I bought a Rossi .410 youth model for my son' s first gun and it serves that purpose very well. It is " cheap" in that it is made of inexpensive materials (the stock is inexpensive wood, for example). But it is NOT cheap in the area of functionality or safety. It is well-constructed, safe and reliable. I' d say Rossi makes a good utility gun. In other words, it will never be a family heirloom, but it will get the job done.