Is cost a major factor for you when buying SD pistol?

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el Godfather

el Godfather

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Dear THR:
I would like know if cost is a major factor when you are buying a self defense pistol? The reason I ask this question is to ascertain whether pistols like H&K and Sig Sauer are ignored due to generally higher price tag than lets say Glock, Ruger, etc. Thus, in general poll questions they (H&K and Sig Sauer) get less number of votes due to lack of ownership for very reason - cost.

Thanks.
 
Is it a major factor? No, but it is a factor. If a Sig or HK is what I wanted, I wouldn't 'settle' for a Glock. The price difference between them is negligible compared to the ammo that I will put through them in training.

Now, if I wanted a 1911 then it is harder for me to justify a Wilson or Nighthawk compared to another 1911 in the $1,000-$1,500 price range.
 
Cost is always a factor, but not exactly in whether or not I'll buy something like a Sig or HK. For more inexpensive guns like Glocks etc, I would likely buy new, but for higher priced guns like Sigs, I exclusively buy used. For $500-600 you can usually get a gun that is very lightly used and in great condition. Hell I got my 226 for less than I would have paid for a used Glock. You just have to know what you want and were to look. And then be reay to jump on a good deal.

I don't think the higher priced guns are really ignored based on price alone unless you're just looking at people who buy only new weapons.
 
Dear THR:
I would like know if cost is a major factor when you are buying a self defense pistol? The reason I ask this question is to ascertain whether pistols like H&K and Sig Sauer are ignored due to generally higher price tag than lets say Glock, Ruger, etc. Thus, in general poll questions they (H&K and Sig Sauer) get less number of votes due to lack of ownership for very reason - cost.
Click to expand...

I carrys Sigs or an EMP. My relatives all carry either a Sig or HK.Besides, there is the obvious enjoyment in practicing with a high quality firearm. Even a buddy who carrys Glocks wants to shoot my pistols at the range, because as he says "Glocks are like AK47's. You know they are going to fire, but what they will hit at more than a moderate range is the question."
 
Price vs. Utility

Once Utility is achieved, any additional money spent is just for entertainment.

I happen to LIKE Glocks.

A LOT.

Pretty guns are the ones you show to your friends.
Ugly guns are the ones you show to your enemies.
 
If you cant afford it, how are you planning to buy it?

How smug are you going to feel when your kid asks you why the power got turned off? How good of a job are you doing protecting your family when they have to go without?

Physical attack is not the only danger in life.
 
For me, when choosing a SD Pistol, price is NOT an Issue.

Here's my reasoning... When I'm thinking about defending the lives of my family or myself I want the best I can get.

For me that choice was easy after doing a lot of analysis...I chose the GLOCK 19. Price was not an issue, and coincidentally, the price was very good, so I think I make out great.
 
I'm... Broke, so yes.

I wanted a 1911 for carry. An Ed Brown Kobra Karry would have been sweet! A custom Wilson would've been sweet, too. I settled on an STI Spartan, because of its value and bang for the buck.

I'd have to save for a looooooong time for that Wilson or EB.

I also really can't afford to shoot all that much, so I bought one in 9mm.

Honestly, guns really aren't a good hobby for someone as broke as me. Haha!
 
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It's more about value than cost and indeed about perceived value.

Hi Point makes a VERY reliable pistol that is a super value but most people do not select a Hi Point because they want something that they think is better. Hi Points are perceived as guns for people that can't afford something with more polish.

On the other end of the scale are the Rohrbaughs of the world. They are no more reliable than a Hi Point but they appeal more to the more affluent.

Most people fall into the middle class and therefore pick a firearm that falls within the middle class. That is where the Glock lies.

