What motivates your purchase of a new rifle?

Generally speaking, at this stage of your shooting career, what most often motivates your purchase of a new (to you) rifle? Do have have an application not adequately covered by your current long guns? Are you intrigued by the history (or newness) and/or form factor of a rifle you don't have and it's the gun itself that grabs your fancy? Or do you become intrigued by a cartridge and then look for an appropriate rifle to launch it? Maybe you're a collector looking to fill out a set, or maybe you are an opportunistic bargain hunter who can't pass up on a good deal. I'm sure there are others.

My most recent acquisitions have largely fallen into the "that's a cool cartridge and I need a rifle to shoot it" category. That would be true of the Bergara Premier HMR Pro in 6.5 PRC, the home-assembled "Remage" in .22-250 Ackley Improved, and the semi-custom Remington 700 Mountain Rifle in .280 Remington that my smith is currently rebuilding as a .280 Ackley. True too for the Ruger Hawkeye African in .375 Ruger. In all cases, I was primarily motivated by the cartridge.

So thinking back over your last two or three acquisitions, is there a pattern?

Walkalong said:

I’ll buy a cool new pistol in a heartbeat (although I haven’t in a couple of years), but I have to need a rifle, they are more tools to me than pistols are.

Click to expand...

Like for PRS?

@Arkansas Paul, I get that need and want are two different things, and I have no argument with someone buying anything they want and can afford. I'm curious if there is a pattern to what drives one's wants. For me it tends to be interest in a cartridge ... even though I have multiple cartridges that accomplish more or less the same thing. @LoonWulf basically said "anything interesting" and he's a man of broad interests; that's just fine.

ETA: I realize my interest in cartridges grew out of my interest in hand loading. There is no way I would pursue some of the cartridges I currently shoot if I wasn't able to load for them. Hence my response in the "only one milsurp bolt action" thread. I don't own a milsurp bolt action, mostly because I'm not particularly interested in the cartridges ... although I might jump on a Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55, because I am interested in that cartridge.

Y'all are like a bad shotgun ... no pattern.

jmr40 said:

If I perceive that something new offers me an advantage (however small) over what I already have.

Click to expand...

And do you sell or otherwise get rid of the old one after it has been replaced? I did get rid of all my .30 cals after I adopted 6.5 and 7 mms.