11 of the Best Cheap Rifles – March 2023

Everybody loves a cheap rifle that punches above its weight, and we’ve got some of the best rifles in the world that we found at really low prices.

Hunting season is always almost upon us and deer, hog, elk, White Tail and more are just round the corner. Depending on how far round the corner we’re looking right now…

So do you have the right gun for the occasion? If not it’s time to buy guns online and get yourself ready with a new cheap rifle.

We have decided on $500 as a ceiling. But we want to show you even cheaper rifles, too, that might be perfect for a season or even trying out a new caliber.

So, before you start rooting round the bargain bin in your local gun store, or Googling for gun stores in the USA, order your firearms, rifles, pistols etc for next day delivery from our partners.

These cheap rifles all punch above their weigh and they’re all bargains. But what are the best cheap rifles for sale right now.

1. Savage Axis II .308 Win

• Price: $437.99
• Caliber: .308 Win
• Barrel Length: 22”
• Total Length: 43.9”
• Weight: 6.5lb
• Capacity: 4+1 Rounds

The 308 Win is still America’s favorite hunting round, for good reason. And this Savage Arms Axis is one of America’s favorite bolt-action rifles.

The Savage Arms Axis is a lot of gun for not too much money and it’s popular from America through to the Middle East. Read the customer reviews, they love this thing.

Savage Arms Axis Gets the Basics Right

This gives you everything you need and not a great deal else. Savage Arms has produced affordable guns since 1894, so it knows a thing or two about putting together a basic bolt-action rifle. The Savage Axis is the end result.

The black synthetic stock keeps the gun light and 6.5lb really won’t be an issue to shoulder all day. It also comes with a 22″ barrel that is great for accuracy, but you need to keep a .308 Win in the sweet spot in terms of range. The Savage Arms helps you do that.

Long Enough for the Average Hunter

Ideally, for hunting, you don’t want to go further than 600 yards. You can punch paper and ring steel further than that, but it’s a mid-range hunting rifle.

That said it’s a good cheap rifle that will get you started, or simply give you an option out in the field if you feel like shooting with an old-fashioned round.

Just be aware, you don’t get the scope with this one.

You want more 308 rifles? Check here:

• 33 of the best 308 rifles on sale. Cheap rifles and expensive ones.
• The 19 Top Semi-Autos chambered in 308 Win.

2. ATI Omni Hybrid Maxx

• Price: $529.99
• Caliber: .223 Rem/5.56 NATO
• Barrel Length: 16 inch
• Weight: 5.65lb

Can you get a cheap AR-15 for less than $500? Fresh out the box? Yes you can thanks to the Americal Tactical Innovations ATI Omni Hybrid Maxx P3.

What’s the catch? Polymer receivers, but they’re coming of age and there are a lot of advantages to choosing plastic these days. The main one is the price, of course.

At 5.65lb, the ATI Omni Hybrid Maxx P3 is also a seriously lightweight AR-15, though, and it’s a semi-auto rifle that you could shoulder all day. It might be time to think again about Modern Sporting Rifles design…

This is the works, a detachable magazine, a collapsible stock and much more. All this for a near insane price. It’s great for home defense and seems reliable too.

All Metal AR-15s for $500

You can get an all-metal Anderson Manufacturing or Radical Firearms AR-15 for $500, too. Check out our top cheap AR-15s for $500 or less here. We really like the Anderson Manufacturing no frills effort. But this is a fresh take, and it’s a constant thorn in the side of the top brands.

By the way, this semi-automatic rifle used to be $300, but a lot of things used to be cheaper. You remember that? Pepperidge Farm remembers, and this guy…

3. Kel Tec Sub 2000

• Price: $439.99
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Barrel: 16.25 inch
• Total: 30.5 inch
• Weight: 4.25lb
• Capacity: 30+1

A semi-automatic 9mm carbine rifle is becoming an increasingly popular choice. There’s no danger of overpenetration, 9mm self defense rounds are arguably the best and a 9mm is a great for plinking too..

