Your priceless cheapo

My "barber shop" 30-30 is probably the favorite cheap gun I have. Went in for a haircut one day and noticed a sign on the wall that said "rifle for sale". So I said what is it and Gary the barber (part time gun dealer) said it is in the back go look at it. It was a Glenfield (Marlin) 30-30 with a Glenfield 4x scope. Cheap looking stock but the steel was nicely machined and bluing was great. Gary said 150 bucks. I said I'm going to the bank be right back. Took it to the range wasn't expecting much but found it would shoot 2" groups at 100 yds. And that was the best I could do with a 4x scope. I later found out that with a 16x scope and my 110 gr. reloads it will shoot 3 shot clover leafs. Shots 4 and 5 are 1" and 2" high. Can't beat that for the money.

No doubt my Ruger SP101, 2.25" barrel with a bobbed hammer. Bought barely used in FANTASTIC condition…$200

Another Jennings J-22 here,
I've read and watched a lot of negative reviews about these little pistols, but mine has been great. Seems like you just have to use the right ammo. I never would have went looking for one of these guns, but mine found me, and after getting to know it, I'll never sell it.
CCI stingers and minimags get the best performance out of the gun, run 100%, and surprisingly accurate, considering the bbl is about 1.5"
Rem golden bullets work really well too for cheap plinking, and I find it to be VERY fun to shoot. Also the loudest .22 I've ever known. I have a beretta tomcat .32 I use as a b.u.g. but at home if I'm in a bathrobe I have my Jennings in the pocket, as it's incredibly light, slim, and small. You could easily forget about it and run it through the laundry hehe. I strictly only put a round in the chamber when I'm ready to fire, but a cool thing about the gun is I can work the slide to chamber a round quickly and easily using just my shooting hand, via index finger. It's pretty funny
I had very low expectations, and it has impressed me instead.

Also, bought a Mosin 91/30 a few years back for $90, love it. Solid, serious rifle.

Auto Ordinance 1911 Pistol in 10mm

I paid $149 NIB on a distributor close out in 1989. At first there were many f-t-feeds but slightly radiusing the chamber cured that problem.

The fit and finish are only fair and the 10mm marking on the slide is in error: .10mm -- I guess that makes it a “needle gun”.

I put a grip mounted scope on it and I use it for bowling pins and I do fairly well with it.

A $29 dollar 91/30 ex sniper, tack driver.

I walked into a pawn shop in mid 90's-- just to see what I might find.

I inquired about the price of a used Winchester M94 that caught my eye among the other 94's. The shop owner informed me that it was a pre-64, so he would have to have at least $140.

I almost choked. From the open front sight, ladder rear sight, curved iron butt plate, saddle ring, and 6 digit serial number, I knew it was a hell of a lot earlier than simply "pre-64". The bluing and wood were at least 75 to 80%, and although dirty, the bore looked good.

This was before the days that such stores had internet and it was kind of hard for small shop owners to be knowledgeable about every gun they had. Besides, Winchester 94's were common as dirt and handy pawn items---especially after deer season was over.

Still, I managed to get him down to $100. I paid for it, and I ran like a thief--back home to check the date. The serial number put it at 1915 production.
The bore cleaned up to like new with no pitting at all.

It was probably worth 4 or 5 times what I paid back then. In today's market--who knows? The few that I see on the auction sites that are this old and in this condition are usually priced well above $2 grand.

I took it deer hunting two seasons, but after bagging a few, I decided it was just too valuable to take to the woods on a regular basis. She'll be 100 years old next year. Not bad for a single Benjamin.

Marlin Model 60. I remember walking in to Shipman's in Pekin Illinois the summer of 1974 with my Dad. He purchased 2 of them (No idea how much they were, but I can guarantee they were cheap) and handed one of them to me. I was 11 years old, and I can remember it like it was yesterday. I have both of them now, and wouldn't trade them for anything.
I managed to maintain possession of mine for a little over a month. I was in our pasture looking for things to shoot when I noticed the glass insulators for the electric fence. Shooting one with a 22 was very satisfying for an 11 year old boy, but not for my Dad. I recall having shot probably 25 - 30 insulators before my Dad came home and caught me. He was less than impressed with my marksmanship.

$250 for a 1956 Ithaca 37 12 gauge.

Chopped barrel to 18.5" and added a stock I got on the internet for $25.
Sold the original stock for $75, so total gun purchase price was $200.
Refinished the "new" stock and cut it to a 13.5" LOP including the recoil pad.
The metal and the pump handle have the orignal 1956 factory finish.
I am also a 1956 Model.
I really like this "El Cheapo"

delete

My old mosin, work just fine for me.

Taurus P-22

aarondhgraham said:

My Taurus 22-PLY,,,
It fits the "cheapo" category,,,
Two years ago I paid $201.00 new from Buds.



The little thing likes Wal-Mart Federal Bulk,,,
It's never jammed on me,,,
Not even once.

I liked it so much I bought the .25 ACP version as well,,,
I named them Scylla and Charybdis.

