Impulse Gun Buys?

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So, any others with an impluse buy story?

Only once, a Mosin-Nagant M38 carbine on the way out of a gun show last May.

Did it work out? It's a pretty gun. With an oversize bore. I'll have to experiment with reloads once it warms up again too see if it can be made tolerably accurate.
 
When my buddies and I go to the gun store or gun show we try to get one another to buy on impulse. It is funny as hell. That's why when I have cash in hand (I only buy with cash that way the wife cant track the purchase) I leave my buddies at home.
 
I almost always plot and plan out my gun purchases, but I did do an impluse gun buy once:

I had been wanting a Spanish FR-8 rifle ever since I first shot my buddy's FR-8. However, all the ones I had ever come across had some issues or were way overpriced. Then I got a lead on a sorta local shop that had five to choose from (well, four, since the guy who gave me the lead got one for himself). This shop was well known for specializing in milsurps and I had never visited it before.

The day I get there I'm in milsurp heaven :) . The entire north wall had nothing but US service rifles. Mosin Nagants, Mausers, SKS's, Hakims, and various others along the south wall, plus more guns on racks in the middle of the shop. I perused the FR-8's I saw but they didn't look too hot. They weren't bad, but I also wasn't completely sold on those examples. :uhoh:

Then I saw her. :D A SMLE made at Lithgow in 1942 that had been FTR'ed with a perfect handguard and stock. 99% Blueing. The bore had a bit of pitting on the muzzle end, but that was the only issue. Some collector had brought in 11 Enfields to sell just two days ago. This was the nicest one still in the store. . . I have two No. 4 Enfields already, but no No. 1s, so I bought it. I figured I couldn't walk away from this one just to pick up a so-so FR-8.

It shoots great in spite of the pitting in the bore, and besides, I picked up a replacement barrel from Numrich for the future. I'm very pleased with it and it worked out doubly nice because last month I finally found a nice FR-8 (looks unissued after conversion) that I never would have tracked down if I had purchase one of the so-so examples I saw that day. :D
 
I guess this would be an impulse buy.

Today (or yesterday since it's like 1am now) I went into Academy to pick up a Springfield XD. Now, I have been trying to decide between the XD and the GLOCK for the longest time, but simply could not make up my mind about which one to get. Owners of both seem to love theirs dearly. After spending the entire morning researching and looking at pics, I had finally decided on the XD.

I go to Academy, and that rush of eagerness hit as I looked at the glass case full of all kinds of toys. To the left I see a number of XD in various sizes and calibers and the same for the GLOCKs over to the right side. I went there already knowing what I wanted, but stared and handled the both of them for what had to be 20 mins. I beging to realize how silly I'm being and I tell them I want to XD and start on the paper work. I fill out the form, they call it in and all is well. He asks me, "Which one did you want again?" and I hesitate. I look at the GLOCK, then at the XD, then at the GLOCK and back again. Finally, at the last second I say the GLOCK and here I am now with it was part of my collection.

Don't ask me what happend because I am still mystified as to what transpired today :uhoh:

Not to say I am unhappy with my purchase (oh no) as I love this gun and have been holding for about 3 hours now. It's almost like it's the Ring of Power, and I haven't had this feeling since I bought my 1911 :evil:

Besides, I will probably own the XD within the next few months anyway, and I would have bought a GLOCK within the next few months if I had gotten the XD today, so it all works out I guess...
 
jsalcedo said:
Here is what I learned:

Winchester, smith and wesson, dan wesson, colt, remington, marlin, sig, ruger, taurus are fairly safe impulse buys. The guns are higher quality and if you don't like it you can pretty much sell it for what you paid.

Sounds like good advice. Thanks.
 
Yep, over and over and over again. Take yesterday for example. At the local gunshow I found a NIB, 1978, 8 3/8" barrel, Model 57 S&W, .41 mag in a presentation case for $450.00. When I walked in there I believed that .357 would do anything needed and I never really lusted after an 8 3/8" barrel.
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Now I'm the proud owner. Impulse? completely.:rolleyes: ;)
 
Local gunstore owner traded for a Magnum Research BFR in 45/70. Kept it real quiet until I walked in. Said he had just what I needed. Proceded to pull it out of the green cloth cover. Franklins went flying out of the billfold. Turned out to be the handgun I shoot more than any other I have.
 
Ya'll ever get this from your favorite LGS; "Hey, you've GOT! to see what we just got in"?? Then they place it, ever so nicely, in your hands and stand back smiling like the old cat that just ate a big fat bird!

There ought to be a law I tell ya!! :rolleyes:
 
You know it's hard to not impulse buy. I think that about a 1/3 of the guns I have were done on an impulse. Luckily it was when I was single.

One that sticks out in my mind was a S&W 500 that a guy in my area decided on selling. It was a 4 inch model and he barely shot it. The price was well below retail and before I knew it, I was jumping all over it. I didn't even know if I had enough in the checking account to cover it. Luckily I did and that nice shiny 500 is now a permanent resident of my collection.

