Firearms for a College Student

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Whatever is in her dads safe. My son went to college with my M9, haven't seen it since...
 
Ljnowell hit on something. There are a lot of older Makarovs to be found out there in the $200 range. They would easily fit in her purse, or the glovebox . They are heavy enough to not ring her hand , and most are plenty accurate.

Mine is an East German Mak . It conceals easy, is built like a tank, and is fun to shoot.

Tentwing
 
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Great responses, keep them coming. I'm just trying to get all info I can to make some solid recommendations. While I agree budget should not completely dictate a choice, we have to look at reality. Also non-gun people put a higher priority on budget, especially college age kids. Think back to your ramen noodle eating days.
My ideas were:
$100 a single shot break open shotgun in 12 ga or 20 ga with ammo buttstock
$200 a pump action youth shotgun in 12 ga or 20 ga
$300 a used revolver
$400 a police trade in Glock or M&P in 9 mm

Ewcmr2 may have hit on the cheapest solution. This girl grew up shooting her Dad's guns, maybe it time to tell him she is ready to keep one in her apartment. I am going to get her to the range soon & let her shoot some of my softer shooting guns. We will see what she likes & what level of mechanical ability she has. Thanks for the replies. I did not even consider a Makrof. Is the trigger heavy? Is the 9x18 mm HP & FMJ ammo hard to fine?
 
The Makarov trigger, in DA-mode, is certainly heavy but, if she "grew up shooting Dad's guns", she can probably make quick work of learning it. Ammo for it has dried up a little in stores, but is still readily available online, though not quite the bargain it once was. Few loads specifically marketed as self-defense ammo exist, as the gun was developed to a FMJ standard required by the developer's military.

Regarding the "$100" category, I'd rather have a light and swift .22LR carbine or rifle than anything single-shot. I do own a 20-ga SS and several rimfire rifles. In that budget, my Mossberg 702 (currently $114 at Wal-Mart) would be my go-to easily.
 
Since a long gun is a option take a look at the High Point 9mm carbine. For under $300.00 she can get the gun and a extra magazine for it.

I know a lot of folks hold their noses but High Point makes very good functional guns. A High Point carbine is on my short list before November.
 
The way I see things:

If this girl doesn't practice with her handgun, then it doesn't really matter what she gets. If she's forced to use it more than likely she'll miss. Maybe the gun alone will scare off her attacker(s), maybe it won't. But one thing I can say with certainty is that she'll be lucky to hit anything. That's not a dig on women. It applies to both sexes equally.

If the girl does practice with a handgun, she'll be better defending herself with a .22 than she would have with a .44 before knowing how to shoot. And if she gets into shooting, she'll probably get more than one gun anyway.

Everyone - especially those otherwise intimidated by firearms - LOVES shooting .22s. Quality handguns are inexpensive. Ammo is inexpensive. And they're just plain fun.

So if it was me, I'd try REALLY hard to push her into getting a fun .22. Then use the money saved for practice & training. It may not provide her with the heaviest-hitting option, but it might just turn her into a firearm enthusiast, which in turn may lead her to putting in enough time to actually be effective with a handgun when things go south.

The Ruger 22/45 Lites are very sexy, mimic a full-size 1911 in grip dimensions, and tons of fun to shoot:

norailprofile2245od.jpg

I swear - just about EVERY SINGLE TIME we go to the range, my wife turns on a new female shooter to the .22lr while their boyfriend/husband fruitlessly tries to teach them with their full-size service pistol. Within minutes group sizes shrink & smiles grow. Everyone's first gun should be a .22 (IMO).
 
I'd probably be looking for a lovingly used revolver in .357, or a used Glock in 9mm. If she's comfortable shooting semi autos already, then by all means go straight to the Glock. If she doesn't have any tangible experience with them, then go for the revolver. The reason I recommend .357 is it gives her options, and the extra weight and grip will help her with recoil. She can practice at the range with cheap .38 Special reloads and keep the real deal loaded for self defense.

