So What Kind of Gun Can I Buy for Less Than $300.00?

[BSA1]

As gun buffs many of us are use to spending several hundreds of dollars for a nice handgun and much more than that for a collection of guns. The price of some handguns easily reach and exceed $1,000.00.

However for many folks the price of handguns can put them out of reach especially when raising a family with the car needing new tires, one of the kids needing braces and the house needing repairs.

I recently realized that 6 of my last handgun purchases all cost less than $300.00 each. So what kind of handguns and how high of quality are they?

Pietta 1873 .357 Magnum, S&W Model 10 LEO trade-in


CZ-82, Bulgarian Makarov, Polish P-64 all 9x18


The revolvers are ideal for home defense and range use. The Pietta in .357 magnum also makes it a handy companion hunting gun.

The Makarov and P-64 appear to be new unfired condition with slight wear on the finish from laying in the box for several decades. The CZ-82 is typical import with the paint type finish peeled off on the slide. The Makarov and P-64 are well suited for concealed carry and the high capacity CZ-82 is suited for home defense and range use. It is about the size of baby Glocks so it can also be used for conceal carry.

All five of the guns are time tested proven designs and are in excellent mechanical condition. Most importantly I brought all of them for less than $300.00 each.

 

[Devonai]

The Model 10, CZ-82, and Makarov PM are all excellent choices for defensive use and an average shooter can become proficient with them in very short order. In most self defense scenarios any one of them would serve us well.

I can't comment on the other two, as I've no personal experience with them, but the general theme of a quality pistol that fires a reasonably effective cartridge (or in the case of the Pietta, an excellent cartridge despite the limitations of the action), is something first time shooters or those with limited funds would do well to heed.

 

[C0untZer0]

I'm not sure if you're asking for comments on < $300.00 handguns in general, or just asking for comments on the guns you've listed in your OP.

Here is a thread about < $300.00 full-sized semi-auto handguns

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=788784&highlight=sar

 

[MaterDei]

Nice group of guns. I agree that there are plenty of fine firearms out there in the sub $300 range. You have done well!

Your CZ, sub $300, is a real value. All of the others are fine choices but readily available for under $300.

Ironically, when I was stationed in Germany in the '80s the CZs were plentiful and cheap. I wish I had stocked up.

 

[MedWheeler]

Of probably two dozen handguns I've owned, perhaps four cost me over $300 each (or over an amount that would be over $300 in today's market.)

Among them are a Ruger P95, Bersa Thunder 380, Kel-Tec PF9, Bulgarian Makarov, and Bauer 25, along with some others and several rimfires.

I may or may not still own some or all of them.

 

[gbran]

OK, I'll give you $300 each for the Mak and the Model 10.

 

[elano]

Nice 10!

I'm in the same boat! Word is there are some berretta 92 police trade ins floating around for not much money. Low 300s I would disclose more but I havn't got mine yet a buddy got his and I was impressed. They are slightly different than the ones we know such as grips and location of the mag release is european.

As for new guns, I've been looking at the polymer EAA Witness guns as well as the newer EAA Sar b6p or whatever it is. Both seem highly regarded from what I have read. Thing is they are Imports but then again so are the berettas. With the berettas though, you know you will always have parts for it.

 

[AZAndy]

I like cheap guns and I cannot lie. Commie surplus stuff is why I got a C&R. I started with a Mosin Nagant 91/30 back when they were $69, then got a MN 38 for $99, then a Yugo SKS for $200, then two CZ-82s for $200 each, and then decided I had to have at least one of everything that shot the 9x18. (By "everything," I mean "everything readily available in the U.S.," which works out to five different models.)

Don't overlook the Tokarevs-- unlike the CZ-82, they're still around at a couple hundred bucks and are wicked shooters!

 

[BSA1]

I'm not sure if you're asking for comments on < $300.00 handguns in general, or just asking for comments on the guns you've listed in your OP.

It's mainly intended to show specific high quality guns in a caliber that is suitable for self-defense, target shooting and/or hunting that can be purchased for under $300.00.

The Makarov and P-64 appear to have never been fired. The Pietta appears to be lightly used. The barrel and chambers were already very clean.

.380 (and it's cousin the 9x18) are generally considered to be the mininium cartridge suitable for self-defense.

There are good used 32 acp semi-auto handguns that can be had for less than #300.00 but I don't include them.

 

[Tallball]

My Makarov is a Russian "commercial" version in 380. I paid $149 for it brand-new back in the late 1980's. I have shot it a lot and it still functions perfectly. It's an easy guess that another 25-30 years of shooting still won't wear it out. I have gotten some other excellent firearm bargains in my life, but the Makarov may have been the best one. Some people say "you get what you pay for" and seem to have disdain for any sub $300 firearm. I very much disagree. Sometimes a good bargain is exactly that, a good bargain.

 

[OilyPablo]

I actually like my CZ-82's (9x18) more than my Makarov. Yeah, not the popular thing to say here. CZ-82 just feels natural to me and always points great. I never paid more than $200, but now I guess ~$250 is the going price(?) - still a bargain.