This semi auto rifle is light, easy to shoot and takes Glock magazines. In these financially challenged times, that’s good.

9mm is low recoil and this has near 5 star reviews everywhere. Gushing praise is the default response for this semi-auto rifle and it constantly mixes it with top brands in lists of the best like this one.

So buy a gun online and see what the fuss is about.

Gen 2 is a Major Improvement

Make sure to buy the Kel-Tec Sub 2000 Gen 2, as there were a number of upgrades and probably fixes in between models. Do that and you probably have the best cheap 9mm carbine on the market.

9mm is perfectly capable of taking small game. The Glock style detachable magazine means you can have as many bullets as you want ready to send too.

It’s a great semi-auto for a backpack, so pack your water shoes and go small game hunting with a moderately accurate 9mm folding rifle. Because reasons.

• The 9 Best 9mm Carbine Rifles. Pistol Caliber Carbines the 9mm semi-auto rifle you need to own.
• 25 Best 9mm AR pistols on sale now.

4. Remington 783 .243 Win

• Price: $488.99
• Caliber: .243 Win
• Barrel Length: 20”
• Total Length: 38.5”
• Weight: 8.25lb
• Capacity: 4+1 Rounds

The .243 Win is a versatile round that takes over where the .22 runs out of gas. This is a cheap rifle that is also genuinely useful.

It can take anything from Coyote to White Tail and that means it’s a properly useful range in America. Small game can still be a challenge with a 22 Rifle, but the .243 Win takes care of business.

You even get relatively basic 3-9 magnification rifle scopes on these entry-level rifles, bolt action rifle that evolved from the Remington 788 bolt actions that have been with us since the 1960s.

The trigger pull is adjustable from 2.5-5lb. So you can train your dragon to fire exactly as you like. You can see a striker-fired pistol trigger safety, too, which is a neat touch. The barrel is free floating and the stock is pillar bedded.

5. Ruger 10/22 Carbine

• Price: $299.99
• Caliber: 22 Long Rifle
• Barrel: 18.5″
• Total Length: 37″
• Weight: 4.5lb
• Capacity: 10+1

If you are even thinking about saving money on your rifle, then think about cutting the cost of your shooting completely and scale down to a 22.

Do that and it’s hard to look past the best-selling Ruger 10/22 Carbine, which is a legend in pretty much everybody’s eyes.

You can get a Ruger 10/22 Tactical, a Ruger takekdown rifle and lots of other options besides. Check out our list of the best 22LR rifles right here. You can also get cheap 22LR ammo just about everywhere and also things to hunt.

Critters and backyard hunting is far more accessible than the best big game hunting trips. You know that. So while you might sneer at a 22LR hunting trip to your local woods, it’s something you can do right now.

Ruger quality control and customer service is legendary, too. Buy a gun online now and get an icon that you need in your life.

6. Thompson Center Arms Compass 65 Creedmoor

• Price: $469.99
• Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor
• Barrel: 24”
• Total Length: 41”
• Weight: 7.25lb
• Capacity: 5+1 Rounds

It’s another straightforward, cheap bolt-action rifle and synthetic stock. Thompson Center Arms are famous for their eccentric 50 Cal black powder rifles, but this is much simpler and more effective in the field.

The top-rated Compass comes in a variety of calibers, including AAC Blackout, but we do think that Creedmoor is the best hunting round for sale right now. A Creedmoor and a .22 Rifle could cover you for pretty much every eventuality short of big bears. Although we do love the AAC Blackout pistol.

If you want to spend a little more money, or a lot, then check out this list of the Best Creedmoor rifles. 

Polymer Stock is Basic and Tough

This composite stock and barrel all comes with a blued finish that should take a beating out in the field. Textured grip panels on the stock should help you keep a tight grip when you need to, even with gloves on.

Aluminum pillar bedding joins forces with a free-floating barrel for an accurate firearm that can theoretically take down an Elk at long range. Other Creedmoors can, so there’s no reason you can’t do with this narrow, lightweight, high velocity round.

