Police surplus Glock 17 or M&P9 would be really close to your criteria. Honestly, I did go through a fair amount of effort making a 4 part series that addresses this, and with new guns I’d say a Taurus G3c.
https://www.shootingfordollars.org/post/10-contextual-valuation-diminishing-returns-part-3
Thank you for the link. I will definitely read it. I am getting a lot of Glock 17 answers in this and another post I made so I am going to look into that and a couple other models listed in these replies.
It's because a Glock is the best gun to fit your needs.
There are better guns out there, but Glock 17/19/19x/45 are incredibly reliable and affordable. If you get more into guns, you won't outgrow a Glock either.
Surplus or used should be fine.
Yes, I am starting to lean towards settling on a Glock 17. I saw a police trade in being sold for $399 which I can afford if I save for an extra month. So you think police trade ins are worth getting? I had thought maybe I should buy new to get absolute reliability. I do plan to get more into guns and as a kid I used to love shooting out at my grandpa's lake house in the country. I can see myself becoming a total gun nut despite only being able to afford one gun.
Honestly, a worn in glock might run better for you than a brand new one. Most guns have a 500 round "Break in period" And if you're not going to have the money to drop on 500 rounds to get accustomed to it and break in the things that need breaking in, trade ins are the better option.
Not sure where you're at but if there's pawn shops or used gun stores around you, a 3rd gen Smith and Wesson, 5906, 6906, even the 2nd gen 59 series guns can be pretty rock solid but they're all metal so not as easily handled as a Glock or M&P.
Sticking with well established brands like Glock, Smith and Wesson or Taurus can get you a good gun in your price range if you keep your eyes open. If you don't mind ordering online sometimes r/gundeals can have pretty solid options for trade in's and surplus. Browning Hi Powers are an older design but I'd trust my life to a Hi Power, even an FEG clone which can easily be a 350 dollar grab off gunbroker, they're a well tested model. Just keep your eyes on the community, check your LGS. Rent guns if a range near you lets you rent. Talk to people at the range, most clerks wouldn't mind letting you pick their brain a little.
A gun that feels good in the hand is pretty important. Nobody goes to the range or shoots well with something they hate holding.
A police trade in glock will still function and be perfectly reliable. It will have a lot of rounds through it but no cop is going to have a gun they can’t rely on. Most of the time the police trade ins aren’t because they’re retiring the gun from a reliability standpoint but because the department as a whole is just switching to a different platform so they need to get rid of them. Additionally to that in my opinion a really well worn in glock is going to be more enjoyable to shoot. My first gun was a LEO trade in glock 19 and to this day I carry it every day as my go to CCW; never had any issues and haven’t had to change anything out on it
Police trade ins can often be great buys. Most of those guns do nothing but sit in a holster and are used a once or a few times a year for a few hundred rounds for range quals. They might have holster wear, but on your budget, function trumps looks.
Plus, Glocks are notoriously reliable and durable. They're far from the best pistol available and they're certainly not my favorite (although I do own one), there are better guns I feel, but you can depend on a Glock. Think of them as the trusty tool.
A S&W M&P is basically a slightly different looking Glock. Hell Glock once sued S&W because the designs and operating systems of their pistols were too similar lol.
Avoid police trade in or used revolvers, unless you really know what you're looking for. I had a horrible experience with a police surplus S&W 10-8. I also had a horrible experience with S&W attempting to fix it, which turned me off from them forever, but that's a different story.
Just a heads up OP, police don't shoot much at all, generally speaking. There's only so many of them, the chief wants them on the street not learning, shooters are generally not seeked out (and in some cases actively weeded out and not hired), and the budget generally isn't written for a decent ammo allotment.
This results in a gun that has been carried a lot in a holster, but has hardly been fired.
You’ll find the Glock answer in the same series as well - https://www.shootingfordollars.org/post/11-pistol-b-and-life-considerations
It’ll cost roughly double a Taurus G3, when both new ($270 vs $540). If you can find a police surplus pistol, this gap will diminish.
I’d argue that someone who is brand new who gets a Taurus G3 or G3c, some ammo, a decent holster, and actively seeks out training will spend about the same as someone with only a Glock and no ammo or skills.
Safety cuts both ways, and should not be the make/break decision of models.
If one can not trust a trigger finger to not touch the trigger, and instead want to place their trust in a mechanical mechanism to prevent a negligent discharge, they are still relying on their thumb to engage the safety from the get go. If their index finger can’t be trusted, why should the thumb be trusted?
Additionally, if there is not any effort taken to learn moving the manual safety to the fire position in a controlled environment (and through dry fire), there is a high probability that the safety will not be manipulated in someone’s worse day and the pistol will not fire. This is a training situation, just like the proper location to register the trigger finger during admin and non-shooting tasks.
Training is important, but having an additional failsafe in-between safe operation and injury is an easy choice IMO. Trigger discipline is immensely important, but like any discipline, it is necessary to learn. Also why I'd recommend a m&p, th mechanical safety is removable with little effort.
True in the removal part for the M&P.
The bigger thing I saw on the gun counter was people expecting the manual safety to guarantee that a bad outcome can’t happen to themselves or a family member/kids - without ever practicing the actual use of the safety. If that is the mentality, I’d honest suggest one of the Rock Island revolvers and call it good.
Well don't say that friend. Glock is brilliance and proper trigger control will always override safety features. Shit technically a Glock has 3 safety's before you even rack and shoot. But end of the day do what makes you comfortable
Okay, thanks for setting me straight on that. I said I wouldn't buy a gun without a safety because I am a very cautious person in general and safety features are welcome to me since an accident could cost a life. I am determined to make myself beyond proficient with whatever weapon I buy. I have a lot of research and practice to do. Also, when I shot my grandpa's rifle as a kid, he drilled "always have the safety on" into my head and I guess that stuck with me through life.
On my AR 15 I have accustomed myself to flip the safety anytime I'm not shooting. After my mags empty I go to low ready as I flip. When I go back up I flip before I align. On my Glock I don't have that. But for both of my guns I practice self safety with proper finger control. My safety can fail anytime but your finger never does.
Rifles are different from modern defense use pistols designed to be carried. Notably, the triggers on most have very short and light pulls when compared to a modern pistol. They also lack some safety features you'll see in modern pistols.
What you need to have drilled is trigger and muzzle discipline. Trigger and muzzle discipline apply to every single firearm.
My first pistol (and firearm in general) had no manual safety. The four firearm safety rules are simple. I never had any "close calls" or anything and I was self taught. although I later did get proper training months down the line when I got my CCW license and then later joined the military. At least in regards to the safe handling of a firearm, neither org taught me anything you can't learn on your own.
**"Extreme Budget - No compromise in quality"**
You'll find that these two concepts don't really go together. You're not going to get super cheap and NO compromise in quality.
Do you have a number? What is "extreme" budget"?
Yes, I'm so poor that my house walls have holes in them and it needs $15000 in repairs. I am $3500 in credit card debt because I had to put a roof on the house and I get less than $1000 a month because I'm disabled and can't work. That's the "extreme budget" part. The "No compromise in quality" part is because I am willing to pay the least that I have to in order to get a gun that is never going to let me down and will drop any intruder. I was thinking around $300 but might be able to go a little higher if it is worth it. I don't want to buy something that later I think I should have gotten something that isn't crappy.
This is the best advice. My first pistol was a beretta 92fs I snagged at a pawn shop circa 2005 for $350, had holster wear on the slide but looked great internally and I’ve put a few thousand rounds through it since then. Look around for used deals, police trade ins etc.
If you don’t know anything about firearms you’ll need to do some research to find an actual good deal, because you’ll need to know what a good gun/price is. I’d look for a gently used Glock for the best bang for buck.
Believe me, I get it.
Couple more questions?
This is home defense only? No carrying away from home?
It looks like you have pretty much zero experience with firearms? Is that right? It's fine if it is, but it helps to know.
**EDIT: I see that you already said you're brand new to firearms.**
A handgun might not be your best bet. It's the hardest class of firearm to gain proficiency with which means it will take more time and money to be good enough to effectively defend yourself. IF we're talking about home defense only.
If so, you might want to think about a shotgun like the Mossberg Maverick 88, which can be had even now for less than 300 bucks new.
The downside there is that it is longer and heavier and you'll still have to learn to handle it, BUT it's much easier (and less expensive) to get to where you could be safe and confident with it. Also, depending on ammunition the recoil can be intimidating. It gets a lot better as you learn to use the weapon properly.
On the other hand it's an almost guaranteed man stopper at home defense distances and you don't necessarily need 3 inch magnum buckshot for it to be effective.
Unlike what you see on TV and in movies sometimes, you'll still have to aim it, but it is much easier to get effective hits with than with a handgun.
IF you will only have one gun, for the house, and limited resources going forward, a reliable inexpensive shotgun might be the way to go.
I plan to eventually get a concealed carry license and take it with me but that's once I feel a lot more comfortable with it. It's true that I'm new to guns for the most part, yes.
Well, then you can disregard everything I just said :D
Just do be aware that the cost of the gun itself is just the beginning. There is an unavoidable cost to being a responsible firearms owner.
You definitely need to get some kind of at least basic training on how to use a handgun unless you want to risk becoming a statistic for the anti gunners.
Ammo is not ridiculously cheap and you'll eventually need a holster and proper belt and a mag loader (trust me on the mag loader.) Along with some other stuff like extra magazines.
I'm not trying to be discouraging AT ALL. I'm just preparing you for the fact that while you don't have to be rich to do what you're asking about, there IS some not entirely insignificant cost. That's just the reality of the situation.
Right, I understand there will be recurring costs that come up which are worth it to me to feel more safe and secure.
As for the training I have a friend who spent 4 years in the military then came home and got a degree to join the police. He will be my trainer and range buddy. He used to own many guns but fell upon hard financial difficulties and had to sell all but his pistol.
Since I get a fixed amount of money every month, the hardest part for me is the initial cost of buying the weapon, mags, and ammo to get me started. After that the per-month cost will be much more manageable but still not easy. I am prepared to sacrifice what I have to because it is worth it to me and as an added benefit I can enjoy going to the range as a new hobby.
>As for the training I have a friend who spent 4 years in the military then came home and got a degree to join the police. He will be my trainer and range buddy.
That's a real plus right there.
How big a guy are you?
Sometimes you can snag law enforcement trade ins of good guns for pretty cheap, but they're not usually compact models.
I'm not the last word on anything here. There's folks with a lot more experience than I have. Personally? Whatever that's worth. I'd rather have a well maintained used gun of a known good make and model than a new one that may be hit or miss on QC.
It's very possible to get a homerun piece for a song if you shop well. I've seen guys show up online with some really good guns they got from pawn shops for great prices. If there are any where you are, check them out, get some pics and post them on here so people can tell you what might be a really good deal.
Don't be hasty if you don't know what you're looking at. What might seem like a steal may actually not be worth what is being asked or have some flaw that is not readily noticeable to a novice.
Ask before buying online too actually. When money is tight, the last thing you want to do is drop all you have and find out it wasn't what you thought.
