Advice on Guns Priced $100 or Less
Good day to you, Sir. Thank you for taking the time and trouble to educate us all on things we might well find ourselves relying upon one day. I have your log subscribed in my Google Reader and (I think it’s yours?) your Paladin-Pressed book in my bathroom reading rack 
Anyway, I’m a replaced Brit, here in the US (GA), I’m proud of my permanent residency (I went about it the right way, the legal way, thank you very much!), I’ll be a citizen by the end of the year (the rules are you have to be a permanent resident for five years before applying). My reason for telling you this?
Because it might (at least partially) explain the reason FOR my question (ie explain my ignorance!). My question to you is this: where do I buy such gems as shotguns and rifles for under $100? I’ve asked at my local Wal-Mart and they “don’t do guns any more”… Many thanks in advance – keep up the GREAT work.
Dave
This is one of the top questions asked by readers “where can I find cheap guns” and it is a good question with everyone being strapped for cash, but as much as I hate to say it, the choices for firearms priced at under $100 are limited.
If you’re limited to only $100 for your purchase, I recommend you look at used single shot break-action shotguns, Russian Mosin Nagant, Russian M1895 Nagant Revolver and if you are lucky you might find a used Marlin model 60 below $100.
One thing you should keep in mind is that there is no one do everything firearm, you’ll need several to cover all the basics, here are my suggestions for different arsenals for varied budgets.
If anyone has other suggestions for Dave feel free to share in the comments below… Remember he is interested in guns priced at $100 or below…
Shotguns: NEF or H&R single shot shotguns
Rifles: Mosin-Nagant 91/30, various rimfire rifles that sell for less than $200 new
You can look over their used pistols if you like, but they get pretty proud of those so its a long shot.
I do not have much experience in gun “gems” so, I buy mine new. I am saving now for another one. I am saving up for all my preps. Lucky for me that a gun/rifle is a one time purchase.
Likewise a Nagent revolver is cheap, but the ammo is eyewateringly expensive. You’d be better off with a Glock in 9mm or 40S&W as far as ammo costs go. If you think you have to fight off bands of mutant zombie skinhead cannibals, think about 5-10k rounds and spares to match. Go to gun-deals.com and make up a spreadsheet of the cost of the firearm, and the costs of ammunition. It will make you rethink things.
My first posting: I believe that you may need to forego the premise of getting ‘both’ rifle and shotgun, and instead ascertain initally with a fair amt. of specificity, precisely the intended purpose. ie self-defense, hunting, predator control etc. for the gun. I grant that none of these uses are mutually exclusive from one another, there being overlap in those uses. Rather than trying to find a $100 rife and a shotgun for approx $100, rightaway, I would narrow down priority and then get the priority-use gun so that I can potentially spend more toward the $200-ish price range on the item(rife or shotgun that most closely fits the more immediate need, while keeping an eye open, for a deal. Additionally, when someone says they need to get 2 items for a particular price, it can lead one to be a bit too impatient ensuring that neither purchase actually meets the intended/desired need. It is also good to remember that as you learn more, knowing something of ammunition can also maximize your useage. Shotguns, for example can also shoot slugs (like a big short-range bullet) or, it can also shoot any number of things, when you are mindful of the shot size ranges. Additionally, even a 22 caliper rifle (which can relatively easily be found for a $200 or less price point new or near new) can be buffed up a bit if you are shooting hollowpoint ammunition, or just regular cheapie stuff. I sure hope that I have not further confused the issue for you.
This really has nothing to do with the OP’s original question. I was just shocked at the pricing. Perhaps this rule is generally true, the bigger city areas will have higher prices for guns and training.
Over about 1k cartridges, the cost of the ammo predominates.
