whats your life worth

cracker57

cracker57

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I see so many post on this forum and others that go something like this
Whats a good ccw gun for under 200 bucks
whats a good holster for around 25 bucks
Whats a good gun belt for 35 bucks
what ammo should I use for SD thats under 15 bucks for 50

Ask yourself what is my life or the life of a loved one worth, concealed carry is not cheap, you need equipment that works every time all the time. If it works almost all the time it does NOT WORK. Don't be cheap, I always ask myself would I bet my life on this piece of equipment or will it get me killed. A very smart man once said to me when looking for a holster " I know it's expensive but cheap gets you killed" Another very smart man told me once " the loudest thing you will ever hear in a gun fight is your gun going CLICK" both of these are words to LIVE by.
 
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I had a friend who worked in a motorcycle accessory shop. The easiest sale would be a mother bringing her child in to look at helmets. The mother would ask, "Why should I pay $100 for a helmet when I can get one for $5 at K-mart?" His reply, "Well, if you kid has a five-dollar head, buy him a five-dollar helmet!"
 
That's easy. A disturbing amount of people shop solely based on price point and misassociate it with "value." On the other side of the coin you have people buying overpriced junk, again based solely on price point.

In the end, it pays to be a real value conscious shopper by doing your research and discovering what exactly you're getting for your money. You don't necessarily have to break the bank and get dirty looks from the missus to obtain a good quality holster and belt that work.
 
Whatever the price whether it is $200 or $2000, the gun has to be 100% reliable with your carry load 100% of the time. If your carry gun jams only once in a while that is NOT o.k. Is your life or your families life worth the risk? Buy a dependable carry gun that has a reputation for 100% reliability, practice with it with the load you are going to carry and if it isn't 100% then GET RID OF IT!!!
 
CoMF said:
That's easy. A disturbing amount of people shop solely based on price point and misassociate it with "value." On the other side of the coin you have people buying overpriced junk, again based solely on price point.

In the end, it pays to be a real value conscious shopper by doing your research and discovering what exactly you're getting for your money. You don't necessarily have to break the bank and get dirty looks from the missus to obtain a good quality holster and belt that work.
Click to expand...

...or gun, for that matter.:cool:
 
If the worth of my life is gauged by the cost of my CCW, then I suppose my life is worth $390 + Tax... The price I paid for my extremely reliable Shield. ;)
 
Protected One said:
...or gun, for that matter.:cool:
Click to expand...

Indeed! Sorry, I forgot the OP mentioned those too. :o

Rambo101 said:
Not to change the subject but.........
What is a good 100% reliable carry gun?
Click to expand...

Well... I don't know of any handgun that is "100% reliable," but speaking from personal experience I know of a few that come pretty close to it right out of the box: S&W or Colt revolvers, the 3rd Gen. Glock 19 and the Browning Hi Power.
 
Though I agree with the OP in principle, it always burns me up when I hear that argument used to try to persuade the less knowing to buy a $2000 1911 clone or $3000 AR. Yes, buy good equipment, but the equipment doesn't make the man.
 
My life is worth about three-fitty. :)


I agree you shouldn't scrimp on a carry gun, but at the same time some folks can't afford $500 or $600 or even $300 for one. They may not be able to spend for the carry class, the permit, the gun, the holster, ammo to practice and end up with $1K or more in it.

Don't scrimp, esp. on carry and self defense guns. If you can afford $500 don't get a $100 Saturday nighter. But if you can't afford the $500 gun don't leave yourself defenseless b/c you don't want your buddies to rib you about having a Hi-Point. JMHO.

I have no problem directing people to the lower cost options if they need to or want to look in that direction, esp. in carry classes. Some come in with $1,000 Colts, some come in with the Raven they borrowed from a friend to take the class. I'll tell them to make sure any gun they carry is reliable, no matter its cost, practice with it, and don't leave it in the safe and expect it to protect you. I will encourage some to move to a different gun if possible if its one that I think by design or specific condition is iffy, but I can't tell someone scraping up the money for the class and permit to go buy a brand new $500 gun. We're going to have to find him/her something in the $200 range, and there are some good reliable guns in that range on the used market.

