I hate my Sergeant

[Aaryq]

Howdy folks. I just want you all to know that I hate Sergeant "Jones." He let me shoot his revolvers about 6 months ago and the wheelgun bug doesn't go away. The problem is that on the "common sense priority" it's low. I have other guns that I want to purchase before a revolver. But it's also number 3 on the "Oooh! Gimme gimmeI I want, I want) list, which is a large list, by the way. The common sense priorities say HD Shotgun, 10/22, Deer Rifle, Smaller CCW piece, Bird Shotgun, Dedicated Varmint Rifle, fun stuff (and the order shifts but they're always on top). It's a fun gun because I want a single action and I want to shoot cheap (.22LR).

Has anyone else been totally aware of commone sense but for some reason irrational thoughts seem to "make more sense?" Keep in mind this question is about guns, not other stuff.

 

[Floppy_D]

I get plagued by the "must have new toy" syndrome, and my list continues to grow. So far, I save as much as feasible for the next logical step, and spring on good deals if they arise.

 

[DaleCooper51]

With a little creative organizing, you can definitely work a revolver in there. The home defense / deer and bird gun can be done with a done a combo shotgun set. If you can get a longer field barrel and a 20" smooth bore with rifle sights and an IC choke would fill 3 of those roles well. Sure it doesnt have the range of a rifle for deer, but where I hunt, Im lucky to see 100 yds in the woods. My longest shot was about 75 yds.

Just use some creative figgerin' and I'm sure that you could justify getting one.
I like revolvers and somehow they work their way to the top of my list. I don't really need any more of them, but they are just so much fun to shoot. A good 22 revolver can easily be justified.

 

[christcorp]

Yea, and sometimes the common sense and practical method of which guns to have can backfire.

I.e. I have guns that are definitely in the double digits. The problem is that my wife decided to "Learn" a little bit about guns and which ones are good for what. With her logic and common sense, she determined that with a Remington 870 12 guage, a 22 mag rifle, a 7mm rem mag rifle, a 45acp semi, a 357 mag revolver, and a 22 lr/mag single action; that I could plink, shoot, wound, kill, protect, and down right handle any situation in all of North America that would require a gun. Unfortunately, she is absolutely correct. To be honest, that list could probably be dropped down to the shotgun, 22 mag rifle, and 7mm rem mag rifle.

So, instead of logic, I have to approach the guns I have more as a hobby and diversion. But because my collection is quite a bit larger than the wife's preferred list, I do a lot more trading now instead of just buying and selling.

There's definitely some guns that were truly art, and I wish I hadn't gotten rid of them. But in truth, I never really used them. Things like the ruger blackhawk 45lc. Excellent gun. One of the best SA on the market. Just never used it. Also, have 2 45acp is hard to justify. Kept the SigSauer P220 and got rid of the Springfield Armory 1911-A1. And so on.

Just make sure that you have the mandatory guns you need for whatever. I.e. Self defense, home defense, bird hunting, deer hunting, elk/moose, plinking, etc... You have to decide this for yourself. In most cases, all your needs can be done in 4-5 guns maximum. For the no hunter, 2-3 guns. After you have those, make any new gun from then on a hobby and it will be easier to buy some and sell some and trade some. I have my core 5 guns that will never be sold, traded, loaned, etc.,.. I will have them until I die. The rest are all negotiable for sale, trade, etc.... Later... Mike....

 

[kungfuhippie]

Im lucky to see 100 yds in the woods.

LOL in Southern California you'd be lucky to see 100 yards of trees
Don't get a shotgun for deer around here unless that is what you've always used. As far as getting a shotgun for home defense-that's a great idea. I have been guilty of buying guns that were not practical at all (arisaka 99 off the top of my head) Get the bare essentials, then go for the pistol, remember, once you have a HD and CC weapon it more guns becomes a hobby, so have fun with it.

 

[HammerBite]

I buy my food at the grocery store and I have never been in a life threatening situation at the hands of a bad guy or at the paws or fangs of a critter; therefore I have not yet ever needed a gun. That means that all of the toys in my safe were gotten just for grins! The fact that some of them might actually have some utility value if the need arises is a happy coincidence.

 

[hawkeye1]

The more the merrier. There seems like there is always something else out there that is on my wish list. Don't really need one more, but that new compact 1911 sure would be nice, or that Ruger Vaquero, or that new Thompson Center Encore, or whatever. Get the basics and then add a little variety. It is a hobby right?

 

[sixgunner455]

Well, what do you really need?

