I have seen many post about carrying a inexpensive gun because it will be confiscated if you ever have to use it.
How many take the price of a gun into consideration when deciding what gun to carry?

Price should always take a far second seat to function, but if you can't find something that works reliably for under 1k, you're not looking.

…for me. It is simply a tool..

Moreover, having your gun seized as evidence is likely the least of your worries if involved in a shooting incident.

That said, I would still carry my rather pricey H&K P7 M8 if only it was more easily concealable.

Be safe.

I found a spare of my EDC, tested it for function and accuracy, cleaned up and put in safe.

Rosewood

Consider:

Should the law roll-up on you with your assailant at gunpoint.
They shout for YOU to DROP THE GUN! Can you? Will you? Without hesitation of scarring up
your pricey-piece? Let's say you do comply .
What if the LEO flat kicks your piece out of your reach,
Hollywood-style. Can you stomach THAT happening?

Ok, so you've holstered your piece when the Law rolls-up. It ends-up bagged and tagged into evidence as a matter of routine. If it's got blood, or bodily matter on it (bio), it goes into a sealed paper-bag. IF nothing on it, other than your perspiration, it goes into a sealed plastic pouch. Either way, the gun is going to sit for DAYs, if not weeks, if you're not charged.
The finish will likely be jacked-up. Can you stomach that result?

IF so....rock-on.

To paraphrase JG Wentworth; It's your money use it how you want.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

I do not consider the remote risk that law enforcement might confiscate my carry gun after self-defense shooting. I carry guns that I like and shoot well. It is a remote risk. In that setting, the relative risk/impact of $400 firearm confiscation versus a $4000 firearm is immaterial. It does not matter when considering the big picture.

I also expect the court will return the firearm, assuming a favorable result from investigation, hearings, etc. I have bigger problems if there is an unfavorable result. I have several pistols that spent time in the evidence locker (not my cases) and I helped a few others recover firearms from evidence upon closing a case.

I view carry guns as consumable. Can happen slowly or all at once. It is a tool.

The Colt Commander I usually carry has significant customization, making it a fairly pricey pistol.

It’s old enough that some features now routinely found on factory models such as two tone frame and slide, extended thumb safety or great sights were features available only from a gunsmith. Some of the custom features such as aggressive checkering and accurizing are still available only as custom work as are the mastodon ivory stocks. Having my gunsmith reproduce the Commander would cost around $3,000.

The reason I carry a pretty expensive pistol is because I’ve been carrying it since 1980 and shoot it pretty well. Its purpose is self defense. I’m not concerned with what happens to it AFTER a successful self defense event. Id prefer not losing it to a law enforcement agency while an investigation proceeds but if that’s what it takes to save my life, so be it. It’s cheap at the price.

I could use a Tupperware 45 that retails for about $500, but those guns don’t work as well as the Commander for me. I’ve tried them occasionally.

I’ve never understood folks who worry about what happens to their gun after a SD event. I can replace my pistol. All it takes is money. I can’t replace my life.

I don't consider value with my carry guns. All that matters is reliability, and the ability shoot them well without having to think about it, ie muscle memory. I won't carry anything that I can't easily replace but I do carry mostly PC revolvers. I have back ups for them so if one is confiscated there is one ready to take its place immediately.

I don't even think about it. As a matter of fact, it has NEVER occurred to me. Even at this very moment as I think about the various guns that I carry I can't even guess at their current price tags and I do not care.

Confiscated in a righteous shoot? Yawn. I'd be carrying a different gun later that same day or the next day.

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Come and take it!!

I might step on some toes here, but...here I go anyways....

I make my living in the public sector dealing with the criminal element. I'm not a person known to be sympathetic to them.

Having said that, the old "carry a cheap gun in case the cops confiscate it" yarn is a pet peeve of mine.

First of all, I've been taught by Troopers in classes that in a textbook perfect clean shootnin my state, you're very unlikely to get out of it for less than six figures. They actually said in the area of $150K. That Lethal Force class was...a good ten years ago.
By the time you get through that, your finest Wilson Combat, ED Brown, Staccato, Manhurin, Korth revolver or whatever is a drop in the bucket.