You get 5R rifling and it’s drilled and tapped for the scope of your choice. Get a good long-distance scope , which will probably cost more than the gun, and you are basically a modern day, long distance sniper. It’s great for long range target shooting sports, too.

I wouldn’t mind betting that a skilled marksman with this and a great scope would hand more expensive rifles their own ass. So get good with this, then spend more.

Read the customer reviews, and place your order with confidence. Also, get one of their black powder guns for sale.

7. Mossberg Patriot 7mm Rem Mag

• Price: $349.99
• Caliber: 7mm Remington Magnum
• Barrel Length: 22”
• Total Length: 42.75”
• Weight: 7lb
• Capacity: 4 Rounds

You can seriously take an Elk at 1400 yards with 7mm Rem mag in this simple bolt-action rifle. The customer reviews tell their own story, too, and every online gun reviews say this is one of the best rifles in the world for the money.

We have been on a 6.5 Creedmoor mission of late and we do love that round for its precision, cost and high velocity. But then the bigger 7mm Remington Magnum shoots just as true and is one of the few rounds that can actually go further than the Creedmoor.

Does that make it the best low budget hunting rifle in the world? We think so, certainly for long range shooting…

Long Range Round on a Small Budget

If this isn’t enough range for you, then you should look into .338 Lapua Magnum rifles and a whole new price range. But this round is consistent enough for long-range target shooting, as well as hunting.

The Mossberg Patriot is available in a good few calibers and colors, from black to flat dark Earth and basic camo. It’s a relatively simple black plastic stock, a fluted bolt-action that really does look like it belongs on a more expensive rifle and a 4-shot magazine.

Get an awesome long distance scope for less than $1000 and you can take hog, Elk and White Tail at 1400 and even 1750 yards.

Numbers Make For Sobering Reading

Chambered in 7mm Remington, this gives you 2860fps and that gives you the edge on the 6.5 Creedmoor. This gun can really ring steel at more than 2200 yards, which is seriously impressive, but it’s really a hunting rifle at anything less than 1750 yards.

Recoil isn’t too bad and the recoil pad on the Mossberg Patriot 7mm Rem Mag makes all the difference. That aside, it’s a relatively straightforward, low budget hunting rifle that absolutely will get the job done.

Serious Bang For Your Buck

If you’re looking for a cheap rifle for sale, this one is perfect and we can’t believe you can get that much barrel and that much power for this little money. Yes, it’s an old-school bolt-action rifle, but if you want an AR-style semi-automatic then pay a little more and the world is your oyster.

The good ammo costs $1.30 a round, and more,  but you can get cheaper, 140Gr, boat tail bullets for just 98c from Lucky Gunner. Buy ammunition in bulk online, and Lucky Gunner can save you money.

Full Range of Mossberg Patriot Budget Rifles

Get a complete range of Mossberg Patriot rifles here. Almost every caliber is available, so pick your poison and maybe build up a collection of low cost Mossberg rifles that cover all your major hunting needs.

At this price point, they’re arguably the best hunting rifles in the world. Look out for the 300 Win Mag and the 308 Win rifles, bolt action rifle too. The 450 Bushmaster Mossberg is a popular addition too.

8. CVA Scout .450 Bushmaster

• Price: $387.99
• Caliber: .450 Bushmaster
• Barrel: 25”
• Total Length: 41”
• Weight: 8lb
• Capacity: 1 Round

Really, you can have a this much power for less than $400 and the customer reviews are stellar for this single shot rifle.

It’s a one-shot gun with a break action, but if you get it right then this break open single shot rifle chambered in .450 Bushmaster is designed to drop absolutely anything at 250 meters.

That includes African big game, so North American game won’t offer any opposition if you get your shot right. If you don’t, you’ll need to master that break action and get a follow up shot off, fast…

Need something bigger? Well you might be the problem, but there’s a 45-70 Government too.

It’s a bargain of a big power gun, although you can build .450 Bushmaster and .50 Beowulf AR-15s for around $750 or buy complete from the likes of Radical Firearms. So those are also options as well as other rifles, shotguns and even big bore pistols these days.

