$300 and no gun at all, but...

[MedWheeler]

There is nothing I use a firearm for that cannot be covered with a .22, and the affordability/availability of ammo (in your proposed scenario, which assumes the current situation does not exist) would drive me in that direction.

I'd likely end up with a DA/SA pistol such as the Bersa Thunder/Firestorm .22, or even the DAO Taurus PT-22. In my hands, these can be formidable defensive weapons, and I can still enjoy a lot of shooting with them. They can also be carried outside of the home for defensive use.

I have an excellent AP-22 by FEG of Hungary (a rimfire version of their PA-63), but I would not purchase it in the proposed scenario due to its rarity and that of its parts.

 

[316SS]

Cz 82

 

[Onward Allusion]

Ruger P85 or P95, S&W Sigma, Hi Point, FEG PA-63, S&W 915 all can still be had for right around $300.

 

[denton]

Henry lever action 22, about $275 brand new.

Yugo M48, M48A, or 24/47 8x57, about $225 in good shape. Add Mojo sights for a total of $300. The intermediate length action won't accept a barrel chambered in a 30-06 length cartridge, so they are not in great demand. However, as-is, they make a very capable big game rifle.

For an alternative hunting rifle, the Savage 340, a 30-30 bolt action rifle, for about $225.

Bulgarian or Russian Makarov 9x18 semi-auto handgun, about $275-300. P-63 and P-64 (better) slightly less. On our local board, a P-64 just went for $220.

Used Remington 870 shotgun, about $275 with plastic furniture.

Take your pick, depending on application.

 

[danimoth17]

Canik55 TP-9 on sale right now for $299, 18rds of 9mm

 

[Ignition Override]

It might be best to first wait for more ammo types to become cheaper and more available.
My guns are only bought after buying a chunk of ammo.

Right now, if you can find a really good Mosin 91/30, the ammo should be .20/round.
You're going to pay a lot more for 8mm Mauser ammo, despite the excellent value for many Yugo Mausers.

 

[vagunmonkey]

S&W 40VE and no shortage of 40 ammo

 

[tomrkba]

For what purpose? A Ruger American is very different from a carry gun.

 

[David E]

Why is everyone asking "for what purpose?" Or, "handgun or long gun?" "For hunting or defense?"

The question is, if YOU were gunless and only had $300, what would YOU buy?

What is important to YOU?

Me, I want a center fire handgun first, but I'd buy more as able.

 

[45lcshooter]

a home made cannon for long range, and a sawed off 12ga for short and medium range. cost 301.00. hahahaha


I would say Remington 870 Super Mag with 2 barrels.

 

[Texan Scott]

Mossberg Maverick 88.

 

[sidheshooter]

buds trade in M10 K-frame, or same from another source.

 

[tarosean]

Rem 870.

 

[BemidjiDweller]

I'd buy a Mosin Nagant T53 from SOG and two tins of ammo.

 

[TennJed]

There is nothing I use a firearm for that cannot be covered with a .22, and the affordability/availability of ammo (in your proposed scenario, which assumes the current situation does not exist) would drive me in that direction.

I'd likely end up with a DA/SA pistol such as the Bersa Thunder/Firestorm .22, or even the DAO Taurus PT-22. In my hands, these can be formidable defensive weapons, and I can still enjoy a lot of shooting with them. They can also be carried outside of the home for defensive use.

I have an excellent AP-22 by FEG of Hungary (a rimfire version of their PA-63), but I would not purchase it in the proposed scenario due to its rarity and that of its parts.

I agree about the 22, but I would get a used Ruger MKIII (prob 22/45) or buckmark

 

[Sgt_R]

Makarov 9x18, or possibly a used S&W 642 if I could find one under $300.

R

 

[Beentown]

Cz 82

yep. Or a police turn in Glock.

 

[MARKMALL]

If I had no guns and $300.00, the first gun I would buy would be a 12 ga shotgun. I would most likely buy a single shot 12 ga and a single shot 22 LR. I think you could get both for $300.00.

 

[beatledog7]

Why is everyone asking "for what purpose?" Or, "handgun or long gun?" "For hunting or defense?"

The question is, if YOU were gunless and only had $300, what would YOU buy?

What is important to YOU?

Precisely right. I know we get a lot of "what should I buy" threads that ask the question in a second person manner, but this really is a "what would you buy" question, and therefore the purpose is yours to determine.

Many responders went for multipurpose guns, such as a 12 gauge pump gun. That's what I'd buy given the stated parameters. Others went for a gun that fully or as closely as possible meets their most compelling need but would be largely unsuitable for other uses, such as a CCW. It's an interesting conundrum.

 

[Cryogaijin]

Mosin and 440 rounds of ammo

 

[Ed Ames]

Totally depends on where I'm living.

Everywhere I have ever actually lived: Police trade-in revolver. S&W model 10, Taurus 65, or similar. Regularly available under $300, and capable of anything I'll ever need (from SD/HD to subsistence hunting) in my hands.

Most rural areas: TRY to find is a used H&R/NEF handi-rifle in anything stouter than .223 and send it back to add a shotgun barrel. With a good deal on the base rifle that could come in at under $300. Otherwise I'd try to cherry pick a Rossi "trifecta" or whatever they are calling then three barrel combos they sell for under $300.

A few rural areas would get a cheap bolt gun, some others would get a 12ga pump, but mostly that has it covered.

I have personal experience with many of the guns already mentioned in this thread and a lot of them are good choices. CZ82, mosins, S&W sigmas, various .22 guns, etc all have a lot to recommend them. For me the balance tips towards the guns I mentioned because any situation that has me limited to $300 for a gun is also going to push me to cheaper practice (e.g. wax or plastic bullets fired by primer alone) and hand loading (which means I want to recover as much brass as possible)...which revolvers make easy. Without that consideration I would probably look for a Sigma (probably the best universally despised gun ever sold) or a 7.62x25 of some flavor.

 

[HexHead]

I paid $200 OTD for my Model 10, put some new grips on it and buy ammo.

 

[BrotherFrankie]

I'd find a good used .38 or .357 revolver or a used Ruger P-95

I would NOT buy a Hipoint.

used P95

buds gunshop has police trade in 38 sp smith and wessons for 259

jm2cents

 

[wdunlap]

Taurus TCP .380 for $199.99 some fmj and defensive ammo and a pocket holster all for under $300.00

 

[Thermactor]

Well, back in '08 you could have picked up a Sig Sauer P6 9mm ex-West German Police pistol for $250 from AIM surplus when a big batch of them got sent over this way. I'd say that was the surplus deal of a lifetime.