looking for a new toy that's cheap to shoot

[christcorp]

Ok, got a gun show coming up next week and my wife wants to get me my birthday present early (September 11th of all birthdays). Anyway, I have all the important guns in my collection. All for very practical purposes. So, I was wondering if you all had suggestions for a cheap to buy and cheap to shoot gun and/or caliber.

FWIW, I have a S&W model 13 357 mag, model 10 38 sp, blackhawk 45lc, a 22lr, a 22mag, and a couple of black powders. (I only listed revolvers because that is this forum). So, I was thinking what would be a cheap gun, cheap on ammo, and something fun or practical. I mostly have semi-autos but I really am getting more into the revolvers. I was going to go with something in 9mm. Probably a Hi-Point. It's cheap so my wife doesn't have to go broke, and ammo is cheap. Then I started to price it, and my 38 special rounds I buy in bulk to practice with is as cheap as the 9mm.

So, if I can stay with revolvers, what would be a decent revolver that is cheap to shoot. Preferably in a caliber I haven't already mentioned having. I'd like to keep the gun under $150 so as to not cripple my wife.She doesn't make the kind of money I do. But birthdays are something she likes to use her money on. Used guns are totally acceptable. Like I said, there is a gun show this coming weekend. Thx... Mike....

 

[JesseL]

38 Special and 22lr are going to be as cheap as you'll get in factory revolver rounds.

If you reload and cast your own bullets, you can shoot just about any revolver for as cheap as you can imagine. I can shoot my 38 Special for less than all but the cheapest 22lr. Since I've got a ton of lead and the cases last indefinitely with light loads, all the cost is primers and minuscule amounts of Titegroup or Bullseye.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you want something that's fun and want to blow off a lot of ammo plinking without spending a lot on the gun then I suggest a Nagant Revolver chambered in 7.62X25mm. You can get the revolver very cheap and there is still a lot of Surplus ammo to be had. I think it would be a blast to own and something different from what you already have. In the future you could also buy a CZ-52 which is chambered in the same caliber for added fun.

 

[Novus Collectus]

If you want something that's fun and want to blow off a lot of ammo plinking without spending a lot on the gun then I suggest a Nagant Revolver chambered in 7.62X25mm. You can get the revolver very cheap and there is still a lot of Surplus ammo to be had. I think it would be a blast to own and something different from what you already have. In the future you could also buy a CZ-52 which is chambered in the same caliber for added fun.

Nagants and CZ52s are the same caliber, but with totally different cartridges and often even different bullets.
The Nagant is 7.62x39R and in the military loading has a flat nose, 108 gran bullet. The CZ52 fires 7.62x25 with an overall length of 34.3mm usually firing a 90 to 94 grain bullet. One is bottle necked, and the other is not. Two totally different rounds with one with twice the muzzle energy of the other.
The ammo for the Nagant is about thirty to forty cents a round for even the surplus and even as high as sixty cents a round from some suppliers for commercial, but the more powerful 7.62x25 is from less than ten cents a round for surplus, to about 28 cents a round for modern commercial ammo.

Apples and oranges

 

[cudaman440]

CZ52 is a pretty cool and fun pistol and I think cheap surplus ammo is still around and 9mm conversion barrel.

 

[MCgunner]

9x18 Makarov, but it's an auto. In revolvers, not THAT cheap, but you could get a 625, 45ACP. It's SORTA cheap, but it's no .38 or 9mm for cheap. You can order some reasonably priced 45, though, in bulk.

 

[Iggy]

The vendors at that Cheyenne show are almost insulting in their pricing but they got to pay for their tables I guess.

Once in a while you can find something reasonable.

You might find something in a used gun from Roger at RLY's table from Cheyenne, if he is there.
Teel gunworks out of Wheatland will sometimes do some dealing with you if they are there.

Most of the rest vendors just look down their noses at you when you walk up.. Many of their guns have been to so many gun shows that the finish is worn off from packing and unpacking and handling..

If you see an old doofus with a beard in a cowboy hat (What are the odds of that in Cheyenne?) wandering around there Sat, give a "Howdy!"

Have fun and good luck.

 

[christcorp]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Maybe I'll see you there iggy. Sometimes I get a good deal at the shows. Sometimes not. I prefer the NON-WASATCH shows, but they are rare. However, I've sometimes made some really good deals. Was able to trade a Ruger blackhawk 45lc for an excellent S&W model 13-1. Have also done ok with some rifles. You are correct however that most of the time the vendors are an insult.

I do like the idea of the CZ52. Might be something I keep my eyes open for. Thx all for the ideas. Later... Mike...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Nagants and CZ52s are the same caliber, but with totally different cartridges and often even different bullets.
The Nagant is 7.62x39R and in the military loading has a flat nose, 108 gran bullet. The CZ52 fires 7.62x25 with an overall length of 34.3mm usually firing a 90 to 94 grain bullet. One is bottle necked, and the other is not. Two totally different rounds with one with twice the muzzle energy of the other.
The ammo for the Nagant is about thirty to forty cents a round for even the surplus and even as high as sixty cents a round from some suppliers for commercial, but the more powerful 7.62x25 is from less than ten cents a round for surplus, to about 28 cents a round for modern commercial ammo.

Novus Collectus,
Even though I knew the Nagant was chambered in 7.62X38, I though I saw them alao chambered in 7.62X25. I specified that caliber because you can get cheap surplus ammo in that caliber unlike the caliber you mentioned. I didn't know there was a Nagant chambered in 7.62X39R, I did know about one chambered in 7.62X38R. http://www.sff.net/people/sanders/nagant.html At the time I did forget about the rimmed cartridge needed for a revolver.