Arm or Rearm when Cash Strapped

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94045

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Someone posted a similar thread then basically retracted it. As I was interested in the answer this is what I came up with.

Arm or Rearm when Cash Strapped.

1.Mossberg Maverick 88 12 ga.
Full Stock and 18.5" Barrel
$159.99
+ 1 Box Birdshot (Initial Function Test) + 1 Box #1 Buckshot.

2a. Taurus G2S 9mm $159.99
+ 100 rounds of WWB 115 FMJ (Under $9.99 on clearance at some Walmart)
+ 100 Rounds of WWB 115 JHP ($16.99.on clearance at some Walmart)

2b.Taurus 856 .38 Special Revolver Snubbie
$174.99
+50 Rounds of Wadcutters ($7.99 at some Walmart) - 35 for Function Test and 15 for 3 Full Load Outs.(Adequate penetration of 14.5" in testing, low recoil and work at the low velocities involved)

That's a Shotgun and a Pistol or Revolver with the absolute minimum ammo for testing and operation for less than $400. Of course if you could only come up with $200 you would have to make a choice.

I didn't allow for a transfer fee or NICS (on the shotgun) but we have a LGS that waves that on regular customers and has been known to wave it on Widows or Starving College Students they don't even know.

I'm sure some will object to the low round count, Taurus Guns (those models are reliable in my experience) and Walmart but people can only go so many weeks without food so allowances have to be made.
 
Your price limit is too low. Even the Taurus is 200 if you wait for sales.
If I was stuck with that limit, I'd get a hi point, or buy the gun and wait a few weeks to buy the ammo.
While the hipoint is a clumsy brick of a handgun. It's still a handgun that goes bang more reliably than people tend to give it credit for.
 
Armslist. H&R/NEF Single shot 12 or 20 with a box of 00. $100 all in.

I’ve seen some used Taurus pistols well under $200

If $200 was a lot of money for me (and it was at some points) I wouldn’t buy new, wouldn’t pay sales tax, wouldn’t pay a transfer.

In a $400 scenario, I’d buy one gun: a used version of the most common compact 9mm (M&P, Glock). That’s about the going rate for a used Glock of any generation where I live. $400 used. LNIB aren’t selling at $500.

And I wouldn’t cut out food to buy a gun. That’s absurd and a real lack of life priorities.
 
Right now you could outfit yourself with the following for under $1,300 easily from Palmetto State Armory (just need to buy some shotgun ammo)

1. AR15 with 10 magazines and 1,000 rounds ($400 + $360)
2. Taurus G2C with 1,000 rounds ($155 + $180)
3. H&R Pardner Pump ($166)

Or just the Taurus G2C ($155 after mail-in rebate), 1,000 rounds of 9mm ($175 shipped) and H&R Pardner Pump ($166) for just under $500
 
If my limit was $400 I certainly wouldn't be trying to get two guns. Just for fun I did a search on Armslist for private sale handguns under $300. Given what I saw there I'd be looking for a S&W Shield or Ruger LC9.$280 for the gun, $37 for a kydex holster and the balance on ammo.
 
If my limit was $400 though and I wanted a personal defense gun and a home defense gun, I would go with the following:

Taurus G2C - $155 shipped (after mail in rebate)
H&R Pardner Pump - $166 + $15 shipping
2 - FFL Transfer fees $40, some places you can get them to do both for $20.

Leaves $24-44 for initial ammo this amount would be enough to adequately test/train a bit and keep one safe as building up an ammo stash.
 
Used j or k frame in 38 special. High quality gun on a budget. I can't see a situation where I'd need a pistol and a shotgun so badly and so immediate that I had to split 400 bucks. That kind of need sounds like it's ar-15 worthy.
 
I'd rather have 1 service-grade gun than 2 of the cheapest possible guns. If I'm too hard up to be able to spend $400 on one gun, then I'm too hard up to spend $400 on two guns. Either get one of the $200 guns and try to get my finances into better shape, or stick with $400 for a single gun and ammo.

The above is assuming a "need" for a serious gun for serious use. Far be it from me to critique anyone from spending $150 on a fun gun... I might have done so myself a couple of times!
 
Wisco said:
Armslist. H&R/NEF Single shot 12 or 20 with a box of 00. $100 all in.
Click to expand...
You beat me to it.

Check out Armslist list in your area. No tax. No transfer fee. Its like the craigslist for guns. I use the filter option to delete "premium vendor" so I only see "private party".

I almost guarantee you can get a nice Mossberg 500 or an 870 (express) for $200 or less on Armslist. Notice I didn't mention Taurus...:D Sorry, but I'd rather keep saving than go that route. Just my experience.
 
Bfh_auto said:
Your price limit is too low. Even the Taurus is 200 if you wait for sales.
If I was stuck with that limit, I'd get a hi point, or buy the gun and wait a few weeks to buy the ammo.
While the hipoint is a clumsy brick of a handgun. It's still a handgun that goes bang more reliably than people tend to give it credit for.
Click to expand...

Larry's a LGS had the G2S for $159.99 although I think he was through the first 500 last I heard but was waiting on more. Price is good through Dec 30. He also has the 856 for $174.99. The 88 at $159.99 is from Mr Gun Dealer.
 
