best bang for your buck, but no budget

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Brando1992

New member
Thoughts on the guns that are the BEST bang for your buck, kinda following in line with the "budget arsenal" trend thats all over youtube. But this one is just what are the guns you think you get the most for what you spend.

First thought to me would be the glock 19, but after having some time with the sd9ve I would say there really isn't enough benefits to justify the higher price tag of the glock. So thats on my list for pistols. Also in the pistol category I would throw in the Sig sp2022 and for carry the smith and wesson shield. Oh, also cant forget a model 10 or 66 S&W trade in!

For a shotgun the mossberg maverick 88 cannot be beat for the price.

Rifles I would have to say the ruger american in .308 cannot be beat for its versatility, effectiveness, and price tag.

For rimfire I think the marlin 795 is a great choice but the gold standard 10/22 is a lot of gun for $200 and I would couple in a ruger 22/45.

And for a Modern Sproting Rifle you truly cant beat an AR that you researched and assembled yourself, but factory the ruger ar556 is a pretty amazing rife for under $600.

I know all of my choices are within what you would call a budget gun but thats my price range and I'm curious to hear what everyone else thinks the best bang for your buck firearms are.
 
I kind of agree to a point
For myself nice guns are a thing of joy .
I totally agree with not paying more for less but you seldom get more for less .
 
Ruger SR9c ~ great gun, excellent customer service if needed.

Rossi 462 ~ 6 shot stainless 357 snub, should cost $100 more for what you get.

Ruger Single Six/Ten ~ legendary rimfire revolver, possibly one of the best handguns ever.

Ruger P series pistols ~ Out of production now, but built like tanks, reliable, accurate, and budget priced.
 
Along you line of reasoning on a general purpose handgun, I would pick the Glock 19 due to magazine availability (& higher cap mags from the G17 or larger) and holster/accessory options. I have a S&W Shield, so I am biased toward that for carry also.

I'd pick the Remington 870 12 gage for the same reason as the Glock 19. Stock and additional barrels, etc. allow you to make one shotgun serve for upland birds, deer, home defense, vehicle gun, etc.

I'm with you on the Marlin 795 (or older model 70 I have) and the AR-15. Multiple uppers for the AR would let one rifle lower serve several functions.

I'm not a bolt action shooter, so no suggestions there.
 
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Be careful...as you slid down the price ladder you almost always give something substantial up.


I do find XD to be a great value, but it is a hair wider than a Glock in the slide.

I find used S&W revolvers under $600 to be a great bargain, especially those made in the 70's.

I find Dan Wesson to provide a top quality gun with near custom performance for much less.

I find the S&W you mentioned to be cheap, mim filled and hard to shoot, but just my opinion. I find Keltec generally cheap, but serviceable.

I find the Kahr C series ok, but i find th P series in dlc with night sights to be ready to carry for ~$700ish. That is a good deal when you think about it. Actually Grabagun has a blem for $498....WOW!
 
Watch backpage, there are a fair number of guns in your area. There are some deals, there are also some scams, face to face with a friend in a public place is a good way.

Good luck.
 
The beauty of the AR platform is the versatility. I've got uppers in .223, 6.8spc, 300blk, and am building 338Fed... everything from squirrels to Moose in one gun.

Right now, you can build a really nice AR15 complete lower with upgraded controls and trigger, and a good stock (pending what the gun is for) for under $200. Complete name-brand .223 uppers can be bought new with BCG/CH for under $300 and you can pretty much build any caliber upper you want with a fancy rail and nice barrel for $400... $500 if you go really big.

For pistols, I've had dozens of conversations with die-hard fanboys covering every gun brand/model/caliber there is and I have yet to hear a comprehensive argument to choose any other gun over the G19 as the best all-around semi-auto handgun there is.

I'm not a shotgun guy, but I bought a Mav88 due to parts compatibility with Mossy 500's and I don't think I'll ever sell it. $180 for a gun I'll probably have the rest of my life... great choice.
 
I think most of my guns are the best bang for the buck. They are all reasonably priced, as accurate as their more expensive similar guns and are all reliable.

1. Hi-Point C9 was first and I traded it for a used Taurus revolver. $125
2. Phoenix HP-22 $149 (paid MSRP in ignorance)
3. S&W SD9VE $289
4. Heritage Rough Rider $199 (paid MSRP in ignorance)
5. Taurus TCP $199
6. Ruger 22/45 target $299
7. Rock Island Armory 1911 full size tactical in 9mm under $500 out the door, including tax, shipping & background check.

