I concur with this one; I love mine. Only thing I did was put on some Hogue Grips ($15), since I'm not a fan of the plain wood ones.
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Cheapest Gun you consider Good not SW
- Thread starter s2harry
- Start date
I concur with this one; I love mine. Only thing I did was put on some Hogue Grips ($15), since I'm not a fan of the plain wood ones.
JMO. Rugers are as cheap as I would generally go. I consider CZ and Astra to be about equal to S&W. I had a Charter Arms Bulldog when they first came out, and never had any trouble with it. I also had a Bauer .25 Auto (Browning copy) that worked, but just to rack the slide made it look sick next to an Astra Firecat. Then there's my H&R: one doesn't usually think of an H&R as reaching quite up to Ruger level, but their USRA pistol was probably a cut ABOVE the S&W & Colt versions, particularly after Walter Roper was put in charge of their continued development with a budget apparently not limited by a need to make a profit.
So put me down as not cheaper than H&R.
So put me down as not cheaper than H&R.
The daughter of a friend has one of the RIA Compact 45s. She brought it with her recently when she visited. We took it out shooting and I was impressed. Shot everything we put through it. Shot to point of aim too. I had to have one, and at a gun show I finally found one for about $450. Am I ever happy! It eats everything, including cast 180 gr SWCs that I make up for practice. It shot a little low so I fitted a new rear sight. It's probably got 500 rounds though it with no bobbles. Since these pictures I've put a set of checkered grips on it; not too good an idea as they tend to chew up my hand during extended shooting sessions, but they do permit a firmer grip on the gun.
Speaking of grip, the rifling twist is right handed, so the torque doesn't twist it out of your hand. However it does make the kick feel a litle harder.
It sits by my computer now, loaded with Federal 230 gr HPs, so if there are 'noises off' at night when I'm going through the S&W forum, I can put it in my pocket. I really should get the Clark 'tiger tooth' stippling put on the front and back straps. And for night use, tritium sights. Haven't done either yet. Clark doesn't work on customers 45s now; does anybody else do this form of stippling?
For point of reference, my other 'ready guns' are a lightly tweaked Colt Series 70, a Colt Combat Commander with Novak tritium sights, and a S&W Mountain Gun in 45 Colt. The RIA yields nothing to any of them in reliability, accuracy or ease of use.
Speaking of grip, the rifling twist is right handed, so the torque doesn't twist it out of your hand. However it does make the kick feel a litle harder.
It sits by my computer now, loaded with Federal 230 gr HPs, so if there are 'noises off' at night when I'm going through the S&W forum, I can put it in my pocket. I really should get the Clark 'tiger tooth' stippling put on the front and back straps. And for night use, tritium sights. Haven't done either yet. Clark doesn't work on customers 45s now; does anybody else do this form of stippling?
For point of reference, my other 'ready guns' are a lightly tweaked Colt Series 70, a Colt Combat Commander with Novak tritium sights, and a S&W Mountain Gun in 45 Colt. The RIA yields nothing to any of them in reliability, accuracy or ease of use.
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BigBill
Absent Comrade
My cz85db, cz 82(2), cz 83 (2) all rock. The cz 85db in 9mm luger is my very first 9mm pistol. These are awesome pistols.
The rugers "cheap" price wise affordable but there the most rugged and strong for shooting stout loads. My security sixes and redhawks eat anything I run thru them and want more.
I purchased the misses a Taurus m94 22lr revolver for her ccw course after to shoot. It's awesome.
Colts I won't go there. Bill
The rugers "cheap" price wise affordable but there the most rugged and strong for shooting stout loads. My security sixes and redhawks eat anything I run thru them and want more.
I purchased the misses a Taurus m94 22lr revolver for her ccw course after to shoot. It's awesome.
Colts I won't go there. Bill
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s2harry
Member
kamloops67
Member
$250 brand new, out the door.
i have one of these guns- are the bird shot loads actually viable rounds? what sort of range do you expect? mine has a 4 1/4" barrel
yeah it looks like a 6" or 8"
is it good ? yeah it seems well made ,but dont cock and decock with the grips off ... youll see.
