Ah, the age-old question — “What can I get for my money?”
Everyone always hopes the new gun they pick up is quality; they want it to scratch that itch and feel like they made a good purchase. But not everyone wants to shell out the big bucks to do so…
Fortunately, it is a buyer’s market right now, and there are some stellar handguns out there that will put a smile on your face while keeping your bank account happy.
We are going to take a look at a few of the cheapest pistols on the market. And when I say cheap, I mean cheap cheap.
Everything on this list is right at $400 or less, and there is a little something in there for everyone.
THE QUICK LIST
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Best All-Around
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Best Subcompact
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Best Classic Pick
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Best for Concealed Carry
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Best DA/SA Pick
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Best Glock Clone
Table of Contents
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How We Tested the Best Budget Handguns
First, we set the price threshold at $400 which narrows down the playing field for handguns but still keeps it affordable for most people.
We then chose 9mm handguns that we’ve had at least 1000 rounds through to make sure our choices were reliable.
9mm was chosen for affordability, availability, and a good balance between recoil and terminal ballistics.
And each handgun had to have decent ergonomics that all our test editors and writers could shoot decently without any major gripes.
Best Budget Handguns
1. CZ P-10C
I don’t exactly know what CZ is doing, but prices for the P-10C have been slashed across the board.
As of July 2023, the P-10C is arguably the best value buy in the handgun world.
These pistols are excellent striker-fired pistols that fill that duty, home defense, concealed carry, or “anything else a Glock 19-sized gun can do” role.
You get amazing ergonomics with extremely aggressive grip texturing, aggressive slide serrations, a better-than-Glock trigger that is pretty good in its own right, and 15+1 rounds of 9mm on tap.
Both the magazines and the sights are metal, and the accuracy and reliability are outstanding. These guns shoot flat and fast.
While the aftermarket isn’t as robust as Glock’s, I truly believe the CZ P-10C is a much better shooting and feeling gun out of the box.
I bought mine at full price when they were around $500, and I don’t regret it.
But with the base model prices at a jaw-dropping $300-350 and optics-ready and nights sight models coming in under $400, it is impossible to deny the P-10C a spot.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Not sold? Well, our resident big man Sean Curtis was, and he bought one immediately after shooting mine.
Still unsure? We got you covered with a full review!
2. Canik TP9 Elite SC
You will be hard-pressed to find a list of best budget handguns without seeing Canik pop up.
I had shot the TP9 Elite SC (~$399) prior to including it on this list. I knew I had to slot it in the list, so I requested one directly from Canik.
It was exactly what I’d experienced before. This is a true subcompact gun, not a micro compact. So think Glock 26-sized, not P365. Yeah, it is a little chunkier, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
On top of being able to accept the full-sized magazines of the larger TP9 models, The extra girth just makes the gun a bit easier to hold on to and feels a little more substantial in the hand (insert joke here).
Micro compacts are awesome to carry, but that paper-thin profile doesn’t always feel great when shooting.
Even at 1.45 inches wide, the TP9 Elite SC is still concealable with its manageable 3.6-inch barrel. You get a standard capacity of 12 rounds, with an optional 15-round extended magazine included.
It comes optics-ready, utilizing the Shield RMSc micro footprint, has two interchangeable backstraps, and even includes a reversible OWB/IWB holster.
The slide release is long and ambidextrous, and the magazine release is reversible.
Oh, and the best part? You get a best-in-class trigger. It breaks crisply around 3.5 pounds with a short and tactile reset.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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I found the TP9 Elite SC to be very accurate and reliable, and the trigger makes it fun to shoot for such a small gun.
I enjoyed my second go-around with this gun so much that I spent my own hard-earned coin to buy it and keep it.
What do you think of the Canik? Rate it below!
3. Tisas 1911 A1
Gone are the days of having to shell out $800-1000 for a 1911 that won’t choke every two rounds.
Companies like Rock Island Armory, Tisas, Girsan, and American Classic are producing quality 1911s at affordable prices.
Currently leading the pack for my money is the Tisas 1911 A1.
This is your standard WW2 GI-style 1911, and there is nothing wrong with that. For many people, the 1911 isn’t their go-to defensive pistol; they just want a cool, fun, aesthetically pleasing gun.
