So i've found so many bows in this game but no real guns to speak of... Bows need Str and Dex, but i sort of wanted to do a laser/plasma guy which are mainly dex and int...

im 35 hours with only hunters armor and the cultivator bow. Whats the secret to finding decent rifles and armor, everything kills in a few hits, and almost all the mobs are (SKULL) to me.

I'm playing a plasma/laser rifle specialist. Can't recall when I picked up my first plasma or laser rifle, but it was fairly early on. You'll need to get to Hort (the Cleric stronghold in Ignadon). There's an encounter that will take you there, or you can find a specific teleporter that's connected to the one in Hort. You can buy one there. Or you can get lucky and find one, but I don't recall where I've found them. Not sure if the outlaws have them for sale. Oh, you may be able to get one at the Domed City, if you can make your way there.

Other than that, travel with a companion and find high ground to fight from until you can get your hands on a decent weapon.

In any event, upgrade your rifles as soon as you can. It makes a huge difference. I went from being barely able to handle one weak creature to being able to take down trolls easily with an upgraded plasma rifle. With the knockback/knockdown effect, it's almost an instant 'I win' button.

*edit* Typical for a PB game, you really won't get much better armor (you can get slightly better pieces, but nothing major) until you join a faction.