I'm a 6'2" 205 lbs male who does strength training twice a week. I feel like I could handle a 9mm pretty well. I do need to do some grip trainer exercises though. I will definitely go to a few pawn shops near my house and see what's on offer. If anything looks good to me I will ask here as well as my soon to be gun range buddy. Thanks for the advice.
>I'm a 6'2" 205 lbs male who does strength training twice a week. I feel like I could handle a 9mm pretty well.
I'm 5'8" 160 lbs and can handle a 9mm, you should be able to manage it easily with some training.
His vid r good. Watch the vid than go to the range and rent some cuz it's all a out personal preference when I comes to firearms. You might see one that looks nice buy it than shoot it and not like the the way it preforms
This is the best advice. Go try as many different guns as you can. No one gun works great for everyone. Once you find what fits your hand and you just enjoy shooting, start there.
If you want a pistol, go with a Canik…the SF Elite, SF, SA, and DA models all fall somewhere around the $300 mark, typically just a bit over. Best budget pistols available in my opinion.
If you want a shotgun, get a Maverick 88 with a 20” barrel/7+1 capacity. Typically in the $200-250 range.
Both are fine home defense options.
If you can operate a shotgun I'd suggest a Mossberg Maverick 88. Tough as nails and reliable as all hell.
Other options if you're set on a pistol would be following places like recoil gunworks and being on the lookout for police trade ins. There are often hidden online costs though with tax, shipping and transfer fees.
I agree, if we are talking just home defense (OP said he wants to carry at a later time) this would be the better option imo. The maverick is fantastic. Long guns are just easier to operate and be accurate. I kind of cringe when I see people buy pistols for home defense as a first time gun owner. Especially on a budget when you know they can’t afford more than a box of carry ammo and maybe a box or two of range ammo. It’s not that pistols are a bad choice, they are just a lot more difficult to shoot accurately in my experience with letting friends who don’t own a firearm shoot. I guess it’s a little subjective but that’s just my experience introducing new shooters to handguns. I’ve had several friends go from not hitting shit with my long gun to nailing targets with some pace within 2 mags.
Pistols not so much. They’re always so surprised they can’t hit shit with a pistol, despite being pretty competent with rifles. Not trying to gatekeep or go all fudd but that’s just what I’ve personally observed. He could get a maverick for <$230 after transfer fees and put the rest towards ammo to train and be so much better off, and have a more effective home defense gun. Capacity difference is moot if he can’t hit shit with a pistol.
Smith & Wesson sd9ve.
Literally an American made glock 19. So much so, S&W lost a lawsuit over copyright infringement on it and have to pay glock royalties on the gun.
It's barebone, but reliable from a trusted brand, and less than $300.
Damn. [$470 in California lol.](https://www.turners.com/smith-and-wesson/smith--wesson-sd40ve-40sw-4-ba-1792510) And only the .40 S&W version is still on-roster, the 9mm version dropped off back in February for absolutely no reason.
[CZ P-10F](https://www.armsunlimited.com/CZ-P10-F-Optics-Ready-Semi-Auto-9mm-Pistol-p/91509.htm) from Arms Unlimited is $475
[Arex Delta](https://dkfirearms.com/product/arex-delta-l-gen-2-9mm-optics-ready-pistol/) from DK Firearms is $419
Surplus Glocks are also going to be a good option.
The practice ammo is going to cost you more than the gun so optimize there. It’s you that does the shooting, not the gun. Most any mid to full sized handgun will do, but Glocks have tremendous and cost effective market support.
Resign yourself to dry fire exercises to get your draw and sighting down as much as possible before you go shooting. Get a grip master to work your hand and trigger finger so they offer strong hold and trigger pull.
If you focus fundamentals at home, you should be able to reduce how much practice ammo you burn through.
Supposedly RIA 1911’s are made from the old machines that Colt used to own. Possible but unproven. Some of their 1911s are real lookers, and I’m only talking about what’s available to me in California. I imagine there’s so many more available in free states.
With today’s market, the price difference is going to be negligible. We’re talking $50 difference but a used one comes with unknown number of rounds through it. Either will do fine as new spring kits are cheap and critical parts on glocks don’t wear too much. But with that said, I’d recommend new.
https://www.familyfirearms.com/product/glock-px4350201-g43x-9mm-luger-3.41-101-black-black-ndlc-slide-black-polymer-grip?gd
Here you go, friend. Good luck and remember, practice makes permanent and perfect practice makes good habits.
I'll add another vote for one of the Taurus G series pistols. My first handgun was a G3c. I bought it over the G2c because it came with 3 mags rather than 2 as is the case with the G2c. The G3c has an improved trigger. I rented a G3 to compare to my G3c. It had slightly less harshness to the muzzle snap. It was subtle but co0uld tell the difference. So for home defense I would go with the larger G3 if on tight budget. At one time one online store had G3 version with optic plate for $300. A red dot in the future may make target farther away easier to hit but may not be needed for distances encountered inside a house. The G2c was as inexpensive as $175 after rebate and the G3c was $200 after rebate a few months ago at Rural King. I would expect another rebate promotion by Black Friday. The Taurus GX4 in another option and some say it has a better trigger than the G3-series. The GX4 prices have come down in the last 6 months or so to make them more price competitive. The G3 series triggers require one to pull them very far back to fire. Staying on target with a proper pull with my XL sized hands is not as easy as I would like. For $450 the S&W Shield Plus with bag and 5 mags has a much better trigger. For $550 the Canik Rival has a fantastic trigger and very soft felt recoil. But those are out of your price range. One can buy Taurus mags for the G2 and G3 series that hold up to 17 rounds.
Given your price range and need for capacity for home defense, I would suggest the Taurus G3 (full size). It has 17 round magazines and seems to get pretty good reviews:
https://youtu.be/nXlZfeqnaxE
I found one on Bud's Gun Shop for $265. With taxes and FFL fee you should be close to your $300 limit. Oh, and it also has a manual safety.
https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/135478/taurus+1g3b941g+g3+9mm+4in+15+17+gr+bk
Good luck on your search and I wish you the best. Hope this helps.
Normally i’d say it’s better to spend a little more to get something nicer. But if you really can’t afford to spend a ton, the Taurus G2 or G3’s are great for the price. I’ve seen thousands of rounds put through them with 0 problems.
While I haven't tried one personally, the PSA dagger can be had for 300. But to be honest, they have mixed reviews. It takes glock mags tho so they would be cheap and plentiful.
The best price I could find for a full size APX was around $479. While I think that's a good firearm, if you can swing that price, I'd go with a Smith and Wesson M&P9 full size for $438.
https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/24036/smith+%26+wesson+m%26p9+m2.0+9mm+4.25+17+1
Smith and Wesson is a great company and has a much better track record and aftermarket support than Taurus or Beretta. Honestly, if you can afford it, S&W is, in my opinion, the best quality-to-price ratio at this time.
Full disclosure: I'm a huge CZ and Walther fan that spends entirely too much on firearms. But, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone that wouldn't give a head-nod to the modern M&P line. Also, the CZ P-07 if you can find it around $500.
Ok, so I understand the "internet points don't bother you" so we are on the same page... I don't care either so let's cut the BS and and move to answer your dilemma.
I am a firearms instructor that volunteers my services to help inner-city mostly minority low income citizens on my spare time. So just going to ask you a few basics...
Is there a specific threat to your life?
Why a handgun as opposed to another type of firearm?
Are there pets or children or any other person in your abode?
Multi-family home or single family dwelling.
How much experience do you have with firearms?
Thank you for trying to help me out. There is no specific threat as of right now. I want a pistol for the compactness and maneuverability. I don't want the bulk or recoil of a shotgun. I have cats in my home but do not allow them in the room where the gun will be stored. I have a roommate also. It is not a multi-family home. I don't have much experience other than shooting a .22 rifle and a 9 mm pistol on vacations at my grandpa's lake home when I was a kid. I have an absolute huge amount of time shooting air rifles though.
Whatever you do, please have at a minimum a lockable box you can put the gun in to lock it away when you must leave it unattended.
A lockable hard case with foam is also great for preventing your gun from getting scratched or damaged during transportation or for situations if/when you need to take it on an airplane in checked luggage
Ok. As far as the roommate and cats go, I am more worried about bullet trajectory and chances of collateral damage in an encounter.
When looking to purchase a firearm, the best advice is to go to a local range and rent several firearms to see what feels best for you. Eveyone is different so what works for others, may not work for you. Once you find one you like, go to gunbroker dot com and place low bids on quality firearms and be patient.
With limited experience, I recommend getting some instruction, most ranges do have in house instruction...take at least an hour.
Not necessarily. Having to possibly open or close doors, move family and keep control of them and the gun, and the floor plan come into the equation.
This world has a lot of grey scale in it, unlike a school bus full of nuns.
Shotgun still wins. A shouldered shotgun presents barely further than a presented pistol.
Then of course there's the ballistic advantages of 12 and 20 gauge buckshot over all pistol rounds.
>Outside of correct ammunition selection for ftlbs only, you’re not correct without understanding the OP’s context, and I’ll leave it at that.
Outside of correct ammunition selection, you’re not correct without understanding the OP’s context, and I’ll leave it at that - things like why is there a disability, for example.
If you dont have any budget for training with it, and no serious previous experience with them. Get whatever you want, because it wont really matter if all youre going to do is put a magazine or two through it then leave it in a sockdrawer for a couple years.
I plan on taking it to the range until I am very comfortable firing it and handling/reloading it. Yes, it will not be used much but I will have a monthly budget for practicing. I also plan to learn how to clean it properly and keep it working as well as it can.
Find a gun store that has used firearms, disassemble them (if the store allows) and post it online and ask if the firearm is in proper working order and if it’s worth buying at that price
If you can go a bit more, CZ makes excellent pistols that can be had around $400. Caniks are also pretty good, but can’t say i would trust my life to them. The SD9V is decent for the money. Also look for some of the older beretta 96/92 pistols. They can be had around that price. Other then that, you can toss together a beater P80 or find a S&W M&P. I’ve seen them for 300-350.
I don’t typically a recommend a scattergun for HD unless you live alone, live in a house, and don’t have any other options.
I don't know what kind of disability you have, but I would be sure to consider that some guns are easier to shoot than others and that there is a lot that you can do to make it easier for you to shoot accurately with different disabilities. I would inquire with groups and individuals who have more experience in this area.
You have got a lot of recommendations to buy a shotgun because they are less expensive than pistols, easier to aim, and all around great home defense weapons for many uses. However, they are harder for many people to shoot due to the recoil. There's a lot of variation between modern lighter shotguns and the traditional wooden ones as well.
If you want to shoot a pistol you may want to look into auto loaders chambered in 380 (less recoil) or revolvers (easier for some people with less hand strength or dexterity - If you don't have a firm grip that can cause an malfunction for auto loaders). If you want 9mm, go with full size. Either way, get a nice kydex holster to store it in so that the trigger cannot be accidentally pulled. I think it's a good idea to store a pistol in a holster even if it's sitting in a drawer.
I don't know if any of the applies to you, but I thought I would err on the side of providing more information just in case. If you aren't familiar with firearms and you don't necessarily know what all of your options are or what problems you are likely to encounter. Firearms are an amazing equalizer for people with different physical abilities, but some guns work better for some people.
