Ruger LCP in .380 Looooong... trigger pull, however once used to it I could put 7 rounds in 6 inches at 10 yards (self-defense ranges). Worst budget gun? Kel-Tec PT9. That 10+ pound trigger... ugh. High point if there's nothing else than the kel-tec (weight but it always worked) Ruger LC9s (trigger was so much better than LC9) still makes it into the rotation. Taurus 605 with 130gr defensive .357 with 3" barrel when I feel wheelies. And my favorite is the LCP max. Trigger, capacity, concealability... All of these were under $300, Gone now the kel-tec $200, the HP $50 (used in a two fer deal involving a SW glock 17 clone). Add in a couple of roughrider SA .22 Revolvers (my grandkids love those - I'd take that over the kel-tec) at 99 each rounds out the "budget" collective. Most I still have, but that kel-tec had to go and the glocks started complaining about the high-point so I got rid of it for 75 😆
You should try the Ruger LCP Max. The trigger is pretty good and nothing like the original Ruger LCP. 13 rounds and weighs 15 oz loaded. You can usually find them on sale occasionally for about $260
Usually any pistol I've vetted through 3 tough range days Usually at least 4 different JHPs and some one hand shooting too. I've recently had bad luck when years have been fine.
I'm an older guy, 47, and I don't fall into the trap of buying expensive guns, unless it's something that I really want and it's on clearance on PSA. I buy most everything used. I have some quality guns, pistols, revolvers, rifles and shotguns and they're all pre-owned. Colt, Glock, Daniel Defense, son's of liberty gunworks, sig sauer, etc. I also have some budget guns like tisas, rock island and Taurus. I've never bought a brand new vehicle either. I let someone else pay the sticker price and break it in.
I regularly carry a Glock 42. I've bought 3 used 42's because I keep finding them for 300 bucks. I consider a used Glock 42 for 300 a reliable budget carry gun. I also like to live Johnny Dangerously sometimes and carry my 22 short Astra as a backup 😆
Hell, my 30sc Shield Plus was only 299 at grabagun, and I carry that thing a lot. With magguts extensions in it, it's a 19+1 gun loaded with 30sc HST rounds, and I'm not "outgunned" by anybody I might encounter on my typical day to day existence. The Taurus GX4 and Ruger Max9 are also extremely budget friendly 9mm guns and both are known to be reliable. Right now, you can buy a Dagger fullsize frame for 49.99 and if you throw a decent glock style gen3 slide on it, that's a really nice inexpensive gun that I'd carry myself. I actually did exactly that on previous PSA sales for their 49 dollar Dagger full-size frames. I now carry it with a Shadow Systems gen3 slide. With a 70 dollar glock performance trigger I installed in the Dagger frame, it shoots as well as any Glock 9mm I have.
My first pistol years ago was a Taurus Millennium G2 that had been gifted to me. It functions fine, but is a very unimpressive firearm with poor accuracy that made me swear off of Taurus. I still have it, but just secretly store it inside one of the pinball machines in my game room to be used as an emergency backup. However, I tend to agree that they have improved quite a bit since then and when I’m again in the market I’ll likely consider Taurus. Of course, I absolutely love my Canik METE MC9. It feels good in my hand, is very accurate and has that phenomenal trigger. Granted, I was leery at first because it had some trouble feeding JHP. I feel the feed ramp is a scosh too steep, but polishing it to a mirror finish resolved that issue. It also had the mag drop issue, but I used the painters tape trick to resolve that. Two things I feel I shouldn’t of had to do, but the Canik is after all a budget gun and since then it’s been absolutely fantastic. When I go out it’s tucked into my waistband.
@@pinballrick6031 I still need to pick up a canik. Honestly the only reason I haven’t is because of my politically based disdain for the country they are made in.
Probably my LCP Max... serves its purpose (summer pocket carry) and I am only 1k rounds thru, but no malfuctions. Not my favorite to shoot, but does the job.
There was a time when military surplus pistols could be cheap and still worth carrying. These days, I recommend haunting pawn shops for deals--and use a bit of good sense: Know how to operate typical semiautos and revolvers, check for any obvious problems. One gun that's still not too expensive new is the Beretta APX.
My wife has a Taurus g3c with at least 2000 rounds through it and the input 2 malfunctions it’s ever had was once when she was shooting weak hand only, and the other was a failure to extract when she was shooting that Cci rat shot. I can’t believe how well that thing has worked for her
I have a KelTec P3AT, and it is my "cheap throwaway," I paid $90 for it at a gunshow. But that would require very specific circumstances for me to use it. That said, I'm a Glocktard, so it's a 19 for me. All day, every day. 😊
My cheap handguns are both large frame 22's from long ago, neither of which I would carry. If I was going to buy something relatively cheap I would probably get the Tisas 1911 that PSA always has on sale or some m9 clone. maybe a high power clone.
@thegundungeon problem I have with that gun is the 44 special ammo you buy off the shelf is all loaded hot. I find it hard to hold on to that gun. I have to reload by hand and slow it down to 513 feet per second to keep it from flying out of my hand. It is the only handgun I have to do that with. It is slow enough i can see the bullet flying through the air it goes out to about 45 to 50 yards, then drops like a rock.
