Budget Battery in todays market

[kaveman]

In the last couple of years a divorce and serious medical bills have left the armory depleted so over the summer I will attempt to purchase four firearms to cover all the basic needs, I am looking for feedback from fellow members on what would be a really good value for the money, firearms will be used for smallgame, birdhunting,plinking, selfdefense and selfreliance, we have all run across good deals on the used market but that is hit and miss , I am looking for current deals that are readily available. my first purchase will be a handgun for ccw and then rimfire rifle, pumpshotgun and then centerfire rifle capable of deerhunting and selfdefense, I am fairly current with todays offerings but wanted other peoples feedback on what is a good value in todays market, my budget will be between 500-700.00 ,   and I want to get all four by laborday

                                                                            Thanks
                                                                             Kaveman

[mcwoodduck]

I have thought of this a couple of times if I were to loose the collection to one catastrophy or another.
The type of hunting and the game are going to dictate the big game rifle.
Clearly a big game rifle for Alaska is going to be different than one for the south east, South west or North east.
I have thought on this same note and I think these four will give you the ability to do everything.  If a buddy calls and says we are going to go hunt this critter in this location you are off.
1)  Big Game rifle   -  Bolt action 7mm Mag/ 30-06 / 308 with a 3-9X38 or 40mm  (I would look at the used racks Ruger, Remington, Howa take your pick)   I say 7mm Mag because it has a wide variety of loaded ammo that can go from varmints to elk.  30-06/ 308  too would work wiht a lot cheaper ammo options.
2)  Small Game rifle - 22 LR Hnads down.  Pick your action.  Marlin bolts are inexpensive, reliable, and accurate and are in a wide variety of configurations.  The last one I purchased was on the used shelf but was like new and no marks on the metal or the plastic stock for under $200 out the door with a scope.  I like open sights for hunting small game but a small 2-7X32 scope would work well.  CZ rifles are not to be over looked, but the prices are climbing quickly.
3)  12 ga Shot gun-  Remington 870 or Benelli Nova 28" barrel with interchangable chokes.  Barrels can be found easy to change from upland/ water fowel/ turkey to home defense or brush big game gun.
4) S&W M29/ 629 or Ruger Redhawk  4 to 6"
44 Mag will give you the ability to take big game while out hunting small game.
with 44 Specials it would be the perfect home defense or personal defense.  About the power of 45 ACP and in the large handgun a real joy to shoot.  Although a K frame S&W and a Ruger GP100 too would work in 357 mag with the ability to shoot the cheap 38 Specials.  44 Specials are as much as mag rounds.
Good luck.

[kaveman]

Mc, thanks for the reply, all good points, from what I have seen lately a .38 special used is doable for 200-250.00 or maybe a used 9mm for ccw I had a glock 19 for 19 years before I had to sell, also owned half dozen smiths , maybe a cz82 they are in the pipeline at around 210.00 before shipping and fees, iwill look for another used 870 I have owned several and they are my preference in a pump, nef pardner pump field is at walmart for 159.00 I hear it is alot of gun for the money, leaning toward a marlin 795 the 25.00 factory rebate brings it in around 125.00, centerfire rifle is tough maybe a savage edge in .308 for 250.00-300.00 no irons but has detachable mag, I would like to find a good deal on a used 30-30 but the used market in my area been dry of levers, missed out on used saiga 7.62x39 that would have filled the bill for possible deer and selfdefense, I will keep on looking
                                                                          thanks Kaveman
                                                     

[mcwoodduck]

No one says you need to buy all four right now.
It is spring.  You have a few months before you need to get serious about big game.
I would start with your greatest need first.  I would get what I want and get them over time.  If you buy something that you don't like then you are behind when you trade it in for something else.  If you think your greatest need is a CCW then I would look in shops for a used or new Glock 19 if that is your preferance.  Then save up a little again and look for an 870 to have in time for Dove opener.  Add a slug barrel for big game this fall and pick up a big game rifle after the season when a lot of guys trade in at the end of the season.  It sounds like you hunt woods and a slug will work out to 100 yards on deer.  Same smooth bore slug barrel with rifle sights can act as deer, home defense, and turkey by just changing the shells.
A 22 rifle can be picked up at any time the budget allows.  There are always new items turning up and many are never shot.
Is there a local shop you like and have a relationship with?  In the past I have stuck an envelope at a friends shop with some $ in it and a list of models I want with price ranges and add $ to the envelope as time goes on.  Also as you add to the envelope, new things show up.  How I ended up with a few that were not on the list.

