Here are some solid pistols, revolvers, rifles, and shotguns known for their reliability. And the bonus? They don’t cost a lot of money! These guns all have Grade A or A- recommendations and are broken down by price.
KEY TIPS FOR ANY BUDGET GUN PURCHASE
- 9mm Luger is the best budget caliber for pistol. Ammo is cheap, common, and effective.
- For wheelguns, 38 Special is the go-to value cartridge.
- For rifles and handguns, 22 LR is far and away the most economical to shoot per round. If you only have enough money for one gun, make it a 22 LR.
- Rifles in 5.56 NATO and 223 Remington are the most affordable to shoot among the centerfire rounds.
- Shotguns chambered for 12-gauge shells are usually the cheapest and come in the most payload and power levels.
- Buy used from a reputable dealer — you can get a $500 gun for $300 if you’re patient.
- Stick to major brands — most makers have budget lines worth trusting, and their warranties will help if the firearm you pick doesn’t work well.
- Research the specific model — even good brands have occasional duds; check this site and owner forums to see what issues a firearm you’re interested in may be having.
CHOICES LESS THAN $300
Taurus G2S 1-G2S931 9mm Luger, $204
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
This Taurus pistol was completely reliable and controllable in rapid fire at the combat range. We believe the six-section stippled grip surface with smooth sections in between was among the pistol’s best design features. The combination of a safety lever set into the trigger face and a positive manual safety was attractive. The sights are adequate, and the rear sight is adjustable. The trigger action proved light and controllable. The finish isn’t very rugged and will suffer in long-term use, but then this is an inexpensive pistol. We did not like the takedown as much as some of the other pistols, but Glock owners will be familiar with the set up. We thought this was a Best Buy.
Ruger 10/22 Carbine 1151 22 LR, $235
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
The semi-auto 10/22’s long suit is reliability, and there are many aftermarket upgrades available. The rifle was almost the most accurate tested, losing by a hair’s breadth to the Winchester. It lost a half grade because the 10/22’s sights weren’t as good as the others.
Winchester Wildcat 521100102 22 LR, $245
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
The semi-auto Wildcat rifle features good sights, plenty of mounting area to mount optics, red dots, and lasers, and the takedown is quite simple. The Wildcat is a winner and is a top-ranked plinker.
Maverick 88 Security 31046 Pump-Action 12 Gauge, $264
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
An oft-overlooked shotgun in the Mossberg stable is the Maverick 88, a basic 12-gauge pump stripped down to the essentials. We liked the 7+1 capacity, ease of use, and smooth cycling pump action. The brass-bead front sight was basic, but it was not a liability. Plenty of aftermarket parts are available. Recoil was tolerable.
Stevens Model 320 Home Defense 19495 Pump-Action 12 Gauge, $270
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
The only minor problem we encountered with the Stevens involved the action release located on the left rear of the trigger guard. The release button seemed to be a little small, although it could be worked by all of our test members. Since a person using one of these self-defense firearms in the home would rarely be wearing gloves, this was not considered a big issue. Several excellent features of this shotgun impressed us, including the very nice and highly visible sights; its patterning performance with all three types of ammunition; and the comfortable, solid feel of the firearm.
Remington 870 Police Magnum 18-Inch Extended Mag Tube Pump-Action 12 Gauge, $275
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
This solid shotgun performs well and offers reliable function. The Remington begins with a four-round magazine, and the extended tube offers a single extra shell. The Remington is a classic home defender well worth its price on the used market.
Taurus 856 Model 2-856021 38 Special, $278
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
We really liked this Taurus revolver. The 6-shot capacity did not make the revolver overly bulky, and the grips were hand-filling yet compact, so felt recoil was less noticeable. The sights were large and easy to use. We would have liked the 856 to be +P ammo compatible, but we recognize there might have been weight and profile trade-offs to gain this capacity. The 856 has a consistent trigger pull in double-action or single-action mode, a small grip that feels like a large grip, and it offers 6 shots in about the same package as a 5-shot revolver.
CHOICES BETWEEN $300 AND $500
Taurus Defender 856 2-85639NS 38 Sp. +P, $306
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
This revolver got a Best Buy nod. It offers six-shot capacity, a 3-inch heavy barrel, and a tritium-insert front-sight. We tested the night sights in a dark room with no windows. In this environment, the single bead was visible. The rater testing the sights would aim the unloaded handgun and then quickly turn the light on to confirm alignment. To properly see the front bead, he found he raised the sight above the rear notch. On the firing line, duplicating this point of aim, the point of impact with 158-grain loads would be 2 inches high at 7 yards. Verify and commit this to memory if you deploy this revolver for home defense. The revolver was properly sighted in for 158-grain loads. Other weights struck to the left and slightly high. It has stainless-steel construction, properly fitting Hogue grips, and a night sight. The Defender is well suited to home defense. We would buy this revolver.
