Guns In A Lifetime

[MagnumDweeb]

I'm turning twenty-five in September. The woman with whom I had been with for three and one half years called it quits(and I smoothly slipped in with another blonde who likes guns, go figure). And I'll be graduating law school in May. I've built and disbanded small businesses. I'm set to get out into the working world and be work-horse for the first three to five years of my life. And all the while I've been contemplating so many different facets.

Well to keep this gun-related, my latest and newest squeeze asked me how many guns I owned, and naturally I talked about something else(anything other than mentioning the three guns safes in my walk-in closet hidden by packing totes full of books, primers, spare parts, and powder). But it got me thinking. I want to continue on being an NRA certified pistol instructor, get my FFL after I'm admitted to the Bar, and being an all around shooting enthusiast. Take up IDPA, especially given the divisions that encourage use of stock standard firearms. And have some for-fun-complete-overkill firearms (Mac-9 FA suped up, .50 BMG upper on an AR lower, etc.).

I had some free time while I was working out at the gym and this was the list of just-got-to-haves by the time I'm thirty. I day trade, run my little landscapping operation, and do alright as a pistol instructor. Hopefully I can keep most of it up once I'm gainfully employed.

Pistols to start:

-S&W 686+ for IDP competition. 4" barrel. Spurless hammer.
-S&W 686+ for HD/SD/CCW. 4" barrel. Crimson Trace Laser Sight. An eight shot cylinder(I'm under the impression some gunsmiths can get the eight shot cylinders from 627s to work in the 686 seven shots). Spare 7 shot cylinder reamed out by the folks at 'Pinnacle' for 9mm and 9x23 Winchester with Moonclips.
-Ruger Sp-101 3 1/16" spurless hamer, crimson trace laser sight. For SD/HD/CCW
-Ruger Sp-101 3 1/16" spurred hamer, with spare cylinder cut for 9mm and 9x23 Winchester with moonclips.(I really don't want to have to switch back and forth).
-Glock 20, 10mm, factory stock (I've already got one) for SD/HD/CCW
-Bersa Thunder Pro Compact 9mm, factory stock (I've already got one, and it's a nice little shooter and CCW)
-Ruger SR9, factory stock for IDPA and instructing folks on.
-Ruger GP100 6" barrel factory stock except for grips. Can't deny it's a good gun and for the man who loves mangums the collection just wouldn't be complete without one, plus I could take it hunting with the 6" barrrel.
-Ruger Redhawks .44 Magnum in 7.5" and 4". (already have them)
-Glock 23 factory stock (already have one and it's a nice shooter, plus I'll eventually get the conversion setups for 9mm and .22lr. I'd get one for Sig .357 but the round just isn't as common as it used to be)
-Ruger MKIII 5.5" or 6" barrel .22lr. Because I've come to believe that one should always have at least one semi .22lr pistol and Rugers are hard to beat.
-A Tarus Revolver with a 6" barrel in .22lr. Taurus makes a good product nowadays and it'd be a step up from my Heritage Rough Riders.

Rifles.
-I already own CETMEs
-I already own FALs
-Garand setup for M14 original magazines in .30-06
-Already own a Winchester 94AE in .30/30
-AR 15 20" in .223 (last part to finish building the sights came in last week so I now own one)
-AR 15 16" in 5.45x39 (I already own one as a bastard build between Olympic and other)
-Stevens Bolt Action in .30-06
-I already own a Saiga 16" in .223 and got the Pro Mag 30rd mags(good little truck gun perhaps one day, it's a good little shooter and bump in the night greeter)
-Mosin Nagants I already own
-Yugo Mausers I already own
-I'd like to get one Romanian WASR in 7.62x39(just to have for the sake of having)

This list isn't entirely exhaustive and I have more than what is on this list naturally. I'm not going to sell off what I got to get this collection. I've come to the opinion I won't sell off certain firearms unless there is a high turn around profit to made through my FFL guy. Even my little nickel plated Star 9mm SA will stay with me as a pocket carry unless someone plops $300 in front of me for it and pays the FFL transfer. I'm not in a rush to fill this collection and naturally I'll be sure to focus more on getting ammo than getting guns(otherwise you have a really overpriced club). Kind of make it a rule with each handgun to have a thousand rounds for it at any given time. And somewhat the same with the rifles(.30-06 is expensive).

