Amen, although I do have one or two "pricey" weapons. But no more cheap junk for me, I'll just save my pennies longer thank you.
spending big $ on hunting guns?
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There's a big difference between "cheap" and "inexpensive". SMLEs are quality rifles that are reliable and durable. $9 for one back in the 50s is what we call a screaming deal
Stop torturing yourself and go buy that Marlin, already. I regretted maybe one or two firearms purchases in my lifetime, but I regret many that I didn't purchase. At $400 out the door for a Marlin 1895 45-70, my first post in this thread would have been "Hey, guess what I got!"
I bought a Marlin 1895 LTD-III 45-70 for $650 ten years ago and while I haven't shot it as much as I would like, I still have it and still find it a pleasure to own. It's worth every penny I spent on it.
Put down the computer, grab your hat & coat and go get the Marlin
Sure is. Yours is but one example of a lot of quality/value for the money.
My sole foray into a high dollar, semi custom rifle was a Model 20 ULA. I used it for steel matches, as well as hunting. I still use it for hunting deer and antelope.
When I sent it back for (one and only) repair, they did a quick and free turnaround. It came back with a note that said it looked like it had been shot a lot.
well..............yeah
I probably wouldn't do it again, but that's not to say I have any regrets. When I bought it I was getting phat stacks from a big stupid corporation. The conglomerate went Tango Uniform quite some time ago, but the rifle still shoots very well.
When I sent it back for (one and only) repair, they did a quick and free turnaround. It came back with a note that said it looked like it had been shot a lot.
well..............yeahI probably wouldn't do it again, but that's not to say I have any regrets. When I bought it I was getting phat stacks from a big stupid corporation. The conglomerate went Tango Uniform quite some time ago, but the rifle still shoots very well.
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CoalTrain49
Member
Most of the guys I hunted and camped with needed bragging rights to something. Your gun, dog, pickup or RV were high on the list. If you had a trophy wife you might get her to come along to enhance your image. Very few were there to just hunt.
Most of these guys made lots of money and that's what they spent their recreation dollars on.
Most of these guys made lots of money and that's what they spent their recreation dollars on.
crestoncowboy
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Everyone I know uses a zebco 33 in the small trout waters around here, where everyone uses spincast reels. I bought a 1276 sli from Abu Garcia for four times the price of the zebco just for bragging purposes years ago. Second or third cast the release button broke off. (No customer service. I still have the broken reel).I finished the day with a 15 dollar Shakespeare. I've had similar experience with "premium" automobiles. So price isn't indicative of much to me. I've learned I can find the lemon in anything.
For lugging around in the thick woods here where scratches are just going to happen, I don't like to carry my nicer rifles hunting. I just bought a patriot in 300 win mag just for that. (Not impressed to say the least. But that's another story). For glass it has to work and in my experience that does cost. I've seen budget rifles perform well. I've never seen low end glass that didn't fog, glare, lose zero, or demand the user to contort to see through it, one or the other.
But for the most part I agree with the above statements, buy what you want if it's in your budget...if we didn't buy what we wanted as opposed to what we need sometimes, life would be far less enjoyable, and the gun world in particular would be lifeless.
For lugging around in the thick woods here where scratches are just going to happen, I don't like to carry my nicer rifles hunting. I just bought a patriot in 300 win mag just for that. (Not impressed to say the least. But that's another story). For glass it has to work and in my experience that does cost. I've seen budget rifles perform well. I've never seen low end glass that didn't fog, glare, lose zero, or demand the user to contort to see through it, one or the other.
But for the most part I agree with the above statements, buy what you want if it's in your budget...if we didn't buy what we wanted as opposed to what we need sometimes, life would be far less enjoyable, and the gun world in particular would be lifeless.
Duster340
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Like the OP, I haven't spent big cash on my rifles and shotguns. Rifles are all milsurps, K98, Moisin, SKS, my main deer rifle is an old No 4 mk1, paid $75 back in 80s, I cut barrel 17.5" barrel, homemade sporter stock. Hits nice out to 100 yards which is twice as far as any deer I'll shoot. Shotguns are Mossy 500s, 12 and 20 gauges with a variety of barrels. Every one of them has dings, scratches etc from hard use in the field in the past 40 plus years. Only gun I "splurged" on is my 4" 629 bucket lister that replaces my old 7.5" SBH. That said, I do appreciate high end weapons, just don't see them fitting into my style of hunting.
Be well all
Be well all
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Our OP here offers another version of "want vs need". Many of us here grew up poor and only bought what we absolutely needed and never and I mean never spent for a luxury item. My dad didn't buy a new gun until all 7 of us kids were fed and clothed. In his lifetime he bought one new gun, a Remington 870 Wingmaster with a plain barrel. All of us boys (4) used it. When my dad died it went to his oldest grandson. So I know about making-do. Through college I hunted squirrels with a single shot .22 that I bought in a pawn shop for $10.. After many years of working hard and buying only what I "needed", I've done well and now buy what I want. Unlike our OP, since retirement I hunt much more than he does. Even though I have 3 really fine squirrel rifles, 2 Anschutz and a Remington 541S, I recently bought a Sako FinnFire II 17HMR. Did I need it? Of course not. But, I really wanted one. The squirrels I kill with my $1,000+ rifles are no deader than the many squirrels I killed with my $10 single shot. BUT.....I really love carrying a fine rifle. It just makes me feel good. BTW, I still have the single shot .22 and I get it out occasionally for a nostalgia hunt. It's still wicked accurate.
crestoncowboy
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That's true too, I hadn't thought about small game. I've carried among others, a flawless 39 mountie hunting rabbits and squirrels when I could have carried cheaper guns that shot just as well. I didn't buy them for hunting but carry them all the same when I get the notion. When reading the thread about bragging, fishing, and zebco 33s I immediately thought about my over priced Abu Garcia (and being laughed at to this day for its premature failure) and big game hunting in limbs, brush, briars, and snow.
lysanderxiii
Member
Cheap and low-cost are not necessarily synonymous.
