Here are some solid budget-friendly rifles and shotguns known for their reliability. Generally, rimfire rifles and .410-bore shotguns are less expensive because they don’t have to handle as much chamber pressure as centerfire rifle cartridges and 20- or 12-gauge shotguns. But there are many safe, affordable larger-bore long guns as well.
RIMFIRES UNDER $400
There are many smallbore rifles available for this price point and less, and here are a couple of Grade A- or A examples:
Ruger 10/22 Carbine 1151 22 LR, $235
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
The 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 Wildcat features good sights, plenty of mounting area to mount optics, red dots, and lasers, and the takedown is quite simple. It was the most accurate rifle tested. The Wildcat is a winner and is our top-ranked plinker.
CENTERFIRES UNDER $500
There are many lightweight, reliable bolt actions in common calibers (243, 6.5 Creedmoor, 308, 30-06, etc.) for around $300–$350, as well as top-tier rounds like the 7 PRC. A couple of Grade A- or A examples:
Remington Model 783 85847 308 Win., $340
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
Best Buy. The Remington 783 was the most accurate rifle tested this month. There were no demerits.
Ruger American Rifle 6903 Standard 308 Win. $382
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
Light enough, accurate enough, and inexpensive enough for us to want to keep it.
Savage Model 12FV 18393 308 Win., $420
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
Modest recoil. The rifle never failed to impress us.
Ruger American 6904 243 Winchester, $442
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
The most accurate rifle in the group by a narrow margin, the Ruger American performs at a level above what the price would suggest. It was the lightest in this group, so it would carry well. We would have liked for the rifle to have a threaded muzzle for attachment of a brake or suppressor.
CENTERFIRE RIFLES BETWEEN $500–$700
If you’re willing to step up a few dollars, many other makers offer a variety of chamberings and actions to consider. Here are a few Grade A- or A choices:
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 rifle 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 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.
SHOTGUN CHOICES
A lot of gun buyers look at shotguns as their primary go-to firearm for general-purpose use, but mainly for home or area defense. The scattergun is versatile in terms of ammunition it fires, can be inexpensive, and can fit many shooters. Gun Tests has evaluated dozens of shotguns over the years, and here are a few Grade A and A- recommendations if you’re looking for a reliable shotgun and don’t want to spend a lot of money.
Mossberg 500 Retrograde Persuader 50429 12 Gauge, $385
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
The Mossberg 500 Retrograde is a beautifully finished shotgun for $384. There are no shortcomings. The Mossberg 500 Retrograde 50429 shotgun is a highly finished version of the Mossberg Persuader. This shotgun features the standard Mossberg 500 action, but its bright-blue finish and highly finished stock are a step above the usual rack-grade shotgun.
Mossberg 500A Persuader 50411 12 Gauge, $307
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
We felt the 500A 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.
Maverick 88 Security 31046 12 Gauge, $264
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
Another shotgun in the Mossberg stable is the Maverick 88 Security 31046 12 Gauge, 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.
Remington 870 Police Magnum 18-Inch Extended Mag Tube 12 Gauge, $275
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
We’ve tested a Remington 870 12 Gauge, and gave it an A- grade. It was a solid shotgun with good performance. It 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.
Remington 870 Tactical 81200 12 Gauge, $442
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
Remington’s proven 870 shotgun keeps on shooting, despite a number of cost-cutting measures, such as a plastic trigger-group housing, matte finish and synthetic hardware. This was a Best Buy when pitted against the Mossberg 930.
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.
