Cheapest Gun you consider Good not SW

[s2harry]

I never liked anything but SW and Colt Autos. Once in the 70s I handled a Taurus yeek the action felt like it was full of sand. So I see a 3 inch Model 85SS a while back and thought it was kinda nice they removed the sand. I do not like the trigger spring design maybe some are different. Could tell it was still a compromise but it seemed the minimum gun for quality. Looking at Tarus recently I discover they make CNC machinery! Hmm they cant make a perfect pistol but make Aerospace machines? Well it seems they make a few I could hack The 905 .357 is ok I shot one of those and the 817 and 85 seem ok I dont know about the autos. I dont know if they shoot to POI either but seem ok so far. Of the cheaper revolvers I think thats as low as Id go. What is your bottom line?

 

[Donn]

MHO? You get what you pay for. Not something I heard, saw it with my own eyes. A close friend bought a Taurus 357 snubby for CC, same reason as your post, cost. Less than 100rds, (all 38spl), the cylinder fell off in his hand. In all fairness, Taurus made it right, but it's not a piece I'd ever trust again. Your call, Harry. Me? I'd save up a little longer, get a S&W or Ruger.

 

[CajunBass]

I've had good luck with Taurus revolvers. I've had about a half dozen or so, never had a problem. They were all older ones, made from the 70's to the mid 90's. I look for the older ones, and wouldn't hesitate to buy another one after checking it out the same as I would a Smith & Wesson or a Colt.

I've never had a bad gun to tell you the truth. The "cheapest" one? A High Point C-9, 9mm. That thing worked like a champ and felt really great in my hand. I think it retailed for $149.00 when I bought it. I sold it several years later for $100.00.

I had a Kel-Tec, P-11 that was the same way. Cost a little more, and kicked pretty good, but it was a good gun.

 

[Farmer17]

I have had a Taurus TCP .380 for a couple of years and it has been perfectly reliable for over 500 rounds with every kind of ammo including the cheap stuff. It is also very accurate and it has a better feel and trigger pull than the Ruger .380 I used to have. They are an excellent gun for not much money and my local gun shop had a Black Friday special on them for $179 out the door with no sales tax charged.

 

[Cdog]

I carry a KelTec P3AT everyday. I paid $199.00 and tax.

It's like my wallet, only it rides on the strong side. Plus I don't leave home without it.

 

[Mule88]

I like the older charter arms guns, i have a pathfinder in 22 lr and mag, 38 special and 44 special I've never had an issue with any of them accurate enough and dependable. But again they are not a smith, colt or ruger.

 

[kozmic]

I try not to tempt fate. I'd rather trust a used S&W or Ruger revolver (for example) with proven reliability and quality than a new, lesser quality brand with a questionable track record.

Of course, I also believe that with current manufacturing techniques and having to keep up with your competition that even the "lower priced companies" have stepped up their game considerably.

If I were looking for a range gun or a .22 plinker or even a hunting gun then I wouldn't hesitate to buy an "off brand".

But personal defense isn't like buying cheap sneakers and hoping they'll last and don't give you blisters. We outfit, train and prepare ourselves for that one time when you MAY find yourself in a life and death situation. Without trying to sound snobbish, I personally won't compromise mine or my family's safety for a few bucks.

As always, just my $.02!

 

[wheelyfun66]

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!

 

[sheepdawg]

I paid $219 for this CZ82 and it's as accurate and reliable as anything in my safe.

 

[cmort666]

Rock Island M1911.

You might need to replace the trigger parts. Other than that, they seem like fine guns. Likewise the Norincos, which are unfortunately no longer being imported.

 

[mtelkhntr]

Like Mule88, I like the older charter arms. I had a target bulldog years ago that I traded off and have missed it ever since.

 

[Harrison]

One word, "Glock".

 

[loeman]

Interesting Question

I bought my first handgun in 1977 (Ruger Sec. Six) and bought my most recent gun this past Tuesday (S&W Md 681). In between I've bought a whole lot more. In those 35 years of buying and very little selling, I only bought one new gun that I thought was a "cheap" gun in terms of cost. It was in 1983 and the gun was a Colt Agent, .38, 6 shot, snub with an ugly parkerized finish and walnut grips that looked like they were almost unfinished. Cost was $189.00. However, the gun was not cheap in the mechanica/perfomancel sense. It was a perfectly good, highly functional Colt revolver. Just not pretty. All my other acquisitions have been higher quality Smiths, Colts, Sigs, Walthers etc. Even though money IS AN OBJECT to me, I have never been attracted to low cost guns. I'm sure some of them are just fine, but they're not for me.

By the way, the cheapest (initial cost) gun that I have is probably the Ruger MKI that my dad gave me. I don't know what he paid for it, but it sure works fine.

