I have purchased a few firearms that were considered budget pieces. And I think that's OK.
I also think that everyone needs to go out and buy at least ONE high-dollar-exactly-the-one-you-want piece.
everyone needs to experience that at least once. even if it means saving up for a year or more.
Absolutely it is.
The distinction I am making is that a "Fighting gun" or "Defensive Carry" weapon should not be a cheap firearm.
The tools we use to defend our lives and the lives of others should absolutely be representative of quality parts, quality manufacturing, vetted platforms and proper quality control.
Unless finances are seriously tough and you cannot afford anything but a cheap Lorcin, Raven or Hi-point, or you don't have the funds and you cannot afford to wait due to some exacerbating circumstance- then you should absolutely have something/anything over nothing.
But let's be honest, most anyone (Obviously not EVERYONE, but the vast majority of able bodied people) can pick up an extra shift, or work a few weekends handing out samples at Costco or spinning a sign on the side of the road, dive construction dumpsters and recycle materials for cash, pick up a serving or bar tending shift, or- etc, etc, etc- to earn a few extra bucks to go towards a quality firearm in lieu of a cheap piece.
Heck, I've bought several weapons I would never carry or trust in a SHTF or home invasion scenario. Just because they looked like fun and I wanted to kill paper and play around with them.
But, we should all be able to set ego/machismo aside and make the distinction between a cheapo low quality tool and a more expensive higher quality tool and utilize them appropriately for the task at hand.
When I hear folks say their Hi-Point carbine is just as good as my Daniel Defense MK-18 and 1/5th the cost it makes me cringe (And I've heard this more than once at the range mind you). They aren't in the same class at all, not even close.
Try running your Hi-Point carbine through a 2-day 2,000 round carbine course where you are running, jumping, rolling in dirt and running the gun HARD- ain't gonna happen.
When I hear someone say their Taurus PT945 is as good as my Vickers custom 1911 and at 1/10th the cost- I puke a bit in my mouth.
And what''s even worse is some of these sub par guns are selling for just a TINY bit less than a quality counterpart. Like a Ruger SR9, it isn't that much cheaper than a S&W M&P 9FS or Glock 17; but it sure is lessor quality.
I've seen guys pass up legitimate carbines like a colt 6920 priced at $1,100.00 and instead opt for a DPMS Panther for $950.00- because the guy at the counter told them they were "Exactly the same and your just paying for a pretty pony with the colt". That's just bonkers!
The guy at the counter know's he is making WAY more profit from the DPMS than the Colt, so he says they are the same quality to the consumer- they aren't!
Now, if he was selling the Panther for $550.00 and discusses the differences in quality, materials, testing, etc- that would be a good price/salesman, the Panther still isn't near the quality/rifle the Colt is, but the price reflects that appropriately.
Nothing wrong with cheap guns, it's wrong for folks to equate a cheap gun with quality and compare it to a quality weapon as if they are equals just because of ego, lack of knowledge or any other reason out there.
Sorry for the long winded posts, I run into a lot of fudds and idiot salesman and it erks the shit out of me!
