The hottest new precision hunting rifles and ballistic-solution riflescopes, which will run you in the neighborhood of $3K to $5K apiece, are truly fantastic—as in, the stuff of fantasy. Many hunters can only dream of putting that kind of money into their rig. So the question is: What’s new for the rest of us? And the answer is: A lot. The 2019 crop of cheap guns––new rifles, shotguns, and handguns––includes a ton of solid, affordable options for the field, the range, and the holster. Here are our top picks.
Best New Cheap Shotguns
- CZ Bobwhite G2: Made for carrying miles in the uplands. $655
- Stoeger 3500 Waterfowl Special: Has all the features of top-of-the-line guns. $850
- CZ-USA CZ 1012: An all-new synthetic-stocked gun with an inertia-operated action. $659
- Stevens 301 .410 Turkey: A single-shot hammer gun designed for tungsten loads. $199
- Mossberg Shockwave 590 Laser Saddle: A short-barreled pistol-grip shotgun with a grip-activated green laser sight that makes it easier to shoot from the hip. $595
- Kel Tec KS7 Shotgun: Tactical shotgun with a futuristic carry handle. $500
- Charles Daly 536 .410 Side By Side: A break-action double shotgun that looks like it costs more than it does. $917
- American Tactical Imports Nomad Shotgun: A great beater shotgun you can toss into your truck’s toolbox. $109
- Tristar Viper G2 Bronze .410: A 3-inch, gas-operated semi-auto with a Turkish walnut stock and a cerakote finish. $800
CZ Bobwhite G2
CZ Bobwhite G2
CZ has reintroduced its classic, no-frills double gun, the Bobwhite, this year, now known as the Bobwhite G2. Light and slender, it’s made for carrying miles in the uplands, and it comes at a price that won’t discourage you from dragging it through heavy brush. Like the original version, it’s a simple gun with twin triggers and extractors, a straight grip, and a splinter forend. Inside, however, the cheap gun is all-new, reengineered with a CNCed receiver and sturdy coil springs. The metal has a durable black finish, and the bores are chrome-lined and come with five choke tubes rated for steel. The best part? The price, which is $655 in 12 and 20 gauge, slightly higher for 28; cz-usa.com —Phil Bourjaily
Stoeger 3500 Waterfowl Special
Stoeger’s affordable 3500 3½-inch inertia gun gets a waterfowl makeover for 2019, with all the features currently being bestowed on top-of-the-line guns. The result is a practical, tough shotgun that still won’t break the bank. The 3500 features a camo stock and forend; a cerakoted barrel and receiver; an enlarged bolt handle and bolt closer; and the bottom port is ground out for easier loading. Extended choke tubes and a paracord sling complete the package. $850; stoegerindustries.com —P.B.
CZ-USA CZ 1012
CZ is making a serious play at the American waterfowling market with the 1012, an all-new synthetic-stocked gun with an inertia-operated action (CZ calls it “gas-less”) that works with 2¾- or 3-inch shells. The cheap gun has a 28-inch barrel, weighs 6.5 pounds, is available in five different finish options, and comes with five choke tubes. I haven’t shot it yet myself, but in my experience, CZ makes a good gun for the money. If the new 1012 proves to be a shooter, you’re looking at a very good bargain. $659; cz-usa.com —Will Brantley
Stevens 301 .410 Turkey
Spurred (pun possibly intended) by the runaway success of .410 Tungsten Super Shot turkey loads last year, Stevens has developed a dedicated .410 turkey gun. A break-action single-shot hammer gun, the 301 has a 26-inch barrel with an extended turkey tube and an integral base for a red-dot sight. It has a camo synthetic stock with sling swivels. I had a chance to hunt with and shoot the 301 last fall and pattern-test it using Federal’s TSS loads. To my surprise, it delivered solid turkey-killing patterns (120 hits in a 10-inch circle) at a measured 40 yards. And it’s very inexpensive, leaving you more money to spend on pricey TSS turkey ammo. $199; savagearms.com —P.B.
Mossberg Shockwave 590 Laser Saddle
Short-barreled pistol-grip shotguns have become the rage. However, as tactic-cool as these compact scatterguns are, they all share the common problem of being difficult to shoot with any precision from the hip—which is the best and most comfortable way to fire them. Mossberg partnered with Crimson Trace and sorted this all out. Their new Shockwave 590 Laser Saddle incorporates a grip-activated green laser that saddles the action. This effectively turns this powerhouse into a fast handling and true point-and-shoot firearm. $595; mossberg.com —R.M.
Kel Tec KS7 Shotgun
If tacti-cool is your thing, then the KS7 is your shotgun. Borrowing lines from Kel Tec’s KSG, the KS7 ditches the rotating magazine, which cuts weight and expense. The single-tube mag holds seven 2¾-inch shells so the bullpup still packs plenty of defensive punch. The futuristic carry handle protects the sights, and offers M-Lok slots to mount flashlights, lasers, or other accessories. Around $500; keltecweapons.com —J.A.
