How Much Do Guns Cost? Complete Gun Prices Guide (2026)

Last updated March 16th 2026

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Quick Answer: What Do Guns Cost in 2026?

If you’re wondering how much a gun costs, here’s the honest answer: it depends on what you’re buying and what you want from it. A basic home defense shotgun can run under $200, while a high-end competition pistol can top $5,000. Most first-time buyers end up spending between $400 and $700 on the gun itself.

The table below gives you real-world street prices (not inflated MSRPs) across every major category. These are what you’ll actually pay at online retailers in 2026, not what the manufacturer wishes you’d pay.

Those ranges reflect what you’ll find searching across 100+ retailers using our live pricing tools. Budget guns aren’t junk anymore. Mid-range is the sweet spot for most shooters. And premium gets you fit, finish, and features that serious enthusiasts appreciate.

Keep reading for specific model recommendations at every price point, live pricing comparisons, and the hidden costs most first-time buyers forget about.

Handgun Prices

Handguns are the most popular category for first-time buyers, and for good reason. Whether you need a concealed carry gun, a nightstand gun, or something to take to the range on weekends, there’s a pistol at every price point. According to NSSF data, handguns account for roughly 60 percent of all firearms sold in the United States each year.

Handgun prices are driven by a few key factors: brand reputation, materials (polymer frame vs. steel vs. alloy), manufacturing process (cast vs. forged vs. CNC machined), and country of origin. A polymer-framed striker-fired pistol from a high-volume manufacturer will always cost less than a steel-framed hammer-fired gun from a boutique maker. Neither is “better” in absolute terms; they just serve different purposes at different price points.

Budget Handguns ($200–$400)

Ten years ago, a sub-$300 handgun was a gamble. Today it’s a legitimate option. The Taurus G3C runs around $249 street price and has become one of the best-selling handguns in America for a reason: it works. I’ve seen these go thousands of rounds without a hiccup at range sessions.

The Palmetto State Armory Dagger is another standout at roughly $299. It’s essentially a Glock 19 clone that takes Glock magazines and accessories, at nearly half the price of the real thing. The Ruger Security-9 fills out this tier at around $349, offering Ruger’s reputation for reliability at an entry-level price.

If you’re on a tight budget, don’t let anyone tell you these guns aren’t good enough. They’re reliable, accurate enough for self-defense distances, and come with decent warranties. The Taurus G3C in particular comes with three 12-round magazines, which saves you $60 to $80 right out of the box compared to competitors that ship with just one or two.

One thing to watch at this price: some budget handguns skip features like an accessory rail (for mounting a light) or optic-ready slides. If you plan to add a red dot sight or weapon light later, make sure the gun supports it before you buy. The PSA Dagger, for example, comes in optic-ready configurations at the same price. For more options at this price point, check out our best cheap guns guide.

Mid-Range Handguns ($400–$700)

This is where most experienced shooters land, and where I’d point any first-time buyer who can stretch the budget. The Glock 19 at roughly $550 is the default recommendation for a reason: proven reliability, massive aftermarket, and every holster manufacturer supports it. It’s not exciting, but it just works.

The Sig Sauer P365 changed the concealed carry market when it launched, and at around $499 it remains the king of micro-compact 9mm pistols. If you want something slightly larger, the Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Compact hovers around $500 and has one of the best factory triggers in this price range. The CZ P-10 C at approximately $450 is the sleeper pick that CZ fans swear by.

At this tier, you’re getting guns that military and law enforcement agencies actually issue. The reliability is essentially guaranteed, the ergonomics are refined, and the resale value holds well. If you ever decide to sell or trade, a used Glock 19 in good condition still fetches $400 to $450. Try that with a budget brand.

My honest recommendation for most first-time buyers: save up for this tier if you can. The difference between a $300 gun and a $500 gun is bigger than the difference between a $500 gun and a $1,000 gun. You’re paying for better triggers, more consistent quality control, and holster/accessory availability that makes the ownership experience much smoother. For a deep dive on the best options, see our compact 9mm guide.

