[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Which is more important to you, when it comes to acquiring guns that are either no longer made, or you think may no longer be made at some point in the future.

Option A: Guns which may be banned or restricted by governments, but will likely be grandfathered as to possession of existing examples, such as .50 calibers, homeland defense rifles (EBRS), pocket handguns, etc.

OR

Option B: Guns which you like and want and are out of production, and you think likely won't ever again be put into production just due to lack of demand, but which there is not now, nor will there ever likely be, bans placed upon, in the next 50 years - things like collectibles, milsurps, Savage 24 combo guns, anything rare / interesting / unique that is no longer made and so will only go up, up, up in cost.

See Poll.

[almostfree]

I like pre-lock S&W revolvers. So my priority is to get them while they are still relatively cheap. I don't think they will be threatened by a ban in my lifetime.

[12131]

My strategy: buy whatever I like, whether they're in current production, or no longer made.

[Jorg]

My strategy: buy whatever I like, whether they're in current production, or no longer made.
Same here. My interest in a gun involves utility/coolness/"WANT!"/looks/function/etc. rather than current or future rarity. These are guns, not Pokemon. :)

[Babarsac]

My interest in history led me to firearms so a C&R license was the first thing I got. Even though I've got my evil black rifle I still love shooting my mil-surps even more. Next in line is a nice Baby Browning.

[deadin]

My criteria is that they have to be older than I am. (That means pre WW2)
I only have 2 exceptions. One is a WW2 M1 Garand and the other is my .22 Benelli MP95 I use in Bullseye league. the other 30 or so are all pre-war (some pre WW2, some pre WW1, some pre Sp. Am. War and a couple are pre Civil War.)

[rcmodel]

We will never again see the high quality & limited numbers in circulation of the older, real nice condition, out of production guns from Colt, S&W, and Winchester.

Since those hold high interest to me, I will never pass up a good one when I find one.

I seriously doubt any future "evil" gun bans concocted by the present powers in office will grandfather in anything.

So, I don't plane to wrap up a huge amount of cash in them with that hope in mind.

rc

[azyogi]

Guns that are banned we can fix, vote the banners [and their party] out of office. Guns that are no longer made is harder to fix.

[mcdonl]

Jorg.... this is what sets you aside from the common man....

Same here. My interest in a gun involves utility/coolness/"WANT!"/looks/function/etc. rather than current or future rarity. These are guns, not Pokemon.

My #1 factor is not even on your list of considerations. COST.

[boatme99]

"My strategy: buy whatever I like, whether they're in current production, or no longer made. "

And if there's $ in my pocket when I see it.

[MTMilitiaman]

Option A.

My shopping lists consists of pretty much everything they say I shouldn't have, in the order they seem to be opposed with it. My next firearm will be another magazine fed semi-automatic rifle--either an AR, another M1A, or another AK. After that I'll probably get a 9mm with a decent capacity on it--I am thinking that CZ SP-01 looks nifty, as it sounds like the "next-gen" Glock 19s might have a few bugs to be worked out. And after that I am thinking a long range rifle might be in order--.338 Lapua and up only please--everything else need not apply. Everything they don't want me to have, I want, and the more terrifying it is for them, the better. Little in life causes me as much pleasure as causing discomfort to an anti.

[Big Bill]

I make my choice according to my current wants/needs and don't consider anything else.

[HGUNHNTR]

My #1 factor is not even on your list of considerations. COST.

When cost was my #1 factor I found myself spending MORE money on guns that I kinda wanted, instead of just getting what I really wanted. That lesson took me quite a while to learn :) I won't let cost be a factor.

[cz85cmbt]

The only times I feel hurried to snag a gun is when a batch of milsurps come in on the cheap. Since I bought a k31 for 140 bucks they have pretty much doubled or even tripled in cost in the course of three years (although there are still some great deals). Older guns I like because of their stylistic differences and mechanical uniqueness. But by and large guns of today are more well made than guns of yesterday especially for the money. Yes, older guns had better wood for the most part and sometimes have better fit and finish, but for the most part you paid a lot for it. I think it is incredible that marlin can produce the xl/xs7 rifle series for 279 dollars and manage make a rifle capable of 1" groups when broken in, has an excellent trigger, and the bolt throw of a remington 700. They are also making a wood stocked version too now. Revolvers are where I find exception, 1950's and 1960's era six guns are smoother, just as accurate, and have the best DA triggers. I think we get great guns today for the money but we do so at the expense of a little style and certainly some diversity.

