By Paul Rackley, GunBroker Editor

Like most items in today’s world, firearms range in price. Folks can spend as much as they want on the latest and greatest. Or, they can spend just a little on inexpensive handguns that might not look the best but go bang when the trigger gets pulled. 

Now, some people look down on firearms that don’t cost five bills or more. These folks just have to have a GLOCK, SIG, Smith & Wesson or Kimber in their holsters or safes. They might also require Weatherby rifles and Beretta shotguns rather than affordable workhorse models. These same people probably wouldn’t even look at a double-barrel shotgun under a grand. 

They might even throw out some comments about the less expensive brands and its customers, which might be called shaming by those who let feelings matter more than facts. There are reasons for more affordable firearm brands and models, with the greatest being that even people with less money has a right to own a gun. They have that right whether the purpose is self-defense, hunting or they just wanted one. It’s called the 2nd Amendment and it doesn’t make reasons why matter. 

In fact, I’ve owned a few inexpensive handguns over the years for a variety of reasons. One of these reasons included a lack of funds at the time. Another reason was a truck gun that I was less concerned about being lost or stolen than I would my Kimber. It doesn’t matter why someone wants to purchase an inexpensive handgun. They just do. 

Top Inexpensive Handguns

Inexpensive, of course, is a relative term. With rises in materials and labor, as well as inflation, a handgun that might have cost $300 a couple of years ago can run between $400 and $500 now. There are, however, companies that produce handguns for less. 

People do need to remember, though, that you get what you pay for in everything. A $200 9mm pistol won’t have the looks or feel of a $600 gun. It might not even have the reliability. There are, however, some inexpensive handgun companies that have been in business for a long time. They’re doing something right, or these companies would have folded.

Hi-Point C9

There is an old joke that Hi-Points are named that for a reason. I don’t know if that is true, but the company has been making inexpensive handguns, like the C9, since 1992. The company even got a boost with its introduction of the Yeet Cannon, which has received better than average reviews over the past year. 

The Hi-Point C9 is an earlier 9mm pistol that comes +P rated with a straight, blowback action. It measures 6.75 inches overall, with a 3.5-inch barrel, and weighs 29 ounces unloaded. The weight of the slide is what allows this gun to be blowback, which helps reduce the price. However, it also provides quite a bit of weight cycling back during the shot. This gives the C9 some decent recoil. The large slide also makes the gun a little hard to carry conceal. It doesn’t, though, make the pistol inaccurate or unreliable. It retails for just over $200, making it an inexpensive handgun.

KelTec P32

At just under 7 ounces, the KelTec P32 is both affordable and concealable. It also retails for $369, meaning its real-world price is around $300. The P32 is a mere 5.1-inches long, 3.5-inches high and less than 1-inch wide. It is an easy-to-use pocket gun with just enough power to be effective when needed. The KelTec P32 comes with an internal safety, built-in sights and eight-round capacity. 

Rock Island Armory M200

There are few things that reach the level of “an old-fashioned wheel gun.” The problem is that revolvers can get pricey. There are a few brands, though, that shooters can purchase for less than others. One of these is the Rock Island Armory M200. This .38 Spl. six-shooter, not five, features a 4-inch barrel, fixed sights, combat grips, parkerized finish and a $249 retail price. 
 
The M200 works for self-defense, plinking and concealed carry with the right holster. Overall the M200 is 8.875-inches long, 5.46-inches tall and 1.5-inches wide. RIA also makes two snubnose revolvers that both sell for less than $300. 

SCCY CPX-2 Hammer Series

There was a time when subcompact pistols were the rage. Of course, guns of this sort are still popular with many shooters. Part of the reason is because they are so easily concealed. The SCCY CPX-2 is also quite affordable.  

The CPX-2, along with the other Hammer series, is a simple double-action-only semi-auto chambered in 9mm. SCCY also makes versions in .380 ACP. The Gen3 model comes with a Picatinny rail for accessories, along with upgraded sights and an improved grip. It’s small, 6 inches, and light, 15 ounces, and can be obtained for just a little over $200. It even comes in a variety of colors. 

S&W M&P Bodyguard 380

Small can mean many things, especially in the gun world. Regarding the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380, small means compact but powerful enough. The Bodyguard has been on the market for a while, providing shooters with an excellent subcompact pistol from one of America’s oldest firearm manufacturers. 

Chambered in .380 ACP, the Bodyguard weighs only 11.9 ounces and is three-quarters of an inch wide. As such, this pistol can be carried pretty much anywhere. It features a polymer frame, steel slide, thumb safety and drift adjustable sights. It also has a real world price below $400. 

Taurus G2C

Just because a handgun is inexpensive doesn’t make it cheap. Quite often, it is just a good deal, like the Taurus G2C. This semi-auto comes in both 9mm and .40 S&W in a few different color schemes, such as all black, gray & black, black & silver and cyan; the .40 is all matte black. Depending on compliance, it holds seven, 10 or 12 rounds in the magazine. 

For safety it comes with a loaded chamber indicator, trigger safety, striker block and manual safety. It also features an adjustable rear sight, accessory rail and re-strike capability. This means if the round doesn’t go off, the trigger can be pulled again without cycling the action. And all this can be had for well less than $300. 

Tags: Gift Guide, Handguns, Hi Point, KelTec, rock island armory, SCCY, self defense, Smith & Wesson, Taurus