Premium Handguns ($700–$2,000+)

Once you cross the $700 threshold, you’re paying for fit, finish, and prestige. The Sig Sauer P226 Legion at roughly $1,300 is a work of art with its SRT trigger and Legion gray finish. It’s the kind of gun you buy because you’ve been shooting for years and want something special.

Go higher and you’re into Wilson Combat territory at $3,000+, Staccato 2011 pistols starting around $2,500, and custom shop builds that can easily hit $5,000. These are guns for competition shooters, collectors, and enthusiasts who want the absolute best trigger pull, tightest tolerances, and hand-fitted parts.

The $700 to $1,200 range is worth mentioning separately. This is where you find guns like the HK VP9 (~$700), Walther PDP (~$650), and Beretta 92X (~$750). These are well-established brands with excellent triggers and build quality. For many experienced shooters, this sub-tier represents the point of diminishing returns where you’re getting 95 percent of the quality at half the cost of the $1,500+ guns.

Are premium handguns “worth it” for a first-time buyer? Honestly, no. But if you’ve been shooting for a while and want to treat yourself, the difference in quality is real and tangible. You can feel it in every trigger press. The action on a Wilson Combat is like butter compared to any production gun. Check out our custom pistol roundup for the best options at this level.

Rifle Prices

Rifles cover the widest range of use cases: home defense, hunting, target shooting, long-range precision, and everything in between. The price range is equally wide, starting under $200 for a basic .22 LR plinker and climbing past $10,000 for precision long-range builds.

The two biggest categories are AR-15 style semi-automatic rifles (chambered in 5.56/.223) and bolt-action hunting rifles (chambered in everything from .243 Winchester to .300 Win Mag). If you’re not sure which type you need, an AR-15 in 5.56 is the most versatile first rifle: low recoil, cheap ammunition, and useful for home defense, target shooting, and varmint hunting.

Budget Rifles ($300–$700)

The Palmetto State Armory PA-15 has done more to democratize the AR-15 than any other product. At roughly $499, you get a complete, functional AR-15 that shoots MOA-ish groups and will run reliably for thousands of rounds. I’ve recommended these to dozens of first-time AR buyers and nobody has come back disappointed.

For bolt-action hunters, the Ruger American sits around $450 and comes in seemingly every caliber ever invented. The Mossberg Patriot is another solid choice at approximately $400. Both are accurate enough to take deer cleanly at 200+ yards, which is all most hunters actually need.

Don’t overlook .22 LR rifles in this tier either. The Ruger 10/22 at around $250 to $300 is the single most popular rifle in America, and .22 LR ammunition costs roughly $0.05 to $0.08 per round. If you want a gun for learning fundamentals and cheap target practice, nothing beats a .22 LR. The Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 (around $400) gives you an AR-15 platform in .22 LR for even cheaper training.

Budget rifles in 2026 are legitimately impressive. The manufacturing improvements over the last decade mean a $500 rifle today outperforms what a $1,000 rifle did in 2015. CNC machining and modern barrel-making technology have trickled down to the budget tier in ways that benefit every buyer. Browse our budget hunting rifle guide for more picks.

Mid-Range Rifles ($700–$1,500)

This is the tier where rifles start to genuinely impress. The IWI Zion-15 at around $850 is arguably the best factory AR-15 for the money, with a cold hammer-forged barrel and B5 furniture that would cost $200+ to add to a budget AR. It punches well above its price class.

For bolt guns, the Bergara B-14 HMR at roughly $900 has become the default recommendation in the precision rifle community. Sub-MOA accuracy out of the box, a smooth action, and a stock that actually lets you get behind the scope properly. The Savage 110 High Country at approximately $1,000 offers similar accuracy with Savage’s excellent AccuTrigger system.

The Springfield Armory Saint Victor (~$950) and Aero Precision complete rifles (~$800 to $1,000) also deserve mentions in the AR-15 space. Both offer free-float handguards, upgraded triggers, and better barrels than what you get in the budget tier. If you’re building rather than buying complete, Aero Precision receivers and Brownells parts kits can get you a very capable rifle at mid-range prices.