This super light .32 acp bullets to crazy 30 carry velocities? Interested how xtp can do rest over JHPs driven too shallow penetration I would think but xtp you cam find sweet spot maybe
@@thegundungeon I don't like screwdrivers unless give you distance you want...extra in clear gel is snake oil...mostly...I'd load xtp at 4 different levels and fire 2 of each into gel with 4 layer tshirt...figure out the ideal for it. It is still maybe too light but given the right velocity..maybe.... Are you going to be able to get any grip vids or showing it off before xmas..
@ yeah I have the short I sent you coming out next week, I haven’t shot any new range content in several weeks since deer season started, this is the last weekend coming up then I’ll be doing more content on the range.
@@thegundungeon Ok cool it's taking awhile to get on websites etc. just try get something out even a 3 minute looksey vid and Merry Xmas kinda thing maybe by dec 14th if you can. thanks
@@thegundungeon I have two that I bought about a month apart. Both have run flawlessly. One has an intermittent erratic ejection of brass to the face. Not real enjoyable, but for the price I don't really care. Neither one is a carry gun for me, however I would not hesitate if on a tight budget.
First gen Diamondback DB9, got it used for a hundo. Trigger is a staple gun, lil ammo picky and needs lube. But it runs and the nickel cased stuff and is surprisingly accurate. Might pick up a gen 4 if I see a deal.
Ruger lcp.
It isnt perfect for everybody, however, my crew has them. For the money, hard to beat. All ours have been reliable. Easy to carry.
Ruger LCP in .380
Looooong... trigger pull, however once used to it I could put 7 rounds in 6 inches at 10 yards (self-defense ranges).
Worst budget gun? Kel-Tec PT9. That 10+ pound trigger... ugh.
High point if there's nothing else than the kel-tec (weight but it always worked)
Ruger LC9s (trigger was so much better than LC9) still makes it into the rotation.
Taurus 605 with 130gr defensive .357 with 3" barrel when I feel wheelies.
And my favorite is the LCP max. Trigger, capacity, concealability... All of these were under $300, Gone now the kel-tec $200, the HP $50 (used in a two fer deal involving a SW glock 17 clone).
Add in a couple of roughrider SA .22 Revolvers (my grandkids love those - I'd take that over the kel-tec) at 99 each rounds out the "budget" collective.
Most I still have, but that kel-tec had to go and the glocks started complaining about the high-point so I got rid of it for 75 😆
You should try the Ruger LCP Max. The trigger is pretty good and nothing like the original Ruger LCP. 13 rounds and weighs 15 oz loaded. You can usually find them on sale occasionally for about $260
@Steven-gv1ke in my pocket now 🙂 Love it!
Usually any pistol I've vetted through 3 tough range days Usually at least 4 different JHPs and some one hand shooting too. I've recently had bad luck when years have been fine.
I'm an older guy, 47, and I don't fall into the trap of buying expensive guns, unless it's something that I really want and it's on clearance on PSA. I buy most everything used. I have some quality guns, pistols, revolvers, rifles and shotguns and they're all pre-owned. Colt, Glock, Daniel Defense, son's of liberty gunworks, sig sauer, etc. I also have some budget guns like tisas, rock island and Taurus. I've never bought a brand new vehicle either. I let someone else pay the sticker price and break it in.
S&W SD40 is a decently priced option. (Or SD9)
I regularly carry a Glock 42. I've bought 3 used 42's because I keep finding them for 300 bucks. I consider a used Glock 42 for 300 a reliable budget carry gun.
I also like to live Johnny Dangerously sometimes and carry my 22 short Astra as a backup 😆
Hell, my 30sc Shield Plus was only 299 at grabagun, and I carry that thing a lot. With magguts extensions in it, it's a 19+1 gun loaded with 30sc HST rounds, and I'm not "outgunned" by anybody I might encounter on my typical day to day existence. The Taurus GX4 and Ruger Max9 are also extremely budget friendly 9mm guns and both are known to be reliable.
Right now, you can buy a Dagger fullsize frame for 49.99 and if you throw a decent glock style gen3 slide on it, that's a really nice inexpensive gun that I'd carry myself. I actually did exactly that on previous PSA sales for their 49 dollar Dagger full-size frames. I now carry it with a Shadow Systems gen3 slide. With a 70 dollar glock performance trigger I installed in the Dagger frame, it shoots as well as any Glock 9mm I have.
Back in the day, I carried a Rossi snubbie .357. It went bang every time for me. I think I paid right around $250 for it back in the mid ‘90s.
My first pistol years ago was a Taurus Millennium G2 that had been gifted to me. It functions fine, but is a very unimpressive firearm with poor accuracy that made me swear off of Taurus. I still have it, but just secretly store it inside one of the pinball machines in my game room to be used as an emergency backup. However, I tend to agree that they have improved quite a bit since then and when I’m again in the market I’ll likely consider Taurus.