The Moisin-Nagent and the Dragunov are standout value for money in main battle rifles; The SKS and AK47 in intermediate rounds; the Tokarev T33 in pistols, with the Glocks second. The .22LR is the standout cheap round (not that thats news). The air rifle is standout for sheer cheapness for practise. 1k rounds may keep you hunting for years; 25k for TEOTWAWKI mutant zombie skinhead cannibals…
Weapon,”unit cost low”,”unit cost high”,cartridge,”cost per 1000″,”per 5000″,”per 10k”,”per 25k”,,”Wpn & 25k rnds”
,,,,,,,,,
“Rifle Full Pwr Cart”,,,,,,,,,
“Mosin Nagent”,70,,”7.62 x 54R”,180,900,1800,4500,,4570
ditto,120,,”7.62 x 54R”,180,900,1800,4500,,4620
Dragunov,700,,”7.62 x 54R”,180,900,1800,4500,,5200
“Mauser 8mm Yugoslav”,200,300,8mm,260,1300,2600,6500,,6700
“Chilean Mauser M1895 (.308)”,200,,”7.62 NATO”,350,1750,3500,8750,,8950
CETME/G3,500,,”7.62 NATO”,350,1750,3500,8750,,9250
“Saiga .308″,500,,”7.62 NATO”,350,1750,3500,8750,,9250
FAL,700,,”7.62 NATO”,350,1750,3500,8750,,9450
“Springfield 30-06″,700,1000,30-06,550,2750,5500,13750,,14450
Lee-Enfield,240,,”303 UK”,675,3375,6750,16875,,17115
,,,,,,,,,
“Rifle Intrmed Pwr Cart”,,,,,,,,,
SKS,300,,”7.62 x 39″,150,750,1500,3750,,4050
AK47,450,900,”7.62 x 39″,200,1000,2000,5000,,5450
“Ruger Mini30″,700,,”7.62 x 39″,200,1000,2000,5000,,5700
C-93,500,,”.223 5.56NATO”,225,1125,2250,5625,,6125
AR15,630,1260,”.223 5.56NATO”,225,1125,2250,5625,,6255
“Ruger mini14″,700,,”.223 5.56NATO”,225,1125,2250,5625,,6325
M1Carbine,800,,”.30 carbine”,260,1300,2600,6500,,7300
,,,,,,,,,
“.22 LR”,,,,,,,,,
“.22 bolt action”,200,500,”.22 LR”,35,175,350,875,,1075
“Ruger 10/22″,500,,.22LR,35,175,350,875,,1375
,,,,,,,,,
“Pistols & Revolvers”,,,,,,,,,
“.22 pistol”,250,500,.22LR,35,175,350,875,,1125
Tokarev,200,,7.62x25mm,100,500,1000,2500,,2700
“Glock 19 9mm pistol”,500,600,”9×19 luger”,170,850,1700,4250,,4750
Makarov,250,,9x18mm,200,1000,2000,5000,,5250
“.38special revolver”,400,600,”.38 special”,250,1250,2500,6250,,6650
“HiPoint 40″,160,,.40S&W,270,1350,2700,6750,,6910
“Glock .40S&W”,400,,.40S&W,270,1350,2700,6750,,7150
“Colt.45 pistol”,450,900,0.45ACP,350,1750,3500,8750,,9200
“.357 revolver”,450,900,”.357 magnum”,400,2000,4000,10000,,10450
“.44 magnum revolver”,550,750,”.44 magnum”,450,2250,4500,11250,,11800
“Nagent revolver”,100,,Nagent,550,2750,5500,13750,,13850
,,,,,0,0,0,,0
“Shotgun any gauge”,300,800,”12G 00″,400,2000,4000,10000,,10300
,300,800,”20G slug”,500,2500,5000,12500,,12800
,300,800,”410 00″,400,2000,4000,10000,,10300
,,,,,,,,,
“Air Rifle in .22 or .177″,500,,”.22 pellets”,26,130,260,650,,1150
“bottom of range”,30,,”.177 pellets”,13,65,130,325,,355
Mavericks can be had for under $200 new and Mossbergs just a little more. Check out pawn shops, private parties and look for a used bargain. Western Field is a mossberg 500 that has poor resale value because of the store name. same gun.