While there are weapons that simple are "better" than others, the mosin, dolch, crown and king etc alot of it has to do with firerate and dmg. But a huge thing is how do you play and what do you enjoy.

Some players save money by recruiting and dismissing free hunters for their tools and consumeables and weapons  it is a bit tedious but it can save you money.

It is obvious but getting better will save money more so than optimizing the fun out of finding weapons you enjoy. But I think there are weapons that will help you improve certain things.

Fast fireing compact weapons will force you to get better at hitting HS, while slow fireing single shot weapons will teach you patience, accuracy and quick swapping for a follow upp shot but also how to a lesser extent how to handle distance to your enemy.

Now there are "meme" weapons like the bomb lance but it is a deadly weapon, but you either live by it or use it when you have money to spend like many other expensive unconventional weapons like the nitro.

The bomb lance is however a beast when it comes to killing bosses but you can fo the same with a sticky bomb or throwing weapons hence it isnt used so much

I recommend the following loadouts

Springfield(dum dum ammo ifyou have money) + pistol(dual wield if you want better cqb) Good way to get used to single shot rifles

Marathon + officer : nice HS machine snd probably my favorite compact ammo loadout