You get an excellent call-back to a bygone era. A grey Cerakote mimics the classic 1911 parkerized finish. GI-style sights, walnut grips, a lanyard loop, and the classic GI hammer and trigger complete the look.
Tisas wisely avoided large ugly branding, instead choosing a superb minimal slide marking that simply reads “Model 1911 A1 U.S. Army.” They also include an additional set of plastic grips in the box for whatever reason.
The trigger is surprisingly good, breaking cleanly around 3 pounds with a short reset you’d expect from a good 1911.
We ran our last test gun out of the box with no additional lube other than what the factory provided, and it was flawless with both of the two provided 7-round magazines.
I’ve shot three different samples of this gun, and all have run 100%, which was shocking to me considering the Cerakote finish and the price.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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With solid accuracy, seemingly great reliability, and a killer price of around $350, the Tisas 1911 A1 is an excellent pickup for someone wanting a budget 1911 or a gun that isn’t plastic.
4. Taurus GX4
Micro compacts are the hotness right now. It seems like everyone and their dog has a P365, Hellcat, Shield Plus, or something similar.
But hey, it makes sense. High capacity in a tiny, easy-to-carry package — who doesn’t want that?
Luckily, if you are eyeballing a new concealed carry gun but don’t quite have $500 to spend, Taurus has you covered with the GX4.
With a 3-inch barrel, a width of about an inch, a weight of 18.5 ounces, and a capacity of 11 rounds, the GX4 is right on par with its competition.
The difference? It does it for about $300.
They didn’t skimp out on design features, either. You get front slide serrations, adjustable backstraps, great stippling, and even grip cuts to help with magazine extraction.
Two 11-round magazines are included, but slightly extended 13-round magazines are also available.
I was shocked at how good this gun felt in my hand. Personally, I have it just behind the P365 and ahead of the Hellcat and Shield Plus in terms of comfort (your mileage may vary).
The trigger is a bit heavier than I would like, breaking around 5.5 pounds, but it hits a well-defined wall and breaks cleanly. I will take a heavier but consistent, tactile trigger over a lighter but mushy and unpredictable one any day.
Do I still prefer my P365? Yes. Does the GX4 fill the same role for less money? Yes, and it does so admirably.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Check out our complete review!
5. Bersa TPR9
Unknown, unheralded, a true dark horse — the Bersa TRP9 is a slayer.
Hold up, Bersa? The ones that make those cheap .380 PPK clones? Yeah, that Bersa. They also make one of my favorite budget handguns.
The TPR9 is a true full-sized, all-metal, hammer-fired handgun. Good guns like that are a rare find under the $400 mark.
These guns are internally similar to the older Walther P88, and copying Walther is always a good foundation.
Featuring an aluminum frame, DA/SA trigger, 17+1 capacity, and a manual safety/decocker, it sounds more like an offering from Sig.
But the devil is in the details. Full-length slide rails, front serrations, finger rest serrations on the frame, front strap serrations, a Picatinny rail, ambidextrous controls — it’s crazy what is on this thing.
Fit and finish are excellent both internally and externally, the takedown only requires a simple flick of a lever (no trigger pull needed), and the trigger is phenomenal for the price.
In single-action, the trigger breaks cleanly at 3.5-4 pounds with almost no overtravel. Double-action is a very smooth affair at around 7.5-8 pounds with no discernable stacking. And the piece-de-resistance, the reset is tactile and only about 1mm long, shorter than my CZ Shadow 2!
My only complaints are that the grip texture is a bit smooth (easily fixed with Talon tape) and that the mags are a bit spendy. Outside of those minor nitpicks, this gun is nearly perfect for the asking price.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Oh, they also make compact and threaded barrel versions around the same price!
6. PSA Dagger Compact
A new contender that didn’t make the video but that we’ve gotten to love is PSA’s Dagger Compact.
We’ve been testing them since 2021 when they came out. And we’re confident now that it makes our list of an affordable gun that’s still reliable and accurate.
3000 rounds in and with only some minor break-in issues the first 1-2 mags is great for a Glock 19 clone that costs right around $300.
And for a little more you can get options like different colors, threaded barrels, and optics cut.
Plus it shoots accurately at handgun distances and does well suppressed too.
Check out our full review for all the details.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Final Thoughts
Ammo prices are still too damn high, but some things in the gun world have gotten cheap over the past few years.