At this price point, you’re getting rifles that can genuinely compete. I’ve seen Bergara B-14s shoot half-MOA groups with factory match ammo, which would have required a custom build a decade ago. For our full AR-15 recommendations, see the best AR-15 guide.

Premium Rifles ($1,500–$3,000+)

The Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 at roughly $1,800 is the gold standard for duty-grade AR-15s. You’re paying for a cold hammer-forged barrel, mil-spec everything, and a level of quality control that justifies the price for hard-use guns. The Sig MCX Spear LT sits around $2,200 and represents the next generation of modular rifle platforms.

For precision rifle shooters, the sky is truly the limit. A Barrett MRAD starts at approximately $4,000, and custom precision builds from GA Precision or Surgeon Rifles can easily run $5,000 to $8,000. These are purpose-built tools for shooters chasing tight groups at 1,000+ yards.

Premium rifles make the most sense when you have a specific mission. If you’re building a competition rifle, deploying with a SWAT team, or shooting PRS matches at 1,200 yards, the extra money buys real performance. For general range use or deer hunting, save your money and stay in the mid-range tier.

One important note on rifle pricing: the gun is just the beginning. Budget $200 to $500 for an optic (a Vortex Crossfire II or Sig Romeo5 for AR-15s, a Vortex Diamondback for bolt guns), $30 to $80 for a sling, and potentially $50 to $150 for a bipod if you’re shooting at distance. A $500 rifle with a $300 scope will outshoot a $1,500 rifle with iron sights at anything past 100 yards. Prioritize glass. More premium picks in our AR-15 guide.

Shotgun Prices

Shotguns offer the lowest barrier to entry in the firearms world. They’re versatile (home defense, bird hunting, trap shooting, deer hunting with slugs) and some of the most affordable options are also the most proven. A pump-action shotgun is the simplest mechanical action to learn, and 12-gauge ammunition is available at every sporting goods store in America.

The shotgun market splits into two main categories: pump-action and semi-automatic. Pump guns are cheaper, simpler, and nearly impossible to jam if you work the action properly. Semi-autos are faster for follow-up shots and produce less felt recoil, but they cost more and can be picky about ammunition (especially at the budget end). Here’s the price breakdown for both.

Budget Shotguns ($200–$500)

The Mossberg Maverick 88 is the undisputed king of budget shotguns. At roughly $199, it’s the least expensive firearm on this entire list, and it’s genuinely reliable. It shares most of its parts with the Mossberg 500 and has been putting food on tables and defending homes for decades. If someone tells me they need a home defense gun and their budget is $250, this is what I recommend every single time.

Step up to the Mossberg 500 at approximately $400 and you get a more refined version with a better safety, more finish options, and a wider selection of barrels. The Remington 870 Express used to dominate this tier, but quality control issues in the late 2010s pushed many buyers to Mossberg. The 870 is making a comeback under new ownership, but Mossberg remains the safer bet.

If you want a semi-auto in this range, the Stoeger M3000 at roughly $450 to $500 is the entry point. It uses Benelli’s inertia-driven system and runs reliably with standard loads. Just avoid the cheapest birdshot for the first 100 rounds while it breaks in. For more pump-action options, check our best pump shotguns guide.

Mid-Range and Premium Shotguns ($500–$2,000+)

The Mossberg 590A1 at roughly $550 is the military-spec pump shotgun. Heavy-walled barrel, metal trigger guard, and a reputation earned through actual military service. It’s the shotgun equivalent of buying a Glock: not flashy, but overbuilt and reliable.

When people talk about premium semi-auto shotguns, the conversation starts and ends with the Benelli M4 at approximately $1,800. It’s the shotgun the U.S. Marine Corps chose, and it runs everything from light birdshot to heavy slugs without adjustment. Yes, it costs as much as some rifles, but it’s also one of the most reliable semi-auto shotguns ever produced.

