Anyone have experience buying two guns with sequential SN?

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BeerSleeper

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I have twin boys in their first year of boy scouts. They have been very active, and have enjoyed it with much enthusiasm. They enjoy shooting their older brother's 10/22 very much.

My wife and I have been considering getting them the BSA 10/22 http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/manufacturers_id/369/products_id/411548826 for Christmas.

It's a tossup right now between getting them one to share, or each his own, but if the decision ends up on the fence, the tie breaking factor might be the possibility of getting sequential serial numbers if I buy both at the same time.

Is this something that is realistically possible? I'd like to know if anyone's done something like that, to sort of gauge if it's even a reasonable request to make of a dealer.
 
you can do it you just have to check your local shops tp see what they have or if they are a big enough Ruger dealer it going to be easier. i bought my wife a LCR22 that she wanted and when i did iask them if they had two with consec. numbers id take them, his and hers you might say. Just do your homework and you will get what you want.
 
I bought 4 John Wayne Commemorative Winchester 94's back in the day in a military rod & gun club in Germany. Two of them had consecutive numbers. Also bought 2 Walther P-1s at the same club with consecutive numbers. Sold both sets for considerably more than 2X the value of one weapon. :D:D:D
 
The larger the retailer, the better your chance. Call you local Academy, Bass Pro, or Cabalas and ask them to check the inventory and see if they have a pair.

Your local gun shop can also order them for you, but it may take a while.

I have three consecutive numbered AR-15s. Picked those the lowers at a gun show...the request did not even phase them.
 
I got two sets of Kimber Det-1s but could control the distribution as I did the west coast private sales for the Marines. That was more luck than anything else though a distributor call to the east coast helped.

I ordered a matched sequential set of Pietta Great Western IIs that took a bit to put together but really only a distributor level consideration on an already manufactured gun.

If you can get someone at Bud's to make a distributor call (I think Bud's is a retailer) to pull a sequential pair - regardless of numbers, it should be that easy. If Bud's is in fact a distributor - easier still.

Otherwise, you can always catch as can and pop for a bit of engraving afterward.
 
Personally I think it will feel more like "their first gun" if they each have their own. Theirs to take care of and clean, theirs to tell stories of great shots and firsts. When they grow older, get married and move apart, no deciding who gets to keep the shared .22. And something to plant the seed of understanding the relationship between total ownership and total responsibility.

Sorry I have nothing to add about the sequential serial numbers. Just my thoughts on the "1 for both or 1 for each" decision.
 
I want them to both have one, but there are budgetary concerns at play here. Two $400 guns at one time is $800, with still the rest of the family to shop for.

It wouldn't be one, for long. If we have to do one at a time, and it proves to be as popular as I am hoping, they would get another for their birthday next year. The only drawback then is sorting out which one is whos.
 
I wonder if a fella can count on the BSA version being available come b'day time?

How much less are the non BSA versions against the possibility that one or both of them cool to the scouts in the future?
 
My cousin/best friend/ shooting buddy has 2 Winchester Model-70 Westerners in .264 Mag with consecutive serial numbers. They were bought, IIRC, in 1958 from Phillip Galls Sporting Goods in Lexington, Ky. I've often wondered what they would bring at auction.
 
I would definitely want to do 2 rifles. That said, a 'normal' 10/22 can be had for ~$180 (if you live near a Bi-mart, more like $220 elsewhere), which might make it easier budget wise. It seems (based on research) that the BSA model's only difference is the stock and that the serial number starts with BSA.

The other issue I see is that the BSA models would be identical! This could potentially make them easy to confuse. Have you thought about doing a synthetic and a wood version of the standard 10/22 for the boys?

I'm sorry if this is too off topic, I apologize for not being able to help with the sequential rifles issue.
 
"I have twin boys"

The problem with sequential numbers is that one of the boys will get the lower number - "Dad always liked me best."

My mother was an identical twin. I've heard it all. Maybe it was because they were redheads. ;)
 
I don't know how, I guess we just got lucky, but they're really more into helping each other than being competitive with each other. The one exception to that being the older one still wishes to maintain that distinction that he is the older one (really, it was a C-section, so the difference is one minute, and all it amounts to is which one the dr. grabbed first. It's still funny to watch him remind someone)

At least now I know it's not that strange of a request, I'll have to check around and see. I've had decent luck with a pawn shop the next town over. They can generally order stuff in pretty close to the price at buds.

The rifles would only be identical out of the box. With the wealth of accessorizing options for them, it would not be long before there would be something to distinguish one from the other.

I thought about getting a regular 10/22, it would be cheaper, but I don't think it would be the same. I think it would be neat if they have their own rifles to get their rifle shooting badge with, and I think it would be a great way to simultaneously encourage their interest in two activites I am very pleased to see them enjoy.
 
JohnBT said:
"I have twin boys"

The problem with sequential numbers is that one of the boys will get the lower number - "Dad always liked me best."

