I'd like a cheap, reliable, concealable pistol; ideas?
- Thread starter MrDuke
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lee n. field
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Let me be the first of a dozen or more people to say "Makarov".
GlenJ
Member
Spend a little more and get something good like a GLOCK 26. The reason I say this is after buying a Kel-Tec P32 and a P3AT It took me about another 100 dollars in ammo getting them right and you have a gun thats not that fun to shoot at the range. Yesterday I tried out a 17, 19 and 26 and the 26 was as easy to shoot and as accurate as the 17 and 19 and with a Pierce plus 1 or 2 finger extension you have a good carry piece with up to 13 rounds and would make good bedstand gun also. Just my 2 cents.
jonnyc
Member
Makarov or KelTec P3AT.
ACORN
Member
It depends, if you want to pocket carry loook at a Kel-Tec P3AT. Its small, light, and inexpensive. Around $230. Packs a punch for a mouse gun.
If you want a pistol to carry on your hip the Makarov is the hands down winner. At the last show here you coudl get one for $170. The 9mm Mak is more powerful than the 380, they're all steel, and accurate. Being all steel they are heavy.
For a lighter pistol, the rough size of a Mak, in 380, but just a little more mone you have the Bersa.
If you want a pistol to carry on your hip the Makarov is the hands down winner. At the last show here you coudl get one for $170. The 9mm Mak is more powerful than the 380, they're all steel, and accurate. Being all steel they are heavy.
For a lighter pistol, the rough size of a Mak, in 380, but just a little more mone you have the Bersa.
armoredman
Member
If you don't mind single action, a Star BM 9mm would be a good choice. The Mak is an excellent budget pistol, as well.
I'd get a good used 3 inch 38 revolver before I bought a .380 as a primary, and I've seen primo used 3 inch 38s for under $200....that is merely preferance, not a slam/flame/intended insult to anyone - I did carry a CZ70 .32 years ago...
I'd get a good used 3 inch 38 revolver before I bought a .380 as a primary, and I've seen primo used 3 inch 38s for under $200....that is merely preferance, not a slam/flame/intended insult to anyone - I did carry a CZ70 .32 years ago...
Dr. J Frame
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Before you purchase another handgun....
Why not just attempt some .38 or .38+P and try get that thing shooting straight before moving on. It's most likely "recoil anticipation" that's throwing the magnum shots anyways. I would spend that $200 on practice ammo if it were me.
A 9X18 Mak would be one of my last choices for bear.
---QUALITY COMES FIRST---
This is your life you're trying to defend. What's that worth? Add up the price of the Taurus plus the $200 you're planning on spending now, along with the second caliber ammo. You would have been in Sig, H&K, Glock, etc prices if you had simply saved a little bit longer the first time.
My younger bother has thousands-of-$$$ tied up in dozens of firearms. Most are simply malfunctioning junk. He jokes when I spend 1 or 2K on a firearm, but you know what....MINE ALWAYS WORK!
Buy quality first.
Although not very expensive--relative to most brands--I wouldn't be without my Glock 26.
$439 new
.Originally posted by MrDuke;
Ammo shooting way to the left in my snubby
I have a Taurus 605 snubnose and I am not happy with its accuracy, but its probably the ammo.
I have shot Remington .357 125gn JHP's out of it so far and they always shoot far left.
I wonder what ammo I should try next in .357?
I don't want to shoot .38 special through it; I want to become familiar with shooting .357 rounds because there are bears and crazy drug addicts around here
.
Photo added to original post.
Why not just attempt some .38 or .38+P and try get that thing shooting straight before moving on. It's most likely "recoil anticipation" that's throwing the magnum shots anyways. I would spend that $200 on practice ammo if it were me.
A 9X18 Mak would be one of my last choices for bear.
---QUALITY COMES FIRST---
This is your life you're trying to defend. What's that worth? Add up the price of the Taurus plus the $200 you're planning on spending now, along with the second caliber ammo. You would have been in Sig, H&K, Glock, etc prices if you had simply saved a little bit longer the first time.
My younger bother has thousands-of-$$$ tied up in dozens of firearms. Most are simply malfunctioning junk. He jokes when I spend 1 or 2K on a firearm, but you know what....MINE ALWAYS WORK!
Buy quality first.
Although not very expensive--relative to most brands--I wouldn't be without my Glock 26.
$439 new
silverlance
Member
from what ive heard tho
maks are extremely reliable, extremely accurate, etc.
i've contemplated buying one (but unfrotuantely i didnt and im still kicking myself over it because they BANNED them here in Los Angeles)
i hate the politburo in la
i guess the only drawback to mak is:
1. weight = weighs a TON.. this is not a gun you can stick in your waistband and expect to go jogging in.
2.
maks are extremely reliable, extremely accurate, etc.
i've contemplated buying one (but unfrotuantely i didnt and im still kicking myself over it because they BANNED them here in Los Angeles)
i hate the politburo in la
i guess the only drawback to mak is:
1. weight = weighs a TON.. this is not a gun you can stick in your waistband and expect to go jogging in.
