Best inexpensive guns for new shooters on a budget

[Tregs]

Bersa UC9?......if you don't mind concealing a fat double-stack.

[Vic]

How about a Makarov-type pistol?

Most of them are of good quality, are inexpensive, and 9x18 is somewhat better than .380.

[foo.c]

So that got me to thinking, what are other quality inexpensive guns that you recommend for new shooters on a tight budget who want a defensive and/or concealed carry handgun?

I have recommended looking at the surplus sellers. It wasn't that long ago you could pick up a Sig P6 for under $250, and there's lots of Com Bloc pistols for under $250. J&G has Argentine Hi-Powers for $310 at the moment.

[joe817]

How about a Makarov-type pistol? Most of them are of good quality, are inexpensive, and 9x18 is somewhat better than .380.

I'd carry a Makarov if I had one. A good intermediate round, between a .380 & 9mm. And there's a bunch on the market in excellent condition you can pick up for for a very reasonable price.

Auctionarms.com have several. Here's an FEG you can buy now at $168.00:

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displ ... &oh=216543" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also the Ruger P series can't be beat on the price. I bought a P-95 on the above website and paid $235 for it. Came with the Ruger factory case, 2 mags, instruction manual, and a Ruger speed loader. Used it to qualify with on the CHL shooting test. Scored 248. It digested every kind of ammo I put through it and didn't have a single FTF, FTE, etc. I'd trust it with my life in a heartbeat.

I have to admit though, I tend towards the used gun market. I prefer the price structure.

[karder]

how much money one is willing to spend for a pistol is analogous to how much money one would be willing to spend for a motorcycle helmet... ...the operative question being, "how much is your head worth?"

That's a good point. A quality lid costs a much as a Glock these days. As far as what's my head worth, you will get various opinions depending on who you ask!

Back to the OP, a new, quality gun for under $300 is a tall order. Taurus and Charter Arms both make some decent revolvers that are just a bit more than that. There are a few nifty .22 mag revolvers by Charter Arms and NAA that will fit that price range, and while that caliber is a little too small for serious self defense, it's more that adequate to take care of common street criminals.

If 'new' is not a requirement, there are awesome deals to be found in pawn shops if you are willing to spend a few weekends hunting. I remember the day my brother came home with a Winchester 1300 that was cherry and had paid $150 for it. Granted, you gotta search a bit, but you can probably get a lightly used Ruger or S&W and stay under budget.

[Gearheart]

Old police trade-in, S&W 45##s and 59##s go for surprisingly cheap.

[glbedd53]

I agree with your friend about the Glock. I've had one for almost 20 yrs and I'm still not comfortable with it if it's chambered. As for the Sigma, I don't have one but my son-in-law did for about a week until he could get rid of it. The trigger needed a come along. For sure a lot worse trigger than any Smith revolver I ever had.

[MojoTexas]

Academy usually has the Taurus Millenium line of pistols for
about $329.99.

IIRC for this price you can get a
PT111 - 9MM, 12 + 1 capacity.
PT140 - .40. 10 + 1 capacity.
PT145 - .45. 10 + 1 capacity.

The availability of ammo for these 3 is better than for .380,
plus you get the added power of larger rounds.

Myself and others can vouch that they go bang every
time, and they fit the dollars you just specified for a
new shooter on a budget.

SIA

+1 on the Taurus Milleniums. Not the fanciest handgun on the market, but they're great value for the money. I have had zero problems with my Taurus PT145 (although I prefer now to carry my Kimber).

MojoTexas

[wheelgun1958]

How about a Makarov-type pistol?

Most of them are of good quality, are inexpensive, and 9x18 is somewhat better than .380.

R&R Arms has CZ-82s for $230.

click here

Polish guns for $150-$250 at J&G Sales

click here

Bulgie Maks for $260 at J&G Sales

click here

[edmart001]

Keltec P11 or PF9. New blued msrp for $333 but they can be found for less at gun shows and such. I've never owned either, but my son had a P11 for a while and my father has a PF9 now. I've shot both. Not the fanciest pistols and not the best fit and finish in the world, but both I've been around went bang every time and were more accurate than me. Also, that single stack PF9 sure is easy to carry.

[puma guy]

My opinion, for a 1st time piece for a new shooter I think a .22LR is the way to go. Seriously.
When you set the criteria as a budget pistol for some one new to the scene the goal should be to prove something fun and as learning tool/stepping stone.
Buckmark or Ruger.
both under $300.
you can shoot all day for $16
you can really avoid developing bad habits such as flinching with the light shooting .22
when you move up to something bigger you can always take the little .22 along

Amen!

[puma guy]

My opinion, for a 1st time piece for a new shooter I think a .22LR is the way to go. Seriously.
When you set the criteria as a budget pistol for some one new to the scene the goal should be to prove something fun and as learning tool/stepping stone.
Buckmark or Ruger.
both under $300.
you can shoot all day for $16
you can really avoid developing bad habits such as flinching with the light shooting .22
when you move up to something bigger you can always take the little .22 along

Amen!

Our last daughter's 3rd time to shoot her Browning Buckmark. (I'm an old guy with a teenage daughter -Don't ask) I just told her to cover the target with little holes. We'll move up to the 9mm HP or Model 19 before too long!

[NcongruNt]

My opinion, for a 1st time piece for a new shooter I think a .22LR is the way to go. Seriously.
When you set the criteria as a budget pistol for some one new to the scene the goal should be to prove something fun and as learning tool/stepping stone.
Buckmark or Ruger.
both under $300.
you can shoot all day for $16
you can really avoid developing bad habits such as flinching with the light shooting .22
when you move up to something bigger you can always take the little .22 along

Amen!

Our last daughter's 3rd time to shoot her Browning Buckmark. (I'm an old guy with a teenage daughter -Don't ask) I just told her to cover the target with little holes. We'll move up to the 9mm HP or Model 19 before too long!

She'll get much better accuracy if you can get her to lean forward a bit - makes balance much better and therefore easier to keep sights on target. I've found that's a common inclination for most new shooters. Once I coach them into leaning into the shot, their groups improve dramatically.

[puma guy]

Our last daughter's 3rd time to shoot her Browning Buckmark. (I'm an old guy with a teenage daughter -Don't ask) I just told her to cover the target with little holes. We'll move up to the 9mm HP or Model 19 before too long!



She'll get much better accuracy if you can get her to lean forward a bit - makes balance much better and therefore easier to keep sights on target. I've found that's a common inclination for most new shooters. Once I coach them into leaning into the shot, their groups improve dramatically.[/quote]

Thanks for the advice. I get her to work on that. She's got a year and a half before she can apply for CHL.

[sookandy]

I bought one of those Taurus PT101's at Academy for $299. Cleaned off all the gunk and went to the range. So far I have put about 200 rounds through it and no problems at all. Not the greatest trigger though, but I like it other than that. Also have had a Makarov for about 15 years and it works well too, but I don't use it as a carry gun anymore. If I didn't have my Sig 232 I might though. I did use it for my first CHL test. I bought it for $129 but I don't know what they are going for now. I have never seen anything bad about the Bersa's or the Kel-Tec's or the Ruger LCP for that matter.