For all around, sporting, target, limited self defense; Hi-point in .40 or Pietta 1858 Remington clone, any barrel length, or Ruger .22 Mk 3?
Just curious, and full disclosure, I do not own, or plan to buy one of these
Wow cork, can you say missed the point in all caps?
Tahoeguy
Favorite Answer
I wouldnt use a hi-point for a hammer, much less all around use.
the Pietta is a decent repro. I rather like thier stuff. its also limited for most options since its BP.
i suppose the ruger wins this one to me. Its quality, not too expensive, and no one likes .22 caliber holes punched in thier torso.
xscout9094
Since the discussion is strictly academic and you're not going to buy a handgun. A good .357 magnum with a 4 - 6 inch barrel is the best all around handgun you will find. It isn't the best for a lot of purposes, but it is good for everything.
Self defense is the one area where a .357 magnum with 125 grain high velocity hollow points is not a compromise. It will get the job done.
For sporting use a .357 with 158 grain soft point ammo will take down medium sized or smaller game reliably at reasonable ranges for a handgun.
For target shooting or plinking, you can shoot .38 special cartridges. Wadcutter bullets are accurate, inexpensive loads.
None of the guns you listed will be even close to a decent .357 revolver for any of these purposes, with the exception that the Ruger .22 will be better and cheaper for target use and/or plinking.
Crashn87
I've gotta agree with Tahoe on these choices. I'll take the Ruger any day of the week over the others. The 9mm is a better stopper than he .22 but the key to self defense is the gun working and knowing how to use it. I know when I pull the trigger on the Ruger it's going to go bang and I've practiced enough to know I'll hit what I'm shooting at. There is no way I'd trust my life to the others.
10 minutes late
Depends on how cheap you are trying to go. I'd go for a 9mm minimum because a .22 just won't cut for self defense, I don't care what people say.
For around $300 you can get a Ruger or old Smith semi-auto. The Ruger P89 or P95 is a rugged, durable piece with decent accuracy. The Smith 5906 or similar (just gunbroker.com "Smith 9mm used") is also very reliable.
Barrel length only comes cheap in the Mark II and III's. If you get a long barrel of larger calibers they are in limited production and always more pricey.
For the $100 range, you CAN get a Hi-Point. Ugly and cheap-feeling compared to most other guns, I know several people who have owned them and they swear by them. YES, they are cheap, but YES, they go bang every time you pull the trigger. It was never designed to be a Glock or Sig, but people expect them to perform like them and take abuse like them, so they bash 'em. On a budget, it still works. I WOULD buy one, but I got my eyes on another Kimber at the moment.
Anonymous
For me, it's a tossup between the Mk.III and the 1858 clone.
I own a bull barreled Ruger Mk.II (that was my carry gun for a good while), that is loads of fun to shoot, and is unbelievably accurate (had to re-crown the barrel after a particular incident though...). Can't beat the .22LR for shooting on the cheap.
Then again, I own a Pietta 1858 Remmy (.44, blued, 8'' barrel) that is one SWEET shootin' iron! Loads of fun to shoot, and real cheap to feed. It's as much fun loading it as it is shooting... not to mention it's pretty accurate. Very well balanced too. Packs a pretty hefty punch as well.
Cork: My newborn baby only can gurgle... and somehow she still makes more sense.