Budget-priced firearms Appreciation Thread.

[DWalt]

I don't remember for sure, but didn't Rohm make those single action revolvers that Herter's sold back in the day? I know for sure they were made in Germany. Sure don't see those today. I always wanted one of those Herter .401 Powermags. I think that .401 cartridge was proprietary to Herter's. That was an economy gun at the time, as were all the guns that Herter's sold.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

The American Pride series of S&W 3rd generation, specifically the 915, 457 and 908 are outstanding examples of low(er) cost firearms.

Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk

I have said it before, the 457, 910 and 915 was the economy line back then, but, the 915 in particular, is now in the "They don't make them like that anymore" category.

 

[Valmet]

Have a few myself...

Charter Arms Bulldog I bought NIB in 2009 and while I don't put warm reloads thru it, it's digested a few hundred rounds of .44 Spl without a hiccup. Savage Mark II .22 which I think is the best .22 on the market today for the money. And lastly my .410 H&R Topper- nothing beautiful or high-brow, just simple, and reliable. I prob spent under $600 for all three put together.

 

[glenwolde]

I don't remember for sure, but didn't Rohm make those single action revolvers that Herter's sold back in the day? I know for sure they were made in Germany. Sure don't see those today. I always wanted one of those Herter .401 Powermags. I think that .401 cartridge was proprietary to Herter's. That was an economy gun at the time, as were all the guns that Herter's sold.

I believe the Herter's guns were made by J.P Sauer....

 

[Smoke]

When I first started out I bought a bunch of junk guns, mostly Llamas. I owned a .25, a .32, a .380, a 9mm and a .45ACP. I have to admit that of the five the .32 and the .380 weren't bad little guns.

I owned one Taurus (PT92) and one was enough. The words "Taurus" and "Quality" don't belong in the same sentence. The only good thing about that gun was we bought it for 90 bucks and sold it for around 300. I don't know of a single reputable trainer who recommends a Taurus Junk for anything. I've seen them fired in reviews and at 20 yards the spread is only about 2 inches.

Even quality manufacturers such as CZ occasionally turn out a lemon. I owned a CZ RAMI in .40 S&W that would not reliably feed JHPs to save its life. I sent it back to the factory 3 times and they couldn't get it right either. I ended up selling it to a pawnshop and never looked back.

In general I've had good luck with CZ products. My wife bought a CZ82 for $189.00 that would have fed a rock if I could have got it in the magazine.

I owned an RIA 1911 that I paid $400.00 for that never fumbled once. The only problem I ever had with it was a tendency to rust.

I think first generation M&Ps are a great deal.

 

[Farmer17]

A S&W Shield for $199 is about the best bargain I can think of and they are so superior to cheaper guns there would be no temptation for me to go that route in a small defensive auto pistol. Rock Island 1911s are great I paid $345 brand new for mine and I would rate it very close to my Springfield, Colt, and Kimber 1911s. I had an H&R 5 shot 4" .32 magnum that was solid and worked but the crude sights and stiff trigger just made me want to save up for a used S&W.

 

[glenwolde]

When I first started out I bought a bunch of junk guns, mostly Llamas. I owned a .25, a .32, a .380, a 9mm and a .45ACP. I have to admit that of the five the .32 and the .380 weren't bad little guns.

I owned one Taurus (PT92) and one was enough. The words "Taurus" and "Quality" don't belong in the same sentence. The only good thing about that gun was we bought it for 90 bucks and sold it for around 300. I don't know of a single reputable trainer who recommends a Taurus Junk for anything. I've seen them fired in reviews and at 20 yards the spread is only about 2 inches.

Even quality manufacturers such as CZ occasionally turn out a lemon. I owned a CZ RAMI in .40 S&W that would not reliably feed JHPs to save its life. I sent it back to the factory 3 times and they couldn't get it right either. I ended up selling it to a pawnshop and never looked back.

In general I've had good luck with CZ products. My wife bought a CZ82 for $189.00 that would have fed a rock if I could have got it in the magazine.

I owned an RIA 1911 that I paid $400.00 for that never fumbled once. The only problem I ever had with it was a tendency to rust.

I think first generation M&Ps are a great deal.

I'm trying to align the statement "I owned one Taurus (PT92) and one was enough." with "Even quality manufacturers such as CZ occasionally turn out a lemon."

Is it because you owned other CZ's before the lemon CZ? It seems to me that many times if a shooter has a bad experience their first time out with a brand it's dead to them for life. On the other hand if they get a lemon after already having experience with a brand it seems to be far less of a problem.