Additionally, if cops want said gun as evidence, you have just taken a human life or horrifically wounded a person. That does not typically come to good people easily. Even the most awful people often have someone who loves them that didn't do a darn thing to harm us. Granted, this is not logic and reason, but my personal sensibilities. I think it to fret about your gun in such an instance is reflective of a darn cold person or someone who really has not thought this matter all the way through. I've seen published articles where the Author was concerned about his walls, carpet, and artwork if he shot someone with too much of a gun. I find that sequence of priority as offensive, but again...I acknowledge that's my problem to digest and nobody else's.

But...having said that...If that day ever comes, you can bet any DA with half a brain will be combing the internet and gun forums researching the heck outta you. I wouldn't want them seeing the post where I was wringing my hands worrying about my precious carry gun more than perhaps de-escalating a conflict and not killing the family member of their client.

In summary, I believe in carrying whatever will best help you to survive a violent conflict, regardless of the price tag. I find the idea of carrying a cheap gun for police to confiscate as ill considered at best.

Each of us walks a different path through life. I'm sure many will have a different view. That's just the view from my own path.

That is the mentality of those with nothing better to do than obsess over trivial matters. These guys don’t need guns, they can talk the bad guy to death and keep the Safe Queen in the safe.

Even a justified good shooting will cause you to rack up thousands of dollars in attorney fees.
A civil suit by the family of the shootee will cost even more.
Could be tens or hundreds of thousands.
Losing the gun will be the least of your worries.

A firearm is a tool. Nothing more. However it is a tool you may stake your life or the lives of those you love on. Different strokes for different folks I guess but I want the best tool reliability and function wise that I can get. In the big picture, if you ever need to actually use it the cost you paid for the tool is of small importance. Do I carry a $4k piece? Nope. Do I carry a $199 piece? Also nope. I require and only use a piece that is rock solid reliable AND that I can consistently hit with. $500 or $1500 doesn’t matter if it meets those requirements. Back “in the day” Bell motorcycle helmets were selling lids for around $100. There ad says “ if you’ve got a $10 head, wear a $10 helmet”. Kinda says it all…

What my carry weapons cost is meaningless to me, I will carry an excellent quality reliable weapon. If it saves my life or those of my family members it has done its job and was money very well spent.

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Life Member GOA and NRA

There's a big difference between carrying a rare, expensive piece and an expensive, replaceable one. For example a Browning BDA (Sig P220) vs. a plain jane P220. The latter is an equal in every way (and better in at least one way), is certainly not inexpensive, but is easily replaced.

I will probably sound like the cheap person folks are identifying, that they feel haven't thought things out.

I have always been frugal, and I look to preserve my investments. I like wheel guns. My earliest revolver is a 14-1 (?) that dates to about 1958 and is a shooter that looks like it just came out of the blue box. I have newer revolvers that I also shoot, and shudder at the thought of their being abused in a post self-defense encounter.

I also like semi-auto pistols (metal) which are shooters that were acquired through a significant amount of work and scrimping. I don't want to throw my money away. Also, most of my handguns have a degree of sentimental value.

Up until maybe 6 years ago, I would never have willfully picked up a polymer pistol, but I have and found that I can shoot them sufficiently. It is getting to the point that the number of polymer is almost equalling the steel guns. I am also finding that they are somewhat more versatile for the "shoot for speed and accuracy" games. Plus, I am confident in them.

When I am in a position to lawfully carry, I have chosen to carry polymer framed semi-autos: either one of my smaller Glocks or Sigs. I will not carry cheap (ie: Saturday night specials), but will carry affordable handguns that have proven themselves on the range. The polymer pistols (for me) don't have the character of my steel handguns.

Currently, when I carry, it is either a G42, G43, a P365, or potentially a G26. The GSSF member discount makes the purchase of a potential replacement handgun palatable ... usually no more than $425 plus tax and NICS check. I buy my 365s with student discounts when I participate in the Adaptive Defensive Shooting Summit. For me, these polymer pistols are my working guns.

