I’m not saying you should, especially if it is a home defense gun. But I’ve seen 22 rifles start at $99 and I’ve seen single shot twelve gauge shotguns start at $99, but I don’t know if handguns start that low. Even cobra and hi point are $150+ or so.
I vaguely recall seeing some snub nose revolvers (probably 38s) in a gun store for $100, but that was 20 years ago.
Did all the criticism of ‘Saturday night specials’ cause supply of cheap handguns to drop? Like I said I’ve seen rifles and shotguns for under $100 but the cheapest handguns are $150 or more.
The latest of the interrelated companies that make Saturday Night Specials is Jimenez Arms. Cheap metal, crappy construction, often poor .25 ACP. Look to be about $100 NIB on GunBroker.
no, the supply of cheap (new) handguns dropped because those cheap (new) handguns were pieces of shit. years ago, I subscribed to a publication called “Gun Tests.” They accept no advertising, and therefore just published whatever results of their testing occurred. IIRC they tested one of the cheap pistols from Lorcin, which broke, and they said so quite clearly.
besides, if you’re a ne’er-do-well looking for a piece to settle a disagreement, why would you bother going to an FFL and subjecting yourself to a NICS check (and a probable refusal?) just find someone who’s “got a guy” who can get you a stolen gun for even cheaper.
New? No way. At least, nothing I’d trust to shoot.
Used? Sure - hit up a pawn shop or gun store or a jockey lot sale and go nuts - they’re probably hot, but if you need a pistol that bad/that cheap/that quick, then buy it anyway and drop it in a creek when you’re done with it.
There isn’t a fee associated with NICS I don’t think. Some people may charge a nominal fee, while certain states charge a mandatory fee, usually associated with additional checks or a middleman. Here it is mandatory $25 because it goes through the Highway Patrol, though a CCW waives it.
I have a dealership. The lowest price new handgun I have in stock (before Brady and sales tax) is a Cobra .380 for $127.
They’re not great but they do what they were made to do and that’s shoot bullets, and they do so faster than you can throw rocks. So if you absolutely need a defensive firearm and are low on funds I’d recommend it. I will not sell a weapon I myself wouldn’t trust my own life on. I’ve had far, far less problems/returns with them than I had with Kel-Tecs which I refuse to sell anymore.
The cobra is a single action semi-auto, so if you carry it with a round in the chamber you had better activate the safety because you basically have a cocked handgun sitting in your pocket.
I know of no new handguns in which the wholesale price is low enough that I could sell it retail for under $100.