[Terry G]

The .380 Star thread brought up a question I was asked a couple of weeks ago. What's inexpensive as opposed to cheap? A Correctional Offider was looking to buy a pistol for his wife who wanted some protection as he was on "Morning Watch" 12:00 A.M. to 8:00 A.M. She was pretty knowledgable about firearms, and would feel safer with a pistol in the house. He had broken it down to a .25 Raven, a Hi-Point 9mm, or a used S&W M10. Obviously, looking for something under $200.00. It brought up the question, what IS cheap and still get what you would want? To my mind, the Raven and Hi-Point are out of the question. I know it's not fair, I've shot neither. But they look like junk, and the reviews I've read say they are junk. His wife did not want a revolver. Small children in the house, better a gun that she could take the magazine out of the pistol, clear the chamber, and put it out of reach. She also wanted a new gun, not a used one. I'm a firm believer in C&R's. CZ 52's, Makarov's, and Tokarev's at that dollar amount. American made gun's (including Taurus) are no longer in the price range they have set. The Taurus 24/7 looks like a sweetheart for her needs, but out of the $ question. I know what I suggested, and they bought, for under $200.00. What's your answer?

 

[Garand]

Buy the S&W M10, and teach the wife how to use a speedloader efficiently. If you can unload an automatic, you can unload a revolver. Besides if the person isn't willing to practice regularly, they are probably better off with a revolver.

 

[krept]

My wife had never shot before. I started her out on a G19 and she was pretty upset because instead of it being "fun" like I promised, she was struggling to hit. J&G Sales was about 1.5 hours drive away and had a sale on Bulgarian Maks one day for $109. She's interested in socialist stuff (don't get me started) so we took a trip up there and she picked out a fine Makarov. This was the second handgun she ever shot and she was very, very happy.

Who'd think?

With the quality HPs I've seen it should make a pretty effective piece. For under $200, the options are quite limited. I've seen a lot of real junk crap for the same price we got the Mak for, I'd say it's pretty hard to beat, of course, I've never seen an M21 .22LR. Cheers.

 

[RIKA]

MAK is the way I'd go.

RIKA

 

[41mag]

I'll ditto Garand.

Excellent gun,easy to shoot,& lots of different ammo types.

 

[Magnum88C]

Of the ones you listed, the M10 is the clear winner. I can't believe the others would even be considered, even at the price.

If she simply cannot abide a revolver, then I think the Mak is the answer in that price range.

If he could convince her to go with a used revolver, you can find really inexpensive .357 revolvers out there. Beauty of them is, she can move up to magnums if she wants, without needing a new gun, if she can't ever handle magnums, she can fire .38s, +p I hope, and it will NEVER shoot itself out of time.

 

[.45 COLT]

Folks make fun of the Hi-Point, but they have one thing going for them (besides price and being American-made). They work. They're big, heavy and bone-ugly but they always feed, always fire and don't come apart. I have one (9MM Parabellum) that I have fed a steady diet of my +P+ loads for over four years, around 2500 rounds, both in load testing and on the range, and it is as tight as when I first got it. (There's no pressure standard for +P+, but my loads exceed any reasonable interpretation of one). The company has a lifetime warranty, if you somehow wreck the gun, they repair or replace it, no matter what the cause. I mangled the rear sight on one, dropped from the holster onto concrete, one e-mail and two days later I had a new sight assembly plus the tools to install and adjust it. No charge, not even shipping. Can't beat that service.

I don't particularly like any semi-auto, but when I need to have one, I'll take function over pretty every time.

DC

 

[Wylycoyte]

Actually, I've heard about a fair number of Hi Point pistols that DON'T work. Their carbines, surprisingly, seem to tick away like a Swiss watch by almost all accounts I've read.

 

[andy]

Star BM 9mm is well under $200, is a LOT more gun

and load than is any Makarov, and is all machined steel. Since a Mak's too big for the pocket, you can't compare it to pocket guns, you have to compare it to BELT guns, and it's a real loser in the power department. 1000 fps MIGHT expand a jhp in flesh and blood, but I'dnever bet even $5 on it. To be really certain of a copper-jacketed .36 bore jhp opening fully, you need 1400 fps, especially if the bullet has to pass thru clothing before striking flesh.

 

[TODD 3465]

Of the original ones mentioned I'd go with the S&W M-10.

 

[41mag]

The only problem that I would have re.a High Point pistol has to do w/price.For some reason those suckers are all over the board.I've seen the same 9mm locally from a low of $159 up to $239.I've "heard" that they can be picked up at a show for a C note NIB.I can see an eighty dollar spread on a $600-$1000 pistol.But on one for under $200?Geez.

 

[Terry G]

It really was a trick question, forgive me. He bought the Smith and she liked it a lot and shot it very well with good HP 158 Grainers. During a training session, she fell in love with my German Makarov,shooting 115 Grain Silver Bear HP's. He bought a Bulgarian Makarov for her, and he called me some rude names. Hey it wasn't my fault, who know's women?

 

[RIKA]

she fell in love with my German Makarov,shooting 115 Grain Silver Bear HP's. He bought a Bulgarian Makarov for her, and he called me some rude names. Hey it wasn't my fault, who know's women?

Hey, don't dis us women. We're like Morris the cat, just feed us and give us pretty things and we'll do wonderful things for you. Maybe not even feed us much.

Just kidding ... as usual. We're not really that much different.

RIKA

 

[Terry G]

Hey, don't dis us women. We're like Morris the cat, just feed us and give us pretty things and we'll do wonderful things for you. Maybe not even feed us much.

Just kidding ... as usual. We're not really that much different.

RIKA

Not that much different? Your a different species! My wife tolerates a bunch of cop's coming over to my home, eating food she cooks, and drinking most of my beer. When we go to the range, 100 yards from my doorstep, and start blasting away she does not complain. She is a teacher, with a Master's Degree in education, and put's up with all my little foibles. BUT, forget her birthday once, or anniversary, or when the pet cat littered, damn near, and she's on me like ugly on an ape. I once was forced to take in a one eyed stray cat that was probably the ugliest feline you have ever seen, because "it's cold out". I still have the damn cat.

 

[RIKA]

Terry says "I still have the damn cat."

And I bet you love the critter too.

RIKA

 

[Garand]

I ended up the same way with my cat. Geez, daughters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!