Budget-friendly pistols
- Thread starter ManBug
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2025
- Messages
- 78
First of all WELCOME! Glad to have new folks joining our group. I hope you become a regular visitor and frequent participant in the conversations. We all learn when someone contributes.
Before we talk about price there needs to be some boundaries established. The first thing to ask is, "What is the primary intended use of the handgun?" This is important because it will establish caliber. If I lived in an area with bears or moose I would carry a large and powerful round. .44 magnum, .454 Casull etc. or at the very least .357 Magnum or .45 Colt with hot Buffalo Bore type rounds. Living where I do I have no need for such firepower. A walk about gun is typically a .22 long rifle. It is used for casual plinking and if need be a "get off me while I run away" weapon. Multiple rounds from a 22 will typically dissuade anything or anyone from pressing the attack and give me time and space to retreat to safety. Intended use dictates caliber.
Next up we should discuss platform. Do you prefer a semiautomatic to a revolver? Is your intended use predator or varmint control at longer ranges? The latter would possibly dictate a single shot in a moderate rifle caliber. If you live in dangerous game country a revolver with the more potent rounds is the way to go. If you plan to carry a .22 long rifle and like a semiautomatic there are many options available. Something to think about when considering platform is the ease of use. Are you strong enough to rack the slide? Can you load the magazine without a magazine loader? Can you easily disassemble it for cleaning? Do you know how to clear a malfunction or jam?
Something else to consider is your level of expertise with a handgun. I shoot regularly and have shot competitively on an amateur basis. Only accurate guns are fun for me. Right after turning 21 I purchased a Ruger New Model Stainless Super Single Six. It is rugged, dependable and capable of firing both 22lr and 22WMR rounds. It has spent the vast amount of it's life locked away. Accuracy is horrible. It shoots patterns and not groups. I'm not saying it is useless. On the contrary, it would make a fine club if I were attacked or a passable hammer if I needed to tack up wanted posters. Accuracy generally cost more depending on how accurate you want. An Olympic competitor like a Walther, Pardini, Steyr or Hammereli is so far past the skill level of most shooters that the expense is grossly outweighed by our ability. By the same token a Phoenix is so inaccurate as to be useless at all but the closest ranges. They typically are considered belly guns; hold it against the attackers belly and pull the trigger. In actuality they are good out to about 15 feet so might be viable for personal defense or concealed carry.
Lastly we would need to establish a budget. The budget is very important but should not be the determining factor. Usually a budget range is preferable to a specific dollar amount. If you tell me you can only spend $x.xx then we will immediately eliminate several good candidates for purchase. If you say $X.XX - $X.XX then we can go shopping. Sometimes we might want to put the upper limit against a purchase and pay the remainder on a Lay-Away plan. To do that you need to stay out of the big box stores like Academy and Bass Pro. Instead of Lay-Away they will try to trap you with a credit card purchase carrying high interest. PAY AS YOU GO! That will give you the most pleasure from your purchase.
My most often carried sidearms are .22 long rifle. I carry a S&W 63 with a 5" barrel or one of several Ruger Mk pistols. Lately the MkIV is most often seen in the field. It is a MkIV Target. It is a reasonably priced option running about $500 new but I have seen them used for much less and a buddy bought one from a family member for less than half that. The S&W is out of most peoples budget but there are other revolvers that are less costly and just as accurate.
So if you establish 1.Intended Use, 2.Preferred Platform, 3.Level of Expertise and How Often You Practice and 4.Budget we can throw out some recommendations. And again WELCOME!
Before we talk about price there needs to be some boundaries established. The first thing to ask is, "What is the primary intended use of the handgun?" This is important because it will establish caliber. If I lived in an area with bears or moose I would carry a large and powerful round. .44 magnum, .454 Casull etc. or at the very least .357 Magnum or .45 Colt with hot Buffalo Bore type rounds. Living where I do I have no need for such firepower. A walk about gun is typically a .22 long rifle. It is used for casual plinking and if need be a "get off me while I run away" weapon. Multiple rounds from a 22 will typically dissuade anything or anyone from pressing the attack and give me time and space to retreat to safety. Intended use dictates caliber.
Next up we should discuss platform. Do you prefer a semiautomatic to a revolver? Is your intended use predator or varmint control at longer ranges? The latter would possibly dictate a single shot in a moderate rifle caliber. If you live in dangerous game country a revolver with the more potent rounds is the way to go. If you plan to carry a .22 long rifle and like a semiautomatic there are many options available. Something to think about when considering platform is the ease of use. Are you strong enough to rack the slide? Can you load the magazine without a magazine loader? Can you easily disassemble it for cleaning? Do you know how to clear a malfunction or jam?
Something else to consider is your level of expertise with a handgun. I shoot regularly and have shot competitively on an amateur basis. Only accurate guns are fun for me. Right after turning 21 I purchased a Ruger New Model Stainless Super Single Six. It is rugged, dependable and capable of firing both 22lr and 22WMR rounds. It has spent the vast amount of it's life locked away. Accuracy is horrible. It shoots patterns and not groups. I'm not saying it is useless. On the contrary, it would make a fine club if I were attacked or a passable hammer if I needed to tack up wanted posters. Accuracy generally cost more depending on how accurate you want. An Olympic competitor like a Walther, Pardini, Steyr or Hammereli is so far past the skill level of most shooters that the expense is grossly outweighed by our ability. By the same token a Phoenix is so inaccurate as to be useless at all but the closest ranges. They typically are considered belly guns; hold it against the attackers belly and pull the trigger. In actuality they are good out to about 15 feet so might be viable for personal defense or concealed carry.
Lastly we would need to establish a budget. The budget is very important but should not be the determining factor. Usually a budget range is preferable to a specific dollar amount. If you tell me you can only spend $x.xx then we will immediately eliminate several good candidates for purchase. If you say $X.XX - $X.XX then we can go shopping. Sometimes we might want to put the upper limit against a purchase and pay the remainder on a Lay-Away plan. To do that you need to stay out of the big box stores like Academy and Bass Pro. Instead of Lay-Away they will try to trap you with a credit card purchase carrying high interest. PAY AS YOU GO! That will give you the most pleasure from your purchase.
My most often carried sidearms are .22 long rifle. I carry a S&W 63 with a 5" barrel or one of several Ruger Mk pistols. Lately the MkIV is most often seen in the field. It is a MkIV Target. It is a reasonably priced option running about $500 new but I have seen them used for much less and a buddy bought one from a family member for less than half that. The S&W is out of most peoples budget but there are other revolvers that are less costly and just as accurate.
So if you establish 1.Intended Use, 2.Preferred Platform, 3.Level of Expertise and How Often You Practice and 4.Budget we can throw out some recommendations. And again WELCOME!
