$650 wish list?

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badkarmamib

badkarmamib

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I just sold my last AR. Built for varmint hunting (20" scoped), but I don't varmint hunt. I tried to use it as a bench gun, but pistol grips don't work for me, and a semi proved boring. So, I have $650 to find a replacement with. I currently own:

Marlin 336 .30-30
Remington 700 .30/06
Garand .30/06
Traditions Inline .50
Hatfield SAS 12ga
Springfield XD-S .40
S&W M&P .40

I am considering:
Mossberg 500 with the 20" 8-shot for HD
GSG/Sig 1911 for range toy
KISS AR carbine for HD
Bolt .223 to use my extra mags and reloads (didn't sell these, wife and oldest son each still have ARs)

My biggest concern is future legislation for ARs. Really want the pump 12. Could possibly stretch my budget on the used rack, and pick 2. Thoughts?
 
Havok7416 said:
If your biggest concern is AR legislation, it would seem the no-brainer answer would be to buy the KISS AR you want. The rest can come later.
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My concern is a ban without grandfathering, if not federal, at the state level.
 
MSR's are cheap, for now. I know I'm bending the rules here but i'd save up another $150-200 and get a good defense style pump like an 870 or the 500 you mention and a M4 style ar15 if thats what appeals to you. Check out PSA, they're running sales lately on basic upper and lower halves that add up to right at $400 and then you just need to add an optic whether its irons, rds etc.

You may be able to get a psa budget AR15 and a Maverick 88 (which I think is a fine shotgun for $200-ish) for what youve got money wise but it may be pushing it depending on your rifles optic.
 
SlowFuse said:
MSR's are cheap, for now. I know I'm bending the rules here but i'd save up another $150-200 and get a good defense style pump like an 870 or the 500 you mention and a M4 style ar15 if thats what appeals to you. Check out PSA, they're running sales lately on basic upper and lower halves that add up to right at $400 and then you just need to add an optic whether its irons, rds etc.

You may be able to get a psa budget AR15 and a Maverick 88 (which I think is a fine shotgun for $200-ish) for what youve got money wise but it may be pushing it depending on your rifles optic.
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Get a 590. It was good enough for the USMC and it's well under that $650 price.
 
I wouldn’t worry about that legislation. But you can if you want. You can buy a PSA AR right now for $340. Add the Maverick (I wouldn’t) for $200 and your still under budget. I’d buy the 1911 or something else. You wouldn’t get much use out of the HD shotgun. It would mainly just sit. Maybe something you’d actually use.
 
To try to cover all of the suggestions so far:

The CZ 527 is nice, to be sure. Guy let me try his at the range once. I've had 2 Maverick 88s now, the 14.5" LOP is a bit too much, though a bandsaw could remedy that. Thought about a SAA clone in the past, hadn't considered it this go-round. The Marlin was my first firearm, never to be sold, so a .357 lever might be redundant. Watching PSA for something with free shipping ($50 in tax and freight changes what makes a deal). Also like the 590, and I drive past a clays field every day, so I thought the HD pump would see some use there. And, I have already had 2 1911s in God's caliber. Shot them great, loved them, though a bit heavy for EDC, and don't really know if I would get as much use, considering the pistols I already have, compared to the other considerations.

So, great feedback all, thanks, and keep it coming, as these are all great points, many that I hadn't considered yet!
 
Before I’d ask a bunch of strangers on the internet what they would like, you might consider what you would like. That is, what would you actually use, not something that would just sit in your safe

I have five acres and a short shooting range about fifty feet out of my front door. My last purchase was a Browning .22 pistol. I can be shooting less than a minute from now

For me, a really nice, accurate.22 rifle is really fun. As noted, I consider my .22 pistol great fun and cheap to shoot. If it weren’t for that, I’d shoot less than 10% of what I do now

What I’d get may not match up with your needs
 
Last edited:
redneck2 said:
What I’d get may not match up with your needs
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I agree. Mostly looking for a) something within budget that is different from what I have that I hadn't thought of and would be enjoyable, b) considerations on why my contenders might be less-than-desirable, and c) possibly a little clarity on replacing my 4th (and again, only remaining) AR with a KISS, given the climate. I have a 40 minute drive to the range, 15 minute drive to the clays field. I am looking for thoughts, not necessarily a final decision, so I am considering every post as part of a discussion.
 