Mossberg 500A Persuader 50411 12 Gauge, $307
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
We felt the 500A pump shotgun had the best trigger and layout of controls. Accuracy proved superior. We might opt for the 20-inch model and get the extra two rounds. Drilled and tapped receiver is another plus. During our dry-firing drills bent on breaking in the pump action of our test guns, we noticed one very impressive aspect of operating the Mossberg 500A Persuader. Both the safety and the slide release could be operated without a change in grip and without having to dismount the shotgun. This was a big edge for the Persuader.
Taurus G3/G3C 1-G3XSR9031 9mm Luger, $310
GUN TESTS GRADE: A (BEST BUY)
The G3C is a popular budget carry semi-auto pistol. We tested a Taurus G3X and thought it does a good job at what it is designed to do, serve as a reliable personal-defense pistol. The Taurus G3X compares favorably against similar Glock models. The raters liked the pistol initially, and they liked it even more the more they fired it. During the accuracy test, the pistol exhibited the tightest groups of the test, including one at 1.9 inches at 15 yards with the Black Hills EXP. We would buy this pistol if we were on a tight budget, or as a backup, truck gun, or house gun.
Remington Model 783 85847 308 Win., $340
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
We purchased the rifle alone for $200 at a pawn shop. It appeared to be unfired, but was stripped of the glass. It sells for $399 MSRP with the factory 3-9×40 optic, bases, rings, and bore sighting. Slickguns.com recently listed the rifle alone for $343. Cabelas.com recently listed the combo for $340, so it pays to shop around for the best deal. Best Buy. The Remington 783 was the most accurate bolt-action rifle tested this month. There were no demerits.
Canik TP9SA HG3277-N 9mm Luger, $346
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
Selling for ~$300–$350, this Turkish-made full-size pistol often has an excellent trigger and is compared to guns at twice the price. The full-size gun we tested was imported by Century Arms. It was reliable, and the trigger action was the better of the two guns tested. We would have liked better accuracy. Eye appeal and hand fit will sway the potential customer at the counter, and at the range, our test pistol was reliable. Also, the trigger allowed good control. The slide-lock position is ideal for a combat gun, and we liked the takedown manual of arms. The decocker is questionable, but it hurts nothing. The sights are adequate. Our worry about the magazine release’s exposure resolved itself when a rater wore the pistol extensively in a Falco IWB, and it stayed put. This pistol is yet another entry in the crowded polymer-frame 9mm field, and we think it offers a lot for the money.
Charter Arms Boxer 53620 38 Special, $349
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
This is a reliable utilitarian piece. The Boxer is a 2.2-inch-barrel revolver with a six-shot 38 Special cylinder. The small-frame Undercover would not accommodate a six-shot cylinder as the Bulldog frame does. Considering the popularity of the revolver for personal defense and the 38 Special cartridge, this makes sense. The Boxer 38 Special revolver is primarily stainless steel with some anodized-aluminum components. The revolver works as designed and is reasonably smooth and more accurate than expected.
Taurus 856 Defender Ultra-Lite 2-85639ULNS 38 Sp. +P, $405
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
This was an Our Pick. Offered good accuracy and is ultra-lightweight. The DA trigger was smooth but heavy, with stacking. Recoil was mild for a lightweight revolver, though we did notice the difference in recoil with the +P ammo. Still tolerable. For speed shooting, the Taurus was forgiving. We had no issues short-stroking the trigger. The ejector does not fully push empty cases from the cylinder, so use a gravity assist to quickly unload. The 856 Defender Ultra-Lite is lightweight, has a good front sight, good balance, and offers a six-round capacity. We’d definitely opt for this Ultra-Lite model if we wanted an everyday-carry wheelgun.
CHOICES BETWEEN $500–$750
Rossi R95 954570201 45-70 Gov’t, $645
GUN TESTS GRADE: A [BEST BUY]
The R95 is a rugged 45-70 levergun at a great price. It is accurate, comes optics ready, and can be customized. We’d buy this one for sure.
Savage Model 110 Tactical 57770 6 ARC, $663
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
Slightly more accurate in our tests than the Christensen Scout, we liked the versatility of the stock. Known for the quality of the Accu-Triggers, this bolt action came to us with the best trigger we’ve ever shot on a Savage.
CZ 600 Alpha Rifle 07403 7.62x39mm, $665
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
Seldom has a bolt-action rifle so easily overwhelmed the competition. And good competition at that. The Alpha is very smooth in operation and feeds well. The Alpha proved to be light kicking, accurate, and ergonomic. The CZ Alpha is a good introduction and among the best rifles we have tested in some time.
