Guns That You Wished You'd Bought Sooner

[JR24]

Glocks. When they came out, we thought they were a fad/joke, and wouldn't last long, since we were sure they would be sued out of existence once they started blowing to pieces and injuring people. 30 years later, I'm not even sure how many I have.

Yep. My first two guns should have been a Glock 17 and a DW VBob (though I believe the CBob was all there was out then). Could have saved a lot of money there.

The biggest one for me is not a gun. I wish I had found the Vedder light tuck sooner. I wanted so much money failing to find the "right' IWB.

 

[tubeshooter]

I just got my first S&W Model 10 this year, and I wish I had got one sooner.
I bet the going rate was somewhat lower 10 to 20 years ago...


Same with the Makarov I bought not too long ago.

 

[wanderinwalker]

Hi ...
I have wanted a Mannlicher full stocked bolt action rifle for years. I didn't want a new in box rifle...used in good condition would be fine.
Never seemed to be able to find one when I had the money at anything near a reasonable price.

Earlier this year I found a very nice Interarms Mark X in 7x57 at a local gun auction.
I had looked at it on the auction website and knew about what they went for at least on GunBroker.
I had to push the bid to $700 to win it but it is a very nice looking rifle and it wants to shoot. First trip to the gun club with some factory loads produced 5 shot groups just over an inch off a Caldwell rest at 100yds.
I am very happy with the rifle and wish I had ponied up the money for one years ago.

Oh yes, I forgot about my CZ452FS Mannlicher-stocked rifle. It shoots as well as it looks. I wanted one back when they were fairly new to the market, but being a college student and generally broke most of the time, I didn't get one until I found a used one a couple of years ago. Very glad I picked it up, though it turns out CZs hate to live alone:

I just got my first S&W Model 10 this year, and I wish I had got one sooner.
I bet the going rate was somewhat lower 10 to 20 years ago...


Same with the Makarov I bought not too long ago.

Agreed on the K-frame S&W .38 Specials! The Model 10s were definitely cheaper 10-15 years ago. I seem to recall seeing a very clean, pencil-barrel Model 10 with box (maybe papers too) for about $325 sometime between 2002 and 2006. Now they're going for as much as the "nicer" adjustable sight versions. This Model 15 "Combat Masterpiece" has recently made it's home here, and while I haven't run a lot of ammo through it yet, I think it'll turn out to be a great shooter:

 

[Schlegel]

Ehhhhh, you probably dodged heartburn and a headache there. The Interarm/Ranger PPKs are gorgeous, wonderfully machined, and utterly unreliable lumps of stainless- at least the .380s anyway. The .32s are better, but much harder to find.

I ended up with a German 1939 PPK in 32, so I can't complain too much. Runs like the proverbial sewing machine. Lucked out with a lowball 1st bid on Gunbroker when no one else put in a second bid.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I lived in Egypt in the mid-50s, in Alexandria, just a short distance from the battlefield at El Alamein. Dad was in oil exploration, and his crews were all over the Western Desert. I'd get out there every chance I could. I had a nice collection of weapons -- including a Bren gun. But Dad wouldn't let me bring any of them home. :-(

Wow!

My daughter's ex-boyfriend grew up in Hungary. He says it is not uncommon at all there for old timers, his Grandad included, to have an MG42 or MP44 tucked away in the attic- just in case.

Apparently, the authorities have a "don't ask, don't tell policy" and don't get paid enough to try to take away an old vet's belt fed machine gun unless they really have to.......

 

[Spats McGee]

Let's hear some more stories of "I waited so long and it was worth it in the end."

Where do I even begin?

1. A 1911 -- I always wanted one, but didn't get around to getting one until I was at least in my late 30s, maybe early 40s. The first one I got . . . was stolen ~3 weeks later. So I got a second one. Both of them were Springfield Armory GI models. I sent the second one a gunsmith for new sights, . . . . who completely worked it over for me. I guess he had a few extra parts laying around. I don't carry it any more, but it's an ammo-devouring beast that I shoot much better than any other pistol I own.

2. A Glock. Yeah, I like both 1911s and Glocks, for entirely separate reasons. I remember the "ohmygodthey'llpassthroughmetaldetectors" panic of the 1980s, and couldn't imagine why anyone would want a plastic gun. Fast forward to ~2013, and I bought a Gen 4 G19 with the idea that if I just hated it, I could recoup my money pretty easily. I don't shoot it as well as my 1911, but it's light, it's not picky about ammo, and it goes bang every time.

Now, there are several things on The Spats McGee Wish list that I wish I'd discovered sooner in life, but that's a story for a different thread.