How about a few leo trade-ins? I have found some killer deals (sig 229 and Glock 22 in 40 s&w for $280 each). I assume you already reload the caliber as your listed pistols are in that caliber. May be redundant but hard to beat the deals that are currently out there.
 
I don't agree with NOT buying a gun you want based on legislative fear... But, if that's the case...

You have the Marlin 30-30 on your list.

I'd look for a good used Winchester 30-30 instead.

Then get a decent pump 12 gauge.

Both should put you around $650
 
I am thinking you could probably get a pump 12 and the .223 bolt both for around your target budget with some shrewd shopping.


The pump might not be an 8-shot, and the bolt might be budget-class, but hey... 2 birds, 1 stone.
 
If you like shooting shotguns, there are many options out there for $650 and under. Especially in the used market. An 11-87 comes to mind. Or an old Wingmaster 20 gauge. I tried shooting clays with a HD shotgun. It just wasn’t that much fun. But that’s me.

If you want a bench gun without the pistol grip, look at Cabelas for a Savage 12 FV. They’re about $400. And they’re shooters.

Another levergun isn’t a bad choice. But if you don’t hunt, or reload, my suggestion for a 45-70 probably wouldn’t be useful. But they are a ton of fun. I have JM Marlins in 357, 44Mag, (2) 30-30’s, a 35 Rem, 444, and a 45-70. And I love them all. But there is just something about the 45-70....

Maybe a wheel gun. But if you think a 1911 is heavy, that might not be your cup of tea. I EDC a 1911 10mm.
 
@BigBore44 I do hunt (deer) and reload. Shotguns are more or less new to me. As said, I have had 2 Maverick 88s, never did much with them. Went dove hunting twice, got one bird each trip. Had a couple of single shots that the factory got more use out of than I did. The Hatfield was an impulse buy right before a company sporting clays outing (I won, but with 23/50, so definitely not bragging), and I like it. The Mossberg idea is that "one gun that can do anything if you only had one", which might be a waste if I am not stuck with one. So, your point of not liking clays with it, is heard.

The Savage bolt was one that I was thinking about. Still on the fence.

A revolver would at least be different from the 2 autos that I currently have. I find revolvers to be aescetically pleasing, though most don't balance in my hand as well as an auto, except for that 686+ I held at Cabela's...
 
Second hand 20ga Ithaca 37/87 with long mag tube would be a nice find. I know they made some in the past but for some reason all I ever held were 12s. New eight shot 20" 20ga 37 is nice but over stated budget.
 
badkarmamib said:
@BigBore44 I do hunt (deer) and reload. Shotguns are more or less new to me. As said, I have had 2 Maverick 88s, never did much with them. Went dove hunting twice, got one bird each trip. Had a couple of single shots that the factory got more use out of than I did. The Hatfield was an impulse buy right before a company sporting clays outing (I won, but with 23/50, so definitely not bragging), and I like it. The Mossberg idea is that "one gun that can do anything if you only had one", which might be a waste if I am not stuck with one. So, your point of not liking clays with it, is heard.

The Savage bolt was one that I was thinking about. Still on the fence.

A revolver would at least be different from the 2 autos that I currently have. I find revolvers to be aescetically pleasing, though most don't balance in my hand as well as an auto, except for that 686+ I held at Cabela's...
Click to expand...
Well not to badmouth Mossberg, but you’ve had 2 of the cheapest shotguns made. The 88’s work. But that’s about all they do. Until you’ve used an old Wingmaster or Ithaca, you just can’t compare the experience. It’s like comparing a HiPoint to a Dan Wesson 1911.

Also, Remington and Mossberg sell combo guns. Some are HD and bird/clays barrels. Some are bird/clays, and rifled slug barrels. So you could get both guns. You can find them on Budsgunshop.com.

I have the 686+. It’s a great gun. But you might be a tad over $650. Maybe not. Haven’t priced them recently. I’ve had mine about 4 years.

Since you hunt and reload, I have to advocate for a 45-70. You can load a 405gr cast bullet over 15gr of Unique that you can literally shoot one handed. Or you can load that same bullet over 3031 that will rattle your teeth. My hunting load is a 350gr Hornady RN over H-4198. It’s a thumper on big hogs. I’ve never had one take a single step. But it’s not bad on the shoulder at all. And it’s different than what many people shoot and hunt with. Your 30-30 needs a friend.
 
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