One thing she needs to understand right out the gate is cost of ownership. The retail cost of 90% of handguns is negligible compared to what you'll spend on ammo in that gun's lifetime. That means .40, .45, .357 Sig, .45 GAP, etc are out of the question for anyone on a budget. All those rounds cost twice as much to shoot as 9mm, .380, and .38 Special. Even with inexpensive rounds, the initial cost of the gun is pretty meaningless. My point here is to buy quality because an extra 200 dollars up front isn't even a drop in the bucket in the long run. Besides, anything you save buying cheap will end up costing you more in repair fees, or worse.

ETA: If she's not fixated on a handgun, then get a 12ga or 20ga shotgun. 870s and 500s are all over the place for cheap. And practice ammo is extremely affordable.
 
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I am curious about the college student reference. Lives on campus? Commutes to college? How does your state handle that? Curious as our Georgia laws recently changed and seem to conflict on this subject. Allowed where you are?

As stated, I think the wasp spray has been proven to be ineffective. It only gets someone wet. I have even seen video where someone agreed to be sprayed in the face and he said it didnt even bother him much, just tasted bad.
 
The Polish P64 is a pretty cool pistol, and a good size. Can be had for around $200. Not a fan of much else in this price range for a pistol; although, perhaps there are some revolvers around that price that are OK? I don't know as much about revolvers.
 
For apartment HD, a 20 gauge pump shotgun with a short barrel. Maybe $250? Certainly less than $300. Any handgun is a joke compared to that.

For handguns, a revolver. If she decides she loves shooting, great. She can move up to semi-auto soon enough. If she is going to go shooting once or twice and then leave it in a drawer for years, a revolver. Someone mentioned the Rock Island/Armscor for easily under $300. I have heard good things about them. My wife prefers the Charter Arms Undercoverette in 32 H&R magnum. I think they are around $300-ish new.

I have gotten plenty of good handguns for $200 or less, but they are going to be used. It would take some time and there is no 100% guarantee on something like that bought from a gun show.

I have heard good things about the compact Taurus 9mm mentioned above, though again I would not recommend a semi-auto for a beginner who might not follow through with training or practice.
 
Check out PSA's website. Sometimes their daily deals have many of the guns mentioned here for a very good price. Sometimes shipping included.
Taurus Slimline pt709
Taurus mod 85
Ruger LCP
on there quite often..
 
The Taurus Millenium Pro in 9mm can be found for around $240. Its small, but a good weapon. The Taurus M83 Ultra Lite .38 special revolver is great as well and goes for around $280. (I'm a Taurus fan)
 
I'm a budget gun guy myself, so I understand the mindset. I started with cheaper guns and gradually moved my way up. Probably spent more in the long run, but gained some experience along the way.

For the purposes of home defense, as others have mentioned a shotgun would be a good idea. Add a light to it with some low recoil buckshot and it can handle most home defense situations, especially living alone. In a home defense situation, your best bet is to call 911 and hunker down in a safe(r) room and wait for help to get there. Clearing the house is unnecessary and more dangerous in most cases, and really you should only do it if you have to. For that kind of situation, a shotgun is key. If she is inexperienced, a 20 gauge shotgun with and HD barrel or a "bantam" design could be a very cost effective option.

If a shotgun is too intimidating or just not the direction she wants to go, a pistol caliber carbine could be an option as well. Case in point, the Hi Point Carbine. Worth consideration especially since it usually can be had under $300. Easier to shot than a handgun and with a laser or red dot it can be relatively easy to shoot for a novice. My one big qualm with it is how difficult it is to break down and clean.

Also, if she is under 21, long guns like above would be her only legal option, figured it's worth mentioning since her age was not clarified.

