Ask a group of preppers what the best gun is for survival and you’ll get a different answer from each of them. The truth is, there is no one best gun on the market. When gun enthusiasts talk about their “best” gun, they are usually basing it on the kind of shooting they do. One might be thinking about hunting small game, while others might be coming from a self-defense mindset. Then there is the cost to think about: Most quality firearms aren’t cheap by any standard. Popular models are almost always expensive. This creates confusion for the beginner prepper, who often has too much information to digest.

This article attempts to lift some of the confusion. While by no means extensive or exhaustive, our goal is to offer some great budget-friendly alternatives to some of the more popular firearms out there.

Pistol – Canik TP9 SFx FDE Competition Grade Pistol

For the average prepper, the Glock 17 is a nice pistol to have. This pistol does take a little getting used to, but once you’ve practiced enough with it, the Glock 17 is arguably one of the best survival pistols in the market. In general, Glocks are all good, serviceable pistols. The Glock 17 is a full-sized 9mm Luger. Considering that 9mm is one of the more popular pistol calibers, there is a better chance of finding 9mm ammo post-SHTF.

If you are looking for a more budget-friendly alternative to the Glock 17, we recommend the Canik TP9 SFx 9mm. While not really well-known in the country, the Turkey-made pistol is a well-designed gun. One advantage of this pistol is that the slide is designed in such a manner that you can easily grip it just anywhere to rack it. The Canik TP9 also comes with an 18-round magazine, which gives you one more round of capacity over the Glock 17.

Tactical shotgun — Standard Manufacturing DP-12

Shotguns are a prepper favorite because they are one of the best deterrents from a potential attacker. One of the more popular tactical shotgun models is the KelTec KSG Bullpup Shotgun — 12 gauge. With a bullpup design that allows for an overall length of only 26.11 inches, and an 18.5-inch barrel, you can get one without having to get the ATF tax stamp. The shotgun also carries a dual magazine, allowing you to load a total of 17 rounds. This means that you can load both buckshots and slugs, without having to worry about remembering what order you loaded them in.

A nice alternative for the KelTec KSG is the Standard Manufacturing DP-12. The gun is actually easier to shoot compared to the KelTec, and comes with a good butt pad and cheek pad, which the KSG does not have. (Related: Shotgun myths that a lot of preppers still believe (but can get you killed).)

Hunting rifle — Howa 1500 Varmint

If there was one hunting rifle that might be claimed by most as the “best” there is, it’d probably be the Remington 700. First marketed in 1962, the rifle is a favorite among hunters and had been used by the U.S. Army as a sniper rifle as well. The Remington may have a simple design, but it is coupled with quality workmanship and provides a reliable, accurate rifle for any need.

If you are looking for a lower-cost alternative, we would recommend the Howa 1500. The name may seem unfamiliar to most, but Howa has been producing firearms in Japan for decades now. The rifle has been reviewed to be an excellent alternative to the Remington and is one of the better designed models for this class of rifles.

Read more gun suggestion articles and reviews at Guns.news.

Sources include:

Survivopedia.com

AmmoLand.com

ShootingIllustrated.com

ShootingUK.co.uk