Does price influence your CC gun choice?

I don't carry inexpensive guns just for the sake of it but that are irreplaceable or have sentimental value should best be left at home. My Colt Magnum Carry is retired in favor of a Ruger SP101. God forbid if I ever had to use it, I'd probably never get it back again.
 
In any conversation regarding carry weapons and cost, "how much is your life worth?" question is always thrown out there. The implication is that if one doesn't have a high-end weapon on his hip he is risking his life based on price. There are many reliable SD weapons available at the lower end of the market, and if that is what a person can afford or chooses to carry I am fine with it. To lecture on paying cash, living without debt, delayed gratification, or even cost versus value seems condescending to me.

My answer to the question is of course cost matters.
 
In any conversation regarding carry weapons and cost, "how much is your life worth?" question is always thrown out there. The implication is that if one doesn't have a high-end weapon on his hip he is risking his life based on price. There are many reliable SD weapons available at the lower end of the market, and if that is what a person can afford or chooses to carry I am fine with it. To lecture on paying cash, living without debt, delayed gratification, or even cost versus value seems condescending to me.
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I think you're misunderstanding the gist. There are, of course, several excellent weapons available for relatively low prices. I personally don't own any handgun that cost more than $700 which, while not cheap, certainly isn't terribly expensive when it comes to handguns.

The point is that when you find the best weapon for your personal needs, the thought its cost and possible confiscation should not be a concern. You should carry the best weapon that you can afford be it a $300 Ruger P95 or a $2000 Wilson Combat.

For example, I have a CZ-75 that cost me just over $400 and a S&W 629 that cost me just under $700. Both are excellent guns that I trust my life to. When I get ready to leave, however, I don't think to myself "I'd better take the CZ instead of the S&W because I'll be out less if it gets confiscated." Instead, I think to myself "Which gun is better suited to the most likely situation for me to find myself in today?"

I can't afford a Wilson, Baer, or Korth and I probably wouldn't buy one even if I could afford it. However, if I truly felt that such an expensive gun was indeed the best one for me to carry, I would find a way to work it into my budget and would not hesitant to carry it because of the cost.

As I said before, the types of guns that I think are too valuable to carry have nothing to do with a dollar value. I am hesitant to carry my S&W 1911 not because it is too expensive to replace, but because it has sentimental value (a gift from my dad) that cannot be replaced at any price. Likewise, if I owned an extremely rare gun like a Webley-Fosbury or S&W Triple Lock, I would be hesitant to carry it not because of the monetary value, but because I may never find another one for sale at all.
 
Webleymkv

I understand that a weapon may have personal value that has nothing to do with its actual worth. The risk of losing it can overcome the benefit of carrying it. The potential cost is too high.

My SD handguns are a Ruger SR9c and GP100 that cost me less than $400 and $600 respectively. Like you I have found weapons that meet my needs without spending more than makes sense to me.

I do lust after a high end 1911. They are mechanical works of art. I may own one some day, but I will know that it is because I want one and not because I need one.
 
answering original post and/or question

unless money isn't an issue in one's life(extremely rich), money does play a role in what type of weapons we own.
 
In any conversation regarding carry weapons and cost, "how much is your life worth?" question is always thrown out there. The implication is that if one doesn't have a high-end weapon on his hip he is risking his life based on price.
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Not at all. The question was "Does price influence your decison?"
If you said "yes", this implies that you are willing to compromise, or settle for less than you would otherwise. That is where your life may be in danger.
If you said "no", then you will buy what you consider adequate, without settling for less. That may be an LCP, or it may be a Glock, or it may be a Wilson.
 
My answer is unequivocally yes, price does play a part in the decision. I am perfectly willing to settle for an inexpensive weapon, provided it meets my needs. Would I buy from the high end cabinet if I had the means? Probably, but how is it that my life may be in danger because I choose to buy less expensive yet perfectly functional weapons? I understand the BMW is a fine vehicle and has far more prestige than the Taurus, but on a budget the Taurus is perfectly adequate transportation. To imply that I'm willing to put my life at risk because I'm not willing to spend more than is necessary really doesn't fly as far as I'm concerned.

I really am happy for folks who have the means to buy the best, regardless of cost. I mean that sincerely. For most of us though, decisions based on cost are just part of living.
 
I have generally not considered price too much in my choice of carry weapons. However, I may consider a less expensive gun to be adequate and use it. For example, I recently decided to buy a compact/pocket 9mm semi-auto. I considered a Kahr PM9 but waited just a bit for a CM9 at significantly less price. It's the same basic gun.

On the other hand, my carry rotation up until a month ago (due to season change) included three 1911s: a Baer Stinger, a Sig C3, and a Brown Special Forces Carry. Now that it's warm, its one 1911 on an occasional basis.

If I were ordered to drop one of these by a police officer, I wouldn't hesitate. Any scratches would be character and, if I just couldn't stand it, I could have it refinished. If confiscated pending a trial, I would just have to live with it.

