(GunReports.com) — Though most shooters know CheaperThanDirt.com as an online ammo and accessories seller, the company also has a sizable brick-and-mortar retail gunstore presence in Texas’s Dallas-Ft. Worth area. CTD recently released a list of its top-five selling handguns for December, and the company’s top-sellers for the Christmas season show a decided tilt toward affordability and utility.
Ranked one through five, the bestsellers (along with actual counter prices) were:
Kel-Tec PF-9, $215.59
CTD staff comment: “Not the PMR-30, but it will have to do. Kel-Tec develops some of the most sought after guns. Anybody seen the PMR-30 and the KSG? We get questions daily about these Kel-Tec guns. Since the PMR-30 is next to impossible to find, you could settle on the Kel-Tec PF-9. The Kel-Tec designers manufactured the PF-9 to be a thin, light, and concealable backup pistol for civilian and law enforcement use. Designers included a hammer block safety and single stack magazine, making a compromise between the P-11 and the P-3AT. Until recently, the PF-9 was the lightest and thinnest 9mm in mass production. The Kel-Tec PF-9 is accurate at short range, feeds ammo reliably, and Kel-Tec makes it here in the USA! It holds eight rounds of 9mm and has no external safety. Just pull back the slide and you’re good to go.”
Ruger LCP, $256.09
CTD staff comment: “The Ruger LCP is a compact .380 Auto from the industry leader in rugged, reliable firearms. It functions well as a backup firearm for law enforcement, as well as licensed carry for personal protection. This ultra-light, compact carry pistols weigh only 9.4 ounces in Ruger’s smallest pistol frame with a height of 3.6 inches and a width of just .82 inches. The LCP is comfortable and affordable, making it a natural choice for a dependable back up or personal defense carry pistol. Developers topped the high performance with a glass-filled nylon frame and a through-hardened steel slide in a blued finish. A soft case also is included. Designed with both male and female shooters in mind, the LCP is as affordable as it is reliable. At just 9.40 ounces (with an empty magazine), the LCP is lightweight and ideal for all-day carry, ensuring you have it when and where you need it.”
Hi-Point 40SW-B, $125.77
CTD staff comment: “A lifetime warranty. What could possibly go wrong? The Hi-Point is cheap and has a lifetime warranty. No wonder it is our third best selling handgun. I have found that most people are completely Team Hi-Point or Team Anti Hi-Point. I’m not gonna buy one, but I’m a gun snob. No, it isn’t very pretty, but what I’ve read of them, they surprise people who think they won’t like them. Therefore, I guess if you are on a budget and you really, really need a gun, get the Hi-Point. Who am I to judge?”
Ruger LC9, $314.24
The Ruger LC9 is a polymer-framed, 9mm pocket pistol. Clearly designed for concealed carry, the Ruger LC9 has melted edges for a snag-free holstering, carry, and drawing. It has a smooth, double-action only trigger and in our field tests, it performed flawlessly. The Ruger LC9 is restricted-state friendly with a host of different safety features, such as a loaded chamber indicator and internal lock, and manual safeties. With a 3.12-inch barrel, the Ruger LC9 has manageable recoil at an affordable price if you are in the market for a new concealed carry pistol with plenty of stopping power.”
S&W SW40VE Sigma Series, $272.34
CTD staff comment: “If you have done any research on the S&W SW40VE Sigma, you might have found that people call it a Glock clone, but this is a misnomer. The S&W SW40VE Sigma is Glockish, but is not really like a Glock at all. Many people have had no issues with the S&W SW40VE Sigma, especially the new ones. The original models had some issues, but Smith & Wesson has since solved them. Even though the S&W SW40VE has a tough trigger pull it makes a more than adequate defense pistol. It holds plenty of .40 S&W ammo, 14 rounds to be exact. It has a 4-inch barrel, three-dot sights, and an 18-degree ergonomic grip.”
