Buying a caliber just to say you can?

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Jenrick

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Sorry for the probably confusing thread title, but I couldn't come up with a better short title.

I have thing for tracking down courses of fire used by various places (from the old Air Marshals qual to stuff from Gun Site) and practicing them. I'm sure a lot of us do something similar to keep it interesting at the range. However I also like to use the firearm they were intended for, so that I test myself against the standard with the gun it was written for. So for instance if I use the LAPD D platoon qual, I'll shoot it with a 1911 in .45, the old (like way old) FBI PPC qual is a S&W M15, etc.

I'm contemplating buying a new pistol in a caliber I don't normally shoot or stock, just to be able to test myself on a few of the courses of fire I have tracked down. A P229 in .357 sig specifically, so it's not like I'm trying to convince myself to buy a Lorcin or anything. I like Sigs, and carried one for quiet a while years ago (both a 226 and a 229 at various times). If it was in 9mm it'd be a no brainer (gotta love a 9mm all steel gun).

Does anyone else do anything like this? If so what guns have you picked up, just to say you can pass a particular course of fire?

-Jenrick
 
I personally don't have an interest in police qualification tests, but I do appreciate diversity. I might be tempted to opt for something like a Sig 320 which can easily swap between .40, .357, and 9mm, but that's just trying to economize. I would and have vought additional guns to expand the range of cartridges i can use.

I personally really like having a variety of guns chambered for a variety of cartridges. Not only does it expand your range, it helps to insulate you from certain types of shortage. While I'm sure i could do everything I really need a gun to do with nothing but .357 Magnum, I think life is better with alternatives.
 
If the OP reloads, why not? The more the merrier!

If not, I would hesitate to burden myself with a caliber that will seemingly be more and more difficult to find ammo for as time goes on.

Just my two cents.
 
I've heard of a lot worse reasons to buy a gun. Some buy a specific gun just to stick in a glass box to look at or to have it in the safe to periodically take out and look at.

Why not?
 
After the last too ammo/gun rushes, I see wisdom in having a gun or two that eats a caliber that is perhaps common enough to be on the shelves but not so commonly shot as to be snapped up like .380/9mm/45 etc.

I shot a lot of 9x18 during that time. .40 has always been available. Currently, I like dabbling with the .32 family out of wheel guns.

A good 9mm is something I think everyone should have just because it's the most common center fire cartridge around. However, buying an oddball here or there can be logically justified if you think about it hard enough:evil:
 
There are, in my opinion, only two valid reasons to buy a particular gun.

1) I don't have one; one would be cool.

2) I do have one; another one would be cool.


It appears you fall into at least one of those.
 
MedWheeler

There are, in my opinion, only two valid reasons to buy a particular gun.

1) I don't have one; one would be cool.

2) I do have one; another one would be cool.
Click to expand...

I believe there is a third reason:

3) I want one and there's still room left in my gun safe.
 
I have Glocks in 10mm, 357 Sig and 45 GAP (sucker for Glock niche calibers)
 
After I had a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol, every gun I bought was just "because I could."

The 7 mag, 12 gauge, and .45 would do everything I ever needed. Everything else is for fun, curiosity, learning, etc. Lots of reasons to buy stuff.
 
Well I found a few good deals on Armslist, guess it's time to break out the .357 sig dies again.

-Jenrick
 
Absolutely. Wait. Umm...kinda. I shoot a contender, so yeah I'm kinda partial to various calibers...especially ones people don't know much about. In traditional handgun forms, I still spread the love.
 
Jenrick

I'm pretty much the same way when it comes to the .38 Super. Always like to have one around along with a 9mm. conversion so I can practice with less expensive ammo whenever I want.
 
I think the 38 super might gain popularity since it's being the caliber of choice more often in IDPA and USPSA. I found a Llama 38super @ LGS serial # indicates 1966 manufacture.Needed a little work but it's a fine shooter. Didn't need it,just wanted it.
 
I would have to say i would pick the following in no particular order
,44 mag, 41 mag, 10mm in pistols and 300 Weatherby, 17 , and 45-70 gov.

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk
 
Folks buy guns all the time just to say they can......one reason you see all the brag posts from folks when they buy a overpriced Python.

I buy and shoot guns to satisfy myself. I only have to justify them and how I practice with them to myself, I don't need a majority vote or the approval of strangers to decide whether a gun and the way I practice, is right for me or not. Others folks apparently feel differently.
 
no worse than buying a gun because ya acquired a box of ammo for one somewhere along the way :)

Not that i HAVE ever DONE THAT...

Or buying a gun because ya had a magazine (or a hundred) for one... not that I ever did that either...
 
I buy guns because I can and I want to. However impractical, the vast array of cartridges available fascinates me, so I buy those that are proven or interesting to me. Im not above buying a gun just to satisfy my curiosity about a specific cartridge.
 
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