If she really wants a handgun, these are my recommendations in each price range. I would personally stick to 9mm, .380, or 38 special to keep ammo cost and recoil down, but YMMV. I'm going to focus on the $200-300 range, as under $200 a Hi Point C-9 is about the only thing I MIGHT consider in a pinch. At $300-$400, way too many options to list them all, but for $300-$400 you have a smattering of offerings from S&W, Ruger, CZ, Kahr, Glock (if you can get a good deal) Springfield, etc.. if you shop around and shop smart. When you get into this range, you aren't really considering "budget" options. Those at the lower end may be the budget models of their lines (SR9E, SD9VE, etc) but are still high quality guns from well known manufacturers. You also have Canik in the lower end of that range, who are becoming a more common name.

Finally, these recommendations are having no idea whether concealed carry is a consideration or not, so threw subcompacts/compacts/midsize/full size all together. So, anyway

$200-$300
Taurus PT111 & 709 - Great guns for the price. Lifetime warranty, but customer service can be slow and not the greatest. You can get these under $200 sometimes, but they are more commonly found in this range.

Armscor M200/M206 - The 200 is the 4 inch barrel, 206 is the snub nose 2 inch barrel. They aren't pretty and can be rough around the edges, but they go bang reliably. If someone wants an inexpensive revolver, it's hard to go wrong with these. Armscor's customer service is top notch as well.

SCCY CPX1/CPX2 - American made and an unbelievable warranty. Trigger pull is long for sure, which is why I personally don't like them but I'm spoiled. My uncle has one and absolutely loves it. Good value.

EAA B6P/B6P Compact/Pavona/K2P/Witness P - EAA imports quite a few CZ-75 clones in this price range. They don't share parts with the CZ-75 to my knowledge, but are based on a sound design and are very reliable. My first handgun was a B6P and it is what got me into CZ's. IMO, these are one of the best values for your dollar.

Zastava M88A/M70A - These are rougher, Com-bloc guns that probably wouldn't appeal to her as much but are reliable home defense options, or collectible for people who like Com-bloc guns.

Bersa Thunder 380 - Heard good things about this gun, but admittedly have never shot one myself. I personally would have the extra power of 9mm over .380, but alot of people really like this one.

Walther PPX - It's ugly IMO, but a good value in the price range. Great capacity and well built.
 
Used revolver in .38.

Not only can a semiauto be tough to rack, but add on the gobs of lotion that many women apply to their hands at night and there's no chance of her clearing a malfunction or putting one in the pipe.

Heck, maybe even .22 WMR or .22 LR. look for a used LCR.


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My vote is for the Shield 9mm or the Glock 43. Small enough she can carry it IWB without printing, proven cartridge, very reliable, and will suffice as a home defense gun (more effective than wasp spray). This may take her over-budget. If someone close to me (family, friend, even some co-workers) asked my advise on this subject and showed an interest in firearms I may be inclined to gift them a few bucks to help procure a quality piece rather than taking a gamble with something of lesser quality. I want everyone around me to have favorable opinions of gun owners, small price to pay. Something to think about.

I think back to when I first started shooting/carrying, how awful my shots were, how little I knew about self defense mindset, laws, etc. Do what you can to get her some real training.
 
Many good used and new guns can be had under the $400 budget line. Stoeger makes a very good semi-auto with Beretta machinery, in Turkey. So you get a Beretta for hundreds less. Mine eats everything I feed it. I have no concerns about reliability. Got it with a PX4 holster for under $400 out the door. Used would be even less, if you can find one. Also, Charter and Taurus revolvers are worth looking at, but I would have to see it in my hand and check it out before buying because of an inconsistent track record. My Taurus 605 snubby has been reliable for a decade or more. Also, check out EAA guns like the SAR ST10 for good prices on solid guns. Probably have to buy used to get within your budget, but they work and are not finicky about type of ammo. The HiPoint carbine idea is also very worth looking at for a home gun.
 
