Depends on what you're looking for, You can buy inexpensive shotguns for around $50 and Some lower quality handguns for less than $100. Surplus military rifles can be had from as low as $49 for Russian Mosin Nagant's to $350 to $400 for Romanian AK-47's Good quality handguns generally start at around $300 these days and can go into the thousand dollar range. Go to garage or yard sales and all that goes out the window. I have purchased very good quality rifles and handguns at yard sales in the $75 to $200 range frequently. Quality name brand hunting rifles start at around $300 and go steadily up in the $1,000 range. My favorite Rifle (A Sharps single Shot Buffalo rifle) cost me $2,000. My Remington 700 PSS in .308 was around $1800 by the time I got all the goodies for it. I still have a $60 shotgun and an old .357 magnum handgun that I payed $200 for that are always in my truck. (good quality pistol, I just bought years ago when it was cheaper specifically to carry in my truck) It really depends on what your looking for. I know people who have a couple thousand tied up in really tricked out AR-15's and fancy hunting rifles. If you are looking for just a good quality knock around semi auto .22 you can get a new Ruger 10-22 for around $180 or a used one for $75-$100. Add a Nice condition used Smith & Wesson 357 revolver for $250 and it's a hard combination to beat for quality and price.

What do you consider expensive. Str8man spelled it out pretty good. A hundred bucks and you're blasting away...if you need some fancy high-powered surgical firearm better get out your checkbook.

Apparenly they aren't too expensive since a majority of the bad guys got them.