Manufacturer or Caliber, when Buying?

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Usmc-1

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I have to say for the most part I first am interested in the caliber , then I look at particular manufacturers , I did that just recently when I purchased my Ruger Redhawk , I was interested in a DA .44 Mag , I wasnt sure exactly what company I wanted and model number , Thankfully this forum helped me out , theres alot of people on here who know there p's and q's , I researched , basically I was looking at Smith & Wesson , Ruger and Taurus , I had Colt on the list but the prices are way too high , I really liked the Raging Bull, and in time might end up with one , Smiths I have always loved there wheel guns ,but price was also an issue with them , Ruger ,I so thought was an issue with price as well , except I like searching pawn shops and local mom & pop gun shops , to my surprise the Redhawk found me at a price I like ($450) .

But when I start looking its never the model number , the company who makes it , it always starts with the caliber (also in wheel guns DA ,however I am now more interested in SA as well) , with that said , I am now looking at 38 snubbies , and from the looks of it on this forum I got my work cut out because theres lots of 38 snubbies!
 
I look for a gun in the caliber I want and don't really care who its made by as long as it is in my price range and quality. Except when there is some gun that look in good shape or is cool for a good price then all the research and whatnot go out the window.
 
Of course I look at caliber for the application I plan on using it for, but I most definitely look at the manufacturer.

I have enough understanding of most of the major manufacturers to know what features each offer and their reputation for quality, warrantee, and customer service. It makes a big difference.
 
If I'm after a gun for a particular purpose, like you, I'll start with chambering and gun type, and narrow it from there.

However, when just looking around the used shelves for something cool, caliber is often a distant second to make, model and condition. Like my Remington model 14. Classic rifle with a good stock and a beautifully done refinish on the bluing that I got for $225. The fact that it was chambered in the obsolete .32 Remington I really didn't care about.
 
Caliber of Maker

With me it depends on the application of the gun. I bought an sks and a tokarev because I wanted to have them in a vehicle 24/7 and here in Florida I needed something to stand up to the weather. I carry a small 9mm because it is smaller and lighter than a .40 or.45. Semiauto is easier concealed than a revolver. etc. etc.
 
I look at what I am doing with the gun, or it's a smoking deal and I like it so I get it...
but if it's in a caliber that I already have, well, it makes it just that much more tempting.
 
Neither..!

The question was asked when looking to purchase a firearm.. "Manufacturer or Caliber"?

From my perspective, having been behind the counter of a full service gun shop.. NEITHER!

The first and primary concern when purchasing a firearm (especially if it's going to be your SD Carry), is.. does it fit your hand comfortably and correctly? You can have the biggest/smallest, most/least powerful, plain/fanciest, with/without all the extras, pistol/revolver.. and in the greatest majority of the time, "if it doesn't fit your hand and you aren't comfortable with it (for whatever reason), then you're not going to be accurate with it under adverse conditions"!

I ran into a number of times where a customer would come in looking to buy such-and-such a handgun.. just because. And even though I knew they wouldn't be satisfied with it.. and I tried to talk them out of that particular firearm, they still went ahead and got it anyways.

In a number of cases of the above (and at some point in time).. they were right back in the shop trading it in for something different, sold it outright someplace else or they stuck it in a drawer to collect dust.

My suggestion? Go to a gun shop and try what's there. Then lay out all the ones that fit your hand. Decide the primary purpose of what the firearm is going to be used for. Take the 3-4-5 that are left on the counter that fit that criteria and decide whether you're leaning toward the Semi or Revolver as it relates to the caliber of those specific firearms.

Once you've figured out, or you've reduced the number to (lets say) two.. go to one of your local ranges, buy a box of ammo in whatever caliber(s) and rent/try both of them. Once you've done that (and with everything else being equal), you should know by then which one will best fit your purpose.

Go back to the original gun shop that helped you out and buy, buy, buy!

Just my thoughts from my former side of the counter.

Single Action Six
 
I've sold or traded off a bunch of guns in the past few years in order to narrow down the calibers I find to be practical and useful to me. Basically, if it's not a .22, .38/.357 Magnum, 9mm or .45 ACP, I'm not interested. Therefore, I shop for manufacturer and model within these calibers only.
 
I always decide caliber first. The bullet is what does the work. The gun is just a platform for getting the bullet there.
 
I guess I'm different because I always look at manufacturers first and then look for what they make in the caliber I'm looking for. I do this simply because I know what firearms manufacturers I personally trust and I know which ones you couldn't give me. I see no sense in wasting time looking at companies whose firearms have a high degree of failures or other problems.
 
I tend to think in terms of what I want to use it for. If its a rifle its always caliber driven. You would not look at .308s for varmints or .22 for elk. Handguns if I'm looking for a plinker or something for self defense. In self defense I'm looking for 9mm or .45 and then size comes into the calculation. Manufacturer enters late into the process as does price.
 
Caliber, manufacture, price.

On revolvers it's between S&W or RUGER 95% of the time.

Price, caliber, manufacture.

On auto's it's more about a good deal to me.

I'm not a rich man so price has to come into play. Only time price don't come into play is for CCW guns. With CCW I know what I want and go get it, at the best price .
 
JohnBlitz has it right... It is the bullet that does the work, the gun just gets it there...

I generally am pretty picky about the Mfg... in revolvers it is older Smiths, and then Ruger (if your looking a well priced, well made 38 Snubbies, I highly reccommend that you take a look at the new Ruger LCR's.. very sweet right outta the box)

Dependability is the #1 concern for me in the manufacturer... all else is secondary.. But I'm one of those weird function over form guys.. Or as I was told about building cars, If you can't make it run...Chrome it!... I don't care what it looks like, cause all I want them to see is the tail lights..

Don't care what she looks like, as long as she can dance!!!
 
A gun is a machine for launching projectiles. You choose the projectile you want to launch, then look for a machine to launch it.

Or that's the logical approach. I admit I will sometimes buy a gun because I want that gun -- my M1898 Krag is a good example of a gun I wanted, regardless of the cartridge it chambered.
 
Depends on what I want.

Ruger for revolvers ... RIA for inexpensive 1911's ... Dan Wesson for middle of the road 1911's ....

And still break my own rules and got a Para Ordnance 9mm LTC
 
1. Platform
2. Caliber
3. Maker

Platform will really narrow down the makers, though.
 
I know I've never thought I'm going to go out and get some makers gun without ever knowing what caliber it is going to be. Now chances are I'm going to buy a Glock if they make the caliber I want. But I've never thought I need to go buy a Glock what caliber should it be. I'd guess the 1911 guys do that though. I've heard several times on the forum "I need a 1911"
 
1) caliber
2) accuracy (I wont keep a non shooter)
3) platform (I shoot revo's better especially if they have a sq butt)
4) manufacturer (I only buy from people who stand behind their weapons)

Price isnt even a concern cause I know how to save for what I want.
 
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