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Budget battery....

Colt Super
I'm looking to start rebuilding my firearm collection with the least expensive, most essential calibers to start with.

What firearms, new or used, do y'all think would be the best to get in the following calibers:

LONG
.22 Rimfire
.223/5.56 or roughly .22 Ca.
7.62/.308 or roughly .30 Ca.
7MM/.284

SIDEARM
.22 Rimfire
.38 Special
.357 Magnum
.40 S&W
.44 Remington Magnum
.45 ACP

Please be as specific as you can.

Thanks for your help.

Doug
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Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • Sig220_Ruger77
    Man, that is a tough one Doug. I will answer to the best of my abilities and my own opinions.

    LONG
    .22 Rimfire---Ruger 10/22 or Marlin 60(need I say more)
    .223---Savage 10FP(heavy barreled rifle that will fill all of your varmint hunting needs)
    .308---Ruger M77 Ultralight(light carry rifle for dense cover)
    .284---If your looking to get by cheaper this really wouldn't be needed with the .223 and .308 around)

    SIDEARM
    .22 Rimfire---Ruger 22/45 or Browning Buckmark
    .357/.38---Ruger GP100 or Taurus 627
    .40 S&W---not sure on that one
    .44 Remington Mag---Ruger Super Blackhawk
    .45 ACP---Preferable a Sig 220, but if too expensive either a Glock 21 or Ruger P90
    Jon
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  • elkoholic
    Not necessarily the least expensive but I tried to balance cost and overall value.

    LONG
    .22 Rimfire--Rossi Pump
    .223/5.56--Ruger Mini 14
    7.62/.308--Savage (the one with the accu-trigger)
    7MM/.284--Remington 700

    SIDEARM
    .22 Rimfire--Ruger Mark II
    .38 Special-- Any clasic S&W
    .357 Magnum--Any clasic S&W or Ruger SP101
    .40 S&W-- S&W M&P or a Sig
    .44 Remington Magnum- Ruger Super Redhawk
    .45 ACP-Springfield Mil spec 1911
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  • slipgate
    What happened to 9mm? You can get a lot of good, cheap pistols in that caliber, and the ammo is cheaper than anything accept .22.
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  • iwannausername
    Rifles:
    Savage 93 of some sort in 22wmr
    Saiga in 223
    SKS or Mosin Nagant for your 30 cal
    Mauser in 7x57 for your 7mm

    another option on the rifles would be a NEF/H&R single shot with extra barrels

    Pistols
    Ruger Mk II
    A good 357 revolver (686)
    Steel frame Witness (CZ97b) in 40 (maybe conversion kit to get your 45 and 22)
    Not sure on inexpensive 44 mag revolver
    45 either a conversion from the 40 above or a Rock Island 1911


    And don't forget a 12 gauge shotgun! Mossy 500 (but I think you posted about that already)
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  • spryor
    quote:Originally posted by Jon0322
    Man, that is a tough one Doug. I will answer to the best of my abilities and my own opinions.

    LONG
    .22 Rimfire---Ruger 10/22 or Marlin 60(need I say more)
    .223---Savage 10FP(heavy barreled rifle that will fill all of your varmint hunting needs)
    .308---Ruger M77 Ultralight(light carry rifle for dense cover)
    .284---If your looking to get by cheaper this really wouldn't be needed with the .223 and .308 around)

    SIDEARM
    .22 Rimfire---Ruger 22/45 or Browning Buckmark
    .357/.38---Ruger GP100 or Taurus 627
    .40 S&W---not sure on that one
    .44 Remington Mag---Ruger Super Blackhawk
    .45 ACP---Preferable a Sig 220, but if too expensive either a Glock 21 or Ruger P90
    Jon
    I agree with most all these. The MKII seems to have it hands down for the 22 handgun, so far.[:)]
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  • iluvguns
    Doug...You're a big guy. The Marlin mdl 60 in 22lr will fit you better than a 10/22. I'm also a big guy, and a 10/22 feels like a kids gun to me, size wise. For 223 and 308, plus whatever other caliber you want to add in the future, look at the Handi-Rifle. About a $200 app. initial investment, plus $100 app. for each other barrel. Great shooters. Can't help much on the pistols!
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  • Colt Super
    You guys have narrowed it down for me, from hundreds of possibilities.

    All of your suggestions will go on my shopping list, and as I find any one of the suggested firearms at the right price (and as I can afford it), I will buy it and strike that caliber from the list.

    It'll be interesting to look at which ones I've acquired in the next year or so.

    Thank you a lot.

    Doug
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  • Mk 19
    LONG
    .22 Rimfire: Remington 597, my store just ran a sale on these for $129, good little shooters too.

    .223/5.56 or roughly .22 Ca.: Savage 12FV, great varmint rig with fantastic accuracy

    7.62/.308 or roughly .30 Ca.: M/N 91/30, you can pick them up all day long for under $100

    7MM/.284: Savage 110FXP, $320 with a scope in 7mm Rem Mag

    SIDEARM
    .22 Rimfire: Ruger MK II

    .38 Special: Buy a 357

    .357 Magnum: Charter Arms Mag Pug

    .40 S&W: FN FNP 40, great gun for $400

    .44 Remington Magnum: Ruger Blackhawk, used for under $250 (I know you don't like Rugers, but desperate times call for desperate measures)

    .45 ACP: Rock River, Just ask Kevin (GRD)

    .45 Colt: Uberti Cattleman, I had them on sale for $250
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  • Colt Super
    quote:Originally posted by slipgate
    What happened to 9mm? You can get a lot of good, cheap pistols in that caliber, and the ammo is cheaper than anything accept .22.


    9MM is on my list, but the firearm I'll get for it is not inexpensive.

    It will be a vintage High Power - either an non-matching Inglis, or an older FN - not assembled in Portugal. This is my all time favorite firearm, even though I'm not big on the 9MM cartridge.

    I know it doesn't make a lot of sense, I just love the look and feel of them.

    Blue Steel and Walnut.

    Doug
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