Out of character purchases

An out-of-character purchase for me would be to buy a brand new gun of any sort. About two percent of my guns were bought new.
Of course, I glory in milsurps and classics... .

I've always gone for the odd ball stuff. Makes my collection interesting. Plus most of them have gone way up in price. Win, win.

A while back I picked up a couple of M-frame Smiths, the little ladysmiths, made just after the turn of the century. They weigh maybe eight ounces. According to the old legend, Dan Wesson, a puritanical old gentleman, took them out of the lineup when he learned they were favored by ladies of the evening.

They might make sense if I ran a string of girls. It would be a kindness to say to one of them, "Here, honey, stick this in your garter. The world's a rough place, and you never know."

As it is, the little ladysmiths only get me in trouble. You should never show guns to liberal women, not if you want to go out with them again, but invariably, when I do they point to the ladysmiths as the only ones they like, the only ones they consider cute.

In my most serious voice, I tell them what a shame that is, that they picked those out since they were prostitute's guns, letting it hang what that proclivity they just exhibited might say of them.

A few of you who know more than I do are going to come along and point out the factual problems with that hoary old legend, but I ask you, "Why should factual truth ruin a good story?"

It happens to the best of us.

Not sure if this counts, but I walked into a chain store to sell a gun I didn't want anymore, or maybe trade it for a different gun. But I really needed the cash.

Left with a Dillon 550B loading press and a set of 45 acp dies.

Walked out of the store smiling. Got in my truck and realized I'd went in with the intention of leaving with one less gun, and more money. Instead I left with less money and a new hobby.

Impulse buys are uncharacteristic of me in general. I usually have a clear plan and stick to it. Not that day.

• I bought a used Stainless Single Six on a good deal basically because I was tired of looking around for the DA .22 revo I was seeking. This was a good thing since it opened me up to the world of single action revos. I've picked up a couple more since then.

• I also bought a sporterized Springfield 1903, which led to me learning a bit about the guns and the history of the time period. Also a good thing. It's a nice shooter.

• I am mostly a revo guy, but I got one of the Shield 9s back when they had that $75 rebate. I felt it was a prudent buy, even though it is "out of character".

Sometimes buying something outside your usual fare can be enlightening and fulfilling. Often it's worth the chance if the price is right and you're ready for a change and/or willing to try something new. Who knows, something similar might happen with 1911s if I were to give them a try...

My first AR, as I was always a die-hard AK guy. Why on Earth would I drop $900 on a plastic toy gun firing baby bullets?

Then they dropped to $700.....
Then $500......well, maybe Ill try one just to see what the fuss is about.

Now I have 3.

I went to pickup a Wesson Silverback that had just arrived at the outfitters for me.
I went in to receive the Ninteen Eleven.
I left with it.
...And a Browning Buckmark Contour. I saw the seven inch barrel and had to know if there was anything to like about them.


There was! Both of them!

A spur of the moment purchaser I am not. This is the only time I haven't spent hours thinking about it first.

But. It was a Twenty Two. Ya can't go wrong with a Twenty Two.

Impulse buys of guns or related stuff is so steeped in my DNA that the first time I went to a gun store with a investigator-partner (A really good friend of mine), held a CZ 75 Compact for a bit, then set it down and left empty-handed she was so flabbergasted she called her husband to share the news.

It’s been several months since I filled out an ATFE 4473/CA DROS packet, I fear I’m getting woozy from lack of new blood in the safe....

Stay safe!

I am definitely not an AR guy, but bought one when I felt a future election result might have prevented me from ever doing so. It was so not me, I used wood and steel in the Army. Sold it pretty quickly to a friend who wanted it.

But I'd already stockpiled a goodly amount of ammo, nothing to do but buy a nice wood and steel Mini-14. Picked a model with zero "tactical" accoutrements, that's more like me.

Definitely the AR for me, too. I paid a premium for a pre-ban Colt during the early days of the first AWB when I lived in NYS. I really didn't have an interest in the AR platform, but thought owning one was the responsible thing to do. After I moved out of NY, I sold it (legally) for more than I paid for it to a guy in another ban state. Of course then I didn't have an AR, so bought another Colt. I'm still not a fan, so it's "out of character" for me. But I still think it's the responsible thing.