I had a Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 special that I carried for years. I shot it enough to feel comfortable with it out to 25yds are so on a man-sized target, it was no target pistol by any means but the finish held up and it never got loose. I sold it to a friend of mine when I could upgrade to a better quality pistol. I think for the money they were great little pistols. High standards used to get a bum rap for being cheap but just about every one I ever shot was a good pistol, same for Harrington Richardson .22 Sportsmans...I did break one when I was kid but show me a pistol a 12 year old kid can't break and it'll get the award for being 12 year old proof, there is nothing tougher on equipment.
kwselke
Member
It depends if I'm plinking, target practicing, or risking my life on it. If I have to defend myself, just about any gun is better than no gun.
I have a KelTec P-32 I sometimes cary as a BUG especially on road trips. It's also my beach/pool party gun.
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s2harry
Member
What calibers are those?
what caliber is that first one that is real nice...
Ruger revolvers are much cheaper than S&W revolvers...
and while I prefer S&W, mostly for looks and the wide variety of options......
Ruger is my "cheap" choice!
what caliber is that first one that is real nice...
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s2harry
Member
gdnagle
US Veteran
CZ82 less then $200, P64 $169 nice pocket gun, KAHR CW45 $330. Had them awhile never have a problem with any. They eat anything and do what they are suppose to do every time. These are my EDC's as I don't have a problem with 9X18 but prefer .45.
Cheapest shooter is a Llama .45 paid $35.00 way back when no, problem with it either and hit's POA, and a Marlin Model 56 I traded a 5# bag of .45 cases for.
Cheapest shooter is a Llama .45 paid $35.00 way back when no, problem with it either and hit's POA, and a Marlin Model 56 I traded a 5# bag of .45 cases for.
williamlayton
Member
My cheapest is my P-64 and it runs flawlessly. I have a Rock Island Armory 1911 .45ACP and it is fun to shoot. But, I like the Charter Arms revolvers. They are made right here in the good 'ol US of A and I've never had a problem with them.
This 25 ACP Tanfoglio cost me less than $150. It goes "bang" every time I pull the trigger and it's accurate to about 20 feet. With an itty-bitty IWB holster it fits right well in my boot and since ammo is $20 a box (when I can find it), I also reload for it - which is another thread entirely.
ibewbull
US Veteran
In 2013 Wisconsin you can pick up a S&W 642 NIB at Fleet Farm Store at $about $400 plus tax etc.
The Rugers are $550 or pretty close.
Taurus anchors are under $400.
I will pack a replica Navy Colt 36 before I ever carry a Taurus. I had many issues with them . 1 Horrible trigger, 2 Misfires light strike on M 94
The man wanted $65 to send it in to FL for warrantee work. I told him it wasn't worth the $300 I paid and another $65 would not increase the value. It is going to be traded. CCI will work 8 out of 9 times. Remington 5 of 9.
So this is today.
In the past the PA 63 at $175 still beats all others in function and value. BUT that was 17 years ago.
What are they now?
Mosin Nagant $100 with accessories last summer, almost forgot.
The Rugers are $550 or pretty close.
Taurus anchors are under $400.
I will pack a replica Navy Colt 36 before I ever carry a Taurus. I had many issues with them . 1 Horrible trigger, 2 Misfires light strike on M 94
The man wanted $65 to send it in to FL for warrantee work. I told him it wasn't worth the $300 I paid and another $65 would not increase the value. It is going to be traded. CCI will work 8 out of 9 times. Remington 5 of 9.
So this is today.
In the past the PA 63 at $175 still beats all others in function and value. BUT that was 17 years ago.
What are they now?
Mosin Nagant $100 with accessories last summer, almost forgot.
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ibewbull
US Veteran
This 25 ACP Tanfoglio cost me less than $150. It goes "bang" every time I pull the trigger and it's accurate to about 20 feet. With an itty-bitty IWB holster it fits right well in my boot and since ammo is $20 a box (when I can find it), I also reload for it - which is another thread entirely.
I had one but it is history now as well as many others. Mine was $50 in 1990
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