Budget pistols are flourishing right now, and there are a ton of great options out there to cover just about any base.
As always, narrowing down the list to five was tough, so let us know what you liked and what we missed in the comments below! Interested in more budget picks? Check out our article on the 8 Best Budget Guns (Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun)!
LATEST UPDATES
April 25, 2024 – Updated with How We Tested and inclusion of the PSA Dagger Compact.
32 Leave a Reply
Where’s the Ruger EC9
Wyatt, I can certainly understand the difficulty of keeping the list short, and how difficult it was to choose between the many choices out there. It says something positive about the various manufacturers that have dedicated the time and effort to come up with budget options, that may not have the bells and whistles of their higher end guns, but will still function adequately in the role of Primary Weapon. As you mentioned, there are several others, and it was probably very hard to choose between some of them.
It wasn't that long ago that wasn't the case, as I'm sure a lot of us remember
Several of the five you've listed would work just fine to replace costlier Glock, SIG, Springfield and other costlier manufacturers. I've fired the Taurus G4, and it could work just as well as my P365 at half the cost, and we've conversed about the Tisas earlier in the thread.
You've done a good job IMHO of choosing examples across a variety of manufacturers, that offer both Striker Fired as well as traditional SA and DA/SA. I'm familiar with 4 of the 5 to say I agree, they are good options for those on tight budgets and options for those looking for a backup or second gun.
The savings on some can go a long way towards buying Ammo or other accessories, which can quickly add up these days to significant amounts.
I appreciate and enjoy articles like this, and find them a great way to keep up on what's out there.
Wow, the CZ P-10C is down around $300 now? That's an incredible value for that gun. I hope they're not discontinuing it!
A gun that isn't in your list is the Ruger Max 9. It is in the same class as all of the above - good quality, and reasonably priced. Be sure to get the Ruger ReadyDot (order it from Ruger for $100). Line up that red dot with the iron sights, and you will hit the target every time.
Please do a review on the Ruger Max 9 with the Ruger ReadyDot installed. The ReadyDot was made specifically for that gun. It doesn't use a battery, and it has no electronics; uses fiber optics instead. The only time I haven't been able to see the dot is when I am aiming into bright light.
I have found that when I line up the front sight green dot with the ReadyDot red dot, and put them both in the rear sight trench, I hit the target every time (a quart of oil at about 15 yards). I've never read or heard any commentary that says to line it up that way; but it is very easy and accurate when I do. With other red dots, I never know exactly where to put the dot in the sight picture so as to hit the target; with the ReadyDot, I know exactly where to put it.
The ReadyDot is extremely simple, rugged, and accurate. And inexpensive.
It would be (nice/informative/courteous/attentive to my time) if you would note which firearms you are reviewing are NOT legal for purchase in restrictive states (CA, NY, etc). It's interesting to see what's out there (and available in Free States) but frustrating when I go to the CA Attorney General's list, and once again realize "ACCESS DENIED".
Perhaps the Ruger EC9S would be permitted in California. It has a 7+1 capacity and a magazine disconnect. A really good gun for under $300 (including tax). Great for pocket carry.
Not on the list...Pete
I understand that the Bersa Firestorm is on the California gun register. Go to Midwayusa's website and search for 1021606288 (that's their product code for this gun). Once you find it, the "Community Q&A" section says that this gun is on the California gun register.
I've never shot this particular gun. However, DA/SA with a decocker is my preferred type of gun, so I am definitely interested in this one.
It's a .380 and holds 7+1 rounds.
Thanks for the feedback. I've tried that gun and it doesn't fit the hand as well as I'd like. Looking at a Beretta PX4 for my next Semiauto. Shot a rental at the range and liked it. Good trigger and low recoil.
PX4 is a great gun if you use a good grease, not oil, to lubricate the slide. Also, Beretta coats the barrel with some sort of goo to keep it from rusting while on the shelf waiting to be sold. Give the gun a good cleaning when new, to remove that goo from the barrel.
Super shout-out for the TISA 1911-A1. Everyone should own and carry one of these: whether a verifiable Colt original or a reputable replica. GGOAT.
It's really a great value, the finish is superb.
PSA Dagger & Stoeger STR9 MIA? Great info! Thx!