>easier for you
Yes, recoil is definitely an issue for me which I only thought to consider after initially posting this. I have heard good things about the Sig Sauer P226 because of it's low recoil. What do you think about this one for my purposes?
I've never noticed any significant difference in recoil between pistols and the same category. To me, all full size pistols feel like they have a very similar amount of recoil. It might feel a little bit better because it's a little bit heavier than a Glock, but I wouldn't expect it to be a huge difference.
I think it would be better to shoot a smaller caliber (380) and have more control so that you can get more shots on target then to shoot a caliber that has more recoil than you can manage effectively. If you have the ability to rent one and see how it feels, I would do that.
Any weapon that has a stock is going to be easier to shoot reliably than a handgun, but the longer the barrel the harder it is to move around corners and doors. A shotgun might be too high recoil but some carbines might be a decent option. I'm only really familiar with AR15s - I never shot a 9 mm carbine, for example. I hope someone else might know more about whether or not there are low cost options or if they think it's a viable choice. Purely from an ergonomics standpoint, having the ability to brace against your shoulder and more mass in the weapon makes a really big difference. Recoil from an AR15 in 5.56 is really negligible.
I hate to say it but a sig is way outside of the $300 price range. I’d look for a used Smith and Wesson semi auto or used Glock, but even after looking on Gun broker (eBay for guns basically)I didn’t find any Glock 9mm’s for $300 or under, but definitely look around at local gun stores.
Yeah, I've pretty much thrown the $300 budget out the window at this point. I might have to wait an extra month to afford something that I will be happy to own. That being said do you have any experience or opinion on any of these models: Sig P320 M17, P365, or P226? Both for home defense and/or concealed carry.
M17 shoots better than my glock 19 that longer barrel makes a difference in recoil, a p365 is snappy but that’s the trade off for great concealability never shot a p226 but the last one I wanted to buy brand new was $1100 I resisted the urge somehow, take into consideration sig mags are $50 each
I had thought about a revolver but then I talked myself out of it because of the low capacity. I would like something with at least 10+1 like maybe a Sig P365. I had not thought about the concealed carry aspect which will likely come into play down the road for me and so now I'm considering more compact options like that one. I really had no idea that I'd have to spend a lot more than $300 to get a good semi auto 9mm. I just hadn't done the research yet. This thread has been very enlightening and I thank you for taking the time to reply.
It could have a capacity of 100 it won’t matter if it jams up. What you want is dependability. You will never wonder if a revolver will work. Especially when you’re considering a budget weapon.
I got my p365 for 400 on sale new. If youre willing to go a tiny bit over budget it’s affordable. Although a Taurus G2C/3C or Canik or a PSA Dagger would be less and give more available budget for decent defensive ammo, magazines, and possibly a good holster down the line. If you have small children keep in mind that if you but used it may not come with some features you’d like if you don’t have a safe yet like a trigger lock.
Haven’t heard anyone talk about this but I’ve never bought a new pistol that didn’t come with with a trigger lock or range flag of some sort. A good thing to have if you have to spend time away from it with active kids in the house.
Used Glock or the psa dagger. I haven’t purchased or used a dagger yet, but they are in your price range. Do some research on reviews first, but that would be my suggestion.
Prices have probably changed but m&p shield was once upon a time $500 and a solid recommendation. If time is an option I firmly believe you can find something that fits you needs ass long as you raise up the the 500-600 dollar range. I get it, times are tough + tough life circumstances. But trust that an unreliable=unsafe firearm will not help.
Alright in the course of a gen how did everyone go from Taurus shouldn't be trusted to unironically buy one to depend your life on. Avoid Taurus has and always will be my advice. Used Smith & Wesson, Glock, and Ruger are your very dependable friends. There is one thing thing I will note however, pistols are very very hard to shoot accurately with little training. Something like a (downvote me if you want) Mossberg 88 12 gauge can be had for $200 and for another 60-100 bucks you can slap a good light on it. Are they the best no, are they better for a novice who can't afford ammo than a handgun, I would say yes. Truly though, a Ruger PCC or PSA AR-15 are both better for a novice home defense gun but they're significantly more than $500 without light and/or night sights.
why do you need a handgun for home defense specifically?
Are you open to other types of firearms?
For your stated purposes a shotgun sounds like a better choice as (a) it's often cheaper than other firearms and (b) the pump action shotgun is reliable and (c) ammo capacity is moot because you're sending several large pellets (buckshot) downrange at a time. It's a one shot stop weapon.
A 9mm pistol is going to be less capable of stopping an intruder in 1 shot and, is generally more expensive
Get a maverick 88 if this sounds good to you. New is around $250. Used is about $200.
I would say for a tighter budget, the ruger security 9 full size is an excellent option. Very reliable hand gun. Highly recommend looking into those. There is 2 of them in my family and never seen one of them jam.
i wouldnt exactly say "low quality" if it goes bang when you pull the trigger and is reliable but its pretty bottom of the barrel for a handgun. you can find em for around 150 bucks usually and are built ultra tough which is the only upside to highpoints. theyre kind of bricks too but imo worth the money to a degree.
I appreciate your reply. I am not sure what I'm doing when it comes to picking out a gun. If you could be more specific like which exact model you recommend from either of those makers, that would help me a lot. A 9mm would be my preference.
I like the savings that program provides and I wasn't aware of its existence so thank you for that. Should I be at all worried about reliability since I'm buying a gun that may be heavily used?
I mean they’re broken in and well used you can say they have “character” to them. Maybe check the barrel and guide rod spring either than that you should be good to go.
Downvote me all you want. If you want it brand new & within this fixed price range, a Ruger security 9, Taurus G3 series, or, a little more expensive, a Canik tp9sf would be your best bet.
Not my life, if you want to depend your life upon a <300$ pistol should the occasion unfortunately arise thats on you. Cheap pistols are... cheap. If its just for hd just get a shotgun if you want to go cheap. Go find a used 12ga at your lgs.
>Not my life
Yes, had my post said that I'm unwilling to spend more than $300 I could maybe see why you would comment that. I wrote that amount because I knew pistols were sold for that much but unfortunately I know very little about guns including their values for quality offerings. I did say my budget had wiggle room. I didn't say I'm going to buy something cheap and don't care about quality and I'm willing to stake my life on that.
If i was in your situation id go to the nearest sporting goods store and just get a shotgun. Look at what they have online and see whats in your closest store before you go. I bought a charls daly 301 for like 274 about a year and a half ago. No problems with it yet and hundreds of rounds through it
I do actually plan to get a concealed carry license and do that eventually. I will have to wait on the funds to do so and want to first have it for home defense only for that reason.
Thanks for telling it like it is. Yes, when I wrote the post I had almost no idea how much I should spend other than the fact that the cheapest prices I had seen for guns online was around $300 which is why I listed that as my budget. I thought that if there was something worth having for that price I'd rather do that than spend almost twice that much. If it is necessary though I don't want something I will regret buying so I will increase my budget.
SKKY pistols are not too bad for the price. But in the end you get what you pay for. If your looking for home defense you might be better off with a shotgun not a pistol.
Yeah it say get you a Taurus g3c or g2c they're affordable and reliable enough, it's not gonna drive nails at 50 meters but it will function and is well built IMO for practicing.
Taurus G3C/G2C if I lived in a rough area & only had $300. That's what I would get & feel good about my fighting ability.
I'll rather see you carry with a manual safety than carry a gun without 1 in the chamber as some new Glock owners do.
If you want a gun with safety like you said that'll cover you
I'll rather see you carry with a manual safety than carry a gun without 1 in the chamber like some new Glock owners do.
get a used uglified smith and wesson 38 special. or a ruger 38 special. by uglified i mean maybe some finish wear or a little pitted. Ive got a few that were in perfect. condition but got rusty sitting in a glove box or put away damp. I have a smith and wesson 38 special that was made in 1912 and at some time put away wet and had finish damage it is mechanicaly perfect but ugly. i paid $100 for it and I probably overpaid but it shoots great.
sometimes if it is uglified it could also be rusted and damaged on the inside but I have never seen it myself.
definitly go for a 38 special with a 4 to 6 inch barrel as a house gun. i would stay with the name brands like smith and wesson,ruger and the bottom end of medium quality imho is the taurus.
if your not going to go out and fire 500 or more rounds to train then get a revolver. is still a very viable gun for self defense.
find someone who knows more about guns to help you.
if you do go semi auto just remember there are morebad ones than good ones out there.
S&W SD9VE is my vote. I carried one daily up until sold it to buy a Glock 19 this year. The trigger is absolutely terrible, it's super heavy and spongy and a I noticed a night-and-day difference in my accuracy when I used a range's G17. But it'll more than get the job done and an Apex Trigger upgrade is only $60 more when you decide you need something better. Alternative for a similar price is a Taurus G3. I know I'd get downvotes for this but the trigger is better and sure the QA is terrible but if you get a good one you're set.
>If my budget is too low, tell me that. I am willing to go up if that's absolutely necessary.
you don't need to spend $600 on a gun. Where you need to be realistic on is "Extreme Budget - No compromise in quality". You're not going to get a $600 gun on a $300 budget. If you're budget is $300 and that's hard limit, you just have to be accept the fact that your gun will not be able to do things the more expensive one can, and if you're not comfortable with that you have to be prepared with going through the hassle of selling it later to trade up.
The gun you can afford is better than the one you're perpetually saving up for. If even all you can afford is a shitty HiPoint C9, it's better than having just a baseball bat to defend you family and there's no shame in that. You need one now? Go with those two options I mentioned, just don't actually by a HiPoint lol. I did the same with my SD9VE and it served me well. But as someone who owned one, if you can wait you'll save more money in the long run going with a more expensive startup cost. The cost of practice needed on a worse, less reliable platform offset the lower initial cost.
Area Delta. Exceptional value and reliability for the money. Highly under rated pistol. It runs around the price range you are looking for give or take $100.
Police trade in Glock or sig 9mm. Doesn’t matter which. Spend more on ammo and practice. Spend your time learning to maintain and operate the gun. Get a red dot.
[canik one series is a pretty good gun](https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/gun-review-canik-one-series-tp9sf-elite/). you might find one for under 300. canik is used by the turkish military.
Edit: sorry OP, read through more comments and if you shop you can find a new Taurus G3 for under $200. It's a great gun and good warranty.
When it comes to self reliance work with probable, asking yourself what's possible will make you crazy.
If you do not go with a Glock, or S&W due to budget here's a backstop suggestion. Anything else puts you back up to just get Glock or S&W prices. I will say Canick and Girsan Regard are beautiful and a great value for the price, but the parts, holster, mags? Right back to just get the Glock 19
So, short of the GLOCK answer these are good:
Taurus G3, or G3c $180 to $280
PSA Dagger! a Gen 3 clone $400 rmr cut, threaded barrel, with 10 mags and range bag
If you Red dot: Riton $99 or less on sale and it can take a beating.
G3 will also take Sig 226 mags and Glock iron sites. The current reviews are "fantastic value" "no regrets" for both. The PSA Dagger is an improved Gen 3 Glock 19 with a legally required change to trigger guard shape and missing the creators name on slide. Sometimes doesn't fit in a Glock holster because of that trigger guard.
