Guns: What do you get for your extra money? By: Bob Campbell

We all have a budget. Admittedly, some budgets are larger than others. However, all shooters want their money’s worth. When making our first purchases in the gun world, most of us begin with an inexpensive firearm. Often enough we outgrow this initial choice and look for other guns.

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Poor choices abound, making you think your luck is running at sixes and sevens. A systematic approach will reap benefits both financially and in practical use rather than buying what is trendy or cool. The question to begin with is “What do we really get when we purchase a high end firearm?” Are we getting something better or simply icing on an already good cake?

I asked myself this lately while comparing the Springfield Loaded, Operator, and TRP. Don’t hold me to fluctuating prices, but the TRP costs about twice as much as the Loaded. A similar situation exists with AR-15 rifles. Should we purchase the best gun we can afford, or will something more affordable fulfill our expectations of performance?

When budgeting for gun purchases, a large part of the budget is taken up with accessories. A cheap holster is a disaster. Don’t go there. The cheapest RDS for the AR-15 won’t satisfy your needs as skill progresses. Combat lights and ammunition are another consideration.

9mm Luger, 5.7x28mm, and .45 ACP run at different price levels. .300 Blackout, .223 Rem, and 6.5 ammunition take different tolls on the wallet as well. Do you really need one caliber over the other for range work and just shooting? The affordable and readily available 9mm and .223 may be the wiser choice. Resale value of the guns is also of some importance.

Reliability

Few of us choose a lifetime gun on the first go around. Let’s look at the handgun first. If destined for personal defense, reliability is the single most important factor. Only faultless reliability is acceptable. You may purchase a Glock 19 and go about your business confident in the pistol’s likelihood to always come up shooting when needed.

Glock and Clones

The Glock isn’t the most accurate handgun. Is that a concern? A friend who is an experienced instructor tells me that about 99 percent of his students cannot shoot up to the Glock’s accuracy potential. I would disagree and put the figure at 75 percent. In truth, few students are limited by the Glock. The remainder may benefit from a pistol with a better trigger, better sights, and a superior, more ergonomic, firing grip.

Perhaps, you should you invest in the similar Shadow Systems MR920 — a superbly reliable and accurate pistol but a more expensive pistol. If a lighter carry gun is the standard, the SIG P365 will serve just fine, or should you invest in the new SIG Legion or P365 TACOPS? I recently found a Glock 19 available at $550, a Shadow System MR920 at $989, a SIG P365 at $599, and a SIG P 365 TACOPS at $799. That is a significant difference.

So, is the Shadow Systems gun worth the added tariff? Most certainly! The trigger action is excellent — much better than the Glock — but just as durable. The grip treatment is superb. Shadow Systems provides the pistol with a good set of sights out of the box. Optics compatibility is good. Fit and finish are top tier. Is the pistol worth more to you than the reliable Glock pistol?

The Shadow Systems is at least as reliable as the Glock, but a better shooter. If you feel limited by the Glock’s trigger and sights, the extra money is well worth while. For the occasional shooter, there is little benefit. If you are going to train to be all you can be, that’s a different story.

SIG Sauer

Then, we have the SIG TACOPS 9mm. With a larger grip frame than the P365, the pistol is easier to use well than the P365 and has greater magazine capacity. The pistol may use a wider range of combat lights. The TACOPS, or if you prefer the XMACRO with compensator, really is a better shooter. The SIG Rose edition is another story. It is pretty, but not as good a shooter as the TACOPS, if we cut hairs. So far, we are batting a thousand and finding upgrades worth the money.

Let’s look at the trifecta of 1911 handguns. The division gets tough. You may purchase a legacy gun from Colt or Springfield. It may not have the features you want, but it is high quality. With the less expensive 1911 (you are able to afford), you’ll have to ask whether it has an ambidextrous safety, as an example.

If owning the pistol is fulfilment enough, and the handgun isn’t destined for personal defense, then we may make compromises. I would caution against purchasing a used 1911 of any type. After writing three books on the 1911, and gunsmithing them for years, I have gotten stuck on a couple myself lately.

People tinker with the 1911 more than other pistols. Unless you are very knowledgeable, and able to perform action work and replace parts, don’t chance it. Let’s look at three 1911 handguns from Springfield Armoy. The three are the Loaded at about $1,000, the Operator at $1,100, and the Tactical Response Pistol at $1,600.

The pistols feature good fit, finish, and reliability. Each features Novak sights, although the TRP features night inserts. The Operator features a light rail, some TRP pistols also have a light rail. A tip… there is enough variation among the Operator and TRP pistols that you need to do some research and be certain you get the object of your desires. The TRP is available in Armory Kote or stainless, and with and without rail as an example. Let’s look over the three Springfields.

Springfield Loaded

The Loaded is my present carry gun for most chores. It is stainless steel and features Novak sights. The pistol features an ambidextrous safety, beavertail grip safety, and a smooth trigger. The Loaded features nicely-checkered stocks. I find that I fire the Loaded fast, with a high hit probability.

Springfield Operator

The Operator isn’t significantly different save for the light rail. If you need a rail, or think you’ll want a rail, the Operator is a good choice. I cannot recommend the Loaded more highly, however. The next step up is a big one.

Springfield TRP

You cannot make a Loaded Model or Operator a TRP by fitting or modification. The slide to frame fit is tight, very tight, and differs in tolerance significantly from the Loaded. The result is excellent accuracy. While a 25-yard group of five shots from a solid rest may fall into 2.0 to 2.5 inches with the Loaded, and occasionally some are a bit tighter, a TRP is good for 1.5 inches. Often enough, with quality ammunition, it will group five shots into 1.25 inches. But, is it worth the expense?

