New gun owner, addicted to firearms.

[Kali]

I just wanted to share my addiction, and see how many others are like me. I have grown up around guns in my family. I have been fascinated since my dad and grandpa took me pheasant hunting when I was 8 or 9. I bought my first gun last October, SW 686 6 inch. Second gun in January, Ruger 10/22. And my third purchase will likely be a Glock 19 or Rem 870. (Or maybe another SG, after reading about quality control issues lately, still researching)

After that I have a long list of guns I want. Im also currently addicted to reading about reloading, and plan on buying a reloading kit before the end of this year. I figure ill also need a good safe (probably expensive). This fall ill have to re-up my range membership (250$). I have spent close to $2500 on guns, ammunition, range fees, and other stuff in less than a year.

The other day my gf, who also loves shooting with me, commented that I should take it easy on purchases and think about saving for real investments while we are still young. D@mn her and her common sense! I am in my last 2 weeks of college and have no real money saved, just living week to week. It sucks having an expensive addiction when money is needed elsewhere. I help justifying it by telling myself the guns hold resale value, but I know I cannot keep this up forever.

How long has it taken you guys to acquire all your stuff? How much do you spend a year on your hobby and it is a huge chunk of your income like it is mine? I know things will be better when I settle in a career, but this hobby has become an addiction for me, and I can imagine ive spent about as much as a drug addict does on their supplies. Just wanted to see if anyone else could relate and perhaps offer some wisdom on the subject.

 

[G27RR]

It can be very addictive when you first get into it. I would say try to turn your attention to researching your list and realize it will take time to amass a collection. The worst thing you can do is buy more than you can afford and have to sell them off. Stay away from buying them on credit. It can be a very addictive trap.

Spend a lot of time shooting and getting a feel for what you really want rather than buying what you think you may want and realizing later you'd rather have bought something else.

I understand where you're coming from. Take a step back and enjoy what you've got. It's no fun living paycheck to paycheck, and you'll enjoy what you've got a whole lot more if you're not feeling regret or guilt for buying more than you can really afford.

 

[leadcounsel]

hello, I'm leadcounsel and I am an addict.

in all seriousness -

- take your time and research each purchase;
- have a purpose for each weapon;
- buy quality over junk;
- buy used good condition to save sometimes 50%, generally 20%;
- invest in a safe;
- keep your hobby known only to those you trust, don't blab about it or else you will target yourself for robbery and setback;
- stock up on ammo in bulk and cheap prices when you can;
- if done right, guns/ammo can be a good investment

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Been there, done that.

 

[230therapy]

Been there. Don't ever sell off your first gun. EVER. Otherwise, you'll end up buying it five more times. How do I know this?

I've spent over a decade iterating over my battery of guns with a focus on self-defense.

Don't go into debt over this.

It's much better to focus and buy a few QUALITY firearms. Start with self-defense. If you decide to go into competition, you can use your self-defense guns in certain categories in IDPA, IPSC or ICORE.

Training is important. Get some rather than new guns.

 

[rygould]

Everyone has put in QUALITY suggestions, so I will just add a couple things.

I got started with really collecting and shooting as a hobby in college. I was fortunate enough to have a decent job that helped me get quite a few firearms while still getting to travel and having a grand old time through school.

I had lots of friends who "invested" or saved through college and didn't get to have some of the experiences, or get to start life long hobbies as I did. In the end, we all graduated, moved on got good jobs and are all in similar living situations now.

My point is, it is very very important to save for a rainy day. Don't get me wrong. Going into debt, especially for a hobby is a bad idea. However, college and your youth is a time to have fun as well. If you can live within your means and still have room to buy guns, then go for it.

For me it took years before I had my list of just what I wanted sorted out, and it changes every month or two. I suspect I'll never have everything that I want, but that's the fun in it. Dreaming of it, buying it, and getting out to shoot something new is part of the fun!

From my experience, it wasn't the job or being graduated or not that slowed my gun purchasing. It was making my girlfriend a wife! She always seems to find a much better use for our money than me picking up something I really don't need. It's a good thing she lets me buy my own Christmas and Birthday presents!

