Mak ammo is far from hard to find. There are way too many online sources to really consider anything milsurp from the last century hard to find. Now it is possible to say that certain brands or particular loads for a given caliber may be hard to find, but I think Steelheart overstates the difficulty of finding Mak ammo, by only looking locally. I am having a hard time getting my hands on Barnaul hollowpoint, but all the Fiocchi, Sellier & Bellot, and Wolf you could shoot is still quite available and reasonably priced.

That said, the Makarov does represent one of the most incredible values on the market. Prices are going up though as more people realize what an outstanding little firearm this is for the price.

I'd say Taurus snubbie right after the Mak for the budget minded person, who just can't bring themselves to consider a possibly used piece of Milsurp.

Of course all of the above assumes we are talking about the budget minded CCW seeker, rather than the budget minded home defense seeker, for whom the Mossberg500-590/ Remington870 solution is always going to be a standard recomendation.

FMJ ammo is about 10.00 per box of 50, JHP is about a buck more.

I was talking about the trouble a newer shooter could have finding ammo. I order almost all of mine online. If I lived in the Metro area it might be easier to find ,but outstate....

It's easy to ask how much is your life worth. But if someone is only making $8-9/hr while paying rent or having a child they simply don't have the disposable income to drop $400-500+ on a nice service pistol plus ammo and all the other stuff that goes along with it. But they might be able to save up enough to get a Bersa or Taurus along with some ammo and some way to secure the gun. And after they get comfortable with it, they might have squirreled away the $70+ for a class and $100 for the permit.

Yes I, and many others here, have multiple guns that would work for carry or to defend ourselves. Other's don't.

Isn't this the real reason for threads like this?

Steelheart

I cannot agree more with mobo on his take about cheap or inexpensive guns..however you want to phrase it.
I think one of the best "values" out there is the Springfield XD line. A new XD40 can be had for about $440.00. and the same gun used can be had for under $400.00. That is a bargain. Many Glock pistols are about 50-100.00 more, and who can find fault in the reliability of a Glock pistol? I trust my life to one everyday.

I have been carrying my Ruger KP95D for awhile now, and have just switched to something a little more carry friendly. I went looking for a .357 snubby that was rated to shoot .38, .38+P, .357 Mags, and .357+P's. I wanted to have something very reliable at the least price with the most ballistic options. Since Rossi was just purchased by Taurus and they have the Taurus integrated locking mechanism,and the Taurus lifetime warrenty I just coundn't pass up their R46102 2" snub nose .357 in Blue for only $220 NIB. Fits me great and since I don't mind the extra size is my new favorite carry piece.
My 2cents,
Mike

Curious, how did you carry it? I tried around the house IWB....pathetic results. I doubt I will carry mine now, as I got something different in anticipation, and the fit is much better (baby glock). Still curious...

Works fine in a SmartCarry, believe it or not. Works okay in a GunMate (it's another Uncle Mike's brand) nylon holster as well.

Was the gunmate was IWB?

Pretty positive the smartcarry is one that will never be worn by me. I absolutely cannot see pointing a gun at my best friend

Nope, OWB. Maybe the best $12.95 I've spent on gun stuff.


It actually rides in front of your best friend, and points at the ground.

Believe me -- I'm very attached to my anatomy, and wouldn't wear anything to endanger it!

I have been carrying my p14.45 for awill now and had only one runin with the police and it is funny my .45 haze a 5'' BARREL LENGTH some say it is to hevey but i like it i am looking at geting a compact still in a .45 same gun thow

I have an XD Sub compact 40 and love it. I've put probably 2000 rounds through it. Nice, easy to conceal size, and a nice weight. Not ultra-light, but not heavy. I like most anything I own to have some mass to it.

well my gun was well priced 997.98 befor tax i love my p14.45 i whant to mary it lol j/k but i love how it is all steel and strong

Back it the Game,
I had a shoulder rig I just couldn't get used to, then switched to a Uncle Mikes "Side Bet" Belt slide holster. Its adjustable and both my KP95D and my Rossi .357 fit in it with the same adjustments. I forget its on most of the time.
Good luck,
Mike

I have several handguns ranging from the .500 S&W Mag., S&W 1911 .45, two Glock 9mm, so on and so on. I am a Police Officer by trade and the one gun that goes with me where ever I go, even around the 60 acre farm I raise horses on, is the Ket-Tek P-32 with hard chrome slide.

Very inexpensive but far from a cheap gun. Over 600 rounds through it over the years and not one malfunction, this includes hollow point ammo. as well as ball, also very accurate. Vest holster on duty as a BUG and in right front pocket in a nylon pocket holster off duty. Nice to have a gun you can carry no matter what the occasion or type of weather. Even during the summer with just shorts and T-shirt this gun will still works.

Shot three oppossums in the last two weeks when taking my dogs for a walk in the woods on my farm. (Oppossums and horses do not mix well, they carry disease that is fatal to horses).

I could have pretty much any gun I wanted when it comes to daily carry. I chose the Kel-Tek. My experiance has been perfect. YMMV.

Payne

where can i find a kel-tek for cheep