by Rich Grassi

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While working with Apex Tactical Specialties on a pair of projects, I found that there are some of us who prefer our guns to be "value priced" as long as our reliability needs are met. The idea is simple: guns that go into battle are tools. It's no place for treasured heirlooms, premium high classed hardware or collector's items.

There are those who prefer the pricey blaster or the Bogart-era gat. That's fine. Give me something of recent manufacture, that's of reasonable cost, with good parts availability and - above all - reliable.

I'm not saying that high dollar hardware isn't reliable. Far from it. I've carried guns built by Wilson Combat. My first centerfire handgun was a six-inch Colt Python - at a time when I was on an H&R .22 budget.

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Companies have been building solid, reliable low cost guns for many years. It's not a new thing. Some would say that it's how Gaston Glock became a name in the industry. They'd be right.

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I found myself with the S&W SD9 last year. A gun between the M&P and SIGMA in cost, the gun excelled in ergonomics, function and accuracy. The trigger was nothing about which to write home. In spite of the trigger, the unaltered gun fired passing on the "10 rounds, 10 seconds at 10 yards from low ready" using the NRA B8 target. The score was 96/100. Using the unaltered SD9, I shot the FBI Firearms Instructors' Bull's Eye course too, using the FB-1 target. I shot a 295/300. A prototype spring kit from Apex and the gun's trigger was immediately improved.

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Since then, Trijicon HD sights and the production Apex trigger kit have been installed. My favorite value priced handgun - a sixteen shot 9mm -- is even better. The price (Suggested retail around $460, you can find them for much less) was around a third more than the street price of the gun alone.

I asked around about the SIG P2022, their value-line polymer pistol. Sources told me that the P2022 is every bit the gun the SIG Classic Line guns are, but at a lower price. A friend had the previous version, the SIG-pro. He said the only problem with it was the frame's accessory rail only fit the SIG gun light. The current P2022 has a conventional 1913 rail. If you like hammer-fired conventional double action guns, the P2022 allegedly has a lot going for it. I hope to find out in the coming year.

A big deal was made about the Apex Limited M&P45 from the last edition. I got some good-natured ribbing even as I carried it in a Safariland ALS holster.

"Kinda pricey for you, isn't it?" I was asked.

The work done on the Limited, at the prices current last September when the gun went in, was less than $700.

Beat that. Go ahead, I'll be waiting here.

The Bersa .380 pistol has had a great reputation for reliability for many years. You're sure not going to take it out of the safe and brag on it to the boys. You may carry it though, regardless of weather conditions. The Ruger LCP has a likewise stellar functional history. Springfield Armory's XD line is reasonably priced as is their 1911 Mil-Spec. The fact remains, value priced handguns can be great deals.

I was told that a rumor surfaced that S&W is dropping the SD line. Not a good move, in my opinion. It's accurate, reliable and affordable. I remember how important that was when I was making around $600 a month as an entry-level cop. It's important to security guards, single parents and others who don't knock down six-figures a year.

Let's hope they keep this good gun around.