Guide Budget kit that punches up: Ferro, Kettle, Anvil and an early exit

You do not need Legendaries to make money topside. My reliable cheap kit: Ferro (Common Battle Rifle, 40/shot, single-round mag though - respect the reload) as your ranged pick, or a Kettle (Common AR, 8.5/shot, 30-fire, 20 mag) if you want to hose corners. Backup is always the Anvil (Uncommon Hand Cannon, 40/shot, 6 mag) for the panic 'get off me' shot. Total cost is trivial and none of it hurts to lose. Learn the map on this before you bring the fancy stuff.

This is the loadout I push on every newbie. The Anvil backup specifically saves more runs than any Legendary - a hard-hitting sidearm buys you the half-second to reposition.

Wait the Ferro is a SINGLE round mag? That explains a lot about my last raid. Ok, Kettle it is until my hands stop shaking.

the anvil is the only reason i'm not a full-time cautionary tale. *sounds of several anvils intensifies*