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gigag04 wrote:Used glock? I've seen many for sub $300.

where? I've been looking for an old beater Glock for a while (want to try some soldering iron grip "stipling" on a beater first). I've found some at GT Distributors for about $325 and will probably pick up one of those, but where do you find em for less than $300?

y5e06 wrote:My opinion, for a 1st time piece for a new shooter I think a .22LR is the way to go. Seriously.
When you set the criteria as a budget pistol for some one new to the scene the goal should be to prove something fun and as learning tool/stepping stone.
Buckmark or Ruger.
both under $300.
you can shoot all day for $16
you can really avoid developing bad habits such as flinching with the light shooting .22
when you move up to something bigger you can always take the little .22 along

Sorry, should've been more clear in my OP (have now corrected it) that I was specifically looking for recommendations for self-defense caliber handguns. This is not even necessarily for someone new to shooting. One of my friends (not the reason for this post, but his situation fits) is a regular bird hunter and owns a nice 12 gauge waterfowl shotgun. He had asked me about a good handgun to keep at home for defense (instead of using his 28-inch barreled shotgun). I mentioned Glock, but he ruled it out quickly with "too expensive and no safety mechanism"

Had the chance to shoot a Rossi wheelgun for first time recently. Another forum member let me shoot his chrome/nickel Rossi 6-shot .357 Magnum with 2-inch barrel. I was highly impressed. If I hadn't seen "Rossi" on the side, I would've thought it was a S&W. Well made, accurate, good trigger feel. I think he paid $300 or less for it. And I know Academy sells a similar blued Rossi .357 for about $300 new.

So that got me to thinking, what are other quality inexpensive guns that you recommend for new shooters on a tight budget who want a defensive and/or concealed carry handgun?

For semi auto, I always recommend the $279 + tax Bersa Thunder .380 at Academy. I owned one of these myself briefly, before selling it to fund my Walther PPS purchase. It's a well-made gun, very accurate and easy to shoot. Good sights, hammer-fired with safety/decocker. Points well, rubber grips are very nice. Fit and finish are good but not great (I took the Dremel to mine to smooth out a few rough edges around the trigger guard that were biting me a bit). And it's thin and concealable. Sure .380 ammo has been hard to come by, but it's definitely getting more plentiful lately.

For wheel guns, as I mentioned the Rossi .357 really impressed me. Also like older Charter Arms revolvers.

A Rossi .357 as a home and/or truck gun and/or a Bersa .380 as a concealed carry piece would be great starter guns for about $300 each new - and they're available at Academy, so hopefully no pushy gun-store salespeople trying to convince them to buy a Smith & Wesson or a Walther instead because "they're much better guns".

Sure, I'd recommend a Glock or a 1911 or a S&W wheelgun or any number of other stellar sidearms to someone who is living comfortably. But you could buy both the Rossi and the Bersa for the price of a Glock with decent nightsights. And for a beginner on a budget, it can be a huge help to steer them toward a low-cost firearm that will actually work reliably and well (and steer them away from the junk).

So what do y'all recommend when asked this question by someone with a tight budget? Say $300-$400 range for a brand-new self-defense handgun. Any good 9mm recommendations (better cartridge and cheaper than .380)?

NOTE: Edited to clarify "self-defense" handgun after a few replies with good suggestions to start any new shooter with a .22 (I agree), but meant for someone who wants their first self-defense caliber handgun.