How expensive is your carry gun?

[DeepSouth]

Its not about you at all. Its about labeling a Price point period.

Fact is: you pull the trigger and it goes bang.. You can get that for less than a 100 bucks or well over 100,000.00

Like I said earlier in this thread. perceived price points are based on your wallet and nothing more.

I totally agree, buy what you want and can afford, as long as it functions it's fine.

Let's think of it this way if you make $25,000 a year and carry a $250 gun that's 1% of your annual income. While if you make 2.5 million a year and carry a $10,000 gun that's less than 1% of your annual income....

The point is, the more you have the more you can afford, obviously. I can guarantee you if I had Bill Gates's money I'd have a Wilson Combat super grade (or 2) that I'd carry, they're 5k (ish) guns.

 

[leadaddict]

Wow, that is the nicest bell curve I've ever seen on one of these poll results. (excluding the larger over 1000 crowd)

My carry came in just under $600 for the XDM Compact in 9mm. It's been a great gun for more than 5 years now. Easily replaceable, perfectly reliable, small enough to conceal, big enough for IDPA matches, and it just feels right. I'm not looking to replace it any time soon.

 

[shootingthebreeze]

S&W 638 which shoots .38 and +P
I basically found the perfect carry firearm in the S&W 638. Loaded with +P, and being a revolver, I feel quite confident in this self defense weapon.
Yes, it is a 5 shot- but my CPL class instructor stated that a maximum of three shots is the statistical norm in any confrontation.
Yes I have semi autos and I love my Springfield Champion .45 and my Kahr .45. But good quality semi autos does not guarantee a mis fire. That's why I have always loved revolvers.
A little under $500-well worth it.

 

[golden]

On duty, I carry an H&K P-2000, which is free from my agency, but you do not get to keep it.
Off duty, it is almost always my GLOCK 42, a fantastic small pistol. Controllable, accurate, reliable and compact. All I can ask from it.

Jim

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

what are you carrying that is over $3000?

and more importantly, what does it do that a $500 gun doesnt?

A Wilson Combat (listed at $3800).

And in answer to your second question, it can be sold for >$3k.

 

[Edcnh]

I carry an M & P Shield which I bought for just over $400. It is a GREAT carry gun for the money.

 

[PzGren]

It doesn't matter how much the carry gun costs. I can carry a $325 Glock or a $5,000 Korth Combat. I have spent multiples of either amount on ammo, or rather reloading components in my case - and on top of that was sponsored by a government for a long time.

 

[Anna's Dad]

Well, the retail was about $400.00, but I got it on sale for $249.00.



I got a pink one at the same time for the same price. I didn't really care about the color.

I have a buddy who thinks a pink gun is a tactical advantage. He figures no gang banger wants to risk getting killed by a pink gun and will just walk away rather than take the chance! Not sure he's proven that theory yet, but I suppose its possible.

 

[Anna's Dad]

what are you carrying that is over $3000?

and more importantly, what does it do that a $500 gun doesnt?

I'm guessing not much. Of course I have a friend with a tricked out Jaguar F-Type that, in practicality, doesn't do much more than a Toyota. He only drives it around town, so its not like he can really take advantage of that beefy V8. He can afford it, however, and I wouldn't withhold that F-Type from him--he seems to enjoy it quite a lot.

 

[IWAC]

So, nowadays what isn't expen$ive? If they weren't, I'd have many more than I do!

 

[mavracer]

for the record I do not own a Hi-Point, but by most accounts they are functional reliable guns.

If you don't shoot them that much sure, take one to a 1000 round weekend class and tell me how it does.

what are you carrying that is over $3000?

and more importantly, what does it do that a $500 gun doesnt?

I don't have any 3k guns but I do have a 2K Les Baer and it'll do every thing my 4 to 600 guns will do and it'll shoot 2" groups at 50 yards

 

[Nacho Man]

LCP gen 2 $250
Blackhawk #2 pocket holster $20
Hogue hybrid grip $12

 

[just for fun]

Smith J frame New In the box $68. bought it on the lay-a-way plan. (didn't HAVE $68!) Half down rest due in 90days. That was in 1967. Still got it and still carry it. several holsters later. After this long I trust it like a brother.

 

[Cokeman]

Smith J frame New In the box $68. bought it on the lay-a-way plan. (didn't HAVE $68!) Half down rest due in 90days. That was in 1967. Still got it and still carry it. several holsters later. After this long I trust it like a brother.

We should get to see it

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

It will either be my current TP9 SA ($379) or a slightly smaller mid-sized .380, haven't' decided yet. But if I do decide to go with another smaller pistol it won't be more than $3-400.

Everything else I have is family hand-me-down heirloom stuff that I would never EDC.



BTW, someone mentioned insurance for their carry guns back on the first page I think. Anyone want to elaborate on that for me?

 

[montanaoffroader]

Russian Makarov, paid $125 a few years back. Taurus TCP, picked it up on clearance for $169 OTD. NAA Sidewinder, pawn shop find $149.

I have more expensive guns, but these are the ones I carry on a daily basis, mainly because they are compact and easy to carry. The Mak is a touch heavy, but not enough to discourage me from carrying it.

I didn't necessarily plan to use less expensive guns for carry, it just kind of worked out that way.

 

[tarosean]

for the record I do not own a Hi-Point, but by most accounts they are functional reliable guns.

If you don't shoot them that much sure, take one to a 1000 round weekend class and tell me how it does.

If someone could only afford a hipoint for SD. I dont see that person being able to afford a 1000rd course.