Charles Daly 536 .410 Side By Side
This seems to be the year of the .410, and eager to get into the fray, Charles Daly had introduced the 536 Side By Side in the diminutive bore. The break-action features a single, selective trigger and a checkered walnut stock that looks like it costs more than it does. The manufacturer’s suggested price is $917, but if the other side-by-sides in the line are any indication, you can expect to pay somewhere in the neighborhood of $650 for this lightweight twin tube. The 536 ships with five extended choke tubes, making it a real bargain. $917; charlesdaly.com —Joe Albanese
American Tactical Imports Nomad Shotgun
If you’re in the market for a beater shotgun to toss into your truck’s toolbox, look no further than the ATI Nomad. This break-open single-shot scattergun is available in 12, 20, and .410, with 18.5- and 26-inch barrels. It may not be pretty, but it does go bang—and does it about as inexpensively as possible for a new shotgun. $109; americantactical.com —J.A.
Tristar Viper G2 Bronze .410
It used to be readily apparent that you weren’t picking up a high-end Italian scattergun when you grabbed a Turkish-made Tristar, but the company has been blurring that distinction in recent years—to the point that the importer received a Golden Bullseye Award from the NRA for the new G2 Bronze .410. The 3-inch, gas-operated semi-auto features a nicely figured, high-grade Turkish walnut stock and a Cerakote finish that really ratchet up the class, and the cheap gun comes with a shim kit and three choke tubes, all at a nice price. There’s also a camo version that goes for about $150 less. $800 for G2 Bronze, about $650 for G2 Camo; tristararms.com —J.A.
Best New Cheap Rifles
- Winchester XPR Hunter True Timber Strata: A new camo model in the XPR line. $600
- Mauser 18 6.5 PRC: A no-frills bolt that won a Great Buy Award in our rifle test last year. $699
- CVA Cascade Rifle: CVA’s first bolt-action centerfire rifle. $567
- Mossberg Patriot in 450 Bushmaster: The ideal hog whacker or bear buster. $542
- Remington Model 783 Varmint: An affordable long-range predator or prairie-dog rig. $625
- CZ 457 Varmint MTR: A target .22 LR designed to compete with the best rimfires in the world. $752
- Sig Sauer M400 Tread: A premium entry-level rifle accompanied by a full-line of accessories. $951
- Winchester Wildcat .22 LR: Loaded with innovation, and it sells for a song. $249
- Mossberg Patriot Predator TrueTimber Strata: This new Patriot Predator has a Cerakote finish to protect against rust. $524
- Thompson/Center Impact!SB: A basic but reliable break-action smokepole. $263
Winchester XPR Hunter True Timber Strata
Winchester XPR Hunter True Timber Strata
Winchester’s newest XPR has an advanced polymer stock in True Timber Strata camo, with textured panels to help improve wet-weather grip. It has an advanced polymer stock in True Timber Strata camo, with textured panels to help improve wet weather grip. The flattened profile of the forend improves stability from sandbags, and the barrel, receiver, and bolt have a Permacote finish to minimize glare and protect from corrosion. An M.O.A. trigger system, detachable box magazine, steel recoil lug, bolt unlock button, and two-position thumb safety are standard. The rifle is available in most popular short action cartridges, including 6.5 Creedmoor, with 22-, 24-, or 26-inch barrels. $600; winchesterguns.com —Richard Mann
Mauser 18 6.5 PRC
I’ll bet you never thought you’d see a German-made Mauser on a list of affordable new guns, but here it is. The company introduced the M18 last year, and the no-frills bolt quickly claimed a Great Buy Award in the 2018 OL/F&S rifle test. Simple as the rifle is, it checks all the boxes, with a comfortable stock, slick action, and quality trigger. Our test gun delivered first-rate accuracy too, with a 5-shot-group average of .877 inch, including a .673-inch group with Federal’s 165-grain Nosler AccuBond. What more do you want for under $700? For 2019, Mauser has dropped the “M” in the rifle’s name (for reasons not worth going into) and expanded the line to include the popular 6.5 PRC. $699; mauser.com —Dave Hurteau
CVA Cascade Rifle
CVA Cascade Rifle
The Cascade is CVA’s first ever bolt-action centerfire rifle. It will be available in the most popular short-action hunting cartridges, such as 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Remington, and .308 Winchester. It has a 22-inch, 4140 carbon-steel barrel that’s finished in a rich matte blue. A threaded muzzle and protective cap are included. The bolt design incorporates a 70-degree throw, and the cheap gun has a charcoal gray synthetic stock with a SoftTouch finish for easy gripping. This should be a hot seller and appeal to those who have been hunting and trusting CVA muzzleloaders for decades. $567; cva.com —R.M.