Between those two extremes, the Beretta 1301 Tactical (around $1,200) and Benelli M2 (around $1,300) offer excellent semi-auto performance. For bird hunters, Browning Citori over-unders start around $1,800 and competition-grade Beretta 694s run about $2,500. Dive deeper in our home defense shotgun guide.

1911 Prices

The 1911 deserves its own section because no other platform spans a wider price range. You can buy a functional 1911 for $450 or spend $50,000 on a hand-engraved masterpiece. The design is over 100 years old, and the aftermarket is enormous. Here’s how the pricing breaks down.

At the entry level, the Rock Island Armory GI model runs approximately $450. It’s a no-frills, mil-spec 1911 that shoots well and has become the default recommendation for anyone who wants to experience the platform without breaking the bank. The Springfield Armory Mil-Spec sits around $600 and adds some modern refinements like a lowered ejection port and beveled magazine well.

The mid-range gets interesting. The Springfield Range Officer at roughly $800 adds target sights and a match barrel. Kimber Custom II models hover around $850 to $1,000 and offer better cosmetics with their polished finishes. The Dan Wesson Specialist at approximately $1,700 starts pushing into semi-custom territory with hand-fitted parts and 25-yard accuracy that’s genuinely impressive.

At the top end, Wilson Combat CQB pistols start around $3,500, Ed Brown builds run $3,000 to $4,000, and Nighthawk Custom guns sit in similar territory. These are hand-built, one-at-a-time firearms with fit and finish that mass production simply cannot match. And if money is truly no object, Cabot Guns produces 1911s from meteorite iron starting at $50,000 (yes, really).

One thing to understand about 1911 pricing: you’re paying for hand-fitting. A mass-produced 1911 has looser tolerances (which actually helps with reliability), while a $3,000+ custom gun has every part fitted by hand for tighter lockup and better accuracy. Both approaches have merit. The Rock Island runs like a tank because the parts have room to move. The Wilson Combat shoots tiny groups because everything is precision-mated.

Also consider caliber when budgeting for a 1911. While .45 ACP is the classic chambering, many manufacturers now offer 9mm and 10mm versions. A 9mm 1911 costs less to feed at the range ($0.25/round vs. $0.40/round for .45 ACP), which adds up fast if you shoot regularly. For new 1911 buyers, I’d suggest starting in the $450 to $800 range to see if you like the platform before investing in a premium build. Browse our best 1911 roundup and custom 1911 guide for detailed reviews.

Hidden Costs: What Else You Need to Budget

The price tag on the gun is just the starting point. Every first-time buyer I’ve talked to underestimates what the total investment looks like. Here’s everything you need to budget for beyond the firearm itself.

The rule of thumb: plan for 1.5x to 2x the cost of the gun for your total first-gun budget. If you buy a $500 pistol, expect to spend $750 to $1,000 total once you add ammunition, a holster, a safe, and a training class. It sounds like a lot, but responsible gun ownership has real costs, and cutting corners on training or storage is never smart.

Let me break down a realistic example. Say you buy a Glock 19 for $550. Add a Kydex holster ($60), two extra magazines ($50), a basic gun safe ($250), a box of defensive ammunition ($30), 200 rounds of practice ammo ($60), a cleaning kit ($25), eye and ear protection ($50), and a basic pistol course ($150). That’s $1,225 total, or about 2.2x the cost of the gun itself. It’s a real investment, but you’re set up properly and safely.

The good news: most of these are one-time purchases. After the initial setup, your ongoing cost is just ammunition and occasional range fees. A typical range session burns 100 to 200 rounds, so budget $25 to $50 per trip for 9mm. Most shooters go once or twice a month. For a full walkthrough of the buying process (especially for online purchases), read our how to buy guns online guide.

How to Save Money on Guns

You don’t have to pay full retail. There are legitimate ways to save 10 to 30 percent on firearms if you know where to look and when to buy. Here are the strategies I’ve seen work consistently.