Working/business/serious guns:
.38 snub
9mm service pistol or full-size .38/.357
CAR-15 (or .357 lever rifle, if both your pistols are .38/.357, this makes a lot of sense, even though it limits your rifle's range)

Hunting:
12 or 20 guage shotgun (birds)
.22 rifle/pistol -- close/small varmints, rabbits, squirrels
.50 cal muzzleloader or .308/.30'06 if you really have to have a centerfire rifle -- deer and bigger
CAR-15 -- coyotes, other bigger/farther varmints, can do for small deer in a pinch

Teaching others:
.22 pistol
.22 rifle
whatever student wants to move to from there

Just shooting:
.22 rifle/pistol
anything else on the "must-have" list as money allows for practice ammo, anything else on the "I really wants it" list, as money allows for less necessary guns.

Lots of crossover on this list. It's 7 guns, at its largest. If you go with the .357 lever rifle, and don't live somewhere long shots on big game are likely, then it does good double duty for deer, so down to 6. You can cut your long guns down to just a versatile shotgun (deer, birds, serious use) and a .22 if you must, for finances or whatever. I feel the need for a good, real rifle, but it's not a must-have for some. That's 5 guns. Cut your .22s down to one, because "who really needs more than one?" and you're at 4. Following that logic, you don't really "need" two pistols, do you? So just keep one, and you're at three: a .38 revolver, a shotgun, and a .22. And you'd probably get through your life just fine.

Be a little more boring, though. You can "logic" your way out of most of your possessions, really. You could probably get along with a used Civic or Sentra for most of your transportation needs, and maybe get a beat-up old Silverado or F150 for a couple grand (or less) for when you need a truck. If you live in a city, you probably don't "need" a truck, right? Probably don't "need" a closet full of clothes and shoes, either, right? Don't "need" a bunch of knives and pots in the kitchen, just 2 knives (paring knife and a 7 or 8 inch slicer/chef's), a cast iron frying pan, and a cast iron pot. Don't need 15 or 20 different pocket knives, just a little SAK Tinker or Recruit would probably cover everything you really use them for.

Simplification has attraction in a lot of ways. Folks get caught up in their "stuff" and the things they own often end up owning them, instead. Been thinking about that a lot lately, but ... I'm not selling much of anything, either. I've got one rifle I'd sell w/o heartburn, but most of the rest of the stuff in my safe is ... not for sale.

Nothing wrong with owning more stuff, if you want to. It's a hobby, and as long as you can afford what you're getting (not going on plastic), get what is most interesting to you. Then enjoy the heck out of it! Or just stick with logic, and buy only what you need/will really use. It's a personal decision.

 

[chaim]

Howdy folks. I just want you all to know that I hate Sergeant "Jones." He let me shoot his revolvers about 6 months ago and the wheelgun bug doesn't go away. The problem is that on the "common sense priority" it's low. I have other guns that I want to purchase before a revolver. But it's also number 3 on the "Oooh! Gimme gimmeI I want, I want) list, which is a large list, by the way. The common sense priorities say HD Shotgun, 10/22, Deer Rifle, Smaller CCW piece, Bird Shotgun, Dedicated Varmint Rifle, fun stuff (and the order shifts but they're always on top). It's a fun gun because I want a single action and I want to shoot cheap (.22LR).

Hmm, if you've been bitten by the revolver bug, but want to keep things practical for now, how about getting a revolver that fits the "smaller CCW piece" catagory. If you mean a CCW sized gun (as opposed to a service pistol) maybe a 2" or 3" K-frame would work for you. If you mean a subcompact pistol, maybe a J-frame. If you need a small backup or pocket pistol, an aluminium 442 or 642 would do the job, but be aware that they aren't the most fun in the world (too light so the recoil is fierce), leading to the "need" for a steel framed J-frame trainer (so you can stay practical), then a "need" for a K-framed primary carry to keep the manual of arms as consistent as possible

 

[Imaginos]

12 ga Maverick 88 Pump Shotgun Field Model ($175-$200)
27" ribbed barrel with Imp Modified choke tube = Small Game and Birds (Barrel and Imp. Modified choke tube comes on shotgun,
Additional choke tubes for different hunting types ($15-$20 ea)
20" Improved Cylinder bore = Defense ($80)
24" Rifled Slug barrel = Large game ($+/- $200)

Ruger GP100 4" Used ($475)
Ruger Single-Six .22lr/.22Mag convertable Single Action ($450)
Taurus PT1900 .45ACP ($600)

About $2,000 and 4 guns will allow you to handle anything that walks on the North American continent and do it legally in every state that allows hunting with firearms.

If you want to get really nuts, Maverick also offers a drop in .50 cal muzzleloader barrel that fits on their shotgun actions for less that $175.

 

[Sistema1927]

Pssst, do you want to know a dirty little secret?






The revolver bug never goes away. Once you have it, you can't shake it. You will want one of everything, and several of most. It only gets worse over time.

 

[Titan6]

I have no idea what you guys are talking about. However when I left Guns Galore this afternoon I noticed that someone had misplaced a little Heritage .22 combo Rough Rider and left it in my car. Now I remember thinking about getting one and then recalling that I did not need one at the moment. The rest is all a blur....