Price, I'll buy almost anything if the price is right but in some cases that would be free or nearly so! Nice condition also helps as well as being a type of gun that I'm interested in like S&W revolvers pre lock and 9x19 single stack autos as two examples.
What "sells" you a firearm?
- Thread starter jeepmor
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Not unlike a woman, there's a lot to be said about look and feel. 
Seriously, I feel like I know enough about guns to know what will work well and what won't. Unfortunately, I can't afford all the guns that fit this bill, so I have to filter 'em all through the look and feel test.
Tight? Smooth action? Fit and finish? Graceful lines? Fill a need? Pretty? These qualities can help a fella pick out a gun too.
Seriously, I feel like I know enough about guns to know what will work well and what won't. Unfortunately, I can't afford all the guns that fit this bill, so I have to filter 'em all through the look and feel test.
Tight? Smooth action? Fit and finish? Graceful lines? Fill a need? Pretty? These qualities can help a fella pick out a gun too.
I read a lot and some of my reading is the gun rags. They, at least can give some insight to a gun I might be interested in. Then I look for someone at my gun club that might have one, in the hopes I can get a chance to handle and shoot it. I know that a gun is suppoed to be a tool, and serve a purpose, but I like my tools to be appealing to the eye. I want a tool from a reputable manufacturer and one that is dependable and shoots accurately. Price can also dictate a purchase even though I have guns that cost over $2,000.00 and guns tha cost less than $300.00 that are equally dependable, accurate and astetically appealing.
gt3944
Member
nonquixote said:All of the above.
I've bought for practical reasons, after research, pistols intended for defense or competition.
I've bought on impulse, and later found out I payed much more than I needed to. I still don't regret the purchases though. I bought my CZ 97B on impulse, liked it very much and that led to my PCR, and from that to many more and total CZ fandom.
Nonq
+1 for this comment, I must say that a couple of my first purchases were on impulse:banghead: , and then I got smarter...
MCgunner
Member
Number one, it has to do what I want it to do. I might be buying it for concealability, for outdoor use, for hunting, for plinking, for competition. The requirements must be met for the purpose. Common requirements here would be accuracy and out of the box reliability. Beyond that, there are different requirements.
Number TWO, it must be a good deal as in I can afford it on my meager budget. I don't buy 900 dollar pocket pistols and I stay away from guns where the more you spend the more you get, which describes why I don't own any 1911s.
Last, very last, are esoteric qualities like looks, fit and finish, etc. If the thing works, I really don't care if it's ugly. I don't buy a gun to admire, I buy one to KILL something or someone. That's what the thing is for, killing, killing, killing. It's not art work, though it can be, but it's basically a killing tool. If it can't kill efficiently, it's worthless to me no matter how beautiful it might be. When I pull the trigger, it's gotta go bang, the target animal has to die. That requires that it be accurate and reliable. Beyond that, I might sit in the deer stand an admire it until a deer comes to the feeder, but that's not important.
I gotta say, I analyse a gun to death before I actually buy. I STILL sometimes get burned. A lot of the times I've gotten burned in the past was from reading magazine drivel. I don't make my decisions on magazine articles any more. Now that there is the internet and boards like this, I can make more intellegent decisions, which is a good thing!
Number TWO, it must be a good deal as in I can afford it on my meager budget. I don't buy 900 dollar pocket pistols and I stay away from guns where the more you spend the more you get, which describes why I don't own any 1911s.
Last, very last, are esoteric qualities like looks, fit and finish, etc. If the thing works, I really don't care if it's ugly. I don't buy a gun to admire, I buy one to KILL something or someone. That's what the thing is for, killing, killing, killing. It's not art work, though it can be, but it's basically a killing tool. If it can't kill efficiently, it's worthless to me no matter how beautiful it might be. When I pull the trigger, it's gotta go bang, the target animal has to die. That requires that it be accurate and reliable. Beyond that, I might sit in the deer stand an admire it until a deer comes to the feeder, but that's not important.
I gotta say, I analyse a gun to death before I actually buy. I STILL sometimes get burned. A lot of the times I've gotten burned in the past was from reading magazine drivel. I don't make my decisions on magazine articles any more. Now that there is the internet and boards like this, I can make more intellegent decisions, which is a good thing!
brickboy240
Member
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2005
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- 304
#1...its got to feel great in the hand. And that means right there in the store.
