Does price influence your CC gun choice?

B

bigkrackers

New member
Thinking it all the way through, if you ever use your gun and happen to injure or kill someone it might be a very long time, if ever, before you see that gun again. Trials can last a couple of years and even if you get the gun back who knows what condition it will be in. So knowing that, do you consider the price of the gun you carry? I have expensive guns that I could carry but I don't. I bought what I determined to be a reliable, cost effective, cc gun that if I never saw again I wouldn't be kicking myself forever. I'm curious because I see and read a lot of people that carry a $1000+ gun that they obviously love. To me a cc gun is a tool and while I will always look to buy the best tool in my price range, it's still just a tool. A gun that I have placed a good deal of money into and have an emotional investment in I do not consider a tool and I would be very upset to lose it.
 
Short answer: yes

Long answer: for CC, I want a reliable gun I can commercially replace (so no custom guns, no firearms with sentimental value). My Walthers, which run in the mid $600s at my LGS, are near the upper end of my limit.
 
I'll say that I do carry my 1K+ with no issue. Your concerns are sound but shouldn't preclude you from carrying what you want, whether or not you carry a reliable PF-9 or a Nighthawk (of which I do not own, but yet may one day).

I guess it is about the same as what watch you wear, really. These are tools that can also make a statement about yourself. And by saying that, I mean no offense to any fellow member here for I am by no means a wealthy man...
 
The Rohrbaugh R9 is the smallest lightest production 9mm available, they go for around $1,100.00 From what I've read, R9 owners love them, but even they admit that they're not a ton o' fun to shoot at the range. People buy these things really for carry purpose only.

For the R9 owners the lightweight really makes a difference - they don't want to carry more than 20oz for their CCW. And they're willing to pay $1,100 for that.

But I have to admit 1K+ is a good chunk of change to lay down for any pistol, and to part with it for years while litigation drags on... OUCH !
 
It's a valid concern,,,

I'm not saying to only carry cheap guns,,,
I am saying it would be a shame to have a race gun confiscated for years.

I'm also the guy who would never buy a classic car,,,
And then use it for everyday transportation,,,
Weekend runs up Route 66, for sure,,,
Not to and from the grocery store.

For a long time I carried a pristine vintage Model 36,,,
I switched to a beater 36 (worked perfectly) for carry,,,
After I read an article on this very topic.

On the other hand I wouldn't go cheap (iffy performance) to reduce the loss due to confiscation.

Aarond
 
For me price does not factor into the equation for carry concealed

For me I don't take price into consideration when I buy a firearm, if it is bought for carry conceal use, first does it fit my hand. I have begun to want a weapon that is lighter for carry conceal use, so if it fits my hand, in the price I am willing to pay for it, and has a light weight then I will carry it. But most often my price range does not include firearms that are over $800 in the first place.
 
cost is always a major factor for most americans. a cc gun is not a piece of jewlery, it is a tool. having said that the most important job of a tool is being able to work. for me that means reliability and also a convenient size along with sufficient power. i have 3 revolvers and 6 semi autos that fill the bill all under $600 when i bought them and i am comfortable with cc for each one. i think you need a variety of cc guns which would depend on season/weather, clothing, situation, etc. i also believe the gun should be affordable in case you drop and damage it, or have it confiscated it wouldn't be too much of a hardship or loss.

38 spcl s&w mod 36
38 spcl s&w mod 60
357 rossie snub nose

380 amt backup
9mm taurus 709 slim
9mm s&w mod 669
45 springfield micro
45 springfield champion
45 taurus pt-145
 
I don't believe in throwing my money around, but I buy what I need and will enjoy. The fact that it will be taken for evidence if I have to use in SD does not enter into it.

Regards,
Jerry
 
never, what's your life worth?
Click to expand...

Interesting. I don't think that's a logical reason though. It sounds good though. Having a gun on you does not mean you will live no matter what the price of the gun. You are not at any advantage armed, standing your ground, over the person that flees to safety.

Is a 2011 BMW 5 series safer than a 2011 Ford Taurus? According to IIHS they are about the same so in some cases price has no correlation to an objects ability to keep you alive.

