Pete,
Since looking at your profile told me very little about where you're coming from with your question, a search of all your posts sorta filled in the blanks. So here's my opinion, which may only be worth the price paid.
Problem Defined:
As earlier alluded to in the "SITREP" posts, an Army is outfitted based on the most probable type of warfare as predicated by risk analysis and the conditions under which the warfare operations would most likely be conducted. HOWEVER, one person, or even a group of folks don't make an army. I've inferred from your collective posts that you're actually interested in the "best" value of a paramilitary rifle which fits your budget, for the purpose of rounding out your "insurance policies" against catastrophic mayhem.
Recommendations:
The ideal battery of weapons, in my very humble opinion and rather limited experience, is: a highly reliable semi-auto .22lr rifle (e.g Rem Nylon 66, Ruger 10/22); a pump shotgun (base models by REM, WIN, ITHACA, Browning or Mossberg to name a few) in 20ga or 12ga; a reliable scoped rifle of intermediate power (e.g. .243Win, .308win or ballistic equivalents) which could be bolt, lever, pump, or semi-auto actions; and a pistol capable of providing a definitive defensive capability out to 7 yards.
Rationale:
All of the long guns provide recreational practice and a means of provisioning the meat locker when used for appropriate game at reasonable distances. The shotgun and centerfire rifle provide a potential defensive capability commensurate with their respective effective employment ranges. The pistol should be the last line of defense (short of knife, club, or other personal contact). However, in the ever burgeoning social morass surrounding us, social constraints may preclude the ready availability of the long guns such that a concealed handgun defaults to the first tool of armed defense (your mind being the actual first line of defense). Hence the practical focus on the comparative portability, concealability and reliability (applicable to both mechanical and mortality) of the various handguns. I have a personal preference for both pistols and revolvers in .45acp, 10mm and .44SPL, but that is merely my opinion, YMMV.
Hope this helps your "preparation". If you've additional issues which you'd like to discuss in depth, email me.
Regards,
Mykl
[This message has been edited by Mykl (edited June 12, 1999).]
[This message has been edited by Mykl (edited June 14, 1999).]