I'm at my office right now,,,
But I'm going to the range in about an hour,,,
They are both in my car as I carry the .25 and plink with the .22.

The year before last I was attending a Rimfire Steel Challenge match,,,
About halfway through the ejector on my Ruger 22/45 broke,,,
I finished the match using the 22-PLY and did very well.

After the match several shooters asked to try the little thing,,,
I know for a fact that two of the people got a 22-PLY for themselves.

It's a cheapie in price,,,
But a winner for performance.

Aarond

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I bought an earlier .22 cal. version, about 15 yrs. ago for $100. It never failed me and I'm pleased with my purchase. It also has beautiful wood grips.

WestKentucky said:

Most folks have one cheapo that they have fallen in love with. For me it's a Phoenix arms hp22 in nickel finish. Got it as a teenager and have worn it out 3 times and rebuilt it now 3 times. This time may be the last as the slide is wearing thin in places. The little pistol is very accurate, comfortable, and very reliable.

Tell us about your cheap treasure.

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It is made of pot metal, and may, one day, blow up in your face. Please reconsider your choice. How much is your life (or eye, hand, etc.) worth ? Please check other posts about it on THR.

best gun for the money IMO is the marlin model 60

I've got a few that I got dirt cheap and have used the heck out of.
Picked up a Win 94 made in 1961 back in the early 90s for $70.
It's my "scrubbing" gun when deer hunting.
Also picked up an early 70s Ruger 10/22 for $50. My son shot the heck out of it when he was young .

Marlin Model 60 (.22 semi-auto rifle - tubular feed mag)

javjacob said:

best gun for the money IMO is the marlin model 60

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I agree !

My single shot shotguns in 410 ,20 and soon 12 .

My Savage/Stevens 9478 that I paid $60 for. I picked it up last year when ammo prices were totally out of control. The local pawn shop had just jacked up .45 acp to $1 a round and I had planned on buying 2 boxes. After seeing the price I said screw that and picked up the shotgun, a box of clays and 100 rds of shells for less than $100 for a great yet ultimately painful day at the range and a new gun to boot. Since then, I've fallen in love with it ... it's nice and handy and feels very rugged. I plan on giving it to my nephew on down the road someday and I look forward to it being regarded as "my uncles old shotgun that kicks like a mule".

My first pistol was a Herters 22 single six shot revolver

The price back in the late 60's early 70's was a whopping $24.00.

It took a few months to get it since I think Herters waited until they had a number ordered before they got them manufactured in Germany.

If you lay it next to a Colt single six it is hard to tell the difference between the two.

I have it along with my Fox BST 16 ga that I got for Christmas the year I turned 12. I will never part with either until the good lord says it is time.

Mine is a Taurus Model 82, purchased brand new for $250.00, with the barrel-length full lug.

Cheapo pistol CZ-52, paid $100 with 2 boxes of ammo ... IIRC ammo was 70 rounds per box, a little cold blue & replacement grips and it looks great.



Cheapo rifle is a 1930 something Sears Ranger 22 single shot for $40; rear peep-sight was missing but a jet from an old Holly carb fit perfectly, stock had been cut down to fit a youth which was why I bought it, when she out grew it I found an un-cut stock on eBay for $20 & free shipping ... Still a great shooter!

u

I bough a S&W Victory from my old Guard unit for $50. Never made it home with the gun as I stopped by my Dads to wish him a happy B-day. I showed him the 38 and he was hooked. I said Happy B-day and gave him the revolver. Dad passed 2 years ago and the S&W was returned to me. It's a keeper.

There was a period in the '90s when my employer issued backup guns that were large and heavy. Several of us bought AMT Backup pistols. They were, to be polite, POS. In 45ACP they were rather heavy but could still be concealed on a belt or under a jacket. No one ever had to use one on duty, thank Odin. Practice on the range found them to be disgracefully unreliable unless one found a gunsmith who understood the problem and how to correct it. Some of us paid the cost of having one modified but, in the long run, they were a poor choice.

Forgot about his one

I just noticed the cheap gun I forgot in my other post hanging on a peg in the closet.

It is a Garcia (I think) Bronco single shot break down 22. I think I paid around $40 for it many years ago. I still have the box some where.

Basically it is a steel frame with no wood at all. By flipping a lever the barrel comes off the stock/action. It was great as I could carry it broke down in a sleeve made from a pants leg on the inside of my pack basket while trapping.

I did see a couple of these guns at a trapping convention and the asking price was $160.00

I forgot about another one. Ithaca model 66 super single. Lever break. I can't remember if it was $29 or $39. Shot the heck out of the first one until I noticed a crack by where the screw that holds the barrel on. Heck of a duck killer with modified barrel. When Ithaca sent me a whole new gun to replace the cracked one the sent a full choke. To dang tight. Replaced it with a model 12 heavy duck.

Norinco TT-Olympia .22L.R.

llama .380 I bought in 1965.
If I remember correctly it cost less than $80.
A USAF armorer tuned it for me.

Still going strong.
I have no idea how many rounds have gone through it.

AFS