Keeping the list to 5 was tough and we decided to only go with one Glock 19-sized gun. The CZ P-10C won out for me because I do think the trigger and the ergonomics are superior to the Glock and their clones. The Dagger is an excellent offering, and the fact they can offer it with all those features at that price is great - a tough cut for sure.
Beretta APX belongs on here for sure, an awesome pistol. My only complaint is the trigger guard and “beaver tail” make it unfavorable to conceal carry. It causes the pistol to ride higher than most others. That and the lack of aftermarket support had me toss the APX, but a great trigger and pistol overall.
I tried the GX4, after 50 rounds, a bloody trigger finger, 13-14 jams, it’s a “no-go” for me. I decided to stick with my Taurus G3C for my EDC vs that one. I would rather see the G3C here instead. It barely larger when you see them side by side
Marty, the APX is a great pistol. If you check out our video at the top of the article, you will see that it made it on there as an honorable mention. I really dig the overall feel of the gun, but the CZ just edged it out for me and they are dirt cheap right now.
Bummer about the GX4, I haven't run into any issues across the two copies I've used, and our other test guns have been pretty solid. Gotta go with what works for you though!
I’d purchase a $299 PSA Dagger with threaded barrel & optic cut slide over any of the guns you listed. Leaving the Dagger off this list is kinda crazy.
Barry, narrowing the list down to 5 was tough. We only wanted to include one Glock 19-sized gun and the CZ won out for us because of the trigger and great ergos. The Dagger is a solid gun though and I love that PSA is dropping a ton of features/mags with those guns for that price.
Dagger trigger is gritty from what I have read….
Can't believe you left Springfield XDs off the list. I love my XDs.
I know there is a lot of love/hate with the XD series. I actually like them, and I have Mod.2 subcompact that has been flawless for a few years. It didn't quite make the cut here for the subcompact and compact polymer guns mainly because the P-10C and the Canik have better triggers in my opinion. The newer Elite OSP XDs are pretty sweet, but they are a bit tough to find under $400 reliably.
I would have added the Stoeger STR9 to this list. I own one and am very surprised at how accurate it is out of the box. The trigger is surprisingly good for its price point. Agree with the first three picks for affordability and reliability. All three are great handguns for those on a budget.
Will, we have a review of the STR9 and our writer Mike loved it. They are solid guns, but keeping the list to 5 makes for slim pickins'. I have the P-10C the nod because they are nearly as cheap as the STR9 right now.
What? No HI Points? LOL, just kidding with you Wyatt.
I've been thinking about on of the Tisas 1911s for a while now, and you review is the 3rd or 4th I've read, praising what Tisas managed at that price point.
A bad experience with a Spanish 1911 Clone in the early 80s, made me neglect ever getting another for 40+ years. I would like to have one, just for schitz and giggles, but the previous $800 and up price tags kept me from going there. As a retiree on a limited budget, I could swing $400 without having to save for too long.
I will definitely try to find a local store carrying one.
Chuck, thanks for dropping in again. That Tisas is a shocker for the money, but then again, good 1911s are getting cheaper. In addition to the one we have at Pew Pew, my good friend just purchased one for himself and it also runs 100%. I am shocked that the included mags seem to run well out of the box. They also seem to run well with Wilson Combat mags too. I was also pleased with how well the cerakote finish is done on these guns; they just look like they should be more than $350. Hopefully we will get a full review up soon, but so far so good on these guys.
I love my bersa thunder 9. Wonder if their products went to hell after the thunder 9 came out.
Kurt, those guns are absolute steals. As far as the quality, their Thunder .380s and current TPR9s seem to still be holding up fine, I just don't think they are developing too many new products. They just dropped a competition optics-ready version of the TPR9 called the TPR9 XT. I am hoping I can get my hands on one at some point.
Why not include the SCCY?
MSRP is under $300 and is highly reliable and made in the USA!
Thanks for the suggestion Jim! I haven't tried one of these yet but am looking forward to it.
Bersa TPR9C is a BEAST! Note that this is the compact version of the TRP9. My little 9mm TPR9C is your basic badass service CCA pistol. I have put something like 4K rounds of every "flavor" 9mm without a single problem. The C just keeps on goin'. It's a BEAST.
Kurt, that is awesome to hear you are 4K deep with no issues. I have had mine for a while but don't have that many rounds downrange with it. I wish more people knew about these guns, they are absolute units!