[mannyrock]

   Trying to get all 4 firearms for about $700 will be tough.

    The closest would be these, in this order of purchase:

         1.  Find a used, not abused, Mossburg 12 gauge pump, in 3 inch magnum, with synthetic stock, for around $150.
     
         2.  Find a used, not abused, Marlin bolt action in .22 LR for around $100.

         3 .  The handgun will be pricey.  I would look for a good used, 5-shot Rossi, with a 3 inch barrel, in either .38 P+ or .357 Mag.  ($275?).   Make sure it is tight and timed.  Don't fall into the thought of using a handgun  for dual purpose hunting, in larger calibers, with longer barrels.   This is your CCW, and it is for lawful self defense only.

          4.  Get a used Handi Rifle, in .308 Winchester ($125 to $175?). Or, you may be able to find a used Marlin 336, with a beaten up birch stock, in .30-30, for about $200.  If you want to break your budget, get a new Stevens 200 in .308.  Quality for the price, but with a synthetic stock.  ($250?).
     
      All of these are popular firearms that are easy to locate on tables at any large gunshow. I have been at several shows where the first 3 of these items were on the same table. 

       Regards, Mannyrock

[schoolmaster]

A 12 ga shotgun with an extra slug barrel with sights will take care of small game, birds, and big game such as deer. It will serve as a pretty good self defense weapon also. You can find a good used combo for not too much money. This would leave the rest of the budget for a decent CCW. If you feel you need it, you need to spend the bulk of your money on this. You can add a couple of rifles later. Mannyrock has some very good suggestions as to specific models etc.

[Lost Farmboy]

+ 1 schoolmaster

My thought exactly.  Get a good ccw and a good shot gun combo and get the rifles next year.  I did it the same way and not a bit sorry about  waiting for the rifles. 

Kaveman I think 4 is too ambitious for your budget.  Better to wait for good ones you will like over the long term.  A shot gun can hunt anything.

[Bugflipper]

For the pistol a keltec p-11 9mm runs about $250 new. Probably $200 used. I had one about 10 years ago, it was dependable. I got rid of it because the trigger was to tough but they have put a lighter spring in them since then.

For a self defense/hunting rifle, the sks. You can find them for $250 if you shop around. If you want to go really cheap Mosin Nagant 91/30 run $80-100.

For a pump the win 1200/1300 or rem 870 should be $200-220 used.

On the 22lr plenty of used for $100-150.

[Empty Quiver]

A 12 ga shotgun with an extra slug barrel with sights will take care of small game, birds, and big game such as deer. It will serve as a pretty good self defense weapon also. You can find a good used combo for not too much money. This would leave the rest of the budget for a decent CCW. If you feel you need it, you need to spend the bulk of your money on this. You can add a couple of rifles later. Mannyrock has some very good suggestions as to specific models etc.

Good points all. All I can do is say to buy quality and buy used. Get the cash on hand and put the word out to everyone that you are in the market. Gun stores need to make a profit and you can't afford to support them right now.

Rem 870 combo, or Mossberg combo, (rifled barrels shoot expensive ammo be forwarned) the slug barrel (smooth)will work nicely for home defense, and of coarse any animal fit for the skillet.

Depending on your personal situation next would be a CCW or perhaps big game rifle. Both can be had for about the same $. Myself, I would be hesitant to skimp on a CCW weapon. Absolutely the last weapon you will use as intended, but if needed it must work flawlessly. Springfield XD, Ruger or Glock are known for reliability and value. I would not hesitate on picking up a used example of any of those three.

If you have the fundamentals of shooting down pat a .22 plinker is redundant now, pick one up at your leisure. However, I could well argue that the .22 should be first or possibly second on this list.

Finally get the CCW or centerfire taken care of.

[schoolmaster]

I used to hunt with a 12 ga shotgun with a 30 inch full choke barrel and shot everything with it. I used plain jane WW forster slugs, the ones with the star on the nose and killed several deer with them before someone told me they weren't any good. My shotgun had to kill quail with special "spreader" loads that I loaded myself, as well as rabbits, squirrels, and ducks. My load of necessity was a trap load with #7 1/2 shot. I used the bead for slugs but didn't pay much attention to it for the other stuff. Oh yeah I bought it in a pawn shop for $80. a Winchester 1897 pump. Can't do that any more.