2.
obiwan1
Member
The Mak or KT P11.
Pietro Beretta
Member
Makarov, KelTec P3AT,Bersa .380.
As others have said, Bersa .380, Makarov 9X18, Kel Tec P3AT. I"d say the Mak if you plan on shooting a lot, the Bersa if you want a good balance of easy to shoot and good for concealed carry, and the Kel Tec if you really want a light weight gun for concealed carry that's not so fun to shoot.
Also check the used case at a few local places. Might be able to find something in your price range like a decent S&W Model 10 or a Taurus .38 snub.
Also check the used case at a few local places. Might be able to find something in your price range like a decent S&W Model 10 or a Taurus .38 snub.
PCRCCW
Member
A Makarov, P11, Arcus 94c, Star BM and others are all worth considering.
Shoot well.....
Shoot well.....
MICHAEL T
Member
Bersa in 380
chaim
Member
If I was limited to $200 or slightly more for a defensive gun, here are my choices (more or less in order):
-used Taurus 85 (.38spl)
-used Taurus 65 or 66 (.357mag)
-used S&W M10 or Taurus 82 (.38spl)
-Bersa Thunder in .380
-Kel-tec (9mm, .32 or .380 would depend on your specific needs and what you already have)
My first choice in an auto would be to go about $100 more (around here they go $320-340) and get a new Taurus Millennium Pro or probably around $250-300 used. Just be sure to get a Millennium Pro and avoid the older model Millenniums.
-used Taurus 85 (.38spl)
-used Taurus 65 or 66 (.357mag)
-used S&W M10 or Taurus 82 (.38spl)
-Bersa Thunder in .380
-Kel-tec (9mm, .32 or .380 would depend on your specific needs and what you already have)
My first choice in an auto would be to go about $100 more (around here they go $320-340) and get a new Taurus Millennium Pro or probably around $250-300 used. Just be sure to get a Millennium Pro and avoid the older model Millenniums.
ajax
Member
MrDuke check out the web sight for the Bersa. By the way the trigger on the Bersa is much better than any Mak ive ever handled. Also Bersa has lifetime warrenty three dot sights and shoots tighter group than any Mak ive ever handled. Its worth looking into.
CajunBass
Member
I've got a Makarov, and a Kel-Tec, P-11. They both work just fine. The P-11 carries a couple more rounds, and is lighter, but it costs more, so under the conditions you stated, I'd recomend the Makarov also. The Mak is a little easier to shoot also, having a conventional DA/SA trigger. After a couple hundred rounds, the trigger on mine felt a lot better. The P-11 has a DAO trigger that is harder to shoot.
a bulgarian makarov.9x18mm
they are very easy to clean,simple design and the 9x18mm round is an in between...in between the 380 and the 9mm nato round. I wish Ida bought several back when they were selling them for 89 bucks. the safty acts as a decocker and in my bulgy example, putting it on safe renders the slide locked forward and if a round is chambered,decocks the gun.
ammo is not expensive neither, I bought several boxes of barnaul hollowpoints for 5 bucks a box of 50 rounds,Im sure buying it in bulk is cheaper yet. accuracy wise, my bulgarian example is quite an eye openor, its very accurate,reliability wise, it hasnt malfunctioned in 800+ rounds,which is all that Ive put down the pipe as of yet.
a cheap and reliable cold war example of a sidearm used on the opposite side,they work.
they are very easy to clean,simple design and the 9x18mm round is an in between...in between the 380 and the 9mm nato round. I wish Ida bought several back when they were selling them for 89 bucks. the safty acts as a decocker and in my bulgy example, putting it on safe renders the slide locked forward and if a round is chambered,decocks the gun.
ammo is not expensive neither, I bought several boxes of barnaul hollowpoints for 5 bucks a box of 50 rounds,Im sure buying it in bulk is cheaper yet. accuracy wise, my bulgarian example is quite an eye openor, its very accurate,reliability wise, it hasnt malfunctioned in 800+ rounds,which is all that Ive put down the pipe as of yet.
a cheap and reliable cold war example of a sidearm used on the opposite side,they work.
MachIVshooter
Member
Kel-Tec P3AT. I have one and it has been a good little gun. About 250 rounds through it, only a couple failures when it was fresh (first 50). Not all that much fun to shoot, but for $240 NIB it is a bargain. And it packs one helluva punch for an 8 ounce gun. The MAK is a more affordable gun and is more pleasant to fire, but it is not nearly as concealable and the 9x18 has no ballistic advantage over the .380 ACP.
I also have a Beretta 84 FS Inox that is an awesome .380 (also holds 13+1) but at $580, it is a bit outside your given budget.
I also have a Beretta 84 FS Inox that is an awesome .380 (also holds 13+1) but at $580, it is a bit outside your given budget.
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