Mossberg Patriot in 450 Bushmaster
Mossberg Patriot in 450 Bushmaster
Big news from Mossberg is the introduction of the 450 Bushmaster into the Patriot line. Perfect for medium and large game at short to moderate rage—and ideally suited in states now allowing straight-wall rifle cartridges for deer hunting—these rifles come with all of the features associated with the Patriot rifle that has received so much acclaim. The four new 450 Bushmasters include two 16.25-inch-barreled Patriot Predators at 6.25 pounds, as well as synthetic- and wood-stocked Patriots with a 20-inch barrel at between 6.5 and 7 pounds. It’ll work for whitetails for sure, but for hunting over bait, this just might be the ideal hog whacker or bear buster. $542; mossberg.com —R.M.
Remington Model 783 Varmint
Remington has added several new rifles to their model 783 line of entry-level bolt-actions. The 783 Varmint features a 26-inch heavy barrel with a black oxide finish, laminated stock with a beavertail forend, an oversized bolt handle, and a Picatinny rail. The rifle is chambered for the .223 and .22-250 Remington, .243 and .308 Winchester, and (obviously) the 6.5 Creedmoor. For those looking for an affordable long-range predator or prairie-dog-busting rig, the 783 Varmint, with an MSRP of a little over $600, is a great place to start. $625; remington.com —R.M.
CZ 457 Varmint MTR
This year CZ has doubled down on their excellent lineup of rimfire rifles with the introduction of the 457 series. Eight configurations are available in .22 LR, .22 WMR and .17 HMR, but the rimfire nuts here at SHOT Show 2019 are all talking about the Varmint MTR. The Turkish walnut stock has a unique shape that feels great in the hand. CZ ditched that backwards European-style safety from earlier rifles and replaced it with classic push-to-fire version, and the 90-degree bolt rotation was changed to a faster 60 degrees. The match chamber on the MTR is cut to the strictest specs CIP allows – Europe’s version of SAMMI. The heavy varmint barrel is swappable, just like on CZ’s popular 455 guns. The large, flat fore-end is perfect for bags, and also has two swivel attachments for running a bipod and a sling. The CZ rep told me that his factory in Uhersky Brod, Czech Republic, took this rifle very personally and pulled out all the stops to make a target .22 LR that could compete with the best rimfires in the world—and all for a real-world price of $700. Only range time will tell if they achieved that lofty goal, but if the 457 MTR shoots as well as it looks, it’ll be a winner. MSRP is $752; cz-usa.com —Michael R. Shea
Sig Sauer M400 Tread
The M400 Tread from Sig Sauer is a premium entry-level rifle accompanied by a full-line of accessories. This is an optics-ready rifle with and aluminum frame that features a 16-inch stainless-steel barrel with a free-floating M-LOK handguard, single-stage polished/hard-coat trigger, ambidextrous controls, a Magpul SL-K six-position telescoping stock, mid-length gas system, and it’s available in 5.56 NATO. Tread branded accessories—just to name a few—include a three-chamber compensator, ambidextrous charging handle, a ROMEO5 optic, and flip-up front and rear sights. $951; sigsauer.com —R.M.
Winchester Wildcat .22 LR
Winchester Wildcat .22 Rifle
The Winchester Wildcat is loaded with innovation, and it sells for a song. The cheap gun is striker-fired, like the polymer pistols of Austrian descent that we all know and love, and the lower receiver assembly drops out with the press of a button to make cleaning lightning-quick. A rear access port also allow you to insert a cleaning rod from the back to protect the barrel’s crown. This unique rimfire comes with an adjustable ghost-ring rear sight, and hosts one Picatinny rail above for optics and one below for bipods. $249; winchesterguns.com —J.A.
Mossberg Patriot Predator TrueTimber Strata
For 2019, Mossberg has updated the Patriot line with the Predator TrueTimber Strata. Like its predecessors, this new model features a push-feed, dual-lug action with a spiral bolt; a fluted and threaded barrel; and a detachable box magazine. New is a Brown Cerakote finish that cuts glare and protects against rust, as well as the TrueTimber Strata camo finish. It comes in .22/250 Remington, .243 Winchester, .308 Winchester, and the ever-popular 6.5 Creedmoor. Expect real-world prices to be around $500, making this rifle an excellent value. $524; mossberg.com —J.A.
Thompson/Center Impact!SB
The new .50-caliber Impact!SB is aimed at black-powder novices who want to get started in muzzleloading without have to make a big investment. The rifle features a hand-removable threaded breech plug to make cleaning a breeze. Fiber optic sights are standard, and the rifle comes with a 1-inch removable spacer, which allows you to adjust the length of pull. Available in blued or Silver Weather Shield metal, with a black, Realtree Edge, Mossy Oak Bottom Land, or Mossy Oak Break-Up Country composite stock. $263; tcarms.com —J.A.