Don't scrimp on your safety, but if you can't afford the $100 rig the $25 holster may do fine. Heck sometimes the $25 holster is as good or better, and often the biggest difference isn't that it isn't functional but that it simply won't hold up as long.
 
Hmm, let's see. A second hand 442 for $300, Federal Hydra-shock .38 special hollowpoints a couple of home made holster made from a $20 hunk of 9 ounce vegetable tan leather, some quick strips and speed loaders and a CCW permit. I guess my life's worth just about enough.
I agree with the op that it doesn't really pay to go cheap but sometimes there are alternatives.
 

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ONe of the values of this forum is the facts. Many long time LEOs and Military members can and do offer some very good, sound advice. New readers and new CCHL holders will do well by spending time on this and other forums. To the question of my life's worth, the answer is simple. I may die, but my family will be taken care of. I may not live to see the perpetrator go to jail, but then again I won't be taking the big one from Bubba for life.
 
Springfield XDsc $475, Brigade Leatherworks holster $110 so $585 on that setup. Ruger sp101 $530, SHTFgear holster $65 so $595 on that one. My life is worth at least that much!
 
Like that MasterCard commercial, your life is priceless--but that doesn't mean it's based on the cost of the firearm in hand. What works, works.
 
Thirteen years ago I paid $300 for a very lightly-used, mechanically perfect 640 no-dash. Put a little money into a sweet trigger and action job by a fine smith. Had the trigger face polished and radiused and an orange insert set into the front sight. Put $25 Pachmayr Compacs on it and bought the first of a succession of inexpensive but efficient pocket holsters. Probably had a little over $500 in it all told.

I bought the gun because I could afford it, it's about as nearly 100% reliable as a handgun can be, and I find it easy to carry concealed. I've carried it every day since, with complete confidence.

I got the best I could afford, and what I trusted for the money.
 
To the question on hat is MY 100% reliable gun? My model 10, bought 30 years ago. I don't remember hat I paid for it but it wasn't more than $150. I have carried almost every day, shot many classes with it and thousands of practice rounds. It has never failed to fire on good ammo. I know NO gun will work forever but I am willing to try.
 
I love the people that put a $1,000 H&K in a $10 holster. And those that put a $50 optic on a $3,000 match rifle. I've seen plenty of both and I never know whether to cringe or shake my head.
 
From what I have read HERE, most of us on this Forum can afford a good quality SD handgun, holster, belt and reliable SD ammo - a few can not. My advise to the less fortunate guys and gals here would be to get a used gun in descent condition (does not have to be a collector grade gun) that is well build, reliable and practical for their daily activities rather than to try and get a new one that is a low priced "junker". Holsters for older guns especially revolvers are always available at guns shops (usually in the bargain box) on-line or at a gun show. Good quality holsters stand up fairly well and a little shoe polish goes a long way in restoring an older holster.

As far as carry ammo is concerned....... once you decide what ammo to use for SD and fire a few to familiarize yourself with them, that ammo does not have to be shot regularly at the Range, so the price is fairly unimportant. For example, I carry Buffalo Bore ammo which is pricey, but I certainly don't shoot thousands per year. 99% of my Range practice is with hand loads and I shoot a cylinder full of my carry ammo a few times a year for familiarization.

There are other things in life to skimp on that matter a whole lot less - and that's where money can be saved to be putt towards SD.

On Friday I went to lunch with an old friend but I met him at his house first. It was a hot & humid day and his a/c was not on and I was sweating badly. When I asked him why it was off he told me business was slow and he was conserving. He then asked if we could go to a very reasonable place for lunch to keep the price down; I said sure - no problem. Then he said hey let's take my new car........ he just bought a new Lamborghini WTH!!!!

PRIORITIES!!
 
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A high price doesn't always equal high quality. Neither does a low price equate to low quality.

I've bought cars for less than what I paid for the gun I normally carry. That doesn't mean it's right for you. I've also paid more for lunch than I did for the belt I use everyday (Uncle Mike's re-enforced Instructor's belt $25, the holster cost considerably more) and I'd take it over every other belt I've seen. Again, that doesn't make it the right belt for you.

