Gun Quality vs. Price. (advice wanted)

For the most part you get what you pay for, although that used to hold true much more in the past. For example I don't think Sig's quality has kept up with it's prices, I also don't think any gun with a polymer frame should cost $800+ dollars like HK's do. Not that HK doesn't make some of the higher quality pistols out there, but the cost to make that polymer frame is peanuts compared to the cost of machining steel and aluminum, and it should be reflected in it's price.
 
but the cost to make that polymer frame is peanuts compared to the cost of machining steel and aluminum, and it should be reflected in it's price.
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I'll go you one further and say that even in the case of SIG the price for that aluminum or steel frame is noticeably exaggerated compared to other manufacturers. I have friends that work at the factory. It's a CNC paradise where they churn out thousands of parts in short time.
 
I'll go you one further and say that even in the case of SIG the price for that aluminum or steel frame is noticeably exaggerated compared to other manufacturers. I have friends that work at the factory. It's a CNC paradise where they churn out thousands of parts in short time.
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My father actually works for the company that sells Sig their CNC equipment and has toured some of their factories in NH. He said he couldn't believe the size of the place and volume of parts and guns they were dealing with.
 
He said he couldn't believe the size of the place and volume of parts and guns they were dealing with.
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It's pretty mind boggling. A friend of mine ran the CNC program for all the guide rods for the Legion series. 10,000 of them. :eek:
 
I think most of the time you get what you pay for in guns...( craftmanship, quality parts....all cost money --- and advertising, etc )....

If you think Charter Arms and Taurus are equal in quality to S&W, etc ....then go ahead and go that route....its your money, you should buy what you want. Its my opinion, there is a big gap between Charter Arms, "Taurus - and S&W, etc...but you need to decide that for yourself.

But put the price of acquistion of the gun in perspective....a box of 9mm range ammo in my area is about $ 17 retail --- and if you practice 4 boxes a month( which isn't much ) ...that's $68 a month ...or about $ 800 a year.../ that's where the expense is !!

Rent a lot of guns, shoot a lot of guns...buy what suits your hands the best. Some of us put 10,000 or more rounds a yr thru our primary carry guns ..or about 16 boxes a month...some guns will hold up to that for 20+ yrs, some won't...
 
But put the price of acquistion of the gun in perspective....a box of 9mm range ammo in my area is about $ 17 retail --- and if you practice 4 boxes a month( which isn't much ) ...that's $68 a month ...or about $ 800 a year.../ that's where the expense is !!
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While I agree with your overall message, that's downright fleecing for 9mm range ammo. I'm lucky enough that it's $10.50 for a box of Blazer Brass here.
 
I carried the LC9 for over a year. Shot it a lot. It is rugged, well made and absolutely reliable. The LC9s is supposed to be even better. I don't think Taurus has ever consistently produced the same quality of firearm as Ruger. Taurus is capable of making a good gun; but with Ruger, you don't have to guess.
 
The distribution system affects the price, also.
Like how many middle men there are from manufacturer to gun store.
Everyone needs to make a profit to stay in business.
 
If this was just a range toy where ultimate reliability isn't as crucial, then buy whatever floats your boat. But your intended purpose is concealed carry and the defense of your life and that of your loved ones. IMO, spending an extra $75 to purchase something I know will go bang every time is worth it over the course of time.
 
I have been dealing with this same question for some time and I kind of have to agree with some of the opinions above. I really want to get a new snubby .357 soon and the attractive price of the rossi draws one in but the century old name of Smith and Wesson speaks to my reason.
I HAVE had a lot of cheaper guns (pistols, revolvers and rifles) I STILL have a lot of the more expensive pieces that I bought. I would generally get tired of something that didn't feel as good with rough edges, get tired of replacing parts or upgrading parts to make me feel safe carrying it so I would send it down the road.
Speaking for the Taurus slim series, I bought a 740 new a number of years ago and maybe put 100 rounds through before it sat in the safe waiting to be traded on something else. Was a pain to shoot, about as accurate as a marshmallow gun and really didn't fit my personal fancy. That just my experience though, you may fall in love with a 709 and that is perfectly alright. To each their own.
Seriously though, If anyone has good insight on those Rossi snubbies I would love to hear it...
 
My 9mm reloads are right around $ 6 a box now...( so I don't pay retail ) ...and the price I said included a 10% sales tax.../ but yes, its expensive in my area if you only buy a few boxes at a time.
 
The reasoning behind pricing has been mentioned, but I'll add a few things. Ruger is kind of the in-between for most models (price and function), and I think as a company no one else fills that role as well as them. I feel they are a step above Taurus, and equal to S&W in terms of semi-auto shooters.