I'd like to get the 686s and Sp-101s first. I want to get the first Sp-101 by December after I get around 1k of .38 special and 1k of .357 magnum stashed away.

Maybe I'm just being silly and this list will change but if these were to be my only firearms the rest of my life, I sure as sure couldn't complain about mastering them.

 

[TRguy]

Uh huh.

 

[cchris]

But why not sell your house to buy a Cheytac M200?

The Saiga in 5.45 is fairly cheap (I think I saw it for less than $400) and is AK framed, more traditional for the 5.45x39. You oughta think about a larger round for an AR build, maybe a 6.5 Grendel. I don't own a 91/30 or M44 but a PSL might be kinda cool, still utilizing the 7.64x54R in semiauto.

 

[daskro]

I'm around the same age and had a smaller list of guns I wanted, having bought most of them in the last two years (when I started working full time). If you pass the bar and manage to get hired by an AMlaw200 firm, you will work your ass off, easily 50-60 hours a week, if not more. At the same time, you'll be bringing in nearly six figures if not more. You will be able to afford all of those guns within the first year.

Even if you only manage to make 60-70 working at a smaller firm, you'll still be able to buy most of those in the first year, maybe have to wait two years.

 

[rcmodel]

An eight shot cylinder. Spare 7 shot cylinder reamed out by the folks at 'Pinnacle' for 9mm and 9x23 Winchester with Moonclips.

You can have one or the other, but not both on the same gun.

The internal lockwork has to be modified to operate with whichever cylinder you have.

Or to put it another way:
If you put an 8-shot cylinder in a 7-shot gun, or visa versa, the holes won't line up with the barrel when you pull the trigger.

rc

 

[huntsman]

Guns In A Lifetime

Great ambitions better stay single.

 

[CoRoMo]

No shotguns?

What gives?

 

[HardShell]

...

-A Tarus Revolver with a 6" barrel in .22lr. Taurus makes a good product nowadays and it'd be a step up from my Heritage Rough Riders.

...

Save up for a S&W 617 instead.

I'm not a name snob, and I've got nothing against Taurus (even own a few), but the 617 is the sweetest rimfire wheelgun I've ever shot. I regret selling the one I had and will definitely have another one down the road.

JMHO.

 

[JWF III]

-Garand setup for M14 original magazines in .30-06

.30-06 won't work in a M14 (.308) magazine. You might could have it done with a BAR magazine.

Or you could take the easy and cheap way out, and find a Beretta BM-59. Yes it's .308 (not much differences with the .30-06 ballistically), but it's closer to a Garand than a M1A is.

Wyman

 

[Templar223]

Kid, you're 25. You're still very, very young.

You're trying to predict the future.

When I was your age, the Beretta 92 was all the rage and nobody even heard of the XD45 and the Glocks were still newfangled plastic guns. HK battle rifles were readily available, cheap too (relatively speaking). I was just learning how to fire a pistol double action and didn't have a clue how to use a rifle or shotgun. EOTech? AR15s as "Barbie Doll" guns? Who would have thunk it.

I guarantee you that ten years, twenty years, thirty years from now, your wants and "needs" will change as new products emerge and your skills sets improve (hopefully). Also, hopefully, you'll amend your "list" to include training, including getting training from today's masters before they become too old and infirm to continue. They are a great resource that you'll kick yourself for missing if you ever start training in earnest.

So don't be in a big rush to write up a big "you think you know what you'll want for a lifetime" list as you're just kidding yourself and everyone else.

John

 

[2RCO]

I'm 30 and lost my wife a couple years ago. Since then I have had no one to control my gun buying addiction. When I meet women and the topic of guns come up "Guns what guns-I know nothing of guns!" When dating one woman the topic came up and I answered how many I owned. She almost fainted and could not believe someone would have that many. The bad part of this the dates ended after that...The really bad part I only told her 20.......Lets just say I've bought that many in a month!