 

[Vonderek]

Spend some of your money on some 2A rights organizations. And spend more on ammo than guns. Without ammo guns are just expensive paperweights.

 

[bobmcd]

Didn't Robert Palmer sing about that?

You'd like to think that your immune to the stuff (oh yeah)
Closer to the truth to say you can't get enough
You're gonna have to face it,
You're addicted to guns

 

[djardine]

I agree with what has been said- I am just finishing my Master's degree so I understand your concern about the addiction. My wife is understanding only because I sell one gun to buy another. I have bought and sold over 35 to 40 guns since I was 18 just because it is my funnest hobby/addiction. I am now at the point where I realized that I am buying the same guns I once sold. I am now more interested in having a few quality guns and maybe keep one as a possible trade gun when I need to feed the addiction of having a new gun all the time.
The following are guns that I have always come back to and really enjoyed. I plan on keeping these...

Sig P229 9mm
Remington 870 Home Defense/Field Gun
Ruger 10/22 stainless
Savage Model 110 (.223, .308)
Beretta 390 12 gauge

BTW, the SIG pistols are great! I recommend the Sig P229.

 

[jakeiscrazy]

Before you continue, became a NRA member and your local lobby groups!!! Remeber to save so that you can get yourself a nice plot of land to shoot and build on one day. Now don't forgot to get a job with a nice stable income and all that jazz. Teach others to shoot, your wife to shoot, and your kids to shoot. What you have just heard is my dream. O and always stick to cash!

 

[gbran]

Firearms addiction is actually cheap compared to many other common hobbies/toys/interests.

You can buy a lot of gun stuff for the price of a Harley or a bass boat or a fleet of quads, jet skis, etc.

 

[eddism]

There are many 1911 clones available new for $700. Everybody needs a
1911 or two. As for shotgun. Get an autoloader. You will pleased with the investment in the long run. I love my FN MK1.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Stop while you still can.
I didn't:

 

[Ky Larry]

It won't get any easier. Just wait until you have a wife, mortgage, kids, car payments, etc. Such is life.

 

[ny32182]

You can spend as much on guns as you want, just like you can any other hobby. On this forum alone you will find everything from the guy who owns a couple .22s, on up to NFA collectors who have safes full of guns that cost $15k or more a pop.

I was able to get a good start on mine during college, but that is because I was working a decent job part of the year the last couple years before graduation, and was still on a college living arrangement (super-cheap). Sounds like the good news is that you are about to graduate and should have some income soon.

The guns themselves (unlike the ammo or any accessory you buy) will retain a significant portion of their value. Usually not all of it, but a significant portion. While this is a nice perk compared to most toys you might buy, do not confuse spending all your money on guns with fiscally responsible saving/investing. If you will impulsively spend whatever money hits your checking account (many will) then decide how much you want to save, and divert it to your chosen vehicles before you ever have easy access to it. The benefits are that you pay yourself first this way, and also you won't feel guilty about spending what is left however you like, since the amount of saving you intend to do is already happening automatically.

 

[Kentucky_Rifleman]

It won't get any easier. Just wait until you have a wife, mortgage, kids, car payments, etc. Such is life.

+1.

Make friends with other guys who shoot. Shooting someone else's gun is enjoyable, and a great way to figure out more about what you really want.

Past that, when money's tight, read, shoot, reload.

I got my first gun when I turned 14, a birthday gift from my Dad. I had shot quite a bit before then, but Dad bought that little .222 600 Mohawk just for me. That was the same winter he taught me how to reload. I still have the Mohawk and his reloading press and dies.

Now I obsessively collect Remington 721s & 722s. I bought one cheap in .270 and it was an instant love affair. Looking for them is half the fun. They came in 12 chamberings, and I have 7 now, including 3 of the worst ones to find (.257 Roberts, .300 H&H, and .280) I'm 42. I'll flesh out my collection (plus several other pieces I want) before I'm done.

