Budget vs expensive hunting guns?

I've used my 'budget' Mossberg 1500 30-06 to kill numerous deer and a few rabbits. It shoots sub-moa with factory ammo and even better with my handloads, and is as tough as a tank. It has some nice walnut on it, so it annoys me when I scratch it. But it has lots of scratches.

I've used my 'budget' Mossberg 500 12 ga to kill I-don't-know-how many birds doves, ducks, pigeons, turkeys and geese. It also serves as my security shotgun at home with a quick barrel change. It has lots of scratches, too.

My 'budget' Ruger American .243 has been used to kill a couple bucks and some coyotes. It shoots sub-moa. Polymer doesn;t scratch as easily.

My 'budget' Marlin 60 helped feed me when I was too poor to buy meat. It was the only gun I owned at the time. Rabbits, birds, it's still a sweet little shooter. It's plenty beat up and my pride and joy. I will never sell this one. NOt even to buy a new Sweet 16 (which is too pretty to take birding).

ohihunter2014 said:

... My hunting has now become an obsession and using some friends higher end stuff and seeing what other guys are using I am starting to feel i need to "keep up with the jones's" i guess you would say.

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And there's the rub. I enjoy hearing Dave Ramsey say, "Why do people spend money they don't have to buy things they don't need to impress people they don't even like?" Avoid the "keeping up with the Joneses" syndrome like the plague! All that does is feed discontentment.

To your question, I consider myself middle aged, middle income, middle class. I still have and shoot my first personally-owned firearm: a Mossberg 500 12 gauge. It may be "inexpensive" compared to lots of others shotguns, but it is definitely not junk. If somebody looks down at me for my choice of shotgun, that's their problem, not mine.

Given stage of life and a bit more financial freedom than I had when I started out, I can afford a few "nicer" rifles. For example, I have a nice Cooper 54 hunting rifle ... but it and the scope it wears were both bought second hand. Yes, it's a lot "nicer" than my well-used Remington Model 7 (one of the few I DID buy new), but it doesn't kill any better.

Point is, own and shoot what works for you. I drive vehicles, wear clothes, and buy guns that I like. I'd rather buy a second-hand Remington and tinker with it to get it shooting sub-MOA than spend the coin for a high-end custom build. Maybe someday I'll splurge on a Georgia Precision or a Hill Country Rifles or a (fill in your favorite custom builder here). If and when I do, it will be because I want it (and can afford it). Who cares what my neighbor thinks?

I've really enjoyed the thread; thanks.

Legionnaire said:

And there's the rub. I enjoy hearing Dave Ramsey say, "Why do people spend money they don't have to buy things they don't need to impress people they don't even like?" Avoid the "keeping up with the Joneses" syndrome like the plague! All that does is feed discontentment.

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Amen! If you're not doing it for yourself, you're doing it for the wrong reasons.

Robert said:

I have one rifle I hunt with, and I figured if it is the only "hunting" rifle I ever buy I better make it a good one. So I bought a Winchester Safari Express in 375 H&H.

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I have heard the .375 H&H is very versatile, not just a big boomer. The .30-06 is the biggest I've ever owned or shot. But I always wondered about a .375 H&H after reading so many books about Africa and it being used on everything from small antelopes to elephants and cape buffalo. Not sure I would like filling the cases with all that powder but seems like an very interesting cartridge.

Robert said:

I have one rifle I hunt with, and I figured if it is the only "hunting" rifle I ever buy I better make it a good one.

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That’s what I just did. Only mine is a Browning X-Bolt in 7 Mag. A .375 might be considered a little excessive for Indiana deer

Gonna have a Leupold 2-12x42 VX-6. Should be good for anything from antelope/deer up to elk and moose. 50 to 500 yards.

Just picked it up today. Four guns went away to be replaced by this one. I expect it to perform under any conditions I may encounter. I’m getting higher grade components to shift the odds more towards my favor.

I’ve had low quality equipment fail. My intentions are to minimize that possibility

i love some nice guns. But usually the guy that shows up with a beat up cheap gun kills the most game.

SamT1 said:

i love some nice guns. But usually the guy that shows up with a beat up cheap gun kills the most game.

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Happens with most everything. Guys buy thousand of dollars worth of fishing lures, golf clubs, etc. trying to buy success. Money isn’t a substitute for skill and knowledge

But, if two guys have comparable skill levels, better equipment gives you an edge.

