Budget guns

[Pth22]

I have 200 bucks and am looking for a good shotgun or centerfire rifle for hunting

 

[gspn]

What will you be hunting? and where? and how?

 

[Awsomepossum]

Good shotguns can be had for 200$, they wont be pretty. I vote for an Ithaca model 37 in 12gauge, they can be had for 200-250$ pretty used. Mossberg 500 and Remington 870's, haven't seen very much 870 in my area. Check the pawn shops. Center fire rifles are generally a little more, lots to choose from, maybe a sportezied mauser in 30-06, Ruger American., or for about 300$ get a marlin 336 in 30-30.

 

[1948CJ2A]

Save up another couple hundred and get something decent in the used variety. There's NOTHING I would consider in this range on the centerfire rifle side. Maybe a couple of used shotguns. You can't even buy a new 870 for $200.

 

[Ranger Roberts]

How about a Mosin Nagant? The 7.62x54 is pretty similar to a 30.06. I've hunted with mine several times. It's not my primary hunting rifle, but it has taken plenty of white tail!

 

[Scooter22]

For inexpensive new pump shotgun look at the H&r Pardner pump. You can get them in several varieties. Walmart has the synthetic black stock version for 187.00. I picked up the 18" HD one at Gander Mountain for 179.00 at BF sale. They are a Rem 870 clone made in China by Hawk Ind. They are very well made and all the reviews are great. We put over 200 rnds of asst 12ga through mine and it's almost as slick as my old 870 Wingmaster and better than the current Exspress models. Take a look at them. I'm getting my daughter one for Christmas. Great shotgun.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Id find a Mossberg Maverick for a shotgun.

As for a rifle......eh, honestly, the post above about the Mosin is probably a huge bang for your limited buck right now. Scopes and such can be added later if need be.

Rossi rifles are not too bad if you don't mind a single shot.

 

[Schwing]

Another vote for a Mossberg Maverick 88. You might even find one new for close to $200.

 

[huntsman]

$200. won't even buy a decent pile of ammo let alone a quality gun.

 

[David4516]

Very much depends on what you plan to hunt, and at what distance.

Maybe an NEF/H&R "Handi Rifle"?

http://www.hr1871.com/firearms/rifles/handirifle.asp

I am told that they are going to shut down the company soon so if this appeals to you, buy one ASAP. They are decent guns. I have a rim-fire .22WMR that I really like. My Dad has one in .45-70

 

[lxd55]

try the simple stuff. single shot rifles or shotguns, I do not understand when you say you have a budget, how other people will spend the hell out of your money. ya don't need a pump...... some have noted you can't buy ammo for that kind of money. maybe. I think single shot might be the best direction. IMO

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

New Handi Rifles are no longer available as they have been discontinued as of 2 1\2 weeks ago. It will instantly double the price of used ones so this will no longer be a cheap option.

 

[WestKentucky]

Pardner pump 12 ga. Done

 

[cat_IT_guy]

Id look for a used Moss 500. Shotguns are very versatile and can take nearly any game with the right ammo. As others have said, unless you want a Mosin (and theres nothing wrong with them), your rifle options are nearly nonexistent. A Moss 500 is a hardworking, reliable though not pretty shotgun.

 

[Pth22]

I plan to hunt deer,hogs and the occasional varmint.I don't plan on shooting at more than 200 yards

 

[jrdolall]

For $200 you will be hard pressed to find a rifle of any kind (other than a 22LR beater), at least around here. As suggested you MIGHT be able to find a Mosin if you get lucky. There are plenty of beater shotguns around for $200.

I plan to hunt deer,hogs and the occasional varmint.I don't plan on shooting at more than 200 yards

Forget the shotgun then. Maybe you can get lucky and find a CF rifel fro $200 but I wouldn't count on it. Mosin Nagant, and not a good sample, will be about all you can find and they are good guns.

 

[Pth22]

Thnx for all the help so far

 

[gspn]

I plan to hunt deer,hogs and the occasional varmint.I don't plan on shooting at more than 200 yards

A few years ago I bought a used New England Arms Handi Rifle...with a 3-9 Leupold on top...for $250.

Mine is chambered in .45-70 and it will kill deer all day long out to 200 yards. I'd say shop around for a used Handi Rifle. You should be able to find a used one in your budget range. Gunbroker is littered with sub-$300 Handi Rifles currently...if you live in or near a decent sized city I imagine you can find one locally for a good price too.

 

[SlayerOfBunnies]

You can get a used H&R or NEF 12 ga single shot for $100 or less. I've killed lots of game with them. They are simple, light, deadly ~ good stuff.

 

[Cee Zee]

$200. won't even buy a decent pile of ammo let alone a quality gun.