Best New Cheap Handguns
- Kel Tec CP33: A fun plinker with a 33-round quad-stack magazine. $475
- Mossberg MC1sc: A sub-compact semi-automatic that weighs only 19 ounces. $375
- Browning Buck Mark Medallion Rosewood: Built to punch the ten-ring on competition targets or poke a jackrabbit in the eyeball. $510
- Glock G48: Offers 10+1 capacity and a loaded weight of only 25 ounces. $580
- Glock G43X: Weighs only 23 ounces—and that’s with a 10-round magazine. $580
- Remington RM380 Executive: A more elegant looking everyday-carry gun. $405
- Stoeger STR-9 Pistol: Stoeger has jumped into the handgun game with both feet. $329
Kel Tec CP33
The CP33 looks like something Ridley Scott dreamed up, but it provides plenty of real-world plinking fun with its 33-round quad-stack magazine. Kel Tec markets this .22 as a “Competition Pistol,” but the 9.5-inch sight radius will be just as helpful for 50-yard shots at rabbits and squirrels. Retail on the CP33 isn’t far shy of $500, but keep in mind that Kel Tecs usually hit the stores well below MSRP. $475; keltecweapons.com —J.A.
Mossberg MC1sc
One hundred years after building they’re last handgun, Mossberg has finally made another, and they did the research to make sure they got it right. The MC1sc is a sub-compact, striker-fired, single-stack, polymer-framed semi-automatic that weighs only 19 ounces. The slide measures less than an inch wide, and the pistol ships with two see-through magazines, so you’ll always know how much ammo you have on board. The pebbled and serrated grip has a nice palm swell, and the magazine release can be positioned on either side. But the pistol’s best features are its trigger, ease of disassembly, and cost. With a real-world price of about $375, this—like all Mossberg offerings—is a gun the workingman can afford. Mossberg.com —R.M.
Browning Buck Mark Medallion Rosewood
Browning Buck Mark Medallion Rosewood
This elegant rimfire semi-auto with 5.5-inch barrel features a blackened-stainless, slab-sided barrel with polished flats. The laminated rosewood-colored grip panels have Browning’s Buck Mark symbol, checkering, and tasteful scroll work, which lets you bring a little extra sophistication to the range or the field. But the cheap gun isn’t just for looks; with a Pro-Target adjustable rear sight and TRUGLO/Marble Arms fiber-optic front sight, it’s built to punch the ten-ring on competition targets or poke a jackrabbit in the eyeball. $510; browning.com —R.M.
Glock G48
Somehow Glock takes their astoundingly reliable, popular, and simple pistol design, and offers something new year after year. For 2019, they’ve brought out two new pistols in their Slimline series, the first of which is the G48. With a 4.17-inch barrel and an overall length of 7.28 inches, it’s a direct competitor to any commander-sized 1911, but offers 10+1 capacity and a loaded weight of only 25 ounces. The G48 comes standard with a black-and-stainless two-tone finish and a reversible magazine release. It’s also available with a variety of sight options, and will likely prove to be even more popular for concealed carry than the great Glock 19. $580; US.glock.com —R.M.
Glock G43X
Glock G43X
Glock’s other new Slimline offering for 2019 is the smaller G43X. Probably inspired by the success of the Sig Sauer P365, this new sub-compact 9mm weighs only 23 ounces—and that’s with a 10-round magazine. It has a 3.41-inch barrel and an overall length of only 6.06 inches. As with the G48, the contrasting black polymer frame and stainless slide is visually striking. Available with standard sights, Glock night sights, or Ameriglo BOLD sights, this little pistol should please the many handgunners who believe Gaston Glock speaks directly to the ghost of John Browning. $580; US.glock.com —R.M.
Remington RM380 Executive
Defensive handguns don’t have to be tactical-black and soulless. Some folks live in three-piece suits or dress slacks and have a flare for fine things. So it stands to reason that professional men and women might want a cheap everyday carry gun that looks a little more elegant than what your typical Tier One operator carries. Enter the RM380 Executive. This all-metal, 12.2-ounce, semi-auto, chambered for the 380 Auto, features a satin stainless slide, black anodized aluminum frame, and laminate Macassar grip panels. It’s ready to go from the boardroom to the back alley, but at $405, it won’t break the bank. Remington.com —R.M.
Stoeger STR-9 Pistol
Stoeger has jumped into the handgun game with both feet by introducing the STR-9 pistol, chambered in 9mm. Not looking to reinvent the wheel, Stoeger started with a striker-fired action and added an interchangeable backstrap system to optimize fit for the user. Other standard features include three-dot sights, slide serrations, a reversible mag release, and integrated rail. $329; stoegerindustries.com —J.A.