Thanks for the ping... I was the freeper with yesterday’s thread and I’ve still got plenty to learn.
One piece of feedback I have for the RKBA crowd is that when someone says they’re on a limited budget, suggesting an M-249 with night vision, laser range finding sniper scope is a bit over the top.
It was not but 4 years ago that you could buy a surplus 8mm Mauser for under $100 and surplus ammo was 700 rounds for $30.00. The ammo is corrosive, but cleaning with soapy water is all it takes to clean that out of the bore. I am glad I bought a couple rifles and a bunch of ammo at those prices because it all seems to have dried up. I can’t find cheap surplus ammo anywhere.
I had to laugh at that one.
Seriously, on a budget means you get what you can afford for now, trade up later if possible.
Mossbergs are inexpensive used for the shotgun part. Handguns, you might look at Taurus. that might sound like a pitch, but speaking from experience with sales and shooting the various models, you get a lot of bang for the buck in just about everything Taurus produces.
The autos come in either all steel or polymer, the revolvers come in every form of steel, aluminum, and titanium in darn near every caliber. They have proven reliable in various conditions and the quality is way up from 10 years ago. Used handguns can be sort of an iffy proposition. Any 1911 format will set you back a few hundred dollars. They may not be great in the accuracy department, but what you are looking for mostly is reliability.
Reliability is THE most important item when you are looking at any firearm. And if you are betting your life on it, it damn well better work EVERY time. If you purchase something used and it sometimes works, get rid of it, it is only a headache and possibly a heartache waiting to happen.