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Judge control not gun control!

As stated previously, the price of the gun is inconsequential compared to looming legal fees.

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

If you are dead, it does not matter does it?

Just my LEO opinion but do you know why a handgun is check for ballistics?

I always have a matching pair. Even for a cop they will take your handgun for ballistics.

Both times I did not have any issues on its return. It is a tool that will save your life, Just an FYI.

First rule ....... go home to your family!

Second rule.......doesn't matter if you miss out on Rule 1

I have regularly carried $200 guns for SD (Ruger LCP), as well as $2000 1911's. I tend to pick the right handgun for the situation based on my needs and opinion, and don't really worry about the value if it is seized by LE if it has to be used.

I tend to get in few gunfights, so.....

Larry

The old saying goes "you'll live to regret it". In this case if I live, I won't regret it. I retired my old carry gun from use a few years ago for just the reasons mentioned here - damage, loss - because it has sentimental value and I have a half dozen alternatives that work just as well. (In this area I know of one licensed security officer whose duty gun was wrongly seized and when he went to reclaim it "oops - we destroyed it already"). Ironically, the sentimental value was that it was an engagement gift from my wife, who wanted me to be well armed. I never gave the possibility of loss or damage a thought on the job.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

Give no thought to it at all.

I like to carry nice guns. Probably like some guys like to wear a high end watch or drive an expensive car. Or dress sharp. Sure, maybe you'll lose the watch, or have it stolen, or get in a wreck or have the car stolen, but, if you enjoy it, makes daily life more enjoyable, easily seems a risk worth taking to me, especially given the unlikelihood of an SD shooting occurring to any one individual.

On the other hand, I have been considering CCW insurance. If it were to happen, regardless of the circumstances, one would be in a world of hurt. Sure, need is slight, but ditto a lot of insurance I carry. Personal indemnity, for example. I've looked into it a bit. Maybe we should have a thread on that. I'm seriously considering CCW insurance.

My approach to selecting a gun for self-defense is somewhat different than the views made so far. I take in consideration the total overall cost of owning a gun for self-defense.

First of all I am a believer of “3 is 2, 2 is 1 and 1 is None” with self-defense guns. In the event my primary gun was to break or taken by the Police I want to be able to go to the gun vault, pull out a second one that is the same model and has the same features or extras, load and slip it into my holster. So if I was to change to a new carry gun the cost will be double.

Another big factor for me when shopping for a semi-automatic is availability and cost of reliable extra magazines. My preferred number of extra magazines is 10 per gun. No real reason other than isn’t 10 the perfect time number? (I do have some semi-auto’s with only two or three magazines but they are not used for self-defense or carry). So before buying I research what the availability of extra’s are and the cost. Generally I prefer factory oem but I also buy Mecgar because of their quality (in fact they supply the magazines as oem for some companies), availability and cost.

Another thing is finding the kind of holster(s) I like. Holster selections can be tough because of the cost of high quality leather and the quality of it’s stitching.

Revolvers simplify things a bit as they don’t need a magazine.

Good thoughtful stuff here..................

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S&W Accumulator

For much of my 36+ years in LE I carried a very expensive custom 1911 of one variety or another and actually thought about this situation and how I would feel about it. I didn't fret over it all that much because I felt comfortable with that platform and could shoot it well. Now in retirement, I carry either a 649, or one of several Plastic guns that I own most of the time. I have two very nice 1911's and two BHP's that I carry sometimes as well as my several S&W's. I don't really worry about it all that much in spite of the fact that I was in a situation a few years ago where my AR was taken by the Sheriff's Dept. and held for 8 months until the case was disposed of. It can and will happen so be prepared if and when it does!

Heck, in NY the authorities might go to your home and seize every single firearm and firearm related item you possess.
NY also has a law that they can destroy your firearm if they have possession of it for more than a year.

