Recommendation on inexpensive pistol?

[Thrashertm]

Hi,
Since the DC gun ban was overturned, I've been thinking about getting a handgun to protect against a SHTF economic meltdown scenario.

Any recommendations on an inexpensive, reliable, easy-to-use pistol?

I was thinking about a 9 mm similar to a glock, but with a standard safety. I suppose a revolve is also an option.

Thanks

[Truth Warrior]

Pawn shop, "Saturday Night" special.

[Razmear]

If TSHTF then you probably want a rifle and to not be anywhere near DC, but for an inexpensive reliable handgun I'd consider a Taurus .357 revolver. I've had a model 617 for years and it's a solid gun.

link: http://www.taurususa.com/products/pr...egory=Revolver

eb

[GunnyFreedom]

First, the bad news. When it comes to things that could save your life, you will always get what you paid for. A pistol is a tool that if it comes to be needed, MUST function properly and without fail. The worst thing you could possibly do, is to purchase a "Saturday Night Special." Say the SHTF and suddenly the local MS-13 block captain comes around to liberate you of any foodstuffs you happen to have on hand. Feeling secure in your home and being armed, you raise your pistol to his head and <click>. You would have been better off without a pistol at all.

Now for the good news. Razmear is exactly right. A .357 revolver is inexpensive and reliable. You can load .357 Magnums for self defense, or you can load .38 Special wadcutters for target shooting (and thus save a LOT of money) and practice.

The best weapon yet for self defense in urban areas is a shotgun. Being in a home/townhome/apartment will determine your loads, of course. If you are in dense apartments you don't want 00 buckshot or a miss could land you a manslaughter charge for the fella next door. You never want something as light as birdshot either. If you are talking about defense within the home, or for protecting yourself while moving out of the city AFTER TSHTF, I'd reccommend the shortest LEGAL (not sawed off) shotgun, either pump action or semiauto, in 12 guage, preferably with a muzzle choke. I'd put a priority on that before a pistol.

A pistol is really a backup, a weapon you can use from a vehicle (It is awful hard to swing a rifle or a shotgun around inside of a car), something you carry unobstrusively while conducting other business, or something you conceal so that people do not know you are armed. One benefit to having a pistol for home defense over having a shotgun, is that a pistol is easier to leave within arms reach than a shotgun.

My primary weapons are a 12 guage shotgun, a 30-06 bolt action rifle, and a 5.56mm AR-15. I do have a small pistol, but to my mind it's major function is to fight my way back to wherever my primary weapons are (if I am not already by them).

Also, the advice to get away from dense urban environments is awfully good advice. When I was just in DC, we camped not 35 minutes or so away, and it was nothing but woods and rural area as far as the eye could see. You could still maintain your current job but live away from the dense population centers by commuting (sucks, yes, but if the balloon DOES go up, a city apartment is NOT a good place to be!).

So prioritizing in order:

1a) 12 guage shotgun, pump action, as short barrelled as the law allows from the manufacturer! do not under any circumstances saw off your own barrel

1b) Stock up on 12gu shells

2a) Relocating to an environment where you will not be trapped in an urban apartment should TSHTF

2b) Stocking up on ultra-long shelf life storage food

3a) .357 Magnum revolver

3b) Stocking up on .357 Magnum rounds for defense, and especially .38 Special rounds for practice (You should shoot a LOT LOT LOT more in practice than in any kind of defense)

4) some common calibre rifle accurate to at least 400 yards

[Truth Warrior]

First, the bad news. When it comes to things that could save your life, you will always get what you paid for. A pistol is a tool that if it comes to be needed, MUST function properly and without fail. The worst thing you could possibly do, is to purchase a "Saturday Night Special." Say the SHTF and suddenly the local MS-13 block captain comes around to liberate you of any foodstuffs you happen to have on hand. Feeling secure in your home and being armed, you raise your pistol to his head and <click>. You would have been better off without a pistol at all.

Now for the good news. Razmear is exactly right. A .357 revolver is inexpensive and reliable. You can load .357 Magnums for self defense, or you can load .38 Special wadcutters for target shooting (and thus save a LOT of money) and practice.

The best weapon yet for self defense in urban areas is a shotgun. Being in a home/townhome/apartment will determine your loads, of course. If you are in dense apartments you don't want 00 buckshot or a miss could land you a manslaughter charge for the fella next door. You never want something as light as birdshot either. If you are talking about defense within the home, or for protecting yourself while moving out of the city AFTER TSHTF, I'd reccommend the shortest LEGAL (not sawed off) shotgun, either pump action or semiauto, in 12 guage, preferably with a muzzle choke. I'd put a priority on that before a pistol.

