

It’s a little spongy, and the reset is a bit long, but we’re talking budget pistols here, not high-end competition guns. The trigger is actually very good, and frankly much better than. It features a safety blade inset in the trigger, three-dot sights, and a glass-filled nylon frame. It’s a 15+1 capacity gun sized in the same general spec as the Glock 19, and like Gaston’s Greatest Hit, it’s aimed at the defensive and carry markets.ĭesign-wise, it’s basically a scaled-up version of Ruger’s incredibly popular (and reliable) LCP II. I actually own a Ruger Security 9 myself, bought and paid for with my own money, and it’s one of my favorite handguns in this price range. The Security-9 is one of their newest budget-friendly options, and it has already gathered a loyal following.
#HI POINT COMPACT 9MM REVIEW UPGRADE#
Best of all, parts for these guns are also plentiful and cheap, so you can upgrade or replace anything you want, and still save hundreds of dollars.Īnyone familiar with Ruger is probably not surprised to see that they have not one, but two entries on this list. This makes the police trade-in market an excellent resource for anyone looking to pick up an affordable 9mm handgun (the most common police sidearm) on the cheap.

What, are you afraid people will think you actually use your guns? I’d say finish wear and scratches aren’t a big deal in any case unless we’re talking about a truly unique piece like an antique or something with either commemorative or sentimental value.Ī little finish wear never hurt anybody, is all I’m saying. On a budget gun that’s meant to be used, that’s not a big deal. The reality is, these guns can keep on trucking for years and thousands of rounds, even though there might be a little bit of the finish worn off. I’ve seen relatively new Glocks and M&P’s, both phenomenally reliable and robust guns, on the used market for about 30% less than guns with a lot more rounds down the barrel, simply because of the holster wear making the gun look beat up.
#HI POINT COMPACT 9MM REVIEW FREE#
This means they don’t command a huge price on the secondary market but are still internally relatively free of wear and tear. Police sidearms are carried a lot, and holstered and un-holstered frequently, so they get a lot of finish wear, but they aren’t actually fired nearly as much as you’d think. This first entry is kind of a cop out (get it) but I’d be remiss if I didn’t recommend anyone looking for a high-quality handgun to check out police trade-ins and auctions. Some of the most reliable guns I’ve tested this year have been some of the cheapest, which…has been a huge surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.Ĭonvinced? Let’s look at some of the best options for those looking for an affordable 9mm handgun that won’t break the bank. Personally, I can tell you it’s an awfully exciting time to be a machinist.Īll of this translates into better guns at all price ranges, with some really insanely good high-end guns that not only cost but are actually worth several thousand dollars, and some equally impressive (for the price) guns in the lower price brackets as well. Ask them how much lost material they have to deal with, and how many unsalvageable parts. 9mm Pistol DesignĪdvances in CNC machining, metal injection molding, and even the old-school casting of parts like we’re making cannons to fight the Redcoats have all greatly increased the speed and ease with which companies can make these parts, which helps bring prices down as well.Īlso, ask any machinist about how much easier it is to achieve high levels of precision in both design and the actual machining of parts versus two decades ago. The good news is that this means there are a variety of reliable and affordable 9mm firearms available for prices that would have been laughable ten years or so ago. These days, with all the new-fangled manufacturing and 3D-aided design, gun prices have fallen through the floor (there are some political and other reasons for that too of course).

I grew up hearing anything under $300 called “a Saturday night special” and if you wanted something guaranteed to be reliable, you were spending $550 at least. At the risk of sounding like an old man, back in my day, cheap guns were just bad.