We seem to have a strong sentiment of reverse snobbery going here. “I’ve got cheap stuff and I do better than you”.

Maybe, maybe not. But I’d pretty much guarantee that anyone who has posted would nearly always prefer better equipment over cheaper stuff.

Ugg the caveman killed game with his club and spear. Doesn’t mean it’s the best alternative

redneck2 said:

We seem to have a strong sentiment of reverse snobbery going here. “I’ve got cheap stuff and I do better than you”.

Maybe, maybe not. But I’d pretty much guarantee that anyone who has posted would nearly always prefer better equipment over cheaper stuff.

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This.

I started out as a kid buying the best gear I could afford. I still buy the best gear I can afford - but I can afford a lot better gear now than I could back then. Pretty straight forward to me.

Robert said:

I have one rifle I hunt with, and I figured if it is the only "hunting" rifle I ever buy I better make it a good one. So I bought a Winchester Safari Express in 375 H&H.

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The reason I wanted my M7 was its size and weight. It turned out to be 3/4 MOA accurate, which was a bonus. It's very handy in a box blind, quick to the shoulder in the woods, shoots across canyons out west with the best of 'em. Now, it's only a .308, but I only hunt hogs and whitetails and so far it hasn't bounced off any of 'em, all DRT. Can't get any deader than dead. If I needed a gun for hunting brown bear or if I were rich and wanted to go to Africa, I'd think about a cannon, but heck, I've retired my 7 mag, just too much at woods ranges, and it's long and heavy, not near as handy as the little M7.

I really never needed more'n my old M722 short action my grandpa gave me, but I won that M7 for a 5 dollar raffle ticket, really wanted one at the time, and I didn't give it back.

ohihunter2014 said:

How many of you guys run budget hunting guns like Mossbergs, 870's, cheap 22lr, cheaper deer rifles? I've always been the weekend warrior and buying all my hunting guns at 18yo with a crappy job i purchased bare bones stuff that i'm noticing a lot of people consider junk like a Mossberg 500, Savage mark 2, Savage axis, Stoeger O/U. Barnett crossbows, cheaper compounds. My hunting has now become an obsession and using some friends higher end stuff and seeing what other guys are using I am starting to feel i need to "keep up with the jones's" i guess you would say.

I've never had an accuracy issue, reliability issue with any of my gear and feel it gets the job done enough and i don't need a $800 bow, rifle, shotgun to hunt with but then i start thinking man a semi auto 12ga would be nice and maybe a semi auto 20ga for rabbits and toss the O/U, sure would like an accu trigger savage 22lr instead of the 4-5lbs thing I've got now, sure would like a nice Matthews compound or ten pt crossbow but do we really need all these features for hunting or is it just a "cool factor thing"?

Have any of you guys started off with cheaper stuff cause that's all you could afford and figured its good enough and still have them or have you upgraded?

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I started low and upgraded a few but keep the old standbys.

I don't buy firearms based on price, I buy features and benefits of what it will do. If it costs more, just wait a little longer till I've saved up enough to take it home.

The high cost of hunting is not in the firearm, it's in the peripherals. License, tags, transportation, taxidermy, meat processing, time off work, clothing, hunting land, and much much more. Why would I go hunting with the cheapest tool I could get by with? Sort of like owning a Rolls Royce and putting some agricultural black wall tires on it. That's just me.....your views may differ. It's the memories that you can't put a price on.

Last year I treated myself to the most expensive rifle Iv’e thought about buying a Big Horn 460S&W I sold guns and a motorcycle to afford it.I kind of regret it,but the idea of it still appeals to something in me.I wont sale it I gave up to much for it.I also have a BFR454.
However when I head out I still grab my old cheap Winchester 30/30 and an old Blackhawk 45 The new expensive guns tend to gather dust in the safe.As the 460 needs work to be smooth and the 454 needs smaller grips there not my go to guns yet.

MTNSTRYDER said:

Last year I treated myself to the most expensive rifle Iv’e thought about buying a Big Horn 460S&W I sold guns and a motorcycle to afford it.I kind of regret it,but the idea of it still appeals to something in me.I wont sale it I gave up to much for it.I also have a BFR454.
However when I head out I still grab my old cheap Winchester 30/30 and an old Blackhawk 45 The new expensive guns tend to gather dust in the safe.As the 460 needs work to be smooth and the 454 needs smaller grips there not my go to guns yet.