Enjoy the passion and always remember, if you had everything you wanted today, what would be the fun of tomorrow?

KR

 

[Kali]

It won't get any easier. Just wait until you have a wife, mortgage, kids, car payments, etc. Such is life.

So i've heard.

My dad always tells me, don't worry about being poor in college. After college you will get a good job and have money. Then you will get married and be poor again.

 

[gym]

The best way to approach a purchase, is to never impulse buy. Look at the weapon as a long term possesion and take a few days to get over the "flush of blood to your brain". Think about if you are going to actually use it, carry it, or whatever it's intended purpose is. Then after a week if you can still give yourself a few good reasons to pick it up, and you can afford to do so, then buy it.

 

[22-rimfire]

The "flush of blood to your brain" is part of the fun. My primary advice is that you buy guns that appeal to you whether they be collector guns or some new piece just introduced this year. Pay cash or the equivalent. Build up a firearm fund that you can tap into when you find something you like or want a lot. Finally, don't sell your guns to finance the next gun unless it is some piece of junk that you bought on a whim.

If you are married, be considerate of your wife's desires as well as your own. It becomes "our" money and that is something that takes some getting used to.

 

[shockwave]

It's much better to focus and buy a few QUALITY firearms.

Right. It's unlikely that you'll ever really need a gun to protect yourself so there's no rush to buy something cheap. Keep saving until you can buy a high quality, ultra reliable firearm. Like the carpenter's credo says, "measure twice, cut once." Given that these are expensive tools, buying more than you need at an early age is probably unwise. Put $1000 away today in a good stock, you'll have a lot to play with later. Put $1000 away today in firearms, you'll just have a lot of heavy metal things to move around.

 

[Hatterasguy]

Tell me about it, this year lets see:

K31
FN49
Mosin 91/30
Springfield 1911

I'm up to $3k if you include ammo and its only April.

I'm cooling off for now though, I want a lot of stuff but will hold off. My rule is for every rifle I need a pistol. So I'm up to 6 rifles and only 1 pistol! At the next gunshow I'll probably buy at least one.

This is still by far the least expensive hobby I have, boating is way more.

 

[Polar Express]

I agree that there are more expensive hobbies. But, that being said, we all have our own budgets to live within.

I agree with the idea that its a bad idea to go into debt for a gun. But, I have done it. I put one on VISA, and it took me a couple months to pay that charge off.

I wish my budget would allow me to purchase a gun every month, but alas, I'm not there yet.

But, as your relationship progresses to marriage, it becomes 'our' money, not 'my' money, and I believe that is a very important issue. Every relationship works differently, and you'll have to find what works for you when that time comes.

Don't forget to make sure you have the proper insurance for your firearms. Take the time to understand and acquire the proper level and kind of insurance for your needs.

This is a bit of a generalization, but I find it works for the most part. Women tend to view shoes and purses like men tend to view guns and tools. We don't always need a reason or excuse to buy a gun or tool that we want.

Good luck!
PE

 

[redarmy67]

I have never had an interest in guns...Until this year. I have bought two so far, my first was a reasonable purchase at 369.00 I bought a Stoeger Cougar 9mm. I did tons of research and this was the most affordable gun I could find NIB. It wasnt long before I started obsessing over the CZ P01. I found one NIB for 477 delivered. I have run out of money for the rest of this year as far as funding my addiction I mean hobby. I started a small she money fund (money she dont know about) and I plan on buying a HK USP .45 compact or a Sig p220 .45 compact when I save up enough money to get one. These are expensive so I dont anticipate getting either before mid 2011.

One thing that helps me get over my urge to go buy another is to take my guns out and clean them. I am worried that I might rub the finish off both of my pistols at the rate I am going

I agree with many of the posts above. Don't borrow money to buy new guns. Get your CHL. And finally, stock up on ammo.

 

[bushmaster1313]

I warned you what could happen.
Compare this to post # 13 above:

 

[sophijo]

Worse

It could be a lot worse! Ask Tiger Woods.