Considering the G10 grips and checkered front strap making for a superior balance of adhesion and abrasion, a tight, smooth trigger, and excellent fitting, the TRP is worth the money. However, few will need such a gun to fulfill their needs. That being said, the Loaded 1911 is among the best values in the 1911 world.

Rimfire Handguns

Ruger

In rimfire handguns, the Ruger Super Wrangler set the world on its nose. The Wrangler is OK for the money, but the Single Six is a much better shooter. The in-between Super Wrangler isn’t as nicely finished as the Single Six but shoots as well with its adjustable sights and spare .22 Magnum cylinder. It isn’t made of the same material as the Single Six, but the Super Wrangler will outfit a bunch of grandchildren well.

KelTec

A wonderfully-affordable .22 automatic is the KelTec P17. With low stress on parts, and no need for tight fitting or a locked breech action, .22s may be manufactured for less expense. The P17 has proven useful and reliable.

FN

The FN 502 is among the more expensive polymer-framed pistols. Is it wort twice the cost of a P17? Maybe. It depends on how deep you are into rimfire shooting. The FN is extremely accurate. If you own a 9mm FN, you probably need a 502 as well.

The Better Budget Guns

Occasionally, you may get a perfectly good handgun for less than the going rate. As an example, the Canik TP9 models are often touted as being as accurate and reliable as much more expensive handguns. The pistol compares very favorably to Walther models. So closely, I must call it a toss-up. That is impressive.

Revolvers

Taurus

In revolvers, there are many expensive revolvers and several cheap ones. Then again, there are true ‘value’ revolvers from Taurus. The 856 is a six-shot revolver as compact as most ‘five’ shooters. To find a smoother action than the Taurus is difficult.  If you just want a .38 for the pocket, the 856 is a good choice. The sights are good, and the revolver is light.

Smith & Wesson

If you are a dedicated snub nose shooter, and want the ultimate hard use revolver, do you get a lot for the $800-plus dollars you shell out on the Smith & Wesson 640 Pro? You get a great deal. The 640 Pro doesn’t have the typical Smith & Wesson action lock. I don’t trust cast metal. The lock isn’t necessary, and it can be trouble.

The 640 features high-profile night sights. The fluted barrel limits recoil. Hogue’s special, recoil-absorbing grips help take the sting out of the .357 Magnum or powerful .38 +P loads. If you are willing to practice, and this type of handgun demands practice, the 640 Pro is well worth the money.

Shotguns

In shotguns there is less reason to purchase a high end model for defense. For hunting, clays, and 3Gun, yes, you need something like the Mossberg 940 or a Benelli. No question there. For personal defense, the decision is in favor of economy — if you must compromise.

I have tested some Turkish pump-action shotguns that were rough, sure. However, I have tested others that were smooth. None suffered feed problems.

Stevens v. Winchester

The Stevens 320 is a close copy of the Winchester 1200 Speed Pump. To be frank, other than the finish, it is as capable a shotgun as the original.

Mossberg

Moving up, I really like the Mossberg 500. My first shotgun was a Mossberg 500. It is worth the money with most models under $400. The cut down Maverick has plastic parts and moves the praiseworthy Model 500 safety off the reviver and into the trigger guard.

The stocks are often a bit loose, but the Maverick by Mossberg retails for $180 to $250 in defense versions. It is reliable; it isn’t that nice. There is the expensive Retro 500, which is a nice gun, but no more reliable than any other 500.

The best gun for personal defense from Mossberg — in my opinion — is the 590. They may be expensive at over $500. However, they are a heavy barrel version with upgrades making it even more durable than a 500.

In the end, there are several cheap shotguns that are reliable and middle-priced guns that really do the business. In automatic shotguns, the Black Aces is something of a phenomenon with excellent handling and reliability. The Toros Copolla is a Benelli M4 copy that is comparable, if not quite up to, a Benelli’s fit and finish.

In the end if you are going to cut corners and purchase a cheap gun due to budget constraints, the shotgun may be purchased on the cheap and still be a reliable option. It won’t handle like a better gun, and it isn’t competitive in competition, but it will defend hearth and home.

AR-15 — America’s Rifle, Modern Sporting Rifles

When it comes to AR-15 rifles, never assume it is that difficult to mess up America’s rifle. Most of the monstrosities have been home builds, but then some of the nicest AR-15 rifles are built on the kitchen table. It is the American Way. A great deal of pride is enjoyed in building your own rifle.

In short, the price of an AR rifle is determined by features and fit. There are many makers, and some are not consistent. An affordable Smith & Wesson or Ruger is a solid work horse. As an example, I recently took a $1,200 rifle to the range along with a $600 rifle. The less expensive rifle did not give up anything to the more expensive rifle.

When you get into the SIG, Colt, and Daniel Defense rifles, you have better fit between the upper and lower receiver. If you purchase a Springfield Saint, you get a good rifle with good furniture. The Springfield Saint Edge has a lot of bling, but also a superior forend and muzzle brake. The beauty of the AR is you may purchase a decent grade of rifle and upgrade as you advance, and never have the rifle out of service.

Conclusion

When you are ready to lay down your hard earned dollars, carefully consider what you will be doing with your firearms. In some cases, there is no need to pay for what you don’t need. But then the advice to buy the best guns you can afford is valid. And don’t forget to support the 2^nd Amendment foundation and continue to enjoy your guns.

WHat was your first gun? How does it compare to your carry gun today or favorite gun? Will a budget gun get the job done, or do you recommend buying the best gun you can afford? Share your answers in the comment section.