Brutal Introduction to Big Game Hunting

Still, this is cheap, with a massive and brutal round, that could be an interesting addition to your collection. If you use it to shoot targets now and again just to feel that ridiculous force then it doesn’t matter that it’s a one-shot gun.

As a hunting tool, it might get a bit boring having to reload constantly with a single shot rifle. But it’s a gateway into .450 Bushmaster and if you enjoy it then you can take the next step with a bolt action rifle and a bigger budget. If money is tight it’s a long rifle purchase strategy for you.

The barrel is made from 416 Steel and comes with the company’s own muzzle brake. A recoil pad is part of the deal, thankfully, and the company’s detachable scope mount that makes setting up that little bit easier.

This single shot is popular in Africa, the Middle East and on these shores, too. Even as a novelty, or an ornament, it’s a hell of a gun to have in your firearms, rifle and pistol collection.

If you want to go more basic even than this, look into black powder rifles.

9. Howa 1500 Hogue

• Price: $429.99
• Caliber: 300 Win Mag
• Barrel: 24 inch
• Weight: 8lb

This 300 Win Mag Howa 1500 is great for hunting, long distance shooting sports and just about anything else.

Read the online gun reviews and you’ll be blown away by story after story of the easiest zero in history.

There’s an adjustable trigger, a two-stage HACT trigger group, and a pillar-bedcded, overmolded solid polymer stock in a Flat Fark Earth finish. You can get a matte black finish too. Of course you can.

Howa has built up an admirable name in the budget rifles sector and this Howa 1500 Hogue comes in every major caliber. The forged one piece bolt with two locking lugs and it’s a solid design for this money.

Is it the best rifle for the money? It depends on who you talk to, but a lot of people seem to think so.

10. Henry Repeating Arms Lever Action Rifle

• Price: $393.99
• Caliber: 22LR
• Barrel: 18.25 inch
• Total: 36.5 inch

Henry Repeating Arms rifles are woven into American folklore and you can still live out your cowboy fantasies with a low budget lever action.

You can order a Henry Repeating Arms lever action in a much meatier calibers, right up to the fearsome 45-70 Long Colt rifle. That’s an expensive beast. If money is a thing, the 22LR version of this lever action rifle is probably the one you need.

Check out some more random cheap guns for sale here when you’re finished. Just because.

And if you don’t have the money for them there’s a used Mosin Nagant with your name on it. It’s a long rifle, sort of, and parts & accessories are cheap and plentiful. And sometimes moldy.

11. Ruger American Predator

• Price: $473.99
• Caliber: 308 Win
• Barrel: 16 inch
• Weight: 6.2lb

If the 10/22 wasn’t such a legend, this could be your winner. It’s that tight in the world of low cost firearms.

As it is the Ruger American Predator deserves to be here, and higher up. It is another one you can order from .17 WMR through to 7mm Rem Mag. So why did we go for the middle of the road 308 Win Bolt action rifles?

The 308 Winchester Magnum ammo version often slips under $500. With a 16 inch barrel it’s also very portable. That is why it’s here.

12. Keystone Sporting Arms Crickett

• Price: $159.99
• Caliber: 22LR
• Barrel: 16 inch barrel
• Weight: 3.9lb

The Keystone Sporting Arms Crickett is a cheap rimfire rifle for kids. That’s its reason to exist and even the slogan is ‘My First Rifle’. The company knows its place in the world.

So you get a $150 starter rifle chambered in 22LR that basically does what it should. I mean it’s no Anschutz and if you want a better rimfire rifle we can hook you up here for sure.

But this is a cheap rimfire for the price of things that are way less fun. It’s also super easy to shoot and isn’t intimidating in any way. What more do you want here? Organize the price low to high when you look for a KSA, they have more expensive options that cost more than $300.

Parts and Upgrades For Your Cheap Rifle

It doesn’t matter if you’ve gone for a semi-auto rifle, a rimfire rifle, an odd pump action or anything else, eventually, you’re going to need parts and cheap scopes, optics etc.