How much practice and training does plan on doing? If the answer is not much then a police trade in .38 Special or 357 Magnum revolver with .38 Special ammo may be just right. If she intends on receiving a fair amount of practice and training then another firearm may be what she needs. Without knowing this simple answer I would steer her toward a good to high quality revolver. She may have to up the amount a bit to find a really good one. Also what time frame are we talking about? Does she need it almost immediately or can she wait a while? If she can wait she can find more firearms that would be suited to her and she would not be forced to take whatever she can find now. If OC spray is legal in your area go to a police equipment dealer and get her some police strength OC spray until she finds the right gun for her.
 
Lots of useful suggestions here but Azrocks and Black Knight got it right when they asked if she'll be putting in the requisite training and practice time. I've played this advice role with dozens of people, both male and female, police and "civilian", teenager to retired, and I've noticed that although they all SAY they will, most give up after a few sessions and the gun stays in a nightstand for months or years without being fired again. If she's in this category I would highly recommend a 3 or 4 inch J or K frame Smith .38 special. I've never seen anybody make this choice and be disappointed or under-gunned, but I have seen dozens of autoloaders sold off cheap when the owners realized what kind of work was involved to obtain and maintain proficiency and reliability. These will be hard to find at her budget but they can be had now and then as police trade-ins so keep watching the online dealers and you'll probably find a good one for her. On the other hand, if she will put in the effort, then many quality autos will also be available as police trade-ins.

I see the Makarov suggested here - very nice and reliable little autos but ammo is hard to find and expensive. I'd stick with .38 special or 9mm as they are the least expensive centerfire choices and are widely available, making practice more affordable and convenient.

Whatever she gets, encourage her to practice as often as possible and get as much professional training as she can.
 
I'll have to agree with Black Knight. I didn't see any reference to her size, so any specific gun suggestion may not be realistic for her. I'd suggest finding a good, reputable LGS and working with them. I'm sure they would work with her to find the right solution.
 
If the firearm is for in the house defense and not concealed carry, $200-300 has a host of shotgun used and new options. Just pointing it out. I was a poor college student as well. I would also go look in shotgun news to see what surplus police trade ins are out there. I also vague recall SWAT magazine a few years ago finding some great deals on surplus Russian (markanakov?) pistols.
 
I'd look real hard at a Ruger 3" LCRX. Saw one used recently for $350, Only reason I didn't get it is I'm still hoping they'll introduce a version in .357. Nice grip, good trigger, only thing I'd maybe wish different would be a high vis front sight.
 
She should absolutely confirm that she can possess a firearm where she's living, before she gets one. If she's in a dorm, they may have a no firearm policy, and the same holds true for leasing an apartment. Just wanted to throw that out there.

$100 - This is tough. With persistence and shopping around locally, you might be able to snag a bargain at a local gun shop. It won't be pretty probably, but you never know what they might come across or know about. Ask a local shop owner and say you'd like to help a college gal defend themselves, and they might find something. You could go the Jennings/Jimenez arms route, but for SD you really want something that's a high enough quality and reliable.

$200 - Ruger LCP all the way. Will probably be just a hair over $200. Maybe SCCY CPX-2, I've heard mostly good about these. Both the Ruger and LCP come in different colors too, so you can personalize it more than just the typical black pistol.
$300 - Ruger LC9s
$400 - S&W Shield 9mm and many other concealable 9mm. Lots in this range, she should pick what feels good in her hand and if she can rent, whatever shoots best for her.
 
Here are my suggestions in those price ranges. The guns recommended may or may not be the right fit. You will have to handle them/shoot them to find out. The guns in each category are reflect a price that will be found in a used gun or one you will have to wait for the best price on.

$100 to $200
Hi point
Kel Tec P-32
Kel Tec P3AT
Beretta 21A Bobcat


$200 to $300
Smith and Wesson SD9VE
Ruger LCP
Canik TP9
Glock 22 or 23 police trade in ($275 gunbroker)
Bersa Thunder 380
Ruger P85
Ruger P89
Smith and Wesson model 10 revolver
Kel Tec PF-9
Smith and Wesson model 64 revolver

$300 to $400
Smith and Wesson model 442 revolver
Beretta 92FS
Smith and Wesson Shield
Ruger LC9s
 
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