[Sven]

My friend is obsessed with cheap handguns. They aren't necessarily all low quality pieces, but he seems to not want to pay more than $350 for a gun... he has dozens of these inexpensive weapons.

I don't really understand the nature of this type of collecting, and was looking for some insights from the High Road crew about the allure of owning more, cheaper guns VERSUS a few really nice pieces.

As covered before, I'd prefer a few really nice pieces, if I had to choose. You can only use 1 or 2 at a time, anyhow.

[9x19]

Some like Ferraris, others like Chevys... thank goodness we all enjoy the freedom to choose for ourselves, rahter than have to suffer under the choices made by others.

[10-Ring]

I think the variety is there to attract as many possible buyers as possible.

I've tried the 'few quality' gun route, not working...I'm going or QUANTITY TOO! :what:

[Monkeyleg]

I want both, but in the meantime I'm settling for better quality. I could have fifteen or twenty times as many guns if I bought in the under $500 range, but my eye always goes to the fairly expensive stuff.

[QB]

I want as many guns as my finances allow. I currently have about 15 handguns that range from $650 to $1500 each. I tried the "fewer guns that cost more" route last year when I sold most of my handguns and purchased a couple of SVIs. I found that I got "bored" when I didn't have a fairly large selection and ended up purchasing as many guns as I had gotten rid of. Obviously the price of the gun didn't seem to matter, it was the variety.

I must say that I shoot ALL of my guns, some more than others. Each one is different and used in different scenarios. I don't keep any guns that I don't shoot or don't like to shoot. That's why I guess I'll never have "dozens" but if the truth be told, I'd really like to purchase about 5 more that I've had my eye on!!!!!!

Why don't you ask your friend why he likes to have so many guns? I have known someone that was a compulsive "buyer" and really didn't get any pleasure from the guns other than the act of buying them. Would you be asking the same question if he had "dozens" that cost an average of $800 each? In other words, are you really wondering why he has so many or why he has so many inexpensive ones?

[Gewehr98]

Some like Valtros, some like Colts. Can't really fault either choice, can we?:scrutiny:

[Gewehr98]

There's a certain amount of allure in getting one of everything available.

Case in point, those nice East German Makarovs, the Czech CZ-52's, the Argentinian Ballister-Molinas, all quite a bit cheaper than custom 1911's, but each a unique piece of history. I'd wager to say that the fit and finish of an East German Makarov is hard to duplicate in a current commercial handgun for as cheap as the gun is obtainable in surplus channels.

[Min]

I'd rather have quality over quantity.

[Standing Wolf]

Some people buy for the sake of buying.

[MJRW]

There are some inexpensive guns out there that are as good as similar guns of much higher cost. I think Bersas are nicer than Walthers. CZs, Ruger, Makarov, etc. These are all very well made, reliable, and accurate.

[Soap]

I don't that that Sven is trying to look down on people that do that, rather, he is trying to understand them. To be honest, I have no idea why someone would want a bunch of guns like that. I'm interested in finding out why...

[Min]

I think Bersas are nicer than Walthers.

MJRW, I would have to disagree with you. Bersas may be reliable, but they are not nicer than Walthers, especially the new ones made by Smith and Wesson. Bersa's finish is no-nonsense and ugly, the levers, buttons, and other various external parts look like pot metal.

[Derek Zeanah]

..I'm becoming more and more convinced that, at least for me personally, more stuff is generally less fullfilling than a minimalist kit of good stuff.

In photography, that means I'm happier with a Leica M6 and 4 lenses than I was with my Nikon F5 (and 5 lenses, plus flash and spare battery pack) and Hasselblad 500C (and 3 lenses, flash bracket, flash and battery, plus 5 backs) outfit. It's one small bag that weighs less than 10 lbs, versus a rolling camera case and tripod that probably weighed 60 pounde, with all the complexity that comes with it.

My new kit does just enough, and the way I want it done; the other did a boat-load more, but at additional cost, frustration, back-pain, and (worst of all) an indecision about exactly which tool would be best at any particular moment.

(Note that I very strongly believe in backups for critical equipment, but that's not really increasing the burden of the system.)

It's the same with firearms. I've found that a minimalist kit is enough. For me, that's a Glock 9mm for carry, a Turk mauser in scout configuration for hunting, and an AR for when I'm feeling like Skunkabilly. :neener:

That works for me. There's little I can't do with that mix, and if it came down to it there's nothing that really can't be done by a good .30 caliber bolt-gun and a sidearm; I just like having a rifle something like I was issued in the service (and I can still disassemble/reassemble/function check in EIB time, and it's been ten years!)

[MJRW]

The current crop of PPKs, and I've only picked up a few, have had horrible triggers and not a single operating part operated smoothly. I haven't seen a bad bersa finish or even ugly parts (except for that gold plated crap). Old PPKs? Great. New ones? I'd rather take the bersa even if the PPK was available for the same price.

[Skunkabilly]

A big good one, a little good one and a few spares of the same systems ;)

[Pendragon]

I am with Sven and Derek. I like minimalist.

