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Wednesday, November 17, 2010

A defensive handgun on a poor man's budget?

"What's a good gun I can buy for protection on a very tight budget?"

Its a question that gets asked a lot, and while recently the gun industry has been booming, times are still tough. Many Americans want the personal protection that a firearm brings, but they simply can't afford to put down $500 for a handgun.


When this topic comes up, the best advise I can give is to buy used. Most handguns in the used category have sat in the back of a closet or in a night stand for years and have seen very little use. Some have been shot a few hundred rounds, even some of the ones that have seen real heavy use are still good enough for personal defense use.
Several years back I bought a used first Gen Glock 17 from a local gun shop for a song. It didn't look too good and had lost about half of its finish along the way.... Well, lets be honest... it looked like crap, but it still ran like a Glock that was fresh from the factory. Nine years of regular range work later and that gun still runs and runs and runs. Now it serves time as my night stand gun - with a 33 round magazine of course.



Additionally, used revolvers are probably the best value going in handguns today. If its not a vintage collectible S&W or Colt you can get a very good .38 special for concealed carry or home defense for about $200-$300.

One of my shooting buddies has an older model Charter Arms Undercover snubbie. Its worth about $150 (pre-Obama gun glut; Maybe $200-$250 now with the premium mixed in). Its been around the block a good bit and it aint too pretty. While its not as aesthetically pleasing to hold in the hand as a Colt, it is a gun that you can bet your life on when things get ugly. I personally have put at least 150 rounds through it over the years and have seen my friend shoot probably close to 400. Wouldn't you know it, that thing goes bang each and every time. Needless to say, I have placed a standing offer of $100 cash on it if he ever feels so inclined to get rid of it.




Another alternative is Hi-Point. Yes, they are laughed at by almost every gun guy out there, and they look like something only a mother could love. However, these guns run. Anyone who has had any trigger time with Hi-Point Firearms knows that they will gobble up any ammo that you can throw at it. They come in the major calibers .380 through .45 ACP, and they are priced right - MSRP of $165. On top of that, they are 100% American made and include a lifetime warranty.



Last and certainly not least are the pocket guns. .380 has come a long way and with the new tricked out bullets they are loading in them today, they are serious concealed carry guns. While maybe not the be best choice in caliber for home defense, they certainly are better then a steak knife from the kitchen drawer. Small .380s can be had from Bersa, Kel-Tec, Ruger, and Taurus all new from $275-$300. Kel-Tec also offers two small 9mms that can be had for under $300 new. 

Yes, gone are the days of "Saturday Night Specials" made from cheap pot metal, but that doesn't mean that you can't still get a defensive handgun for a reasonable price. It may take some looking, and perhaps some help from a knowledgeable friend... but it can be done.

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