For SHTF survival?
Bulgarian AK (do your homework though)
Springfield XD 40 or 45. (Fill it with sand, submerge in h20, or drop it off a 100 ft. cliff it'll still fire and it holds lots of ammo)
S&W snubby 38spl. or 357 as an ankle or boot gun.

I just saw an AR online for like $895, is that a normal price for a brand new one?

In the end times (if that is what your looking at) your arms will only lead you to your own death. Sorry, just some realism unless you get a community together.

Weapons will lead you unto your own self destruction if you are not in allegiance with others. I would not be afraid of you if you had your pea shooter and I wanted your food.

You would be a fly too swat and get out of my way. Weapons.....duh.

My opinion for SHTF guns are to plan for the ammo not the guns themselves. In a post apocalyptic zombie horde scenario think of where you can obtain ammo. Unless you plan on lugging around ammo cans or cases of ammo for your guns you may have to scrounge or barter for more.

Military and law enforcement typically use 5.56mm (.223 Remington) as a rifle round and 9x19mm Parabellum (9mm Luger) for pistol rounds. 12 gauge shotgun shells are used by police, military and millions of sportsmen.

.45 ACP and .40 S&W are also pretty popular semiautomatic pistol cartridges and have a bit more knockdown power than the 9mm.

Personally, I'm partial to the .308 Winchester (7.62x51mm NATO) for a reach out and touch someone rifle round. It's popular with sportsmen and military and police snipers as well.

Unless Russia or China invades, chances of getting your hands on some AK or SKS ammo (7.62x39mm) after you run out might be tough.

Just my two cents.

If money is at all an issue don't get anything HK. They are very nice weapons, but extremely expensive for what you get.

I'd suggest, for a pistol, to look into either a .357sig or 10mm Glock. Full size or compact is depending upon your requirements. Cheaper than HK and just as reliable IMHO. 9mm would also be an option, and while less powerful than 10mm of 357, ammo is probably going to be a lot easier to find after TSHTF. Weigh these aspects as you will.

For a rifle, you are going to spark off the whole ARvsAK debate, but that tells you one thing, get either an AK or AR heh. I personally, for a SHTF scenario, would prefer an AK, which is why I own an IOTec AK. Extremely reliable, accuracy at long range isn't the best, but honestly you shouldn't be engaging an enemy at over 50 yards in a SHTF situation. If you are that far away it's easy to simply run away. I used to own a Bushmaster, as had far more problems with that then my current AK, so that's where I'm coming from.

If you do get an AR platform rifle I'd suggest getting one that is pistol driven system instead of direct impingement. Direct impingement ARs gunk up a lot quicker than pistol driven (which is what the AK uses) ones.

It would be a good idea to go to a range and try and rent the guns you plan on buying to make sure they are to your liking. Just because something looks good on paper doesn't mean that you are actually going to like it when you get it.

Ok...Lots of advice has been given here and I don't want to make you feel crowded OP. But there's a lot more discussion about AR vs. AK than there is actually giving you advice on the matter.

Things to consider when picking out a rifle for serious defense:

1. Your level of experience

2. What you are comfortable with as far as recoil

3. How much ammo you want to carry

4. What ammo is most readily available

5. What rifle parts are most readily available.

AK 47 rifles are, in fact, reliable and true to their legend. You can abuse the hell out of them and they will keep on going. BUT should something go wrong with the rifle it is much harder to quickly field strip and replace parts in a pinch. Not many gun stores will carry AK parts on the ready as many have to be imported and there are restrictions on that kind of thing. Secondly in a SHTF scenario the most common weapon you will find in the US is NOT going to be the AK 47 or any of it's offshoots. While 7.62x39 ammo is relatively easy to find anywhere, rifles chambered in it are not.

The AR 15 is a highly accurate and dependable rifle. It's parts are very readily available in the US and is a very modular weapon. Meaning if you have an AR lower assembly you can attach an upper to it in nearly any caliber configuration. It's design(straight line gas tube) make the recoil much more manageable and more accurate follow up shots can be made. The AR 15 has evolved a lot in the 40+ years it's been around. The problems of the past are no longer seen or have been greatly minimized as new design techniques, materials, and accessories have improved the overall functionality of this weapon.

The 5.56x45 round(and it's lower pressured twin the .223 Remington) are VERY common in the US and in a pinch you are guaranteed to be able to find some. It is so plentiful, as a matter of fact, that the military regularly sells off surplus of this ammo because they cannot use it all realistically. And that is with 2 ground wars going on.

I am not someone who gets down on the AK 47. I like the rifle just fine and if I were living in the ME or in Russia I would recommend it over the AR 15. But we are not in the ME or in Russia.

Pistols have been covered here pretty well.

But I would recommend you buy new, and here are the brands I would buy in your position:

XD45, Glock 23, Ruger SR9, and anything by S&W.

I hope I've helped a little.