The 22/45 and 1911 are almost identical in feel, sights and accuracy other than the modest recoil of the 1911.
 
For pistols, I've had dozens of conversations with die-hard fanboys covering every gun brand/model/caliber there is and I have yet to hear a comprehensive argument to choose any other gun over the G19 as the best all-around semi-auto handgun there is.
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Arguing with that would just be arguing....While the Glock 19 is a nice balance, there are lots of same as...if you are honest with yourself.
 
taurus model 85 38sp, steel $250. heritage roughrider 22lr $120. used h&r single shotgun in pawn shops under $100 but 20ga much easier shooter.
 
Here are a list of my guns that have been the "best bang for my buck"

1. Sig X-Five Competition 9mm - By far, my favorite pistol to shoot! Also holds its value - could probably sell it for what I paid for it. It's worth every cent I paid for it - especially when competing against others.

2. AC556 - fun as heck to shoot and has appreciated the most in value

3. Glock 17 - paid about $400 for it 20 years ago; shot the heck out of it; carried it in my car for many years; still looks like new and absolutely reliable. Even if I could only get $325 for it today - I still feel like I came out ahead; but no need to ever sell it.

4. Savage 30-06. Great practical hunting rifle - came with average glass for $300 - gun and scope were nearly new and still look/work well today. I'm sure I could sell it for what I paid for it, if not for more.
 
It seems lots of folks have lost interest in .22s with the recent rimfire ammo shortages and high prices.
Nice, used ones seem to be good value right now.
 
The thing is:
I can't say any gun is the best bang for a buck, because they are all overpriced to me.

The most they are really worth is <100$ including materials and labor. Making guns is a legal way of printing your own money. No real jump in technology. Old technology usually equates to lower prices...

a few pieces with fancy wood and engraving would be more. And rare collector items.
 
From a standpoint of quality versus price, the Beretta 92FS deserves mention. It is an excellent design, reliable and accurate, and handsome as well, with execution that makes it famously smooth, all at a price that is middle of the road. I consider it a good value.
 
Best bangs for the buck on a low (or no) budget would be some of the surplus guns now available. Tokarevs, CZ 82s and 83s, Stars et. al., are all great bargains at under $300.00.
 
From a standpoint of quality versus price, the Beretta 92FS deserves mention.
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Ok aside from my sarcastic response earlier, I have to agree. I shot numerous guns in my life, and lots of pistols included.
My all time favorite pistol is the 92fs. It fits my hand and is like shooting the Cadillac of handguns...many disagree, that's ok; but in may hands, I can shoot nothing better and more accurately. I have CCW my beretta for about three years running now. It wasn't the first gun I CCWed, but I can say, it will probably be my last. It's worth the pain to try to conceal this boat anchor of a handgun; it's reliable and accurate and it cost well under a grand.
 
Defining "best" is difficult, but I think the following are all time-tested, practical, and versatile for a good price. They all use affordable, readily available factory ammo. And all are relatively ambidextrous in operation (a big factor for lefties like me).

Handgun: Used S&W model 10 (.38sp.)
*(nearly) fool proof operation. Small enough for CC. Big enough to be comfortable at the range. Can digest a variety of ammo levels (very mild cowboy loads up to +P).

Shotgun: Used Remington 870 or Mossberg 500 (12 or 20ga)
*Affordable accessory barrels and strong aftermarket support makes them suitable to small game through dangerous game, plus home defense.

Rifle: Used Marlin 336 (.30-30)
*Long history of success on medium game. Reaches out as far as many of us would ever need to shoot at game. Comes with iron sights but accepts scopes easily. Not a terrible choice for home defense.
 
idek said:
Rifle: Used Marlin 336 (.30-30)
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I'd nominate the Sears, J.C. Penney, Western Auto, and Western Field marked versions of same. :)

These are invariably the exact same gun as the Marlin-branded version, sometimes with a more rudimentary stock, but often not even that; despite this, they're often cheaper than the "real thing" if you stumble upon one in the right place. :)

Another candidate is one of the store-brand versions of the Marlin Model 60, which are generally the cheapest semi-auto firearms you can get, at well under $100 in some cases.
 
The Ruger Blackhawk convertible revolvers are neat; the .357 mag and the extra 9mm cylinder comes to mind.
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That one caught my attention not to long ago! i have a model 10 and would like a .357 double action before getting a single action. but the 9mm options is very appealing. I also like the 45 colt and acp option. There is so much versatility with those load options
 
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