Your defensive gear should be whatever you feel most confident with. I shoot this gun best so, I carry it. My belt is very stiff, supports my gun well and has been through several classes with me. I'm going to continue with it.
 
The price of a mans life can't be measured by dollars. It can only be measured by his attitude and how he prepares himself.

Some will buy a $2000 gun but won't get quality training. Others will buy a mouse gun and pay more for the training.

So...Is your life worth doing what you know is right? Or is worth the excuses you make for not doing so?

As with most things if life.............................

"MUST HAVE BALANCE DANIEL-SAN!"
waxonwaxoff_zps342676b0.jpg
 
cracker57 said:
I see so many post on this forum and others that go something like this
Whats a good ccw gun for under 200 bucks
whats a good holster for around 25 bucks
Whats a good gun belt for 35 bucks
what ammo should I use for SD thats under 15 bucks for 50

Ask yourself what is my life or the life of a loved one worth, concealed carry is not cheap, you need equipment that works every time all the time. If it works almost all the time it does NOT WORK. Don't be cheap, I always ask myself would I bet my life on this piece of equipment or will it get me killed. A very smart man once said to me when looking for a holster " I know it's expensive but cheap gets you killed" Another very smart man told me once " the loudest thing you will ever hear in a gun fight is your gun going CLICK" both of these are words to LIVE by.
Click to expand...

Ever see a guy show up at the range with a $3,000 race gun he can't hit anything with? Big money on firearms and accessories isn't the answer in the hands of an unskilled person. Own and practice with the best your budget allows. Inexpensive doesn't mean cheap.
 
Ill put it this way.

My carry gun cost $650

My CC holster was $125...

Belt was $80

My streamlight TLR 2s was $300
My ammo is 30 per 20 and I carry 47 on me so.

For CC $1,193

Now for work......haha

Gun $550

Mags $120

Ammo $70

Holster $250

Baton $79

OC spray $28

Flashlight $175

2x S&W M101 cuffs $80

Radio $400

Misc Belts accessories........$240

equals $1,992 roughly

So overall i've personally valued my life at $3,185 out of my own pocket. I also did not include the $2,000 taser or the $700 kevlar...........

If you want a $200 gun, a 20 holster and $15 worth of ammo your going to get $235 worth of reliability .....Nuff said.
 
MrJT said:
Some folks really can't afford to spend much on a gun, ammo, and holster. I don't judge anyone for wanting to make the best of the $500 they managed to save up over the past few months.
Click to expand...
Neither would I. It's the ones that have a $1,500 gun they shoot great, but choose to carry the $300 gun they can't hit a barn with because they're afraid to lose the expensive gun that make me wonder.
 
People who own $1500 safe queens are hardly going to risk putting
wear on them by shooting them let alone carry one for self defense.
Nor do they need to. An airweight J frame, simple pocket holster, and
or a basic belt slide or pancake holster and one speed strip and the
individual is about as well armed as he or she needs to be. The
purpose of CC is simply self defense. Basic equipment simple to use,
and awareness of your surroundings, trumps spending lots of cash.
 
It seems that some people are confusing "cheap" with "inexpensive", those terms are not always mutually inclusive. But actually sometimes "cheaper" is better. A good case in point is my holster- I carry A-IWB and use an Ace Case soft leather holster that cost about $20. It's flimsy but it conceals well, retains the gun well, plus it's comfortable- which other more expensive (and stiffer) IWB hoslters were not. I've been using it for about a year and it's showng signs of wear-- when it wears out, I'll just get another one. I paid $425 or less for each of my carry guns-- all vintage Chief Specials (36's, a 60, and a pre-37). All very dependable, with bobbed hammers & lightly tuned triggers by me. A $5 quick strip in a homemade belt carrier completes the EDC gear.
 
Buying a junky gun that some might call a 'cheap' gun, and ending up dead in an incident from carrying it, is permanent. Permanent is not an option for me. I like having other options most, if not all, of the time. I agree with some that cheap/inexpensive does not need to mean junk quality. You got to spend some, to get some. I'm not worried about my EDC ending up in an evidence room.
 
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