inexpensive smaller carry gun..worth it for comfort or keep saving?

[myfender]

I carry a sig p245 and at times it is a bit big and uncomfortable. I have seen some sub $300 and even sub $200 compact guns out there. Are there any cheap guns worth staking your life on or should i keep saving...father of three growing boys and a precious baby girl..in diapers.

 

[Jbotto]

Every time I see affordable, small, and carry gun my research keeps leading me back to Bersa. I don't have any solid time behind any, but I just love what I've been hearing! I'm checking one out for my next one... The BP9CC but this particular pistol is above your listed price. Good luck on the search.

 

[wolf_fire]

I carry a sig p245 and at times it is a bit big and uncomfortable. I have seen some sub $300 and even sub $200 compact guns out there. Are there any cheap guns worth staking your life on or should i keep saving...father of three growing boys and a precious baby girl..in diapers.

Both of my BUG (back up guns) are in the $5-600 price range. I have a S&W model 637 snub nose revolver and a Sig Sauer P238. Neither have given me any problems. I'm not saying a less expensive gun will give you problems, just that in my experience, I've not ever had to worry.

 

[lilmule]

Function,not price does not matter if its a ppk 5-600or a copy thereof 200-300,providing it functions as intended.
An 1800 dollar Kimber is useless if it jams,and some do,pays to break one in prior to cc and have them gone over by someone who knows how to tune one.
Over 100 rds thru a cheap hipoint and not one ftf or malfunction so far great nightstand or truck gun what are you going to do to make it ugly,would not cc one,but reliable.179 bucks.Do at times carry it open as great for cottonmouths with shotshell at the unimproved boat ramps,carried without one in the pipe.
Pt22 occasional feed problem due to rimfire and with after 50 rds thru it,feed ramp gets dirty under steady shooting mere wipe-200 bucks.
Do cc it in summer
Llama 32 acp,mini 1911,great lil gun so far no problems,and finally have yet to cc it just purchased a pa63-200 bucks with extra mag,providing its flawless in operation will carry,at least while outer clothing covers it.

 

[spriestley]

I carry a KelTec PF-9 every day and do not have any question that it will perform when needed. How do I know? I am have a deep understanding of the gun and experience with it. When I first bought it I had a couple FTF/FTE and discovered that KelTec firearms benefit greatly from some TLC - the "in" crowd refer to it as "fluff-n-buff" - it means I took it apart and lightly polished most of the roughly machined surfaces with fine grit sandpaper. More importantly, and I firmly believe this is what has lead to my comfort in the firearm - I shoot at least 100rnds a month through it. Bob Mayne at HandgunWorld.com refers to this as a "Thousand Round Trigger Job" - meaning that a trigger smooths out and springs settle in right around 1,000-2,000 rounds.Since the first few outings with it 5 years ago I have not had a single issue with the firearm. YMMV.

 

[Wyldekard]

On any given day any manufacturer can produce a gem or a piece of crap. I buy weapons from manufacturers who are smart enough to at least appear to be concerned about their reputation. The weapons I own are made by Beretta, Colt, Smith & Wesson, and Stag Arms. They all offer products that won't break the bank and stand behind their work 100%, which is important if you happen to be unlucky and get a piece of crap instead of a gem.

Personally I won't carry any weapon until I have fired 500 rounds thru it and I don't consider a handgun fully broken in until I have fired 1000.

 

[SGB]

Keep saving .....

 

[PopPop73068]

Your choice in the end

While the final decision on what to carry will be up to you, for what it is worth, I can usually be found carrying a Colt Combat Commander as primary, and two Bersa Thunder .380's as well as a .22 mag derringer as backup. One Bersa is IWB, the other is in an ankle holster, with the .22 in my pocket. I paid $319.00 for my Bersa .380 at Academy Sports, and after over 500 rounds through both, neither had a failure to fire, failure to feed, or failure to eject. My wife also carries two of the Bersa Thunder .380's (one in her purse, the other in an inside-the-bra holster), and refuses to carry anything else. Given that I have four of them, and just invested in Crimson Trace laser grips for all, that alone should speak of how well made I think they are. But again, the choice is yours.

 

[SoonerOKC]

I had been out of the pistol market for 30 plus years. I bought a Browning High-Power in 1982 ($300 back then) and its been my only pistol.
When I went for my CCL in March I knew I needed a new CC Weapon. I did some research and Bersa kept popping up...I didn't want one...I kept looking...Bersa kept popping up...I didn't want one...I went to a gun dealer to buy a Ruger SR9C...the dealer said to try this Bersa BP9CC...I didn't want one ..but I'll try it..it fit my hand and was the exact size, feel and price ...I bought it and was hoping it would do well at the range...I've fired 600 to 800 rounds or so and it has been great..I would recommend one ...just remember to clean it real well before you fire it the first time and don't use Winchester Ammo.