I have only fired a handful of revolvers, and the Taurus snubbie I shot in .357 was nowhere near as painful of an experience as I thought it would be (good ole internet chatter). While not as pretty as my S&W Model 36, I think it would still get the job done. I didn't own that Taurus, so I can't speak to long term .357 use. My first semi auto was actually a Taurus, and I didn't have any issues with it. It fired every time I pulled the trigger, and it was accurate enough for self defense. Fit wasn't the best in the world, but the finish on the inside of the slide had less wear than my Sig P239 when purchased. I have since traded that one away and moved onto other guns, although that was more for my preference and not through fault(s) of the gun. I probably will not buy another Taurus, but I think they can work for many people.

While the Ruger LC9s costs more than a Taurus, it is a far cry from being an expensive single stack pistol. It's really all about perspective though. HK and Sig seem like expensive handguns when shopping for a Ruger, but then you see high end 1911's. Each brand has a price point they cater to, and very few attempt to cover the entire spectrum. You could look at the price of Taurus, and Kel Tec sits there as well. They are both the cheapest brands I would trust, but if you have a bit more money to burn I would go for a Ruger/Smith/Glock. Anything cheaper than a Taurus is cheap for a reason.

With all that being said, I am not a brand snob. I've had the pleasure of shooting many different handguns and when shopping I am looking for function and features. I do not pay much attention to the price (as long as it's $900 or less), and am willing to save a bit if necessary. Everyone's situation is different, but I don't ever want to stare at a gun and feel like I settled on something strictly based on price. Buy what you can afford, while leaving a little extra for a holster and ammo. I hate gun stores that push their $20-$40 "universal" holsters during sales. Spend the extra money and get one that is molded to your firearm, as how you carry has as much of an impact as what you carry. Good luck with your purchase!
 
I'm not a Ruger fan and I wouldn't own a Taurus. The Taurus is a poorly made gun and there is a significantly bigger chance of it going back for repair than the Ruger.
You are looking for a carry gun that may be called on to save your life, Personally I wouldn't put that responsibility on a Taurus, like I said I'm not a Ruger fan but I would trust one over a Taurus any time.
 
I have Ruger, S&W, Taurus, Heritage Rough Rider, Phoenix HP-22, Ria 1911 in 9mm and I had a lowly Hi-Point. The Ruger and S&W have a little better fit and finish than the others but they are all, without exception, reliable and accurate. I know gun snobs won't agree but I buy guns based on what I like and price. My current favorite is my under $500 full size Ria 1911 Tactical in 9mm.
 
The Taurus 709 is a great buy. Guns and Ammo just did a test of a bunch of single stack 9's and the Taurus came out near the top. Besting many offerings that were double or triple the price.
The ONLY three guns that made 1000 rounds with out a failure were the.
Walther pps
Glock 43
Taurus 709 slim
Not to shabby company.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAo1SONz7Ao

That being said. I like me some Rugers allot!!! I think I have 5 in the last year.
They simply stand behind their product. Period!
In these days of CNC slap em together and box em up. Being able to get it fixed fast with out a hassle is worth some extra duckets to me.

It is what it is. They are all doing it that way. So easy fix is a must.
The only non Ruger pistol I have gotten new was the Springfield XDS 45. And thats because its in a class all by its self.
 
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Over the years, I've found a few brands which are relatively consistent in quality. With that said, I'm one of those people who can break anything, and I've various guns break down.

When they break, I want good relatively quick customer service; I want a spare gun (I now have several); if fixing myself, I want pretty quick access to parts; and I want references/instructions on how to fix things, even if it's merely Youtube (which is a great resource now-a-days).

I've also got some limitations due to work as to what I can use, which is good as I don't have to consider everything on the market, but bad in that I'm limited to a few brands (if I want to use them for LEO work, instead of only off-duty).

I like the OP's Ruger brand. If I was seriously considering that gun I do a good search for any problems present/prior owners have experienced. I've only heard of this gun, however, and haven't even seen one in person, but I've owned other Ruger guns previously and found them reliable.

For a smallish 9mm, I went with the Glock 43. I'm a big Glock fan, but have had a few which broke down. I've also had a few which didn't work reliably for me. I use the G43 as a backup gun to something more substantial I'd also be carrying.

For the OP, did the revolver idea go away or is this in addition to a revolver? I see you had some questions regarding revolvers in the past. Instead of (or in addition to) the G43, I might, instead, be carrying a J-frame revolver (S&W 442 or 642).

In summary, if I were you, I'd go with the Glock 43 or that Ruger LC9s, once the research has been done as I suggested. I wouldn't bother with Taurus or Charter Arms as I'm good with Glock and S&W. I understand budgets are tough, but that means you don't want to waste time or money getting something which may not work out. You may also be buying only a few guns in your life, compared to others who've got many. Make those purchases count and buy a couple/few popular, recommended, and quality guns and they'll last a lifetime, hopefully.