[MAURICE]

Neither, really. I buy whatever strikes my fancy and what I know I will shoot.

[jakemccoy]

I'm on the opposite end. I prefer guns that are common now and are likely to be common in the future (among other things). So, option 4 doesn't really apply to me because I due consider rarity, but from the opposite perspective.

[Erik M]

Im not allowing the fear of a firearm being outlawed to influence my interests.

[GunsBeerFreedom]

I'm on an EBR trip right now, but not because I think they won't be available in the near future. I just want them right now.

[texas bulldog]

it's really hard to say. i ended up choosing option B, because i already have an EBR and a pocket gun or two, and many of the guns i covet the most are out of production and/or not at much risk of banning (old DA revolvers, lever actions, 1911s, milsurp stuff, etc).

i also think that we have the power to prevent an outright ban, but we'll never be able to make colt manufacture pythons again, for instance. and there will never be any more pre-'64 winchesters than there are today. so while being able to own EBRs and such is very important to me, i think the combined political power of gun owners can and should be able to prevent a ban. despite who is currently in the white house, i think things have been breaking our way pretty well lately. that's momentum that we shouldn't let dissipate (2010 elections being a great opportunity to further strengthen our position...hint, hint).

that said, i generally buy whatever is next on the list, whether old or new, tactical or old-school.

[Hatterasguy]

Cost comes into play, sadly I'm not at the point in my life where I could spend $10k a year on buying guns.

I just buy what I like and what I can afford. I just bought a K31 and will probably order a FAL from DSA at some point this year. Also I need a pistol, probably a 1911.

[shadowalker]

Option A. All of the firearms I purchase are tools to defend myself and my family with.

I have a few firearms that were given to me from relatives but am not interested in being a collector.

Parts availability is also important to me. An extractor for a LAR Grizzly Mag was $50 (once one was located) and it hasn't been out of production that long.

[Jorg]

My #1 factor is not even on your list of considerations. COST.
You might have noticed I said my interest, not my ability to purchase. :)

[wishin]

I've never really looked at it from that angle. Guess I'll have to plan on adding to my arsenal.

[bob.a]

Most of my early purchases were option A; basically concealable handguns. But now I have a decent number, and I'm tending toward interesting quality collectibles.

[FROGO207]

What I want when I want it from a $10 German 22 short revolver to some full autos.:D Can't resist a real deal either.:D Then reloadin' stuff for it all.:D:D
D: Selfish and deriving great enjoyment from firearms ownership/use.

[Blackbeard]

A year ago, it was all A. Now I'm far less fearful of any national or even statewide bans.

[Boba Fett]

For me, if I wanting to get a firearm that is no longer made, it is all about my liking the firearm, not really about it getting banned.


For me, the two I am most interested in acquiring, but haven't brought myself to spend the money on are:

The Beretta M1934
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Beretta_Model_1934_Pistol.jpg


And the Mateba Autorevolver:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/MatebaAutoRevolver6in.jpg

[navyretired 1]

I like all quality guns but milsurp trip my trigger. My true love though is quality weapons which have been bubba-ized or just abused. I call them orphins. I love to return them to their former glory and then either sell or keep. (I can't keep thm all) Quote from Wife of 40 years.

[2ndAmFan]

I think options A and B are equally important. I love milsurp rifles, was planning to get a Garand and an M1A, and I also like guns like the AR 15, AK 47, SCAR, Barrett 50 BMG and 338 Lapua...too many to name, really, but money problems shut me down for now at least. I'll buy any gun that I like if I have the $$ at the time, and I do like old guns too. I don't care if they go up in value or not, I just like them.

[Avizpls]

I bought a few AR lowers out of concern that they may be, erm, difficult to get in the future