What is the most reliable handgun for Self Defense under $400

[NHT3]

I call it confidence.

I appreciate everything you are saying but telling someone they are prone to do something "stupid" borders on a personal attack. That doesn't advance the cause of getting anyone more comfortable.. I too have decades of experience carrying a firearm daily and everything you say is accurate, just saying a little softer approach is more likely to persuade those that are on the fence because they don't have decades of experience.

 

[BigNyaKelly]

I was thinking about this as not everyone has $800-2500 to put on a self-defense handgun.

This can be a good source of information for those seeking a reliable inexpensive self-defense handgun.

So what handgun do you personally have experience with that is reliable, and have had no malfunctions with at least 500rds fired including self-defense ammunition.

Post your experiences with the above criteria.

Make and model of firearm.

How many rounds of ammunition including self-defense ammunition you have fired without any malfunctions.

Ammo wise include the brand, weight of bullet, and type of bullet you used.
Example:
Federal 124gr FMJ
Federal 124gr HST

Do you recommend it as an under $400 reliable self-defense handgun?

I love a PSA dagger or one of the smaller glocks. Those are good options.

 

[Franc]

Criteria is under $400 new or used, and something you have personally used and have at least 500rds through it including self-defense ammunition.

Thank you. So my post was good.

 

[DadSmith]

Smith and Wesson Shield Plus Optics Ready 30 Super Carry 3.1" Barrel 16-Round Thumb Safety

The Shield Plus Optics Ready is the next generation in everyday carry. It features an 18-degree grip angle for a more natural point of aim and better recoil management, plus the new flat face trigger allows for consistent finger placement for accurate, repeatable, comfortable shooting. This...

grabagun.com

$300

 

[DadSmith]

Security-380 3839

Ruger Security-380 3839 for sale from Dittrich Arms Company.

www.darmsco.com

$254

 

[NyleRN]

AimSurplus, LLC

M&P 2.0 9mm LE Trade in
$310

 

[Creedmoor]

I call it confidence.

You east coasters.

 

[Glocker99]

Used Glocks can easily be found for under $400 and if you are worried that it has been messed with, replace all the cheap parts with factory parts and it should be good to go.

 

[Fordtough25]

A police dept glock trade in can be had for $350-$400 these days, get one and practice!

 

[SheepDog4Life]

Cannot vouch, I don't own one, G3C for "budget" self defense and IMO, they got the size right for compact equals concealed carry.

Well, now I have one because GrabAGun has a really good price ($255/$270 for TORO) plus a $30 mfr rebate off of that (and they sent me a $20 come back promo code).

Taurus G3C 9mm 3.2" Barrel 12-Rounds 3 Mags

The Taurus G3c Compact is a next-generation pistol that brings top-tier protection to you in a compact frame. This striker-fired semi-automatic handgun features a black finish, a 3.2" barrel, a polymer frame with integrated Picatinny-style accessory rail, an alloy steel slide, and an overall...

grabagun.com

Taurus G3c T.O.R.O. 9mm 3.2" Barrel 12-Rounds Manual Safety

The Taurus G3c TORO (Taurus Optic Ready Option) delivers high performance and great accuracy within a lightweight, reliable, and small pistol design. It comes chambered in 9 mm with a 3.2 inch barrel. Features include an optics ready slide, a manual safety, adjustable sights, a Gen 3 trigger...

grabagun.com

I basically got the TORO version for $220 plus shipping, tax and transfer... just could pass it up.

About 90 rounds in, noticed the front sight was loose... ... appears they missed the locktite at the factory. Others have reported "gallons" of locktite when wanting to swap sights. So, I''d say check the front sight with a 2 mm allen first thing.

Other than that, fed and fired flawlessly, though less than 100 rounds, so not a lot. Grips and points great for me! Ate the heart of the A-zone out at 7 yds double tap and failure drills.

 

[Jeffforpresident]

Go to Marksmen Shooting Sports in Westfield. Not sure where you at OP but it would be worth an hours drive. The place is awesome and you could get a newer Glock or M and P there for 400$ no problem. I just bought a M and P 3.6 there for 300 bucks a few weeks ago. Great guys too.

 

[Finelinedefense]

I was thinking about this as not everyone has $800-2500 to put on a self-defense handgun.

This can be a good source of information for those seeking a reliable inexpensive self-defense handgun.

So what handgun do you personally have experience with that is reliable, and have had no malfunctions with at least 500rds fired including self-defense ammunition.

Post your experiences with the above criteria.

Make and model of firearm.

How many rounds of ammunition including self-defense ammunition you have fired without any malfunctions.

Ammo wise include the brand, weight of bullet, and type of bullet you used.
Example:
Federal 124gr FMJ
Federal 124gr HST

Do you recommend it as an under $400 reliable self-defense handgun?

This post is a little old and I haven’t even said hello here yet but I LOVE affordable carry guns and the idea of breaking down the stigma of carrying inexpensive firearms.

I carried a Taurus 738 micro size .380 semi auto for over 10 years until I finally got tired of paying for .380

The gun has never failed to fire/extract. It has a slide stop that isn’t totally reliable at LRHO but I’m a lefty so I don’t train with a slide stop anyway I always just rack it. I recommend training to rack the pistol anyway as slide stops are very inconsistent.

