Best deal

Twenty years ago I bought a Commander length Colt 1991A for $250. The going rate for a used one at the time was $350-$400, but I ran across a guy at a gunshow needing rent money on Monday. I kept the gun for about 10 years. It was reliable enough, but wouldn't hit the broad side of a barn. Shooting inside the barn. Ten years later in 2008 I ran across a lightly used Winchester 70 EW in 308 priced at $800. I found a buyer for the Colt at $700 so I'm out of pocket $350 for a $1000 rifle.

I had about $220 in Cabelas Bucks at Cabelas when I got a $100 off coupon in the mail. I'm out of pocket $80 for the $400 Leupold scope on it.

I used it that way for about a year when I ran across someone selling a used McMillan Edge stock for $400 on an internet gun forum. This is the $600 stock made with Kevlar. I bought it and sold the factory stock for $150, so I'm out of pocket $250 for a $600 stock.

Buying everything new at street prices this is a $2000 rig. I'm out of pocket $680 for what you see in the photo. It has become my go-to rifle over the last 10 years.

Some time ago (years) I walked into my LGS and spotted a used Ruger SP101 under the glass. I asked, "How much?" Owner said, "$250." I said, "I'll take it!" Guy next to me said, "D@mn!" The grip inserts were added later.

No steals here. The best I have are:

Stevens 89 "fake" lver .22 single shot rifle for $30 at a gun show in around 1988.

Hi-Point C9 for $70, from a friend, in 2013. He was asking for $60, but I felt bad taking that from him for that, and only had another ten on me.

The story of how I got a potentially free Garand:

Not exactly a smoking deal, but I paid $920 for a 9-54 barrel HRA M1, which date is approximately correct for the serial number.

Second day of the same gun show, I found an 1898 Krag carbine (or at least somebody did a lot of work to MAKE it a carbine) for $395. It appears to be one of the 1920s DCM Krags, and has a correct carbine barrel, barrel band, and buttplate. The serial number is in a block of 100 known to be configured as rifles in 1900, one of which was documented to be present at the defense of the American Legation in Peking. At some point in the distant past, someone added peep sights and put it in a Bannerman stock.

I have been told that if I parted out the Krag, the Garand wouldn't cost me anything. Part out a DCM/Bannerman Krag for a free Garand? Yeah, I'll take it.

I ran across 2 good deals this year, both Blackhawks. The first was a convertible .357/9mm. There was barely a turn line. It was 400 dollars. Upon shooting it, the rear sight needed a LOT of adjustment. It shoots decently now.

The second was a Lipsey's Flattop Blackhawk convertible in 45 Colt with a holster, gun belt, and 250 rounds of 45 Colt ammo, including some premium SD rounds. They wanted 750, wife told me 600. Got it for that.

I paid $54 for a mosin M44.

Used IMI Jericho for $120 from a big box store.

It was a trade-in and the manager didn't know what it was. My buddy worked at the store, called me, and I immediately drove there and bought it before it was put in the display case.

I sold it for the same price to a very close associate for a good reason.

For reference of inflation, this was around 2014 or 2015.

I picked up an Enfield No.5 MK1 "jungle carbine" on a local hunting site for $225.00, IIRC. Probably 6 - 7 years ago. My son got a High Point .45 for a large bag of dog food from a guy in one of his units.

Jeff B.

I picked up a 6” stainless GP-100 full lug with only 20-25 rounds through it for $250. I was happy.

My Colt Delta Elite, back in 1989. I had wanted a 10mm for a while and decided on the Colt. Had a friend that had a FFL and would get me one for his cost. Best he could do was $550 and even showed me the price in the supplier catalog. Naturally, being just a guy with an FFL, he didn't sell on volume. I went to Bill Goodman's Gun and Knife Show at Detroit's Light Guard Armory, and found one for $425. Guy had a bunch of them and was writing up another, same time as mine. Bet he sold all he had the same day. I used the Delta for nearly twenty years as my woods gun, then gave it an honored spot in the safe, replacing it with a Glock 29. Here's a pic of it next to my Colt Mark IV pin gun, which was a great deal as well, at $459 before I customized it.

Traded an 18 pack of cheap beer for a Glenfield model 60.