It's no different with other purchases. Cars being a good example. Hyundai and Kia make excellent cars but some won't buy them because they want to be seen driving a BMW or a Range Rover.
 
el Godfather said:
Dear THR:
I would like know if cost is a major factor when you are buying a self defense pistol? The reason I ask this question is to ascertain whether pistols like H&K and Sig Sauer are ignored due to generally higher price tag than lets say Glock, Ruger, etc. Thus, in general poll questions they (H&K and Sig Sauer) get less number of votes due to lack of ownership for very reason - cost.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Price to me has never been a factor in buying a handgun. I don't mean that to sound arrogant or that i have limitless cash to drop on whatever i want, FAR from the case! To me with something like a HK or SIG (especially with ANY gun i plan to carry regularly) i have always preferred to save up and buy new even if it took a while and sometimes it did! Just so i knew exactly what the gun had been through before i started carrying it. Call it gun OCD or whatever.

Not saying i won't buy used guns either, i have gotten great deals on used guns, and still have some of them. But when it comes to the poll thing i vote for what i like. As i said, i did save up for some time and sprung for an HK USP. Loved it! Had it for a long time and some years later got to wanting another 9mm.

As it happened the CZ SP-01 caught my fancy so i decided to treat myself to one with my tax return and i was hooked! I shot the CZ way better than i ever did the HK, kept it for a while but wound up selling it and getiing a couple more CZ's. I know that some would say i took a step down in quality but i really don't think so. I'm far more accurate with my CZ's and i'm happy with my choices in guns whether they are rifles, pistols, or shotguns so that is what decides my vote in polls.
 
Price vs. Utility

Once Utility is achieved, any additional money spent is just for entertainment.

I happen to LIKE Glocks.

A LOT.

Pretty guns are the ones you show to your friends.
Ugly guns are the ones you show to your enemies.
Click to expand...

By your standards you should only own Hi Points...

We all rationalize our own price points..
 
No not really... If I really want a certain handgun, I'll save up and buy it.

So compared to most of Glock toting friends, I've got some relatively expensive handguns.
 
Cost is not the biggest factor, but its definitely a major factor (number 2 or 3). Basically, I can't afford to go buy guns just because I want one. I make a sacrifice about once per year in order to buy a new gun. I just don't have a level of income that allows me to make a purchase in the hundreds of dollars (or more) without cutting something out elsewhere.

You mentioned SIG and Hk. I have no interest in Hk pistols, and no amount of income would change that. I have lots of interest in SIG pistols, but seeing as how I already have a very reliable pistol for SD, I can't justify buying a SIG - not even in that annual purchase - because there are other guns I want more.
 
No.

However, the pistols that met my security requirements, SIG P229,P226, and now S&W M&P40, were all within my budget.

Even if I do not have enough cash to buy what I want, unless I have some credible threat present, I will take time to save up to buy what I want.

Cost is a factor in why SIG and HK being less popular than Glock, etc. However, it is not the only factor. I have changed my primary pistol from SIG P226 to S&W M&P40, and I do not own any HK. That is totally due to the function of the pistol. It has nothing to do with cost.
 
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Cost is a factor but there are quality, reliable guns at multiple price points. I'm still new to shooting, so I like to expand my collection without breaking the bank.

Home Defense - Glock 23 (paid $550)
Plinking - Beretta Neos (paid $259)
Self Defense - Beretta Nano (paid $339) and Ruger LCP (paid $269)

I'd like a 1911, but I'd buy something like a RIA first for cost, yet still reliable. I'd get something more expensive down the road.
 
You can buy either the cheapest or most expensive gun there is...... but if you dont save some money for ammo... one will absolutely not out perform the other.
 
I agree with rcmodel in post #22 except cost is always a factor.

But to what degree is it a factor? That can vary and could be completely ignored in the end--or not.
 
Of course.

If I spend all my money on a handgun I'll probably starve to death before I need to use my handgun for SD.

My Hi-Point does just fine (it's only for HD since I don't carry) and it leaves plenty of $$$ left over for ammo and food and gas and insurance and shoes etc.

I'd like a nicer gun but I also like to eat and stay married.
 
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