 

[tubeshooter]

I usually carry a Smith 642 nowadays, which can be found right around $400 or even a tad less in my area.

My other potential carry guns are also around that ballpark value (street price as of today).



I voted $300 to $400.

 

[Cokeman]

 

[Sundancer2004]

Expensive carry

Used to be a Colt Combat Commander , sadly I sold it to buy a Gold Cup. The GC was purchased just after Colt had restructured with employees assuming a larger roler in management. Oddly it's fit was terrible to ones my friends had. You could rack the slide back, shake it and make it rattle. Then came a Les Baer. OK, I see you becoming impatient so I shall get to the point. I retired and moved South. The two colts were too expensive to carry so I recently bought a Springfield Armory Range Officer Compact. Still expensive but not concerned about bangs,dings, and wear as much, not to mention possible loss if ever I have to use it for defense. It's size renders it comfortable to wear and conceal. Surprisingly. With 230 gr hardball, it renders remarkable accuracy.

 

[RugerBob]

I can't carry at work. Not even supposed to bring one into the hospital I work at.
So I have a low end 9mm semi that I find very reliable. Leave it in the car. Not gonna leave a high end in the car for weeks at a time.
Running errands and out and about on weekends depends on the weather -15 or 95 degrees. That is the good thing about having different carry guns.

 

[dogmush]

what are you carrying that is over $3000?

and more importantly, what does it do that a $500 gun doesnt?

My carry isn't quite that expensive, but I felt like I touched on the second question in my post. But lots of folks seem to be overlooking the obvious:

What does my >$1000 carry gun(s) do that a $500 one doesn't? It helps me put accurate rounds on target faster. That's pretty much the only real metric fora combat handgun.

I'm not just saying that either, I have empirically tested it with a shot timer and range.

I have a used Sig P228 (was ~$450) which is very similar to my $1200 P229 Legion. The legion puts accurate(defined as in the thoracic triangle and likely to stop a threat, or in the head and likely to be a brain shot) rounds on target measurably faster at any range. The mods to the frame make it faster to grip, draw, and present in an accurate manner.

I have, and carried for years, a RIA Tactical 1911 (~$500 when I bought it) and my other main carry is a Dan Wesson Guardian (~$1400). Again, on the range, against a clock, the DW is faster on target, and easier to shoot accurately, quickly. It has the added benefit of the bobtail being easier to conceal.

It's not just carry guns. Look at any IDPA open competition. Those aren't stock Glocks and M&P's. they probably cost well into the 4 figure modified like that. What do they do better then a $500 stock gun? They shoot accurately, faster.

It seems simple to say, but people get really emotionally invested in their choices. In general, more expensive stuff is better. If it wasn't people wouldn't pay for it.

Which is not to say a $500 gun isn't adequate. (or a $100 gun for that matter). As I said I carried $300-$500 guns for years, and am still here. Most LEO duty guns are in that range. The law of diminishing returns also seems to be in full effect with firearms. Is a $2500 1911 as much better than a $1500 one as that $1500 one is better than a $500 1911? Probably not, but it is better.

So the key, as in everything in life, is to balance the cost of the gun, vs. your budget and buy the best weapon you can afford on your self defense budget. And just as obviously that level changes from person to person based on income, other obligations, and even perceived threat.

Are there better weapons out there then mine for concealed carry? Sure, but I can't afford them. Were my cheaper ones adequate when I used them? Clearly, and if my circumstances changed I'd go back to them with no real worry. But my current guns are definitely better, and I'm glad I have them.

 

[shooter1]

Given the dynamics of a gun battle where both parties are moving, I'm guessing most of us would be lucky to have a 30% hit ratio. Unless the fight occurs at contact distance, making a head shot would be as likely as winning the lottery, regardless the price of our gun. A shooter that actually practices with his carry gun regularly is rare. I'm not talking about going to the range, standing still and shooting 200 rds at a stationary target, usually under 10yds. That is not practicing to survive. Try shooting that carry gun at an USPSA, or IDPA match, maybe doing all head shots on a stage or two. Then talk about making a head shot when the target is shooting back.
str1

 

[dogmush]

Sigh. Reading is fundamental.

I wasn't talking about making headshots in combat, I was comparing two firearms in as close to identical circumstances as possible with quantifiable metrics. If I'm going to say one is more accurate, I have to have a measure of accuracy. As you say standing still and shooting for groups is not a good measure for this kind of gun.

And while it's not combat, the mentioned shot timer strongly indicates I have in fact shot those carry guns in competition. I have also shot stages going only for head shots. My scores were lower then the same stage going for COM. Not a real surprise.

None of that changes my main point that, in general, more expensive guns are better. As evidenced by the folks that actually work to shoot fast and accurately, and pretty easily tested by anyone.

Finally:

Given the dynamics of a gun battle where both parties are moving, I'm guessing most of us would be lucky to have a 30% hit ratio. Unless the fight occurs at contact distance, making a head shot would be as likely as winning the lottery, regardless the price of our gun. A shooter that actually practices with his carry gun regularly is rare.

Speak for yourself. I practice quite a bit with my carry guns, can make fast headshots out to 15 or so feet pretty regularly (more then I win the lottery anyway) and when shooting at moving targets while moving do quite a bit better then 30%. I could halve my hit rate for "combat stress" and still be better then 30%. And I'm not even that good.

Clearly, as most people will tell you, software is more important, and you can't buy skill. But if you practice and learn skill, better hardware will accentuate that.

 

[shooter1]

Ok then. You're good to go.
str1