chaim
Member
I'm preparing to go to grad school next year. I took a job that will help me get into a psychology or counseling program (it is in mental health) but since I don't have experience in the mental health field yet it is a big pay cut. Between saving money and paying off bills since grad school isn't cheap, and because of the pay cut, it is very possible I will only be able to buy one more gun this year.
Right now I have it somewhat narrowed down. I would prefer to be under $400, but a few of my choices are more and would involve needing to save my money for a little while longer.
My choices:
-Another 1911. I love 1911s. My Charles Daly, after somewhere between 5000-10000 rounds (closer to 10K than 5K) is starting to have some very noticable wear. The slide no longer locks back, and some metal on the slide is obviously softer than on more expensive guns (the corner of the notch for the slide notch is starting to get quite rounded). I'd love a smallish 1911 as well. If I go this way I'll likely get the Kimber Pro Carry or wait for the Taurus 1911 to come out (I'm a big Taurus fan, and the MSRP is quite reasonable). Of course, this is out of my price range (the Pro Carry runs over $750 locally) and would mean selling/trading something or waiting several months longer, but if it is my last gun of the year the wait may be worthwhile.
-A SAA or Remington 1875 clone. I don't have a SA revolver yet and I'd love to have one. Still, it never seems to be a priority and I always seem to want something else more. However, some of these are quite beautiful and it would be nice to have one.
-Another K-frame sized .357mag, but with a 6" barrel. I have a couple K-frames and love them, and I do have a 6" 586 so it isn't really needed, but it would be nice.
-Another 3" K-frame. I love 3" K-frames. There are certain mods I want done on one that I won't do on my S&W 65LS (my 1st .357mag) so I would like another. I do have the 65LS and I don't live in a carry state so it probably shouldn't be my first priority, but then I do love 3" K-frames.
-A Kahr. I'd love a PM9 or P9 or P40 Covert. It would make a do-able pocket gun, and would just be a great gun. I love Kahrs. My best friend had a MK9 that was great- 100% reliable, and he just traded it on a PM9 we shot for the first time today (man I love that gun). But again, in this area it is about $200 over my limit so I'd have to wait a while.
-Another .41mag. I love .41mag, I love N-frames. I'd like a 'woods gun' and my current S&W 57 is just too nice for that role. Also, a Taurus Tracker in .41mag would be interesting. This would take a month or so more saving.
-A .44mag, either a Taurus 44 or a used S&W 29 or 629. I love N-frames (though the Taurus isn't an N-frame it is a bit less expensive new than a really nice S&W 29). While I definately prefer .41mag the .44mag may be a bit more versatile. I don't yet reload .41mag, and even after I finally buy the dies I still sometimes buy ammo for calibers I reload. There are many more choices on the market for .44mag ammo and they can be found anywhere (unlike .41mag). Also, there is cost (I pay $12-14 for 20 rounds of .41mag, I could easily get 50 rounds of .44mag for $18-20). But then, if I just buy the .41mag dies and take the time to reload enough ammo the .44mag wouldn't really be needed (but who buys only what they "need"). This would take a month or so more saving.
-A used S&W 28 or 27. I love N-frames, I love .357mag. I probably should eventually have one of these, it just makes sense. I might be able to find one within my price limit.
-A lightweight snub. I'd love either a Taurus 85 in aluminum or a S&W 642. A perfect pocket gun for when I'm in PA. However, I live in MD which is not a carry state.
-A Winchester or Marlin .357mag lever rifle. I'd probably order a Marlin 1894 (I forget which submodel) in .357mag from Dicks Sporting Goods for $399. I love lever rifles, I use my Win 94 in .45LC as a home defense gun at times, I have several .357mag revolvers already (thus ammo compatability), and .357mag is more reliable in a lever gun than .45LC.
-A lever rifle in 45-70, .450Marlin, or a similar idea but "toned down" with .480Ruger or .454 Casull (out of a rifle these should have relatively mild recoil while being quite powerful). This would officially be my camping gun for bear defense, but in reality it would be just for fun (I am not a hunter so I don't need it for that).