#2 Its got to point naturally, not be forced up or down, because of an awkwardly shaped grip angle.
#3 Its got to be reliable.
#4 It has to have a reputation for reliable service
#5 It has to have a good trigger...no spongyness or long d/a take-up
This is why I primarily shoot 1911s, a Hi-Power and A Sig 220 and dislike Glocks. Glocks just don't feel right in the hand ahd do not point naturally to me.
- Brickboy240
#2 Its got to point naturally, not be forced up or down, because of an awkwardly shaped grip angle.
#3 Its got to be reliable.
#4 It has to have a reputation for reliable service
#5 It has to have a good trigger...no spongyness or long d/a take-up
This is why I primarily shoot 1911s, a Hi-Power and A Sig 220 and dislike Glocks. Glocks just don't feel right in the hand ahd do not point naturally to me.
- Brickboy240
In general, in order.
Reliability.
Durability.
Reasonable Accuracy.
Modern design.
Ergonomics.
Appearance.
In specific, the order can change a bit.
If I'm buying a gun specifically for bullseye (for example) the accuracy requirement goes farther up on the list. If I'm buying a gun specifically for carry or self-defense then the ergonomics requirement scoots up the list a bit.
I have a few guns that I own mostly for cool factor (like my Lahti and my CZ-52) that don't really fit my normal buying requirements. If I really like the idea of a gun, I may buy it even if it doesn't match up perfectly to the list.
Reliability.
Durability.
Reasonable Accuracy.
Modern design.
Ergonomics.
Appearance.
In specific, the order can change a bit.
If I'm buying a gun specifically for bullseye (for example) the accuracy requirement goes farther up on the list. If I'm buying a gun specifically for carry or self-defense then the ergonomics requirement scoots up the list a bit.
I have a few guns that I own mostly for cool factor (like my Lahti and my CZ-52) that don't really fit my normal buying requirements. If I really like the idea of a gun, I may buy it even if it doesn't match up perfectly to the list.
sm
member
Gun fit to me.
MOA I want.
Proven design in firearm platform and caliber.
Okay I am basically a hard-headed , sentimental, fuddy-duddy, curmudgeon...
I have stayed with the same basic platforms and calibers for CCW and in preferences for other "tools for tasks" be it handgun, shotgun or rifle.
I prefer the OLDer ones of [IMO] better metallurgy, craftsmanship and QC.
Not that I do not own a "newer" platform, or would not consider one. Just if I am going to buy, I will go with one of my preference everytime. I often bypass the new guns...make a beeline for the area with trade ins, and older ones.
Yes I know this is Autoloaders in handguns - still I am what I am...
1911s, BHPs K frames, Wood and Blue Shotguns, lever actions, bolt guns... 45ACP. 9mm, .357/.38spl, 12ga, 20 ga, 28 ga, .410, 30-30, 30-06....22lr, that'll be me. I also like old holster bins, old ammo boxes, books....
Ask Larry...he has tried to keep up with me at a gun show...I was bad about drooling over and went plumb nuts over finding old Gov't Model of 1911 parts
MOA I want.
Proven design in firearm platform and caliber.
Okay I am basically a hard-headed , sentimental, fuddy-duddy, curmudgeon...
I have stayed with the same basic platforms and calibers for CCW and in preferences for other "tools for tasks" be it handgun, shotgun or rifle.
I prefer the OLDer ones of [IMO] better metallurgy, craftsmanship and QC.
Not that I do not own a "newer" platform, or would not consider one. Just if I am going to buy, I will go with one of my preference everytime. I often bypass the new guns...make a beeline for the area with trade ins, and older ones.
Yes I know this is Autoloaders in handguns - still I am what I am...
1911s, BHPs K frames, Wood and Blue Shotguns, lever actions, bolt guns... 45ACP. 9mm, .357/.38spl, 12ga, 20 ga, 28 ga, .410, 30-30, 30-06....22lr, that'll be me. I also like old holster bins, old ammo boxes, books....
Ask Larry...he has tried to keep up with me at a gun show...I was bad about drooling over and went plumb nuts over finding old Gov't Model of 1911 parts
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