The 13th annual Goods for Guns buyback program collected at least 300 guns Saturday, about 50 more than last year.

About 260 of those were handguns; the rest were rifles, shotguns and one SKS assault rifle that someone turned over to Pittsburgh Housing Authority police.

As happens every year, many people turned in loaded pistols.

"I know I had five handed to me Downtown," said Pittsburgh police Lt. Philip Dacey, who helped to collect 140 guns at the Old No. 1 Fire House on the Boulevard of the Allies at Smithfield Street.

The buyback, held at that site, five city housing sites and the Homestead Police Department, allowed people to hand over unwanted guns anonymously in exchange for grocery coupons from Shop 'n Save.

Participants received a $50 certificate for a handgun and $25 for a rifle or shotgun, provided the weapons were operable.

Since the buyback started in 1994, spearheaded by emergency room doctors concerned about shootings, some 10,000 working guns have been collected.

Buyback programs here and in other cities have often been criticized as ineffective in reducing street violence because criminals aren't likely to turn over their weapons.

But Lt. Dacey, who has been involved in the buyback since it started, said the effort does pay off because it cuts down on accidental shootings, especially of children, and suicides. In addition, some guns turned in would probably have ended up in criminal hands one way or another.

"I think we do have an impact," he said.

In some cases, turning in a gun also might keep someone out of prison. Lt. Dacey said one woman gave him a pistol and a sawed-off shotgun that belonged to her boyfriend, a man on parole whom she said was slapping her around.

Under federal law, ex-convicts aren't allowed to have guns and can end up in prison for at least five years.

Goods for Guns organizers are trying to find additional sponsors for next year's program so they can add an additional Saturday. The effort used to cover two Saturdays until Giant Eagle pulled out last year and Shop 'n Save stepped in as a sponsor.

Lt. Dacey said publicity about the first day usually makes the second day extra successful, allowing police to collect 600 guns or more.