Shooting sports definitely need upgrades and even a single shot bolt gun will need something one day. Semi-automatic rifles definitely will. Then you’ve got scopes, optics, accessories shop and all that stuff to consider.

Cheap Handguns To Think About

While we’ve got your attention, have a look at these posts when you can.

• Cheap Guns You Should Really Own
• The best cheap 1911s for $500, or thereabouts.
• Cheap AR-15s from less than $500 to a little more.

You Want More Expensive Guns?

Of course we can sell you a top rated Sig Sauer Patrol, semi-auto Springfield Armory Saint, Black Rain Ordnance or even a lightweight Christensen Arms semi-automatic rifle chambered in 308 Winchester Magnum with a threaded barrel.

But we can’t sell you those kind of popular models not for this kind of money.

The Christensen Arms Modern Precision, too, is way out this price range. As is every single Black Rain Ordnance. We can’t even afford a Smith & Wesson M&P15 Sport here. Definitely not a Smith & Wesson Performance Center, even with gift cards.

You’re not getting close to even a cheap Sako either. Or a Browning X-Bolt Sad huh?

Rimfires Get Pricey Too

There are rimfire rifle options way beyond our price point. Yes the high price, high spec Magnum Research, TandemKross and more would eat this budget as a deposit.

But you can get a semi-auto Radical Firearms AR-15 for more or less $500, depending on the day. And you can pick up a very solid 308 Winchester Magnum rifle, as you’ve seen.

The Springfield Armory Saint semi-auto rifle will probably cost you nearer the $1000 AR-15 mark. But do a search, organize the price low to high and you might spring a surprise or three.

The best selling Christensen Arms Modern Precision is one of our favorite sniper rifles these days, by the way. That is seriously high price, high spec gear.

Outdoor Clothing While You’re Here?

We keep meaning to do more on fishing clothing, pants, shorts, water shoes, base layers, boots, rubber waders and all that jazz. For shooting sports, if you need a tenuous link.

Outdoor cooking stuff, grills, smokers, camp stoves and fishing accessories, too. We do try. But we’re not going to lie, we find them boring. We like outdoor cooking, but not talking about it.

Now we did get through knives, tools and some other stuff, And we are trying.

So we promise to do more water shoes, pants, shorts, base layers and fishing clothing. But not today. Fishing accessories and outdoor cooking? yeah one day, but no pressure OK? When the time is right…

Right now we want to focus on semi-automatic rifles, shooting accessories and cleaning supplies.

We Definitely Can Sell You a Cheap Concealed Carry Pistol and gun safes, Gun Parts etc

If you want a cheap concealed carry pistol that runs on frugal handgun ammo, then check out the top selling Taurus GX4 PSA Dagger, Stoeger and Mossberg CCW pistols here.

• Subcompact carry pistols you need in your life.

What About Shotgun Ammo, Rimfire Ammo, Rifle Ammo, Handgun Ammo Etc

Yes we got all those things. You know it, especially rifle ammo, 308 Winchester ammo, and more pump action shotgun ammo, rifles, semi-automatic rifles, all that…

44 Magnum ammo and 357 Magnum ammo is pretty hard to find these days. 308 Winchester Magnum ammo, is getting scarcer and specialty rounds like 6.5mm Creedmoor, big bore S&W ammo and 338 Lapua Magnum are really turning into a mission. So stock up on ammo where you find it, is our basic advice.

You can start here.

• Palmetto State Armory – Great rifle ammunition, 45 ACP ammo and bulk deals on offer.
• Sportsman’s Guide – Rifle ammunition, 44 Magnum ammo, 45 ACP ammo, top selling bulk deals.

You want to buy clothes online?

We would love to sell shoes, boots, training equipment, shirts, tops, pants, accessories, socks and more. Now we have already started selling shoes, boots, shirts, tops, pants and training equipment, but not much.

Shoes/Boots is a big field on its own and accessories, socks and training equipment could take a lot of the time we currently spend on guns. It is what it is…

So we will work on shoes, boots, training equipment etc, and we’re big fans of casual boots ourselves. But bear with us. All in good time.

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