That's just not true. You can buy a NEF Pardner Pump for around $165. It's a clone of an 870 originally copied by the Chinese. When it became obvious the Chinese were making money off the 870 design the Freedom Group bought out the production line in China. So it's the same company that makes the 870 making the 870 clones.

I have 2 of them. The only part that won't interchange with an 870 (I also have one of those) is the barrel. They put the lug in a different location. In some ways the NEF model is actually better than the 870. It has a better finish than my 870 Express for example.

Both the ones I have work perfectly. I guess the only drawback to them is that you can't buy different barrels for them like you can an 870. But you can pretty much buy another shotgun for the price of most 870 barrels. I paid about $135 for a second barrel for my 870. Put another $30 with that and I could have bought a complete shotgun.

At one time these shotguns sold for about $200. Now Walmart sells them for around $165. Actually I just checked the Walmart site and apparently they sell for $187 now. I know it wasn't that long ago that I saw them for $165. Anyway here's a link. This one is a short barrel home defense model. They also come with longer barrels and sometimes you can find them in a package with two barrels.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/19235966?www=true&productRedirect=true

I think the Mossberg Maverick 88 is $200 or it was the last time I looked. It's listed here for $206. They are fine shotguns also.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Maverick-Model-88-Pump-Shotgun-12ga/17200748

Guns don't have to be expensive to work well. Some of the best guns I have were budget guns.

BTW it's also possible to buy a used Savage 110 for around $200. I bought one in 30.06 fpr $225 and it came with a scope. It has worked great. It even has scout type sights installed. It will likely be a few years old and won't have an AccuTrigger but that doesn't mean they can't get the job done. They won't shoot like newer Savages because the AT is a good trigger. Be aware that some states don't allow the use of most rifles for hunting certain things like deer.

 

[TimboKhan]

Another vote for the Nagant. Still cheap, and ammo for practice is readily available and inexpensive. Specific hunting ammo is also available but it is a little more expensive. Plus, you can upgrade to a hunting stock inexpensively down the road.

Negatives are that its heavy and somewhat crude. But if it's all I had to hunt with, I would be totally confident in it. A lot of game has been taken worldwide with the Nagant, up to and including moose and bear.

If you shoot surplus ammo, be sure to clean your barrel immediately after you are done shooting as the ammo is corrosive, but other than that it's probably your best option if the handi-rifles don't do it for you. (They are also a fine option though)

 

[Mr.510]

There are single shot 12 gauge rifled slug guns for less than $200 new. That won't really do small game, but would work well for hogs and deer. You could probably find one used for $100 at a pawn shop. Put a shell carrier on the gun and practice reloading quickly if you get a single shot! Given your budget I would start by seeing what your local pawn shops have. I personally would rather have an older, perhaps cosmetically beat up, high quality firearm than something bottom-of-the-barrel that's brand new.

 

[USAF_Vet]

For $200, you're pretty much stuck in shotgun territory, but you can probably find a used Rossi single shot in your caliber of choice for $200 or under. Maybe... Maybe a single shot H&R might fall into that price range, but they are generally a little higher, at least from where I'm at. $225-$250, bottom end on an H&R.

For a little more, I'd recommend a Savage Axis or Ruger American. I owned an Axis in .30-06, and while I didn't care for it much, it would certainly get the job done. Available in many caliber options. I have no first hand experience with the Ruger, so can't honestly comment one way or the other. I just know they are the budget rifle in the low end of the price spectrum.

Ignore the comments like

$200. won't even buy a decent pile of ammo let alone a quality gun.

for they are spoken out of ignorance or elitism. Same sort of though process that knocks on Hi Point pistols, which to me, yields an attitude of 'better unarmed than unfashionable'. But that's another topic.

$200 won't get you an heirloom quality gun that will be cherished by your thrice great grandchildren, but it'll put meat on the table for a good many years. My Maverick 88 is my go to shotgun, bought new for $159.00. It has put meat on the table, and brought many hours of enjoyment.

 

[Eb1]

I bought my Maverick 88 for $142 out the door, and I have shot thousands of rounds through it. It shoots slugs like a rifle (foster slugs) out to 120 yards. I have out shot $5000 shotguns shot by seasoned trap shooters.

Nothing will come between me and my black, plastic Maverick 88 12 gauge shotgun. It is a superb shotgun, and on a budget you cannot find better IMO.

And if it walks the earth there is a 12 gauge round to handle the task. Keep it simple stupid is sometimes the best way to go.

 

[wow6599]

I just looked at Bud's and found a couple.

Rossi Wizard in 270 or 30-'06 for around $200.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...s_id/61501/Rifles/Rossi WIZARD 270 23IN Blue/