Inexpensive pocket/mousegun?

M

mlk18

New member
I am thinking about buying a super small, low caliber, throw down, glove box, no-name, just better than a harsh word mouse gun. And let's say that I want to spend less than $100. What should I look for? I have been seeing alot of Sterling .22lr and Raven .25 pocket autos lately. So give me your input, and PLEASE do not suggest a Kel-Tec P32 or anything more expensive than $100. The key here is point blank shooting qualities, low price and extreme concealability (oh ya and entertainment value). Thanks.

mlk18
 
Wouldn't recommend a gun that I wouldn't give to my own mother.

Something selling NIB in that price range may not work at any range.

Buy a knife and save a few bucks.
 
You'd be better off buying a surplus eastern block pistol used. I've seen pa-63's in 9mm mak for as little as $100, sometimes less. You get a LOT more gun for the money.

Reason I say this is I'm not sure I'd trust my family jewels to a cocked and locked raven/jennings/lorcin in my front pocket. At least with a DA trigger you won't accidently sing soprano because you were fumbling for your change.:D

The CZ 50 (I think) is a surplus .32 now hitting the market, similar in size/appearence to a PPk. Might fit your bill.
 
I'll try again . . . .

I don't think anyone, so far, seems to get what I was asking for. I would like recommendations on inexpensive (aka cheap) pocket pistols; not opinions on why I shouldn't buy one. I am not going to carry it as a primary or secondary weapon, I am not going to use it for home or personal protection and I am not entering some kind of defensive pistol competition with it. Since these small .22's and .25's outsell most other guns, I am sure someone is buying them (or owns one). And again I am especially interested in anyone with experience witht he Sterling pistols.
Thanks.

mlk18
 
I have a little PA-63 and it is a fairly decent pistol. I carry it while doing chores at deer camp. The only problem that I ever had with it was I must have snagged the base of the magazine on something while disking up next to the tree line and it came off.
The sights are not great but beavers, killer dillers etc. are easy prey at close range. Never had a FTF or any other malfunction other than when the magazine spring, follower and rounds were missing:eek: For a mouse gun it is great. Less than 100 bucks and ammo is cheap.
 
I can't really think of many sub-$100 guns that I'd want to trust my life to. I'd think that you might find some older .32ACP guns that might be available for around $100, and it'd have a lot more punch than a .25. You seem to be talking about something that shoots, not something that looks good, older guns with little finish left are frequently available at very low cost.
 
I've seen used Makarovs for under $100

I've also seen several Derringers for under $100 (and I've seen kits to build them for like $35)

Here's one on Gunbroker...
http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=2171722
the bidding starts at $65 and it will fire a .45cal or .410ga. It's only 2 shots, but if you had .25 cal at the same range you'd have less chance of stopping them with 5 shots of .25 vs 2 .45 :)


Here's a .38 special Derringer also starting at $65
http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=2109460


Frankly I'd trust my life to a 2 shot Derringer in .45acp or .45long colt over a semi auto mouse gun any day (if that was the only choices)
 
OKAY

Had three Sterlings in the '70's; two 22's, one 25, none worked reliably.

Suggest better way to spend $100 might be NAA mni.
 
Shot a couple of Davis .380 twins one night, ate all the ammo I fed them. Also, at one time, the Raven .25 (now Phoenix Arms) was one of the best of this genre. I own a Phoenix Arms HP-22, and while it is a tad bigger than a pocket gun, it was one of the best 100 dollars I spent.
 
I have a Raven that I bought about 18 years ago when I was poor. It has never failed to fire and is not to shabby in the acurracy department either. It'll do anything a .25 can do.
Although I havent used it in years I keep it around to remember the lean years. A $60 dollar gun that works is better than a $500 one that dosnt and I've come across a few of those.
 
The gun you are seeking does exist.

The Phoenix Arms (replaced Raven when the factory burnt down - get it) make the HP22.

This is an attractive pocket sized SA .22 with a 10 shot magazine.

It is reputed to have very good reliability and was specifically designed to have a market price tag of exactly $100, although it may now be more like $120. I recall reading a report on it in Handguns 1999 which stated that the gun is no throw away and has been factory tested in the multiples of thousands of rounds with no failures.

If you want the added reliability of centerfire ammo, they make the HP25 which is identical apart from caliber and perhaps capacity.

The next step up would be a Taurus .22 but these are at least twice your budget.

See link for photo and sample price if still current on GunBroker :

http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=2159974

Mike H
 
I had two Sterling 22's in the '70's. One worked well, the other didn't. I still have the one that works. It has proven itself to be 100% reliable with Remington golden bullets. It also saved my butt from getting chewed up by three nasty old dogs in the woods one day, I guess they didn't like the noise 8-)
 
Raven .25 tends to be the most reliable of the genre as long as one sticks to FMJ and keeps the gun chamber-empty until ready to use.

Another suggestion would be to look for a cosmetically ugly, used Beretta 950BS Jetfire, which I think is the uber-.25 pocket gun. One with some holster or pocket wear should be in the $100-$125 range, and is as reliable and accurate as you'll find in a pocket pistol.
 
I am not going to carry it as a primary or secondary weapon, I am not going to use it for home or personal protection and I am not entering some kind of defensive pistol competition with it
Click to expand...

So what else is a gun used for?
 
Well let's see...

SHOOTING.......conversation piece........entertainment value.......etc.......etc......etc.......etc......

I also own a muzzle loader in .54 cal, it may freak you out but I don't use that for concealed carry, competition or protection either. Wierd huh.

mlk18
 
Tamara's suggestion to get a Beretta 950 is a good one. I have one and it is reliable, small, and acccurate enough for close range. Taurus also makes a DA SA in .22 and .25. I also have one in a .25, and it has been reliable, but is a little larger than the 950.
I also have a Davis Derringer in .32 ACP. They are available in larger crtridges also I think. They should be available for much less than $100. However, all of these that I have seen have a trigger pull that is so heavy I sometimes check to see if I have removed the safety.
Of the ones I have mentioned, I would go for the 950.

I have a couple of MAKs that I gave $100 for, but I don't think they are available for that now. If you were to find one at your price, they are better than any of the ones I have mentioned if you don't mind the size and weight. I think they are "best buys."
Jerry
 
Yes - i found that somewhat disturbing, and was surprised no one had picked up on it yet.

A "t'row gun" is one you carry for the explicit purpose of throwing down on the ground in front of someone you have just shot and killed to indicate that you were acting in self defense.

The concept is, I believe, not appropriate for this board.
 
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