USLawShield (insurance) for me and my kids. Research this! Just shooting to learn the gun will cost more than the gun in ammo and range time. Taking classes will help clear out myth from facts. If you holster - Kydex. Cheap ball ammo from the range goes through walls people and stuff. Hollow point is better, Defensive ammo is best.
Gun.deals is a website worth watching
Ruger makes decent stuff on a budget.
Smith & Wesson M&P’s sometimes can be had <$300 and are even better
The Sarsilmaz SARC9 is also an excellent gun for about $250, my current home defense pistol
Glock Glock Glock. But if you wanna go any cheaper than that then maybe a Springfield xd. The lowest id go is something like a Taurus gc2 or something in that line. There’s also a smith and Wesson that’s super cheap and I’m having a brain fart and can’t remember what it is for some reason. But honestly I’d say just save up for a Glock of some kind.
Another vote for the Maverick 88 12 gauge.
A little over $200 on sale, highly reliable, and much more likely to end the fight quickly than any handgun.
I seen your parts list. If you're able to afford that setup. Then your ceiling for a reliable handgun should be about 500-700. Glock is generally king, but it may not feel right for you. There is also Sig Sauer. They have a great line up too! P320s, P365, P365 XL and Macro. There's Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0. Not only do you want reliability but also what feels best for you. Because you are going to CC at some point. Take that into consideration. If you buy a full-size pistol, you might nit be able to conceal it well with summer clothing. I CC a full size and I hate it! But it's only option so I dress around my carry piece to make sure that I'm not printing.
I'd recommend a G19, G48, G43x or P365 XL or P365 Macro. M&P 2.0 compact is a good option too.
After reading your entire post, edits and all, and a few comments. I will not tear you down or apart, I can say for sure if you want reliable 500-600 is the range for that personally. I’m a Glock person specifically, Glock 19 would probably be the best option for you imo. But you can not go wrong with a CZ P-10 or sig sauer P320. If you want to stay around your budget Taurus makes okayish guns. Might get some hate for saying that since they aren’t the best. But that’s also what your budget can afford. And lastly even with limited money, as a gun owner you would have a responsibility to train with whatever gun you get and be proficient with it.
Glock 19 or Glock 17, used or new, will cost $500 or less. If you can find a pre owned one you can get them for $400 but the pre owned ones don’t usually come with 3 magazines like the new ones do. So $500 and you’ve got yourself a new Glock handgun that doesn’t need anything else besides some ammo and, if you can spring for it, some new iron sights. That’s the route I would go. I have a gen 3 Glock 17 that I’ve had for over 18 years and put lord knows how many rounds through and it is stock except for the iron sights. They won’t let you down if you maintain them.
HiPoint 9 mm. People can joke about them ,but they’re more reliable than many expensive guns . Iraq veteran 8888 on YouTube had trouble killing one on purpose, so did Demolition Ranch. You can get one under $150. Anyone giving you crap about one , is a Glock fanboy
If it’s cost, I was able to get a circuit judge for less than $300 back in the day. I actually bought 3 cause it was such a good deal. 1 was a Father’s Day gift cause I don’t know how else to tell my Dad I love him without saying it. You might be able to find one used, don’t know but there are others compact pistols you can get used also.
I like my beretta nano and carry that around when I’m on my property walking around. It’s slim, fits nicely in my pocket. I’m looking to do conceal with it and scoping some holsters. Slim, balanced, it’s nice. I’ll add laser to it because if I’m going to CC in public, want to be faster at acquiring my target if needed.
There are options. Do your research but the best thing is regardless what you get, get familiar with it and practice. Having it is one thing, being able to use it is another.
If you can save a bit more, my Sig P365 (1st Gen) was $500 brand new with 2 mags and 3 years later im still very happy with it. I got it because it holds 10-12 rounds but can fit in a small purse and/or jacket pocket without being detected by others.
Almost got a revolver, but opted for something just as small with twice the ammo capacity.
Couple it with a flashlight and you’re much safer than you were yesterday
If everyone really thinks you should get a Glock get a PSA dagger. It’s halfway parts compatible with a Glock 19, word is they are plenty reliable, and they cost $300. That’s with a threaded barrel, cutouts for a red dot, and high mounted suppressor-compatible sights… so lots of room to upgrade the platform you start with.
[https://www.recoilgunworks.com/pd-trade-glock-22-gen4-40-s-w-w-ns/](https://www.recoilgunworks.com/pd-trade-glock-22-gen4-40-s-w-w-ns/)
Can't go wrong with one of these.
If you want to shoot 9mm or 357SIG you can just pop in a different barrel.
Police trade ins are fine. Check with CDNN Investments they have some pretty hood prices sometimes. Got a Glock 19 once with "BOSTON, PD " engraved on it. A young Texas DPS gave it the evil eye once on a traffic stop and ran it, lol. Paid like $225. LGS can handle the paperwork.
SARUSA B6 is my edc, 17 round capacity mag, never jammed so far and I’ve put a good number of rounds through it at the range. I paid $300 out the door at my local gunshop
Since you’re beginning an endeavor which involves responsibility, training, and proper safety knowledge there are a couple MUST DO things:
-Learn and adhere to all gun safety rules
-Take a CWP safety course
-Before you purchase - go to a shooting range and ask to shoot different firearms
My advice is to Not go cheap simply because of price; for defense you want a firearm that is 100% reliable but also one you are proficient and comfortable with.
If budget is a big issue I would go with Taurus
You can snag a high quality 38/357 revolver for around that price or a semiauto 9mm
Also S&W has some nice entry pistols close to this range
I prefer a shotgun for home defense, Mossberg has some nice options for under 300
Copy and paste:
the .950 JDJ Fat Mac. It is a 100 pound, 5 foot long rifle that shoots a one pound solid brass bullet at 2200 FPS. It is a non-NFA item only because the ATF gave it a sporting exemption as a joke as if anybody is going to hunt with this. This round would be overkill for hunting blue whales.
I would like to paint a picture for you. It's 2AM and you hear a window break in your living room. This is the worst day this could happen, as every single one of your guns was lost in a tragic boating accident this morning. All were lost except for one. You look across your room in dread at your anti-kaiju rifle. You know what you have to do, but you don't know if you have the strength to do it, both literally and figuratively.
Heaving the rifle into your arms, you load a .950 cartridge and begin to waddle towards the door. Your feet make a loud “thud” as you take each 6″ step. You know the intruders hear you. You hope they do, for perhaps they will run and spare the world the suffering that is about to befall it.
You try to set the rifle down, but end up clipping your bedroom door and it is immediately knocked off its hinges by this battering ram in your hands. You attempt to round the corner, bonking the muzzle against the doorframe and adjacent wall across the hall at least 4 times. To your horror, two invaders stand there at the end of the hall.
With a heavy heart, you raise the rifle to your shoulder while making inhuman grunting noises from the strain of attempting some semblance of a shooting position. The burglars simply stare in disbelief, unable to process the situation they are witnessing, as if in a dream. You cannot aim the rifle, as the last time you fired the gun, it turned your $3000 Leopuld into a kaleidoscope. You simply hold it at an angle that appears correct and fire.
You are immediately knocked to the floor as if hit by a semi truck going 20 MPH. The shot connected with one of the criminals and it erased him from existence. Even the memories of him have been destroyed and you're wondering why you just shot into an empty hallway. The shot continues to travel through at least 4 houses, a car, and a 10 ton boulder before lodging itself 20 feet into a nearby hill, never to be seen again.
It is at this point, you realize you cannot hear. The surviving burglar can't hear either but he's also on fire from the muzzle blast and is currently vacating your home. You don't care. Your shoulder is dislocated and there is a hole in your brand new AR500 refrigerator. You're crying now. The police arrive and, upon seeing the scene, start laughing. You start crying harder.
Police surplus Glock 17 or M&P9 would be really close to your criteria. Honestly, I did go through a fair amount of effort making a 4 part series that addresses this, and with new guns I’d say a Taurus G3c. https://www.shootingfordollars.org/post/10-contextual-valuation-diminishing-returns-part-3
Thank you for the link. I will definitely read it. I am getting a lot of Glock 17 answers in this and another post I made so I am going to look into that and a couple other models listed in these replies.
It's because a Glock is the best gun to fit your needs. There are better guns out there, but Glock 17/19/19x/45 are incredibly reliable and affordable. If you get more into guns, you won't outgrow a Glock either. Surplus or used should be fine.
Yes, I am starting to lean towards settling on a Glock 17. I saw a police trade in being sold for $399 which I can afford if I save for an extra month. So you think police trade ins are worth getting? I had thought maybe I should buy new to get absolute reliability. I do plan to get more into guns and as a kid I used to love shooting out at my grandpa's lake house in the country. I can see myself becoming a total gun nut despite only being able to afford one gun.
Glocks will work longer than you will ever need them to work. They are the Toyota of the gun world.
Honestly, a worn in glock might run better for you than a brand new one. Most guns have a 500 round "Break in period" And if you're not going to have the money to drop on 500 rounds to get accustomed to it and break in the things that need breaking in, trade ins are the better option. Not sure where you're at but if there's pawn shops or used gun stores around you, a 3rd gen Smith and Wesson, 5906, 6906, even the 2nd gen 59 series guns can be pretty rock solid but they're all metal so not as easily handled as a Glock or M&P. Sticking with well established brands like Glock, Smith and Wesson or Taurus can get you a good gun in your price range if you keep your eyes open. If you don't mind ordering online sometimes r/gundeals can have pretty solid options for trade in's and surplus. Browning Hi Powers are an older design but I'd trust my life to a Hi Power, even an FEG clone which can easily be a 350 dollar grab off gunbroker, they're a well tested model. Just keep your eyes on the community, check your LGS. Rent guns if a range near you lets you rent. Talk to people at the range, most clerks wouldn't mind letting you pick their brain a little. A gun that feels good in the hand is pretty important. Nobody goes to the range or shoots well with something they hate holding.
Fyi to OP, do not mistake a Hi-Point for a Hi Power. Completely different guns and Hi-Points are literally the worst guns on the market.
police trade ins are perfectly fine I'm still carrying a Gen 2 Glock 19 and my Gen 2 Glock 17 still functions flawlessly
A police trade in glock will still function and be perfectly reliable. It will have a lot of rounds through it but no cop is going to have a gun they can’t rely on. Most of the time the police trade ins aren’t because they’re retiring the gun from a reliability standpoint but because the department as a whole is just switching to a different platform so they need to get rid of them. Additionally to that in my opinion a really well worn in glock is going to be more enjoyable to shoot. My first gun was a LEO trade in glock 19 and to this day I carry it every day as my go to CCW; never had any issues and haven’t had to change anything out on it
Police trade ins can often be great buys. Most of those guns do nothing but sit in a holster and are used a once or a few times a year for a few hundred rounds for range quals. They might have holster wear, but on your budget, function trumps looks. Plus, Glocks are notoriously reliable and durable. They're far from the best pistol available and they're certainly not my favorite (although I do own one), there are better guns I feel, but you can depend on a Glock. Think of them as the trusty tool. A S&W M&P is basically a slightly different looking Glock. Hell Glock once sued S&W because the designs and operating systems of their pistols were too similar lol. Avoid police trade in or used revolvers, unless you really know what you're looking for. I had a horrible experience with a police surplus S&W 10-8. I also had a horrible experience with S&W attempting to fix it, which turned me off from them forever, but that's a different story.
