Gun Tests evaluates firearms for function and performance, and we also consider bang for the buck — value — in every firearm we shoot. Here are some solid, budget-friendly, reliable pistol and revolver options, depending on what you need:
KEY TIPS FOR ANY BUDGET HANDGUN PURCHASE
- 9mm Luger is the best budget caliber. Ammo is cheap, common, and effective. On the wheelgun side, 38 Special is the go-to value cartridge.
- Buy used from a reputable dealer — you can get a $500 gun for $300 if you’re patient.
- Stick to major brands — most makers have budget lines worth trusting, and their warranties will help if the firearm you pick doesn’t work well.
- Research the specific model — even good brands have occasional duds; check this site and owner forums to see what issues a firearm you’re interested in may be having.
FIVE 9MM LUGER BUDGET PISTOL RECS
This Taurus pistol was completely reliable and controllable in rapid fire at the combat range. We believe the six-section stippled grip surface with smooth sections in between was among the pistol’s best design features. The combination of a safety lever set into the trigger face and a positive manual safety was attractive. The sights are adequate, and the rear sight is adjustable. The trigger action proved light and controllable. The finish isn’t very rugged and will suffer in long-term use, but then this is an inexpensive pistol. We did not like the takedown as much as some of the other pistols, but Glock owners will be familiar with the set up. We thought this was a Best Buy at $204 and a Grade A gun.
Usually selling for ~$250–$300, modern Taurus pistols have dramatically improved in quality. The G3C is a popular budget carry gun. We tested a Taurus G3X 1-G3XSR9031 9mm Luger, $310 at the time of the test, and thought it does a good job at what it is designed to do, serve as a reliable personal-defense pistol. The Taurus G3X compares favorably against similar Glock models. The raters liked the pistol initially, and they liked it even more the more they fired it. During the accuracy test, the pistol exhibited the tightest groups of the test, including one at 1.9 inches at 15 yards with the Black Hills EXP. We would buy this pistol if we were on a tight budget, or as a backup, truck gun, or house gun. We gave it a Grade A rating and called it a Best Buy.
Canik TP9SA HG3277-N 9mm Luger
Selling for ~$300–$350, this Turkish-made full-size 9mm often has an excellent trigger and is compared to guns at twice the price. The full-size gun we tested was imported by Century Arms and sold for $346. It was reliable, and the trigger action was the better of the two guns tested. We would have liked better accuracy. Eye appeal and hand fit will sway the potential customer at the counter, and at the range, our test pistol was reliable. Also, the trigger allowed good control. The slide-lock position is ideal for a combat gun, and we liked the takedown manual of arms. The decocker is questionable, but it hurts nothing. The sights are adequate. Our worry about the magazine release’s exposure resolved itself when a rater wore the pistol extensively in a Falco IWB, and it stayed put. This pistol is yet another entry in the crowded polymer-frame 9mm field, and we think it offers a lot for the money. We gave it an A- grade.
Savage Arms Stance 67001 9mm Luger
We realize that this is a concealment pistol and, as such, its groups are acceptable for $408. We would still like to see them tighter. The B grade reflects its average accuracy. The feel, looks, and size of the Stance remind us of the S&W Shield, which is great company to be in. We found it comfortable to shoot with no sharp edges that bit us. Reliability was 100%, but accuracy was not. The 147-grain reloads (our customary match load) worked well, posting a 2.6-inch average. Both of the 115-grain offerings averaged more than 4 inches for five shots at 15 yards.
This is modern 9mm semi-auto with a 14-round magazine, which is a great compromise for most small or big hands. It is very similar in size to a Glock 48. There are many very good reasons why different firearms are shaped differently, primarily because people are as well. About the only assumption that can be made on the potential user of a new firearm is that five out of six will be right-handed. For example, one member of this group of testers has long, slim fingers. The rest of us tend to have bigger hands and shorter digits.
FIVE 38 SPECIAL BUDGET REVOLVER RECS
Taurus 856 Model 2-856021 38 Special
We really liked this Taurus. The 6-shot capacity did not make the revolver overly bulky, and the grips were hand-filling yet compact, so felt recoil was less noticeable. The sights were large and easy to use. We would have liked the 856 to be +P ammo compatible, but we recognize there might have been weight and profile trade-offs to gain this capacity. The 856 has a consistent trigger pull in double-action or single-action mode, a small grip that feels like a large grip, and it offers 6 shots in about the same package as a 5-shot revolver. At $278, the price is more than reasonable for an A- grade.
Taurus Defender 856 2-85639NS 38 Sp. +P
At $306, this gun got an A- grade and a Best Buy nod. It offers six-shot capacity, a 3-inch heavy barrel, and a tritium-insert front-sight. We tested the night sights in a dark room with no windows. In this environment, the single bead was visible. The rater testing the sights would aim the unloaded handgun and then quickly turn the light on to confirm alignment. To properly see the front bead, he found he raised the sight above the rear notch. On the firing line, duplicating this point of aim, the point of impact with 158-grain loads would be 2 inches high at 7 yards. Verify and commit this to memory if you deploy this revolver for home defense. The revolver was properly sighted in for 158-grain loads. Other weights struck to the left and slightly high. It has stainless-steel construction, properly fitting Hogue grips, and a night sight. The Defender is well suited to home defense. We would buy this revolver.
Taurus 856 Defender Ultra-Lite 2-85639ULNS 38 Sp. +P
At $405, this was Our Pick in this test. Offered good accuracy and is ultra-lightweight. The DA trigger was smooth but heavy, with stacking. Recoil was mild for a lightweight revolver, though we did notice the difference in recoil with the +P ammo. Still tolerable. For speed shooting, the Taurus was forgiving. We had no issues short-stroking the trigger. The ejector does not fully push empty cases from the cylinder, so use a gravity assist to quickly unload. The 856 Defender Ultra-Lite is lightweight, has a good front sight, good balance, and offers a six-round capacity. Who needs a 32 Magnum revolver, when this revolver uses 38 Special ammo as well as +P varieties? We’d definitely opt for this Ultra-Lite model if we wanted an everyday-carry wheelgun.
Ruger Light Compact Revolver (LCR) 5401 38 Special
We gave it a B- grade. It was a little lighter, so more recoil goes with that. One of the best factory triggers we have seen in a standard production revolver. No issues with reliability. Our particular model of the LCR has an upgrade to the front sight and the grip. The standard front sight has been changed to an XS large dot. This has a larger-than-standard white circle surrounding a tritium insert, making it easy to see in normal or low-light conditions. The rear sight is the expected groove in the top strap of the receiver. The grips have a padded gel piece in the backstrap, thus cushioning the shooting hand just a bit more. That is a great add for this snappy little revolver. The LCR is not a hammerless revolver, though it looks like it. The hammer is actually contained within the shroud.
Charter Arms Boxer 53620 38 Special
At $349, this is a reliable utilitarian piece. Despite the shortest sight radius and lightest weight, the Boxer was the most accurate revolver in slow fire. The Boxer is a 2.2-inch-barrel revolver with a six-shot 38 Special cylinder. The small-frame Undercover would not accommodate a six-shot cylinder as the Bulldog frame does. Considering the popularity of the revolver for personal defense and the 38 Special cartridge, this makes sense. The Boxer 38 Special revolver is primarily stainless steel with some anodized-aluminum components. The Grade A revolver works as designed and is reasonably smooth and more accurate than expected.
