MedWheeler
Member
Loaded up my bag with five handguns, including one a friend inherited and asked me to check out and fire, and headed off to the range the other day. This range is part of a local gun shop I prefer to call more of a "showroom" due to its size and environment (the one made noteworthy last year by questioning the intentions of the Pulse Nightclub shooter.) Before heading to the range side of the establishment, I stopped in the sales side. It wasn't long before I noticed a secondhand Winchester 94 in the used rifle rack. I had a thread here a few months back about wanting a lever .30-30 gun, and how I had tried to buy a Marlin at WM, but could never get anyone to show it to me. I ended up with a Chinese SKS instead for the "truck gun" purpose I had in mind.
The Winchester reminded me I still didn't have a lever .30-30, and it was marked $350. Maybe a little high for its probably 75-80% percent condition, but it otherwise looked good. I wandered away from it to the used handgun case and another guy was checking out a Star Super B pistol marked $250. He was more looking for a shooter in .22LR, though. The Star was very clean, with virtually all of its bluing intact and a gleaming bore. It was made in 1972. I have a thing for all-steel pistols, especially mil-surps, and this one just felt natural in the hand, even though I'm new to the 1911-type, and anything resembling it.
I knew I needed to leave with either the 94 or the Star. I knew the Star would be more likely to get shot sooner, as I have few opportunities to shoot rifles (I dislike shooting centerfire rifles in a 25-yard indoor pistol range, so I never do.)
But, there's the whole thing about having a lever .30-30, and it being a Winchester to boot (even if it's a '68 and not a pre-64.)
The time it was taking me to make up my mind was cutting into what little I had for the range. I figured I might as well use more waiting for the NICS check. We came to $500 for both guns.
I still need to shoot my friend's gun and let him know how it is...
The Winchester reminded me I still didn't have a lever .30-30, and it was marked $350. Maybe a little high for its probably 75-80% percent condition, but it otherwise looked good. I wandered away from it to the used handgun case and another guy was checking out a Star Super B pistol marked $250. He was more looking for a shooter in .22LR, though. The Star was very clean, with virtually all of its bluing intact and a gleaming bore. It was made in 1972. I have a thing for all-steel pistols, especially mil-surps, and this one just felt natural in the hand, even though I'm new to the 1911-type, and anything resembling it.
I knew I needed to leave with either the 94 or the Star. I knew the Star would be more likely to get shot sooner, as I have few opportunities to shoot rifles (I dislike shooting centerfire rifles in a 25-yard indoor pistol range, so I never do.)
But, there's the whole thing about having a lever .30-30, and it being a Winchester to boot (even if it's a '68 and not a pre-64.)
The time it was taking me to make up my mind was cutting into what little I had for the range. I figured I might as well use more waiting for the NICS check. We came to $500 for both guns.
I still need to shoot my friend's gun and let him know how it is...
