad got it back when I was about 15 or so. It is a total piece of crap, but it is reliable and decently accurate. He gave it to me for home defense when I got married and moved out since the area I moved to isn't the best and the only handgun I owned was a target .22 besides various rifles and shotguns. I was going to use it for CC until I could afford a better gun, but I was able to pick up my M&P sooner than I thought so it is now just a plinker. In the past, I have used it to introduce a couple of friends to shooting.
 
My old 1947 vintage M&P "transitional" model. It's got a little rust and there is no bluing left on the sharp edges. Not a beater, but it doesn't get babied either. It shoots really well, 5" pencil bbl gives it great balance, and it rides well in hip holster loafin the woods and sage plains of Idaho. It does everything I want a used $200 .38 to do.

My newer, bought used, Springfield Armory "GI model" 1911 is another good one. The sights and thumb safety were upgraded by the previous owner, and it's also a great shooting and handling pistol. IWB in bianchi leather or on the hip OWB in bianchi nylon it's a great all around gun. The Parkerizing is plenty tough and fends off little bumps and scratches quite well, so it still looks pretty durn good. At $400 it was a bit more than old M&P, but, again, it does what I want in basic not-afraid-to-really-use-it gun at a low price.

Like sm said, K frames and 1911s. I have other guns I like, but those two platforms/families of handguns just work for me.
 
Yes, my Glock 17

Yes, my Glock 17. I suspect that is how Glock intended it to be looked at.

It just doesn't require a lot of attention. I call that a beater.

Doc2005
 
Mine is a Heritage

Rough Rider .22. I just got back into guns 7 months ago. I had purchased two centerfire handguns, revolver and auto, and had not bought a 22 to practice my shooting with on the cheap, ammowise. So, I was a little low on money and, on impulse recently I bought a brand new .22 Rough Rider for $150. It shoots pretty nicely to point of aim and is okay for what it is....a cheap gun. I like nice quality products but as I said this was an impulse buy because it was there and cheap. Well, now two months or less later I have bought a .22 Colt Peacemaker LNIB but will use it for a shooter. So, I said to myself...."Self, what are you going to do with this cheap gun?" Then I realized that I had never had a "truck gun." I use a Sears tool box for my shooting box, you know...ear plugs, ammo, etc. It holds a handgun real well. So, this Heritage is just going to sit in the trunk of my car so I will always have a gun with which to plink or whatever. I would not want to carry a $600 Colt in my trunk all the time because of possible dampness conditions, theft, etc but I will use this RR for a truck gun. Sounds fun to me. I also have three single shot lever action .22 rifles, Ithaca 49, Stevens 89, and a Stevens 89 made for Western Auto. I am thinking of making one of them my "truck gun" in a rifle mode.
 
My Makarov takes "beater" duty for me. It rides along in the car, gets thrown in backpacks, etc. I don't WANT the finish to get all scratched up, but I haven't cried over the scratches it has received thus far. I still think I need to get my hands on a few more of them.
 
The closest i have to a beater is a old S&W
10-7 with a 3"' barrel.The finish is crap and
gone from the back strap bit it's real tight
and accurate with 158gr LSWCHP's.
 
Mak.

I have three (ok, two, and my wife has one). They are beaters. One has a shotgun bead front site, and that's my "night beater".
 
.357 Blackhawk

I have a 1975 .357 Blackhawk that is in pretty bad shape. I love carrying this one around in the woods and such.
I don't worry too much about it getting beat up. I bought it that way.

Dave
 
I'm with MCgunner on this one "tools". I use all of mine often and don't mind if they get beat up a bit. As long as function doesn't suffer I'm good to go. :D
 
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