20 Handguns I Would Buy Today If the Price Went Back to What It Was Five Years Ago

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I have watched handgun prices creep up in slow motion, then jump like a spooked deer. Five years ago you could walk into a shop with a set budget, handle three or four solid pistols, and still have money left for a couple boxes of ammo and a decent holster. Now, a lot of the same “working man” handguns cost just enough more to make you hesitate, and that hesitation is how you end up buying something you don’t really want.

If the clock turned back and the tags went back where they were, these are the handguns I’d be hunting down first. Not because they’re trendy, but because they’re useful. Guns you can actually carry, actually shoot well, and actually find magazines and parts for without turning it into a scavenger hunt.

1. Glock 19 Gen5

If I could only keep one do-it-mostly-all handgun, it’s still hard to beat a Glock 19. It carries easier than folks think, shoots flatter than most compacts, and it’s forgiving when your grip isn’t perfect because you’re cold, rushed, or wearing gloves.

The boring part is the point. Holsters are everywhere, mags are everywhere, and if something breaks, you’re not waiting on a rare part. Five years ago, the whole “one pistol, many jobs” thing didn’t feel like a financial gamble. Now it kind of does.

2. Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Compact (9mm)

The M&P 2.0 Compact points naturally for me, and the texture actually stays put when your hands are sweaty or wet. The trigger on the newer ones is good enough that I don’t feel the need to “fix” it right away, which matters when you’re trying to keep a setup simple.

It’s also one of those pistols that doesn’t get weird with different ammo. Range ball, defensive loads, whatever you found on the shelf—mine have just run. When they were cheaper, recommending one was easy.

3. SIG Sauer P365

The P365 changed what “small” can mean. Real capacity in a truly carryable package, and it doesn’t feel like you’re holding a bar of soap. It’s a legit everyday gun, not a “better than nothing” compromise.

I get why some folks stick to bigger frames for shootability, but for normal life—grocery store, gas station, walking the property—this one makes sense. When prices were lower, you could buy the gun, buy extra mags, and still not feel punished.

4. Ruger LCR

There’s nothing fancy about an LCR, and that’s kind of the point. It disappears in a pocket holster, doesn’t mind lint, and if you’re the type who wants a “grab it and go” revolver for certain situations, it’s tough to beat.

Recoil is real, especially in .357, and nobody should pretend it’s a fun range toy. But the trigger is better than it has any right to be for a small revolver. Five years ago, it felt like a steal for what it is.

5. Ruger GP100 (4-inch .357)

A 4-inch GP100 is a working revolver. It’ll eat hot .357 loads all day, then you can drop down to .38s and teach a new shooter without beating them up. It’s heavy, sure, but it’s steady and it soaks recoil like a sponge.

This is the kind of handgun that ends up in a nightstand, a truck console (secured, please), or on a hip while checking fence lines. When they were cheaper, you saw more of them in normal people’s hands instead of just revolver diehards.

6. Smith & Wesson Model 686 Plus (4-inch)

The 686 Plus is one of those revolvers that makes you shoot better than you deserve to. Smooth action, good sights, and that extra round is nice without changing the feel much.

It’s not a backcountry bear cannon and it’s not a tiny carry gun. It’s just a really good general-purpose wheelgun that can do home defense, woods walking, and range work. When prices were sane, it was easier to justify as a “forever” revolver.

7. CZ 75B

The CZ 75B has that old-school steel feel, and it settles in your hand like it was made for it. Heavy? Yep. But that weight makes 9mm feel like cheating, and the gun tracks nicely when you start shooting faster.

It’s also one of those pistols that people buy, love, and then sell because they decide to “standardize” on polymer. That one hurts. When the price was lower, grabbing one as a range and nightstand pistol was an easy yes.

8. CZ P-01

The P-01 is the practical cousin to the classic CZ vibe. Alloy frame, compact size, reliable as a hammer. It’s a pistol that makes sense for carry if you’re comfortable with the DA/SA system and you’ll actually practice the first shot.

It’s not the lightest option, and the double-action pull takes reps. Still, it’s the kind of gun you can run hard without it feeling fragile. Five years ago, they were one of the best values in a “serious pistol” category.

9. Beretta 92FS

Call it big, call it dated, call it a movie gun—whatever. A 92FS is still easy to shoot well, and that open-top slide design just runs dirty and keeps going. The recoil impulse is soft, and it’s forgiving when you hand it to somebody who doesn’t shoot much.

It’s not my first pick for concealed carry unless you dress around it. But for a house gun and range gun, it’s a classic that earns its keep. When the price was lower, they were a slam-dunk “first metal pistol.”

10. Beretta PX4 Storm Compact (9mm)

The PX4 Compact is one of the most overlooked “real world” pistols out there. It’s not pretty, and it doesn’t get the same internet love, but it carries well and shoots softer than you’d expect.

