[run and gun21]

im new to guns and on a limited budget. right now i wanna get some rifles/pistols of good design, but i only have about 800 bucks. i have an sks already.Any ideas?

[mattw]

Everyone should have atleast one 1911 variant... you can get a Springfield GI for around $450.

[.cheese.]

Glocks cost around high $400's to high $500's depending upon where you go and are extremely reliable.

My collection consists primarily of them.

They are excellent for somebody on a budget as you really don't sacrifice any quality..... (except they don't look pretty like some 1911's if that matters to you).

ETA: Not to be a cynic, but I do suggest you change your screen-name as it could be interpretted to suggest intentions that I hope you don't have.

[BlkHawk73]

Rugers. Very strong well built firearms and quite affordable. You don't need to buy new. Remember it's not quantity but rather quality.

[run and gun21]

thanks ill take the stuff into consideration:) and ill change my screen name. I have no such intentions as you speak sorry wasnt thinking!

[SoCalShooter]

Well if you want to shoot and you have time but not a lot of money, a rifle like a Ruger 10/22 is great or a Ruger MKII or MKIII and definetly a 1911 pistol is wonderful.

.22LR is cheap and great for practice, .45 for HD and its a great gun to shoot.

[Titan6]

You did not actually say how you planned to utilize your firearms or their intended purpose. Such information would be helpful in making suggestions in what you could buy with your $800 and avoid buying things you don't want or need on such a limited budget.

[Nomad, 2nd]

What I would do:

Good S&W .357: $300 (Paid $275 for a Model 13 today)
.22 Rifle: Marlin model 60: $60
.22 Pistol: Browning Buckmark or Ruger MKII No more than $200 (Seen them for as low as $130)

$560 leaving you with $240:

$15 each for mags for the .22
Speed strips and Speed loaders for the .357 ($6-$8 for 2 Bianchi speed strips ~$12 for a speed loader)
A decent holster for both

Ammo for All

[nwilliams]

Look at Rock Island 1911's you can find them new or used at budget prices and they are very decent.

If you want military style rifles you can't go wrong with a Romanina AK you can find them all over the place for well under $400.

If you want plinking/practice guns how about everyones favorite Ruger 10/22 rifle, and or Ruger Mk3 handgun!

If you want a decent shotgun maybe a Remington 870 Express? You can find them new for around $300 and used for around $200.

[wooderson]

If you're on a limited budget, ammo prices are going to be an issue. So I'd look at rimfires, 9mm and .357/.38 revolvers (.38 ammo actually being a touch more than .45 these days, for some reason, but you don't have cheaper options if you desire a revolver).

1. pawn shop/used Ruger 10/22 or Marlin Model 60 - ~$80-100
2. CZ 75B 9mm - reliable, all steel, $400 new from Academy Sports, less on the used market
3. S&W revolver - Model 10, Model 13, etc. - anywhere from $225 on up

[LeonCarr]

You have an SKS, now go get a good handgun (I prefer Glocks), and a Remington 870P.

There...I just spent your 800 bucks :).

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

[outofbattery]

How I would spend $800:

Police trade-in SIG P226 $300
Lightly used Ruger Mk II $150
" " Mossberg 500 $100
" " Ruger 10/22 $100 ( or Marlin 60 for half that )

That'd be a fairly well rounded armory combined with your SKS and you'd have $150 left over for ammo.In a push I'd substitute a $150 S&W Model 10 for the SIG.Depending upon if you're able to CCW I might make some adjustments to the pistol and get something more carry friendly,like dip into the surplus for a Glock 19. Buy smart and you can get some decent firearms for your budget.

[yhtomit]

wooderson wrote:

"If you're on a limited budget, ammo prices are going to be an issue. So I'd look at rimfires, 9mm and .357/.38 revolvers (.38 ammo actually being a touch more than .45 these days, for some reason, but you don't have cheaper options if you desire a revolver)."

Not if you shoot .45 out of your revolver ;) I think my S&W 625 is the most comfortable revolver I have ever personally handled (and that was before it was *my* S&W 625, too), and it's a hoot to shoot.

Less common, but findable, 9mm-firing revolvers -- I'd like one, when I find one and can afford it ;) Too many things on the wishlist, though, including food, shelter, airfare to a few friends' weddings ...

Just to keep your options open :)

timothy

[zinj]

Remington 870 all the way. New Expresses can be had for around $250, and older Wingmasters can sometimes pop up for around $200. You can shoot anything from $4 for a box of 25 target loads up to Magnum 00 buckshot and slugs. Hell of a gun.

I would suggest picking up a good .22 also, with a brick of 500 rounds being around $10.

[s&w 24]

Taurus 85 for CCW, Used smith/ruger/taurus 4" or 6" 357 for ccw/hunting and a bersa in 22 for paractice and small game

Or you could get a 1911 and a 22 lr conversion and a pocket blaster with the money left over. I'd go with rock island commander length and a ciener 22 kit and the taurus 85 again

[MikeJ]

I'm very opinionated I have to admit on this subject.:uhoh: A 9mm and a 3" or 4" .357 magnum are two handguns that every gunner needs.

[Ala Dan]

Springfield Armory XD's and WW-II G.I. models make for an interesting
package in the eyes of a novice. :cool: :D

[Cosmoline]

Forget the 1911's unless you're really wedded to the .45 ACP. Even the low end ones are over four bills and they are a VERY expensive habit. An old service revolver in .357 will run you under $250, and they're very easy to find. S&W Highway Patrolman, Model 13's, Model 19's, Ruger Security Sixes, etc.

First and second gen GLOCKS are also getting less expensive. Some may need new springs and some sprucing up, but these are easy to find.

Ditto the Mossberg 500. Very inexpensive, very tough.