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I think that right there is the epitome of the difference between BBQ guns and working guns. Fun to have both! Shooting is fun so some guns are much more about the fun and pleasure of handling and shooting them. Work guns are generally something dependable, "enough gun", and not so fancy you don't mind hauling it through the brush, rain, blistering sun, dust and dirt, etc.

To the OP, I've had a bout with "keeping up". Back when I used to play golf, all my buddies had the latest clubs and I was playing with an old set that I had bought at a garage sale. So I bought a new set, it was pricey. Didn't change my score one bit. On hunting guns, I have upgraded some. But was never to impress anyone. It was my personal taste and had features I like. Have a Ithaca 37 and at one time that was all I had, great gun, moved to Rem. 1100 and 2 years ago moved to a Beretta. I don't see me getting this replaced as I am satisfied.

Anyone who scoffs at the new trend of sub $400 rifles should read the article in the January issue of "Guns and Ammo" entitled "The Race to the Bottom". For function only, fancy cosmetics don't kill deer, I'd have no problem with, say, a Ruger American. It's amazing how good they actually are. The article explains a lot of it is modern computer aided machining.

NOt even to buy a new Sweet 16 (which is too pretty to take birding).

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No, it really isn't. If you like the gun, get it and go enjoy it. After you're dead and gone, your heirs will decide its fate.

Just added another budget rifle to the safe. This ones specific use is when i KNOW im not going to do more than wipe down my gun for a few days.
If i could have afforded a nicer all stainless rifle i would have bought one, and its possible ill add another nicer rifle later, but for now i expect this RAM to do exactly what i need it to do.

George P said:

No, it really isn't. If you like the gun, get it and go enjoy it. After you're dead and gone, your heirs will decide its fate.

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100% agree. No gun is to good to take out and use. I don't mind honest wear and tear on my guns but I'm not going to just chuck them in the back of the truck either.
I'm on the down hill part of my life and i doubt i have 15 years left but there is always time left for a quality Rifle or shotgun. I was in the Local gun shop today buying primers, powder and a couple of die locking rings when from the shops gun room i heard a Anshutz heavy barreled .22 calling to me. I think i need it.

I don't care what a gun costs nor do I care what others think. I buy what I want. I have cheap guns, I have some more "expensive" guns. I've never sold a gun.

I don't look at the price tag til I decide what it is that I want. Then I look at the price tags on the few narrowed down options. Right now I'm looking at the possibility of a detachable box mag equipped bolt rifle in .308 or 7-08. Not even sure why detachable box is so important this time as my blind mag rem700 has served me well. It just so happens that there are several options in the low-mid range and even at that I just don't want to spend the money because I don't even know why I want it. But it's always function over price tag for me.

redneck2 said:

We seem to have a strong sentiment of reverse snobbery going here. “I’ve got cheap stuff and I do better than you”.

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"Reverse snobbery" when it comes to hunting equipment? Who'd a thunk it?

redneck2 said: ↑
We seem to have a strong sentiment of reverse snobbery going here. “I’ve got cheap stuff and I do better than you”.]

.308 Norma said:

"Reverse snobbery" when it comes to hunting equipment? Who'd a thunk it?

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but of course... Do you have any Grey Poupon?

This was the OP's comment found in this thread.

I was waiting to see a bunch of Benellie, browing x bolt, ruger, posts but seems the average hunting joe gets it done with some Walmart specials. I can dig it! .

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Speaking of, it's BENELLI

We are definitely not talking about something like the bellow..I cannot even fathom due to my pocketbook yet I won't degrade anyone who chooses to do so..




We are apparently talking about a less than a few hundred dollars. That is the separation between "snooty and Walmart".
Least that is what I take from this thread.

Your not uppity until you show up with a 28 gauge beretta.

When people see what I carry in the truck they always say, “ that’s gonna get stolen” But I really don’t care. I’ll beat up a $2,000 setup to be able to pop shot coyotes and pigs long range any day. Why own a nice scope with turrets to dial in and a sub moa gun if it’s gonna sit in the safe until you shoot some deer or elk in a high fence. I shoot mine daily.

I used to carry cheap stuff but I passed on lots of 300+ shots because I wasn’t equipped.