Looking for a cheap handgun.

D

Drame22

New member
Hello everyone, and merry christmas,


I've been wandering around the internet browsing guns for sale and I find it odd that I can't find a pistol or handgun for less than $300. I might be looking in the wrong place, but I know you can go pick up a mosin nagant for under $100, including a cleaning kit and bayonet to boot, and I was wondering if anyone knew of a simple, reliable pistol, preferably military surplus, that could be bought for no more than $150. I really enjoy pistols but the prices are keeping me from getting any sort of a collection.

Thanks,
Drame22
 
There's always a Feg PA 63. That's about the cheapest I can think of. Make sure that you get a stronger recoil spring and a lighter hammer spring, though. It's a decent gun once it has a halfway normal trigger pull.
 
First, decide what you want

If you want a collection, you are going to be investing a lot more that $150, or $300.

If you just want a quantity of guns that shoot, you could start with Hi-Point. They get a lot of laughs, but they do shoot and are inexpensive.

In the used gun market, you will pay, and pay large, but not in money. In time. You will have to educate yourself in how to identify a gun in good condition.

Start with

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57816
or if the link doesn't work, paste this into your browser
thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57816

Single action revolvers can be had fairly cheaply. Single-stack 9mm pistols are not popular right now, so they are also cheap. But the 1951 Beretta is as good a gun as it ever was. (I have a pair of them). There are other under-valued guns out there, too. The problem is that, they are undervalued because they are overlooked. Because they are overlooked, you rarely hear about them. So you have to find them. But you have to know they exist before you can look. Therefore, you must do research. That takes time and dedication. BUT THE TIME IS WORTH SPENDING. (edit capitalized)

.22 Rimfire is where I would start. For several reasons.

1) ammunition is cheap. Practice is essential. 22 Rimfire is 1/10 the cost per shot of centerfire ammunition.
2) shooting a decent quality 22 at a decent range will put you in touch with other shooters. Shooters who will appreciate a guy who treats his equipment well and shows an interest in safety and supporting the shooting sports, Second Amendment and in general cares about the same things they do. These guys often know when good bargains are available. Most guys who like their guns are just a little evangelical about them and if they detect a kindred spirit are willing to tell you all about their favorites and even let you shoot them.

I suggest a Ruger Single Six or a Mark II or Mark III semiauto from the used market. Just my opinion, for what it's worth.

Merry Christmas and welcome to the forum

Lost Sheep.
 
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I didn't mean a collection as in highly sought-after pistols, I meant a collection so me and my buddies can go have fun shooting preferably some old military pistols.

I have looked at the CZ-82 but alas the lowest priced one was $299.99. At least on the internet. Oregon doesn't have a great deal of gun shows but I'll be going to the next one they do have.

I suppose I am looking for quantity then. I plan to buy 10 or so pistols, I would prefer them and their ammunition to not run me a ton of money so that I don't need a loan for a weekend shooting trip.

Thanks all,
Drame22
 
Cheap?

If you want to bang away for cheap, famaliarize yourself with Tokarevs or CZ 52s. The ammo is the thing. $1224 rounds of 7.62X25 cost about $119 from J&G.

Toks and 52s have their quirks but are easy to tweak. For example, the CZ will need an aftermarket firing pin and both benefit from different recoil springs. Right now, shooting one of those two is about as cheap as you can get, overall. I don't know about finding any $150 milsurps. Unless a big load of something comes up, you're going to have to spend some more.

If you want non-military and cheap, there's always Hi Point. They do work. But, ammo's gonna cost you as you'll have to buy new.

Or, just get some H&R .22s on Gunbroker. You can get a ton of those on your budget.
 
I hate to tell you but I think you started about ten years too late. Now everything is high, including ammo. There are good and bad times to be in the gun market, just like the stock market. Except the gun market just seems to keep going up and up. Wages are down, prices are up, that might be why alot of guns sell slowly now. Unless you can find a great deal from some individual person. Dealers go by book value which gets higher and higher..
 
I have a nine shot swing out H&R 929 .22lr revolver (6 inch barrel, SA/DA) that I'll part with for $150 plus shipping. No issues. Cheap (can be deadly) plinker. If interested, PM me.
 

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You're going to spend much, much more than $300 on ammunition over the life of a pistol. Don't fret too much about a gun costing $500 or so.
 
You want inexpensive w/decent or OK quality...not cheap

A few comes to mind (all used VG to Exc cond. except for the Hi-Point - new) -

SEMI-AUTOS
- FEG PA-63 (9x18) ~ $170
- Hi-Point ~ $150 (quality debatable)
- Ruger P85, P89, & P95 ~ $225 to $300
- Sigma Sigma (40S&W or 9mm)~ $225 to ~ $275

REVOLVERS
- Taurus Model 82 in .38 spl ~ $180 to $225
- H&R & NEF .22 revolvers ~ $125 to $200


Drame22
Looking for a cheap handgun.
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Spread 'em out

Don't buy more than 1 at a time or at least not often. Otherwise you'll have the feds watching you. Lesson learned from personal experience 20-something years ago... :(


Drame22
<SNIP>
I suppose I am looking for quantity then. I plan to buy 10 or so pistols <SNIP>
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I definitely like the look of the FEG PA-63. How are they as far as quality goes? Any replacement parts that I would need to substitute in?

That doesn't sound pleasant. I think the feds are nosy enough already :) I'll be sure to space out my purchases. What exactly constitutes watching me, I wonder?

Thanks all,
Drame22
 
Don't forget the S&W Model 10 in .38 Special. In some parts of the country, they can still be found in the low $200s. They are reliable, and if mechanically sound, extremely accurate.

I believe it was Stephen Camp who said on his webpage, HiPowers and Handguns, that it would take a pretty high dollar 1911 to match or better the accuracy of a mechanically solid, if finish worn, bone stock Model 10 (or most any double action S&W revolver for that matter).
 
The Polish P-64 is a very solid, reliable gun that can also be found for under 200. Accurate and concealable too.
 
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