It doesn't even matter that it hurts like hell when you shoot the 450 gr loads. I actually carried it a couple of times camping out in the western part of the state. Bear country!
 
Yeah, I can relate.

I went into the gunstore with the idea of getting a Ruger Mark III Target pistol in blue. I was thinking about a $300 budget. I researched it thoroughly.

Then at the store, I was presented a Mark III Hunter 6 7/8", stainless steel fluted barrel with gorgeous cocobolo grips and Hi-Viz fiber optic front sights. It was priced at $499 (the next week the same store had a huge inventory of it, at $419 each). I bought it.

So I ended up spending a couple hundred dollars over my budget. And it wasn't even the cheapest deal and would have found out if I researched it for a few minutes beforehand.
 
Yup, bought a lot on impluse in stores, at shows and online. I sold every single one eventually.

I usually research and mull over for a long time before buying. Of course, I've missed out on a few over the years, some I'm glad I did. There's only 2 I wish I could have bought.
 
on impulse i've bought a hi-point 9mm and a Marlin 336 SS in .30-.30...they are both still in the box untouched, unfired...sheesh..!! that's why i'm no longer buying guns for 2006. i'm finished for now, focusing instead on accessorizing those that i got now..enough!:eek:
 
Bruce H said:
Local gunstore owner traded for a Magnum Research BFR in 45/70. Kept it real quiet until I walked in. Said he had just what I needed. Proceded to pull it out of the green cloth cover. Franklins went flying out of the billfold. Turned out to be the handgun I shoot more than any other I have.

That is indeed a great choice.

I once bought a .44, 7 1/2" Ruger Redhawk as an impluse buy. Well more of a fustration buy.
I had not gotten anything in a few gun shows and was short on getting somthing I realy wanted.
I do not regret the buy.... can't leave empty handed all the time :)
 
Yup, bought a Springfield 1911 GI for $400 and it has been my main winter carry gun for two years now. Only had one FTE due to poor powder load (factory) and one FTFeed due to crappy magazine. Switched to the wilson combat 8 rounders and cleared the problem up.
 
Just recently, I saw a CZ40 and I loved the look and price so much, I bought one right on the spot.

How well did it work out for me? Ermm.......well, it worked out okay for me, but it worked out spendidly for my g/f! She loves it and shoots very well with it. It fires anything and I've heard it's a very reliable firearm. So it worked out well.........just not for me.
 
Was wandering around at a show while a buddy was doing the paperwork on his first gun and came across a Colt Agent that I just had to have. I was a little relieved that I hadn't brought any money with me until I saw they took debit cards, then I reluctantly (;)) handed it over and went home with the little beauty.

Shot it loose and sold it to get the money for another impulse buy, a 20ga 870 from a fella on this very site.
 
50caliber123 said:
I "impulsed" on a hi-point 996 9mm carbine. Best HD carbine I bought. And at $150....

Mine too! Except I paid $189 and it came with scope, compensator and the extra mags option. :D

And, umm.... I did giggle after rapid firing all 3 mags... :D
 
I usually don't really impulse buy. I have an idea what guns I want and when the guns come up and are well priced, I buy them. However if the price is right, I end up with guns that I didn't ever really plan on having or looking for.

Some examples of impulse buys due to good prices though I wasn't wanting them but they ended up being good include an EAA bounty hunter in 45LC for $125 in 2003, a NIB Chinese clone of the Wather 1936 Olympic pistol for $120 in 2003 also and and my dad picked up this year two anib 2nd gen Glocks at $300 for the mod 27 and $350 for the mod 22.

Beetle Bailey, was that store the now defunct Armory of Orange or the smaller World of Warriors? Armory of Orange people still set up at the gunshows it seems and they sure had a lot of Enfields at the shop but mostly Ishapore ones.
 
This thread got me thinking...

In the past 5 years I've made 7 impulse buys. 6 handguns 1 rifle. 4 of the handguns are gone, 1 is waiting to go, and the rifle is maybe gonna go soon. So, I now realize that impulse buying does not work out well for me.
 
Kimber Polymer Stainless Target. Two full capacity (14 round) stainless mags. Plus a leather form fitted holster. Box. Papers. All in excellent/new condition.

Around Christmas time so I had plenty of other things to do with the funds...


When the price was $535, I just could not say no.
 
6inch said:
Ever done it? How did it work out for ya?

Here's my story. Not that long ago I got the bug to get into wheel guns. Went to a large GS just to peruse the selection. I went in thinking about a .357 Mag and was attracted to the Smith an Wesson section. Then I spotted a .44 Mag 6 1/2". I asked to see it and BAM! I was hooked. Did a little ha

So, any others with an impluse buy story?


Hah, my last impulse buy was for the EXACT same model gun! :D

Stopped off at Kittery, idly looking for a .44mag revolver, saw this one, picked it up, and put it on hold that very minute. Went back, researched it on THR, bought it the next day.

I love that gun too.

-James
 
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