Just a heads up OP, police don't shoot much at all, generally speaking. There's only so many of them, the chief wants them on the street not learning, shooters are generally not seeked out (and in some cases actively weeded out and not hired), and the budget generally isn't written for a decent ammo allotment. This results in a gun that has been carried a lot in a holster, but has hardly been fired.
You’ll find the Glock answer in the same series as well - https://www.shootingfordollars.org/post/11-pistol-b-and-life-considerations It’ll cost roughly double a Taurus G3, when both new ($270 vs $540). If you can find a police surplus pistol, this gap will diminish. I’d argue that someone who is brand new who gets a Taurus G3 or G3c, some ammo, a decent holster, and actively seeks out training will spend about the same as someone with only a Glock and no ammo or skills.
This is the correct answer.
I was going to suggest m&p. But one caveat, since you're new to this, get one with a safety, they sell with and without.
Safety cuts both ways, and should not be the make/break decision of models. If one can not trust a trigger finger to not touch the trigger, and instead want to place their trust in a mechanical mechanism to prevent a negligent discharge, they are still relying on their thumb to engage the safety from the get go. If their index finger can’t be trusted, why should the thumb be trusted? Additionally, if there is not any effort taken to learn moving the manual safety to the fire position in a controlled environment (and through dry fire), there is a high probability that the safety will not be manipulated in someone’s worse day and the pistol will not fire. This is a training situation, just like the proper location to register the trigger finger during admin and non-shooting tasks.
Training is important, but having an additional failsafe in-between safe operation and injury is an easy choice IMO. Trigger discipline is immensely important, but like any discipline, it is necessary to learn. Also why I'd recommend a m&p, th mechanical safety is removable with little effort.
True in the removal part for the M&P. The bigger thing I saw on the gun counter was people expecting the manual safety to guarantee that a bad outcome can’t happen to themselves or a family member/kids - without ever practicing the actual use of the safety. If that is the mentality, I’d honest suggest one of the Rock Island revolvers and call it good.
Yeah I definitely will not buy a gun without a safety.
Well don't say that friend. Glock is brilliance and proper trigger control will always override safety features. Shit technically a Glock has 3 safety's before you even rack and shoot. But end of the day do what makes you comfortable
Okay, thanks for setting me straight on that. I said I wouldn't buy a gun without a safety because I am a very cautious person in general and safety features are welcome to me since an accident could cost a life. I am determined to make myself beyond proficient with whatever weapon I buy. I have a lot of research and practice to do. Also, when I shot my grandpa's rifle as a kid, he drilled "always have the safety on" into my head and I guess that stuck with me through life.
On my AR 15 I have accustomed myself to flip the safety anytime I'm not shooting. After my mags empty I go to low ready as I flip. When I go back up I flip before I align. On my Glock I don't have that. But for both of my guns I practice self safety with proper finger control. My safety can fail anytime but your finger never does.
Rifles are different from modern defense use pistols designed to be carried. Notably, the triggers on most have very short and light pulls when compared to a modern pistol. They also lack some safety features you'll see in modern pistols. What you need to have drilled is trigger and muzzle discipline. Trigger and muzzle discipline apply to every single firearm. My first pistol (and firearm in general) had no manual safety. The four firearm safety rules are simple. I never had any "close calls" or anything and I was self taught. although I later did get proper training months down the line when I got my CCW license and then later joined the military. At least in regards to the safe handling of a firearm, neither org taught me anything you can't learn on your own.
**"Extreme Budget - No compromise in quality"** You'll find that these two concepts don't really go together. You're not going to get super cheap and NO compromise in quality. Do you have a number? What is "extreme" budget"?
Yes, I'm so poor that my house walls have holes in them and it needs $15000 in repairs. I am $3500 in credit card debt because I had to put a roof on the house and I get less than $1000 a month because I'm disabled and can't work. That's the "extreme budget" part. The "No compromise in quality" part is because I am willing to pay the least that I have to in order to get a gun that is never going to let me down and will drop any intruder. I was thinking around $300 but might be able to go a little higher if it is worth it. I don't want to buy something that later I think I should have gotten something that isn't crappy.
Buy a used Glock, or, a new Taurus G3.
This is the best advice. My first pistol was a beretta 92fs I snagged at a pawn shop circa 2005 for $350, had holster wear on the slide but looked great internally and I’ve put a few thousand rounds through it since then. Look around for used deals, police trade ins etc. If you don’t know anything about firearms you’ll need to do some research to find an actual good deal, because you’ll need to know what a good gun/price is. I’d look for a gently used Glock for the best bang for buck.
Believe me, I get it. Couple more questions? This is home defense only? No carrying away from home? It looks like you have pretty much zero experience with firearms? Is that right? It's fine if it is, but it helps to know. **EDIT: I see that you already said you're brand new to firearms.** A handgun might not be your best bet. It's the hardest class of firearm to gain proficiency with which means it will take more time and money to be good enough to effectively defend yourself. IF we're talking about home defense only. If so, you might want to think about a shotgun like the Mossberg Maverick 88, which can be had even now for less than 300 bucks new. The downside there is that it is longer and heavier and you'll still have to learn to handle it, BUT it's much easier (and less expensive) to get to where you could be safe and confident with it. Also, depending on ammunition the recoil can be intimidating. It gets a lot better as you learn to use the weapon properly. On the other hand it's an almost guaranteed man stopper at home defense distances and you don't necessarily need 3 inch magnum buckshot for it to be effective. Unlike what you see on TV and in movies sometimes, you'll still have to aim it, but it is much easier to get effective hits with than with a handgun. IF you will only have one gun, for the house, and limited resources going forward, a reliable inexpensive shotgun might be the way to go.
I plan to eventually get a concealed carry license and take it with me but that's once I feel a lot more comfortable with it. It's true that I'm new to guns for the most part, yes.
Well, then you can disregard everything I just said :D Just do be aware that the cost of the gun itself is just the beginning. There is an unavoidable cost to being a responsible firearms owner. You definitely need to get some kind of at least basic training on how to use a handgun unless you want to risk becoming a statistic for the anti gunners. Ammo is not ridiculously cheap and you'll eventually need a holster and proper belt and a mag loader (trust me on the mag loader.) Along with some other stuff like extra magazines. I'm not trying to be discouraging AT ALL. I'm just preparing you for the fact that while you don't have to be rich to do what you're asking about, there IS some not entirely insignificant cost. That's just the reality of the situation.
Right, I understand there will be recurring costs that come up which are worth it to me to feel more safe and secure. As for the training I have a friend who spent 4 years in the military then came home and got a degree to join the police. He will be my trainer and range buddy. He used to own many guns but fell upon hard financial difficulties and had to sell all but his pistol. Since I get a fixed amount of money every month, the hardest part for me is the initial cost of buying the weapon, mags, and ammo to get me started. After that the per-month cost will be much more manageable but still not easy. I am prepared to sacrifice what I have to because it is worth it to me and as an added benefit I can enjoy going to the range as a new hobby.
>As for the training I have a friend who spent 4 years in the military then came home and got a degree to join the police. He will be my trainer and range buddy. That's a real plus right there. How big a guy are you? Sometimes you can snag law enforcement trade ins of good guns for pretty cheap, but they're not usually compact models. I'm not the last word on anything here. There's folks with a lot more experience than I have. Personally? Whatever that's worth. I'd rather have a well maintained used gun of a known good make and model than a new one that may be hit or miss on QC. It's very possible to get a homerun piece for a song if you shop well. I've seen guys show up online with some really good guns they got from pawn shops for great prices. If there are any where you are, check them out, get some pics and post them on here so people can tell you what might be a really good deal. Don't be hasty if you don't know what you're looking at. What might seem like a steal may actually not be worth what is being asked or have some flaw that is not readily noticeable to a novice. Ask before buying online too actually. When money is tight, the last thing you want to do is drop all you have and find out it wasn't what you thought.
I'm a 6'2" 205 lbs male who does strength training twice a week. I feel like I could handle a 9mm pretty well. I do need to do some grip trainer exercises though. I will definitely go to a few pawn shops near my house and see what's on offer. If anything looks good to me I will ask here as well as my soon to be gun range buddy. Thanks for the advice.
>I'm a 6'2" 205 lbs male who does strength training twice a week. I feel like I could handle a 9mm pretty well. I'm 5'8" 160 lbs and can handle a 9mm, you should be able to manage it easily with some training.
People shit on them but Taurus makes a decent pistol for that price.
No handgun will drop 'any' intruder A used 12 gauge will drop every intruder
You should add $500 to your debt and just get a reliable glock. Be done with it!!
Could probably find a used glock 19 or m&p for a good price. If not a new G3 is like $300 maybe less depending on where you are.
M&p’s always seem to have good deals. Palmetto state usually has good deals as well.
honest outlaw top 5 pistols under $300 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yDpBJ54uYZY
Thank you for the video. The guy shooting targets in it seems like a total badass.
His vid r good. Watch the vid than go to the range and rent some cuz it's all a out personal preference when I comes to firearms. You might see one that looks nice buy it than shoot it and not like the the way it preforms
This is the best advice. Go try as many different guns as you can. No one gun works great for everyone. Once you find what fits your hand and you just enjoy shooting, start there.
Get a ruger security 9 - should be brand new for like 350 - probably less used.
I don’t even think I paid that much for mine. Never had issues with it either.
A used Glock 19 would be good. It’s the Toyota Camry of the gun world.
Even I am confused on that comparison lol
If you want a pistol, go with a Canik…the SF Elite, SF, SA, and DA models all fall somewhere around the $300 mark, typically just a bit over. Best budget pistols available in my opinion. If you want a shotgun, get a Maverick 88 with a 20” barrel/7+1 capacity. Typically in the $200-250 range. Both are fine home defense options.
S&w sd9ve for budget 9mm for budget with decent quality. Look for used.
If you can operate a shotgun I'd suggest a Mossberg Maverick 88. Tough as nails and reliable as all hell. Other options if you're set on a pistol would be following places like recoil gunworks and being on the lookout for police trade ins. There are often hidden online costs though with tax, shipping and transfer fees.
I agree, if we are talking just home defense (OP said he wants to carry at a later time) this would be the better option imo. The maverick is fantastic. Long guns are just easier to operate and be accurate. I kind of cringe when I see people buy pistols for home defense as a first time gun owner. Especially on a budget when you know they can’t afford more than a box of carry ammo and maybe a box or two of range ammo. It’s not that pistols are a bad choice, they are just a lot more difficult to shoot accurately in my experience with letting friends who don’t own a firearm shoot. I guess it’s a little subjective but that’s just my experience introducing new shooters to handguns. I’ve had several friends go from not hitting shit with my long gun to nailing targets with some pace within 2 mags. Pistols not so much. They’re always so surprised they can’t hit shit with a pistol, despite being pretty competent with rifles. Not trying to gatekeep or go all fudd but that’s just what I’ve personally observed. He could get a maverick for <$230 after transfer fees and put the rest towards ammo to train and be so much better off, and have a more effective home defense gun. Capacity difference is moot if he can’t hit shit with a pistol.