A pistol is really a backup, a weapon you can use from a vehicle (It is awful hard to swing a rifle or a shotgun around inside of a car), something you carry unobstrusively while conducting other business, or something you conceal so that people do not know you are armed. One benefit to having a pistol for home defense over having a shotgun, is that a pistol is easier to leave within arms reach than a shotgun.

My primary weapons are a 12 guage shotgun, a 30-06 bolt action rifle, and a 5.56mm AR-15. I do have a small pistol, but to my mind it's major function is to fight my way back to wherever my primary weapons are (if I am not already by them).

Also, the advice to get away from dense urban environments is awfully good advice. When I was just in DC, we camped not 35 minutes or so away, and it was nothing but woods and rural area as far as the eye could see. You could still maintain your current job but live away from the dense population centers by commuting (sucks, yes, but if the balloon DOES go up, a city apartment is NOT a good place to be!).

So prioritizing in order:

1a) 12 guage shotgun, pump action, as short barrelled as the law allows from the manufacturer! do not under any circumstances saw off your own barrel

1b) Stock up on 12gu shells

2a) Relocating to an environment where you will not be trapped in an urban apartment should TSHTF

2b) Stocking up on ultra-long shelf life storage food

3a) .357 Magnum revolver

3b) Stocking up on .357 Magnum rounds for defense, and especially .38 Special rounds for practice (You should shoot a LOT LOT LOT more in practice than in any kind of defense)

4) some common calibre rifle accurate to at least 400 yards

OP ......... "inexpensive".

[GunnyFreedom]

OP ......... "inexpensive".

I'm quite aware of that, which is why I agreed with the .357 Taurus as a good choice.

There is a difference between inexpensive and cheap. The .357 Taurus is inexpensive, your basic Saturday Night Special is cheap. never never never trust your life on cheap.

You are better off without a pistol than you are with a cheap pistol. If you have no pistol and the local gang captain comes into your apartment to scrounge food etc, chances are you will survive. I mean, even the black market needs customers, right? If you have a cheap pistol and try to defend yourself, chances are pretty good it fails or misses, and then you die. Probably horribly.

The OP apparently has the right idea anyway simply because he used the word inexpensive rather than cheap, but I just wanted to stress the importance of it.

There are a few places where you never, never skimp. Combat gear is one of them. The last thing you need when your life and other lives are on the line, is a gear failure.

[Truth Warrior]

I'm quite aware of that, which is why I agreed with the .357 Taurus as a good choice.

There is a difference between inexpensive and cheap. The .357 Taurus is inexpensive, your basic Saturday Night Special is cheap. never never never trust your life on cheap.

You are better off without a pistol than you are with a cheap pistol. If you have no pistol and the local gang captain comes into your apartment to scrounge food etc, chances are you will survive. I mean, even the black market needs customers, right? If you have a cheap pistol and try to defend yourself, chances are pretty good it fails or misses, and then you die. Probably horribly.

The OP apparently has the right idea anyway simply because he used the word inexpensive rather than cheap, but I just wanted to stress the importance of it.

There are a few places where you never, never skimp. Combat gear is one of them. The last thing you need when your life and other lives are on the line, is a gear failure.

I'm a Browning 9 mm, S&W 357 guy myself.

[GunnyFreedom]

I'm a Browning 9 mm, S&W 357 guy myself.

I'm saving up for a S&W M&P .40 as we speak. I also have a very concealable Walther P32 circa 1950 (PPK) that's about as reliable as the sunrise.

[ronpaulblogsdotcom]

Smith and Wesson 357 for a pistol. Simple, Accurate, comfortable.

12 Gauge like a Mossberg Pump if you can swing a rifle. Plus if you have kids it is more difficult to have an accident with a rifle. Not impossible. But more difficult. People naturally can pick up a handgun easier.

[Truth Warrior]

Smith and Wesson 357 for a pistol. Simple, Accurate, comfortable.

12 Gauge like a Mossberg Pump if you can swing a rifle. Plus if you have kids it is more difficult to have an accident with a rifle. Not impossible. But more difficult. People naturally can pick up a handgun easier.

Kids all grown now. No incidents. WHEW!