Help with HD purchase

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Atavar

Atavar

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Bemidji, Mn
I could use some advice. Not looking for pity or gifts.
I am hoping to get a rifle or shotgun for my sister. She lives out in the middle of nowhere (1.5 hours from nearest city) and has been through a rough time the past couple of years (cancer, loss of employment due to cancer, total loss house fire).
They lost their firearms in the house fire and insurance money wasn’t all it was supposed to be.
With everything that is going on in the world some sort of basic firearm is IMHO rather a necessity if you live in the sticks.
I am not trying to start a prepper thread. There are plenty of those on the net already.
The main purpose would be HD for two and four legged varmints. Mainly for the occasional porcupine or badger or stray dog pack.

She is capable and trained with firearms.
Unfortunately I am not much better off than she is so budget is a big concern. Function is more important than beauty.
They are not hunters.

I am starting to haunt the local pawnshops and watching the consignment rack at the LGS’s.

My current thoughts are some sort of long tube shotgun and a rifle. I am pretty ignorant about shotguns.

Of course a 10-22 is high on the list. I know my 10-22 has been amazingly effective on badgers, porcupine and skunk with minimags. I happen to have a box of high cap mags for 10-22.

Another consideration is a pair of HiPoint PCC and pistol in the same caliber. I am thinking .45 or 9mm for ammo cost and availability.
I have had HiPoints in the past and while they are ugly and perhaps ungainly mine always went bang every time I pulled the trigger and thrived with minimum maintenance. The HiPoints I had were accurate to minute of bad guy even if they wouldn’t be competitive at the range.

Thoughts and ideas from those wiser than I (probably everyone here) would be appreciated.
 
Best "bang for buck" firearm (pardon the expression) IMO is the Mossberg Maverick shotgun -- basically a Mossberg 500 assembled with parts made in Mexico. They're a little over $200 new. In this video he's shooting the short-barreled security model, but they can be had with longer barrels and interchangeable chokes too.

 
Agree. A shotgun is an eminently versatile firearm. A box each of birdshot, #4 buck, 00 buck and some slugs. If you are sneaky with that you can kill anything in North America smaller than a Grizzly. I suspect a few 12g slugs would stop a Grizzly but I am not going to volunteer to test that theory.
Anything outside of shotgun range can live if they stay that way.
Although— shooting skunks with a shotgun is not always the best idea. Don’t ask me how I know this.
 
Both the Mossberg and the HiPoint carbine are fine budget choices.
Palmetto State Armory will often offer very deep discounts on what they call cosmetically "blemished" AR platform rifles, which are still perfectly functional. I picked up one of their 9mm carbines for under $400 this way and I can't see anything blemished on mine at all and love it, so that might be something to watch for as well.
Good deed and good luck! :thumbup:
 
Another vote for a Mossberg Maverick 88, or something from Mossberg off the used rack for similar money. Add a box of birdshot for any target under 50# or closer than 20', and you're set. Add a box of buckshot to reach out if you feel the need.
 
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In order of preference for me:

A sub $500 AR15 from Palmetto State Armory

A Mossberg 500/Maverick 88

A Hi-point 995

If you can swing the AR15, you'll be well served. They're running about as cheap as ever. Palmettostatearmory.com has daily sales and you can find a carbine for under $500 from them. Sometimes they bundle them with sights or extra magazines cut really good deals.

The shotguns get a sight preference over the Hi-Point just due to versatility.

I've had good experience with all three options and would recommend all of them.
 
Alright, hear me out. Heritage Rough Rider .22LR/.22Mag.

Can be had new for less than $200. Keep the Magnum cylinder in it next to the bed. The .22 Magnums supposedly has a lower chance of not going bang for rimfire. And while its not 9mm levels of energy it will do damage and penetrate a Carhartt jacket. Then of course .22LR is cheap plentiful and a workhorse of a cartridge.

The only time mine malfunctions it is my own fault. The simple cross bar safety throws me off. If I kept one next to my bed I would probably leave that safety off and the hammer in half cock position.

P.S. I understand this is the rifle forum. But this is cheap and mulit purpose.
 
KansasTrapper77 said:
Alright, hear me out. Heritage Rough Rider .22LR/.22Mag.

Can be had new for less than $200 Keep the Magnum cylinder in it next to the bed. The .22 Magnums supposedly has a lower chance of not going bang for rimfire. And while its not 9mm levels of energy it will do damage and penetrate a Carhartt jacket. Then of course .22LR is cheap plentiful and the A workhorse of a cartridge.

The only time mine malfunctions it is my own fault. The simple cross bar safety throws me off. If I kept one next to my bed I would probably leave that safety off and the hammer in half cock position.