Here is the thing...
If you have to shoot, and the local PD decides to take your gun as evidence, don't you want the intake officer tagging the gun to go "niiiice!" when he sees it?
Thats part of the draw to nice guns.
If I have to use a gun to defend myself, I want the best gun I can afford. Does that mean most expensive? Not really. But I often carry a $3k+ pistol, or a $500 pistol, and do not spend a moment thinking about the cost. I think instead about having the best tool for the job.

Until I had previously seen this question come up on this forum, it had never entered my mind.

My EDC has one job; protection from imminent deadly threats. Obviously that means myself and my bride, but also third persons. The closest I ever came to drawing my off-duty revolver during my working days was to defend a third person whom I had never seen prior to the incident. Regardless of the intended victim, the mission is always protection.

For that mission I want whatever is most reliable. As the saying goes, the scariest sound in the jungle is 'click'.

I am willing to pay a premium for this if necessary. Fortunately it is not necessary. The Glocks, for all their detractors, do carry the reputation of extreme reliability. Arguably there are others with the same level of reliability. But I have yet to see a case made proving that something else is even more reliable than a Glock.

Based on the criterion alone, I choose to carry a Glock 26.

Fortunately it is not costly, thus expendable and replaceable.

Whatever it takes to never hear 'click'.

I carry some of my ‘Regular’ Guns.
Like 640, 642, 649.
Ruger LCP Max, Glock 43x, Kahr CM-9.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I’d rather not be dead than mar scratch or get my gun confiscated, and I’ll carry the gun that I have the most trust and confidence in regardless of the cost.

Maybe we should all be like Minnie Pearl and leave the price tag on.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Seriously! Yes!

Who really cares when your life is at stake?

As noted above, I never think about it.

Interestingly, there is a world of difference between "expensive" guns and our usual carry guns. Expensive guns are collectibles, engraved, or otherwise rare. Okay, there are Korths and other guns we can buy at retail that cost considerably more than average. Some folks above have identified the fact that they have expensive carry guns. Fine, but how many people own really expensive guns and actually carry them? Maybe a few, sure, but the rest of us buy practical handguns designed for protecting ourselves and loved ones. So that basically suggests that the question is irrelevant.

And how do you define expensive?

A $500 Glock might be expensive to one buyer and less than the cost of a night out to another buyer. But they'll both be well armed (okay, I used that as an example and I admit I don't like Glocks but I often carry a used, polymer Walther CCP that was unlikely even $500 new and certainly not worth more than half of that presently).

More to the point, I can't remember when I last purchased a brand new handgun. 2018 methinks, and that gun is already sold and gone. All of my carry guns are used, my M649 has been with me since the 1990s, it could be argued to be a sentimental favorite but who cares? Replaceable in a heartbeat if it should be confiscated.

Let's discuss other items brought up above:

That's not necessarily true. Most of the justifiable shootings don't make it to court. The police hear the story from the survivng victim, maybe they take his gun, maybe they don't, and all that's left is testifying aganst the miscreant that he shot, assuming said miscreant survived. No legal fees of any kind.


Also not necessarily true. If the police record shows a justifiable shooting it is unlikely that the surviving victim is going to be sued. Self defense strongly mitigates against a wrongful death lawsuit.

But myths abound..............

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Come and take it!!

Carry what you feel comfortable with, can shoot well, and can replace if needed.
That might be a $500 Glock or a $4,000 Ed Brown.

Probably shouldn't carry your Grandfather's 1911 he used in the Battle of the Somme...

While I agree with the premise of most here that your life is more valuable than any gun, I would caution buying the most expensive gun though as others have mentioned that is not really necessary. Glocks are great defensive guns that are usually found under 500$. Would a staccato 2011 run better? Maybe. Would it be enough to justify spending several thousand dollars more? Only you can decide that, but in my opinion that would be a hard no.

In short, I wouldn't concern myself with it being taken as much as I'd worry about surviving the incident, but I also wouldn't be carrying a 10,000+ registered magnum. The answer is somewhere in between and only you can ultimately answer where that is.