Of course, I absolutely love my Canik METE MC9. It feels good in my hand, is very accurate and has that phenomenal trigger. Granted, I was leery at first because it had some trouble feeding JHP. I feel the feed ramp is a scosh too steep, but polishing it to a mirror finish resolved that issue. It also had the mag drop issue, but I used the painters tape trick to resolve that. Two things I feel I shouldn’t of had to do, but the Canik is after all a budget gun and since then it’s been absolutely fantastic. When I go out it’s tucked into my waistband.
@@pinballrick6031 I still need to pick up a canik. Honestly the only reason I haven’t is because of my politically based disdain for the country they are made in.
Probably my LCP Max... serves its purpose (summer pocket carry) and I am only 1k rounds thru, but no malfuctions. Not my favorite to shoot, but does the job.
During warm weather I carry a Ruger LCP II. About half of the time during cooler weather, I go with my Charter Arms Bulldog. Both are 100% reliable.
There was a time when military surplus pistols could be cheap and still worth carrying. These days, I recommend haunting pawn shops for deals--and use a bit of good sense: Know how to operate typical semiautos and revolvers, check for any obvious problems. One gun that's still not too expensive new is the Beretta APX.
Yes Taurus bought the machines and blueprints and if I'm not mistaken had direct help from Berreta engineers
My wife has a Taurus g3c with at least 2000 rounds through it and the input 2 malfunctions it’s ever had was once when she was shooting weak hand only, and the other was a failure to extract when she was shooting that Cci rat shot. I can’t believe how well that thing has worked for her
@@18wheelsandadozen6shooters5 yeah their new stuff does really well
I have a KelTec P3AT, and it is my "cheap throwaway," I paid $90 for it at a gunshow. But that would require very specific circumstances for me to use it. That said, I'm a Glocktard, so it's a 19 for me. All day, every day. 😊
Can’t wait to see the jell test
My cheap handguns are both large frame 22's from long ago, neither of which I would carry. If I was going to buy something relatively cheap I would probably get the Tisas 1911 that PSA always has on sale or some m9 clone. maybe a high power clone.
@@ThePenn7 I’ve seen good things on the tisas stuff
I traded or sold all my cheap handguns. The cheap one I'd carry now is my charter arms bulldog in 44 special.
@@TimDavis-wc7rc man I’ve been eyeballing a bulldog classic for a while lol
@thegundungeon problem I have with that gun is the 44 special ammo you buy off the shelf is all loaded hot. I find it hard to hold on to that gun. I have to reload by hand and slow it down to 513 feet per second to keep it from flying out of my hand. It is the only handgun I have to do that with. It is slow enough i can see the bullet flying through the air it goes out to about 45 to 50 yards, then drops like a rock.
I have a Taurus G2C It’s a good tool to have.
This super light .32 acp bullets to crazy 30 carry velocities? Interested how xtp can do rest over JHPs driven too shallow penetration I would think but xtp you cam find sweet spot maybe
@@DanTheWolfman these 56.4gr monolithics got 16” of penetration with the handgun. We shall see after deer season how the others do.
@@thegundungeon I don't like screwdrivers unless give you distance you want...extra in clear gel is snake oil...mostly...I'd load xtp at 4 different levels and fire 2 of each into gel with 4 layer tshirt...figure out the ideal for it. It is still maybe too light but given the right velocity..maybe.... Are you going to be able to get any grip vids or showing it off before xmas..
@ the ones I’m talking about are 4 petal expanding bullets. They are velocitas bullets
@ yeah I have the short I sent you coming out next week, I haven’t shot any new range content in several weeks since deer season started, this is the last weekend coming up then I’ll be doing more content on the range.
@@thegundungeon Ok cool it's taking awhile to get on websites etc. just try get something out even a 3 minute looksey vid and Merry Xmas kinda thing maybe by dec 14th if you can. thanks
I hear Taurus GX4 is pretty reliable. Also, I like all my cheap Monstrum optics.
@@markzuckerberg3128 yeah seems like about all their newer stuff is getting really good reviews.
Canik 9mm goes everywhere with me. Also have the rock island 1911 45acp real solid hand gun. Not real pricy on either
Both great options
i have had good luck with sig an bushnell reddots just my experience
Springfield XD Mod3 and PSA Dagger
@@gryphonz3 surprisingly I haven’t tried a dagger yet
@@thegundungeon I have two that I bought about a month apart. Both have run flawlessly. One has an intermittent erratic ejection of brass to the face. Not real enjoyable, but for the price I don't really care. Neither one is a carry gun for me, however I would not hesitate if on a tight budget.
I remember McDonald’s. My 20 peice nugget turned into 40 when u were workin 😂
Take care of ya lol 😂
Zastava M70A
Star BM9
Zastava M83
@@christopherbishop4927 the old stars, yes
First gen Diamondback DB9, got it used for a hundo. Trigger is a staple gun, lil ammo picky and needs lube. But it runs and the nickel cased stuff and is surprisingly accurate. Might pick up a gen 4 if I see a deal.
Ruger LCP Max, holds 13 rounds of .380, weighs 15 ounces fully loaded, and you can occasionally find them on sale for $260.