Absolute cheapest firearms?

[t3rmin]

Here's the situation: I'm becoming more concerned about protecting my family and exercising my 2nd amendment rights, especially as "victim disarmament" becomes more prevalent. I feel like the window may be narrowing to acquire firearms. I don't currently own but I'd like to before it's too late.

...but I'd be on a real tight budget. I can't really imagine being able to afford more than a couple hundred for a gun. And only because I'm starting to see it as a real necessity can I even begin to carve even that much out of the budget. But I feel like I should do *something*.

I don't mind off-brands or generics or used or whatever. Something that looks like heck but works OK would be great. Maybe smaller calibers are lower cost? I'm sure it'd be better than nothing. Ammo prices are also a consideration.

I'm thinking a shotgun initially for basic home defense? Then going for a semi-auto rifle of some kind? Then a handgun? I've got to set priorities and work up to this over a few years probably.

So what are your suggestions for the lowest of the low-priced firearms for a budget-constrained but concerned individual like myself?

 

[hillertexas]

I just got a new 9mm
Smith & Wesson for $399 at Gander Mountain (+ a $50 rebate)

 

[hvac ak47]

http://www.sksrifle.com/ $150 - $250

 

[pcosmar]

Check local gun stores for used guns. You can get some good prices there.
There are also surplus rifles.
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Russian_M44.html

Item#M44Russ
Original Russian Model 1944 Mosin Nagant 7.62x54R Carbine. Features Tangent Rear Sight, Side Folding Spike Bayonet, 5rd magazine well, 20.4” Bbl length, and 40” Overall. Includes accessories as shown, though they may vary slightly in size, shape, condition, and color.
Refinished to Excellent Condition.

Price: $69.95

Shop around and you can find deals.

 

[RonRules]

Get a used gun, ANY gun.

There's endless discussions about the merits of one vs the other.

Just get a caliber big enough to stop whoever is coming at you and that's what you need.

 

[hvac ak47]

Gonna be hard to find a better rifle than the sks for $150 bucks. Cheap ammo and semi-auto.

No thanks to anything bolt action for self defense!

 

[Kregener]

7.62x54R caliber WWII era military bolt action rifles. Includes the side folding bayonet and accessories. Arsenal refinish in excellent condition, with laminated wood stock (may vary in color from picture). C&R eligible.

Mosin-Nagant M-44 Laminated.
[15-952]

$79.95

J&G Sales

 

[jdmyprez_deo_vindice]

auction

Check your area for live auctions (www.auctionzip.com). Many auction houses hold regular firearm auctions or will have the occasional firearm show up in estate sales. I have seen good quality firearms sell as low as $5 at live auction. The secret is to find a sale that is loaded down with military antiques. Most militaria collectors have at least a few guns that are non military around and when their estates come up on the auction block, almost everyone there is out for the military antiques and the civillian firearms sell cheap. You may even get a cheap military issue firearm if it does not have a high collector value or historic value.

 

[Kingfisher]

Shotgun best home defense. Easiest to hit your target. And you dont have to worry about wall penetration. Used pump $200 or less if you dont care how it looks.

 

[t3rmin]

Good stuff, guys, thanks.

 

[SWATH]

SKS or Mosin M44! Both are very excellent weapons givin the rediculously cheap price.

SKS (semi-auto)=$150-200
M44 (bolt action)=$70-90

I would get a rifle first, then a pistol, and then a shotgun last. A rifle is the most effective weapon, this is why soldiers carry them. You can get a crate of 10 Mosin M44's for around $700.

Order you stuff here:
www.aimsurplus.com

and then just send them the info of a nearby gunstore for them to ship to.

 

[PimpBlimp]

Mosin Nagant or SKS

 

[hvac ak47]

SKS (semi-auto)=$150-250
M44 (bolt action)=$70-90

sks http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FZOHKEUpl5c

m44 http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=R5tFMZ0kHGQ

I know wich one I would bring to a gun fight!! No Contest !!

 

[AisA1787]

Keep in mind that if you buy your gun at a store or show where they take your personal information, and/or if your register it, your name will be "on the list" so to speak when the government declares martial law during an emergency and begins confiscating weapens. For your own protection of course, e.g., what FEMA did down in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. Some states like New Hampshire are trying to block this from happening (http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/huston/060110), but in today's world, the federal government trumps state government, so I'm not sure how well these attempts will work.