My mother was an identical twin. I've heard it all. Maybe it was because they were redheads. ;)
Click to expand...

The first one born gets the lowest number or they are given randomly. Not a big deal. Twelve year old boys gettin' their first gun will not care. I got sequential serial numbers on two limited edition Buckmarks for my two sons. I don't think they have ever noticed. To the OP, I'd stretch the budget this year and get two. Giving them both the responsibility of caring for their own gun means they alone have control over the condition it stays in. 40 years from now it will mean much more also as they hand them down to their kid.......
 
I wouldn't worry or concern myself with serial numbers. They won't care.

I would also get two rifles. 12 years old is about right. If they like to shoot, they will remember this Christmas like no other. Limit the number of other presents to import the idea that this is an expensive and special present this year.

Consider the alternatives.... the new Wii U is $300. All the kids seem to want one. But they won't remember anything when they are 21 years old like they would the 22 rifles.
 
I never gave serial numbers much notice. Always figured they are what they are no big deal. Then one day I went to a gunshop and saw this spotless looking inside and out Cz 82 for sale. I wondered how this stayed in such fine shape since 1987. It had to come from a gun collection where the owner cherished his guns. I bought the gun as I'm a CZ fan and I got it for an outstanding price. I always wonder about the history of this pistol and then one day after firing it at the range and cleaning it I noticed the Serial numbers read the same backward as they do forward. I do not know if the numbers had anything to do with it but I did find it interesting.
 
My vote would be two rifles without the BSA markings vs one with the markings.

Of course I would also lean towards a bolt action rifle for a first time shooter.


I too love the CZs...
 
I've seen a pair of bespoke o/u 12 gauges in one nice wood and leather box.
They had consecutive numbers.
They were a little pricey for kids in my pocketbook
 
I have read that Bud's often has sequential serialed firearms, probably due to large purchases. Call and ask.
 
BeerSleeper said:
I want them to both have one, but there are budgetary concerns at play here. Two $400 guns at one time is $800, with still the rest of the family to shop for.

It wouldn't be one, for long. If we have to do one at a time, and it proves to be as popular as I am hoping, they would get another for their birthday next year. The only drawback then is sorting out which one is whos.
Click to expand...


I agree with the poster you were responding to. I think 2 guns is extremely necessary for it to feel like 'my first gun' and to be something they'd want to pass onto their kids.

I see a lot of potential for trouble if one gun goes to both kids and then 3 months later another gun shows up, one gets the 'old' one one gets the 'new' one.

I say if finances are tight but you can get one now and one for birthday, get TWO for birthday and get something a lot less expensive for them for Christmas.

OR

Get a non BSA version. They are after all only first year boyscouts. What if they get sick of it in 2 or 3 years? I could see spending almost double the price of a standard version if you were giving it to a kid who just earned Eagle Scout or something

If you really want to make it scouting related, then get a BSA coin, medallion, emblem or pin and set it in the stock yourself. Something like what is below.

http://compare.ebay.com/like/130591479669?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar
 
Yeah, if they're just in their first year or two of Scouting, I would say just get the standard model. You don't know if they'll want to continue. And starting off with a "blank slate" stock model gives them the ability to personalize it to their own style over time.
 
Skip the BSA model and get two standard models. The 10/22 is a middle of the road autoloader, not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but neither is it outstanding in any way. There is NOTHING that makes the BSA model worth twice the price of a standard model. If you want $400 guns for your boys, either buy rifles that are actually worth that, or spend the money on better triggers for the 10/22.

I enjoyed my time in the scouts, but Ruger has made so many variations of the 10/22 now that I cannot see paying a nickel more for a variant than a standard.

Just my opinion, however.
 
I own half of a Remington Nylon 66. Kind if a pain. Sharing & working together are a life skills though.

I understand promoting the scouting aspect. It is supporting a positive activity. All the kids I know locally that were scout were good kids and became good young men. There are other ways to show your support of scouting.

What I understand even more is budgetary concerns. I do think paying more for these guns may not be the best bang for the buck. The time and effort you put in will mean more than that pic on the stock ever will.

I happened to get 3 AR lowers with sequential ser #'s. A little bit of fun at the time but no big deal in the long run. Wasn't hard to get so if you can get them it is a plus.

The numbers:
This is less money
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/24894

You can get a 10/22 for $211 from Buds. Spend the difference on something shooting related. Training is and option. An Appleseed might be a way bigger thrill than a pic on the stock. Depending on where you live you can attend a hi power match or a .22lr competition. The reason I say High power is locally I can rent an AR & get some loaner equipment. Plus you get some coaching for a new guy. That should be doable for twins for less than the $130.00 difference for one rifle. A couple more bricks of .22lr is never a bad thing either.

Thanks for being a good family man. We need every 'Solid Citizen' we can get.
 
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