I odn't mean to suggest you should completley disregard cheap guns, either. They have thier time and place.
I've just added 2 Stevens to my collection, but I bought them for specific purposes, rather than just becaiuse they were cheap.
I bought the 223 as an inexpensive practice rifle, so I didn't have to burn tons of powder when ever I wanted a little range time, and as a good 'starter centerfire' for new people. It has morphed into a coyote gun as well.''
The Stevens 30-06 was bought as a truck gun, so I wouldn't have to put my expensive guns at risk of theft/damage.
For both rifles I already had scopes that I was not using.
Had I not wanted/needed these rifles for that purpose, i wouldn't have bought them simply because they were 'cheap.'
If I was a young guy just starting out, and I was on a budget, I'd buy a Stevens 223, a Stevens 30-06 and a Norinco 12gu 870 clone. (Or similar used rifles in good condition)
You would be able to hunt anything in North America with that set up,a n you could go for years.
As time and finances permitted, I'd beef up the collection not with a bunch of other cheap guns, but with a couple of very fine rifles. Maybe you like your 30-06 so you get a 30-06 built for you, for example.
Alot of guys have regular hunting rilfes in 308, 270, 30-06, 7RM. And they are thinking about adding a 280 to the collection...
What is the point unless the 280 is remarkably different than the other guns? You would be better off selling 3 of the guns and using one action to build the custom rifle you always wanted.
And we would probably all be better off if we sold a rifle or 2 and used the $$ to pay for a fly in hunt somewhere...
