Between Gun Wants, and Gun Buys

We all say that we “Want” that next cool gun… But the reality is that Want isn’t the same thing as “That’s the next on the list after this payday” sort of thing.  I’ve said that I want probably every gun on the market at one point or another.

For example, the Ruger Scout Rifle.   You bet, I wanted that.  Still want it.  But then the actual practicality of it comes home to roost and when it comes right down to spending my own actual dollars on it – I really don’t think I’ll be buying the Ruger Scout any time soon.  Instead, I’d probably buy a Savage Scout, or the Savage Hog Hunter.

I say I’d really like to buy a Browning Hi-Power.  In reality I’ll probably end up with a CZ 75 variant of some sort.  Probably the 75 BD POLICE model.

This isn’t so much “settling” for a lesser gun or anything like that, but it’s more like taking a stern look at the realities of price and availability or making a more rational decision on something more practical for your actual use.

Examples of this abound in my Gun History.  How about yours?

21 thoughts on “Between Gun Wants, and Gun Buys”

  1. Lots of guns I want. But I already have more than I can do justice to. I get a wide variety of guns because they’re interesting or I have specific uses. The LR-308 is kinda heavy for these old arms to carry hunting every day. The 5,56 isn’t as much as I want for hogs, so I built a 6.8. That sort of thing. But I’m running out of space, and have several safe queens I can’t stand to get rid of.
    But I still want an 1866 like my great great grandpa owned. And I need a 10mm. And a small revolver. And another 1911 but in 9 because a radio host says they’re the best guns to shoot…and a Red Ryder BB gun.

  2. I would never buy a CZ 75 with a decocker, I’ve done trigger jobs on enough CZs to know that a decocker is both superfluous and only makes the mechanism more complex. I personally own two CZ Shadow SP01’s and wouldn’t want anything else.

  3. I agree with Patrick–go with the safety model CZ-75 or get one of the newer models that allow you to switch between the decocker/safety. If you like 1911s and BHPs why would you want a decocker anyway?

  4. Every damn time I walk into a gun shop/show…

    Okay, in all seriousness, I’d been lusting after a Mannlicher-Schoenauer M1903 Carbine with a full-length stock and double-set triggers since I first laid eyes on one. Well, a few months back I ran across a beautiful example of one at a gun show… and got the Powers-That-Be to agree to let it into the house! Then the logical part of my brain spoke up and reminded me that I really didn’t have $2k to drop on a rifle to begin with, and especially not one that’s chambered in a proprietary, obsolete cartridge that is nearly impossible to find and costs upwards of $3/round when you do. So I walked away.

  5. okay here goes. would like to have an ar15, but for serious times I would like to have an m1a variant. now most would say ok socom 16 is the way to go and I would agree, but would I be better off with the ranch rifle with its 18″ barrel? what is the velocity difference between the 18″ and 16″ barrels also what is the noise level difference. yeah I know to use hearing protection, but in many real world situations putting on your hearing protection may not be possible. for most this would not be an issue, but I have 50% hearing loss as it is so it is an issue with me. of course there are suppressors, but after scrounging up the bucks for the gun its going take a while until I can afford a suppressor. on the other hand if I could afford an ohio ordinance BAR that’s what I would have. I would he he he I love one of those and screw the hearing protection, I mean who needs to listen to other peoples b. s. anyway.

    1. “socom 16 is the way to go and I would agree, but would I be better off with the ranch rifle with its 18″ barrel? what is the velocity difference between the 18″ and 16″ barrels”

      See

      http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2015/02/04/rifleshooter-coms-barrel-length-velocity-tests/

      Rifleshooter . com’s Barrel Length And Velocity Tests
      posted 4 hours ago by Nathaniel F

      Following up on their test of 5.56mm and .300 Winchester Magnum ammunition velocities through different barrel lengths, Rifleshooter . com has posted a velocity vs. barrel length examination of .308 Winchester. One of the most well-balanced and versatile .30 caliber rounds in history, the .308 Winchester proved surprisingly well suited to almost all barrel lengths tested, with Winchester 147gr ammunition ranging from almost 3,000 ft/s from a 28″ barrel to just under 2,700 ft/s from a 16.5″ barrel:

  6. I always want weird stuff. Like a Nambu 94 or some other obsolete gun with obsolete ammo. I do shoot all my odd guns in IDPA matches at least once. Then I return back to my M&P 9mm pro series. Guns are just so damn cool. I love them all

    1. It’s a good period correct buy for SASS shooting. Almost a requirement for the ultra period correct MCOWS crowd.

      Winchester lever actions were generally not sold chambered in Colt brand name cartridges, and a lot of Winchester owners chose .44-40 for Colt pistols to avoid having to carry more than one kind of ammo.

    2. because life is short. which is the same reason I bought a t/c contender with a 10″ 22 hornet barrel and an extra 45 lc/410 barrel.

  7. When it comes to guns, I won’t “settle” for a substitute at a lower price. If I want a particular gun, I wait, scrimp and save, until I can get the exact one that I want. Usually by the time that I have the funds for it, I’ll be able to find a used one and get that.

    That said, I usually don’t buy $1500 guns – I’m more of the $400 to $600 range. I also love finding the odd gun at $200.

  8. When I feel that I “want” something, it can mean one of three things:

    1) Something I’d like to be able to shoot and put through its paces a little bit, mainly out of curiosity.

    2) Something that I really like the idea of but just don’t have a use for and probably wouldn’t shoot a whole lot.

    3) Something that I’m willing to pay money for. Usually #1 turns into #3 if my want doesn’t go away after too long.

  9. I’d keep your eyes open for a used Hi-Power if that’s something that would tickle your fancy. On a whim I picked up a used one several years ago. I think I paid something like $325 for it. The serial number dates it back to the 70’s, and the finish isn’t pretty but is what I’d call “shooter-grade” and it looks like some one hit the trigger repetitively with a nail, but I planned to swap out the trigger and tiny safety for an after market anyways, but then never did. The old school combat sights grew on me, and with hogue wrap around grips it fits my hand like a Belgium glove. Macgar makes some well made and affordable mags for them, and while I don’t shoot it a lot these days, I always like to show it to people and compare it with a 1911.

  10. Want an Ohio Ordinance BAR to join my other .30-06 mil. surp. rifles. And a M-1919 for the same reason. Unless the VA Lottery stops giving my money to total strangers it ain’t gonna happen.

    I did get a used Hi-Power to fulfill one case of the wants.

    Now for a dead accurate .22 rifle.

  11. Personally the vast majority of my gun purchases have always been me just finding a nice piece in a pawn shop or on GB and picking that up. A lot of the later are ‘u-fix’ specials. Restoring such guns have always been a favorite activity of mine.

    That said I do maintain a bit of a list of certain interesting firearms that I always keep a look out for. Usually items that are just interesting rather than guns to be used for defense, hunting, or sport.

  12. Ogre, see post above about a used Hi-Po. Patience is a virtue. I sometimes lack it, but have been pretty disciplined when it comes to firearms. My only possible mistakes, like choosing a rifle in something of an odd ball chambering, have turned out to be good, because rare chamberings become higher value collectables if the rifle is otherwise good. And I handload, so the down side is negligible.

    Save for the classic true Browning FN Hi Power that you really want or trade up for it with something you may not be very fond of in retrospect.

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