When I was a (very) young man, the choices in handguns were quite a bit more limited than they are today. After you made the decision of whether to go with a revolver or an automatic pistol, you more than likely ended up with a Smith & Wesson or Colt revolver in .38 Special or .357 Magnum or a Colt Model 1911 in .45 ACP — many of which started out as military-issue guns.
Oh, sure, there were always other options, such as Lugers and Walther P38s brought home from Germany after World War II, early model Beretta auto-pistols and others, but the Smith and Colt options were the hands-down favorites for more than a few decades.
But things eventually changed, and it wasn’t long before the list of potential self-defense choices became much longer. And, as always, competition led to innovation and improvements in manufacturing, yielding higher-quality guns at reasonable prices.
Today, your choices are almost limitless. From tiny, micro-compact guns to full-sized combat pistols and revolvers from a much broader range of manufacturers, virtually every taste and every budget can be accommodated. Limited economic means no longer prevent individuals from possessing the protection they deserve. And don’t forget cartridge; if you’re on a budget, 9mm is much cheaper to practice with than almost any other cartridge, including .380.
Like with every other component of your EDC gear, the key is to honestly assess your needs. I don’t know anyone who absolutely, positively needs a $4,000 custom pistol or revolver. Sure, I have friends who own such guns and use them in competitive shooting, but none of them carry those for self-defense. And the few people who do don’t really need to, just as no one actually wears a Rolex to tell the time.
Entry-Level Guns
Most manufacturers today offer so many different models of handguns in such a wide range of sizes and calibers that deciding can be difficult, even if you have substantial funds available. Some models are clearly intended as “entry level.”
Such guns are often smaller in size but still available in defense-capable chamberings, such as 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP. For example, the Smith & Wesson Shield is priced within the means of most budgets, especially when on sale.
Springfield Armory produces 1911-style pistols — from base models to higher-end versions — and its XD line offers a wide range of options. The polymer-frame XD auto-pistols come in striker-fired and traditional hammer-fired versions in a wide range of sizes, configurations and chamberings and with varying features.
Comparing features with prices will show that it’s possible to get a good, reliable gun at a very reasonable cost. Granted, a lower-priced model may not have a built-in laser or night sights, but it will be a perfectly reliable self-defense tool. Even higher-end manufacturers such as SIG Sauer and Heckler & Koch have gotten into less-expensive models (although “less expensive” is a relative term).
Finally, micro-compacts, including the Glock 42 and 43, the Ruger LCP and LC9, and the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380, are extremely well-suited to discreet carry.
Regardless of model, most major manufacturers have regular promotions — sale pricing and/or rebates — that can be substantial and that are usually in coordination with retail sales outlets. Keeping an eye out for such specials is a great way to get the gun you want while staying within your budget.
Don’t Turn Your Nose up at Used Guns
I know, some of you cringe at the thought of buying anything but a brand-new, still-boxed-up gun. But over the years, I have gotten some tremendous bargains on “pre-owned” guns, and I use that term because, in more than a few cases, it was impossible to tell if the guns had ever even been fired.
Sometimes a dealer sells a gun only to have the new owner go home, think about it and change his or her mind. In some cases, the dealer may allow the purchaser to take a full credit on a different gun. However, since it has been returned, even if never fired, the gun cannot be sold by the dealer as “new.” It is now a “used” gun.
I have bought a number of guns this way: technically “used” but in such perfect condition it was impossible to tell if they’d had a single round run through them. My most recent acquisition was a Springfield XD Mod 2. For those of you not familiar, it is an update of the original XD with a new, more ergonomically designed grip frame and other features, including a fiber-optic front sight.
Depending on where you live, the latest version would normally retail at somewhere around $450. But at a recent “special sales event” like I described above, the price was $399, including two magazines and a soft-sided case. Pretty good deal, right?