However, there is a price point, at the low end, where decent quality is unobtainable.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I feel about cheap reels about like I do cheap optics. I've had both crap out on me and learned my lesson the hard way. You can get by with a cheap rod like you can a cheap rifle but optics and reels are a different story. I've worn out cheap reels in one sitting. We used to fish a spring fed river in Florida where it took all day to paddle and fish about 8 miles of water. On a good day we'd catch 50-60 fish. The first time was the last time with a cheap reel as it was in several pieces by the end of it. Same for scopes. Cheap scopes are nothing but a roll of the dice and a waste of money. If you don't have $150 to spend on a decent scope, you sure as hell don't have $50 to waste on junk. Some folks manage to convince themselves that cheap is "just as good", to the point of actually looking down on something better but they're really deluding themselves.
TN Outlaw
Member
One man views a firearm as a tool, another views it as a priceless possession. Just because somebody buys expensive guns does not mean they do it just to flaunt it or brag about it. It just may mean more to them then just some wood/syn and steel. Some people may have seen a particular gun once upon a time and always wanted one and when they could finally afford it, they grabbed it up. Some just enjoy hunting with finer rifles and have deep enough pockets to do so. Then you do have those that buy top shelf just to keep up with the Jones's.
For 98% of hunters a well built price point rifle and a decent mid tier scope will do all they will ever need and more. Now, hunters that travel and hunt for game that could also hunt them, they may not wanna cut any corners just to save a quick buck on the front end.
Figure out what you need from your rifle and if you just need it as a tool or if owning that nice Marlin would put a big smile on your face. If it would, buy it. They probably wont get any cheaper.
For 98% of hunters a well built price point rifle and a decent mid tier scope will do all they will ever need and more. Now, hunters that travel and hunt for game that could also hunt them, they may not wanna cut any corners just to save a quick buck on the front end.
Figure out what you need from your rifle and if you just need it as a tool or if owning that nice Marlin would put a big smile on your face. If it would, buy it. They probably wont get any cheaper.
TN Outlaw
Member
BTW, on the Zebco 33 convo: For folks thatll be doing serious fishing like CraigC is talking about, id say itd be a good idea to buy quality, just like extreme hunting calls for higher end gear but alotta people go down to the pond/river and spend more time BSing with their buddies than they do catching fish or them and their little ones with worms and bobbers etc. More fun in the trip then actual fishing type people. Those Zebco 33's will do just fine for them as they have done fine for years and years, Especially the older steel ones.
All depends on how serious the fisherman is IMHO
All depends on how serious the fisherman is IMHO
TexasPatriot.308
Member
I am lucky, I literally hunt 7 days a week while checking cattle, mainly hogs and coyotes...I aint a snob but not much on cheap guns but I do have a Stevens (Savage) 200 in 7mm-08 with a Boyds walnut stock and Nikon scope that shoots dime groups and is one of my favorites in my safe.
I could understand the disappointed feeling there, but I have to ask, why didn't you notice that whilst still ogling in the store?
Other points you made in favor of the Marlin, was it's a repeater, and you like the way it handled. If you still got 2/3 of the key selling points for $400 for a gun that is chambered in something you can and will use, something that will withstand some mistreatment, then the visual defects might be outweighed, if not take it back or sell it to someone else. If the looks were THAT important, I think you would have been more attentive to it, I think what you're really dealing with is the fact that you blew $400. Even Winchester and Kimber and ruger can put out high end models with cosmetic defects occasionally, and they cost a LOT more than $400 new.
the store closed in 35min so I was hurrying. looks are about half important to me. I can refinish the stock but having no checkering on the pistol grip wasn't cool with me. I guess its just half ass stuff that gets me mad more then anything.
Blkhrt13
Member
But did you shoot it yet?
no cause I got it at 6pm tonight and got home at 7pm. I'm a little worried about shooting it before I give it a good look over in the morning for more defects. if I shoot it the store wont return it.
Blkhrt13
Member
That's definitely something to think about. I must admit I had heard since the freedom group purchase they are not as well fit and finished.
Jackal
Member
At the risk of sounding like Nutnfancy, cheap is different than high value. High value items can be cheap but most cheap items arent high value. I just ordered a TC Compass .308 for$260 out the door. Is it a great rifle? No. Is it an amazing rifle for $260? Definitely.
.455_Hunter
Member
My first hunting rifle at 13 was Spanish M1916 Mauser in 7x57mm. I don't think there is a matching serial number (or segment) on the entire gun. I upgraded in a couple of years to a Gew 88 in 8x57mm (at least it has matching numbers) and then to one of the unissued No. 4, Mk II Lee Enfields in .303. Next in college I went to my uncle's hand-me-down Remington 721 in .30-06. It may be old, but it's a perfect Colorado big game gun. The key is always expanding and improving your battery.
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eastbank
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if you didn,t fire the marlin take it back and let them look at and voice your complaint, they may require a small restocking fee to take it back. and do get a eye exam, the things you over looked should have stood out like a sore thumb, unless the lights were out. eastbank.
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