Best Bang for the buck?

[Kentucky]

One of the most interesting parts of this forum to me is how I find out about different brands or models of firearms that i didnt even know existed, and what a good value some of them are. So with that in mind I would like to hear from you guys what you think are great value firearms in each of the following categories:

Rifle
Pistol
Shotgun
Combo?

Example: Everyone knows a 10/22 is a good little rifle but hey, you can get a Marlin 60 for $75 and they shoot great!

BAD EXAMPLE: A Mosin Nagant is the best value because you can dig a ditch with it when you are done.

For real value purposes lets keep it under $300. Try to come up with something a little different, 870's and 500's are pretty well known shotgun options.

 

[AJ Dual]

Kel-Tec Sub2000 folding carbine.

It's folding action is very unique, plinking with bulk or milsurp 9mm is still pretty cheap. Under $300 if you shop around. Takes many different kinds of pistol magazines, including 30 rounders.

Extremely fun plinker, good to 100 yards, gets lots of looks/questions at the range. And it's useful as a very compact "go to" gun for cars, camping, etc. and it adds a couple hundred fps to the pistol caliber's ballistics too.

 

[Ferrari308]

This is an interesting thread. It is like asking "In the walmart $5 DVD bin, is there anything worth buying?".

I'm expecting some good reading tonight!

 

[OldSchooler]

Rifle: Handi-Rifle in what ever chambering you like and SKS.
Pistol: Surplus CZ's or PPK knock-offs
Shotgun: Mossberg 500**
Combo: SA6 Scout rifle (just cause it's neat and the Savage mod 24 is out of the price range!)
Revolver: (I added this one as there's a difference between a pistol and a revolver) 4" .357 Mag/.38 from Taurus.

For real value purposes lets keep it under $300. Try to come up with something a little different, 870's and 500's are pretty well known shotgun options.
** Hey wait a minute!! Easy on the restrictions. This is sounding like a BATF application...You asked, so give us a chance to offer, bro!

 

[minuteman1970]

My votes go with the SKS for a rifle, Makarov for a pistol, and a Mossberg 500 for a shotgun.

 

[Whirlwind06]

Rifle: Hi-point carbines
Pistol: RIA 1911 & Hi-points
Revolvers: Charter arms
Shotguns: H&R

 

[OldSchooler]

My votes go with the SKS for a rifle, Makarov for a pistol, and a Mossberg 500 for a shotgun.
We think a lot alike

Revolvers: Charter arms
Ditto. Also goodies.

 

[DMK]

Rifle: Mosin Nagant, SKS, SAR1 AK, K31 or CMP Garand depending on your needs/wants.

Shotgun: Mossberg 500.

Pistol: Used S&W .38 or .357 (lots of models to choose from), CZ-75B, CZ-70/CZ-50, Makarov, Argentine Sistema, Ruger Single Six convertable, Star BM.

These are just the ones I've owned or helped someone else buy.

 

[ilbob]

best value

CF Rifle - hands down the best values around are the SKS for a semi and the Swiss army bolt action rifles.Both are readily available for under $125.

RF Rifle - Ruger 10/22 or Marlin. I would lean toward the Ruger because of all the nifty add ons available.

Shotgun - hard to beat a Mossberg pump.

CF Semi-auto pistol - CZ52. At $130 for a pistol, holster, and two magazines, you will never get a better value. For a more traditional caliber a Ruger P85 while a bit large, is built like a tank and will probably outlast you.

RF Semi-auto pistol. Could not come up with an especially good value. Lots of decent value out there, but nothing spectacular comes to mind.

 

[rangerruck]

rifle- used cz or rebuilt swedish 6.5 mausers or carl gustav
pistol- daewoo dp51 or 51pc or used cz
shotty- any mossberg
revolver- taurus tracker special 6,8, or 10 in bbl, in 17hmr or raging hornet.