I have a nice 1911, a 4" Model 10 and a 2" J-frame .38

To me, that is a pretty excellent 3 gun battery - sure there are more guns I would like but I trust all my guns and I have enough flexibility while still enough consistency that I feel I can spend time trying to master each one.

If I get more, it will be because I want to keep a few more around the house or in a certain place or my wife needs a Valtro for her or we need another gun for IDPA or whatever.

I am getting ready to buy a Boar Rifle. Going to buy a Handi-Rifle in .45-70 and use the iron sights. $207 at Wally World and if I need a lesser caliber, its $80 for a new bbl. That works for me.

I may down the road, get a Steyer Scout, but mostly because I want to explore the mind of Jeff Cooper.

[Kahr carrier]

Actually if you go the used gun route you can buy a quality gun sometimes for around $350. To each their own everbody has different tastes. Some like quantity some like quality. Some people collect quality pieces in large quantities.:D

[WhoKnowsWho]

I like a little of both, I want everything, but I know I can't. So I mix in some expensive quality with some quantity. But I have yet to get around to the high end expensive. $500 has been my normal mid point, that's why the HK and Kimber have not come home yet.

But I like my inexpensive stuff, the Mak, the M37. And I like my middle stuff, the Sig 225, Glock. And I still like my should have been inexpensive but I paid too much Charles Daly. So I might as well spread the money around for all that I like!

[Smoke]

I'm a "middle of the road" guy.

My passion is 1911 style guns. I have no Browns, Baers, Wilsons.
Nor do I have any Llamas, Firestorms or Dalys.

Most of my guns are between $500 - $800. More or less.

I have a Para Ordnance Limited, Springfield Loaded, Kimber CDP.

I also have a Colt Gov't .380.

I subscribe to the theory that when a lethal force encounter happens I don't want to have to think "What gun am I carrying and where are the controls. All my guns have the safety in the same place, have the same or similar sight picture, and function in exactly the same way.

Lots of cheap guns may be fun, but I like fewer better guns. Rest assured I'd own Baers, Browns and Wilsons if I could afford them.

[MoNsTeR]

It's all about opportunity cost. What else could you do with the $1100 difference between a Kimber Gold Match and a Wilson Classic? A second Gold Match, for one thing. Or 6 cases of 45ACP. Or a decent O/U shotgun. Or three Dillon 550B's. Or a new computer. Or a nice TV. Or or or...

I'm looking to get a 9mm 1911. I sure would like to get an Infinity (est $2500), or have a smith hand build one for me (est $1800). But I'd rather get a Dan Wesson for $600-$700, and maybe later I'll put a little money into it. With the difference, I can buy, y'know, other stuff.

Up to a point, I think 3 $400 guns will always be more interesting than one $1200 gun.

[Handy]

You all should check out http://www.cruffler.com/

This is a site seemingly dedicated to bargain firearms. There is nothing wrong with a bargain, and quite bit right. A bargain is not necessarily "cheap".

A Jennings is cheap.

An FEG Hi-Power clone for $250 is a bargain.

International trade rates and the Soviet surplus market have created a wealth of firearms that are greatly undervalued. The CZ-75 is probably king of the bargain; how much would that cost to import from Bavaria?

Nothing wrong with a good deal. I'm sure those savvy HS2000 shoppers are feeling pretty smug when they look at the price of a Springfield XD.

I know I feel that way about my used $325 hicap G19, and several other deals I've stumbled into in national adds.

[45R]

For me I would always rather have quality over quanity.

Sven,
Maybe your friend is compulsive.
Maybe he loves having more then one toy
Maybe he just likes guns.

Who knows sub 350 dollar guns cant be that bad. You can buy a nice shotgun, a CZ or even an HS2000 pistol. Look at the Maks. They are sub $200 guns that are very accurate!

The main thing is that he's a happy camper.

Best

45R

[NapAttack]

I've been lurking here for a while so this is my first post.

I had to chime in on this one. Sven pegged me to a T. I'm one of the folks that buys the cheaper guns. Reason I do it though is that a higher price tag does not equate to better quality.

I've never paid over $350 for a pistol or $200 for a rifle. Currently I own about 10 pistols, 6 rifles and 2 shotguns, more or less.

Bought a Charles Daly .45 NIB for $299. Maybe the internals are not as well polished as a high dollar pistol but it shoots accurately, and it's never failed. I've never had a problem with it. I like to tinker so I tuned the trigger.

I'm not a benchrest shooter or after extreme accuracy so I have no reason to invest the high dollars.

Yes, I've shot the high dollar race guns. I shot IPSC for 5 years, plan on going back. My CD has a tuned trigger, has never malfunctioned for me. So what exactly am I going to get for the extra $1200? (I'm thinking of the tuned semi-custom pistols offered by Baer, Wilson, Kimber, etc)

You could say that each part is inspected by an expert and hand fitted, but my CD hasn't had that treatment and it has gone bang every time I've pulled the trigger so far and I've been able to hit what I've aimed at.

I guess you could say that if I don't know the difference you can't explain it. My response would be that I'm not willing to pay extra just to have a big name on the slide and if you can't explain exactly what I'm getting for my money I'm not willing to spend the extra bucks.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the high dollar guns, if you want to spend the money, more power to you. I'll still enjoy shooting with you regardless of how much or how little you spent on your guns.

