Shooters On A Budget

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Joe, I hear ya.

It can be hard to prioritize. For me, they are mostly about purpose, or a "need." there are a few that I just want to have (M1 Garand, lever action rifle, 1911) but for the most part, I try to stict to the "needs" and go for whats going to save me the most in the long run.

I also have a few general guidelines that I try (usually unsuccessfully) to follow. Whenever possible, I try to choose a gun in a calliber that I already have, and I try to choose a calliber that I can use for more than one thing, and I can get inexpensively. I also try to never pay more than $500 for any one gun. Theres a surprising number of good stuff out there for not too much.

Hope this helps,

Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson
 
I had a strict $500 budget for my most recent pistol purchase, which was last month. I wound up with a Ruger SR9-C in stainless for $460 out the door. I'm thrilled with it, very happy. I'm pretty sure this is about the best pistol I could have bought for less than $500 out the door.
 
I'll decide what type of gun I want next (pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun) then decide what caliber (9mm, .357, 5.56mm, 20gauge). Once I've made those decision, it's on to action (semi-auto, bolt action, single-shot). After those three decisions are made, I'll justify price range.

With that data compiled, then I'll see what options I have to choose from.
 
I try to stay as utilitarian as possible in my firearms choices. I cant afford to buy everything I want, so I just try to fill gaps and consolidate calibers and eliminate redundancy.

I always now look for 22lr conversion availability or 22lr Clones of the guns I buy. Great way to supplement range time while training yourself for your go to firearms.
 
Joe,
I keep a list, both mentally & on paper. Excel spreadsheets, but nothing too fancy. Not a big deal for guns. More for prioritizing decisions on reloading and smaller purchases. It helps when buying used items. I can cut & paste a line and move it up or down in priority.

I do this also for house budget and business.

Anyway if something pops up I decide based on urgency, how good a deal and how the household & business budget looks. I recently bought a Kimber 82G as there are only so many and the clock was ticking down on them. A NM AR is a must have for me but I put the 82g ahead of it. The NM AR15's are still being made new.
I have passed on buying many items after consulting my list. I looked at the list and decided to buy some items from the list. It is just short/mid/long term goal management to a degree. Decisions tempered over time.

There is a saying; "nothing taste as good as thin feels". I take that approach when buying. "Nothing makes me as happy as being debt free".
 
I tend to spend a lot more time analyzing and researching my needs versus my wants and trying to find some happy medium. There are some things that I just can't justify spending the money on, i.e. a high end AR, Garand, 1911. The firearms that I currently own have filled a set of parameters defined by specific needs like HD, SD (carry), etc. There may be some compromises made but so far I've yet to experience any significant buyer's remorse like I have had with other high dollar purchases.
 
How do those of you on a budget determine what you will buy next?

Some people out there have enough money they can buy what they want, when they want it. But not everyone is that fortunate.

So what's your thought process on buying new firearms, accessories, etc? How do you rationalize what comes next to your collection?

For example, maybe you've been wanting to get one of those black rifles that everyone talks about...but your nightstand gun could also use night sights...oh and how can you forget about getting a nice aftermarket stock and/or trigger for your 10/22 for plinking? What about a safe to keep your valuables contained? Not to mention keeping up your ammo hoard, cleanings supplies, extra magazines, etc.

With so many wants and interests, how do you decide what's next? Is based on a 'need', or simply whatever you feel like spending the money on a the time? Or maybe something else?

I have a separate account and 35 dollars of my pay is deposited there every pay period and my wife doesn't know about that account.

When something I want comes out, I either put it on layaway or buy it outright with that money which comes to 140 a month, in a few months I pick something and it's mine.
Wife wonders where I got the money to get that, when I pick up the gun, I trash the box and stash paperwork and tell her I bought it broke and got it fixed dirt cheaplol


*swyped from the evo so excuse any typos*
 
I have a separate account and 35 dollars of my pay is deposited there every pay period and my wife doesn't know about that account.

When something I want comes out, I either put it on layaway or buy it outright with that money which comes to 140 a month, in a few months I pick something and it's mine.
Wife wonders where I got the money to get that, when I pick up the gun, I trash the box and stash paperwork and tell her I bought it broke and got it fixed dirt cheaplol
That's dangerous Sir! Hope that doesn't get you caught up someday...
 
I have a separate account and 35 dollars of my pay is deposited there every pay period and my wife doesn't know about that account.

When something I want comes out, I either put it on layaway or buy it outright with that money which comes to 140 a month, in a few months I pick something and it's mine.
Wife wonders where I got the money to get that, when I pick up the gun, I trash the box and stash paperwork and tell her I bought it broke and got it fixed dirt cheaplol


*swyped from the evo so excuse any typos*

Oh, Lord Gawd. You really live on the edge, don't you??:uhoh::D
 
I have a separate account and 35 dollars of my pay is deposited there every pay period and my wife doesn't know about that account.

I've thought about doing this myself, with my wife's full knowledge. I might be a bit crazy, but I ain't suicidal.
 
I usually treat myself to gear or guns after I work some overtime. Overtime has been weak for the last two years. Less overtime means less "extra" spending. My wife and daughter come first.

My daughter is only two but I am in the process of putting together an AR for a future birthday. Piece by piece it is getting put together. I'm sure I will splurge on a youth .22 when the time comes.

You just have to prioritize. I don't drive a fancy car, I gave up golf to shoot more. I just had my 7th beer (yes, seventh) of the year last weekend. And I try my hardest not to buy smokes( I have one or two a month).

After buying 4 or 5 guns last year I told my wife I would get some home projects done. Damn myself for saying that in a moment of weakness.
 
