If you were going to buy a firearm with a $500-600 budget?...new or gently-used

Glock 19 is what I "need" right now. Probably could get an AR15 pistol built for that cost.

That's actually one of my top possibilities, along with a .44 mag Marlin

I had a Marlin in 44 Mag. Wish I'd kept it

I killed my first deer with one. I'd love to get one and use it as an under-the-backseat "truck gun". Put one of those XS sight systems 11" rails on top with ghost ring irons, and toss a scope on when I wanted to hunt with it. That's actually probably in the lead right now, if I can find a decent one in the $500 range.

Setup something like this:

down payment on a Turnbull color case hardened Ruger GP100

I'd say G19 or G19x

Maybe a 41 if you could get it for $600

Henry 22 magnum.

Tikka T1x, if you are already prepared for the uncertain times.

If u don’t have an AR-15, then increase your budget and buy one now.

Oh man.........I wish you hadn't shown me that. I have no need for it, but I kinda want it. of course then I'd have to drop the coin on a suppressor....b/c, well, that rifle is screaming for one

Wow, wish I hadn't seen that. What to do now?

Very, very unlikely.

Thats an open end question if ive ever heard one 😃...if I was on a budget I'd buy gently used but only prob not a used ar unless it was a deal...if I didn't have any guns I'd go with outback suggestion

Yeah it is....just trying to see if there is anything I hadn’t thought of....like that Tikka above

I would put the money in an envelope well out of sight/mind/touch of friends and family and then make the decision when gun prices go back down to where they belong.

What the man said. This is not the time to be gun shopping. Manufacturing is severely restricted, demand is very high, ammunition inventory is at rock bottom, and its not going to get better (or possibly will be much worse) until after the election.

Very true. This is the time to be ammo shopping, for the guns you already have. You can't have too much ammo.

I agree with the suggestion to buy ammo if you can find any. I run the ammunition department for a sporting goods store. This is a serious shortage. All retail stores are low on inventory, distribution centers are sold out, and manufacturing facilities are back ordered over a year out. Heard of one that’s stopped taking orders as they are currently sitting on over two years of back orders. I don’t expect things to get better until possibly next spring if then. I suggest everyone purchase what ammo you need for next season and stock up on defense ammo ASAP.

something that shoots fast, holds a lot of ammo and scares somebody at the sight of it.