 

[TexAg]

Rifles:Saiga, K-31, Marlin 336
Handguns: SA 1911 GI, S&W 637

 

[grimjaw]

rifle
New rifles, I'd say the NEF/H&R single shot. There are several good buys in rimfire. Surplus centerfire, if ammo was less expensive and more available, the K31 would be my pick.

pistol
New, Ruger or CZ. Used, a S&W revolver, or maybe a Makarov.

shotgun
NEF or Remington 870 new, dunno about used.

jmm

 

[Guyon]

Rifle: Savage bolt action or Marlin 336
Pistol: Makarov (Bulgarian)
Shotgun: Remington 870

 

[Mike_in_OC]

Rifle- Mosin Nagant 85.00. Solid as a rock shot out to 300 yards
Handgun - Taurus .357 you pick Barrel length
Shotgun - Norinco SXS 12ga Coach Gun, Takes some time to loosen up but is a shooter

 

[Srigs]

My list:

Rifle= Hi Point carbine and Ruger 10/22
Shotgun= Mossberg 500
Handgun= S&W 3rd Generation 59xx, 69xx or 39xx

 

[GW]

Rifle--SKS $300 can get you a rifle & a lot of ammo
Pistol--CZ-52 built like a tank, 7.62x25 ammo can punch thru some vests, and
again, $300 gets you the pistol (with holster) and a bunch of ammo
Shotgun--Mossberg 500 $300 Used you can get one with some ammo as well

 

[pete f]

For me I would the most bangs for the buck....

If all i wanted was something that was going to go bang everytime, I would probably say a SMLE 4 no1 about 80 bucks with ammo getting a bit harder ti find cheap, or a Mauser, under a hundred and still finding ammo for cheap, I found one place for 350 rounds for 29 bucks shipped, or 4.30 per seventy round bandolier plus shipping.

However, for me I would say I would like to have a gun that my grandkids will get misty eyed handing down to their grandkids, then I say things like Savage 99's, pre War Winchesters, etc. I know that does not follow the intent of question, but it is what I look for.

I like quality tools, I only have to buy them once in a lifetime, I am not a subscriber to the Idea of throwaway tools, I want good steel and I want something someone was proud to make. Be it a hammer or a rifle, I want something that people were happy to say that they made these for a living.

 

[roscoe]

Where are you getting a No4 for $80?

 

[rangerruck]

Savage/stevens rifles . they are savages in every way except no accutrigger, and all synth stocks. they cost new about 230 , here in Houston.

 

[Dacoda]

Shotgun: Mossberg Maverick model 88. Academy has them new for like $130. Good 12 ga pump if ya ask me. Great bird gun

 

[lionking]

off the top of my head though around 3bills and change I'd say the Rock Island 1911 .45 and the P-1 (p- 38) that are coming over right now.

I always have prefered Marlin .22 rifles over the Rugers,for plinking anyhow.

Too bad Winchester 30-30's cant be considered a good bargain anymore...jeez

oh and Makorev's also,great little pistols for the $

shotgun,I agree with Mossberg

 

[arcticap]

Semi-auto Shotgun

I've found the Verona SX 405S to be an extremely reliable 12 ga. semi-auto Turkish made shotgun that doesn't skip a beat.
It features a composite stock, 26 inch vent rib barrel, 3 inch chamber, magazine cut off switch and comes with 3 choke tubes. It cycles any ammo without hardly any felt recoil, is easy to clean, has thin choke tubes but they work and there are also aftermarket replacements available, and it shoots decently. There are 30 inch and rifled replacement barrels and I've seen them advertised at Dick's for $259. They go for about $199 used.
For an inexpensive semi-auto, I think it qualifies as one of the "best bangs for the buck"!

 

[aaronrkelly]

Rifle - SKS hands down.....Yugos run $150, Chinese $200 - take your pick

Pistol - Bersa Thunder .380 $200

Shotgun - Maverick 88 $150

Combo - Spartan Gunworks (Remington Co) makes .410/.22, 12ga/.223 etc...they start at $250ish for the .410/.22


Other good, cheap guns....

HiPoint 9mm carbine (or .40 if you prefer) - about $150 to $175

Bulgarian Makarov - $200ish if you can find one

NEF Handi-rifles in all calibers - $210

Marlin model 60 $125 new (already mentioned but worth mentioning again)

 

[Kentucky]

There have been some interesting answers so far. One that I meant to put in my original post was the surplus 8MM rifles, I cant believe how cheap ammo is for them right now. I am getting ready to buy one of these rifles and then lay back a bunch of ammo for it.

 

[entropy]

Best value?

Rifle: SKS

Pistol: Star BM

Shotgun: Rem 870 Express

Combo: Hi-point rifle and pistol in corresponding calibers. I'd love to see the .45ACP soon, and a 7.62x25Tokarev Hi-point combo would have some merit.