[03Shadowbob]

Mossberg 500 - Walmart $200 (everyone should have at least 1 shotgun)
Taurus PT92 - www.budsgunshop.com $330 (+/-) - great time-tested 9mm that is cheap to shoot and still plenty big enough for self defense
Keltec P11 - gunbroker has them for $235 or so. 9mm so you can keep practice limited to 1 caliber to lower costs and great CCW piece (for the money, that is)

That leaves you with $35. Buy some gun care supplies with it so your guns will last a long time.

If you will buy used then that opens it up quite a bit depending on the desired purpose for such "armory".

[outofbattery]

Some people like to buy new but I'm the type who'd rather have 2 used new guns than one fresh out of the box as I wouldn't want something I couldn't trust to take some wear and tear,not to mention most decent gun companies have good enough warranty departments for it to not matter.

Regarding Glocks,factory refurbs with 2 mags and full warranty are $399 at my LGS but if you do buy used,you can have the gun gone through and refinished by Glock for $45,they pay return shipping-not a bad deal at all.

[fattsgalore]

I'd suggest any pistol in reasonable price.(Taururs; Ruger; Glock) Quality and readily available at under 600.

Then use the rest to purchase a shotgun. Shotguns are just so damn versitile.

[DawgFvr]

I agree with fattsgalore...but a shotgun first...the most versatile weapon there is. Period. Then, sell that SKS...go buy a M1 Garand (that will be the last rifel you will ever need/want to purchase)...then go and get a revolver...preferably S&W (Colt if you have beau coup money)...then go for the autos...and sure, everybody needs a .45 ACP auto in their collection before they die.

[mr.trooper]

Get a 1911 and a Ruger 10/22. If anything left over see if you can scrounge a used hunting rifle in 308.

[silverlance]

Finnish M39 Mosin Nagant and a CZ-52. Then spend the rest on ammo at www.centuryarms.biz Don't buy the Bulgarian stuff, buy the CZ silver tip.

You will have a VERY accurate bolt gun, a VERY accurate pistol. Both pack a big wallop and both penetrate armor effectively. Both are also very solid guns that will last you a lifetime of use.

Ammo for the MN is $80 for 800
Ammo for the CZ is $85 for 800

$150 for a shooter MN, $250 for a very nice one (includes shipping)
$150 for an excellent condition CZ

so..

300 for guns
500 = ~ 5000 rounds of ammo

Not bad for 800, eh?

---

If you must go shotty - used 870. should be pretty cheap - i have a benelli so I dont know too much about those.

[lepmik]

I'm also thinking about what to add next to my small core group of guns. Low cost and high-reliability are key for me at this point in my life. Right now I have:

-CZ P-01 9mm (went through extensive reliability testing for NATO approval)
-Marlin bolt-action .22LR (tube-fed, so will shoot longs, shorts, CB's, shot shells)

I want a gun from each of these categories:

-Centerfire rifle (Mosin, SKS, AK, or perhaps a Savage bolt-action)
-Pump shotgun (Remington 870, Mossberg 500, Maverick 88)
-Target/hunting pistol in .22LR (either semi-auto or a revolver)

I consider those to be core firearms. There are plenty of others I want, but they would be "fun" guns for me:

-.44mag or larger revolver
-quality break-barrel .177 air rifle
-SxS or OU clay gun

[Run&Shoot]

The standard battery is a rifle, shotgun, handgun and a .22 firearm.

* $400 for used Glock 19/23, etc., or CZ75 pistol
- Only get a combat/service proven pistol design such as 1911, CZ, Glock, Beretta, SIG, HK
- If you prefer revolvers then a good used .357 can be easily found

* $200 for used Rem 870 12 ga. shotgun
* $200 for Ruger Mk II .22 LR pistol

If you can save any money getting used and have $100-$200 left over, then a major caliber rifle like the Lee Enfield .303 or the Mosin Nagant would be a good addition.

[PrimaryB]

Man I wish I could find a good Ruger MKII for 200.00. I decide what I want, then do my homework, ask questions specifically about the values, performance and tolerances of a gun I'm interested in. This may be 2 or 3 different types but I will try to be informed when I do indeed see those models when I venture to a show or gun shop. I buy to keep em. Now there is an estate auction coming up this weekend and there are several guns I'm interested in and have been trying to learn more about them and their values. My humble collection consists of guns that I will absolutely not part with till I hand them down to the kids. I believe in quality not quantity. If I'm lucky I get to purchase 3 a year on the average. But just wait till my youngest, (daughter) gets out of college! Then all hell breaks lose and I will be able to officially call myself a collector.

PB

[azredhawk44]

You've already got an SKS.

I'd suggest:
Ruger Mk II with the longest barrel you can find: $200
Used S&W .357 4" revolver: $250
Mosin-Nagant 91/30 bolt action rifle in 7.62x54R caliber: $100
500 rounds surplus 7.62x54R ammo: $50
Quality holster for S&W wheelgun: $75 (trust me, good holsters are worth it)
4 bricks of Federal bulk-pack .22LR ammo: $40
200 rounds of .357magnum ammo: $60
Inexpensive nylon holster for Ruger MkII: $25

Grand total: $800

With this setup, you can protect your home (S&W wheelie), carry a quality weapon while hiking, and the 4" revolver is concealable if you choose to pursue a CCW permit. You have a comfortable, good quality holster for this gun. You have a .22LR long-barreled handgun for target fun as well as bunny harrassment. The Mosin-Nagant rifle will teach you to shoot a bolt action, hunting-powered rifle well, and is sufficient to hunt any game in the lower 48 states with ease... Sellier & Bellot makes a very good 180gr hunting load for this gun when you are ready to go on a hunt. You've got enough ammo for several range trips, too, out of your $800.