I may start searching for a S&W Model 10, so thanks for starting this thread!

 

[Racinbob]

You may want to look at the Sccy CPX. I had been hearing quite a bit about them. I get asked a lot about what would be a decent low $$ handgun and thought I'd check them out. They are made about 30 miles from me so I called to see about touring the plant. They were happy to do so and about 1/2 the tour was with the CEO. It was quite interesting hearing about and seeing the processes they use to help lower costs.

 

[pblanc]

I have seen Stoeger Cougar 8000F 9mms NIB for $299 recently at Academy Sports.

 

[bannockburn]

BSA1

I would take any one of your sub-$300 guns. All of them are proven designs built with quality materials and are a decent buy for the money. Right now I'm considering between a SCCY CPX2 for $275, a Bulgarian Makarov (complete with spare mag, holster, original grip, and lanyard), for $329, and a Zastava M57 Tokarev for $254.

 

[EMT40SW]

Buds guns has M&P. .40s that are Police trade ins for $329 or Summit gunbrokers has Glock 31s (full sized .357) for $329

http://summitgunbroker.com/glock-31.html

 

[Jim NE]

Just a few weeks ago, I bought a model 36 S&W for $295, but that's not the typical price. This one had noticeable finish wear, and a bobbed hammer, but it had little use and is mechanically excellent. Also bought a early 60's model 10 for $339, so that's a little out of the price range, but not by much. I did buy a good surplus model 10 for under $300 a few years ago, but I think those "under 300" days are mostly gone for model 10's, unless you buy a rough one. That being said, it won't cost you too much more than 300 for a decent one.

If you want to avoid used, then look at the Taurus PT 111 G2 or a PT 809 for semi autos, or some of the Rossi's for revolvers. I have several examples of these guns, and they all work fine for me.

One of the best values for way under $300 are the used Tokarevs. I think you can get them both new and used in that price range. And yeah, those $299 surplus M&P's in .40 (at Bud's) are AWESOME! Best wishes.

 

[Devonai]

Jim, last year I picked up a Model 12-3 with just a bit of holster wear for $300. They are out there, occasionally.

 

[TimSr]

The best bargains are found when you hang out outside a local government sponsored gun buyback program and checkout what people are bringing in.

 

[BSA1]

Locally the used handgun market is pretty tight with them. Most of them are either well used and overpriced.

However both of the revolvers I brought at Cabela's of all places!

I found the S&W Model 10 on their website in Texas and had it transferred to my local Cabela's.

They had the Pietta 1873 sitting in the Gun Library for a long time for around $380.00. Then they knocked the price down by another $60.00 and put it out it the gun case on the sales floor next to the new and it still didn't sell. Then Cabela's ran a sale on all used guns and I had some Cablela bucks so I said why not.

It is a ugly gun with bead blasted finish and tarnished brass grip. But I spent a boring New Years night at work cleaning it with G-96. When I cleaned it I discovered it was stamped CABELA'S INC. SIDNEY NEBRASKA

What I like most about it is it is a clone of the COLT SAA. You know pull the hammer to half cock, load one, skip one, load four then cock all the way and ease hammer down of empty chamber.

The semi-autos all came from shopping the Internet.

Timing and catching the right sale makes all of the difference.

 

[Jim NE]

Jim, last year I picked up a Model 12-3 with just a bit of holster wear for $300. They are out there, occasionally.

I'm jealous! I still kick myself for not picking up a snubbie model 12 for $299 at a big store several years ago. It was in great shape save for a couple noticeable finish flaws. Real nice. But you're right...if you're diligent enough, you'll likely find an old Smith .38 for under 300. Usually as a single gun from a store, or from a private buyer.

I think, however, that the surplus model 10's that are sold en masse by big stores tend to be a bit north of 300 if they're decent, and under 300 usually if they're in rough shape. Generally speaking. Didn't used to be that way, but getting more that way.

I would also suggest that buyers don't overlook some of the more recent lock model Smith revolvers (used) if they don't want to spend a lot. Despite what one hears on the net, these are often very good guns, but not as desirable because of the locks. Don't buy one new, though, 'cause they're too expensive.

 

[USAF_Vet]

I don't have any new pics, but all 4 of my 9mm handguns cost at or under $300.

S&W 469
Taurus 709S
Kel-Tec P-11
Ruger P-89

and I'm still going to get the Diamondback DB9FS I mentioned in the link in post #3.

So yes, I agree that quality handguns can be had for $300 or less. You do generally need to buy used, or find deals like my 469, which only cost me $250 four years ago. Might be five years, now.

 

[CajunBass]

I can't remember the last time I saw a Model 10 for less than...oh...$350.00 or so.

Recently, as in the last few months, I have purchased a Ruger P95DC, and a Ruger Speed-six 357 for less than $300.00 each.

Also, around Christmas, my dealer had the Ruger LC9s (in pink and purple) on sale for $249.00. I got two of those. Those were NIB of course. They had the LCP 380's for even less for a time.

I don't know if those prices are still available or not.