BTW, I absolutely won't be carrying one of my Pythons, however. They're not making them anymore and I would truly hate to throw one down in the gravel.
 
My confidence, ability and the firearm's reliability come first, followed by it's conceal-ability(sp?)...then price. I suppose I wouldn't carry one of those 45acp Lugers. :rolleyes:
I might be carrying a large $1000 revolver in the winter only to carry a small $170 Polish surplus semi in the summer. If it goes bang every time, the bullet flies straight, and the pistol functions correctly and reliably I'm covered. I'd rather have that $1000 or $170 sitting in an evidence locker rusting than being used for a suit that ends up feeding the worms. I try and carry my S&W 19-2 snub as much as possible. Middle of the road price wise, but to me it's absolutely priceless. She's the queen and I am supremely confident with it. If it saves my life and I lose it...I'll get over it. Because while she may be the queen, I'm the king...long live the king. ;)
 
While I do agree that many good weapons that are capable do have low prices there are things that you "generally" get as the dollar price climbs like better trigger, better sights, non mim parts or reduced use of mim parts.

Will a better trigger or sights make the difference... who knows but I like to stack the odds on my side as much as I can.... even if its only a incremental improvement over something else..
 
Life's too short to carry cheap guns! OTOH a quality gun needn't be expensive but I'll spend whatever it takes to get a gun I'll trust with my life. A $1000 gun, or even a $2500 gun is a drop in the bucket once lawyers get involved, and the good ones are worth every penny too. Above posts make a good point, nobody will worry much about a Glock in a property locker. A custom 1911 or BHP getting "lost" or damaged would be a tragedy but worth the risk.
 
Price matters, but reliability does too. The two aren't mutually exclusive.

I would trust a $450 XD more than a $1000 1911, but that's just me.
 
The question could have very well been:
Does price influence your house choice?

While I don't CC, I know the weapon I'd choose would be based on the same judgements I make for a general SD firearm. It's simple: quality influences my choice. Not all expensive guns are good.
 
If I'm into the firearm niche I'm buying for, I'll happily pay for both reliability and aesthetics. IMHO, moving from the cheap-end into mid-range gets you all the reliability and accuracy you'll need, and moving from mid-range to high-end tends to buy more aesthetics than anything else. But I'll happily pay for those aesthetics if I care about that particular class of firearm and the piece moves me in a design, artistic or jewelry like way.

In an EDC CC gun, I'd have absolutely no care or worry about the money lost if the gun were confiscated for being used for it's intended purpose. There's a 0.0001% chance that would ever happen, and if it did, I would always see it as money well spent... in fact, I wouldn't mind having lost 10x whatever the amount of that gun was, if it saved my life.

So I'd guess that 99.999% of the time my carry gun is merely jewelry - I figure that if the piece moves me, I'll be more likely to enjoy carrying it. At the moment I'm CC'ing a mid-ranged Glock 26 as it has best combination of weight, capacity, reliability, accuracy and design aesthetics for my tastes, but I'm actually starting to consider a more expensive S&W J-frame revolver instead for the sheer aesthetic/jewelry factor, despite the fact that I'll actually feel less protected by it vs the Glock.
 
"The question could have very well been:
Does price influence your house choice?"

Kinda weak analogy. A house is in the hundreds of thousands of $$$'s Where the most expensive carry gun are only $4000 at the very most. If one wants one bad enough, it is not that hare to save up $4000. But $100,000 and up is a whole different story. Which is all relative on ones income.
Also that question would be off topic on a gun board.
I legally carry concealed different guns that cost me from my $250. KelTec to $1300. Kimber with S&W M-60, S&W PC 327 snubbie, Colt Cobra snubbie, and Taurus M450TI in the middle. It is depending on my mood and the weather.

Reppans post on usage was very good too. Pretty much lays it out.
 
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@reppans

I'm actually starting to consider a more expensive S&W J-frame revolver instead for the sheer aesthetic/jewelry factor, despite the fact that I'll actually feel less protected by it vs the Glock.
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You would rather feel less protected and have better bling? That is an unusual statement to make.

I could see back in the day(about a 100 years ago) when you carried open on your hip why a good looking gun would matter. Sort of a status symbol. But I am presuming that you carry concealed since you posted on this topic so why would a flashy gun be of concern to you? Especially if you feel you are sacrificing performance over a better option that you own.

I have seen a couple of people on this thread as well as other threads and other forums relating their SD weapons to that of jewelry, like the gun is something you flash around or openly display to impress. I don't understand this mentality towards a CC gun. Don't misunderstand, I can appreciate and admire a gun as I might jewelry.

I am very drawn towards the lines of a gun and I especially like a nice high gloss, deep blued 1911 or S&W so I do get the bling factor. But as it specifically relates to concealed carry, I just wouldn't trade artistry over my mindset that I am less protected.

BTW - I don't think you would be less protected with a revolver over your Glock.
 
Price isn't nearly as important as carrying a gun that is reliable and accurate and reliable. I'm just as comfortable with my $300 Ruger as I am with my $1500 1911.
 
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