I understand that certain factors such as weight and fit are important and I'm not scoffing at anyone who spends the money for premiums in those areas but, if all things being equal the $400 gun can keep you just as alive as the $800 gun does that make a difference?
 
Not really, my daily carry choice was also my most expensive handgun purchase. However, I bought it specifically to carry it. Since I've spent extensive time carrying and shooting it, it has my full confidence and I admit to being a little attached to it. Sure, it gets some holster and range wear on it, but that just means I'm using it and enjoying it. I wouldn't really enjoy having it if I left it locked up all the time for fear of losing it or scuffing the finish.

I did buy a very similar, though less expensive model to have as backup in the event I no longer have my primary for some reason (legal proceedings after self defense, theft, breakage, tornado, whatever).

I made a compromise trading less features for less cost with my backup, rather than short change my primary. To me, it makes sense to have your primary have the least possible compromises, after all, that's the one you might have to use.
 
"So knowing that, do you consider the price of the gun you carry?"

Not at all. Heck, I have $1000 deductibles on my auto and home insurance and I'm thinking about raising them to save even more money. If I have to replace my Rohrbaugh I'd be out about the same amount.

JT
 
What's your life worth??? Sounds good, but that is not the point. I have seen too many high priced guns ($1500-3500) that were so unreliable I would never even think of depending on them. But I have seen low price (under $500) guns that worked well and were totally reliable. (I don't advocate really cheap guns, like some of the so-called Saturday Night Specials, but a good, solid, reliable gun need not cost a fortune.)

There is another point in favor of not carrying an expensive gun or one with sentimental value. If you are forced to use your gun, it is possible that you will find yourself confronted with some very hard-faced police, who will order you to drop the gun, now! Confronted with that situation you don't want to hesitate because the gun might be damaged. The cops will not be concerned about how much you paid for the gold inlay and the engraving; if you don't obey, right then, you may not need that gun or anything else, ever.

Jim
 
Price? It sure did play a factor, but I also wanted reliability and a compact size, and safety so I went with the Bersa UC40.

It's been everything everyone talked about in my pre buying research. 1000 rounds through it with zero issues except a magazine glitch not keeping the slide open after the last round, which was a 3 buck fix.


Looks like another potential CC weapon is about to hit the market.

http://youtu.be/ZHmoQEk2qAs
 
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the "ultimate" goal of any cc handgun is to protect and preserve your life. there is not always a correlation between the cost of a gun and it's effectiveness. if there was gun battles might be based on words rather than bullets..........

good guy to bad guy, "how much did your gun cost? bad guy, $350 on sale. good guy, then you better surrender because my custom made gun cost me $2500 so you don't stand a chance. bad guy, ok, you got me, i'm throwing my cheap gun down and coming out with my hands up. good guy, well my gun was very expensive but it saved my life so it was worth it.

good guy to bad guy, "how much did your gun cost"? bad guy $350 on sale. good guy, mine cost me $2500 and is custom made. bad guy, well i'm a profesional and you're not my first good guy with an expensive gun . i use my cheap gun to make a living and i know it works and i am very good with it. so after i shoot you and rob you please remind me to take your expensive gun with me also. good guy......."oh ****!
 
Price never influences my choice of what I want. If I want it bad enough, Ill save up for it. I just want the best I can get

WildgunsnobAlaska ™©2002-2011
 
If it saves my life, or the life of someone I care about, then it was worth it no matter how much the gun costs to replace (assuming it gets confiscated). How the gun feels in my hand and how well I can shoot with it are bigger factors than price. I have more than one CC gun, so if the unthinkable did occur I'd be able to just use a different gun until I had the money to replace the lost one.

I can't imagine I'd be more upset about losing a gun then I would be about why I had to use it in the first place.
 
Price is a factor for me.

I can afford what I want but I'm too big a cheapskate to risk carrying really expensive guns. The risks might be the risk of damage from being commanded to throw it down and kick it away in the event of..... and potential loss from other kinds of theft.... and confiscation from events unforseeable...... stuff that happens.

I recall having heard from an officer locally that when he'd worked in Detroit if any handgun was held by the police for any reason, they'd ENGRAVE the case number on the gun. Wouldn't that just chap your hide to find that on your pride and joy after you were released without charge and the gun returned? (IF it was returned at all and not "accidentally" melted down)
 
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