VALUE RATING THE CURRENT CROP OF HANDGUNS FOR PERSONAL USE, SELF DEFENSE, AND FIELD USE. by Ray Robinson OK, You asked for it! The following is a listing, by category, of the best values available in the current handgun market (in my humble opinion). Each category lists one or more "Best Values" which represent the best value available for the least money. Also listed for each category is the one or two models this writer believes to be the best handgun(s) available in that category, regardless of price. Prices quoted are average retail or, if the model is often discounted, the average discounted retail price. An asterisk after the price means estimated price -- usually for new models. The listing is oriented toward personal use, not competition (except for .22 target pistols). "LAST DITCH HIDEOUT GUNS" Best Values: Raven 25 Auto.: .25 Caliber Semi Auto - Highly reliable and tiny. 5+1 Rounds. $60.00 Jennings/Bryco J22: .22LR Caliber. Reliable using CCI Stinger Ammo. Small & inexpensive. 6+1 Rounds. $75.00 Davis Derringer: .38 Spl. Caliber. 2-shots Single Action. Lots of power in a very tiny package. New for 1992, <$90.00* Best at any Price: Seecamp .32 Auto.: .32ACP Caliber. Restricted to Winchester Silvertip Ammo only. 6+1 round Capacity. 6-9 Month Lead time; Available only by special order. Priced above $300.00* American Derringer Corp.: Complete line of 2-shot derringers in calibers from .22 to .45. Priced from $275.00 to $475.00 "STANDARD HIDEOUT BACKUP GUNS" Best Values: Taurus 85: .38 Special 5-shot revolver. Will handle limited use of +P Ammunition. Excellent quality; Very smooth action; accurate. Taurus Lifetime Warranty. Avail. with 2" & 3" bbl., in blue, satin nickel, and in stainless steel. Also available in Double Action Only Concealed Hammer models. A BEST BUY! Priced from $195.00 to $265.00 depending upon finish. AMT Backup: .380 Auto. Stainless Steel, Single Action 5+1 rounds. The smallest .380 on the market. Extremely reliable after magazine tuning & ramp polishing. Has grip safety and standard safety. Will easily handle the hottest .380 +P Ammo. New Double Action Only model released in mid-1992 -- Not yet evaluated (looks like the Seecamp .32). $230.00 for single action, about $40 more for DAO. Bersa 83/85/86: .380 Auto. Double action. Blue or nickel. Model 83 is 6+1; model 85/86 is 12+1. Decent quality and price. Feeds hollow points reliably. Made in Argentina. Priced from about $240 for M83 in blue to $320 for M86 in nickel. Best at Any Price: Smith & Wesson Centennial Model 640: .38 Special 5-shot 2" bbl. concealed hammer, double action only revolver. Rated for +P+ Ammo. Stainless Steel. Non-Snagging design. Smith & Wesson Lifetime Warranty. Priced around $400.00 Sig Sauer P230: .380 Auto 7+1 rounds. Slim Walther-styled pocket semi-auto. Superb quality & SIG reliability. Getting hard to find. Available in blue or stainless. Priced from $450.00 to $525.00. Walther PPK/S: .380 Auto 7+1 rounds. The one by which all other pocket autos are judged. Now made in U.S.. Available in blue or stainless. Priced around $450.00. "COMPACT FRAME SEMI-AUTOS" (9mm & up) Best Values: Star Firestar .45 ACP Caliber. Just a hair larger than the Walther PPK/S. Very reliable; Single action; Has standard Colt-type operating features with ambi. safety & oversized mag release. 6+1 rounds. Factory throated for Hollow Points -- feeds Speer 4477 reliably; Factory beveled Magazine well. Mag. safety. 3-dot sights. Available in blue or Starvel (electroless nickel). Priced at about $350.00 or less in blue; $30 more for Starvel. Also available in slightly smaller models in 9mm and in .40 S&W. Better than average fit & finish. The .45 ACP model is my FIRST choice in a compact semi-auto!! Can be carried cocked & locked OR locked with hammer down & round in chamber! Taurus 92 Compact: 9mm Caliber. A very well made compact version of the Taurus 92/99 series which are clones of the Beretta 92F. Extremely jam-free & reliable. 