What are some gun purchases you've made that were quite different than what you normally go for?

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I don’t have a normal. I guess I am partial to .22’s but from BB guns to 50 BMG, break open single shots to belt fed and machinegun stuff, it’s all fun. Wheel guns of all different sorts and bottom feeders. Life is too short to only try one flavor.

The Mini-14 is a nice gun. I have always liked them. Kind of like an M1 Carbine with a more powerful round.
They are a great 150 yard Coyote gun

Guess I should also add any lever action rifle. I have tried to like them ... I mean, I've really tried! I have owned a Marlin 336 and a 336 Texan (straight stock) in .30-30, one 1894 in .44 magnum, and two 1894s in .357, never two at the same time. I no longer own any of them. Took me a long time to realize that levers are "out of character" for me.

But I'm still looking forward to handling and maybe shooting a Henry Long Ranger ...

I am not an AR person but have stumbled into a couple like many others. I think a Mini would be more my style and if I ever see one on a good deal I might pick it up.


I am kind of intrigued by that Henry Long Ranger in .223 myself. Claims to handle 5.56 fine, too.

Minis are nice guns!

I strolled into a local pawn & gun one day and walked out with one of the first few hundred 1974 Mini-14s that hit the market- Series 180-008XX with the fully adjustable M14 rear sight and the 10/22 front sight with a gold bead, all for way less that a NIB example.

AR was definitely my most out of character purchase. I have to say though...there is something to be said for plastic and modern coatings. Not sexy...but much easier to maintain. This I say after cleaning my shotguns this weekend. Lot of wood, lot of blue steel...lot of oil and a wee bit of work with the 0000 steel wool

.455_Hunter said:

Minis are nice guns!

I strolled into a local pawn & gun one day and walked out with one of the first few hundred 1974 Mini-14s that hit the market- Series 180-008XX with the fully adjustable M14 rear sight and the 10/22 front sight with a gold bead, all for way less that a NIB example.

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Oooooh, need pics!

Legionnaire said:

Guess I should also add any lever action rifle. I have tried to like them ... I mean, I've really tried! I have owned a Marlin 336 and a 336 Texan (straight stock) in .30-30, one 1894 in .44 magnum, and two 1894s in .357, never two at the same time. I no longer own any of them. Took me a long time to realize that levers are "out of character" for me.

But I'm still looking forward to handling and maybe shooting a Henry Long Ranger ...

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Dont rule out the Savage-

I had given up on lever rifles, but now Ive got 3 of these too.

Night lord,I’m digging those 99s!! I’ve got one in .308, Pop’s is a .300, both with the internal rotary magazines. His dates from about 1961, mine from the late 60s. Both wonderful shooters.

My out of character gun was probably my Colt AR, bought prior to the last scare, on sale for under $700, which led to an AR pistol, and then a S&W 15-22.

Hi...
I am a dyed in the wool revolver and 1911 type of guy and prefer bolt action rifles.

I, did, on the spur of the moment buy a S&W M&P 40. Why??? I tell myself that I wanted to try a different caliber(.40) and thought well why not go all in and get a polymer gun also.
Still have it several years later and shoot it occasionally but not as often as I once did.

Also gave in and had my son build me an AR15. No idea why...I would much rather have invested that money in a older Sako or Model 70 or 700 with a nice wood stock.
Still... it's a nice rifle with pretty much the nicest components available. It just doesn't have any "soul", as it were.
My son built it so it will be here until he inherits it one day.

Revolver revolver revolver revolver revolver Colt Delta Elite (overpriced POS) revolver revolver revolver revolver

armedwalleye said:

Night lord,I’m digging those 99s!! I’ve got one in .308, Pop’s is a .300, both with the internal rotary magazines. His dates from about 1961, mine from the late 60s. Both wonderful shooters.

My out of character gun was probably my Colt AR, bought prior to the last scare, on sale for under $700, which led to an AR pistol, and then a S&W 15-22.

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Thanks! The top gun is a .243, the bottom is .308, and Ive got a prewar .30-30 takedown project almost finished.