Handguns: Cost vs. Quality

Just picked up another new Ruger SP101 today-- .38/.357 3 inch barrel on this one.
Have to comment that the quality is VERY GOOD.
No endshake, locks up very tightly, nice finish no blemishes, good cyl. end gap---just a good lookin very solid revolver.
Yes, it doesn't have the best trigger ( haven't found any new in box ones that do) but I'll fix that in a hurry.
I really don't know if there is a better value in a revolver out there ---I paid $419.00 plus tax.
Very happy with the ones I own which led me to purchase another.
 
Ok, I don't want to diverge too much, but I recently watched a series about the German invasion into Russia in WWII. The comments by German survivors talked about how the Russian Kalashnikov's worked in cold weather and the expensive German guns would not work.
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Kalashnikovs? World War II? Not exactly. None of his firearms were adopted by the USSR military until after WWII.
 
I've had great luck with Astra, at least in the A-80, A-100, and A-75 models, not a problem with any of the 4 I've owned, both new and barely used.

Dan Wesson revolvers. Strong as hell, and you can work on them yourself!

I think used guns are a better deal than new in general.
 
Ruger revolvers are excellent pistols for the money. SA 1911s offer a good value also.

I also consider Glocks to be a good value when all things are considered such as their reliability, the parts and accessories available, and the high resale prices they bring in.
 
Kalashnikovs? World War II? Not exactly. None of his firearms were adopted by the USSR military until after WWII.
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My mistake. It was 1946. I think in the program they just said the Russian weapons worked in the cold.
 
Value

Very well thought out answers. I'm not surprised to see the Ruger name and specific firearms mentioned so often.
I believe that the little Makarov automatic is an example of good value and good quality. Ultra reliable, accurate, relatively inexpensive.
Pete
 
Want a very dependable revolver? Smith and wesson.
Want a very dependable Semi-Auto pistol and very accurate out of the box? Sig Sauer.
Think of all the rounds you are going to expend$$
 
I personally think that the $500 dollar range is the ideal balance of quality and value. You have Glock, XD, and S&W M&P pistols and Ruger and S&W revolvers. You can pay more, but I don't believe that you are getting anything more for your money except name in many instances. You can pay less, but then you start to compromise quality. I have had many guns that were less that were very good quality (usually Taurus), but your odds of getting a lemon increase the lower you go.
 
while I own one

I had recent experience (again) with a new Taurus auto and new revolver.
The auto was reliable in function but inaccurate, and its mag release was problematic (I don't consider this uber-critical, as the gun fired, fed, and ejected reliably).

The revolver stopped working after less than 100 rds fired; its trigger and hammer were frozen, and even excessive force could not budge them. It's been sent back for service (the auto was sold).

Neither gun was 'mine'.

I have learned over my years that one can reliably recommend Ruger revolvers and autos; same holds (slightly less) true with S&W.
Glock; fine.
Springfield Armory; fine.

Value and quality are defined differently for each of us.


I have no brand favorites (except Caspian, but they don't maker 'guns'); they are just tools.
 
I vote for Glock in semi and Ruger in revolver. The Glock can be picked up used or reconditioned for a fair price and they also offer extreme versatility. Consider the G26 that can be a nice pocket gun and then turn into a machine pistol with a 33 round clip.

I love ruger wheelguns. Everything I want is available at a good cost in a bulletproof format. Want a 357?...the GP100 can be bought reasonably new or for a song as a retired leo. The .44's are all available for great prices new.

Of course these are preferences and you really have much to choose from in other brands as well...
 
"Kalashnikovs? World War II? Not exactly. None of his firearms were adopted by the USSR military until after WWII."

You are right. In WWII Kalashikov was still a Sergeant in the Army and AK47 wasn't introduced until 1947. But the remark was made on TV by a WWII German soldier. (It was on the series "Wehrmacht".) I have no idea how he came up with that remark!

Russian weapons did work better in the cold however, They were made to loose tolerances and of stamped material that was easier to free up from ice. As far as I know any Russian infantry he encountered would have been armed with Moisin-Nagant rifles or PPSH submachine guns, both of which were more effective in Russian winter than the over engineered weapons the Wehrmacht was carrying. Later attempts at assault rifles by the Germans resolved the issue of cold weather weapons but they were never made in a larg enough quantity to make difference in combat.

German weapons were marvels of design and pretty. But they were prone to problems in bad weather. Russian weapons were simple and ugly but they could "take a licking and keep on ticking." Modern nations have taken the Russian example to heart in their new "Assault Rifles."
 
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Net, net, I agree with KyJIm's comments.

If I pay $300 for a good gun to shoot, but I don't have fun with it, then I overpaid. However, if I pay $1,200 for a Python and I want to take it to the range on every trip, then it is a steal for the price.....................ck
 
To me if you are buying NEW go for the maximum quality because it will hold its value the longest. For example, Sig 210's Custom 1911's, Freedom arms revolvers.

If you are buying USED, go for the cheaper price named brand which are now nearly fully depreciated. For example, Ruger, S&W or Springfield.

My SIG210's have appreciated nearly twice from what I paid for them. While the price of my run of the mill Springfield's are about the same as when I bought them.
 
I am not sure there is an answer to this question.

Many people think that HiPoints despite their rough edges are a good value for the money. At under $150 for a reliable semi-auto pistol (or carbine) it is hard to argue that you have not gotten good value.

Others seem to think that unless you pay at least X amount of money for a gun it is worthless.

I don't know why, but some of the more expensive guns seem to be the ones being sent back to be repaired on a regular basis.

There are big differences between a grade 8 bolt and the 5 cent Chinese made cheapo bolt you might get at the same hardware store, but if you don't need the capabilities of the grade 8 bolt, and the cheap one works adequately for your situation, are you not better served by the cheap one?
 
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