13+1 Rounds. Double action, Double column magazine. Taurus lifetime warranty. Available in blue, nickel, or stainless. Priced from $400.00 to $465.00. Often discounted for about $30.00 less. Glock 19/23: 9mm/.40 S&W Calibers. Compact, lightweight, & extremely reliable -- this is the compact version of the Glock Full sized Service pistol. Polymer Frame, 15+1 rounds capacity(9mm). Will accept Full Sized Model 17/22 magazines. Comes with 2 mags in a plastic carry case. Priced about $475.00. Best at any Price: Star Firestar .45. See above. Smith & Wesson 4516-1: .45 ACP Caliber. 7 rounds capacity. Double action. Stainless steel. Compact, reliable, and extremely accurate for a compact model. S&W Lifetime warranty. Priced around $675.00. SIG Sauer P228: 9mm Caliber. 13+1 Rounds capacity. May be one of the most reliable and accurate compacts available. Typical SIG quality; It doesn't get any better than this! Priced accordingly: around $600.00. Night sights available for an extra $75.00 "FULL SIZE SEMI-AUTO SERVICE PISTOLS" Best Values: Taurus 92/99: 9mm Caliber. One of the unusual cases where a clone is as good as, if not better than the parent (in this case, the Beretta Model 92F). Almost an exact copy of the 92F (The Taurus 99 has adjustable sights; not available on the Beretta), the Taurus is reliable, well made and finished, and is priced about $100.00/copy less than the Beretta. Taurus Lifetime Warranty, 15+1 rounds capacity. Available in blue, nickel, or stainless. Available with "Shooter Pack" (extra mag & molded carrying case) for about $15.00 more than just the pistol. A BEST BUY! Priced from $400.00 to $465.00. Often discounted an additional $30.00. Glock 17/22: 9mm/.40 S&W Calibers. The full sized Glock service pistol; this gun has captured 60% of the U.S. Service Pistol market. It feeds anything & keeps on shooting. Lightweight polymer frame with blue steel slide. 17+1 rounds capacity. Not pretty but it does the job! Priced same as the Glock 19/23 models (about $475.00) Best at any price: Walther P-88: 9mm Caliber. 15+1 rounds capacity. Rated by many experts as the BEST 9mm pistol in the WORLD! You won't get any arguments from me. Superb ergonomics; smooth, reliable functioning; and target accuracy, all in a PRICEY little package; around $1300.00 SIG Sauer P226: 9mm Caliber. Typical SIG quality, reliability, and accuracy. If you ask most knowledgable cops what they would carry if they could choose any sidearm made; this is the one the majority would choose. 15+1 rounds. Blue or nickel finish (also 2-tone). Priced from about $600.00. Night sights available for $75.00 extra. "RIMFIRE PLINKERS/TARGET PISTOLS" Best Values: Ruger MK-II Standard/Bull Barrel/Government Models: .22LR only. An industry standard for over 20 years; the entire line is reliable, well made & finished, and the prices are as good as it gets. The Gov't. model has competed successfully at the National Match level and the Bull Barrel models are only 1/8 inch group size from that level. Good sights & ergonomics; for formal target work, they can benefit from a new trigger and action job which is relatively inexpensive. 10+1 rounds capacity. Available in blue or stainless (all models). Priced from under $200.00 to about $325.00 depending upon model & finish. Browning Buckmark Standard & Target models: .22 LR only. At last, someone else is seriously challenging Ruger for the title. Prices, quality, and accuracy are very close to the Rugers and Browning is spending lots of money to close the gap. Some feel the grip angle and balance is superior to the Ruger's. Presently available only in blue; pricing is very similar to the Rugers. 10+1 rounds capacity. Rossi 515: .22 cal. revolver. 6 shot, 4" Stainless Steel small frame with adjustable sights. An excellent knock-off of the Smith & Wesson model 63 kit gun which goes for over $100.00 more per copy. A BEST BUY! Rossi is now also offering this model in .22 Magnum. Priced at around $225.00. Extremely well made & finished. This is a FUN gun to shoot. Great size for a trail gun. Also, pretty accurate for a 4" barreled .22 revolver! Smith & Wesson 422/622/2206: .22 cal. semi-auto. Basic plinker is 422 in blue. 12 round mag. -- fixed or adj. sights avail. 4.5" or 6" barrel. 