P.S. I understand this is the rifle forum. But this is cheap and mulit purpose.
Click to expand...
All responses are appreciated.
To my mind with a .22 I would want more capacity and a faster rate of fire. OTOH .22WMR make quite an intimidating bark and I have one of the originals I haven’t touched in years.
 
For years I used the Hi-Point 995 carbine for my skunk gun. It's more accurate than a guy would think, and head shots will drop a skunk with a minimum of stink.
A pump shotgun is a good choice too but will be messier.
If you go with a handgun, I think I'd get a Taurus G2/G3 over a Hi-Point.
 
For sheer versatility, a shotgun is very hard to beat. With proper ammo selection, it'll do just about everything she needs. I think the only real question is whether to get 20 ga or 12.
 
You should be able to find a good used pump shotgun cheap. for a pcc I would recommend a kel tek sub 2000. I put several thousand rounds through mine with no issues, with a red dot it is more than accurate enough.
 
For small predators, even larger predators, and home defense, a gun that will handle all those tasks and stay in a small budget would have to be a shotgun.

No need for different firearms for specific tasks, a shotgun with the correct ammo will do it all.
 
No NRA members in the household? Basic annual membership includes a modest firearm loss insurance benefit, or at least it did -- I got $100 back in the 1980s when my Ithaca 37 was stolen, in addition to my regular theft insurance. Helped cover the deductible.

Call me a throwback -- I'd favor a .38 revolver. One handed use, easy recoil management, concealment, can be shot from inside a roomy pocket.

Used S&Ws aren't in the budget category anymore, but RIA has a Colt semi-copy that seems to be a good value according to recent reviews:

https://www.armscor.com/firearms-list/m200-38spl-6rd

 
What is her physical condition? A 12 guage shotgun has a very healthy recoil and the lighter the gun the worse it is of course. It might not be a good choice for some women. I live in the country and my wife chose a 20 guage for her defense against varmints of any description. I am not saying it is the end all for everyone but the users capabilities need to be considered. Notice I said "my wife chose", not "I chose for my wife".
 
I favor a shotgun with both slugs and birdshot, but I also think a cheap rifle or pistol in 22 Magnum is a good idea. As far as cheap AR I would go Del-ton. They have a sale right now and are better quality than PSA. $389 for kit plus receiver which is around $60 locally. Also cheap 9 MM pistols are available. Even a cheap rifle in .223 or any centerfire. I don't know anything about pistol caliber carbines but while they might fit the bill, I would rather have a shotgun or centerfire rifle for the same money.
 
Shotgun and a 22lr will handle almost everything outside confronting a serious monster bear or BIGFOOT! Great cheapies (cost wise) that are underated

Shotguns......Mossberg/maverick/H&R parner pump. 20ga probably better for her but 12ga is more common and better ammo choices.
22 Rifle... Mossberg plinkster/Rossi RS22/ Citadel Tracker (all the same gun other than stocks)

Cheap handgun... yup. Rough Rider all the way as was mentioned. Plink with the 22 and use the 22mag for defense. Very simple...very safe. Need to go bigger? A decent 357/38 4-6" barreled revolver. Those 357 Windicators are pretty nice for the price. Solid built revolvers.

Or you can get spendy and exotic... Aug, Laugo alien, Night vision, Flare launchers, Gatling gun mounted on a Hummer, Body Armor, Helmets, Suppressors, Satalite phones, Drones etc. etc.

If she has bear in the area some bear spray might be worth having on hand. That will work on lots of animals...even humans.

Skunks? I fear a hidden skunk more than I do a bear walking around. I dont even try messing with them. They are pretty harmless unless they decide to live under your house during mating season and mark territory (been there before).
 
Ive got both Del-Ton and PSA ARs and wouldn't hesitate taking either into combat, both are good guns. If PSA gets any online flak for putting out an occasional lemon, its probably only because they ship huge volumes compared to everyone else and statistics will eventually catch up.

For what it's worth, both my daughters have built ARs and handle and shoot them often with a high degree of competency- but neither one of them will willingly touch any shotgun bigger than a .410 anymore. Incidentally, a .410 lever or pump gun would make a dandy gun for your friends' needs if it weren't for the ridiculous price and rarity of .410 ammo right now....:(

I have nothing but respect for any woman who learns and trains with a 12 gauge- and there certainly are some- but my girls will grab a 9mm or .223 over a shotgun any day of the week.
 
Hopefully, her thin budget can manage a shotgun as others have suggested AND an AR style rifle. Just watched a YouTube video and the subject was "What is the most frequently returned firearm"? By "returned" the shows producers mean guns that have come in to their store for sale, consignment, or trade. In the past it was Glock pistols and other semi-auto pistols. Today they say, ARs are way ahead of other guns. With the huge uptick in the supply of 2nd hand ARs, the price is coming down...way down. At this point, such weapons are or will soon be a dime-a-dozen.
 
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