 

[Cosmoline]

Keep an open mind, and you may find your interests shifting. I started out primarily interested in new model handguns but gradually got more and more interested in vintage pieces and C&R's. For example my interested has shifted from SP 101's to Speed Sixes. Now I've finally devolved to building my own flintlocks from parts, which as far as I'm concerned is the ultimate firearm experience short of making the parts as well.

 

[Mike OTDP]

MagnumDweeb. you might want to start thinking about upgrading in quality. Custom and semi-custom pieces. Nothing flossy, just uncompromising quality. Trust me, you'll find it a lot more satisfying to have three or four truly top-quality guns than three or four dozen mid-quality guns.

Running through your list...

-S&W 686+ for IDP competition. 4" barrel. Spurless hammer. Ok, but I'd get a Performance Center gun
-S&W 686+ for HD/SD/CCW. 4" barrel. Crimson Trace Laser Sight. An eight shot cylinder(I'm under the impression some gunsmiths can get the eight shot cylinders from 627s to work in the 686 seven shots). Spare 7 shot cylinder reamed out by the folks at 'Pinnacle' for 9mm and 9x23 Winchester with Moonclips. Not sure why you want two. I'd put the $$ into night sights.
-Ruger Sp-101 3 1/16" spurless hamer, crimson trace laser sight. For SD/HD/CCW Try Gemini Customs
-Ruger Sp-101 3 1/16" spurred hamer, with spare cylinder cut for 9mm and 9x23 Winchester with moonclips.(I really don't want to have to switch back and forth).
-Glock 20, 10mm, factory stock (I've already got one) for SD/HD/CCW OK...you really need to pick one or two CCW guns, stick with those. Playing gun-of-the-day is bad
-Bersa Thunder Pro Compact 9mm, factory stock (I've already got one, and it's a nice little shooter and CCW) No need for a second
-Ruger SR9, factory stock for IDPA and instructing folks on. Hold it...you said you already have a Glock 20. Get a Glock 17 or 19 instead. Same manual of arms.
-Ruger GP100 6" barrel factory stock except for grips. Can't deny it's a good gun and for the man who loves mangums the collection just wouldn't be complete without one, plus I could take it hunting with the 6" barrrel. You have this covered with the 686s
-Ruger Redhawks .44 Magnum in 7.5" and 4". (already have them) OK
-Glock 23 factory stock (already have one and it's a nice shooter, plus I'll eventually get the conversion setups for 9mm and .22lr. I'd get one for Sig .357 but the round just isn't as common as it used to be) OK, but don't spend the $$ on a SR9
-Ruger MKIII 5.5" or 6" barrel .22lr. Because I've come to believe that one should always have at least one semi .22lr pistol and Rugers are hard to beat. Nonsense. Rugers are easy to beat. The triggers are nothing to write home about. Spend the good money, get yourself a Pardini SP or Feinwerkbau AW93. You'll scream when you pay, but you'll fall in love with the gun.
-A Tarus Revolver with a 6" barrel in .22lr. Taurus makes a good product nowadays and it'd be a step up from my Heritage Rough Riders. Get a S&W Model 17. It's a better gun. Unless you have an emotional attachment, sell the Rough Riders, too.

Rifles.
-I already own CETMEs Think about trading up to an HK91
-I already own FALs
-Garand setup for M14 original magazines in .30-06 Just get an M1A. M14s are in 7.62, there is no economical way to convert a Garand.
-Already own a Winchester 94AE in .30/30
-AR 15 20" in .223 (last part to finish building the sights came in last week so I now own one) OK
-AR 15 16" in 5.45x39 (I already own one as a bastard build between Olympic and other)
-Stevens Bolt Action in .30-06 I'd consider upgrading to a Remington, Winchester, or even Sako.
-I already own a Saiga 16" in .223 and got the Pro Mag 30rd mags(good little truck gun perhaps one day, it's a good little shooter and bump in the night greeter) Get an AK-74
-Mosin Nagants I already own
-Yugo Mausers I already own
-I'd like to get one Romanian WASR in 7.62x39(just to have for the sake of having) Don't bother, get a higher-end piece.

Now, Mike's Big Advice:

Spend the money on quality. Get a high-end 1911 and a match-grade .22 pistol. Acquire a mousegun for deep concealment. Get a high-end .22 rifle. Think about a suppressor or two.

