The BEST Budget-Friendly Handguns Money Can Buy

Budget-friendly is a hard category to define. What’s budget friendly to someone that makes $100,000 a year might not be accessible to someone that makes half of that. In looking at affordable handguns that are an exceptional buy, all of these handguns that are a breeze to carry are under $400. 

The process of buying the right gun involves a bit of research, looking through some reviews, finding the right gun store, and making sure that the gun you end up with is something you are comfortable using. Don’t forget to get out to the shooting range for some practice! Many first-time gun buyers want to buy something that’s in the right price range, or collectors just have fun adding affordable guns to their collections. All of the budget friendly guns on this list are highly rated with reliable brands you can count on. Here’s our look at 5 of the best budget friendly handguns for home defense or CCW (carrying a concealed weapon). 

Taurus G3c $308

This is a new gun in the Taurus compact G series lineup. It’s a matte black 9mm that has a 12 round capacity. Weighing less than 2 lbs, this gun has all the same features of the standard full sized version in a subcompact one. The website specifically mentions the “cost-to-performance” ratio is one of the best in the industry. For around 300 bucks, this gun is deserving of a place in your collection. 

Diamondback DB380 $282

Another nice subcompact pistol is the Diamondback DB380. It’s actually considered a micro-compact weapon because of its pocket-friendly size. The frame and grip are a polymer material, while the slide and barrel are stainless steel. Another nice feature of this gun is that it’s made completely in the USA with a manufacturing facility in Florida. There are seven versions of this gun in different colors if you are into that sort of variety. 

Sky CPX-3 $305

A fun gun to shoot with a thinner grip that has grooves for your fingers, the Sky CPX-3 is a great buy in a .380 pistol. A nice feature is that the trigger pull has a consistent feel, even though the trigger pull is a little long for this gun. But unless you have very large fingers, it’s not going to be an issue. 

Sar USA SAR9 $370

This is a lot of gun for the money, and people are flocking to buy it. Fun fact: it’s commonly used as the standard-issue side arm for law enforcement in Europe. At 5.5 lbs, it’s lightweight and comfortable to carry all day long. 

Springfield Armory XD3 Subcompact $339

With many features standard on this model of gun, it comes in a 13 or 16 round option. It has a three-inch barrel, but if you prefer a slightly bigger one, it does come in a 4 inch barrel as well for about the same price. Overall, an extremely smart buy for less than $400.