Best 'all purpose' self-defense handgun for $300?

[Minuteman]

A close associate of mine, recently obtained a CCW permit. Due to some personal financial issues, he's strapped for cash, hence the $300 limit.

He won't be able to buy even a $300 gun for a month or longer, so I thought this would be a great question to discuss since we have time. He has taken into account, that he will need more money for a decent rig (holster/belt etc), and money to train, etc, the $300 is about his limit for the gun alone (FFL, taxes, lock, etc, he understands is also extra).

I've already made several recommendations and discussed what I thought were the pros and cons of several models; interested in some other opinions. As soon as there is some good feedback, I'll recommend he come and read this thread for himself, so he's more confident with the advice I'm giving him.

Keep his priorities in mind (this will definitely influence your recommendation):

- One 'all purpose' gun, something he can carry concealed, use for home defense, and take to the range. He's not interested in target shooting, IDPA or anything other than self defense.

- Low recoil, as he want's his petite wife to train with him and be confident to use it if necessary when he is away.

 

[TAliyev]

Makarov, CZ-82

 

[Baccusboy]

Was going to say Kel-Tec PF-9 until I saw low recoil.



Honestly, at those prices, I think you'd better look at something quality that's used. Or, if he can stand it, wait another month and get something that costs a bit more.

But if he must buy now, here is an example of a used Smith police trade-in .38. These are going for $269+FFL feels, shipping (bet you could find something similar local):

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/411545640


Or maybe he could pick up a decent used Taurus Millenium Pro PT111 in 9mm. I know Taurus doesn't always carry the best rep, but the Millenium Pro models have had the bugs worked out of them and seem to do very well.

 

[bward1028]

Makarov, CZ-82

what i was going to say. or a P64. If he has to wait that long to buy something, he should get a C&R too.

 

[matt_b89]

If it's PURELY self defense and he wants his wife to use it to with little to no training get a revolver of some sort. Get a little .38 or something. I'm not sure what the smallest .357 mag is these days, but if you got a .357 that was small you could load .38 for your wife and .357 for yourself. It will never jam and go bang every time

 

[mbz300sdl]

For a self defense gun the Sig P250 is a nice piece its no range gun my any means but a used one should be around 300 since a brand new one is 399. A compact model should be fine to carry but also have enough bulk to be easy to shoot.

 

[joppaj]

As noted, there seem to be a pretty good supply of inexpensive S&W .38's. They're not ideal but they will do the job with good ammo.

 

[Inigoes]

If on a budget, don't discount the hi-points.

It may look like a brick with a handle, but goes bang every time.

 

[Baccusboy]

Not much of a range gun, but it's a Smith, and it's new:

http://slickguns.com/product/sw-m642-centennial-airweight-38-special-2-stainless-336-free-shipping

Better hurry and buy fast, though. Gonna be a bit over $300 after transfer fees, but it'd be a great gun. His wife could fire Hornady Critical Defense .38's out of it, or Corbon DPX and it'd be lower recoil.

 

[Silverlode]

if you got a .357 that was small you could load .38 for your wife and .357 for yourself.

Pretty much what I was thinking. I would guess you can pick up a used GP-100 in that price neighborhood no?

Edit: OK, so after looking around for 5 minutes I'm not seeing any GP-100s quite that cheap. I did see one stainless 4" claimed to be in "like new condition" for $375.

 

[smokey]

bersa thunder


also, if it's for defense and he'll have it for a long time...he should consider just waiting an extra month of saving up and change his limit to $400. Then he could pick up: used glock, s&w snubbie, ruger sp101, used m&p c, new stoeger cougar, used sr-9, on and on and on. If he's going to have it for a lifetime of defensive use, there's no reason he shouldn't be able to wait a little longer till he has $400

 

[smokey]

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/654_910/products_id/411544529

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/654_774/products_id/411545519

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_178/products_id/26467

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/689/products_id/45499

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/39_71/products_id/69241

 

[HardHatMan]

Maybe some type of police trade-in? Like a Glock or Smith and Wesson 5906? He may have to scrounge up a little extra cash for the transfer and all that, but I would def recommend a used pistol from a proven manufacturer.

 

[smokering]

Getting a CCW before any handgun? Kind of like putting the cart before the horse isn't it? If his need to carry isn't immediate I would say to save the money for another month or 2 for a handgun that is not such a compromise. If the want for home defense is immediate he can probably spend about 40% of his budget on a used shotgun.

 

[aquaman]

is he in MD?

 

[Inigoes]

Getting a CCW before any handgun? Kind of like putting the cart before the horse isn't it? If his need to carry isn't immediate I would say to save the money for another month or 2 for a handgun that is not such a compromise. If the want for home defense is immediate he can probably spend about 40% of his budget on a used shotgun.

Depends on state laws.

In PA a License To Carry Firearms covers only handguns, it does not cover a rifle or shotgun. Sounds silly, but that's the way the current laws are.

 

[Bigpapa]

Should get the handgun first or at least have tried several to decide on semi-auto or revolver (both wife and yourself).
Correct me if I am wrong but I'm pretty sure when I got my MD ccw I had to qualify on the platform I planned on carrying?

 

[davsco]

when talking self defense, and a life or lives on the line, not a time to be a cheapskate. skip restaurants and coffeeshops for a month or something for the extra cash. get a new or police trade in glock. prob in the $400 - $600 range. if it's primarily for carry, get their mid-size (19 or 23). if a home and/or range gun, get the full size 17 or 22. they also have subcompact line but frankly they're a little small to hold onto (but see for yourself) and i'd rather carry the mid size.

ruger has a few small revolvers that seem to have gotten good press (eg, LCR), no idea of their price range. easier operation than semi-auto but less capacity and i believe a little wider.

 

[A. Wayne]

Makarov or one of its DA/SA clones in 9x18, although I am partial to the Makarov. A .38 or .357 revolver in DAO would be the most safe. My snubbie isn't as fun to shoot as my Makarov, though.

 

[Numidian]

How close of an associate is he? Why don't you loan him a gun until he can afford something a little nicer? Or loan him the cash if you're not comfortable letting a gun out of your hands.