422 is in blue; 622 is alloy frame with S/S slide; 2206 is all stainless. Priced from $220 to $365 depending on model & sights. Best at any Price: Smith & Wesson 41: .22LR Caliber. Out of the box Match Grade rimfire target pistol. Extremely well finished & balanced. Highly accurate - < 1 inch groups at 25 Yards. Excellent sights and trigger. Available with 5 1/2" and 7" barrels. Priced around $650.00/ High Standard Victor/Supermatic Citation: .22LR Caliber. No longer manufactured but widely available on the used market. Almost in a dead heat with S&W 41 in terms of finish, balance, sights, and trigger. An NRA Excellent condition model will run around $475.00 to 600.00, depending on model, options, and condition. Parts are readily available. Walther GSP: .22LR Caliber. (also available in .22 Short and in .32 Centerfire calibers). About as good a target pistol as you can get. Superb finish, sights, and ergonomics. Custom Target grip is fitted to shooter's hand. Not easy to find in the U.S. Priced accordingly: around $1400.00. This IS a pure competition gun but it's too good to leave out! "SMALL FRAME .38/.357 REVOLVERS: 3" BARRELS & UP" Best Value: Taurus 80/82: .38 Special caliber. M80 is Std. Barrel while M82 is Heavy Barrel version. Solid, well made revolvers with Taurus Lifetime warranty. Available in blue or satin nickel finish. 6-shot, small frame. Lightweight but strong enough to handle occasional +P loads for defensive purposes or for practice. Priced from $216.00 to $231.00 depending upon finish. Often discounted by about $30.00/gun. Rossi Model 851: .38 Special caliber. Stainless Steel small frame revolver with vent rib. 3" or 4" bbl. available. Well made & finished revolver with adjustable sights. If you need a stainless or adjustable sight alternative to the Taurus 80/82 models, this is a good one. +P ammo not recommended. Priced around $240.00 but often discounted to around $210.00. Taurus Model 65/66: .357 Magnum/.38 Spl. Caliber. M65 has fixed sights while M66 has adjustable sights. This is the gun to choose if you are buying your one and only all-purpose gun. Strong enough to handle the most powerful .357 loads, these also do just fine shooting .38 Special loads for practice or for inside the home. 6 shot capacity; available in blue or satin nickel finish. Either model is available in 3" or 4" bbl. Priced at $249.00 to 289.00 depending on finish. Model 66 is also available in stainless for $348.00. All models have Taurus Lifetime warranty. Prices are often discounted. A BEST BUY! Rossi 971: .357 Magnum/.38 Spl. Caliber. A decent alternative to the Taurus 66, especially in the pricing of the stainless steel model. Adjustable sights, 6 shot capacity. Available with 4" bbl. (blue or stainless) and 6"bbl.(stainless only). Priced at $245.00 (blue) or $289.00 (stainless) Best at any price: Colt Python: .357 Magnum/.38 Spl. Caliber. A beautifully made & finished revolver with top notch accuracy. Not as durable as the S&W design but has one of the smoothest double action trigger pulls ever. Somewhat overpriced at $775 to $895 depending on finish. Smith & Wesson Models 13/19/65/66: .357 Magnum/.38 Spl. Caliber. M13/19 are in blue; M65/66 in stainless. M13/65 have fixed sights; M19/66 have adjustable sights. This is the famous "K" frame "Combat Magnum" series from S&W. All have the S&W Lifetime Warranty and the famous S&W quality. 6 shot capacity. Priced from $359.00 to $487.00, depending on options and finish. Ruger GP-100: .357 Magnum/.38 Spl. Caliber. Ruger's GP-100 line is noted for its strength and its accuracy. Priced slightly under the comparable S&W models, these pistols are well regarded by both professional shooters and by the Law Enforcement community. 6 shot capacity. Available options include fixed or adjustable sights and blue or stainless steel finishes. Priced from $349.00 to $445.00, depending upon options & finish. "MEDIUM FRAME .357 MAGNUM REVOLVERS" Best Value: Taurus 689: .357 Magnum/.38 Spl. Caliber. Blue or Stainless Steel model with adjustable sights and a full ventilated rib. Extremely well made & finished revolver. 