You do not have to spend $1000 to get a good weapon.

[bestseller92]

Another choice: the Bersa Thunder 380, $220.

I bought one a while back and like it so far. It's accurate and easy to shoot, and so far has had only one malfunction in about 300 rounds, a failure to eject on round number sixty one that might have been a break in bobble or might have been partly my fault due to limpwristing.

 

[beaucoup ammo]

Good topic, bestseller92. A "newbie" could be made to believe that cost = quality very easily given the perception offered up by most of the gun mags.

My offering:

KAHR P9 / 9mm / 8 or 9 rounds depending on magazine - $500 (or less, look around)

S&W .357 / Model 65-3 / "K" frame / 3 in. bbl - $199.95 (hard to find, but did)

S&W model 637-2 / .38 spcl +P / - $225 (grow on trees!)

These aren't The Best, but far from the worse, all in great shape..and within most anyone's budget. Like everything, invest time looking.

 

[kiwibird1]

I dont want to offend but I had to Mod the list a little.

SEMIAUTO HOME/SELF DEFENSE PISTOL:

Ruger P95 9mm, $325
>Sorry not a fan of Ruger autos (just an opinion)
Ruger P90 .45, $400

Just about any GLOCK: $460 @ Budsgunshoponline.com

Springfield XD, $500

+S&W M&P $439

+Taurus 1911 $480

+Beretta 92FS $449

+Sig P232 $461

+Springfield GI 1911 $450

+CZ autos

DOUBLE ACTION HOME/SELF DEFENSE REVOLVER:

Ruger GP100 .357, $425

Taurus 669 .357: $325 >almost entire line of Taurus revolvers

Taurus 85 .38: $265

BOLT ACTION HUNTING RIFLE:

Stevens Model 200, $300 or less

Savage Model 111 w/scope, $400

HOME DEFENSE/HUNTING SHOTGUN:

Mossberg 500 pump, $250

Remington 870 Express, $300 or so.

PLINKING/HUNTING .22 RIFLE:

Ruger 10/22, $200

Marlin Model 60, $150

PLINKING/HUNTING .22 HANDGUN:

Ruger Single Six, $325

ASSAULT/ESTATE DEFENSE RIFLE:

Ruger Mini 14, $585.

 

[GunTech]

Mini-14 only of accuracy is not important. I love the rifle, and keep hoping, but after owning three, I've yet to find one that will do much better than an AK.

You could also add Keltec SU-16 ~ $550

SW9VE and SW40VE, either for around $300

 

[USMCRotrHed]

Hey Kiwibird,

Looks like you know a lot of firearms under $1000. Pretty good list.

 

[kiwibird1]

Just added a few to the list that I saw @ my favorite online gun shop. Hows Oklahoma these days?

 

[Samuraigg]

Oh yeah! gotta add the SU-16

 

[bestseller92]

Oklahoma these days is HOT.

 

[revjen45]

Keep in mind that any gun you have to use for SD will be gone forever. That's why I don't carry the gun my Daddy packed as a reserve cop (which I cherish) or some artisan's elegant creation that cost $2500. My carry gun cost $350 at a gun show. It has been completely reliable with every weight and configuration of ammo I have shot in it. I'm real fond of it but it wouldn't cause me as much anguish to lose as the family heirloom guns. Don't pack a gun you love or can't afford to replace.

 

[Wes Janson]

The flip side of that is that I'd much prefer to lose an expensive gun and preserve my life than vice versa. YMMV.

 

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

Good weapons for less than $1,000?

M1 Garand

K98

K31 Schmidt-Rubin

K11

M96 Swedish Mauser

Springfield 1903s

Lee-Enfield

Mosin-Nagant (all varieties)

Finnish Mosins-Nagants (The cadillacs of Mosins imho)

An SKS (Russian, Yugoslavian 59 or 59/66)

SVT-40

FN-49

AG/B-42 Ljungman

M1 Carbine

A decent AR-15 (The amount of options here would be ridiculous to list)

Milspec 1911s

Various Glocks

Springfield XDs

SIG ARMS pistols

I grow tired of typing.

 

[tubeshooter]

Heck, nothing I've got even tops an honest $500 (being a wheelgun man helps)...


...and I'm sure I'm as proud of my modest collection as anybody!

 

[poor_richard]

I did a comparison with my Siaga .308, and someone elses FAL. Saw a FAL for around $750, while I paid $282 for my Siaga .308. Figure if one were to get ten mags for the FAL at say $10 each, then that would be a total of $850 for the FAL plus the mags. Mags for the Siaga are $45 each (if you can get them), so figure $450 for ten mags plus the price of the rifle for a total of $732. Normal price for the Siaga is more like $329, so realistically the final tally would be $779. That really isn’t much of a difference. My local tells me that the local policemen requested that they start buying Kel-Tec’s, which are considerably cheaper than a Glock. I suppose it all depends upon what you want the gun for.

 

[col_tapiocca]

My first firearm was a Glock 17.
A Low priced, accurate enough, reliable and good locking pistol.
9 mm ammo is cheap so I can practice a lot. (o.k. in the mean time 9 mm isn't really cheap)