But as I wandered around the store, I came to the used-guns section. And sitting in the case was an XD Mod 2 9mm. Since it was the recently released “dark gray” version, I knew it had to be relatively new. When I inspected it, I noticed that there was absolutely no evidence of wear whatsoever — not even the slightest “ghost” marking on the barrel that usually appears after 100 rounds are fired through it.
And the price? A mere $325, with three factory mags and a deluxe hard case. Sale made! Now, after having put more than 300 rounds through it (with not a single hiccup, by the way), I am absolutely delighted with it. It’s a solid, reliable, 16-shot 9mm handgun from a major manufacturer, and I bought it at a great price. What’s not to like?
Revolvers can also be found with very little wear and tear. The reason is simple: At a typical trip to the range, I may go through 400 or more rounds when shooting my semi-auto pistols. But when I bring my revolvers, I shoot only a fraction of that amount. I can pop off 15 rounds from an auto in seconds and then reload and repeat in just a few more seconds. But my revolvers hold far fewer rounds to begin with (five to seven in most cases) and take a bit longer to reload.
If you don’t know enough to properly appraise a gun’s condition (or even if you do), it pays to get to know a good, honest dealer who obviously really knows the business. The best are usually independent small-business owners and their employees (Editor’s note: Check out GunsAmerica’s network of local dealers in your area! All local sales are free!).
Establish a friendly relationship and keep them advised as to what you’re on the lookout for. They may give you a heads-up when a particularly pristine gun walks in the door. I’ve gotten some really nice guns this way at very reasonable prices.
Police Trade-Ins
Another great way to find “low-mileage” used guns is to look for law enforcement trade-ins. Most larger dealers carry them at specific times of the year when police and sheriff’s departments replace their officers’ firearms. Such guns often have a fair amount of holster wear but are mechanically almost new, and they tend to be chambered in a cartridge ideally suited to self-defense — usually 9mm or .40 S&W.
With some exceptions, the majority of working officers put very few rounds through their duty guns each year — often fewer than 100. Several of my law enforcement friends regularly compete in tournaments and shoot for practice two or three times a month, but even then, many of them use competition guns and only really use their duty guns while on the job or shooting their departmental qualification courses.
I found just such a gun last year: a full-sized Smith & Wesson M&P in .40 S&W. It has just a touch of holster wear, but the barrel shows almost no ghosting, and it runs tight and solidly. Cost? $299.
The one thing I did not like was that it had a department-mandated heavy trigger spring. But after a quick call to Smith & Wesson, the company sent me a complete spring assembly in the standard pull weight at no charge. I now have a 15-shot, .40-caliber handgun in perfect condition for a price that just about anyone could afford.
Worth the Price
The bottom line is that you really don’t need to spend a boatload of money to get a solid, reliable defensive firearm. You just have to have an open mind and be willing to do the necessary legwork.
Discover how you can join nearly 300,000 responsibly armed Americans who already rely on the USCCA to protect their families, futures and freedoms: USCCA.com/gunsamerica.
Nothing wrong with used. The price is what the “market” bears.
I stay away from ‘home made builds’ ala the AR-15 parts guns that he(builder) thinks are just as good as an MR556(used factory build) I just gave my left leg for!
Nothing wrong with used. The price is what the “market” bears.
I stay away from ‘home made builds’ ala the AR-15 parts guns that everyone thinks are just as good as an MR556(used factory build) I just gave my left leg for!
I need to advise my son-in-law of the aqge of his hunting rifle which he adopted. It was my hunting rifle i traded something else for. It was built in Wartime so it is slightly more. And it had been rebarreled to 7c57.
I recall my first “new” pistol I bought to have something to turn in when the Brady cops showed up.
I’ve worn a Rolex for 40 years to tell me the time. Why else would you wear it. Best watch out there.
Most of my guns are used. I’ve had some dogs, but for the most part, I’ve been thrilled. My first handgun was a S&W Model 10 I nabbed for $160. The finish was near-perfect, no cylinder drag, great timing. I made money re-selling it, but I often wish I’d kept it.