I think all guns are expensive to some degree. I also load them with expensive ammo and carry them in expensive holsters as well. The cost of these and probability of confiscation is worth you being alive.

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Ephesians 6 (Armor of God)

should your prized or otherwise pistol be sacrificed on the alter of self defense, look at it as a good friend that jumped on a grenade to save your life... gone but not forgotten... function is the priority, not price... how much are you and your loved ones worth anyway.

I carry for reliability and accuracy, regardless of the price. Yes, there are several in my vault I won't carry because they are too nice/valuable, but I have plenty to choose from and usually it amounts to about three which are my favorites.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

To me it would depend on "what" is making the gun expensive. Is a mint Registered magnum or an all in Ed Brown. I would not hesitate to carry a $3,000.00+ Brown. I would not carry the Registered magnum. One is completely replaceable and task specific built to save my or mine's lives in the gravest extreme with possible failure at the minimum. The other is to be placed in a stand and admired while I drink my Sunday morning coffee. All in the perspective of the owner.

"Don't carry any more than you can afford to loose."

- my Dad

,

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Death? Smile back...

Not an expensive gun; but I have 100% confidence in this CA, and shoot it better than my 36, 442, or Ruger 101.

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John

i like the clean lines and simplicity of your revolver and holster. am not familiar with revolver....what is it?

To echo others, put value out of your mind when it comes to ccw- something you’ll be ok with “losing” if the need arises. Find something you can cc comfortably and that you’re proficient with. Everything else is secondary.

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Some Might Say.

The revolver is a Charter Arms Undercover .38sp. I carry it crossdraw in an old "Hunter" holster.

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John

^^^ This ^^^

A $20 dollar Casio watch is more accurate than a $100,000 Rolex and a Glock is more reliable than a $3000 1911. Good enough for Socom forces,Seals etc. Good enough for the best in harm's way. (Get rid of those sissy pistols and get a Glock!) Tommy Lee Jones in the Movie the Fugitive.

I do not factor in the cost of a weapon too much. I keep my buys reasonable in price, but I factor in if I will "carry it" most of all.

I choose a weapon carefully because it meets my needs or wants and it's something I CAN and WILL carry and train with.

I carry for self-defense of myself and my family. I can't put a price on that. My life and my family are just not replaceable. A weapon is.

In the time I've carried, I've thankfully never needed to use it. I hope to keep it that way.

I have carried bigger guns, smaller guns, more expensive guns, cheaper guns. Cheapest guns I ever bought would be Glocks. Most expensive and later sold was a SA 1911 TRP. They all worked, but they were reputable brands I was comfortable with and vetted.

Now a days, I keep it below $1k (best I can, as prices have gone up) and shop for deals. There is no need to carry a super dooper custom piece for self-defense IMO.

Best recommendation is to have something you will ALWAYS carry above all.

A lot of people get hung up on round counts, and these fancy "red dot sights" (that cost almost as much as the gun!), accessories, and carrying so much hardware like they're heading for war.

Me, I usually just prefer a JFrame and they serve me well.

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Go ahead... make my day.

Get a Glock. Or, get a M-10 S&W. Or, get a whatever. I.e., get whatever floats your boat and carry it. If the day ever comes when you have to grab it and take care of business, it will what you need to take care of business. Later, when it is (hopefully) returned to you, you will most likely not be so concerned about whether or not its in perfect condition. You'll be glad that you lived through whatever it was that forced you to grab, etc. At least that's my view. Years ago when in seminary, I found myself dealing with three fellows who thought they were going to roll me. I had no gun. Had to make due with what was handy... brick. Later when they had run, I went back to the back door. There on the ground was a little gold Seiko tanker watch. One of those fellows left it due to a torn strap. 30 days later ... lost and found told me it was mine. It's been a little over 40 years since that Saturday night. I am now retired. Still have the watch. It still runs. And, when I hold it and wear it, I remember how I got it. About the same if I ever had to use a gun. Sincerely. bruce.

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