If I was limited to a bare bones gun (s) for as cheap as possible I think I'd do one good handgun. Police trade in glock or s&w and whatever I have left on ammo. There's no way I'd get "hobby" type guns that are made to be shot once and tossed in a river. This is similar to the cliché "if you could only have one" type of thing. I would hate it but I could get by with just a glock 20 or a gp100 , not really getting either one + ammo for $400 though.
 
Obturation said:
If I was limited to a bare bones gun (s) for as cheap as possible I think I'd do one good handgun. Police trade in glock or s&w and whatever I have left on ammo. There's no way I'd get "hobby" type guns that are made to be shot once and tossed in a river. This is similar to the cliché "if you could only have one" type of thing. I would hate it but I could get by with just a glock 20 or a gp100 , not really getting either one + ammo for $400 though.
Click to expand...

I don't think the Mossberg Maverick 88 is a bad shotgun. If I didn't have a CCW that is the first thing I would buy.

If I had a CCW up until 12/08/2019 I could get a Shield 1.0 9mm for $199.99 (after S&W Credit Card for $50) but unfortunately that deal ended on the eighth.

I'm just trying to think outside the box. It's unlikely I would go defenseless if a higher quality weapon meant an extended period without. In reality a lot of caveats like where I lived and my immediate threat assessment.

Describing the G2 Series as made to be tossed into the river after one shot does not really track with most owners experience with those pistols. You would think James Yeager's multiple owner, multiple pistol 10,000 round test and multiple 1,000, 2,000 and.3,000 round tests would have gotten us past that. Don't get my wrong I'm not a huge fan of the pistol but reliability isn't the reason.
 
Last edited:
94045 said:
Describing the G2 Series as made to be tossed into the river after one shot does not really track with most owners
Click to expand...
That comment wasn't aimed at the taurus, I agree they're decent modern guns. I don't call any guns out right garbage but I do think certain guns aren't made to be used long term or even be shot much but I wouldn't call them out as junk.
 
An old saying goes Beware the man with only one gun, he probably knows how to use it!
I'd prefer having one dependable, accurate gun that fits my hand rather than two or two dozen so-sos.
YMMV, of course,
 
My question would be: Arm or rearm . . . for what? This looks like we're talking about a situation where someone has no guns, and no ammo, so let's start there. My focus for arming or rearming while living in an urban area, needing a CC weapon, etc., might be entirely different from living in a rural area and being more concerned about hunting and four-legged threats than anything else.

In either scenario, I'd buy in a private sale and avoid transfer fees. Versatility would be my key factor. For the urban scenario, that means a small- to mid-sized 9mm. Something ranging from about a S&W Shield (for sale now at PSA for $250) on the small end to the "mid-sized G19-class" (G19, Ruger P series, S&W M&P, etc.) on the large end. A revolver would not be out of the question, either. Something less than a 3" barrel for CC, preferably chambered in .357, but I could live with .38, because that's likely what I'd carry anyway. Lots of decent used revolvers out there: Ruger, Rossi, Charter Arms, etc. Finish out the budget by buying ammo.

For the rural scenario, I'd be more likely to pick up a used 12ga. Plenty of used Mossbergs and Remingtons out there. While I lean towards the Remington 870, I wouldn't turn my nose up at a Mossberg. Not by a long shot. Again, finish the out the budget by buying ammo. This time a variety of loads, ranging from bird shot to buck shot.
 
I think the question of “For what purpose” is a crucial question. There also comes a point where you have to be willing to sacrifice some creature comforts for a little while and free up some funds. A straight talk cellphone, cancel the satellite, don’t eat out for a month. You could free up a substantial amount of money in no time. We don’t realize how much money we absolutely blow on things that’s don’t really matter in the short term.
 
BigBore44 said:
A straight talk cellphone...
Click to expand...

For a lot of people, a "straight talk cellphone" = loss of job. I certainly expect the people working for me to read and respond to emails when they're not at their desks and read attached documents.

Of course, the people who work for me are generally paid enough to be able to afford that and a $400 gun once an ever. Just pointing out that one man's "luxury" is another man's livelihood.
 
If the handgun is going to be used for concealed carry as well as home defense, and you want to buy something new, then the Taurus or a SCCY would work.
My personal preference for small guns leans toward wheelguns though.
 
Agree with op. 12g pump shotgun 1st if AR kills the budget. Then reliable handgun. Personally if only one handgun I would choose revolver. 856 works but would prefer longer barrel maybe used model 10.
 
ATLDave said:
For a lot of people, a "straight talk cellphone" = loss of job. I certainly expect the people working for me to read and respond to emails when they're not at their desks and read attached documents.

Of course, the people who work for me are generally paid enough to be able to afford that and a $400 gun once an ever. Just pointing out that one man's "luxury" is another man's livelihood.
Click to expand...
I mean, c’mon. Really? Then we certainly aren’t talking about your employees. We are talking about low income or people who are broke. So for someone who is broke, they have to make a decision about priorities.
 
I understand, I'm just pointing out that what is a luxury versus necessity varies by situation. Sometimes people are very cash strapped even while employed... including at jobs that require constant connected-ness. A bad financial break, helping support a sick family member, a bunch of unexpected expenses, coming out of a period of un/underemployment... all of these can leave someone cash-tight and still needing a smart phone. Smart phones really aren't luxuries for many working people these days. Lots of old people grumble about them being luxuries, but for a lot of people, they really are not.

Anyway, that's enough thread drift for now.
 
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