The least expensive Rifle you have bought

If we're talking ancient history, probably a nearly mint 1903A3 Springfield I picked up on the side of Highway 7 in Red River Parish, LA. A guy came by and parked, some of the fellows I was hunting with knew him. He told us that he was laid off, needed cash, and pulled out a nearly pristine 1903A3 Springfield. He was asking $75.00 and I had four $20s on me. I snapped it up.

More recently, in 2009, I had a nephew that wanted to start deer hunting, but he was broke, newly married with a kid on the way, and simply didn't have any money. I stumbled across a Howa 1500 in .270 Winchester at the pawn shop and got it for $125.00, out the door.

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I gave it to him at Easter when he came to visit, and he's taken a couple of deer with it. He's a good kid, and I was happy to give him a leg-up on the deer rifle game.

What happened to that Springfield? Honestly, not a clue. I wish I still had it.
 
My guns have appreciated about like my cars - not.
But there was one, had I the good sense to keep it.
A Browning .22 lever action with an octagonal barrel, that I had decades ago.
Yeah, I know.
 
Bought it myself

I'd just turned 18 (1972) and bought a Marlin/Glenfield mod 60, if I remember it was $39.99 and came with one of those cheap scopes. Idiot that I was at the time I sold it two years later, I bought a used one about 6 years ago to replace it for $100 plus tax and registration. About two weeks after I bought the first mod. 60, I bought a Armalite AR-7 with the psycho colored stock, for $40. I still have the AR-7. In the early 80's I bought a Marlin mod 39 in very good condition for $50 from a PI that I knew at the timeand a local gun dealer did the paperwork. Still have the 39.
 
I traded an old walker coonhound that couldnt smell a coon if it was on his back for a like new Glenfield/Marlin model 60. So you could say it was pretty much free ;)

And by the way the guy I traded with knew the dog couldn't hunt before we made the deal, so it was honest
 
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Marlin/Glenfield mod 60's

Those mod 60's shoot like a house-a-fire. The one I have now will shoot tight groups with every brand ammo I've run through it, some will shoot a little better then others, but no complaints about any of them. I keep it clean and oiled. It's like the bunny, it goes and goes. It's in the original stock but I've been thinking about getting an ATI stock for it, comments are welcome.
 
The one I traded for would fail-to-feed every now and then, thats why the guy wanted rid of it, but all it ended up needing was a good cleaning. they are a great open-sight plinker.
 
I've found a few good deals over time. I paid $30 for a Marlin model 60 at a yard sale, then handed it to my friend for a birthday present.

I paid $75 for a Winchester 94 that was made in 1927. It was pretty rough. I bought a new magazine tube and spring for it, since the old one had been damaged and shortened, and the spring had worn through in two places (it was spliced back together with sewing thread and still worked). I dont know the "street value", but I havent seen any pre-war 94s in any condition for very cheap. The value doesnt matter, I like it, shot a deer with it, and have happily carried it many miles tramping around in the hills.

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Around 1987 I got this at a police auction for $12.50. Scrounged up needed parts, bought a new rear sight and made a front blade. Refinished the wood and blued it at home for another $9.50. Total monetary investment is $22.


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Cheapest rifle that required no work is this Turkish Mauser I got off Gunbroker about 5 years ago for $81 (including the bayonet).


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The Marlin 15YN, aka "Lil Buckaroo", a single shot .22 that is as accurate as the 39A, Model 60, and 10/22 I own.

Think I paid about $69.95 new for it, less than the 89 I paid for the 60 and 10/22
 
Back when I was in high school I came across a Model 1894 trench gun that was brought back from Vietnam. Got the gun for $100 and got it re-blued afterwards. Gun is worth $700.
 
Bought a CZ24 from a buddy in 2011 for $50. He had shot corrosive ammo out of it 2 years prior, and ruined the barrel. I only wanted the action which is in good shape, for a future project. When I went to go home, he told me the Mauser had catch with it, I had to take his father in-laws old Mosin, as they wanted it ouf of the house since the father in-law is serving prison time for the next 20 years.
 
My 1903A3 that was sporterized circa-1950's or 60's. $275 OTD in 1995 at an estate sale. I added the glass (came with a Williams scope base) and a Timney trigger.

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I picked up a package deal a while back... 3 Rem nylon 66s and a nylon 76... for $300 total... thats $75 each...

I sold the roughest 66 for $150 a couple of months later... I still have the other 3, with $150 invested in them, thats cheap enough for me.

-Bear
 
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