Posted on 03/30/2020 10:34:51 AM PDT by PROCON
If you have been spooked by the coronavirus and are looking at purchasing your first firearm, but do not want to break the bank, there are several things that you should keep in mind. Aside from choosing a handgun that is going to be affordable on your wallet, you will want to think of caliber. The Top 5 BEST Budget Handguns we are about to name are all chambered in 9mm. For someone who is a 1st time handgun buyer, it goes without debating that they should purchase a 9mm. The ammunition is typically the cheapest you can get among all the popular semi-auto handgun choices on the market, the self-defense (hollow-point ammunition) available in 9mm is stout enough for defense, and there are exponentially more options available in 9mm than any other possible cartridge out there.
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TOP 5 BEST BUDGET HANDGUNS – SMITH & WESSON SD9VE 9MM
The Smith & Wesson SD9VE 9mm is the embodiment of what we are looking for. The funky name and acronym for this pistol stands for “Self Defense 9mm Value Enhanced.” It has a simple dis-assembly and maintenance process (it copies a standard Glock) and it has only the bare, essential features someone would need in a home defense or beginner CCW pistol. It also carries 16 Rounds in its 2 magazines you receive and has a semi-attractive look with a Bi-Tone finish. At an MSRP of $389 and often sold for much cheaper than that, it is hard to go wrong with the Smith & Wesson SD9VE 9mm.
(Excerpt) Read more at alloutdoor.com ...
The only striker fired pistol I owned (other than a Ruger Mark III) was a Glock 22. I sold it. The pistol I keep close to me is a Sig P229 (available 15 rd mags). My P226 can accept 20 rd mags. I wish Sig had not discontinued the P239, The P938 does not quite replace it.
Bought a Bond Arms Rowdy in .45 Long colt/.410. Beast of a hand gun. Heirloom quality for $300. Fits in cargo pants without a holster. We dont wear enough clothes down here to carry larger weapon. After much research I did the Bond Arms. Made in Texas. Has barrels available so that with a simple set screw you can swap to whatever your caliber you want.
LOL!
TRUE DAT!
L
I paid $150 for mine in the original box with 2 mags.
great gun.
Its on hiatus again while they fix the three flawed issues.
“I’d recommend a Ruger SP101 over any in the article. Pick it up. Look at the side. You can see if it’s loaded or no. Point. Shoot.”
SP101 is a fine gun. Chambered in 357/38spl but using .38spl +P/HP to reduce muzzle flip and you have an excellent piece of kit.
Fwiw, new shooters, IMO as a former Army rangemaster of 3 decades experience, should NOT buy any semi-auto pistol.
Instead, you should FIRST buy a double-barrel or pump 12 or 20 gauge shotgun & get PROFESSIONAL TRAINING in its use.
(Even if you have never even held a firearm, most any person in one to two hours of coaching will be able to handle, maintain & safely use their shotgun to defend home & their loved ones.)
Once you are competent with a shotgun, you should buy a .38 special or .357 magnum revolver, as those handguns are about as easy to master, with proper training/practice, as a shotgun is. = MOST new shooters will be doing well with their revolver on the range within 5-8 hours of training.
(Once more, I advise getting PROFESSIONAL TRAINING.)
Just my OPINION, TMN78247
USA, Retired
In time of peace, prepare for war. The time to have been prepared for something like this was before it ever started.
That’s why I have a Glock. No active safeties to worry about. Just pull the trigger and it’s going to go bang, as long as you keep one in the pipe, which is the only way to carry.
That is some bad advice. In this era of mob mentality it's recipe for disaster. Five or six rounds and you're out of the fight...permanently, because you'll never reload in time. I carry a Glock 23 and two spare mags. I like my chances with that way more than I ever would carrying some 19th century anachronism. Even a newbie would be better off with something like a Glock.
^ All great advice in normal circumstances where people are able to undertake said training.
For a thing like now, when the range is not open and classes not running, the four basic safety rules and the simplest operation may be best.
Just got my license to carry and am contemplating my first firearms purchase.I fully agree with your comments about detailed training but am considering a Glock or S&W rather than a shotgun or revolver.
Bears repeating:
In time of peace, prepare for war. The time to have been prepared for something like this was before it ever started.
For a first time buyer who doesn’t plan to do much shooting and it will purely be a self defense firearm, I wouldn’t even recommend a pistol. I’d recommend a revolver, some good hollow point rounds, and an hour or two at the range with two fifty-round boxes of ammo to get the basics of aim, trigger and grip. That would be effective for 90% of possible self defense situations.
If someone is willing to invest time and money into becoming a gunfighter, then unfortunately it would have to be the plastic guns you don’t like. I’d personally recommend a Glock 17 or 19 (depending on the person’s size - when it comes to concealment). I personally carry a Glock 17 since I can conceal it well, with (at least) three magazines with either Gold Dots or HSTs. I prefer heavy-for-caliber 147gr 9mm, although I occasionally carry 127 +P+ Winchester Ranger Ts (although plus P really is not necessary with ammo, and to be honest the HST and Gold Dot are some of the best Bullet designs around). If I am with family I may carry more magazines (reason - my home country has been attacked several times by Al Shabaab, the local Al Qaeda wannabe, and I damn sure I’m not running out of ammo). Obviously I have invested A LOT in training, be it specialized combat training or competitive training for IDPA shoots.
For someone willing to put in the training, the plastic guns are really good value, very reliable out of the box, for a ‘work gun’ are good enough on all areas (I don’t need to put all 17 rounds into one ragged hole ...I just need to put 17 rounds consistently into the zero-down/A-zone/center mass), they have great capacity (17+1 for the Glock 17, with two back-up magazines with extenders giving 19 each), and with modern ammunition the 9mm with (for example) HSTs is definitely not a weak bullet.
If I have to be armed with a pistol in a situation where there are several shooters armed with Kalashnikovs (a very real possibility where I live), then I would know several things. First is I’m in a bad situation. Second, as a man I still need to defend my family. And third, if I have to do so with a pistol by myself, then it’s going to be one of those plastic pistols.
But for a first time shooter not willing to put in the time, definitely a revolver and an hour or two of training.
As for the 1911 - beautiful design by a brilliant designer, and the fact it’s still around over 100 years after its invention is testament to it being an effective weapon. It has served in many wars, and until recently both Delta and MARSOC used custom 1911s as their pistols (before both went to Glock variants, which the SEALs have also adopted giving up their SiG P226s). The 1911 is a great firearm, but there are better tools in the shed nowadays. Not as beautiful, but more effective for more requirements. Kind of like the Browning HiPower, another beautiful legacy (but one that many forget about). A wonderful firearm from the same genius inventor, but also a bit overtaken.
Lifetime Warranty, send it to them and they will repair or replace for ever. MADE IN AMERICA !!!
Same with a CZ-75. I dearly love it, but sadly, a Glock 17 is just a better tool.
and a new Python may not work going by latest reports.
“it goes without debating that they should purchase a 9mm”
It’s not without debate, but I agree with the author.
There’s some mighty fine 9mm ammunition on the market. And it leaves a pretty big, deep hole.
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