Shop the Holiday Sales

Black Friday, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day are the big ones. Palmetto State Armory runs especially aggressive sales during these windows, sometimes dropping AR-15 kits below $300 and bundling free magazines or ammunition with pistol purchases. Brownells and Guns.com also run notable promotions during these periods.

Buy Police Trade-Ins

When police departments upgrade their duty weapons, the old guns get sold through licensed dealers. You can pick up a used Glock 17 or Glock 19 for $350 to $400, which is $150+ less than new. These guns typically show holster wear on the outside but have relatively low round counts. Glocks in particular are nearly indestructible, so a police trade-in with cosmetic wear still has tens of thousands of rounds of life left.

Use Live Pricing Comparison

Prices vary significantly between retailers. The same Glock 19 might be $549 at one store and $499 at another, with different shipping costs and transfer fee policies on top of that. I’ve seen price differences of over $100 on the same gun between two legitimate online retailers. Our pricing widgets above search across 100+ online retailers to show you the actual lowest price available right now. Bookmark this page and check back before you buy.

Buy During Rebate Season

Several major manufacturers run rebate programs throughout the year. Sig Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Springfield Armory, and Ruger all offer periodic mail-in or instant rebates of $25 to $100. These stack with retailer sales, so you can sometimes save $150+ on a single purchase. Check manufacturer websites before buying, and ask your dealer if there are any active promotions.

Consider Budget Brands That Actually Work

Palmetto State Armory, Taurus (specifically the G3C and G3), and Mossberg’s Maverick line have proven that budget doesn’t mean unreliable. These companies have invested heavily in manufacturing quality and pushed entry-level prices to historic lows. A $250 Taurus G3C in 2026 is a better gun than a $500 pistol from 2010. The G3C in particular has earned a strong reputation in the concealed carry community with positive reviews from independent testers who have put thousands of rounds through them.

Another money-saving tip: don’t buy everything at once. Get the gun, a basic holster, and enough ammo for a training class first. The fancy red dot sight, upgraded trigger, and weapon light can wait until you’ve put 500 rounds through the gun and actually know what you want to change. Too many new gun owners spend $300 on accessories before they’ve even learned to shoot the stock gun properly.

For retailer-specific deals, see our best online gun stores guide and our PSA buyers guide.

How Gun Prices Have Changed (2020–2026)

If you tried to buy a gun in 2020 or 2021, you probably remember the pain. The combination of a global pandemic, civil unrest, and a contentious presidential election created the largest surge in firearms demand in American history. NICS background checks hit 39.7 million in 2020 and stayed elevated through 2021. Prices spiked 30 to 50 percent across the board, and popular models like the Glock 19 and any AR-15 were nearly impossible to find in stock.

By 2022 and into 2023, supply chains normalized and manufacturers caught up with demand. Prices started falling back toward pre-pandemic levels. Ammunition was the last category to stabilize: 9mm peaked at over $0.50 per round during the panic and took until late 2022 to return to the $0.25 to $0.30 range.

In 2024 through 2026, the market has settled into what I’d call a buyer’s golden era. Prices are at or below pre-pandemic levels for most categories, and budget manufacturers have expanded their lineups significantly. PSA now offers complete pistols, AR-15s, AR-10s, and AK-47s at price points that would have seemed impossible in 2019. Taurus has shed its old reputation with genuinely reliable sub-$300 pistols.

The biggest shift has been at the bottom of the market. Entry-level prices have dropped while quality has gone up, making gun ownership more accessible than ever. The introduction of companies like PSA, along with Taurus’s quality renaissance and increased competition from Turkish imports in the shotgun market, has created downward price pressure across all categories.

Ammunition prices have followed a similar trajectory. In early 2021, 9mm ammo was selling for $0.50 to $0.75 per round when you could find it at all. Today in 2026, bulk 9mm runs $0.22 to $0.28 per round, .223/5.56 sits around $0.30 to $0.38 per round, and even .45 ACP has come down to $0.35 to $0.45 per round. If you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to buy your first gun, the pricing environment in 2026 is about as good as it gets.

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