I'm on a very tight budget, what's a firearm that I could buy for my brother?

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CakeShaman111

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My older brother has wanted a gun for a very long time, and my mom has kept on denying buying him one. I'm trying to convince my mom to finally surprise him with it for Christmas, and she has agreed. He's 18 and he's too poor to afford one himself. My mom says though, that guys get guys guns, not mothers, so i have to get the money. I think it would be worth it to see the look on his face when he gets it, so what's a firearm that won't break quickly within the $200 range? I know that's a very low budget, but it's the best I can do, as I am only 15 and I don't make much money at all, so what's the nicest gun I can get for my low price range?
 
Fifteen year-olds cannot purchase guns in this country. You also cannot just give someone a gun, they have to be able to own it themselves legally. You're better off buying him a good pump or spring pellet rifle. The lead pellets are cheap, and most anyone can own one.

You don't want to go to jail this Christmas.
 
A .22 rifle is probably your only real choice in that price range. But is ideal for a first gun. Several basic models fit in your price range and ammo is cheap. Marlin Model 60, Ruger 10/22, etc.

I would visit some local gun or sporting goods stores and see if they have any used .22s in good condition. Bear in mind that you'll need more than just the rifle. Plan on at least $20 or so for some ammo (Walmart is usually the cheapest place to find .22), and maybe $10 for a basic cleaning kit.

Edit: Also I'm assuming that you and your brother have no experience with guns. I would strongly recommend finding a relative or friend with some experience who can teach you the basics of safety and how to shoot, plus help you find a safe area to shoot in.
 
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I'd suggest a Marlin in 22LR from your local WalMart, Bass Pro, Gander Mountain or local gun store. You should be able to get one for a lot less than $200 and the ammo is like $15 per 500.
 
While a Mosin Nagant would be within your price range, I think its a very poor choice for a first gun.

While rugged as rocks, they are, comparitively speaking, crude, awkward, loud, hard kicking, and seldom very accurate with the most commonly available (and affordable) military surplus ammo. Plus the surplus ammo is almost always corrosive primed, which adds an extra chore to cleaning, something always daunting to a beginning shooter.

get a .22LR. Something that in you can shoot more than once in a while on your budget. Learn safety and shooting basics and have some fun. Then later, when conditions allow, you (he) can move up to a centerfire for more power and range. And, expense. Learning to shoot well takes practice, and practice takes ammo, and ammo costs money.

Buying the gun is a one time expense. Shooting it is an ongoing cost. Better a low cost gun he can afford to shoot (and so learn to use) than something else, at this point.
 
Since you're putting up the money for the gun, maybe have your mom get him a firearms safety class or even better a basic rifle shooting class. It's good to memorize the safety rules but it's far better to pick up the knowledge, skills and attitude that they embody. You can't un-pull a trigger. There are probably several different classes in your area - just google "firearms safety" and your city and state names or something like that.

As mentioned, as a 15 year old you cannot buy a gun. Also, it is illegal to have someone else buy a gun for you (this is called a straw purchase). However I believe it is legal to buy a gun for someone else as a gift. If it were me I'd want to be sure that it's clear that she is buying the gun for you brother as a gift. It may be best to give her the money before she goes to the gun store in order to avoid unnecessary confusion or concern.

Just to be clear, this is my understanding of the law, not legal advice. Your state may have additional laws of which I am not aware or they may not. And I'm not an attorney. Hope that helps you.

Stay safe and have fun!
 
I'll 3rd or 4th the idea of the Marlin 22lr if it has to be a firearm.

Does he have a place to shoot?

I've found that buying guns is the cheap part. I've put much more money into ammo than I have into firearms and can't think of a one (.22lr included) that's not true for. Add range fees, targets, spotting scopes, etc. and things start to add up fast.

I gave my sons each a .22 Benjamin pump pellet rifle when they were pre-teens. We shoot the dickens out of the things every time we're at their grandpa's place. They're not expensive to buy or to shoot. They're ping-pong ball accurate out to 20 yards or so with a peep sight and a lot of fun to compete with. They're powerful enough for rabbits and the like and will split an aluminum can full of water.

My youngest son is 21 now and we still grab the pellet guns when we have the chance.
 
Here are some things to consider before considering purchasing a firearm.

Is he trustworthy and responsible with a proper demeanor? I would not get him a firearm if he has a short fuse, has a bad temper, is careless or irresponsible or does not think things through before acting or reacting.

What are you gong to do for firearm storage? Are you allowed to have firearms where you currently live? Is there someone in the house with a felony or domestic battery/assault charge or conviction?

Is there a shooting range or gun club in the area with prices you can afford?

It sounds like a firearm is something new to the family. Does the family have the funds available for proper training? The NRA Basic Rifle Shooting Course is one such course. Here is a link where you can do a search for this course in your area. Choose from the Basic courses on the LEFT. Courses on the right are instructor level courses.
http://nrainstructors.org/searchcourse.aspx

Is he right eye dominant or left eye dominant?

Regarding a first firearm, I recommend one chambered in .22 Long Rifle (.22LR). Be aware there are numerous .22 caliber firearms that are not .22 Long Rifle. The ammo cost for a .22LR is the lowest you will find for a firearm, and it has low recoil which is great for working on proper shooting form and techniques. IMO, they are also fun to shoot. I have several .22LR firearms in rifle and handgun platforms. For a rifle, I would look for a rifle in .22LR that is either a single shot with iron sights (scope not needed) or a bolt action with a detachable (removable) magazine with iron sights. I do NOT like firearms with a tubular magazine or a semi-auto action for new shooters. I would suggest choosing one from a reputable manufacturer like Savage. Here is just one possible model. You should be able to get new less than MSRP.
http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/MARKIIF

Purchasing used CAN be a good option, but you need to know what to look for in determining that it has not been damaged (firing pin, chamber, barrel, rifling, trigger, etc.) or the trigger has not been altered or modified to be unsafe.

I again stress taking a firearm safety course as there are numerous things you need to know or learn. The dangers of ricochet is just one of these areas. Also be aware that BB guns, pellet guns, air guns - any type of firearms are not toys. The .22LR is not a large cartridge, but many beef cattle (some over 2,000 lbs) have been killed for butchering with a .22LR.
 
Commendable of you to help your brother out in this way.
Much good advice already here.
What does he want the gun for? Target shooting, hunting, or something else?
Pistol or rifle?
That would help determine which gun would be a good choice.
For target shooting, consider an air gun. Some of those perform very well, almost as good as a .22, quieter, and less dangerous, as the rounds don't have the range. You can even shoot indoors. Quick search found this; http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Gamo_...sionid=6D90F7641FBFB8B2939A995B401D584D.app02
There are lots of Black Friday deals out there too.
 
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