Diversify or Standardize?

[MM60]

Yesterday I posted a poll that asked, "Which pistol make would you most like to own? (You don't have to own it already.)" The poll results, as well as some posts in the thread, seem to indicate a desire of individuals to diversify their gun collections. Regarding a recent purchase, one person wrote, "There are other nines I could have chosen, but I like the fact that not everyone else at the range has one. It's different than what everybody else has."

I personally feel the opposite about my firearms. I prefer to own guns that the military and police currently use, and that many other people are likely to own, such as the AK (foreign military), AR (U.S. military), Mossberg 500 (military and police), Sig P226 (U.S. Navy SpecWar), Sig P239 (Dept. of Homeland Security) and Remington 700 in .308 (military and police) to name a few. I like the idea that parts and accessories for my firearms are widely available and reasonably inexpensive, and that there are many different options for each gun.

Do you prefer to diversify your collection? Or do you prefer to standardize your collection? And why?

 

[zombienerd]

Variety is the spice of life.

Gotta have a bit of each. Pistols and Revolvers, Bolt, Lever, Pump and Auto, Different brands, different calibers, different eras, different finishes... I don't like any two to be the same

 

[9mmepiphany]

i don't like being lead by the crowd, you never get ahead by following

"different" guns are just more interesting

the AK is different, but the VZ58 is even more different and a better rifle too

the Benelli sets the standard, the Mossberg 930 is the economy route, but the FN SLP is just a bit more cutting edge

everyone uses the Remington 700, because everyone uses it...but the Savage is cheaper and more accurate to start with and to tweak

for innovation in pistols, you need look no further than the offerings of H&K with their P9S (roller locked action) or P7 (gas delayed action). i even have a Heritage Stealth (South African design that was almost the S&W Sigma) and i would love to have a Vektor CP-1 or Neostead shotgun...there's alot of innovation on the dark continent

 

[Ben86]

Both really. I like to have main stream guns because the accessories are endless and getting repair parts is easy. I also like to own a few odd balls just for the hell of it.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Not enough options...

M. M. 60--You don't have a place in yr poll for "I buy what I darn please, and to heck with anybody elses' opinion--subject to budgetary limitations!"

I don't buy guns to be unique; I don't buy guns because everybody else has one. I buy what suits MY tastes, needs (OK, wants) and pocketbook.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I like different guns as well.

I am the only one at my clubs pistol shoot with a P7. I shoot some of the better times too. They always ask about my "little" gun. They cannot understand how I can be so fast without using a 1911 or a Glock.

OTOH my primary carry gun is plain ol Smith Model 60.

I love Ruger No. 1s because they are so classy. For the same reason, I also love full stocks. Different and head turning.

So many people out there today just get the black plastic pistols and matte finish rifles that blend in with everyone elses. I guess I am not cutting on them but I like a little flair and a lot of taste in my firearms.

 

[ny32182]

You can do both and own mainstream guns with lots of parts availability, as well as other lesser distributed proprietary designs, and have the best of both worlds... I guess that would likely count as "diversity". That is what I do.

 

[Hold My Own]

Variety is the spice of life.

I agree. My first rifle wasn't very standard. It was a CETME (one of the good ones, I guess) but when I began to buy more guns I went more of the standard route. Nothing very practical about a heavy rifle that fires an expensive cartridge (nowadays) and pretty much destroys brass...

But it's LOUD and I LOVE it The AR feels like too much of a toy once you fire a "battle rifle."

 

[MM60]

So many people out there today just get the black plastic pistols and matte finish rifles that blend in with everyone elses. I guess I am not cutting on them but I like a little flair and a lot of taste in my firearms.

I agree somewhat. I prefer to own common firearms for compatibility purposes, but I add plenty of customizations, especially to my rifles - which I have accessorized and Duracoated myself in my own MultiCam look-alike pattern. I have made each one unique for practical purposes - not just to be different. I don't think that everyone's guns should all be exactly alike, but I do think that standardization and practicality make a lot of sense.

 

[Zombie]

I personally feel the opposite about my firearms. I prefer to own guns that the military and police currently use

Me too. Even though they disappear from the shelves first in time of ammo shortages you can loot the dead bodies of military and police officers post society collapse for ammo.

 

[Shadow Man]

Me too. Even though they disappear from the shelves first in time of ammo shortages you can loot the dead bodies of military and police officers post society collapse for ammo.

Posts like these make me nervous, and shed all gun owners, and EBR owners in a bad light. I am prepared for sociotal collapse, especially these days, but I don't advertise it, and I try to refrain from talking about it, unless I am with close, like-minded friends, and in the comfort and safety of my own home. That WWII poster comes to mind right now: "Loose lips sink ships." For all of our sakes, can we refrain from things like this, talking about taking ammo and gear off dead LE and Military?

 

[MM60]

It may be wise to keep quiet, but I appreciate Zombie's train of thought. Others seem to still be boarding at the station.

 

[Shadow Man]

But wouldn't that simply be the smart, common sense thing to do? Do we really need to advertise it? If you simply suggest that "If you are worried about societal breakdown, etc. stick to weapon systems in use by Law Enforcement Officers and our Military." most people with two brain cells can figure out to roll the dead for ammo...

It just makes me nervous, because any anti who got his hands on this kind of talk could easily spin it into "These gun nuts are planning for the breakdown of the US, and then they will go around shooting cops and soldiers for their ammo! Ban guns for civilian sales, they can't be trusted!"

On the other hand...do you really think there will be alot of dead M&P just "laying around"? Do you, really?

 

[Zombie]

If everyone is already thinking the same thing, no need to be coy about it. I would say we would have to live in a collapsed lawless society first though otherwise you would run afoul of legal problems.

 

[Shadow Man]

If everyone is thinking it, then there's no reason to say it anymore.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

This concept might blow your mind, but there are plenty on this board who don't expect a collapsed lawless society in their lifetime, let alone seem to be preparing or even looking forward to it.

Believe it or not, lots of gun owners enjoy shooting for the sake of the "fun" aspects: competition, hunting, clay games, or just plain plinking.

Continuing down the path of TEOTWAWKI nonsense will certainly result in a locked thread.

As for my opinion, I think variety is the spice of life, but it's sure easier to feed them when you buy certain cartridges in bulk. If I can't afford to shoot it very often, it is a little too diverse for my tastes.

 

[jnyork]

Celebrate diversity.

 

[MM60]

Believe it or not, lots of gun owners enjoy shooting for the sake of the "fun" aspects: competition, hunting, clay games, or just plain plinking.

That's fine with me, Jorg. I enjoy shooting just for the fun of it like most everybody else here. I also like knowing that most of my firearms that I have fun with would also be practical to fight with in a combat scenario (the exception being two side-by-side shotguns, one of which was my grandfather's, and the other of which I had planned to buy the tax stamp to convert it to a Mad Max sidearm, but I never actually did it yet).