The Six Steps To Buying Your First Handgun – Step 2: Set a Budget
This is the second post in the six-part series, which you can check out part 1 here. In this post we are focusing on the budget. This doesn’t get much discussion and many in the gun community think “Just go buy a Glock!”. Never mind that as of this writing, a Glock 19, arguably the most popular handgun on the market, goes for a cool $620.00 (meaning you could find it for about $600.00). That is A LOT of money to spend on a gun that you may potentially not like, and it’s not like you can return the gun for a refund. You HAVE to sell it back and you will never get the retail price. So let’s take a look at this article by Jeff Levant, The Shooting Channel. This is his take on setting a budget:
Step Two: Set a Budget
So you’ve determined that you need a handgun and your intended use is for shooting on the range and keeping at home for personal protection. The next biggest decision you have to make is deciding on a budget. There are currently handguns on the market to accommodate all income levels, from inexpensive Hi-Point handguns for $150, to custom competition guns costing several thousands of dollars. You’re the only person who can determine what your budget is, however we have all heard the axiom that “you get what you pay for,” and that is as true with firearms as with anything else in life. That is the reason I recommend that new buyers set their handgun budget in the $400 to $800 range if their finances allow. The reason I start so high and set such a wide range is that within this price point it is easy to purchase a handgun with proven reliability, that is ergonomically well designed, and that has an excellent warranty from a well-known manufacturer.
One thing most people don’t take into consideration is that other things you will need AFTER you buy a gun:
Holster
Ammo
Mounted Light
Extra Magazines
Gun Belt (for men, this is a necessity)
Another thing that I have been asked is “How do I know I am not being ripped off”. That is a tough one to tell. Right now every dealer is going to sell at the high end, due to demand. One way to not get ripped off is to know the price range that the gun manufactures have it listed for on their websites, like this Ruger Security 9 (which is a great firearm by the way), most manufactuers will list their recommended prices.
The point is that budget is very important. If you blow your entire budget on a $900 gun, what good is it if you cannot shoot it? Not to mention if you are just getting into guns the “budget” market is the best it has ever been!
Also, take a look at this article from American Military News, on the Best Budget 9mm handguns on the market.