About 12 years ago, I purchased a matching set of 3 (consecutive serial numbers) USFA SAA style revolvers in .45 Colt. At the time, the going price of these premium revolvers was about $1,100 per unit ($3,300 for the set). As most may be aware of the USFA history, this company went out of business some years ago and these premium revolvers are made no more. At the time, these revolvers were just another gun purchase - little did I know that (at least for now) the purchase would end up being a pretty good investment. The prices have skyrocketed - the set is (probably) worth about $6 to $7k these days. I wasn’t looking for an investment, I was just lucky.

Jeff B. said:

I picked up an Enfield No.5 MK1 "jungle carbine" on a local hunting site for $225.00, IIRC. Probably 6 - 7 years ago. My son got a High Point .45 for a large bag of dog food from a guy in one of his units.

Jeff B.

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The guy must have been real hungry!

Got a S&W 325PD in decent shape for $400 a couple of years ago. It was in a gun shop on consignment. Granted, I did have to spend fifty cents on a new strain screw for it, so maybe it wasn't that great of a deal.

I got an all-correct Garand free of charge, BUT- it was gifted for being wounded in afg., so I had to get shot to get it, so only "free" in the financial sense. Also got a Larue OBR 7.62 at a "special" price when they were new and LT was doing incentives with certain units.

Paid $260.00 for this Model 19-3 from a co-worker years ago. He wanted $225.00 so, he was very pleased to get $260, so was I.


Bought this from my next door neighbor, Model 10-6. He won it in a raffle, wanted $175.00, I gave him $200.


This one's a good story. My father gave me an old beat up Star 9mm BM. I ask a friend of mine if he could work on it, possibly reblue it.
He said yes as long as I wasn't in any hurry, said it would cost $35.00 for the bluing. I agreed.
Short story long, someone broke into his house and stole my gun.
I figured it was gone, he didn't have insurance, neither did I.
Much to my surprise, he went out and found this Star 9 mm BS (NIB) and gave it to me for $35.00!
He said, " that was our original deal" and stuck with it. That my friends, is the definition of "integrity"
By the way, he made the grips himself and threw them in.

FL-NC said:

I got an all-correct Garand free of charge, BUT- it was gifted for being wounded in afg., so I had to get shot to get it, so only "free" in the financial sense. Also got a Larue OBR 7.62 at a "special" price when they were new and LT was doing incentives with certain units.

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I don't know about "best deal", as yours' was a stiff price. But I believe you should get "Most Honorable Mention". I'm glad you are able to share that with us.

S&W Model 36 3" barrel from an aunt for $125. Her husband had passed and she didn't want it in the house. Colt Trooper MKIII .357 4" barrel fired once for $225 from a buddy who inherited from a cousin and he didn't want it. Colt King Cobra .357 4" barrel, SS in pristine condition from my wife's boss for $300, he wanted money to buy new golf clubs.

tark

Traded an 18 pack of cheap beer for a Glenfield model 60.

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I definitely think we have the winner here!

My son got a High Point .45 for a large bag of dog food from a guy in one of his units.

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Honorable Mention.

Much to my surprise, he went out and found this Star 9 mm BS (NIB) and gave it to me for $35.00!
He said, " that was our original deal" and stuck with it. That my friends, is the definition of "integrity"
By the way, he made the grips himself and threw them in.

Click to expand...

Honorable Mention

I got an all-correct Garand free of charge, BUT- it was gifted for being wounded in afg., so I had to get shot to get it, so only "free" in the financial sense.

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Honorable Mention

Stoeger O/U 20ga $225 on a used rack, shotgun was in mint condition.

S&W J frame $250 used with holster, case and ammo

H&R handi rifle 44Mag $100 new.

Great deal on that H&R 44 Mag!

The two Pythons I bought from my Dad when hid Department went to Glocks; $600 for the pair. even back then it was a good deal. Wish I still had them....
$125 on a S&W 19 the shop refused to buy even though the call in came up clean.
$100 on a 1916 Setroryetsk Mosin Nagant M91 because the shop I bought it at tagged it as an M44; I guess they couldn't read Russian.
Remington 742 Carbine, $125, bought from my aunt, my first deer rifle. With the loads I developed, it outshot many bolts.