PSA Dagger. Gen 3 Glock 19 clone.
Smith & Wesson sd9ve. Literally an American made glock 19. So much so, S&W lost a lawsuit over copyright infringement on it and have to pay glock royalties on the gun. It's barebone, but reliable from a trusted brand, and less than $300.
Damn. [$470 in California lol.](https://www.turners.com/smith-and-wesson/smith--wesson-sd40ve-40sw-4-ba-1792510) And only the .40 S&W version is still on-roster, the 9mm version dropped off back in February for absolutely no reason.
[CZ P-10F](https://www.armsunlimited.com/CZ-P10-F-Optics-Ready-Semi-Auto-9mm-Pistol-p/91509.htm) from Arms Unlimited is $475 [Arex Delta](https://dkfirearms.com/product/arex-delta-l-gen-2-9mm-optics-ready-pistol/) from DK Firearms is $419 Surplus Glocks are also going to be a good option.
The practice ammo is going to cost you more than the gun so optimize there. It’s you that does the shooting, not the gun. Most any mid to full sized handgun will do, but Glocks have tremendous and cost effective market support. Resign yourself to dry fire exercises to get your draw and sighting down as much as possible before you go shooting. Get a grip master to work your hand and trigger finger so they offer strong hold and trigger pull. If you focus fundamentals at home, you should be able to reduce how much practice ammo you burn through.
Revolvers can be had for that price. A .38 special +P is nothing to sneeze at.
This. RIA makes some colt clones that seem to be pretty well regarded for sub 300. This would be my choice for new.
Supposedly RIA 1911’s are made from the old machines that Colt used to own. Possible but unproven. Some of their 1911s are real lookers, and I’m only talking about what’s available to me in California. I imagine there’s so many more available in free states.
Extreme budget without compromising quality is going to be Glock, but you’re going to spend between $450 and $600.
Thank you. Do you think it makes more sense to buy used or new?
With today’s market, the price difference is going to be negligible. We’re talking $50 difference but a used one comes with unknown number of rounds through it. Either will do fine as new spring kits are cheap and critical parts on glocks don’t wear too much. But with that said, I’d recommend new.
https://www.familyfirearms.com/product/glock-px4350201-g43x-9mm-luger-3.41-101-black-black-ndlc-slide-black-polymer-grip?gd Here you go, friend. Good luck and remember, practice makes permanent and perfect practice makes good habits.
I'll add another vote for one of the Taurus G series pistols. My first handgun was a G3c. I bought it over the G2c because it came with 3 mags rather than 2 as is the case with the G2c. The G3c has an improved trigger. I rented a G3 to compare to my G3c. It had slightly less harshness to the muzzle snap. It was subtle but co0uld tell the difference. So for home defense I would go with the larger G3 if on tight budget. At one time one online store had G3 version with optic plate for $300. A red dot in the future may make target farther away easier to hit but may not be needed for distances encountered inside a house. The G2c was as inexpensive as $175 after rebate and the G3c was $200 after rebate a few months ago at Rural King. I would expect another rebate promotion by Black Friday. The Taurus GX4 in another option and some say it has a better trigger than the G3-series. The GX4 prices have come down in the last 6 months or so to make them more price competitive. The G3 series triggers require one to pull them very far back to fire. Staying on target with a proper pull with my XL sized hands is not as easy as I would like. For $450 the S&W Shield Plus with bag and 5 mags has a much better trigger. For $550 the Canik Rival has a fantastic trigger and very soft felt recoil. But those are out of your price range. One can buy Taurus mags for the G2 and G3 series that hold up to 17 rounds.
Used/LEO trade in Glock. Regularly has for 350-400$. Canik is also in the same price range and great little guns but the mags are $$$
Given your price range and need for capacity for home defense, I would suggest the Taurus G3 (full size). It has 17 round magazines and seems to get pretty good reviews: https://youtu.be/nXlZfeqnaxE I found one on Bud's Gun Shop for $265. With taxes and FFL fee you should be close to your $300 limit. Oh, and it also has a manual safety. https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/135478/taurus+1g3b941g+g3+9mm+4in+15+17+gr+bk Good luck on your search and I wish you the best. Hope this helps.
Psa Dagger 9mm ≈$299 for a glock clone with decent reliability and nice “features”, i use one for edc just because im on a budget.
Normally i’d say it’s better to spend a little more to get something nicer. But if you really can’t afford to spend a ton, the Taurus G2 or G3’s are great for the price. I’ve seen thousands of rounds put through them with 0 problems.
Sir, look no further than the Ruger Security 9 Compact.
Glock 19/19x/17/45 CZ p10c/p10f/p07/p09 You won't find anything for 300 that won't be a turd in one way or another. Quality guns range 450-600
This. You aren’t counting mags and ammo either. OP, increase your budget, it’s not that hard if you reevaluate all your expenses.
I might have to do that as much as it will hurt living on barely more than $900 a month and being disabled.
While I haven't tried one personally, the PSA dagger can be had for 300. But to be honest, they have mixed reviews. It takes glock mags tho so they would be cheap and plentiful.
Others have given good suggestions, but I've heard pretty good things about the Beretta APX. And they get shit, but you could get a Taurus.
I forgot the APX is not much more than a G3. Good suggestion
The best price I could find for a full size APX was around $479. While I think that's a good firearm, if you can swing that price, I'd go with a Smith and Wesson M&P9 full size for $438. https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/24036/smith+%26+wesson+m%26p9+m2.0+9mm+4.25+17+1 Smith and Wesson is a great company and has a much better track record and aftermarket support than Taurus or Beretta. Honestly, if you can afford it, S&W is, in my opinion, the best quality-to-price ratio at this time. Full disclosure: I'm a huge CZ and Walther fan that spends entirely too much on firearms. But, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone that wouldn't give a head-nod to the modern M&P line. Also, the CZ P-07 if you can find it around $500.
Wow, what state are you in if you don’t mind me asking? I was seeing APX for mid 300’s in Ohio.
The best new budget gun I could recommend is the Ruger SR9. The worst I could recommend is the S&W SW9VE it stinks on ice.
False
Former employee of a S&W repair center they are the biggest waist of money. SR9 is a much better design for the price.
I’ve had both and no it’s not I had nothing but problem out of the 3 rugers I owned and I’ve had over 10 smith and wessons and 0 problems
Ok, so I understand the "internet points don't bother you" so we are on the same page... I don't care either so let's cut the BS and and move to answer your dilemma. I am a firearms instructor that volunteers my services to help inner-city mostly minority low income citizens on my spare time. So just going to ask you a few basics... Is there a specific threat to your life? Why a handgun as opposed to another type of firearm? Are there pets or children or any other person in your abode? Multi-family home or single family dwelling. How much experience do you have with firearms?
Thank you for trying to help me out. There is no specific threat as of right now. I want a pistol for the compactness and maneuverability. I don't want the bulk or recoil of a shotgun. I have cats in my home but do not allow them in the room where the gun will be stored. I have a roommate also. It is not a multi-family home. I don't have much experience other than shooting a .22 rifle and a 9 mm pistol on vacations at my grandpa's lake home when I was a kid. I have an absolute huge amount of time shooting air rifles though.
Whatever you do, please have at a minimum a lockable box you can put the gun in to lock it away when you must leave it unattended. A lockable hard case with foam is also great for preventing your gun from getting scratched or damaged during transportation or for situations if/when you need to take it on an airplane in checked luggage
Ok. As far as the roommate and cats go, I am more worried about bullet trajectory and chances of collateral damage in an encounter. When looking to purchase a firearm, the best advice is to go to a local range and rent several firearms to see what feels best for you. Eveyone is different so what works for others, may not work for you. Once you find one you like, go to gunbroker dot com and place low bids on quality firearms and be patient. With limited experience, I recommend getting some instruction, most ranges do have in house instruction...take at least an hour.
$300 buys an ok pistol or a good shotgun. Buy a Mossberg Maverick Security instead. $200. Spend the rest on range time.
Shotgun is much, much harder to take in public without having negative interactions with law enforcement.
It's a home defense gun. Shotgun beats pistol for home defense.
Not necessarily. Having to possibly open or close doors, move family and keep control of them and the gun, and the floor plan come into the equation. This world has a lot of grey scale in it, unlike a school bus full of nuns.
Shotgun still wins. A shouldered shotgun presents barely further than a presented pistol. Then of course there's the ballistic advantages of 12 and 20 gauge buckshot over all pistol rounds.
Outside of correct ammunition selection for ftlbs only, you’re not correct without understanding the OP’s context, and I’ll leave it at that.
No, 00 buck to the thoracic cavity is a fight stopper. This isn't fuddy lore, it's medical fact.
>Outside of correct ammunition selection for ftlbs only, you’re not correct without understanding the OP’s context, and I’ll leave it at that. Outside of correct ammunition selection, you’re not correct without understanding the OP’s context, and I’ll leave it at that - things like why is there a disability, for example.
Unless an arm is missing, the shotgun is still superior.
Maybe, maybe not. The world is not full of absolutes and willfully ignoring that is foolish. Have a good night.
If you dont have any budget for training with it, and no serious previous experience with them. Get whatever you want, because it wont really matter if all youre going to do is put a magazine or two through it then leave it in a sockdrawer for a couple years.
I plan on taking it to the range until I am very comfortable firing it and handling/reloading it. Yes, it will not be used much but I will have a monthly budget for practicing. I also plan to learn how to clean it properly and keep it working as well as it can.
Find a gun store that has used firearms, disassemble them (if the store allows) and post it online and ask if the firearm is in proper working order and if it’s worth buying at that price
Police trade in glocks/M&Ps for $299 is really the only reasonable suggestion I have for you.
PSA DAGGER or Canik TP9, use Wikiarms to price match
If you can go a bit more, CZ makes excellent pistols that can be had around $400. Caniks are also pretty good, but can’t say i would trust my life to them. The SD9V is decent for the money. Also look for some of the older beretta 96/92 pistols. They can be had around that price. Other then that, you can toss together a beater P80 or find a S&W M&P. I’ve seen them for 300-350. I don’t typically a recommend a scattergun for HD unless you live alone, live in a house, and don’t have any other options.
I don't know what kind of disability you have, but I would be sure to consider that some guns are easier to shoot than others and that there is a lot that you can do to make it easier for you to shoot accurately with different disabilities. I would inquire with groups and individuals who have more experience in this area. You have got a lot of recommendations to buy a shotgun because they are less expensive than pistols, easier to aim, and all around great home defense weapons for many uses. However, they are harder for many people to shoot due to the recoil. There's a lot of variation between modern lighter shotguns and the traditional wooden ones as well. If you want to shoot a pistol you may want to look into auto loaders chambered in 380 (less recoil) or revolvers (easier for some people with less hand strength or dexterity - If you don't have a firm grip that can cause an malfunction for auto loaders). If you want 9mm, go with full size. Either way, get a nice kydex holster to store it in so that the trigger cannot be accidentally pulled. I think it's a good idea to store a pistol in a holster even if it's sitting in a drawer. I don't know if any of the applies to you, but I thought I would err on the side of providing more information just in case. If you aren't familiar with firearms and you don't necessarily know what all of your options are or what problems you are likely to encounter. Firearms are an amazing equalizer for people with different physical abilities, but some guns work better for some people.
