9 Best Handguns For $500 Or Less
Everyone knows you can spend a lot on a handgun and get something good, but what about the best handguns for under $500? Not everyone has a huge amount they can spend on a carry gun, so there have to be some serious bargain shooters out there.
Are there?
You bet there are. In fact, you can get some shockingly good handguns for $500 or less and from some of the biggest names in the business to boot. Here are 9 of the best handguns for less than $500.
S&W M&P9 Shield M2.0
The original M&P pistols are winding down in production, and soon enough will be discontinued. The M2.0 pistols will be what remains, so expect to find Shield M2.0 pistols instead of the original Shields.
The S&W M&P9 Shield M2.0 has a starting MSRP of $512, but you won't have any problems finding one for less than $400 in stores. The M&P Shield is a solid CCW pistol, and in fact one of the most popular CCW pistols of the past 20 years.
Rock Island Armory GI 1911
Rock Island Armory pistols are not "jUsT aS gUd" as a semi-custom gun from Les Baer, Ed Brown or Wilson Combat and never will be…but are very well made for mid-shelf 1911s and have a reputation for serious performance and reliability for the asking price. Mike Seeklander won IDPA championships with (mostly) stock RIA pistols, so they're not to be dismissed.
The GI model is a bare-bones M1911A1 clone with an MSRP of $499 and street prices closer to $400. For best results, get the model in .45 ACP as it's closest to the original and therefore will be less likely to have any gremlins to work out.
Top Tip: the Rock Standard FS, another full-size in .45 ACP, has an MSRP of $549. Street price is reliably below $500, and it comes with more features like a beavertail grip safety, Novak-style sights and more.
Taurus PT111 Millennium G2
You could actually get two Taurus PT111 Millennium G2 handguns for $500. They're very easily found for $250 or less. You might think that the cheaper price tag means a cheaper gun that probably can't hang with the Shield, XDs or Glock 26 since it's a Taurus.
And you would be dead wrong.
The G2 has gained a reputation for being the best budget gun available, running as reliably and shooting as well as guns with twice the sticker. Not as well considering; as well, period. For half the money or less. You'll deal with a bit less in attention to detail, but if you bought a plastic striker gun for aesthetics...you have issues.
It's barely bigger than the Shield, but it holds 12+1 of 9mm or 10+1 of .40 S&W, and it's easier for shooters with larger hands to get a full grip on. Honestly, you could do worse...but it's hard to imagine doing better for the same price.
Several Canik pistols have a sub-$500 MSRP. If we had to pick one, our pick would be the TP9 SF Elite. It's an intermediate-size pistol, with a 4.2-inch barrel and 15+1 capacity; it's right in that zone of being small enough to carry easily but big enough to be easy to shoot.
The TP9 SF Elite is a soft-shooting gun with an outstanding trigger for the price point. MSRP is $429, but street prices around $350 (or less) are not uncommon.
Is it a duty-grade pistol? Maybe, maybe not. But is it a capable pistol that is incredibly affordable? Oh, yes indeed. In fact, it would be an easy pick for a go-to budget pistol.
Ruger EC9s
The EC9s replaced the LC9s models in Ruger's catalog as a more simplified version instead of their multiple offerings. The EC9s is much like the LCP II, in that it's a slim, subcompact striker-fired pistol but chambered in 9mm.
It's a bare-bones gun with few features to speak of. The sights are fixed (integral to the frame rather than pinned or dovetailed) with a 7+1 magazine and a 3.12-inch barrel…and little else worth talking about.
But MSRP is $339 and street prices are lower. The EC9s is closer to what Jeff Cooper called a gun "to be carried often and shot little" but for how little you can get into one for…that's not the worst thing. And it fits any LC9s holster, so there's little worry about that.
Taurus G3
The Taurus G3 is a full-size version of the PT111 G2/G3 pistol, with a 4-inch barrel and 17+1 capacity, akin to a Glock 19X. There are some surprising features for the price point, including a Picatinny rail on the frame and steel sights, with a white dot in the front and a black serrated rear.
Taurus has overhauled their QC and manufacturing in recent years, so don't overlook them due to snobbery. There is also a G3C - basically an improved G2 - if you prefer a more compact pistol, as well as a G3XL, which puts a G3 slide and barrel on a G3C frame.
All models except the TORO models (Tenifer finish, optics-ready slide) have an MSRP of just under $400. The TORO models have an MSRP of $449.
Ruger LCP II
The LCP II is Ruger's improved pocket pistol, with a striker-fired mechanism instead of the ghastly DAO trigger of the original LCP. MSRP is $419 for the basic models.
While the LCP series has always been a .380, the sleeper of the LCP II pistols is the Lite Rack in .22 LR. It's light, doesn't kick, fits in a pocket if needs be, and the right load of .22 LR is a very capable defensive loading in the right context.
Street prices are around $300 to $350.
Canik TP9 SF Elite
Several Canik pistols have a sub-$500 MSRP. If we had to pick one, our pick would be the TP9 SF Elite. It's an intermediate-size pistol, with a 4.2-inch barrel and 15+1 capacity; it's right in that zone of being small enough to carry easily but big enough to be easy to shoot.
The TP9 SF Elite is a soft-shooting gun with an outstanding trigger for the price point. MSRP is $429, but street prices around $350 (or less) are not uncommon.
Is it a duty-grade pistol? Maybe, maybe not. But is it a capable pistol that is incredibly affordable? Oh, yes indeed. In fact, it would be an easy pick for a go-to budget pistol.
Ruger Security 9
Ruger's Security 9 pistols are simple and sinister 9mm guns with a light DAO (internal hammer-fired) firing system, available as a 10+1 compact (with a 3.42-inch barrel) or a 15+1 intermediate with a 4-inch barrel.
The Security 9 is a nod to the Security 6, an unpretentious revolver made for the LE and civilian markets. The Security 9 series is light, slim, and simple, and have ample carrying capacity; perfect for concealed carry.
MSRP on the basic models is $459, but street prices will be much lower.
Taurus GX4
The Taurus GX4 is their answer to the P365 and Springfield Hellcat, with a micro compact size and 11+1 capacity…and an MSRP of $392. The GX4 is part of Taurus's bid to revamp their reputation, and a lot of shooters and instructors are acknowledging this budget gun will run if you do your part as the shooter.
Beretta APX And APX A1
The Beretta APX family has been overlooked for its entire production run, and as a result you can snag one of almost any size class for less than $400 with ease.
The full-size model of the APX has been revamped as the APX A1, and has some substantial improvements including a flat-blade trigger and optics-ready slide. MSRP is $529, but you won't have any problems finding one for much less.
You aren't going to find a handgun from a major manufacturer with the same features list for a lower price point.
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