Conversational Question

[THE DARK KNIGHT]

I go by a few things.

First is reliable, I simply won't buy any gun that's cheap or junk. Second, interest. I like Communist and Cowboy guns, two different worlds with a lot of interest for me. It's cool to know, and one hell of a conversation piece.

 

[BULLSI]

It was decided by what will I use it for. The first few was self defense, home defense along with quality / reliability. Then different caliber and if it would be fun to shoot came into play.

Now since I am running out of calibers I guess it would be more of a cool factor, fun to shoot, quality / reliability.

I bought my 44 magnum that I was looking at and debating on the price
because another customer that was at the gun store said "everybody should own a 44 magnum at least once in their lives" I said that he was probably right, stopped thinking about it and bought it.

 

[Justin]

I've pretty much satisfied my interest in owning this-or-that firearm just because I think it's cool. At this point, for my interest to be piqued, it has to be for a firearm that can fill a defined need, or to allow me to compete in a specific game.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

In the ideal world, I'd start with a purpose. If I were going to Wyoming for a prarie dog hunt, I'd start looking for a super-accurate varmit rifle, probably a Savage in .223 Remington with a good scope.

But in the real world, I can walk down to the basement and pull whatever gun I need off the rack. So my decisions are mostly based on three factors:

1. I've always wanted one of those.
2. It's a good price.
3. I have a little extra cash this month.

 

[Werewolf]

About 80% of my guns fill a role; HD, SD, IPSC, CAS
The rest...

I read a post on a forum and think - that's cool - I want one of those. New gun

Or

Someone asks me if I want to shoot a gun they're shooting at the range. That's how I ended up with my Garand (who knew - no prior interest in owning a Garand at all - in fact my thoughts on the subject were why would anyone want one of those?) and my .44 Mag. Both of those are among what I call my fun guns.

 

[jakemccoy]

I'm still rounding out my collection of utilitarian guns. So, I just decide what gun is the next most useful. Currently, that would be a .22lr pistol, and I usually like to get two of the same gun.

 

[Erik M]

I usually see something a friend or family member has bought, notice an ad in a magizine that sparks my intrest. Then I have to go to a gun store and put my hands on one, do online research. Hopefully the person I know lets me get some range time with the weapon Im after.

Im currently after a 9mm PT92 in nickel.

 

[Avenger29]

Hell, I buy them all. Three or four guns a year for forty years well fill your safe.

I've been buying/acquiring at an average rate of two per year. This year, I've brought 3 and sold 2 that just did not suit me well, so now I truly am down to essential guns.

 

[gunnutery]

I buy different guns to fill different purposses. Even within one type of firearm (handguns, rifles, shotguns) there are many different uses depending on caliber, barrel length, capacity, range and so on. So that's what I do, I find the next gun to fill a roll (plinking, hunting, CCW, or just for fun). I've had as many as 13 guns so far and still haven't found myself stopping to look to fill another roll.

Thanks for the question.

 

[chuckusaret]

I have all the required SD and HD weapons, now I buy what catches my eye and/or looks neat. I just bought two Mosin Nagant 91/30 rifles, two so my son and I can compete, and because I heard they were fun to shoot. Hey two rifles, 440 rounds of ammo, quart of Hoppe's 9 for $325.24 which is less than the cost of 500 rounds of .223 ammo for the Mini 14. Will shoot them this week end.

 

[Quilbilly]

Like DHJenkins I have made a list in my head that I want (I admit the list does change often). Each thing on my list is well thought out and for a different purpose or to get one in a caliber that I do not have yet. I would not consider, for instance, a glock 27 even though I think it's cool because I already have a Springfield XD40. I will keep on like this untill I have basically one of every type of firearm....then Ill get that G27.

 

[jnyork]

I'll know it when I see it.

 

[jr4521]

Read and research, then make my choice on something reliable ,fun and it has to have the I need it now appeal!

 

[InkEd]

You should buy whatever appeals to you.

Personally, I like to buy guns to fill various roles. This for ccw. That for home defense. This for plinking. That for pocket carry. Etc.

 

[eye5600]

Good advice above, but to add a notion.

If you tend to buy guns on a 'just caught my eye' basis, then you are really making a collection, and a collection makes more sense if it has some kind of theme. Hardly matters what, though. Two more more 1911s is a 1911 collection, two or more Brownings is a Browning collection, etc. Collections tend to be more satisfying if there is quality. A HiPoint Carbine and a Kel-Tec pistol don't make much of a basis for a collection. (If the pistol and the carbine came from the same manufacturer, then perhaps it does.)

 

[ohioshooter]

I want pretty much everything so I i see what I can afford at the time I'm really wanting another gun.

 

[Dambugg]

The first thing I consider is caliber. I want to be able to buy the ammunition preferrably in surplus. Second I consider the gun makers reputation. Third I ask myself "why do I want this". I have two babies so if I drop money on a gun I need a good reason to do so. My must have list is very short. I feel a new wind coming however as I start considering that in a couple years it will be time to take the kids shooting/hunting. So the must have list is bound to increase. Two babies needing a .22, a shotgun, and a deer rifle. That's a lot of gun shooping.

 

[TexasBill]

I've owned so many guns over the past 39 years I couldn't begin to tell you why I bought them all. Some were duty weapons, some were off-duty weapons, some were guns I'd always wanted and some were guns that were just "cool."

I guess these days "cool" rules. Otherwise I have trouble explaining why I bought a Beretta CX4 instead of a Ruger Mini-14. Of course, having the "cool" CX4, I had to get a PX4 to go with it. Even my wife understood.

There are a few guns still on my list:

Walther PK380: nice, compact CCW for just a little more than a Ruger LCP.

Ruger Mini-14: No home should be without one.

S&W Model 22, Model of 1917 .45ACP: I can't explain this one; I just think this old service revolver is cool and I can get the 1917-style holster from El Paso Saddlery. Heck, I might even find a lanyard for it.

Mauser/Interarms P08 in 9mm: I have owned a few Lugers and wish I still did. There are few weapons that feel as good in the hand as the old German sidearm.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Model of 1917 .45ACP: I can't explain this one; I just think this old service revolver is cool and I can get the 1917-style holster from El Paso Saddlery.

While you're at it, get a horse, a McClellan saddle and a campaign hat -- that would kick the "cool" factor way up there.

The only thing I lack is the McClellan saddle -- albeit my revolver is a Colt New Service in .45 Colt -- closer to the M1909 than the M1917.

 

[eye5600]

Another idea is that you might buy a gun as a step in learning something.

As in most any hobby, you do well to buy something inexpensive to see if you like the hobby, to build up some preferences. For example, if you wonder if you might like pistol target shooting. you buy a $250 .22 to try it out. It helps figure out what kind of more expensive gun you want later on. It could be centerfire, or it could be a much better .22.

 

[David E]

How do you decide which gun you want to buy next?

It depends what I want to do.

Do I want to hunt? Plink? Compete? Carry ?

Once I define the "what" I want to do, I consider what I may already have that may fill that role, either as is, or with some gunsmithing. If I still have a niche to fill, then I look at what will fill it within my price range.

Some things I consider is caliber and if I have what it would take to support it. For example, a .357 Sig might fill the same niche as a .40, but I don't want to commit to another caliber right now.....unless, of course, I was just so enamored with the .357 Sig that buying ammo for it is understood.

Of course, sometimes, a super-buy or that "I've always wanted one of those" comes along that isn't what you're looking for, but it's too good of a deal to pass up.......so you buy it and start saving again.