Fair question. I don't need any guns right now, but I'm starting to carry my S&W 681 as a duty sidearm, so I need "stuff" for it. I comparison shopped for a new duty belt, speedloader carriers, and swapped out the Crimson Trace grips for Pachmayr Grippers. (Can't use a laser on duty.) So, what I do is prioritize on what I need soonest.

Hope it helps.

ECS
 
I have a separate account and 35 dollars of my pay is deposited there every pay period and my wife doesn't know about that account.

When something I want comes out, I either put it on layaway or buy it outright with that money which comes to 140 a month, in a few months I pick something and it's mine.
Wife wonders where I got the money to get that, when I pick up the gun, I trash the box and stash paperwork and tell her I bought it broke and got it fixed dirt cheaplol

If you lie to your wife about gun purchases what else do you lie to your wife about. Must be quite a relationship.
 
For me these days it is much more about shooting the stuff I have than getting new stuff. I have bought and sold enough to know what I like and what I don't like. These days its more about getting ammo, range time etc... I have a solid 1911. I have more BHPs than I need. Etc...

That said I am a sucker for a bargin and keep a fun money stash for times I see something that is too good to pass up. Going into debt for non-necessity firearms is not smart IMHO.
 
I have a separate account and 35 dollars of my pay is deposited there every pay period and my wife doesn't know about that account.

When something I want comes out, I either put it on layaway or buy it outright with that money which comes to 140 a month, in a few months I pick something and it's mine.
Wife wonders where I got the money to get that, when I pick up the gun, I trash the box and stash paperwork and tell her I bought it broke and got it fixed dirt cheaplol

I agree, lying to the wife about where it came from is just crazy. I have the best arrangement ever with my wife: we keep our money separate. Sounds un-marriage-like, but it actually works out great, because there's never any issues, fights, tension, etc about money. I pay for the house and utilities, she buys groceries. We split when we decide to go out to eat, and we each pay for our own car. I make more money than her, but the way we split up the house/food weighs things evenly so neither feels slighted.

Now you have your own bank account so that you can spend your money as you please. Not only does it take away the "have to convince the wife" thing, but also the thoughts of "well why can't I buy X, since you spent Y last month anyway..."

That's not to say everything HAS to be separate. There's tons of stuff we both want to do, so one of us will pay and the other gets it next time, or one of us buys the thing and the other transfers money.
 
If you lie to your wife about gun purchases what else do you lie to your wife about. Must be quite a relationship.
Actually I don't lie about anything else, she knows things most men wont tell their wives, it's just some things she just doesn't understand.




*swyped from the evo so excuse any typos*
 
I hear you the_hustleman. I'm sure that if many of us here told our wives about our gun purchases, we would have only 1 or 2 guns. They would say that we don't "need" another gun because we already have one, right?
 
I hear you the_hustleman. I'm sure that if many of us here told our wives about our gun purchases, we would have only 1 or 2 guns. They would say that we don't "need" another gun because we already have one, right?

Exactly what mine says!

She says it's a waste of money!


*swyped from the evo so excuse any typos*
 
Budgets really are a PITA, I need to hurry up and win the lottery so I can increase my discretionary fund.

Here's a real life example. At this moment I have a bit of a dilemma. I had some free time today so I stopped by the local gun store. Bad idea. Under the glass was a like new 4" Smith and Wesson Model 28. Pinned and recessed. I've been looking for one of those for a while as they are quite rare in my neck of the woods.

On the rack was a CZ Hammer Coach. This gun is also on my short list. I asked to pick it up and immediately noticed how nimble and well balanced it is. To make things worse, the Hammer Coach is even better looking in person than it is in pictures.

The worst part is that I still have to pick up another AR. I have my sights on the Knight's Armament SR-15. It's more expensive than the CZ and the Smith put together.

What do I do? :confused: I want to pick up the SR-15 because the AR is my long arm of choice and I think it's prudent to have another on hand as a backup. On the other hand, I've been meaning to get a shotgun for a while and I really liked the way that CZ handled. But then again, old pinned and recessed guns are getting harder and harder to find, especially in the condition of that old Highway Patrolman.

Another thing to consider is that both the lupara and the revolver are going to be fun guns. I use other platforms for serious purposes, namely the 1911 and the AR. I already have a brace of 1911s so I'm set there, but at this point I only have my one Noveske.

Decisions, decisions...
 
I must have the perfect wife. On our last trip to Camp Perry to the CMP after I had picked thru the rifles I was interesded in and chosen one, I remarked how I happened to also liked another also. She said I might as well go ahead and get it while we were there anyway. So I ended up with 2 rifles. Stopped at a jewlery store on the way home and she ended up with another diamond ring.

No, I'm not wealthy, just careful how I spend my money and do not like making interest payments.
 
I filled the needs...

...then I filled the wants...


...then I got accessories, ammo and storage taken care of.


This seems to work fine, as long as you don't "want" everything. Or at least are willing to space things out if you have a large list.
 
Personally, I fill the needs first. Then I buy enough ammo and accessories for the needs. Then it's time to start on the wants. I haven't gotten to the wants yet.

And FWIW, it's not at all hard to handle something and note to yourself how entirely cool it is. Mess with the controls. Drop the magazine. Break the SxS hammer gun open and look through the barrels. Put it to your shoulder and pull the hammers back. Work the lever on the Uberti Henry, then put it down and pick up the 1860 Spencer Infantry rifle repro sitting next to it. Then go look at the used SIG in the case. Notice the unfired Chinese SKS on the new rack behind the owner and look it over too. Then hand it back.

Then, you pick up a box of 9mm or .40 ammo and buy it. You do this to thank the shop-owner for his patience. Then you leave with almost all your money still in your wallet.

Those of you on a budget are just going to have to get past the addictive aspect gun buying. Sure, you need a few. But don't pretend you need them all.
 
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