EDITed to ADD:
I did just a little bit of research and discovered a possible magazine-issue problem with the LC9s. Again, more research may be warranted. See this link:
http://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/ruger-lc9s-60-second-review/
 
...Guns and Ammo just did a test of a bunch of single stack 9's...
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I read that article & I take it with a grain of salt. They obtained over 8,000 rounds of Win T&D 147 gr. 9mm ammo from Winchester and I have tried this ammo and I don't like this stuff at all. They "torture tested" the Taurus 709 Slim, Glock 43, and the Walther PPS up to over 1,000 rounds without cleaning or oiling the guns, in the real world, who does this with something intended as an EDC gun? I would have cleaned & oiled my carry gun at least 4 or 5 times over a 1,000 round interval.

Even though I would choose the Walther or the Glock in a heartbeat over the others, if I don't agree with methods used in the comparison, I don't agree with the results!
 
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This is in response to what L-2 typed:

"Over the years, I've found a few brands which are relatively consistent in quality. With that said, I'm one of those people who can break anything, and I've various guns break down.

When they break, I want good relatively quick customer service; I want a spare gun (I now have several); if fixing myself, I want pretty quick access to parts; and I want references/instructions on how to fix things, even if it's merely Youtube (which is a great resource now-a-days).

I've also got some limitations due to work as to what I can use, which is good as I don't have to consider everything on the market, but bad in that I'm limited to a few brands (if I want to use them for LEO work, instead of only off-duty).

I like the OP's Ruger brand. If I was seriously considering that gun I do a good search for any problems present/prior owners have experienced. I've only heard of this gun, however, and haven't even seen one in person, but I've owned other Ruger guns previously and found them reliable.

For a smallish 9mm, I went with the Glock 43. I'm a big Glock fan, but have had a few which broke down. I've also had a few which didn't work reliably for me. I use the G43 as a backup gun to something more substantial I'd also be carrying.

For the OP, did the revolver idea go away or is this in addition to a revolver? I see you had some questions regarding revolvers in the past. Instead of (or in addition to) the G43, I might, instead, be carrying a J-frame revolver (S&W 442 or 642).

In summary, if I were you, I'd go with the Glock 43 or that Ruger LC9s, once the research has been done as I suggested. I wouldn't bother with Taurus or Charter Arms as I'm good with Glock and S&W. I understand budgets are tough, but that means you don't want to waste time or money getting something which may not work out. You may also be buying only a few guns in your life, compared to others who've got many. Make those purchases count and buy a couple/few popular, recommended, and quality guns and they'll last a lifetime, hopefully.

EDITed to ADD:
I did just a little bit of research and discovered a possible magazine-issue problem with the LC9s. Again, more research may be warranted. See this link:
http://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/ru...second-review/"

Thank you very much for the detailed reply. You are right, money is tight. You are also right in saying my idea is to own 2-4 guns over all. My wife has her Ruger LCP, training, and concealed carry permit. I have training and concealed carry permit and no gun. The other two gun that I may want would be a 12 gauge pump and something to plink with for fun such as a .22 riffle. That being said, you are right. I want whatever I may buy to count. I want it to last and be something that I know I can count on. The truth is in buying a concealed carry handgun....I hope and pray that I have wasyed my money and never ever need it for its intended purpose.
I do not own any guns so yes I am considering a revolver as well. I like the simplicity of a revolver. The issue in my thinking that I can not seem to overcome is from what I am reading.....the 9mm round is an overall better value for the money then the .38 round is. From the research that I have done the 9mm costs less to buy than the .38, is generally easier to find via the gun store or even Wally's World, and the 9mm has a bit more "punch" in doing what it has to do to help you ascape an attacker. That being said however, those are only numbers and in the real world....I am not sure any of that matters. It has more to do with being a good shot, practicing, and knowing your gun. It has less to do with what load you are carrying. Yes I am interested in buying one concealed carry handgun in either a single stack 9mm OR a J-Frame style 5 shot revolver. From what I am gathering, stick with tried and true brands such as Ruger or S&W and you more than likely will own a handgun that will last you a very long time if you take care of it. With some other brnads you may be taking a risk of getting a perfect gun and those companies may not offer the quality of customer service that you might get from say Ruger or S&W. I am drawn to the simple and basic. I have no intention of modifying the gun in the hopes that I could ever make it better than the educated engineer that designed it.
 
Quality. Even if you have to delay the purchase and save to buy it. Lay-a-way if need be. Especially if the gun is for self-defense.

Same for accessories to.

Deaf
 
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