 

[Smoke]

I'm trying to align the statement "I owned one Taurus (PT92) and one was enough." with "Even quality manufacturers such as CZ occasionally turn out a lemon."

Is it because you owned other CZ's before the lemon CZ? It seems to me that many times if a shooter has a bad experience their first time out with a brand it's dead to them for life. On the other hand if they get a lemon after already having experience with a brand it seems to be far less of a problem.

The first CZ I owned was a 75B. I don't remember if I got the 82 next or the RAMI.

BUT CZ has a long established track record of producing quality firearms. The .40 S&W RAMI had known issues that CZ never could get right and they eventually quit making them.

Taurus OTOH has a long established track record of NOT producing quality firearms. They earned their reputation for producing junk long before I ever heard of the company.

Since I Know Someone Is Going To Ask My wife bought the Taurus on her own while picking up another gun (The RAMI) that we had on lay-away for me. Had I been there when she bought it I would have done everything in my power to talk her out of it. That said it did work out for the best because I took 200 of the money I got selling the Taurus and bought a 4006

 

[ContinentalOp]

Don't know if I have any guns in this category.

The closest would have to be my 642-1, which I bought online. After shipping and fees, it came out around $400.

Then there's the 3" S&W 65 I picked up at a gunshow in the mid-2000s, I think. Excellent shape, $375 OTD, IIRC. Don't think I'll be seeing a deal like that anytime soon.

I have been thinking about getting a pocket .380, probably either a Ruger LCP or a Beretta Pico, and I've seen both of those for around $200.

 

[Echo40]

I have been thinking about getting a pocket .380, probably either a Ruger LCP or a Beretta Pico, and I've seen both of those for around $200.

They're both great firearms with their own pros and cons.

Basically, the Pico is more durable than the LCP because it has a steel subframe/rails, but as a result it's a few ounces heavier than the LCP.

That being said, neither is a range gun, so you most likely won't be shooting either of them once you've done so enough to confirm reliability and learn where your carry ammo hits.
Personally, I chose the LCP because I liked it more, and the supposedly lesser durability made little difference to me because I didn't plan on putting thousands of rounds through it.

 

[LVSteve]

Marlin Model 60
Ruger LC380 (new)
Ruger 95 (used)
M&P 9 with a 5" barrel. Seriously, I got mine at an online estate auction that had two and they could barely give them away.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Had a couple of the FEG Hi-Power clones in the 80s to early 90s until I got my first MkIII Browning with bigger safety and sights.........

Wish I'd kept them ...... great $250-300 utility guns......

Got several CZ rifles .22lr .22mag .17hmr and .223/5.56...mini-Mauser action.... best bang for the buck going IMHO.....and if you win the "wood lottery" WOW just WOW!!!!! $300 to $500 for rimfires. $500 is for a full mannlicher stock model ........ $700 for a FS/mannlicher in .223


Not another brand but you can still get a really nice 6904 or even a 915 in a LGS around here for under $300. If you can find them!!!!!!!

 

[Echo40]

Marlin Model 60
Ruger LC380 (new)
Ruger 95 (used)
M&P 9 with a 5" barrel. Seriously, I got mine at an online estate auction that had two and they could barely give them away.

For some reason which alludes me, Smith & Wesson pistols from the late 3rd Gen Chief's Specials to the M&P series can be had for extremely low prices on the used market.

Back in 2015 my LGS used to get used CS40s in on a weekly basis for around $250, but I foolishly didn't buy any of them, (although I was tempted) because I got swept up by all the anti-40 rhetoric being spouted in the wake of the FBI dropping .40 S&W.
In 2017 there were a ton of unissued police trade-in M&P40s with 3 magazines and night sights on the market for as low as $300, but once again, I stupidly let them pass.
Then in 2019 a bunch of like new SIGMA SW#VE models hit the market for about $200, and by then I had finally learned my lesson, so I bought one. SIGMAs may not be popular, but by all accounts they work and all the issues had been ironed out by the VE series, so for the price of a new Hi-Point, I don't see how I could go wrong.

I have no idea where all the SIGMAs came from all of a sudden. Apparently some of them were Niagara Falls PD trade-ins, (yeah, apparently they issued SIGMAs at some point) but mine has no markings on it to indicate that it was ever issued to any policemen, came with a reduced capacity 10 round magazine, and according to S&W left the factory on 04/14/2004, so I can only presume that it was civilian owned.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I picked up an M&P 9 1st Gen anib for $300 2 mags when new 2.0 were just coming out and selling in LGS for $525.