I originally purchased the gun to tuck under business clothes and between the Taurus and the Ruger LCP that was hot at the time the Taurus had a much better trigger.

Today you can buy a Taurus GX4 for about half what a Sig 365 costs. A lot of the problems with the GX4 were also problems Sig had at the beginning… and has largely resolved.

If you’re putting in a reasonable amount of practice with a new carry gun you’ll know if it’s reliable. If your gun shoots well and runs reliably don’t listen to the haters.

You need 500-1000 rounds through a gun to carry effectively anyway, you’ll know how it runs by then. Give the cheap gun a shot.

 

[DadSmith]

KYGUNCO

KY Gun Co is your one-stop online shop with the lowest prices for firearms, ammunition, accessories, parts, and outdoor essentials. We ship fast and easy around the country from our home locations in Kentucky, and are always ready to help.

www.kygunco.com

$318
FS

 

[DadSmith]

CZ P-10 S 9mm 3.5' 12rd Black 91560 ($19.99 Shipping)

<p>The sub-compact variant in the P-10 line, the S holds 12+1 in 9mm while being small and light for comfortable everyday carry. With a bevy of stand-out features that have made the P-10 line a success, the P-10 S has a crisp trigger, superior ergonomics and rugged reliability that set it apart...

www.familyfirearms.com

$308
$20 Shipping
NST

 

[DadSmith]

https://palmettostatearmory.com/iwi-jericho-enhanced-9mm-pistol-black-j941pl9-ii.html

$388 with code: JERICHO

 

[YoungMilsurpGuy]

i gotta say for the mechanically inclined, for the money you can't beat a brownells/PSA glock slide on a p80 frame

The polymer on a p80 is better then on a stock glock and you can get more premium/custom features then on a used/custom glock (like optics cut/ready slides, better sights, threaded barrels)

Two of my friends built custom glocks and they worked great.

One a glock 43 that had a compensator and the grip was actually 3d printed with trijicon night sights for about $350. For my friend who is 5'8 and 125 pounds that gun disappeared in a shoulder holster and was carried for years in NPE environments

Another guy got a g20 slide in 10mm, put it on a large frame p80 grip, milled it out himself, and chopped the grip to glock 26 length. Was just at $400 for a gun that glock doesn't make. The guy has appendix carried that gun for about 3 years religiously and has fired 800 rounds of full power 10mm and has not had a malfunction.

When I was editor for a online magazine in 2021 me and my writers in a week built literally the cheapest glock we could with random ebay parts with an unfinished in the white slide that was literally a rectangle with a front and rear sight we 3d printed. The gun shot 99/100 of cheap russian steel case 9mm(the one malfunction was a FTF due to a stiff primer) and went 200/200 with brass case FMJ. That gun cost maybe $200.


Really with the modern home built guns for not so much money you can basically get a reliable glock style pistol in just about any configuration or caliber you could want.


and as someone who regularly carries revolvers, I'm really sad to say it seems that they're just not good cheap options anymore.

Even Taurus guns are north of $300 and even the humble smith and wesson J frame is in new glock territory and the finish and MIM small parts leave much to be desired.

Really it just seems like revolvers are going the way of the 1911 which is kind of sad

 

[gglass]

This is one of the best deals I've ever seen on a full size M&P 2.0. Since these are unissued LE buybacks, they are brand new and come with 3 mags like LE guns usually do. As a bonus, these M&Ps are red dot ready and have tall co-witness sights!

Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 9mm Semi-Auto Pistol, 4.25 barrel, (3)17rd Magazines, Optic Ready, Suppressor Height Night Sights, New Condition LE Buy Back

Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 9mm Semi-Auto Pistol, 4.25 barrel, (3) 17 Round Magazines, Optic Ready, Suppressor Height Night Sights, New Condition Special Law Enforcement Contract Buy Back: The Smith & Wesson M2.0 line of pistols are known for their rugged reliability in the Law Enforcement...

www.classicfirearms.com

 

[Route 45]

This is one of the best deals I've ever seen on a full size M&P 2.0. Since these are unissued LE buybacks, they are brand new and come with 3 mags like LE guns usually do. As a bonus, these M&Ps are red dot ready and have tall co-witness sights!

Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 9mm Semi-Auto Pistol, 4.25 barrel, (3)17rd Magazines, Optic Ready, Suppressor Height Night Sights, New Condition LE Buy Back

Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 9mm Semi-Auto Pistol, 4.25 barrel, (3) 17 Round Magazines, Optic Ready, Suppressor Height Night Sights, New Condition Special Law Enforcement Contract Buy Back: The Smith & Wesson M2.0 line of pistols are known for their rugged reliability in the Law Enforcement...

www.classicfirearms.com

That's weird, I thought all of the optic ready ones had the new flat face trigger with the dongle.

 

[Creedmoor]

That's weird, I thought all of the optic ready ones had the new flat face trigger with the dongle.

I thought were were past using "Dongle"

 

[Route 45]

I thought were were past using "Dongle"

Dingus? Trigger nipple? Finger thingy?