OK, so I need your help.
Right now I have it somewhat narrowed down. I would prefer to be under $400, but a few of my choices are more and would involve needing to save my money for a little while longer.
My choices:
-Another 1911. I love 1911s. My Charles Daly, after somewhere between 5000-10000 rounds (closer to 10K than 5K) is starting to have some very noticable wear. The slide no longer locks back, and some metal on the slide is obviously softer than on more expensive guns (the corner of the notch for the slide notch is starting to get quite rounded). I'd love a smallish 1911 as well. If I go this way I'll likely get the Kimber Pro Carry or wait for the Taurus 1911 to come out (I'm a big Taurus fan, and the MSRP is quite reasonable). Of course, this is out of my price range (the Pro Carry runs over $750 locally) and would mean selling/trading something or waiting several months longer, but if it is my last gun of the year the wait may be worthwhile.
-A SAA or Remington 1875 clone. I don't have a SA revolver yet and I'd love to have one. Still, it never seems to be a priority and I always seem to want something else more. However, some of these are quite beautiful and it would be nice to have one.
-Another K-frame sized .357mag, but with a 6" barrel. I have a couple K-frames and love them, and I do have a 6" 586 so it isn't really needed, but it would be nice.
-Another 3" K-frame. I love 3" K-frames. There are certain mods I want done on one that I won't do on my S&W 65LS (my 1st .357mag) so I would like another. I do have the 65LS and I don't live in a carry state so it probably shouldn't be my first priority, but then I do love 3" K-frames.
-A Kahr. I'd love a PM9 or P9 or P40 Covert. It would make a do-able pocket gun, and would just be a great gun. I love Kahrs. My best friend had a MK9 that was great- 100% reliable, and he just traded it on a PM9 we shot for the first time today (man I love that gun). But again, in this area it is about $200 over my limit so I'd have to wait a while.
-Another .41mag. I love .41mag, I love N-frames. I'd like a 'woods gun' and my current S&W 57 is just too nice for that role. Also, a Taurus Tracker in .41mag would be interesting. This would take a month or so more saving.
-A .44mag, either a Taurus 44 or a used S&W 29 or 629. I love N-frames (though the Taurus isn't an N-frame it is a bit less expensive new than a really nice S&W 29). While I definately prefer .41mag the .44mag may be a bit more versatile. I don't yet reload .41mag, and even after I finally buy the dies I still sometimes buy ammo for calibers I reload. There are many more choices on the market for .44mag ammo and they can be found anywhere (unlike .41mag). Also, there is cost (I pay $12-14 for 20 rounds of .41mag, I could easily get 50 rounds of .44mag for $18-20). But then, if I just buy the .41mag dies and take the time to reload enough ammo the .44mag wouldn't really be needed (but who buys only what they "need"). This would take a month or so more saving.
-A used S&W 28 or 27. I love N-frames, I love .357mag. I probably should eventually have one of these, it just makes sense. I might be able to find one within my price limit.
-A lightweight snub. I'd love either a Taurus 85 in aluminum or a S&W 642. A perfect pocket gun for when I'm in PA. However, I live in MD which is not a carry state.
-A Winchester or Marlin .357mag lever rifle. I'd probably order a Marlin 1894 (I forget which submodel) in .357mag from Dicks Sporting Goods for $399. I love lever rifles, I use my Win 94 in .45LC as a home defense gun at times, I have several .357mag revolvers already (thus ammo compatability), and .357mag is more reliable in a lever gun than .45LC.
-A lever rifle in 45-70, .450Marlin, or a similar idea but "toned down" with .480Ruger or .454 Casull (out of a rifle these should have relatively mild recoil while being quite powerful). This would officially be my camping gun for bear defense, but in reality it would be just for fun (I am not a hunter so I don't need it for that).
OK, so I need your help.
well, er maybe not.... 
