EN06 Build Help

I read a few topics on this and thought "Hey, I'll give it a try, I'll start saving up to gear/get ready".

Today I bought a new special load out and started buying the perks I needed/were recommended and got to the weapons...

Pepper Shaker and Auto Axe. Oh, were do I get the... great both sets of plans are gone. I read I can buy those from player vendors, which makes sense, but I don't have the caps really to do that quite yet. Well I do, but I wanted to see if there were other options. I read pepper goes for 15k sometimes. I have 25k.

Are there any other weapons that can sub out for these two?

I know I have a ways to go, so I'm not in a rush. I know I need to get a full set of trouble makers PA to be ready.

Side note: I sell my excess junk at my vendor quite frequently. What in the heck are people using it for? Seems like once you get the plans/scrap enough you farm all the mods but... are people buying 2k steel just for that?