 

[rojodiablo]

Hands down, Rock Island Armory 1911 .45ACP.

I know this will bring the butthurt from some, but they are out of the box more ready to go than many of the 'top line' 45's.
It runs on 4 different magazines from 4 different makers.
It eats ANY ammo you feed it dependably, and cycles with all ammo without a hiccup.
It's very accurate.
The out the door for a new one is around $400. Even in Peoples' Republik of Kalifornia.

(Edit) For a revolver, the Charter Arms revolvers are very good, for extremely good value prices.

 

[Bill Bates]

I have a Baikal/Imez Makarov .380 acp that was well under $200 when I picked up slightly used. The little "peoples pistol" goes bang every time no matter what budget or expensive ammo you put in the magazine. It is reasonably accurate. What's not to like.

momma with the Makarov

 

[Marshwheeling]

She's wearing tinted contacts, right?

 

[red14]

Momma has 'Bette Davis eyes'.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I still have a J C Higgins 20 gauge single barrel that I bought a long time ago.

 

[DeadAye]

RIA 1911 in 45 or 9 for an auto.
Used (but not abused) S&W M10 in various barrel lengths for a revolver.

 

[Marshwheeling]

I paid $219 for this CZ82 and it's as accurate and reliable as anything in my safe.

A couple years ago, I saw one at GM for $249, and passed on it, thinking I'd easily find one for more like $219. I'm still kicking myself.

A guy can't have too many CZs.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

These Great Western single actions were dirt cheap up to a few years ago. This one was my Dad's that he got in the late 50s or around there. I had it refinished for him in the 1980s. It's a .44 special rebuilt to better than new internally by master Colt and Great Western gunsmith Jim Martin. These are often confused with the foreign Hawes but were made in Los Angeles entirely.

 

[Bat Guano]

"Cheap" and "good" don't normally belong in the same sentence. Are you talking "cheap" over the short term or the long term? If the thing goes "click" instead of "boom" at the worst possible time, I hope you will think it was all worthwhile.

A reliable S&W or Ruger wheelgun will do, as will an (argh) new or used Glock.

All this reminds me of a guy in the early 1970s in a quandary over whether to buy a Chevy Vega or a half ton pickup. He bought the Vega.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

By "good" I presume that you mean consistently reliable, reasonably accurate, and sufficiently powerful for personal defense use.

By "cheapest" I presume that you mean inexpensive when compared to most others available.

Based upon those two presumptions I would recommend the Makarov (Russian, Bulgarian, or East German, military rather than commercial models), the Polish P64, and the CZ82. All are reasonably available at attractive prices and are chambered for the 9X18 Makarov round, something like a .380ACP on steroids. Simple, durable, reliable and effective for the purpose.

You could also look around and probably find a very good used S&W Model 10, 12, or 64 in .38 Special for under $300, in which case you would have a very good handgun for personal defense, and ammunition would be both easier to find and less expensive.

 

[Lost Lake]

I bought an old Ruger Standard 30ish years ago, and never had a moments trouble.

I picked up a Taurus .357 25 years ago and that thing is rock solid reliable.

But my most recent purchase, knowing what I know and wanting a gun that will outlive me and my heirs, I picked up a Ruger SP101.

Only because I couldn't find the S&W I wanted.

.

 

[ACP230]

I have a stainless Charter Pathfinder .22 that shoots accurately and works well. Had an Charter Undercover .38 for a while too. I think the Pathfinder is a better gun.

 

[Kframes4me]

My cheap EDC is a Ruger LCP. Two years and a 100 rounds a month and I still love it. Replaced $3 guide rod but that was my choice. Love it !

 

[pharmer]

Kel Tec PF 9. $250 and most work all the time. Joe

 

[TAROMAN]

Several possibilities.
Taurus 441.
A 696 isn't a 4x better gun in my experience.

Czech VZ.82 probably the best $500 gun you can buy for $200.

 

[duppie]

My little Taurus 605 .357 with a 3 inch barrel.... I must have got lucky,this one has over 800 rounds of everything from wad cutters to supposed hot .357 loads cycled through her without any issues.
I did install Wolff springs and hand buffed a bit so while it doesn't break like my Smiths,It has smoothed out quite a bit and I remain quite impressed by this little gun.

Paid $315.00 NIB with NICS and transfer.

 

[Texas Star]

I'd look really hard for a used S&W M-64. Would take a clean M-10, but prefer stainless. Would try to find a nice set of used Pachmayr Presentation grips, or Uncle Mike's.

A Ruger DA .357 would also be a high priority purchase.

In autos, the 9mm CZ-75B has been fairly cheap at Academy Sports. Mine was accurate and reliable.