When it comes to self-defense, many preppers keep a few firearms in their arsenal. While you can buy whatever is popular, there’s a chance of finding a gun that seems like it was made for especially you – if you just did a little more digging. This article discusses a few uncommon choices for handguns among gun enthusiasts that still hold up in both performance and reliability. (h/t to SurvivalSullivan.com)

Finding novelties in the uncommon

Finding the right gun can be a daunting task, but these suggestions may make things easier for you. The handguns in the list below haven’t quite garnered the recognition and popularity that most other guns have among mainstream shooters. Due to them being uncommon, it is relatively easy to get parts, service and even modifications whenever you need them without the struggle that often accompanies maintaining “exotic” guns.

Ruger LCR .22 LR

Ruger’s LCR guns have been quite popular ever since its introduction. However, the DAO 2″ barrel .22 chambering fills a niche role that no other gun does before or since. Firearms like .22 handguns are great for concealed carry due to their minimal recoil and light weight. Keeping them around in your bug-out bag is also quite easy because of their small size. While you aren’t going to set off any alarms with its ballistic performance, it can do enough damage to get the job done when you need it. However, .22 revolvers are held back by their horrible triggers and significantly fewer rounds in the chamber – at least until the introduction of the .22 LCR.

The .22 LCR is a featherweight gun with an eight-shot capacity, all without the bad trigger and unreliability of the original .22 handguns. This makes it one of the best guns to have at your disposal in case of emergencies. (Related: Looking to improve home security? Here are 25 things you can do right now.)

Beretta PX4 Storm Compact 9mm Para.

Beretta has the reputation of churning out solid gun after solid gun, even if they do it at a snail’s pace. However, the guns they make aren’t always winners and are marketed so poorly that they’re left in the dust in favor of other brands. An example of this would be their PX4 series, which can be considered one of the reliable guns in the polymer hammer-fired guns category. While the line was introduced in 2004, it has only recently gained recognition for its prowess. The compact version, in particular, is a fantastic handgun for any prepper due to its small size, good out-of-the-box trigger and plenty of factory parts for customization and tuning.

Chiappa Rhino .357 Magnum

Fans of wheelguns can try out the Rhino by Chiappa Firearms. The design of this gun is a major departure from the typical revolver layouts with the barrel placed in front of the lower chamber nearly perfectly in line with the web of your hand. The Rhino’s hammer isn’t even a hammer at all. Rather, it is a cocking lever that places an internal hammer into full cock with an indicator showing the current status of the weapon.

The gun’s shooting is nothing short of great, though the trigger can be a little stiff. There are also variations of the gun with rails at the top and bottom for mounted optics, lights or even lasers.

CZ P-01 Compact 9mm Para.

C.Z. is a gun manufacturer with a distinguished history of releasing solid heavy-duty guns. Their famed CZ-75 has been a fan favorite all over the world due to its reliability and user-friendliness. However, the P-01 version of the gun – intended for military and police use – foregoes the cumbersome manual safety of the originals for a decocker-only arrangement and accessory rail used for mounted lights or lasers. The gun’s frame is made of alloy, which significantly saves weight compared to its siblings in the same line while taming more recoil than even the latest polymer-made guns. This makes the CZ p-01 an all-round excellent handgun to have.

Smith & Wesson SD9VE Para.

Unlike many of the striker-fired pistols in the $300 dollar price range, the SD line guns are extremely reliable. Compared to the early versions of the Sigma, which were generally mediocre guns, it boasts an aggressive texture and great sights that are miles ahead of its predecessors. If you’re looking for a budget handgun, the SD can give you a reliable one.

While it is fine to get the popular handguns, a little extra exploration can lead you to a gun that turns out to be a better match for your needs.

Sources include:

SurvivalSullivan.com

SpotterUp.com