There are lots of guns out there that are "off the books", for example maybe your grandfather or father has an old rifle or shotgun that wasn't registered. But if you somehow obtain one of these off the books firearms, and at the same time buy a new one from a store or show, or register a new one, be prepared to hide that old "off the books" gun very, very well in case of a Katrina-like situation.

I know this sounds paranoid, but I'm just putting it out there for you to think about.

 

[amy31416]

SKS or Mosin M44! Both are very excellent weapons givin the rediculously cheap price.

SKS (semi-auto)=$150-200
M44 (bolt action)=$70-90

I would get a rifle first, then a pistol, and then a shotgun last. A rifle is the most effective weapon, this is why soldiers carry them. You can get a crate of 10 Mosin M44's for around $700.

Order you stuff here:
www.aimsurplus.com

and then just send them the info of a nearby gunstore for them to ship to.

Stupid question: What's the difference between a rifle and a shotgun?

 

[youngbuck]

I'd get a shotgun first, then get an rifle, then a handgun. Get a used Remington 870, Winchester 1300, or Mossberg 590/500.

For a rifle, get an SKS (though you may want to seriously consider a cheap AK for a little over 300), and a Mosin Nagant has longer range and more powerful than the SKS/AK.

Check out gun shows, newspaper ads/craigslist (I think they still sell guns), and even gunbroker.com for an online auction (in which case you'll have to do an FFL transfer, and have it shipped to a nearby gun shop).

 

[Malum Prohibitum]

Stupid question: What's the difference between a rifle and a shotgun?

A rifle cartridge ejects one missle, usually a through a 'rifled' barrel (which imparts a degree of spin on the projectile, and hopefully increasing its accuracy). A shotgun is loaded with a cartridge that can eject anywhere from one very large to very many small spherical projectiles through what is normally a smooth bore. There are some speciality shotgun cartridges that do various things such as grenade, flare, etc.. And there are some speciality shotgun barrels which are 'rifled' for 'slugs' (large one piece projectile normally used for deer or humans).

The effective difference for a newbie is that the average shotgun round for self defense (buckshot) has a larger area of impact which increases the farther away the target is, up until a point where the shotgun is effectively useless for defense or hunting requirements (usually 50 - 75 yards give or take depending on the round). Shotgun projectiles usually also have the advantage of penetrating less cover (although depending on the rifle round compared to, not always by very much), which means you are less likely to end up shooting someone behind an exterior wall or two. A rifle is effective at much farther distances, depending on the round, up to a mile at the extreme, with the right optics and shooter.

 

[dvictr]

a knife!


-

 

[amy31416]

A rifle cartridge ejects one missle, usually a through a 'rifled' barrel (which imparts a degree of spin on the projectile, and hopefully increasing its accuracy). A shotgun is loaded with a cartridge that can eject anywhere from one very large to very many small spherical projectiles through what is normally a smooth bore. There are some speciality shotgun cartridges that do various things such as grenade, flare, etc.. And there are some speciality shotgun barrels which are 'rifled' for 'slugs' (large one piece projectile normally used for deer or humans).

The effective difference for a newbie is that the average shotgun round for self defense (buckshot) has a larger area of impact which increases the farther away the target is, up until a point where the shotgun is effectively useless for defense or hunting requirements (usually 50 - 75 yards give or take depending on the round). Shotgun projectiles usually also have the advantage of penetrating less cover (although depending on the rifle round compared to, not always by very much), which means you are less likely to end up shooting someone behind an exterior wall or two. A rifle is effective at much farther distances, depending on the round, up to a mile at the extreme, with the right optics and shooter.

Thanks. So for home protection, a shotgun would be better than a rifle, but for hunting, a rifle would be better it seems.

I'm looking to get one of each as I can afford it.

 

[youngbuck]

Thanks. So for home protection, a shotgun would be better than a rifle, but for hunting, a rifle would be better it seems.

I'm looking to get one of each as I can afford it.

Exactly. However, if you're hunting something that's going to be flying in the air, of you'd course want a shotgun. Shotguns are also good if you're hunting running rabbits or turkey. You can also use slugs for a shotgun if you wanted to hunt, for example, a deer. Your range won't be nearly as good compared to a rifle you'd normally use to hunt deer with though.

A shotgun is the best thing for home defense.