Great guns for average people

I would be willing to wager most of us here at the Forum are above average for the most part. My neighbor, just your average working man, with a Pickup and a Harley, has a Ruger Six .357 for HD and a nice old vintage Winchester Model 12 for hunting. Both were considered rather pedestrian yet very serviceable firearms in their prime.

For those who don't have a lot to invest into a reliable firearm in today's market I would suggest just about any Mil Spec arm or a police trade in of some sort. Military and Police generally seek good quality reliable arms.
 
My basic guns would be a .22 rifle and handgun, a .38 snub, a 4' 38 or 357, a pump 12 guage a good centerfire rifle.
From the standpoint that most people arent quite the gun nuts most of us are plus AVAILABLE and modest price my basic list would be close to this.

ruger 10-22
ruger single six
remington 870 in 12 gauge
s&w model 60
rossi 92 .357
s&w 357 in any model
My thinking: ammo availablity, fewer calibers to buy.
 
The only hedge funds I have are when I buy gas to trim the hedges. I think that the guns should be

Ithaca Model 37
Winchester Model 12
Smith & Wesson Model 27 & 28
Winchester Model 94 (if there was an everyman's gun this is it)
Smith Model 36
Ruger Blackhawk
Colt Woodsman
Marlin Model 60
Smith & Wesson Model 10
 
tops said:
Some of you are naming some guns that are too rich for "average" or maybe I only know "poor" people.:D Larry
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What price range are you talking about? Or what ceiling?

When i think "poor man" its definitely not a $800-$1000 Colt. To me "poor man" is a $350 Glock on layaway.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2
 
With the exception of the rare/pristine collector pieces, older S&W revolvers are pretty attainable. It's harder & bit more expensive in Kalifornistan but I would say they are within reach of the "common man." Same with the metal 1,2 & 3 Gen bottom feeders.

Rugers are almost by definition and design the "working man's gun."

Saw an older wooden furnitured Mossberg 500 riot gun that tickled me fancy. It wasn't expensive.
 
How 'bout the good old Model 14? I kinda like taking mine to the range, running the target all the way to the back wall, and putting six holes in the paper I can cover with my hand. The guys with the plastic-fantastic wonder 9's are all over the zombie targets at 7 yards, and they can't figure out how someone could shoot like that with an antiquated gun. :D
 
truckemup97 said:
How 'bout the good old Model 14? I kinda like taking mine to the range, running the target all the way to the back wall, and putting six holes in the paper I can cover with my hand. The guys with the plastic-fantastic wonder 9's are all over the zombie targets at 7 yards, and they can't figure out how someone could shoot like that with an antiquated gun. :D
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I too get the same reaction when I take out the Model 14, it makes me look good. :)
 
Just my humble opinion- a Marlin 336 because Winchester 94s are expensive since they are not being made anymore. A Glock 17, 19, 20, or 21, pick your caliber. A Ruger 10-22 or a Marlin 60, because you have to have a semi-auto 22. A Ruger MK II or Browning Buckmark for the same reason. A Ruger Blackhawk in the caliber of your choice because its stronger than your ammo. Either a Remington 870, 1100, or Mossberg 500, 12 or 20 gauge. I would say an SKS a few years ago, but they now cost around $400.00. Maybe a Mosin, ammos cheap. Last a SW model 10.These are just my choices, yours may vary.
 
I see a lot of great guns listed!!! Some guns started out as good to better everyday/everyguy guns and became grail guns, the winchester 21 comes to mind . For years a field gun was cheaper than a model 12 but now the 21 is 5 grand and the 12's are very well under 1 grand for apples to apples guns. A model 41 smith is most likely the finest semi auto 22 most of us can afford to buy, but if you want one they aren't hard to come by. When it comes to pump shotguns, when it comes down to useful utility the mossburg is as good as a 12 but start to do more than a couple of hunts a year and most other pump excede the 500 and the same 12 shines like the sun. So the Question is what is the average guy going to do with his "affordable" guns. Quality costs money! For everyday/everyguy guns I'd go with Savage 110/10 bolt guns, the win 94 or Marlin336 for medium lever rifle (older 99's are grail guns and newer 99's aren't!), Marlin1894 or Rossi 92's for small lever rifle. I think for a 38/357 DA revolver medium frame: Colt, Smith, Dan Wesson, Ruger-pick your choice. Small Military carbine, M-1 or the cheaper SKS would serve you well. Main Battle Rifles are high dollars if they are worth owning. I think a 1911 is worth having but you will most likely get what you are willing to pay for. CCW guns are aboundant at any price point! I might get yelled at for this but, there are problems witth pre 64 70's, that don't exist on post 64 70's and you don't need a very skilled gunsmith to repair or fit in replacement parts on a post 64 or Rem700 and remember the newest Pre64 is now 48 years old. Along those lines the Savage 110/10 series guns have become the "Lego" of rifles. You can do it youself and change out any parts with "realitive" ease. On single action pistols, Colts are upscale in price, Rugers are easy to afford and you need to know your way around imports. Mostly, affordably is defined by the income condition at the time of want/need. Ivan
 
A few right off the top of my head

Model 70 Winchester

Model 27 Smith

Model 29 Smith

Colt Series 70 Gold Cup
 
I'll probably be the odd man out here, but I like the old model Colt Cobra & Detective Specials.
 
If I was on a budget for a well-rounded collection from current production:

LCR
GP100
M&P 22 pistol
Nano
M&P 9 or Glock 19
Ruger SR1911
Ruger 22 rifle
Ithica shotgun
AK of your choice
M&P Sport
 
Last edited:
Average?

Howdy,
I'm lucky. I'm no longer poor.
I have been poor, but it never kept me from obtaining the guns I truly wanted to own. I'd use lay away. I'd take on extra hours or odd jobs. I'd dedicate myself to the task and things always seemed to be made work.
I don't see much, if anything, in the list above that the average person with a proper mind set could not obtain over a little time.
Great things seldom come with out sacrifice. (Like selling a gun I wanted to own to purchase another I wanted to own more)
Life is short,live a little.
Thanks
Mike
 
Ivan the Butcher said:
I see a lot of great guns listed!!! Some guns started out as good to better everyday/everyguy guns and became grail guns, the winchester 21 comes to mind . For years a field gun was cheaper than a model 12 but now the 21 is 5 grand and the 12's are very well under 1 grand for apples to apples guns

When was a M21 cheaper than a M12 and what were the prices? The M21 has always been the most expensive gun that Winchester sold. The M21 has always been a qrail gun. Larry
Click to expand...
 
tops said:
Ivan the Butcher said:
I see a lot of great guns listed!!! Some guns started out as good to better everyday/everyguy guns and became grail guns, the winchester 21 comes to mind . For years a field gun was cheaper than a model 12 but now the 21 is 5 grand and the 12's are very well under 1 grand for apples to apples guns

When was a M21 cheaper than a M12 and what were the prices? The M21 has always been the most expensive gun that Winchester sold. The M21 has always been a qrail gun. Larry
Click to expand...

It's possible that a field grade M21 was once a bit less than a tricked up Pigeon Grade 12.
Click to expand...
 
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