 

[Jbotto]

I had been out of the pistol market for 30 plus years. I bought a Browning High-Power in 1982 ($300 back then) and its been my only pistol.
When I went for my CCL in March I knew I needed a new CC Weapon. I did some research and Bersa kept popping up...I didn't want one...I kept looking...Bersa kept popping up...I didn't want one...I went to a gun dealer to buy a Ruger SR9C...the dealer said to try this Bersa BP9CC...I didn't want one ..but I'll try it..it fit my hand and was the exact size, feel and price ...I bought it and was hoping it would do well at the range...I've fired 600 to 800 rounds or so and it has been great..I would recommend one ...just remember to clean it real well before you fire it the first time and don't use Winchester Ammo.

Why no Winchester ammo? Any reasoning or company policy. Curious is all...

 

[lilmule]

Something to think about,with children present light trigger pull guns glocks,1911 or sa in general,should not be handy and when not use in a safe or a gun lock on them no one uses,yet supplied.
The bersa thunder keeps poping up and it is a popular cc piece it and all the cz cold war are basically pp-ppk copies,all of which after break in are decent pistols the cold war imports requiring a lil work on the triggers,the bersa none other than break in .The pp=ppk is around 500 so not out of orbit as yet.I myself often cc a 32 acp and now going to a 9x18 euro 380,just to try it as a step up.
Its whats comfortable to you to tote around and hide so to speak as should be a surprise that you are carrying not an advertisement.
Big guys can pancake a 45,business suits require either a special hong kong cut or a small pistol like a ppk.
Your familiar with your sig,small frame pistols like pf9 db9 are squarish flat and hide hurt a tad to shoot at least for me.The 380 being the next step down.In that the pp-ppk either in original form or any copy thereof is hard to beat.

 

[kerb]

Something to think about,with children present light trigger pull guns glocks,1911 or sa in general,should not be handy [/quote ]

Uh huh

Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk 2

 

[drrogerc]

Personally, In this catagory, I carry a Ruger LC9. The long double action trigger pull makes this a safe firearm even without the safety applied, in my opinion. I also feel the 9mm Luger round is a step up from the 380. Thje LC9 is a reasonably priced pistol.

 

[BurgerBoy]

I had a LC9. I put 50 rounds through it and then when I took it apart to clean it one of the frame rails was already starting to splinter and crack. I said no more plastic guns for me.

I got rid of it and got a Bersa Thunder 9 UC Pro. Its an all metal da/sa gun. I've put hundreds of rounds through it and it has never had a failure of any kind. It eats any ammo I feed it with no problems at all.

All of my friends that I let shot it loved it and wanted one for themselves.

 

[Jmeadows]

My usual carry is a smith and Wesson m&p 40 c but its backed up by my ruger lcp 380 both great guns both shoot well no problems with either. Though lately I find myself pocketing the lcp as more of a convience

 

[Rocketgeezer]

Every time I see affordable, small, and carry gun my research keeps leading me back to Bersa. I don't have any solid time behind any, but I just love what I've been hearing! I'm checking one out for my next one... The BP9CC but this particular pistol is above your listed price. Good luck on the search.

I have had consideral experience with Bersa, and for a small concealed gun I would go with the Thunder 380cc, I know it is a 380 but its a bunch more comfortable to shoot than the 9cc,

 

[Jbotto]

I have had consideral experience with Bersa, and for a small concealed gun I would go with the Thunder 380cc, I know it is a 380 but its a bunch more comfortable to shoot than the 9cc,

Thanks for the insight Sir! I'm planning on saving up a few bucks and shooting some of the thin 9mms side by side at the rental range. I'll decide which I like after that. I shoot an Ruger SP101 and am fairly used to a snappy gun. We'll see what happens! I would like to try a few Bersa's for sure though!

 

[Rocketgeezer]

Thanks for the insight Sir! I'm planning on saving up a few bucks and shooting some of the thin 9mms side by side at the rental range. I'll decide which I like after that. I shoot an Ruger SP101 and am fairly used to a snappy gun. We'll see what happens! I would like to try a few Bersa's for sure though!

In addition to the Sheild, and Bersa 9cc, you may want to ck out the Taurus 709, had two of them had no trouble at all, but honestly my everyday carrys are Glocks and a compact 1911 45

 

[Jbotto]

In addition to the Sheild, and Bersa 9cc, you may want to ck out the Taurus 709, had two of them had no trouble at all, but honestly my everyday carrys are Glocks and a compact 1911 45

You sir were reading my mind! I was thinking Shield, Taurus 709, Bersa(s), and there was another that is escaping my mind at the moment...

 

[myfender]

Thanks

Personally, In this catagory, I carry a Ruger LC9. The long double action trigger pull makes this a safe firearm even without the safety applied, in my opinion. I also feel the 9mm Luger round is a step up from the 380. Thje LC9 is a reasonably priced pistol.

THe LC9 Would work I agree, now all i need to do is when the giveway :yu:

I appreciate all the feedback and you all have given me about 3 different pistols to go try out at the range a bit. and yes of course carrying with children you should always be cautiouse weather it is a light pull or not. If the gun is not on me then it is locked, just how it has to be. maybe i will get a quick open safe someday so I have more ready access but right now with two 8 year olds and a 5 year old boy and a 2 year old girl, I think we stand a greater risk of them getting there hands on the gun then being robbed.

Thanks again.