 

[Mn Fats]

I wish I would of discovered the Stevens 200 just a bit before they were phased out. I would have bought 4 or 5.

Other than that, every gun I buy comes to me at about the right time in my life. Still considering an AR which is one gun I'm glad I didn't buy sooner considering the price drop.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I wish I would of discovered the Stevens 200 just a bit before they were phased out. I would have bought 4 or 5.

Other than that, every gun I buy comes to me at about the right time in my life. Still considering an AR which is one gun I'm glad I didn't buy sooner considering the price drop.

Oooooh, forgot about the 200. Yep, passed on one for $250 couple years ago......ugh.

Bro, now's the time to snap up an AR (or 3), they can't get any cheaper.........CAN they?!?

 

[WestKentucky]

There is really only one that I wish I had bought sooner. A nagant revolver. No I haven’t bought one, but I remember thinking about how neat they were when they were still cheap milsurp commie junk. Then prices jumped and climbed beyond what I think is sensible. One of these days I might find one at a reasonable price.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Not a specific gun, but I regret not getting into 10mm sooner. Of course I couldn't afford to shoot it before getting into loading my own ammo.

So I guess I regret not getting into loading sooner.

But my short answer is a Sig P series pistol.

 

[I6turbo]

I wish I'd bought my first CZ rifle (or a BRNO) and first CZ handgun back in the 1970s. It would have meant 30+ additional years of enjoying my favorite guns.

 

[bullseye308]

Definitely my Springfield Range Officers. Always wanted one but just never had the cash.

 

[aarondhgraham]

That would be my CZ-512 semi-auto .22 rifle.

If I would have purchased this one first,,,
It would be the only .22 semi-auto I owned.

Aarond

.

 

[orionengnr]

S&W revolvers and 1911s.
AR15 in x39...

 

[RovinOn]

An M1 Garand and an AR and a few other Berettas

 

[John Joseph]

A S&W Model 41 'cause it's so darned accurate

 

[greyling22]

Vz58
Colt python
Tikka t3
Suppressors

 

[gotboostvr]

Ruger MKIII.

CZ's in general. I want a nice bolt gun. A full stock 308 would make a nice iron sighted rifle. I've picked up a gaggle of their pistols, even a Scorpion.

My first three handguns were a S&W 469, 1911 and a S&W M19. I got rid of the 469, but came back to the "form" (alloy framed DA/SA 15rd 9mm) with a P01. Those are still my favorite handguns and my "types". So I lucked into those early.

 

[MTNSTRYDER]

That would be a Rossi Model 92. Years before I had a Marlin Model 336; nothing special and before long it was down the road as I needed cash for school. After that I guess I just didn't think about lever actions for a long while, that is til I started accumulating single action revolvers in.45 Colt. Now I wanted something in a long arm to go with them. Found a Marlin Model 1894 that was used but in very nice condition. Only problem was the seller wanted a lot more for it than I wanted to spend. And after that one...nothing. I hit up every gun show and gun shop for years looking for one until I finally found one at a local gun show. Like new in the box and at a very agreeable price I snatched it up and have been quite pleased with my later than sooner lever action!

Mines also a Rossi 92 in 45colt .I reload 45 and it gets shot a lot more than any other rifle I own.

 

[somethingbenign]

Really wish I would have gotten a shotgun, any shotgun, back when I lived minutes away from the family farm and all that wonderful land to easily shoot trap on. Would have also been nice to get into hunting earlier too when I had easy access to land.

 

[George P]

I'll play - HK P7s ( I do have a few) but before the price went nuts
a Steyr AUG back when they were legal and $500 including a lH bolt assy
A Parker repro combo set in 28 and 20 gauge when that could be had for $1500
Universal .30 carbines for $169 all day long
A Perazzi pigeon gun (used) for $1000
A Beretta 390 new for $450

 

[DannyLandrum]

In general, turnbolts. In my 20s and 30s I was more into handguns and all manner of semi-autos. Turnbolts grew on me and I can't get enough (though I still like and use a few lever, pumps, semis, and revolvers). Particularly finding good deals on used, interesting custom and/or uncommon ones. What's not to love about them? Light, accurate, super reliable in all conditions.

Also, ARs - I had had an AK and SKS, but had no clue how much better ARs were until I got one. Also, non-Glocks (espec. CZs and 1911s) - was really into Glocks in the 90s - once you realize how terrible they are compared to most anything else, you never go back once you get one of *anything* else.

 

[1MoreFord]

My 1911, but of course it's still a good thing I waited until I understood the utility of a beavertail grip safety or I'd have hated it. The same can be said of my Browning HP.