What are your criteria?

[jhansman]

Back on topic here, my main criteria for a gun are 1) how or will I use it at the range and 2) how might it serve me in an, ah, less than peaceful social/political/economic environment. If the gun can serve in both scenarios, more the better. If not, then it moves down the list, or off it entirely.

 

[proven]

krochus- where in this thread are the tin-foil hat types you refer to? all i see are a few guys that put a bit more thought into their purchases than you do. do you laugh at everyone who's different than you?

as i mentioned earlier their is a difference between target shooting and training. some here are LEOs and require their firearms to be utterly reliable in the event that they may need them to protect themselves or others.

 

[rob_s]

and so is the guy who has dreams over a red dawn,day of the dead type scnearo every time he looks at a rifle. I pity you for your inability to enjoy the shooting sports, obviously it's a stressfull chore for you

Quick run to your basement to inventory your ammo, rearrange your canned food, OH! and your tinfoil hat is overdue for an oil change. Quick the commies are coming for your white women

What's that? Can't hear you from the ship! Sorry it sailed without you again, but you should be getting used to it by now. We'll send the dinghy back for you,but only if you promise to get a clue.

Missed the whole sports equipment analogy, didn't you?

A gun is, to me, a means to an end. I enjoy SHOOTING (you might remember what it's like, pull the trigger, make a loud noise, etc.) but not just for it's own sake. I enjoy competing and training. So in fact, even the shooting is a means, what I'm looking for is enjoyment beyond that.

But, if your "end" is the "means", and you prefer to sit in your basement with your "collection", by all means have at it. Personally, I find buying items just to have them to be creepy as all hell, and frankly kind of womanly. Like shoes.

 

[winchester243]

1. Functionality, ie accurate, ease of maintenance, etc.
2. Looks.
3. Good value, i.e cost/performance.

Or has some collector value to me.

All subjective.

 

[R.W.Dale]

A gun is, to me, a means to an end. I enjoy SHOOTING (you might remember what it's like, pull the trigger, make a loud noise, etc.) but not just for it's own sake. I enjoy competing and training. So in fact, even the shooting is a means, what I'm looking for is enjoyment beyond that.

As do I, but unlike you I can admit that my firearms are largely toys. But hey call em whatever you wish if it helps you justify purchases to yourself and the Mrs. I however have no problem calling a duck a duck

But, if your "end" is the "means", and you prefer to sit in your basement with your "collection", by all means have at it. Personally, I find buying items just to have them to be creepy as all hell, and frankly kind of womanly. Like shoes.

You don't know me at all you make a big assumption that is altogether incorrect, I've never owned a gun that remained unfired by me for much more than 48hrs.

 

[Dr.Rob]

1. I want accuracy in all rifles.

2. I want rifles that don't break.

The rest depends on what it's for. I don't need a varminter to be light and 'pointable.' I don't need ghost ring sights on a lever gun. I don't need a tactical finish on a squirrel rifle.

IF I'm buying new and it has wood, I try to pick the nicest pice of wood.

If I'm buying surplus I look at the best barrel.

Price comes into it as well... sometimes I don't have the luxury of price being no object. (see skyrocketing EBR market)

I had VERY specific requirements when buying a new deer rifle years ago. IE I wanted a stainless rifle in .30-06 with a plastic stock that i wouldn't care if I scraped it on a tree, etc etc.

After buying my first black powder rifle my requirements changed completely.

 

[JWarren]

My criteria in a close order:

1.) Accuracy. If it can't hit what I need it to hit, it is practically useless to me.

2.) Reliability. It's gotta run, or you can't trust it.

3.) Handling. It matters more than you think.

4.) Other: May be magazine capacity, optics mounting, etc. -- depending on the type of firearm.


-- John