 

[22-rimfire]

Lists are a good way to organize your thinking. I do it too. As others have said, I wouldn't get too obsessed with the list as my list is constantly be revised. At one time, the revisions were quarterly and sometimes monthly, now the revisions are more annual. Things change. You'll change. The important part is have fun and enjoy the pride of ownership.

I would also dump the Taurus 22 revolver and go with a Smith 617. You'll be able to afford it. Get the Taurus later if you still want one.

 

[ktmmudd]

+1 on the S&W 617. You need it because it's a great shooting revolver and make sure it's a ten round because it's ten rounds!

 

[SpotlightRanger]

OK, but do you have enough guns to meet your current needs?

 

[oneounceload]

And not one target-grade Perazzi or Kreighoff????? wazzup wit dat?????

Seriously, fewer guns of greater quality equals more joy from getting to shoot well-made guns really well.............

 

[model of 1905]

What no AK-47???

Sheeesh! You call yourself a gun owner?

 

[leadcounsel]

Bro:
I didn't bother looking at your list because the others are right. Your wants will change with experience, age, and product availability. I have things I never considered, and didn't buy the "must haves."

I've been practicing law for about 6 years. It took about 5 years, but I'm finally at the point where I have significant disposable income (including some time as a civilian attorney and 2 US Army combat deployments to Iraq as a JAG officer). I don't know about your personal financial situation, but if you're like most young lawyers, you'll be in the same boat. It takes a long time to figure out what you're doing, get established, etc. And the first several years are gonna be rough. You'll make mistakes, regularly work 70 hour workweeks, etc.

Here's my BIGGEST pieces of advice. 1) Put aside ambitions to 'meet the right girl' because you're entering a time in your life where if you want to be a successful lawyer, your relationships are gonna be doomed for a few years. You can either be a good attorney or a good boyfriend. Probably not both. I know because my legal practice suffered because I was putting women (lots of them) first. 2) Make DAM* sure that the girl you settle for is PRO gun and NO drama. One bad argument leading to the police being called, a restraining order, or allegations of domestic violence (even a misdemeanor) and your gun owernship is over! 3) Stop daytrading. Most people can't do it. I was a stockbroker for several years and saw first hand how people lose, even if it's just on the taxs on short term gains.

Good luck

 

[loop]

I agree with leadcounsel.

But, mostly that things change.

I never thought I'd have as many guns as I do now, but after 50 years of shooting they add up.

Buy guns because of their esoteric value, not because they fit a niche on your list. My best scoped rifle is a .303 Brit that shoots .5 MOA at 500 meters. My best open sight rifle is a Finn Mosin made by Sako in 1942 that shoots under 24 inches at 500 meters.

My best pistol, it depends on the job. I have a lot of choices.

The women - they come, they go. There are a lot more choices of women than there are guns. As an up and coming lawyer you either need the right woman or you need to be seen as a player. You have to have the right eye candy for those important social functions. (Cynical old man wants to LMAO right now.)

Right woman is key long term. A couple weeks ago we were in a gun store and I was eyeballing a pair of .357 snubbies with consecutive serial numbers. Wifey says "Do you want one?" I say "Yeah, but I don't need it." She says "Is it better if they have consecutive serial numbers?" I say "Yeah."

So now I have a pair of .357 snub air weights and haven't even done anything with them but put them in the safe. I haven't even figured out why I have them!

Gal probably doesn't make the best eye candy anymore, but she makes one h***uva wife. I can't remember the last time I looked at a gun and she didn't tell me "Do you want it? Buy it!"

She even got on my butt yesterday because I haven't been to the range in almost two weeks.

LOL, even if she was an ogre, I'd marry that woman again...

 

[peyton]

Leadcounsel speaks wisely, get your career firmly established, set a limit on "fun" expenses. Diversify your inventory and interest. I got a boat load of fire arms, only got to shoot a couple, why you may ask? I have now spent 4 1/2 years in Iraq. I probably have bought $5,000 in revolvers. But I have also paid off several bills, landscaped my yard and looking forward to fishing when I get home. Plus frankly you do one thing only long enough, you get good and yes, bored.

