18th birthday gun

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If you're looking for a "plinker with a kick", then a .22 Magnum or 9mm would be good to go. Definately not as cheap as .22 LR, but in terms of stepping up in power for a "kick", that's just about the next step up.

Although the same argument can be made for a .357, shooting .38 in it. Gives you some reserve for a magnum kick, budget allowing.

Check retail prices out first, though.
 
When I turned 18 (10 years ago now), I got a brand new Hi Point carbine in 9mm. I put thousands of Wolf steel case ammo through that poor gun and cleaned it with a boresnake and aerosol Break Free. Never did take it apart and in a few thousand rounds I may have had 10 malfunctions. They can be had for around $250 give or take.
 
My first pistol was a privately purchased S&W Highway Patrol .357...back in 2000 for $249. Just gotta find someone willing to sell to an 18 year old - many, many private sellers are completely ignorant and/or irrationally afraid of private sales that don't comport to what they believe the rules to be or should be.

I don't allow my permit or DL be photographed or copied by private sellers and it's been a dealbreaker on several almost sales.

For a first gun, I would buy some variety of a .22 autoloader pistol (or revolver) from someone on Armslist. Ammo is getting better and is available for a price.

If a 22 isn't your thing, look for a used 9/40/45 - something common and comparatively cheaper than 357/44. I got a used Glock 19 last year from a store for under $400 with extra mags...deals are out there, just have to watch and wait.
 
When I was 18 (back when .223 and 22lr ammo still roamed happily on Wal-Mart shelves) I bought an AK for cheap...Still have that clunky lead spitter but I swear it is the funnest gun i have ever own this side of a 22lr.

On a side note...look into those hi-point pistol carbines. Those are neat and although a little clunky and "unreliable" they are alot of fun! My friend has one and it really doesn't like my handloads :( but I had a hoot with it. Plus it is a carbine! Perfect trunk gun IMO
 
I see you are getting lots of good advice. Tonight I went to Cabela's and kept you in mind. I saw at least 10 Howa's in .223, with scopes, polymer stock, they appeared new, for $359.00. Not sure what other members think of Howaq, apparently they made the Arisaka rifles back in the days before WW2.
Now they had .223 ammo, in boxes of 100, for $99.99. (choking here as I write this). Also, they had a variety of bolt action WW2 surplus shooters, Mosin Nagant, etc at least 75 in stock, for $200 apiece. I've never seen so many in one place (OK, this is East Hartford CT). I also saw a Ruger Scout Rifle in the "gun library" Used with a Nikon scope 6-24X too much magnification IMO for $1099 (very lightly used, fit & finish 100x better than the one I saw new a few months ago). I think the advice about a good .22 is worth considering, ESP. To get the fundamentals down. You can get a nice one from Savage and put a scope on it and keep the total under $400. .22 ammo is available, it just takes some waiting and showing up early to get it off the truck, also Cabela's will let you order it and have it delivered to their store, so it is like getting a reservation for the head of the line. Hope this helps.
 
I have many fun plinking guns (handguns and long guns). This is one of my absolute favorites (very affordable used and ammo is very inexpensive):

marlin336.jpg

AND it is loads of fun no matter how you slice it. Plus, it can put meat on the table if you are so inclined.

Dan
 
Pistol - Smith & Wesson SD (was sigma) They are about $350 retail, so a used one should net you a few extra mags or some ammo for that price.

Good Luck.
 
My vote is a hipoint or sks. Milsurps are very common anywhere from $100 to whatever you want to pay.

This is my .02 and what I'd be looking at if I were in your shoes.

And Happy Bday too!
 
Think black poeder

For my money, a lot of fun can be had rather cheaply with a muzzle loader, and they can be multi-purpose. Load it light for target or plinking, load it heavy for hunting. Lots of used reproductions out there pretty cheap, too. You can shoot a .50 cal. for the price of a .22
 
If your not afraid of power, go with a Mosin-Nagant in 7.51R for around $150 and a full tin of milsurp ammo will run you around $100 for 440 rds. Thats gun and ammo well within your budget.
I would look for a good used 12g for $250 and a 100 box of shells for $30 another good way to stay within your budget and get a firearm.
 
congrats on the hi point, ive always wanted one in 9mm. im 48 but if i was 18 again id prob go for a 223 bolt action rifle.knowing what i do now of course. fun to plink with,cheap to load for and extremely accurate in most platforms.
 
Congratulations on your first gun! It doesn't matter if you keep it until your old and gray, or sell it before you turn 19, you'll remember it forever.

My first purchase (at 21) was one of the original S&W Sigmas. The trigger was so bad that my friends wouldn't shoot it! I sold it before the year was up, but I have fond memories of shooting the heck out of that thing one summer.
 
Get yourself a single action in .38/.357! Little to go wrong, cheap shooting and FUN.
 
You mentioned a couple of handgun calibers so I'm guessing that's what you're interested in. You really should tell us what you want so we don't have to guess. I'd consider a CZ handgun in that price range. You can get some outstanding models for that price range even in today's market. You can get a CZ 83 .380 for just over $300 and that's for a fresh from the surplus pile model. You can get a CZ 75 9mm for around $350. It's an excellent handgun that holds 15 rounds and is known for rock solid performance. Keep in mind that both of these guns were cheaper about a year ago. But that was then and this is now. If you can wait prices will likely come down again IMO. If you're impatient these guns are excellent SD weapons for concealed carry or whatever. It's hard to find another gun for that price that will match their quality.

There are some excellent guns for that price though. I bought a Taurus PT-145 .45 ACP for $325 brand new with 2 extra mags. That was a few years ago though. But that gun has operated perfectly and it is very accurate and I still can't figure out how they got so many .45 rounds in such a small package. It shoots 10+1 rounds and is barely wider than most single stack .45's. In fact a lot of single stack handguns are wider. Just check up on which models are the good ones because like always with Taurus some models had some issues. But again mine has been perfect through about 7000 rounds. If you want a .45 for a CCW gun this is maybe the best choice you can make especially given the price.

If there's some other gun you're interested in or type of gun let us know and we'll try to help. You did mention a fun plinker. It's still very hard to beat a SKS for that role. You get a fine semi-auto that fires fairly big rounds and does it quick. And the ammo is still cheaper than almost anything else including .22 LR these days. You can buy a rifle for $350 if you look around or less if you will take one that's well used. They are very reliable if moderate care is taken of them. And you can rip up heck with one and scare the neighbors big time. :D
 
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