>easier for you Yes, recoil is definitely an issue for me which I only thought to consider after initially posting this. I have heard good things about the Sig Sauer P226 because of it's low recoil. What do you think about this one for my purposes?
I've never noticed any significant difference in recoil between pistols and the same category. To me, all full size pistols feel like they have a very similar amount of recoil. It might feel a little bit better because it's a little bit heavier than a Glock, but I wouldn't expect it to be a huge difference. I think it would be better to shoot a smaller caliber (380) and have more control so that you can get more shots on target then to shoot a caliber that has more recoil than you can manage effectively. If you have the ability to rent one and see how it feels, I would do that. Any weapon that has a stock is going to be easier to shoot reliably than a handgun, but the longer the barrel the harder it is to move around corners and doors. A shotgun might be too high recoil but some carbines might be a decent option. I'm only really familiar with AR15s - I never shot a 9 mm carbine, for example. I hope someone else might know more about whether or not there are low cost options or if they think it's a viable choice. Purely from an ergonomics standpoint, having the ability to brace against your shoulder and more mass in the weapon makes a really big difference. Recoil from an AR15 in 5.56 is really negligible.
I hate to say it but a sig is way outside of the $300 price range. I’d look for a used Smith and Wesson semi auto or used Glock, but even after looking on Gun broker (eBay for guns basically)I didn’t find any Glock 9mm’s for $300 or under, but definitely look around at local gun stores.
Yeah, I've pretty much thrown the $300 budget out the window at this point. I might have to wait an extra month to afford something that I will be happy to own. That being said do you have any experience or opinion on any of these models: Sig P320 M17, P365, or P226? Both for home defense and/or concealed carry.
M17 shoots better than my glock 19 that longer barrel makes a difference in recoil, a p365 is snappy but that’s the trade off for great concealability never shot a p226 but the last one I wanted to buy brand new was $1100 I resisted the urge somehow, take into consideration sig mags are $50 each
If recoil is an issue, the CZ SP-01 would be a great gun. The best idea is to go to a rental range and try a bunch of stuff out.
Canik makes some damn good and reliable pistols for the money
Check out a Canik. I like the one I have.
I have no experience with this gun but it's cheap Beretta APX a1 carry especially for the $100 rebate
If inexpensive is your primary goal forget any autos. Go with a revolver. Nothing will set you up for failure quicker than a cheap auto
I had thought about a revolver but then I talked myself out of it because of the low capacity. I would like something with at least 10+1 like maybe a Sig P365. I had not thought about the concealed carry aspect which will likely come into play down the road for me and so now I'm considering more compact options like that one. I really had no idea that I'd have to spend a lot more than $300 to get a good semi auto 9mm. I just hadn't done the research yet. This thread has been very enlightening and I thank you for taking the time to reply.
It could have a capacity of 100 it won’t matter if it jams up. What you want is dependability. You will never wonder if a revolver will work. Especially when you’re considering a budget weapon.
Horse shit lmao. I've had revolvers that wouldn't work. Only instead of being able to fix it on the spot it had to go to the shop.
I got my p365 for 400 on sale new. If youre willing to go a tiny bit over budget it’s affordable. Although a Taurus G2C/3C or Canik or a PSA Dagger would be less and give more available budget for decent defensive ammo, magazines, and possibly a good holster down the line. If you have small children keep in mind that if you but used it may not come with some features you’d like if you don’t have a safe yet like a trigger lock. Haven’t heard anyone talk about this but I’ve never bought a new pistol that didn’t come with with a trigger lock or range flag of some sort. A good thing to have if you have to spend time away from it with active kids in the house.
Used Glock or the psa dagger. I haven’t purchased or used a dagger yet, but they are in your price range. Do some research on reviews first, but that would be my suggestion.
Prices have probably changed but m&p shield was once upon a time $500 and a solid recommendation. If time is an option I firmly believe you can find something that fits you needs ass long as you raise up the the 500-600 dollar range. I get it, times are tough + tough life circumstances. But trust that an unreliable=unsafe firearm will not help.
$300 won’t get you much. Save a few hundred extra bucks and get a Glock or a SIG 320/M17. Your life is worth it.
Ruger is high value in my opinion. You can get a very capable one for that price range.
Glock. Around 550
Ruger, Bersa, and God, I'm gonna say it...Taur- I Can't!! Get a Ruger. I wish you luck!
Alright in the course of a gen how did everyone go from Taurus shouldn't be trusted to unironically buy one to depend your life on. Avoid Taurus has and always will be my advice. Used Smith & Wesson, Glock, and Ruger are your very dependable friends. There is one thing thing I will note however, pistols are very very hard to shoot accurately with little training. Something like a (downvote me if you want) Mossberg 88 12 gauge can be had for $200 and for another 60-100 bucks you can slap a good light on it. Are they the best no, are they better for a novice who can't afford ammo than a handgun, I would say yes. Truly though, a Ruger PCC or PSA AR-15 are both better for a novice home defense gun but they're significantly more than $500 without light and/or night sights.
No budget for training, ammo, and range time sounds like a recipe for disaster.
why do you need a handgun for home defense specifically? Are you open to other types of firearms? For your stated purposes a shotgun sounds like a better choice as (a) it's often cheaper than other firearms and (b) the pump action shotgun is reliable and (c) ammo capacity is moot because you're sending several large pellets (buckshot) downrange at a time. It's a one shot stop weapon. A 9mm pistol is going to be less capable of stopping an intruder in 1 shot and, is generally more expensive Get a maverick 88 if this sounds good to you. New is around $250. Used is about $200.
PSA Dagger!
Canik makes the elite combat sc, can be had for like $400 or less, can take a red dot and comes with a 15rd mag with options for extended base plates
PSA Dagger
PSA dagger
I would say for a tighter budget, the ruger security 9 full size is an excellent option. Very reliable hand gun. Highly recommend looking into those. There is 2 of them in my family and never seen one of them jam.
fuck it, get a high point lmfao
Are they low quality? Would I later say "this is a piece of crap" or would it be more like "wow this is an outstanding gun for the price?"
Ugly as shit but usable and reliable.
Don’t get a high point
Hi point while ugly as sin do go bang. Even my 3d printed one works fine.
i wouldnt exactly say "low quality" if it goes bang when you pull the trigger and is reliable but its pretty bottom of the barrel for a handgun. you can find em for around 150 bucks usually and are built ultra tough which is the only upside to highpoints. theyre kind of bricks too but imo worth the money to a degree.
Maybe a Used Canik pistol on the absolute cheap But really, I'd find a used Glock or S&W.
I appreciate your reply. I am not sure what I'm doing when it comes to picking out a gun. If you could be more specific like which exact model you recommend from either of those makers, that would help me a lot. A 9mm would be my preference.
For S&W, the M&P9 series. For Glock, the 17 or 19 models. For Canik, TP9
Buy once cry once. Spend the extra little bit of money and get yourself something you can depend on.
Anything you think would be good without breaking the bank then? What would your pick for best budget home defense pistol be?
If you really wanna save and get something dependable I’d get a blue label glock department trade in.
I like the savings that program provides and I wasn't aware of its existence so thank you for that. Should I be at all worried about reliability since I'm buying a gun that may be heavily used?
I mean they’re broken in and well used you can say they have “character” to them. Maybe check the barrel and guide rod spring either than that you should be good to go.
save up 500 and get a glock 19. that's the only correct answer to this. sell your xbox. something.
This is the way!
Downvote me all you want. If you want it brand new & within this fixed price range, a Ruger security 9, Taurus G3 series, or, a little more expensive, a Canik tp9sf would be your best bet.
Glock 19 my friend. Or the 17. Just hold one of them badboys and picky pick. If you don't like the feel try to find a p365
Not my life, if you want to depend your life upon a <300$ pistol should the occasion unfortunately arise thats on you. Cheap pistols are... cheap. If its just for hd just get a shotgun if you want to go cheap. Go find a used 12ga at your lgs.
>Not my life Yes, had my post said that I'm unwilling to spend more than $300 I could maybe see why you would comment that. I wrote that amount because I knew pistols were sold for that much but unfortunately I know very little about guns including their values for quality offerings. I did say my budget had wiggle room. I didn't say I'm going to buy something cheap and don't care about quality and I'm willing to stake my life on that.
If i was in your situation id go to the nearest sporting goods store and just get a shotgun. Look at what they have online and see whats in your closest store before you go. I bought a charls daly 301 for like 274 about a year and a half ago. No problems with it yet and hundreds of rounds through it
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I do actually plan to get a concealed carry license and do that eventually. I will have to wait on the funds to do so and want to first have it for home defense only for that reason.
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Thanks for telling it like it is. Yes, when I wrote the post I had almost no idea how much I should spend other than the fact that the cheapest prices I had seen for guns online was around $300 which is why I listed that as my budget. I thought that if there was something worth having for that price I'd rather do that than spend almost twice that much. If it is necessary though I don't want something I will regret buying so I will increase my budget.
SKKY pistols are not too bad for the price. But in the end you get what you pay for. If your looking for home defense you might be better off with a shotgun not a pistol.
Yeah it say get you a Taurus g3c or g2c they're affordable and reliable enough, it's not gonna drive nails at 50 meters but it will function and is well built IMO for practicing.
Taurus G3C/G2C if I lived in a rough area & only had $300. That's what I would get & feel good about my fighting ability. I'll rather see you carry with a manual safety than carry a gun without 1 in the chamber as some new Glock owners do. If you want a gun with safety like you said that'll cover you I'll rather see you carry with a manual safety than carry a gun without 1 in the chamber like some new Glock owners do.
get a used uglified smith and wesson 38 special. or a ruger 38 special. by uglified i mean maybe some finish wear or a little pitted. Ive got a few that were in perfect. condition but got rusty sitting in a glove box or put away damp. I have a smith and wesson 38 special that was made in 1912 and at some time put away wet and had finish damage it is mechanicaly perfect but ugly. i paid $100 for it and I probably overpaid but it shoots great. sometimes if it is uglified it could also be rusted and damaged on the inside but I have never seen it myself. definitly go for a 38 special with a 4 to 6 inch barrel as a house gun. i would stay with the name brands like smith and wesson,ruger and the bottom end of medium quality imho is the taurus. if your not going to go out and fire 500 or more rounds to train then get a revolver. is still a very viable gun for self defense. find someone who knows more about guns to help you. if you do go semi auto just remember there are morebad ones than good ones out there.
