[Min]

Suppose you have a gun you got your eye on for awhile. But it's a little beyond your reach price-wise. Do you people wait, and save, or get a similar gun that is a lot cheaper?

Example: DSA FAL medium contour rifle $1700 (retail), or get a generic Imbel FAL for a lot less?

[USMCsilver]

I wanted a Wilson CQB for my first 1911. I waited. I got impatient, sold this gun:

http://webpages.charter.net/usmcsilver/images/Sniper%202.jpg

because it wasn't used much (and I have more ARs) and used the little money I saved to pay for the Wilson.

There are other ways to do it besides sellin' off a gun. Heck, stick your wife out on the curb for a while if you don't like sellin' guns. :what:

The point is, if you want something bad enough, you will be unhappy if you buy something else just because you were impatient.

[Min]

That's a sweet AR. I don't think I could bring myself to sell that, even if I did have other ARs.

No, I do not sell guns. I'd give blood first.

[Arcli9ht]

Hold out for what you really want, anything else just reeks of compromise. Do what is going to make you happiest in the long run.

/Arcli9ht

[GoldenLoki]

I have regretted every single time I setteled for less gun than the one I had my sights on. I then usually end up buying the gun I originally wanted later anyway.

I can't recall a single ocassion where I regret buying the higher quality of two options.

GL

[jsalcedo]

I never plan a gun purchase.

When I come into a large, disposable sum of money it's time to go shopping.

After browsing several gun shops, pawn shops, sporting goods stores, local sales I'll buy something if:

It's an interesting gun due to design, history or performance.

The price is at least 20% under book value.

Its not something that duplicates what I already have.

The gun is in at least 70% appearance condition and 100% mechanical.

If tried saving for a big name, big money, big hype item
I would never get anything because the money would disappear
before I could use it.

[makdaddy03]

Now thats worth saving for. Have a look at the BushMaster line.

[J Miller]

You mean like the Colt Single Action Army I have wanted for more years than it has been legal for me to shoot?
You mean like every time I think I have enough money to get one, I find the prices have gone up beyond my means, again?

I've had clones, never kept them, and I have Rugers. I don't consider Rugers a cheaper version of a Colt, they are just different guns.

I will wait for a real Colt. Someday I'll get one. Someday.

[Watch-Six]

Save and get what you really want. Be smart about it though. Don't spend a lot more money for something that just costs a lot but isn't really any better. Watch-Six

[CZ-75]

Buy the Imbel receiver and get the gun you want made for you by ARS, etc., using DSA and surplus parts.

[Edward429451]

Generally speaking, you're better off saving for what you really want. I managed to get lucky going the cheaper route twice.

I couldn't afford to get an AR so I bought a Mini instead, well actually three of em in a year. Shootiing, shooting, still wanting an AR as a MBR. Finally started reading about M1A's and Garands and realized that I couldn't afford one of those either,, but it was probably a better MBR than the AR's and that I was already in possession of the most wonderful training rifle for the M1A, the Mini-14's!:D Did eventually get the M1A so it worked out perfectly for me/us.

Now I'm starting to think about AR's again.:rolleyes: Its a vicious circle.:D
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Same thing with the 44's actually. My dad was a big S&W man and I grew up shooting them. Got old enough to want a 44 and couldn't afford a 29. Bought the underdog instead, Ruger. Came to realize that dad had the wrong 44 all those years. But don't tell him, he'd probably beat me for being some kind of traitor.:D

[Min]

Buy the Imbel receiver and get the gun you want made for you by ARS, etc., using DSA and surplus parts.


Is that really cost effective? Maybe and maybe not. I'm not sure if I want a frankengun...

[MonkeyMan]

I've been "saving up" for a #5 Enfield Jungle Carbine ever since I got my C&R license. Seems like about the time I get $100 or so in the bank ANOTHER Mosin-Nagant follows me home.:rolleyes:

<sigh>

Win some, lose some.

[MrKandiyohi]

It really depends. If the cheaper one is $1400, then I'd tell you to wait and buy the one you really want. If it's $700 vs. $1700, then I'd ask you if the cheaper one is so inferior that you would never fire it. If so, then I'd tell you to wait.

How long will it take to save up for the more expensive one? 3 months? then wait. 3 years? then settle for the cheaper one.

You can always sell the cheaper one when you've saved the difference in a few years and finally get the one of your dreams. Any depreciation on the cheaper gun will be due to many, many hours of fun firing it at the range.

[CZ-75]

Is that really cost effective? Maybe and maybe not. I'm not sure if I want a frankengun...

What do you think the cheap FAL you're looking at is?

I don't think it would be too bad cost wise and, again, you get what you want. I don't like the DSA muzzlebrakes, would like to get an A2 rear sight modified to fit, possibly a paratrooper FAL sight, and a medium Badger/DSA barrel, so it works for me, particularly since I have a Stg 58 parts kit and Imbel receiver sitting in the closet for over a year.

[lee n. field]

In general I have found it better to get what you want (if possible), rather than kick yourself for going cheap and getting "almost as good".

[dairycreek]

If I don't have the money to buy what I want right now I try to find good, used guns that I can buy low and sell at a profit. Using both saving and buying and selling used I can usually get to the point where I want to be quicker. Besides I have a lot of fun trying out the used gun. A major problem has been when I bought a used gun I just couldn't part with. Then it is back to the drawing board. Good shooting;)

[cool45auto]

Save and get what I really wanted. Otherwise I'd still be wanting the other one, end up getting it anyway and have an extra gun then!

[AirPower]

Always get the ones you really want, or you'll live to regret it later on. It never fails, in guns or women. ;)

[general]

I've been thinking on this lately. I'm gonna spend the extra money and get what I want.

[XavierBreath]

save and get what you want and you save many times over.

[sm]

Save for what you want.

However..., if you just happen to find the same gun wanted and found it for less money...nothing wrong with saving money.

I assure you if you found yourself in financial straits...someone would low-ball you in a heartbeat...you do what you gotta do. Word of mouth, pawn shops...carry cash and be patient.

Inexpensive is different than cheaper

[0007]

Go over to the Marketplace on www.falfiles.com and look around. Buy a less expensive "built" gun from some member now. You can usually find them them for $500-$700. I've spent a lot of money with board members there and never been burned on anything I bought. If you still feel you need the higher priced FAL one buy it later. You can buy an awful lot of ammo for the difference... If you get a chance read the newest "Boston on Guns" . He has several chapters comparing the various full caliber battlerifles.

[Legionnaire]

Looks like a consensus emerging. Save for what you really want. I've learned that lesson. Bought intermediate guns that promptly got sold (at a bit of a loss) to help pay for what I really wanted in the first place. I don't regret selling any of the guns I've gotten rid of, especially those that were compromises.