 

[redneck2]

At 58 YO, I've been your route. I'm in sales, not law, but pretty much identical in terms of life's progress.

I had a whole safe full of guns. There were ones that hadn't seen the light of day (other than showing them off or oiling them) for years. Over half were unfired. Got to the point that I asked myself "why?". Sold probably 2/3rds and don't regret it a second.

I've gotten maybe a dozen friends into reloading. I enjoy that as much or more than owning guns. Way cool to be able to load up a few hundred rounds and shoot your own stuff.

As for personal advice. You're going about it exactly backwards IMO. You're reluctant to discuss guns because you don't want to scare off the girls. I'd suggest you do that right up front. Otherwise you may end up in a relationship and get too deep emotionally, then end up having to make choices about other important things (guns being one of many). I'd STRONGLY suggest that you be brutally honest with yourself and figure out exactly what you're looking for. Took me three wives to figure that out.

Relationships fail because we try to re-make ourselves into something we think the other person wants. Unfortunately, some times it works that way. Then, you're tied up with one and it's built on a foundation of half truths or outright deception. When it crumbles, you lose a LOT in many ways. Family, money, home, career.

The truth comes out sooner or later. May as well come out right up front. When the one girl bailed because of your guns, look at it as a blessing.

 

[Shear_stress]

Why limit yourself to new or current production guns?

 

[armoredman]

Be original in the EBR world...



I am very lucky my wife is very pro gun - she has Kalishnakitty tattooed one leg, and the CZ-UB emblem on the other! But always remember certain guns are tools, some are grown up toys, and when times get tight, which ones can go down the river.
Best of luck in your law practice, good to see a pro 2A attorney getting in the game.

 

[MagnumDweeb]

I appreciate the feedback guys. A lot of food for thought, thanks.

I'll look into the S&W 617. I'm not a big AK-47 person, yeah I'd get one of the Romanian WASRs for pure fun of having one but I prefer .308 Nato and Win. more. I'm going to stay an NRA pistol instructor so I'll be holding onto the Heritage revolvers so my students can shoot on them, for returning students, once I get a S&W 617, I'd maybe let them shoot on it. Yeah I'd just get a Garand and leave it be as a history piece that'd be fun to shoot on. And look into a Remington bolt-action to wet my .30-06 want. Yeah I know I need to looking to a .22lr rifle, a Ruger 10-22(what I like Ruger).

I like the Ruger SR9, just plain like it but it's at the end of the list so maybe other more viable and better quality arms might come out by the time I'm ready to pick one up, If Sig could just make a ambi 226.

I left out a 1911 because I'm not sure about ever getting any use out of them. My uncle owns a bunch of custom builds I get to shoot and I enjoy them but as much as I want one, every chance I've had to get one I've passed up. Maybe I'm just too much of a revolver fan. I only really like the Glock 20 because of the power of the 10mm and high capacity. Plus I only have average sized hands that have mutated around years of bench pressing around(and finally over this year) four hundred pounds and curling hundred pound dumb bells and such.

Mind you on the AKs I do homebrews and have a homebuilt Romy G and Yugo M70AB2, and AMD 65. I've got 2 parts kit for a VZ58 so if I go that direction I'd just order up a milled receiver for it and do the build(take me a month but be worth it).

Also on the womens front. The blonde likes shooting, took her once and not a week later she wanted to know when we are going back. I had a few students with me when we went(we had planned to go shooting together before we started dating), so she got to see one of my tool boxes(take old T-shirts and wrap up two heritage rough rider .22lrs, three Tokarevs [in 9mm and 7.62x25], a couple odds and ends[Star pistols, Llama pistols], a Rossi snubbie .357, and S&W 19-4 6"). She knows I own a lot and hasn't said anything and told her from the beginning any woman looking to be with me has to accept my eccentricities in gardening, shooting, gun owning, bio-diesel brewing, gunsmithing, and dog owning. Luckily she's something of a farm girl finishing her last her at UCF with a science major and has been accepted to a master's program. So she's cool with busy schedules.

Glad to hear from folks of advanced wisdom that I shouldn't settle in too tightly on my list, it was an idea, and one that needs more thought and time. I'm just given to wanting to have things in order, planned, and readied to go as smoothly as possible.