would you rather...

[tony pasley]

I wish I could find the ones I am looking for $750.00 or below.

[TunnelRat]

One expensive. I always end up selling or trading the cheap ones.

[DannyB1954]

I buy the middle of the road. I am more interested in function than status.
I would rather have the two guns, one sized for conceal carry.

[Morgo]

Quality, not quantity.

[mr bolo]

I prefer high quality handguns, my guns were all purchased over 20 years ago at the lower prices, I havent bought anything recently at the inflated prices

[Cheapshooter]

#3. 4 $175 guns.

[USVI]

One expensive works for me. A cheap sandwich can be fine. A cheap gun...no thanks.

[Brotherbadger]

at this point I'd rather have an expensive pistol. If I was just getting into guns? I'd take 2 cheapos, no doubt. I already have my fill of cheap guns.

[Robk]

I have gotten to the point that time is in short supply for range trips. I have also gotten older and my wants have changed as I can now afford something better. Cheap was good when I started out. Still is good for the most part. Even would be hard to make a decision to sell any of my $500 guns anyways, but adding to them now makes me consider something better. Last purchase was a SIG X5E. Now wouldn't mind having a nice 1911, better than the Springfiled I currently own (a 20+ year old that would be hard to beat now though). I guess you get where this is going with this. You change, needs and wants change.

[Tom68]

I voted for the one expensive pistol too, but like most everyone else who has given an opinion, I have caveats. I really don't see a $3500 Ed Brown in my future, for the same reason that I don't expect to own a $10,000 Rolex, although given sufficient time to save, I could... but definitely at the expense of other wants/needs.

That being said, at this stage in my life I have no desire to purchase bargain guns either. Now, I have no issue with picking up a $300 used pistol in good shape, but most everything on my wish list today is somewhere in the $500-$800 range (which includes long guns). I have only bought one firearm which cost more than $1000.... and frankly don't envision doing that again real soon.

And I wear a watch that I bought at the PX for $47.

[DannyB1954]

One other consideration, Once a gun is confiscated for an investigation, or just because the Officer just wants to do it, you might have a hard time getting it back. Do you want them to have your match grade pearl inlaid gold plated super duper gun?

[Sevens]

Do you want them to have your match grade pearl inlaid gold plated super duper gun?

Uhhh, the answer to that would be a solid "NO!"

Frankly, however, I also do not want them to have my cheaply nickeled, plastic-gripped and poorly functioning Jennings J-22, either.

But I can tell you that if I'm going to choose between something extremely nice and (arguably) expensive, I'm not going to choose the Jennings and when I'm shopping for handguns, I'm truly not considering how my purchase would look sitting in an evidence locker and how I would feel about that.

[HKFan9]

I started thinning the heard after college, now its quality over quantity... can't shoot them all at once anyways.

[DannyB1954]

As odd as it may seem, guns also get stolen. You leave them in the car because you are going into a school, hospital, or other no gun zone, or the bad guy sees you have a gun before you see he has a gun etc.
Guns worn everyday will get wear and tear on them.
I used to work with a guy who bought gold plated Snap-On tools. He could never use them, they would get scratched.

[ritepath]

I always find myself jumping off around the 500-600 mark.

That's why I'm conflicted on my next pistol. P-09, G20, P320, CZ75, M&P pro.

So many great options in that range, guns that work but don't break the bank.

So my answer would be one pretty good gun and some left over to go fishing...maybe 50 packs of Senko's.


However.com I could buy two Rugers, say a SR40 and 9E and be pretty happy.

[cougar gt-e]

I buy what moves me. If it feels good in hand, points, operates smoothly, looks good ... I buy.


I've been shooting a bit more recently, 6-700 rounds a week. After a year, total cost is essentially identical starting with a $300 gun or a $1000 gun when you include all the ammo. If anything, the $1000 gun probably is lower in total cost as I seem to get proficient with them firing fewer rounds.


Look at the big picture, not just the starting brush stroke!

[Sight Unseen]

It all depends

If I could ONLY own either one expensive handgun or two inexpensive handguns I would go with the two inexpensive guns choice.

Off the top of my head I would go with a Ruger P89 and LC9, that way I would have one gun for home defense and one for concealed carry that would fire the same caliber. And if the LC9 is above my price point I guess I would choose a LCP or maybe a Kel-tec PF-9 or P-11.

Like I said these are of the top of my head, so with more research I'm sure I could come up with a better combo.

Oh and I voted on the two expensive pistol choice even though I knew the poll was set up incorrectly

[Pond, James Pond]

For me to feel able to answer truthfully, I'd change the qualification of cost to one of quality. It is possible to buy cheaper guns that perform just as well as more costly guns.

Another barrier to my imagination is that if it is my money going down on the counter, I'd rather buy cheaper that I can then afford to shoot.

[orionengnr]

In all my time on this Earth, I have bought only a few handguns at or below the $450-500 range that I have kept. Very few, and most of them were bought 6-7 years or more ago. These days, most of them would go for $650-750 or more. And coincidentally, that is about the point where i begin paying attention. Yes, there are exceptions, but they are few and far between.

No, I'm not a snob, and I don't have money to burn. That is the point--I have wasted a lot of time, effort, money and ammo on things that don't work (or don't work consistently and reliably). These days, I'll do my homework and buy one gun that will do what I ask of it, and resist the temptation to jump on a "deal" that will give me only frustration.

That is just my experience; yours may vary.

[Mastrogiacomo]

All the guns in my state are expensive, so I guess it's would I like a cheaply made gun over a tried and tested gun - I'll pay the cash to get the tried and true...

Laura

[RX-79G]

The current Sigs are relatively expensive, but of questionable quality.

An SAR B6P is dirt cheap, but virtually without complaint.


Price is only a predictor up to a point. In a world where Armscor pistols are more likely to function than a Kimber, a wise man judges every pistol individually.

[LockedBreech]

The current Sigs are relatively expensive, but of questionable quality.

I know that the initial Cohen-era Exeter Sigs had some quality control burps, but other than the occasional internet murmur I don't hear much these days. No one I know in real life who has purchased a Sig in the last 3-4 years has been anything but happy.

Unless we're talking about the P250.

I also think the SAR might be virtually without complaint because it's a relative unknown.

[RX-79G]

Or the 320. Or the 938. Or whatever else doesn't act like a $700 firearm.

We are still in the Cohen era. Cost cutting processes. Revolving small parts vendors. US designs and Swiss/German reputation. Feh.

[gyvel]

If we're talking about newly manufactured guns, I would most likely select one high end. If we're talking about all guns, there are some "low end" guns that are excellent values, such as the CZ 82, and I would rather have two of those than one really expensive gun that I would probably be afraid to shoot for fear that it might get damaged.

[Big Shrek]

Depends on what the two inexpensive ones are...

Like Star Megastars, one in .45acp and the other in 10mm...paid $750 for the pair back in the 90's