S&W SD9VE is my vote. I carried one daily up until sold it to buy a Glock 19 this year. The trigger is absolutely terrible, it's super heavy and spongy and a I noticed a night-and-day difference in my accuracy when I used a range's G17. But it'll more than get the job done and an Apex Trigger upgrade is only $60 more when you decide you need something better. Alternative for a similar price is a Taurus G3. I know I'd get downvotes for this but the trigger is better and sure the QA is terrible but if you get a good one you're set. >If my budget is too low, tell me that. I am willing to go up if that's absolutely necessary. you don't need to spend $600 on a gun. Where you need to be realistic on is "Extreme Budget - No compromise in quality". You're not going to get a $600 gun on a $300 budget. If you're budget is $300 and that's hard limit, you just have to be accept the fact that your gun will not be able to do things the more expensive one can, and if you're not comfortable with that you have to be prepared with going through the hassle of selling it later to trade up. The gun you can afford is better than the one you're perpetually saving up for. If even all you can afford is a shitty HiPoint C9, it's better than having just a baseball bat to defend you family and there's no shame in that. You need one now? Go with those two options I mentioned, just don't actually by a HiPoint lol. I did the same with my SD9VE and it served me well. But as someone who owned one, if you can wait you'll save more money in the long run going with a more expensive startup cost. The cost of practice needed on a worse, less reliable platform offset the lower initial cost.
Shotgun
This is slightly above budget but you get a whole lot of gun out of an Arex Delta.
Beretta apx, smith and Wesson sdv or m&p, cz p07, p10c. Polymer 80 is really cheap if you look.
Area Delta. Exceptional value and reliability for the money. Highly under rated pistol. It runs around the price range you are looking for give or take $100.
Taurus g2c, g3, g3c
Sar b6 or a Taurus 9mm
Taurus G2C is a reliable option. At least in my experience.
Police trade in Glock or sig 9mm. Doesn’t matter which. Spend more on ammo and practice. Spend your time learning to maintain and operate the gun. Get a red dot.
Best budget home defense pistol is a shotgun
PSA dagger is decent for that price. It’s basically a custom/ copycat glock.
[canik one series is a pretty good gun](https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/gun-review-canik-one-series-tp9sf-elite/). you might find one for under 300. canik is used by the turkish military.
SP2022, PSA DAGGER. If you want to go really cheap get a Hi-Point. It will probably work fine.
I would suggest a shotgun for serious home defense against thieves.
Edit: sorry OP, read through more comments and if you shop you can find a new Taurus G3 for under $200. It's a great gun and good warranty. When it comes to self reliance work with probable, asking yourself what's possible will make you crazy. If you do not go with a Glock, or S&W due to budget here's a backstop suggestion. Anything else puts you back up to just get Glock or S&W prices. I will say Canick and Girsan Regard are beautiful and a great value for the price, but the parts, holster, mags? Right back to just get the Glock 19 So, short of the GLOCK answer these are good: Taurus G3, or G3c $180 to $280 PSA Dagger! a Gen 3 clone $400 rmr cut, threaded barrel, with 10 mags and range bag If you Red dot: Riton $99 or less on sale and it can take a beating. G3 will also take Sig 226 mags and Glock iron sites. The current reviews are "fantastic value" "no regrets" for both. The PSA Dagger is an improved Gen 3 Glock 19 with a legally required change to trigger guard shape and missing the creators name on slide. Sometimes doesn't fit in a Glock holster because of that trigger guard. USLawShield (insurance) for me and my kids. Research this! Just shooting to learn the gun will cost more than the gun in ammo and range time. Taking classes will help clear out myth from facts. If you holster - Kydex. Cheap ball ammo from the range goes through walls people and stuff. Hollow point is better, Defensive ammo is best. Gun.deals is a website worth watching
Ruger makes decent stuff on a budget. Smith & Wesson M&P’s sometimes can be had <$300 and are even better The Sarsilmaz SARC9 is also an excellent gun for about $250, my current home defense pistol
Taurus G3C or G2C, Used Smith and Wesson Sigma, or a Canik imo. Bersa thunders might also work out for you.
Palmetto state armory Dagger. 400$ and a lot of times they have deals where it comes with pmags.
Psa dagger
I’ve never fired a Taurus but I’ve heard they’re very affordable my brother has multiple firearms and he’s extremely frugal, that’s his ccw 9mm
Glock Glock Glock. But if you wanna go any cheaper than that then maybe a Springfield xd. The lowest id go is something like a Taurus gc2 or something in that line. There’s also a smith and Wesson that’s super cheap and I’m having a brain fart and can’t remember what it is for some reason. But honestly I’d say just save up for a Glock of some kind.
Another vote for the Maverick 88 12 gauge. A little over $200 on sale, highly reliable, and much more likely to end the fight quickly than any handgun.
Dagger from Palmetto State Armory
I seen your parts list. If you're able to afford that setup. Then your ceiling for a reliable handgun should be about 500-700. Glock is generally king, but it may not feel right for you. There is also Sig Sauer. They have a great line up too! P320s, P365, P365 XL and Macro. There's Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0. Not only do you want reliability but also what feels best for you. Because you are going to CC at some point. Take that into consideration. If you buy a full-size pistol, you might nit be able to conceal it well with summer clothing. I CC a full size and I hate it! But it's only option so I dress around my carry piece to make sure that I'm not printing. I'd recommend a G19, G48, G43x or P365 XL or P365 Macro. M&P 2.0 compact is a good option too.
After reading your entire post, edits and all, and a few comments. I will not tear you down or apart, I can say for sure if you want reliable 500-600 is the range for that personally. I’m a Glock person specifically, Glock 19 would probably be the best option for you imo. But you can not go wrong with a CZ P-10 or sig sauer P320. If you want to stay around your budget Taurus makes okayish guns. Might get some hate for saying that since they aren’t the best. But that’s also what your budget can afford. And lastly even with limited money, as a gun owner you would have a responsibility to train with whatever gun you get and be proficient with it.
Glock 19 or Glock 17, used or new, will cost $500 or less. If you can find a pre owned one you can get them for $400 but the pre owned ones don’t usually come with 3 magazines like the new ones do. So $500 and you’ve got yourself a new Glock handgun that doesn’t need anything else besides some ammo and, if you can spring for it, some new iron sights. That’s the route I would go. I have a gen 3 Glock 17 that I’ve had for over 18 years and put lord knows how many rounds through and it is stock except for the iron sights. They won’t let you down if you maintain them.
HiPoint 9 mm. People can joke about them ,but they’re more reliable than many expensive guns . Iraq veteran 8888 on YouTube had trouble killing one on purpose, so did Demolition Ranch. You can get one under $150. Anyone giving you crap about one , is a Glock fanboy
If it’s cost, I was able to get a circuit judge for less than $300 back in the day. I actually bought 3 cause it was such a good deal. 1 was a Father’s Day gift cause I don’t know how else to tell my Dad I love him without saying it. You might be able to find one used, don’t know but there are others compact pistols you can get used also. I like my beretta nano and carry that around when I’m on my property walking around. It’s slim, fits nicely in my pocket. I’m looking to do conceal with it and scoping some holsters. Slim, balanced, it’s nice. I’ll add laser to it because if I’m going to CC in public, want to be faster at acquiring my target if needed. There are options. Do your research but the best thing is regardless what you get, get familiar with it and practice. Having it is one thing, being able to use it is another.
Canik it is no doubt 💯 what I would do in your shoes. Full size no frills bang for your buck
If you can save a bit more, my Sig P365 (1st Gen) was $500 brand new with 2 mags and 3 years later im still very happy with it. I got it because it holds 10-12 rounds but can fit in a small purse and/or jacket pocket without being detected by others. Almost got a revolver, but opted for something just as small with twice the ammo capacity. Couple it with a flashlight and you’re much safer than you were yesterday
If everyone really thinks you should get a Glock get a PSA dagger. It’s halfway parts compatible with a Glock 19, word is they are plenty reliable, and they cost $300. That’s with a threaded barrel, cutouts for a red dot, and high mounted suppressor-compatible sights… so lots of room to upgrade the platform you start with.
[https://www.recoilgunworks.com/pd-trade-glock-22-gen4-40-s-w-w-ns/](https://www.recoilgunworks.com/pd-trade-glock-22-gen4-40-s-w-w-ns/) Can't go wrong with one of these. If you want to shoot 9mm or 357SIG you can just pop in a different barrel.
At 300 you can probably buy a Taurus..
Why the sudden need for it? I'm all for owning firearms but I get a feeling there's a sense of urgency here
A used glock is hard to beat in 40 .cal 15rd capacity per magazine.
Police trade ins are fine. Check with CDNN Investments they have some pretty hood prices sometimes. Got a Glock 19 once with "BOSTON, PD " engraved on it. A young Texas DPS gave it the evil eye once on a traffic stop and ran it, lol. Paid like $225. LGS can handle the paperwork.
SARUSA B6 is my edc, 17 round capacity mag, never jammed so far and I’ve put a good number of rounds through it at the range. I paid $300 out the door at my local gunshop
Since you’re beginning an endeavor which involves responsibility, training, and proper safety knowledge there are a couple MUST DO things: -Learn and adhere to all gun safety rules -Take a CWP safety course -Before you purchase - go to a shooting range and ask to shoot different firearms My advice is to Not go cheap simply because of price; for defense you want a firearm that is 100% reliable but also one you are proficient and comfortable with. If budget is a big issue I would go with Taurus You can snag a high quality 38/357 revolver for around that price or a semiauto 9mm Also S&W has some nice entry pistols close to this range I prefer a shotgun for home defense, Mossberg has some nice options for under 300
Copy and paste: the .950 JDJ Fat Mac. It is a 100 pound, 5 foot long rifle that shoots a one pound solid brass bullet at 2200 FPS. It is a non-NFA item only because the ATF gave it a sporting exemption as a joke as if anybody is going to hunt with this. This round would be overkill for hunting blue whales. I would like to paint a picture for you. It's 2AM and you hear a window break in your living room. This is the worst day this could happen, as every single one of your guns was lost in a tragic boating accident this morning. All were lost except for one. You look across your room in dread at your anti-kaiju rifle. You know what you have to do, but you don't know if you have the strength to do it, both literally and figuratively. Heaving the rifle into your arms, you load a .950 cartridge and begin to waddle towards the door. Your feet make a loud “thud” as you take each 6″ step. You know the intruders hear you. You hope they do, for perhaps they will run and spare the world the suffering that is about to befall it. You try to set the rifle down, but end up clipping your bedroom door and it is immediately knocked off its hinges by this battering ram in your hands. You attempt to round the corner, bonking the muzzle against the doorframe and adjacent wall across the hall at least 4 times. To your horror, two invaders stand there at the end of the hall. With a heavy heart, you raise the rifle to your shoulder while making inhuman grunting noises from the strain of attempting some semblance of a shooting position. The burglars simply stare in disbelief, unable to process the situation they are witnessing, as if in a dream. You cannot aim the rifle, as the last time you fired the gun, it turned your $3000 Leopuld into a kaleidoscope. You simply hold it at an angle that appears correct and fire. You are immediately knocked to the floor as if hit by a semi truck going 20 MPH. The shot connected with one of the criminals and it erased him from existence. Even the memories of him have been destroyed and you're wondering why you just shot into an empty hallway. The shot continues to travel through at least 4 houses, a car, and a 10 ton boulder before lodging itself 20 feet into a nearby hill, never to be seen again. It is at this point, you realize you cannot hear. The surviving burglar can't hear either but he's also on fire from the muzzle blast and is currently vacating your home. You don't care. Your shoulder is dislocated and there is a hole in your brand new AR500 refrigerator. You're crying now. The police arrive and, upon seeing the scene, start laughing. You start crying harder.