[harrydog]

As I grow older...
..I'm becoming more and more convinced that, at least for me personally, more stuff is generally less fullfilling than a minimalist kit of good stuff.


This is exactly how I feel these days.
Somehow, having dozens of guns (and other toys) around the house actually bothered me. Maybe like an addiction - the more you have the less fullfilling it becomes and the more you need to keep the feeling going. A never ending spiral.
So I recently began selling off many of my guns. I'm much happier with just a few really nice guns. I appreciate them more somehow. Lets me enjoy my shooting as much as ever, yet lets me get on with the rest of my life, rather than being obsessed with collecting. I don't like to "collect" anything anymore; only use.
I think it has something to do with getting older, as someone else stated.

[Gary G23]

Another vote for "quality".

[NapAttack]

harrydog, good point. I've long past the point of buying just to have something.

Each of the handguns and rifles I've purchased have been for a particular reason. I have a commander in .38 super I bought for IPSC before the widebodies came out. I had intended to build it into a full race gun.

My Trailside I bought for a .22 plinker.
My S&W 46 I bought for a .22 target pistol, I hope to shoot bullseye.
My Ishapore Enfield and SMLE I bought to tinker with.
My 1917 Smith .45 revolver I bought as a house gun primarily for my wife to use if necessary. She's not a shooter.

True, sometimes the reasons were whimsical. Like the 1935 model Beretta .32 because I had a water pistol as a kid that was identical to this pistol. I loved that water pistol.

Some of them were given to me and I won't get rid of them for that reason, plus I've made the mistake in the past of selling guns I thought I'd never have any use for anymore. I've regretted every sale I've made.

Like I say, dollars don't equate to quality. Just like with people, it took me three marriages to learn my lesson and look beneath the surface instead of just picking a pretty face.

[seeker_two]

I tend to like guns w/ some history (CZ-52, Makarov) or character (S&W M-27, Marlin .30-30) behind them. Right now, these guns tend to be less expensive than the newest uber-Glockenspeil...:D

I own one high-dollar piece (1991A1 modified), but I enjoy shooting my "inexpensive" firearms just as much.

Just b/c a gun doesn't cost much doesn't mean it's not "quality". And just because something costs a lot doesn't guarantee quality (Remember the Glock KABOOMS? :what: )

[BigG]

I don't know if this is exactly what you were thinking of but if you just want to get familiarization with lots of weapons you can get tenderly cared for used with some finish wear of some real classics for a comparative song to what a new gun costs. This is a good way to get that experience without breaking the bank. Then you can always sell the guns you don't want for as much as you paid for em.

[The Silver Bullet 1719]

Personally, my peference is inexpensive. The most important factor for any guns for my is relibilty, and if I can get it for 300 for a CZ-75 instead of a 600 for a BHP I feel I have done better. That is one of the main reasons I can't convince myself to aquire a Browning Hi-Power since I find it fairly outragerous to pay almost 600 dollars for a gun that has been around for 68 years, when I can get an FM from South America for 2-3 hundred less. But then again if I did have the $ I would throw it down for a Python :D so a little bit of contradiction.

[ojibweindian]

A CZ-75 may be inexpensive, but it certainly isn't "cheap".

[dairycreek]

is that it allows for a variety of choices, tastes, likes and dislikes. Also, it allows for all of those to change (and change again) over time. Do your thing! Good shooting;)

[Gewehr98]

..I'm becoming more and more convinced that, at least for me personally, more stuff is generally less fullfilling than a minimalist kit of good stuff.

Saw the "light" as it were, when it came time to replace my pre-amp, amp, and equalizer a couple years ago. I went back to the basics. :D

http://mauser98.com/toobz8.jpg

[BevrFevr]

expensive does not equal good by any means and inexpensive does not mean crap either.

I side with some of the others here. If it's reliable I want one I don't care if it's cheap. I also don't have a problem forking over the money when it is really justified.

One problem I have is that once I get about $300 - $400 dollars saved up I usually have to buy before I burst. This is why my DSArms FAL still eludes me.

Must......buy.......F.........A............L!

-bevr

[Byron Quick]

As a child I bought some cheap arrows instead of the ones that cost three times as much. Those cheap arrows lasted exactly one shot each...the fletching fell off. The next week I took my yard mowing money and bought two of the arrows that cost three times as much. Those two arrows endured hundreds of shots. A concept was born.

That doesn't mean my collection is replete with Wilsons and
Baer's. It does mean I own HK's, Springfields, Kimbers, CZ's, BRNO's, S&W's and such.

[Gusgus]

I for one love to find a great bargain. Bulgie Mak, Browning Buckmark, Kel-Tec P-32, CZ-75B, Ruger P-97, Arcus 94, TZ-99, Taurus PT-92, HS2000, Tanfoglio Compact, and some I'm sure I can't even think of right now. All in the past few years. All for under $300 NIB, and not a stinker in the bunch. Of course I own quite a few more expensive models, but there is nothing like finding a real bargain.