6 shot capacity. Taurus Lifetime Warranty. Great, smooth action & well balanced. This is Taurus's top of the line revolver & it looks like it! Priced at $295.00 in blue and $370.00 in stainless, this model is often discounted by as much as $80.00. Even at its normal retail price, this one is a BEST BUY! Best at any Price: Smith & Wesson Models 586/686: .357 Magnum/.38 Spl. Caliber. 6 shot capacity, Adjustable Sights. 586 is blue; 686 is stainless. This is the S&W "L" frame "Distinguished Combat Magnum" line which was created for the express purpose of handling a steady diet of the heaviest .357 loads available. Although specifically designed for the professional compet- ition market, this line has been widely purchased by everyone from hunters to law enforcement. I have two 686's; one with a 2 1/2" bbl. and a 6" barreled model which is set up with an electronic optical sight. The 6" model is the most accurate revolver I have ever owned -- it will consistently shoot one- hole groups at 25 yards from a bench rest and the 2 1/2" model is the most accurate snubbie I have ever seen; grouping under 2" at 25 yards with FULL HOUSE loads. For double action revolvers, this is as good as it gets! Priced from $380.00 to $465.00, depending upon options and finish. "LARGE FRAME REVOLVERS" Best Value: Ruger Super Blackhawk: .44 Magnum/.44 Special Caliber. Single Action Dragoon Styled revolver. 6 shot capacity. For a taste of the old West, you can't find a better value for the price. Super strong construction and good accuracy. Adjustable sights. Available in blue or stainless steel finish with barrel lengths from 5 1/2" to 10 1/2". A great hunting sidearm with enough power to handle just about anything on the continent. Priced from $295.00 to $325.00 Astra 44 MAG: .44 Magnum/.44 Special Caliber. Double Action 6" barreled model in stainless steel. Imported from Spain, quality is surprisingly good considering the price. 6 shot capacity; adjustable sights. Priced under $300.00 Best at any Price: Ruger Super Redhawk: .44 Magnum/.44 Special Caliber. Double Action, 6 shot capacity. Adjustable sights. Super strong frame and extremely accurate with heavy loads. Stainless steel construction; available with 7 1/2" or 9 1/2" bbl. Priced at around $480.00 Freedom Arms .454 Casull: .454 Casull Caliber. Single Action. 5 shot capacity. This is the strongest and most powerful handgun in volume production in the world! It also just happens to be about the highest quality firearm you can buy. Available in two grades of stainless steel finish: the Field Grade model is priced around $900.00 while the superbly crafted Standard Grade is around $300.00 more. Available only by special order, the waiting list hovers around six months. If you are into really BIG BOOMERS, this is the one to have! (About 40% more powerful than the .44 Mag.) Bet you won't enjoy shooting this one one-handed! Colt Anaconda: .44 Magnum/.44 Special Caliber. Will be available in .45 Colt late in 1992. All stainless with adjustable sights. Solid value and good accuracy. Double action with molded rubber grips. Available with 4", 6", or 8" bbl. Priced around $570. OK, that's my list. Now, if your favorite handgun isn't on it, you may feel free to netmail me at 1:273/408 and try to lobby me into adding one more to the list. However, let's get the rules straight. To be a "Best Value", the firearm has to work almost to perfection and have a good level of quality in addition to having a MOST favorable price. To be a "Best at any Price", it had better be just that: it must be demonstrably superior to just about anything else in its category. Incidentally, if you're wondering why the entire line(s) of single action Government model/Browning design models are missing, just consider that they are great firearms but at their current prices, and given the tactical superiority of the high capacity/double action combinations, they just don't fit my current definitions of high value pieces. (Did you notice that I did list the Star Firestar which is a modernized close relative to the Government Model?) Presently, the largest volume of "Browning single action design" sales is in the competition market, not in the personal use/defense market which is what I am focusing on. Ray Robinson