It’s also a pistol that tends to run and run without drama. The downside is accessories aren’t as endless as Glock-world. Still, when these were priced like a sleeper deal, I would have bought one without overthinking it.

11. Heckler & Koch VP9

The VP9 fits a lot of hands well right out of the box, and the trigger is consistently decent. It’s one of those striker guns that makes you feel confident when you’re shooting on the move or working from awkward positions.

H&K mags and parts can sting a bit, which is why price matters on the front end. When the pistol itself was more reasonable, you could stomach the cost of building out a proper pile of magazines.

12. Heckler & Koch P30 (9mm)

The P30 is a “grown-up” pistol. It’s not flashy, but it’s built like it expects you to actually use it. The grip is excellent, and the gun feels like it’s on rails when you do your part.

The trigger—especially on some variants—isn’t everyone’s favorite, and I understand that. Still, it’s a handgun you can trust and keep for decades. When prices were closer to earth, it was easier to choose over the newer shiny thing.

13. Walther PPQ M2 (9mm)

The PPQ has one of the best out-of-the-box striker triggers I’ve ever felt. If you want a pistol that makes range time more rewarding, this is one of them. It’s quick, it’s accurate, and it doesn’t feel mushy.

It’s not as common now that the PDP took the spotlight, but that doesn’t make it any less of a shooter. When the PPQ was priced aggressively, it was a quiet bargain for folks who cared about trigger feel.

14. Walther PDP Compact (4-inch)

The PDP is a modern “do-it-all” pistol that doesn’t fight you. Good sights, good trigger, great grip. If you’re running an optic, it’s one of the smoother paths to getting there without a bunch of drama.

It’s not tiny, so it’s more of a belt-carry gun than a shorts-and-t-shirt special. But it’s the kind of pistol you can train with hard and not feel like you’re outgrowing it. At the older prices, buying one plus an optic felt less painful.

15. Springfield Armory Hellcat

The Hellcat is snappy, and I’m not going to pretend it’s as soft as a compact duty gun. But for the size, it shoots better than it should, and the capacity is the whole reason you put up with the recoil.

It’s a legit “always” carry option for folks who won’t carry something bigger. If the price were back where it was, I’d grab one as a dedicated summer carry and not feel like I overspent for the role.

16. Ruger Security-9

The Security-9 is one of those pistols that gets ignored because it isn’t “premium.” That’s fine. It’s simple, it runs, and it’s a good fit for somebody who wants a home-defense handgun that won’t drain the hunting budget.

The trigger and feel aren’t match-grade anything, and it doesn’t need to be. With older pricing, this was a smart buy for a glovebox-safe setup (secured and legal) or a first handgun that isn’t junk.

17. Taurus G3 (9mm)

Taurus has had its ups and downs over the years, and anybody pretending otherwise hasn’t been paying attention. But the G3, for the money, has been one of the more reasonable budget options when you get a good one and you actually test it with your ammo.

I’m not talking about blind trust right out of the box. I’m talking about a pistol you verify at the range and then keep as a beater. When prices were lower across the board, you could take a chance on a budget gun without feeling like you just paid mid-tier money.

18. Smith & Wesson Shield Plus (9mm)

The Shield line has probably put more honest carry guns on belts than most of the loud “micro” releases. The Shield Plus keeps the slim feel but fixes the old capacity complaint, and it shoots better than a lot of its direct competition.

This is one of those pistols that’s easy to live with. Thin, light, and not picky. When the price was closer to the old days, it was the kind of buy you could recommend to family without a long speech.

19. Ruger Mark IV (Target or Standard)

A .22 pistol isn’t a “maybe” gun for me anymore. It’s training, it’s camp fun, it’s teaching kids, it’s staying sharp when you can’t afford to burn piles of centerfire ammo. The Mark IV’s takedown is so easy it almost feels like a trick.

Accuracy is there, reliability is there, and aftermarket support is massive if you want to tinker. When these were cheaper, you could buy one on a whim and end up using it more than half the pistols you thought you needed.

20. Colt King Cobra (3-inch .357)

A 3-inch King Cobra is a sweet spot revolver for folks who like wheelguns but don’t want a boat anchor. It carries better than the big frames, gives you real .357 capability, and still has enough barrel to be useful with sights and control.

It’s not a budget gun, and it never has been. But it used to feel like a reachable “nice revolver” instead of a stretch purchase. If prices went back, this is one I’d snag and keep, no second guessing.

None of this is meant to talk anybody into panic-buying or paying silly money out of frustration. If you’ve got a good handgun that runs, keep it, feed it, and spend the rest on practice and safe storage. But if the tags ever swing back the other way, I already know which cases I’m stopping at first.